I’ve always been drawn to the idea of hunting big mule deer in wild, open country. Growing up in North Carolina, I would flip through hunting magazines and dream of chasing deer across huge landscapes far from the dense woods of the East Coast. But life has a way of pulling you in different directions. Work, bills, and time all seemed to stack up against those dreams. That is, until last year, when the decision to enter a sweepstakes turned into the adventure of a lifetime.
It all started with a YouTube video. I’ve followed Chris Bee for a while. His skill with a bow and with a video camera is amazing. One morning, while sipping coffee before work, I stumbled across his announcement about a sweepstakes hunt with Worldwide Trophy Adventures. The prize was a fully-guided deer hunt in Alberta with Chris, plus a Mathews bow. The entry was capped at 10 per person ($20 a pop). I liked that it leveled the playing field. No unlimited entries for folks with deep pockets. On a whim, I tossed in $200 for the max of 10 entries and totally forgot about it.
Two or three months later, my phone rang at work. The caller ID read “Chris Bee.” I nearly dropped my coffee. “Hello?” I answered, half-expecting a prank. “Hey, this is Chris Bee,” he said casually. “We just did the drawing, and your name came up. You’re coming hunting with me.” I was speechless. He mentioned the new bow, the trip details, and I just stammered out a “Sounds good!” before hanging up. It didn’t sink in until later…I’d won the hunt I’d never thought possible!
Watch Chris Bee Draw John’s Name as the Winner
The logistics came together quickly and easily. WTA stepped in to handle everything, answering my barrage of newbie questions. I’d never flown with hunting gear, let alone crossed a border, but their team made it simple. I booked flights from North Carolina to Alberta, rented a vehicle, and built my Mathews bow on their website. I picked every detail from the riser color to the strings. A few weeks later, I was on a plane, still pinching myself.
Landing in Alberta felt like stepping into a different world. I met the outfitter in town to grab licenses, then followed them to their small family-run operation. This wasn’t a polished, commercial lodge. It was a mom-and-pop setup that felt like home, and I loved it. I stayed in one of the guide’s houses, hanging out in their living room between hunts, while Chris and his cameraman bunked in a nearby cabin. Every meal was home-cooked by the guide’s wife, including fresh breakfasts of eggs and bacon along with packed lunches. When we got back at night, we had hearty dinners to warm up after a cold day outside. It was simple, welcoming, and exactly what I’d hoped.
The guides, Rem and Justin, knew their stuff. Justin had a 200″ mule deer on his wall, a true testament to the caliber of deer on their land. They grew up there and it showed. Even though the official hunt didn’t start until the next day, Justin took me out to scout the first evening. “Bring your bow,” he said. “You never know.” I’d flown in a day early, so I was legal to hunt if something crazy happened. Driving through their fields, I couldn’t believe the deer. Big deer dotted the landscape. It was a far cry from the Eastern tree-stand hunts I’m used to.
Each day followed a rhythm. We’d wake up, eat breakfast, and split off. I went with Justin, Chris went with Rem. We’d glass fields from the truck, hike ridges, and look for deer bedding down in the rolling terrain. The land was deceptive. Hills and draws that looked flat from a distance turned into a maze of contours up close. But the guides knew every inch. “See that rock pile?” Justin would say, pointing to a speck 3,000 yards away. “It’s four feet tall. We’ll sneak in behind it.” Sure enough, he’d lead me through the dips and rises like he’d walked it blindfolded. That’s the kind of intel you can’t put together on a map from home.
The hunt was a crash course in spot-and-stalk hunting. It was new territory for me as an Eastern tree-stand guy. The first day, we got within 125 yards of six or eight shooter bucks.
On the day I tagged out, Chris had already harvested his deer. We teamed up that morning, spotting a big buck bedded down in a field. The plan was to circle around him, but as we crept to the edge, Chris whispered, “Get down!” Antlers poked through the grass 65 yards away. It was a deer we hadn’t even seen. Justin took a hard look. “It’s a shooter,” he said. “Maybe younger than the one we’re after, but just as big. Your call.” The wind was in our face. The deer was oblivious. This was it. Chris stayed back and Justin and I crawled to 40 yards.
“Get comfortable,” Justin said, settling in. “He’s not moving unless we spook him. Could be five or six hours.” I nocked an arrow, ranged the grass at 42 yards, and waited. Five minutes later (only five minutes!) the buck stood up. I drew, aimed six inches above the grass line per Justin’s advice, and let the arrow fly. Walking up to that buck, with its giant antlers poking up from the grass, was unreal. My first spot-and-stalk kill and my first bow harvest in nearly a decade.
Back at camp, we swapped stories over dinner. I’d gotten back into hunting that year after a long hiatus—work and life had kept me away. This trip was the perfect re-entry. The deer’s hide and skull cap came home with me, stuffed in a checked bag, still frozen when I landed. I’m getting a shoulder mount for my place in North Carolina.
This hunt was an incredible experience all around. It was the land, the people, and that unexpected jolt of excitement you get when you win the sweepstakes of a lifetime. The buck wasn’t too bad either.
To anyone debating about whether to toss their name in the hat for these sweepstakes, I’d say this: it’s real. I’m proof. Yeah, it’s not free, but the experience is worth every penny. Alberta’s muleys and WTA’s team delivered a hunt I’ll never forget. Go for it. You just might get that call.
WTA is running it back and offering the same Alberta mule deer hunt with Chris Bee from September 1–5, 2025. You can enter to win the trip of a lifetime with this experienced WTA outfitter and a professional hunting ambassador at the top of his game.
