Book Your Adventure 1-800-346-8747
Book Your Adventure 1-800-346-8747

Attention Archers: 3 Premium Deer Hunts for 2024

Matthew Gindorff
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Method of Take: Archery

As an archer, it can be challenging to find destinations that understand the differences between guiding archers and guiding rifle or gun hunters. I’ve been to many camps with my bow in hand and realized that they aren’t accustomed to meeting the needs of an archer. Not that I’m demanding something special! But effectively placing stands, creating shooting lanes, and conducting stalks can be the difference between delivering a good arrow or never having the chance to bend the limbs!

The outfitters listed below are archers themselves and they’re dedicated to the success of their guests. They’ve chosen to focus on guiding archery-specific clients and I highly recommend them as great options for 2024!

1. Spot-and-Stalk Alberta Mule Deer

Dates: September 1–6  2024 (2 Spots)

This is possibly one of the best value hunts for an archer because trophy-class mule deer are tougher than ever to find! Undoubtedly, the plains and broken hills of southern Alberta is some of the most prime mule deer country in North America. Big mature bucks love the low human inhabitance of this part of the world where they can grow old and find abundant cover and nutrients. This is a spot-and-stalk game where you spend many hours covering ground and glassing to uncover a mature buck who has put himself in a good spot for a stalk. This outfitter takes only four archery mule deer hunters per season, with literally thousands of acres to cover! Generational ranchers in this area who know their deer and where they live! Lodging is a cabin at the ranch and home-cooked meals will fuel you throughout your stay. It is a great opportunity for an upper-class deer with wonderful people.

2. Rut Hunt South Dakota Whitetails

Dates: November 11–15, 2024 (2 Spots)

This archery-only destination takes a maximum of 8 bow hunters per year, and these are the only deer hunters on the property for the entire season. Hunting only the pre-rut into the rut during the first two weeks of November gives archers the best opportunity to harvest a great trophy! A generational ranching family who knows their deer and specifically targets mature bucks, this destination is a must for the archery die-hard. With over 100,000 acres, hunts are conducted from ground blinds, ladder stands, and the occasional lock-on stand located in transition areas, wood lots, and food plots. If chasing whitetails in the Dakotas has ever been on your bucket list, now is the time to jump on this adventure!

3. Late-Season North Dakota Whitetails

Dates: November 11–15, 2024 (3 Spots); December 11–15, 2024 (3 Spots)

When people think of big late-season whitetails, they think of drawing a coveted Iowa tag. Well, let me tell you, if you’re one of the unfortunate ones who are unable to pull that tag or you don’t have enough points to get it done, you might want to head north to North Dakota! The late season with this outfitter has been highly productive for quite some time! With ground blinds strategically placed on large food plots, these deer congregate on the food as they would down south. A beautiful lodge and a tremendous amount of private acreage make this an excellent option for the archer. Between early season, November rut hunts, and the late season, this destination will see a maximum of 12 deer hunters per year.

If you’re an archer looking for a great opportunity to hunt with your bow this Fall, don’t miss these beautiful destinations. Great adventures are hosted by wonderful people who understand the needs of archery hunters and would love to have you in camp! Contact WTA today for more information.

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I’ve been a bear hunter my whole life, but grizzly was always the dream. When the time finally came, I reached out to WTA to book a hunt. My someday hunt was finally becoming a reality. I thought I knew what I was hoping for: one good opportunity at a mature grizzly. What actually happened over those 10 days was beyond anything I could have imagined.

My journey began in Anchorage, where I stayed the night before flying into the bush. The outfitter has a liaison in town to help with any last-minute needs, so no rental car was needed. The next morning at Merrill Field, I boarded a turboprop (they use caravans, not tiny Super Cubs) for the 1½-hour flight into hunting country.

At the airstrip, the crew waited with Kong—a massive military deuce-and-a-half that can ford rivers, plus Polaris six-wheelers. After a stop at the roadhouse to organize, we headed to moose camp, about four miles upriver.

The camp itself told stories of 50 years of hunting. Cabin walls covered with dozens of hunters’ stories, as far back as the ’70s. Old regulation books showing $50 polar bear licenses. Boxes of ammo, left behind over decades for anyone who might need them. Four cabins with wood stoves surrounded the main lodge, and there was a creek-fed shower with endless hot water. A crate of beer stays ice-cold in the stream. It’s glorious. Remote Alaska with just enough comfort to keep you hunting hard every day.

From the roadhouse, we spotted two black bears on the mountainside. That evening, the cameraman Jordan and I glassed near camp, getting oriented for what was supposed to be a grizzly-focused hunt.

The next morning, those black bears were still there. We moved in. At 390 yards, with shifting thermals threatening to blow our approach, I took my shot. Low but lethal. Two more shots finished it. While butchering, we discovered this old boar was peppered with birdshot—dozens of pellets in each leg and shoulder. Somewhere, sometime, he’d been a problem bear. He could take a bullet. By 3 p.m., we had meat in the freezer and the hide salted. We were back to looking for grizzly.

Day two took us seven miles up the creek on six-wheelers, somewhat technical riding through river crossings and over rough terrain. Near the old sheep camp, we spotted a sow with three cubs and various black bears, but no boars.

Then everything changed. Rounding an alder-lined corner, our guide hit the brakes. A black bear ahead was acting strangely. It was actually approaching us. Behind him, a grizzly was hunting him, panting from the chase. The black bear, caught between predators, escaped up the cliffs.

The grizzly sat on its haunches, exhausted, looking between us and the black bear as it escaped. This bear was in full predator mode, seemingly calculating whether we might be easier prey. Then he simply lay down for a nap, 400 yards away, completely unconcerned by our presence.

For 34 minutes, I stayed behind the gun. Time passed slowly as we talked through every scenario: “If he does this, we’ll do that.” Finally, he stood and turned broadside at 415 yards. One squeeze, perfect shot placement. He barrel-rolled down the slope.

This was it—the animal I’d wanted forever, taken in a sequence I couldn’t have scripted better. Pure euphoria.

We had two bears down and over a week left of hunting. Day three was Jordan’s birthday, and we decided to get him a bear tag from camp. This would be his first hunt behind a rifle. We picked up a great black bear in no time. Jordan’s demeanor totally changed as he went into hunt mode and put a perfect 350-yard shot right into the bear’s heart. Top-tier birthday!

Three bears in three days with a week remaining. I bought a second tag and grabbed my bow. We spent four days searching for another bear, exploring drainages, following wolf tracks, catching Dolly Varden, and collecting shed antlers. Living the full Alaska experience while always hunting.

On the second-to-last day, I spotted a huge black bear doing loops through berry patches on a steep face. After multiple failed positioning attempts, I opted to go solo while Jordan and our guide filmed from a distance. The bear, hearing me crash through the alders below him, thought I was another bear invading his berries. At nine yards, with his hackles up and ears flat, I put an arrow through his front shoulder. Our group’s fourth bear.

Four bears in four days. An incredible adventure. This was the outfitter’s first year focusing on Fall bear hunting. The populations are thriving (evident from the moose without calves), and they’ve wisely increased tag allocations.

I came to Alaska with a lifelong dream of taking a grizzly. What I got was something I couldn’t have imagined: multiple species, incredible encounters, and memories that transformed a dream hunt into something beyond dreams. The grizzly lying down in front of us, completely unafraid. Jordan’s pure joy at his first bear. Stalking with my bow, close enough to hear the bear growling and clacking its jaws.

Some hunts meet your expectations. This one created new ones. When you book with WTA, you’re not just booking a hunt, you’re setting yourself up for adventures you can’t even imagine.

Learn about this Hunt

In June, I had the privilege of hosting 11 hunters on an unforgettable black bear adventure in northern Saskatchewan. As a consultant with Worldwide Trophy Adventures, I spend all year matching clients with the best outfitters in North America, and this camp is a perfect example of why we do it.

Our trusted outfitter in Saskatchewan operates in a massive 3,000-square-mile zone along the untouched boreal forest. It’s rugged, remote country stacked with an incredible population of mature black bears. Locals born and raised in northern Saskatchewan are the heart of the operation. They’ve spent decades fine-tuning the experience, from stand placement to trophy care.

We went 12-for-12 on big bears. Every hunter filled their tag. The biggest bear of the week tipped the scales at 436 pounds, with a skull that will easily make the Boone & Crockett record book. In total, four hunters took B&C-class bears, a testament to both genetics and expert management.

I hunted with my bow and arrowed a great bear on day two. My shot was a touch forward, and despite our best efforts, we couldn’t recover him that evening. I barely slept. At first light, we picked up the trail again and found him just a bit farther than we’d left off the night before. The rush of relief and excitement when we walked up to him is something I won’t forget. Moments like that define a great hunt!

Off the stand, the camp atmosphere was outstanding. Good food, great camaraderie, and plenty of stories made the week memorable. Meat, hides, and trophies were handled smoothly and professionally, another reason we confidently send WTA clients to this outfit year after year.

If you’re serious about hunting big Canadian black bears, Worldwide Trophy Adventures is your trusted resource to do it right. This trip proved it: elite guiding, incredible trophy quality, and a setting every hunter should experience at least once.

Canada remains one of my favorite places to hunt, and after June’s trip, I’m already counting down the days until I can go back.

WTA is booking now for next spring and summer, and this hunt fills fast. Call 1-800-346-8747 to secure your spot on one of North America’s most exciting black bear hunts.

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