When is the Canadian border going to re-open? That’s the million-dollar question I’m asked not quite every day, but almost every day. And the underlying question is: When can I hunt those big Canadian whitetails?
Unfortunately, there is no answer – yet. As of right now, the short answer is: Both the U.S. and Canadian governments are working to re-open the borders to travel both ways. We are staying abreast with latest developments and there are numerous rumors floating around but, sadly, nobody really knows when the border will open.
If you’re looking for more of an answer than that, I can give you the Eric Pawlak Guarantee (EPG) on two things: No. 1, the border will eventually re-open and, No. 2, when it does, there will definitely be hoops to jump through to cross the border. It’s hard to predict but health screening, covid testing, travel restrictions and monitoring, proof of vaccination and who knows what else could be on the checklist.
In the meantime, I have a better idea. If you want to scratch your whitetail itch, think U.S., specifically the Midwest, even more specifically, Kansas and Iowa. No crossing of international borders – or hoop jumping – required.
WTA TAGS offers incredible whitetail camps in the heart of big-buck country in both Kansas and Iowa. We’ve been at this a long time and whitetail hunting is definitely a passion here in our Sidney, Nebraska, office. Since we entered the hunt application and booking business in 2003, I believe I or one of my peers have been to either Kansas or Iowa (or both) to chase the giants of the Midwest every single year. I can promise you (again, EPG) the vetting of our outfitters, guides, accommodations, hunting territory, success rates and history of results – the entire operation – is complete and rock-solid reliable.
I’ll let you in on my personal plan, what works best for me. It’s what I call the Kansas-Iowa Program. Please allow me to explain. I hunt Kansas every year, unless I have enough points to draw Iowa and if I do I hunt Iowa that year. This plan works because in Kansas the draw odds often exceed 90 percent the first time you apply. But in Iowa, you need preference points to draw a whitetail tag so patience is the key. That said, don’t think for a minute Kansas bucks take a backseat to any in any other state.
It usually takes one point to guarantee an Iowa gun tag and three preference points to draw an archery tag. I’m an archery hunter. I absolutely LOVE being in a treestand in November. Don’t misunderstand. I don’t just like it, I flippin’ LOVE it! So in this example, in Year One I hunt Kansas (while building my points in Iowa), the following year I hunt Kansas again (adding a second point in Iowa) and the next year I hit Kansas again (adding my third Iowa point) so by the following year I roll over to Iowa as I now have enough points to draw an archery tag!
Make sense? If not, give me a call. I don’t mind sharing my formula to consistently hunt BIG whitetails year after year right here in the U.S.
Yes, hunting the big bush bucks of Canada is completely awesome, an extraordinary experience, and one day, hopefully soon, we will again move relatively freely across our northern border much like before the pandemic.
But until then, you should consider starting your own Kansas-Iowa Program, hunting trophy whitetails in the remote, brushy prime habitat of central and western Kansas while building points to hunt the vast rolling timber and cornfields of Iowa. Start building your preference points now. WTA TAGS makes it easy.
I’ll make this as easy as I can. While you’re building those valuable Iowa points, just click on the link to see Kansas hunts we recommend for the non-Iowa years. Remember, in Kansas, chances are good you’ll draw your deer tag every year.
If you would like to speak to a WTA TAGS consultant about booking a trophy whitetail hunt or building preference points – and/or tell/listen to whitetail-hunting stories, call our office at 1-800-755-TAGS(8247).
