Whitetail Hunt with Kannuk Outfitters - The Canadian Experience
I have always been drawn to hunting whitetail deer, even as a young boy. I can still remember my first trip to the tree stand with my dad when I was 12 years old in my home state of Minnesota. Hunting big bucks has stuck with me since that day. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to harvest some nice bucks including one true giant. Ever since I was that scrawny young kid of age 12, I have dreamt of those giant bucks of the Manitoba Prairies. I would read stories and look at pictures of the massive dark racked, heavy body bucks of the north.
I had the opportunity to fish with Matt Smith, owner of Kannuk Outfitters, on Lake Winnipeg the previous winter. During that trip, I learned that Matt was not only a fishing guide, but he had been guiding for moose and bear for many years across Canada. As an avid hunter myself our conversation quickly turned to a whitetail outfitting business he was starting. This led to Matt inviting me on a whitetail hunt in west central Manitoba where his hunting operation would be located the following year. The word YES couldn’t have come out of my mouth faster. I have had the pleasure of going on some of the most amazing fishing and hunting trips across Canada. This Manitoba whitetail hunt had been on my bucket list since I was that aforementioned 12-year-old boy.
During the late summer and early fall months leading up to the hunt, Matt had been sending me trail camera photos keeping me updated on the big bucks they had been seeing. This only fuelled my excitement for what had been a Manitoba deer hunt a long time coming for me. As this trip inched closer on the calendar, I started to practice daily making sure my shot was right on. In addition, my gear was in order and clothing scent-free as possible.
Prior to my departure, Matt mentioned bringing my shotgun and fishing rods in case we tagged out early. An amazing fact about Fall is you can hunt and fish for multiple species on the same trip if time permits. In addition to the phenomenal trophy whitetail hunting, the grouse population has been extremely high and there are several great fishing lakes close to the Duck Mountains, where Kannuk Outfitters operates their whitetail hunts. So, the shotgun and rods were added to the packing list just in case!
Day one of my hunt was one of those perfectly still and crispy cold mornings that all deer hunters hope for to increase their success. The morning started off with a lot of action and deer movement. I had two dominant bucks fighting within earshot of me only twenty minutes into the hunt. As their racks continued to collide, I let out a couple dominant buck grunts. This stopped the fighting almost immediately. I followed up with a couple more light grunts, which brought one of the bruisers running my way. Unfortunately, that big heavy headed buck was on a mission, and I couldn’t get him to stop in my shooting lane to allow for a good shot with my crossbow. As the morning continued, I spotted a nice 6-pointer that would browse around my stand within range. This guy needed a couple more years of growing to match the typical trophy size quality that is available in Manitoba. I continued to see several Does and fawns that would browse through as the first day ended.
On the second day, I decided to add my buck decoy a few yards from my stand to up the odds of getting a big buck to stop and investigate. Thus, getting additional time for a good shot. The morning brought several Does coming in to check out the buck decoy. I could tell the rut was happening by how the Does reacted to the decoy. It was if you could read their minds; come chase me.
As with many hunts, the animals don’t always cooperate and the same can be said about the weather. Unfortunately, as the week progressed, I experienced some unseasonably warm November temperatures. This warm weather typically will push deer movement nocturnal. Matt and his guides, Mitch and Mike, put in a ton of work checking trail cameras, glassing fields and sitting in tree stands and blinds to monitor deer movement throughout the week. Matt would move me to an area they had big buck activity the prior day. The bucks had us zigging as they zagged, and it seemed we were just one step behind them all week.
The weather forecast was looking to change in our favor for my last day of hunting. There was a cold front moving in, bringing heavy snow with it. It called for rain in the morning, turning to heavy snow mid-day and stopping with roughly a couple hours of daylight remaining. In my experience, deer will move in this kind of weather but as the snow became heavier and heavier, I knew they would most likely bed down until the snow stopped. My prediction was correct, but unfortunately the forecast, as normal, was a bit off. The snow continued to come down heavy right up to last light before finally stopping completely. As I walked out of the woods and drove back to camp, there were deer tracks everywhere! I needed that snow to quit when they originally forecasted. I know in my heart of hearts the giant buck that walked right past my vacant blind the day prior would have made a return visit giving me an opportunity; if only the snow had stopped when predicted.
As I headed back home to Minnesota all I could think about was, I just needed one more day. I looked out my truck window at all the new heavy snow that had fallen on the ground during my final day’s hunt, and at that moment I knew what was in store for the guys in camp at Kannuk Outfitters. A few hours into my drive, Matt texted me that the hunters in camp had seen a few nice bucks and almost closed the deal on a giant. As that week progressed, I received a few more texts with pictures of trophy bucks that were being harvested by the guys in camp.
This trip definitely did not disappoint. All experienced hunters know hunting is not always harvesting. To me it’s largely about the chase, the adrenaline, the experience and how we become better hunters. This hunt was one I had dreamt about all my life. I will return to Kannuk Outfitters to close the chapter on this Manitoba trophy buck hunt. Matt and his crew are top tier from the heart pounding hunt to the excellent food and accommodations. If you love deer hunting half as much as I do, you will give them a call and book today. You will experience a first-class deer hunt with extremely knowledgeable guides.
For more information on Kannuk Outfitters, please visit www.kannukoutdoors.com
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