This hunt was booked through Michael Guy with Club Chambeaux. I cannot recommend either.

The problem with this operation is that it is geared for high volume and the individual hunter means little to them.

They have many camps. At a given time some camps have lots of caribou passing through and others do not.

In bold caps in their advertising they tell you they will move you if you see no caribou. When you get there you find out that no caribou means just that - none.

If you are in a camp on the front end of the migration and see just a few widely scattered animals they will not move you to a productive area. This is evidently because of the cost to them of moving hunters around.

If you go with them realize that some of the camps will have great success and some poor. Its a luck of the draw situation - hunting is like that but yet it costs a lot of money to do this and one wants to think you are going to have a good chance if you hunt hard.



The area we were in looks pretty much like this. It was interesting and in detail it was quite colorful.





The camp was situated on a lake about 150 miles northeast of Shefferville.



We actually flew out of Lac Pau due to trouble in Shefferville caused by the local indians who claimed the white hunters were moving the migration routes of the caribou away from their traditional hunting grounds.



Above is the best I could find:



The above is the best my brother Galen could get his sights on.



We were able to do a little fishing. The lake had Pike and Char in it however the full moon did not help.



Despite the rather scrawny collection of horns the saving grace of this hunt was the great group of guys at camp. There were 12 hunters in all and 6 guides - well, 3 guides and 3 sort of guides. The food was great.



Transfer was by a Beavers and Otters. They were well suited to the task.

It was great to hunt with my brother again and although I would not recommend Club Chambeaux I would recommend a caribou hunt to those who have not tried it. They are majestic animals.

Nice to hear you enjoyed your caribou hunt,Palmer.It makes me feel like returning for another hunt.I agree,those caribou are certainly majestic! If you liked this,you will like a late November hunt in 22B much better and IMO,the best winter caribou outfitter is Nouchimi.

I remember sending out letters to the outfitters for a free brochure back in the early eighties while I was 15yrs of age and todays caribou are much smaller than the those of the passed.Caribou shot back then were huge,both in body size and antler size.This can also be seen when looking at old trophy mounts that are still around.Caribou have really gotten smaller the passed three years.I asked the wildlife officers for an explanation and they said it was because the Leaf river herd has grown to big and there is little food to sustain it.This does not make sence to me.If one goes back 15 yrs,the George river herd numbered around a million animals and the Leaf river around 200 000.Today the herds have swithed numbers in that the Leaf is at 1 million and the George is at 200 000.IMO the reason for the reduced size is genetic selection or hunters taking out the big bulls.The first year zone 22B opened for caribou there were only a few cars on the roads wheras today the zone is like early morning rush our on the highway near the cities.It would have been worst if not for the weak US dollar and higher gas prices.I understand why the Cree are worried,it's a sad thing.

Shootaway,
I don't know about zone 22B but the whole experience with Club Chambeaux reminded me of the army. We were constantly shuffled around, told to hurry up then we wait hours for something -- way too many people to make it a pleasant hunt.

I also came to the conclusion that it is a lot quicker and easier for me to get to Africa than northern Quebec.

Despite all that, Montreal looks like a great place to live. I wish I had budgeted another day to explore the old downtown area again. I had not been there since the world fair in 67.

Palmer:

Looks like Camp 14 to me. Is Paul the camp manager?

Bob

Bob,
You nailed it. Unfortunately "big" Paul had to leave as we came in due to the illness of his father.

I suspect things might have gone differently if he had been able to stay. Hopefully his father is going to be ok.

Have you hunted out of this camp? How was it?

P:

We were there in mid Sept, just as the native BS started. We were hung up in Montreal on our departure to 14 due to snow up North and local wind.

Most hunters in camp tagged out. There exists, however, a misconception that caribou present themselves in great herds and are easy pickin's. It just ain't so.

I've been there a couple of times, and I'll likely go back, but it's not a cheap trip. It is always an adventure though.

Big Paul is the strength of that camp. I'm sure it's a different place without him present.

He guided for a buddy and me, and we had a great time despite the weather because of him.

Best,

Bob

Well that is Quebec...........LOTS of outfitters and they get lots of tags.

If you do not hit the migration right you do not see much. The better outfitters have gone to flying and relocating if necessary...that costs money.

There is no such thing as a free ride..............but having said that there are definitely some problem children in the outfitting business in Quebec........so do your homework.

www.skylineadventures.com

Skyline,
I agree totally with your statement above.

If doing it over I would opt for the "Trophy Hunt" which is taking place now. Reportedly they fly you out to where the migration is.

Club Chambeaux's normal deal is that you have to go 4 days without seeing a bull, cow or calf within a 3 mile walk of camp - and even then it is the camp managers call. So if just one of the 12 hunters happens to stumble upon a calf on day 4 then the whole camp is sol as far as chances to be moved.

Where we and the other groups at camp were deceived was at the sport show where the booking agent Michael Guy left the certain impression that:

A) If you are not in the migration they will move you.
B) You do not need to pay more for the trophy hunt because the week before the trophy hunt is just as good and costs less.

The guides said Michael Guy had not been there in 7 or 8 years and doesn't have a clue as to what is going on. They claim that either the migration pattern has shifted or else there are a lot less caribou than the days that the film that Michael Guy sends out and touts at shows was taken.

My personal opinion:
If considering Club Chambeaux (I would not)do not listen to Michael Guy, only go on the trophy hunt and read all the fine print - not just the bold type on their website.

Most of the outfitts that I know there all say in their Brochure that they will move you or fly you to the Caribou . Thats never been done that I know of except for one Outfitter who has a plane.I hunted with Safari Caribou and he says we will move you that's a lie, It cost the outfitter alot of money to move the hunters and camps. Thats why they don't do it.
My best friend used to book 80 people a year for him until we got skunked on year with a camp of 12 of us. He said he concidered Cows and Calfs seeing and shootable Caribou .

Looks like I'll be going caribou hunting next month.Palmer,what rifle and caliber did you use? I got a video I took during the 2001 season of one of the biggest caribou I've ever seen.I might post it in the near future.

Shootaway,
Post a picture when you get back. I should have contacted you while I was in Montreal. I did not think I had time but then we got delayed a day and basically wasted it at the Holiday Inn near the airport.

I used a 300 wm. Its a custom by John Ricks and is my most accurate rifle. I had my handloads with 180 gr. Northforks.

Its a little overkill but I also had a black bear tag (did not see a bear) and in the end I was glad for the rifle because the only shot I had on the bull above was about 400yds.

Good luck on your hunt.

Allen,

Looks like you got an alright bull. I think the early season is tougher for big bulls. Yours looks like he's just dropping velvet. Still, he is decent and has some nice character.

Eastern caribou hunts have gotten very expensive over the last seven years. Claims of gigantic herd numbers sure get hunters' attention pretty quick. Poorly prepared outfits are common. I cannot speak for Club C but I know they have been around awhile.

Unfortunately if you are not in camp when the bou's happen to migrate through you are in trouble unless the outfitter owns float planes and can fly them to move you. Yep, that happened to me back in 2000 but my outfitter did move the group. He's in jail now though from stealing from other camps.

Even though prices in Quebec have skyrocketed, hunting in general, has not improved. Too many hunters? Too many outfits? Too many planes loaded with hunters? Too much big talk of 95% (or better) success? Hard to say.

As an agent I have shied away from booking caribou hunts because of the giant herd perception and the skyrocketing costs. There are very few outfits I would trust, one being Jack Hume, but they are pricey. You will pay big but you will more than likely have an opportunity to hunt good bulls. Another instance where you get what you pay for.

The higher priced outfits have the equipment and good camp locations.

Now that I live on the Quebec border I have been trying to locate a reliable winter bou outfit for people who just are looking for a hunting opportunity and not necessarily big antlers. When I find one I will post!

Shootaway???

Thanks for the insight Ann. Hope the relocation from Mich. is working out well for you.

You have a good idea about the meat hunt. From the sample we had in camp I think the box of meat I brought home will be the best trophy of all.

Ann,most bulls will lose their antlers a month into the winter season and all outfitters will have the same chances,besides all outfitters hunt the same road and the same concentration of caribou at the same time.I just booked with Nouchimi.Eddy Pash,the owner of Nouchimi,IMO is the biggest name in winter caribou hunting.I've hunted with his outfit,the only cree outfitter since the day it first opened.I like to leave my money were it is appreciated,even if it means paying more.Also,I go caribou hunting to be with the Cree people.

Palmer,maybe next time you hunt caribou and your in Montreal I can give you a quick tour of the city and old Montreal.

Very nice picts.

Thanks Exit31

3 more.

Obviously, I was fascinated by the infinite color schemes of the tundra. If the sun had come out and if I had my good camera there could be some really good photo opportunities just at ones feet.

Thanks for the report Palmer, I have always wondered about these caribou hunts. As you stated, one likes to think that with hard hunting and perseverance there is a chance, however, if there are no/few animals around, that is disheartening. Nevertheless, you managed to bag one, congrats!

The scenery (color and "texture") looks AWSOME, and I too have quite a few picts of caribou moss, black crowberries, blueberries, etc.

Appreciate the info!

I hunted with Club Chambeaux two years ago and had a similar experience.We brought our own food and hunted without a guide. The travel arrangments went smoothly but there were very few caribou in our area and no migration to speak of. We hunted hard for six days and everybody in camp got two caribou though they were small with the exception of one decent bull. I was the only one not to shoot anything though I could have but wanted a nice bull but never saw one.When we were leaving they brought in 8 guys from another camp who had seen nothing in 4 days.They were accompanied by two guides who knew nothing about the area and were to hunt there last two days out of this camp.I really enjoyed the country and the trip but it was nothing like what I see on the outdoor channel with endless streams of migrating caribou.

gjn,
Welcome to AR.

Your and our experience will hopefully forewarn others who consider hunting with Club Chambeaux.

The videos Guy Michael shows at the various hunting shows would have you believe that the thousands of caribou are a given. I am sure that a few times it has happened but I can introduce you to at least another dozen hunters (all those in our camp)that did not see anything close to that.

The only good thing to come of it was the meat. That caribou is good stuff. We have been recently eating the steaks, backstrap and roast and I wish I had shot a dozen of them - the younger the better!

Thanks for the welcome.

I did really love the country up there,the northern lights were incredible and I would love to go back for another hunt.

Any suggestions as to outfitters that anyone would recomend??

The common misconceptons on any northern hunt is that the place is teaming with game. This isn't true in Alaska, Kamchakta, Siberia, Greenland, Quebec, NWT, Yukon, or Nunavut.

It is true that Texas, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, and most of the eastern half of the US. The problem with living in those states is that you think that everyone else has similar numbers of game. Alaska has something like a million caribou, half a million moose, and 50,000 dall sheep and it is 1/4 the size of the US. Well Texas is 2/5 the size of Alaska and and has something like 10,000,000 big game animals. These kinds of numbers screw your expectations.

Wyoming by all acounts (to most people who have never been there) is teaming with game. Wyoming is 80,000 square miles and has in the region of 1.5 million big game animals. Wyoming which is 1/6 the size of Alaska has a similar number of big game animals. And compared to your southern and eastern states Wyoming has nothing, but they do have variety, something that no one other than the Texans can claim.

If you are in the right area, at the right time you will kill a caribou, moose, sheep, wolf, muskox, or bear. If give up early, or are not in the right area at the right time you will not.

I get really tired of hearing from people who go on hunts north of the 60 and think that the place is teaming with game, and if they fail to take a "trophy" animal they were screwed over by the outfitter.

quote:

I get really tired of hearing from people who go on hunts north of the 60 and think that the place is teaming with game, and if they fail to take a "trophy" animal they were screwed over by the outfitter.

That is a very good point. We get people coming to SE BC (which has way higher game densities than the north), that are disappointed by the numbers of game that they see. They seem to forget that the harsher, more extreme and often highly scenic environments just can't support the quanities of game that warmer climates can.

Cheers,
Canuck

ps: this does not excuse people selling high success ratios and high liklihoods of seeing vast quantities of game and then not delivering. I feel for you guys that got sold a line on your caribou hunts.

I didn't feel like "I got screwed over by the outfitter" I had an enjoyable hunt and would like to go back. I have never been on a caribou hunt but what I have read in the hunting magazines and see on the outdoor channel is large numbers of animals on a migration.That perception is reinforced by certain outfitters who show you pictures and tell you they will put you on the path of that migration. They represent that you will see alot of animals and that may not be true.A hunt is a hunt and I'm not looking for a guarantee.What I would like is someone who is selling me something to be honest with what they are representing.The reason many people go north thinking the area is teaming with game is because that is what the outfitter represented.

D99

Point well taken.

In fact, if thats the way it really is then that is exactly the way people selling hunts at shows in the US should present it instead of showing videos of thousands of caribou and implying that is what you are going to see.

quote:

someone complaining that they didn't get to shoot two B&C caribou on a Quebec caribou hunt".

I presume that is me you are referring to? I must have missed it in proofreading my report.

I admit that the main reason most of those in the camp with me picked this outfit is that we believed after seeing the films that we would be where there will be so many caribou that we would have a choice of something other than an immature one. We did not want a guarantee - just a good chance.

Having gone on this hunt and taken an "about average" caribou my interest in them is about nil. The hunt was a good experience, worth what they charged and I am glad I did it. I had great fun with the others in camp and enjoyed hunting with my brother. The meat is great.

I just think Club Chambeaux should have done a better job communicating what would reasonably be expected.

quote:

Originally posted by D99:
I get really tired of hearing from people who go on hunts north of the 60 and think that the place is teaming with game, and if they fail to take a "trophy" animal they were screwed over by the outfitter.

Maybe they wouldn't feel that way if the outfitters would advertise responsibly and honestly. The people in question don't just dream these "teaming with game" numbers on their own. They are, in many instances, hoodwinked into these hunts with false promises.

There's always 2 sides to the story. Let's face it, it's no secret that these outfitters tend to embelish the reality to sell hunts.

I get tired of the BS ads, where they promise a,b,c,d, and so on and never produce or go back on their promises.