safari anticosti aquila

Secteur Aquila, Safari Anticosti

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Société des établissements de plein air du Québec

Sépaq Anticosti

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Anticosti is not the same as other destinations. Renowned as a remarkable territory for white-tailed deer hunting, this island abounds of these creatures. Your chances for hunting success are not the only reasons your stay is sure to be memorable. The beauty of the scenery will take your breath away! For over a century, this island at the mouth of the Gulf of St. Lawrence has also been attracting fans of salmon fishing on the fabulous Jupiter River. Anticosti Island is truly one of Québec’s natural jewels.

• Accommodations
• Hunting and Fishing

White-Tailed Deer Hunting

Today, Sépaq Anticosti is a vast hunting paradise that offers exclusive rights, where white-tailed deer-hunting activities perpetuate ancestral traditions.

The 12 advantages of choosing Sépaq Anticosti for white-tailed deer hunting

• Very high concentration of deer: 20.9 deer/km2
• An absence of predators makes the deer more active during the day
• The special diet of the Anticosti deer gives the venison a more refined taste.
• The island’s isolation protects them from diseases and ticks often found elsewhere
• The possibility of bagging 2 deer per hunter; male, female or fawn.
• Large and exclusive hunting territories
• Exemplary service and incomparable guides
• Packages for all tastes and budgets
• Specials for both the next generation and regulars
• An exclusive random draw for Québec residents interested in hunting without a guide.
• Top quality accommodations, whether you choose an inn, a cabin or a rustic shelter
• If you’re alone or need an extra hunter for your group, our agents can team you up with other white-tailed deer hunters.

Hunting Licence and Harvest

You must purchase your Anticosti Island hunting licence at the reception office when you arrive. A stay in Anticosti gives each hunter the chance to bag 2 deer (male or female) and does not affect your possession limit on the continent. You can therefore also hunt in another area.

Group Hunting

This measure allows members of a group of no more than 6 people to agree to share their white-tailed deer harvest quota, thus allowing each person to hunt if one of the group members has a white-tailed deer hunting licence and at least one transport coupon. When you arrive, this is a choice you'll need to make.

Period: August 26 to December 5, 2024

Hunting sectors

Area of each hunting sector

Small Game Hunting

At Sépaq Anticosti, you can go small game hunting by the day after you've bagged your 2 white-tailed deer. However, it's important to be careful not to bother the other hunters who have not yet bagged their deer. Ruffed Grouse and snowshoe hare are not often hunted, so they're quite tame. You can also hunt migratory birds if you hold a migratory game bird hunting licence in addition to the small game hunting licence.

Period: September 21, 2024 to January 15, 2025

During hunting season, 28 cabins are available, some of which are allocated only by random draw. You will have access to solid and charming constructions, all well located on the seashore or on a river. The cabins in the 19 hunting sectors offer good comfort and have all the amenities you need: rooms with 2 or 3 single beds, dining room, stove with oven, refrigerator, dishes and pots and pans, full bathroom, running water, and electrical outlet (12 or 110 volts depending on the sector).

Cabins are offered in European plan hunting packages  with guide or without guide .

Random draw

Rustic shelters

During the hunting season, 7 rustic shelters, some of which are allocated only by random draw, are available in certain sectors of the island. These shelters are located near a hunting sector and include a room with 6 single beds (2 of which are bunk beds), a stove with oven, a small refrigerator, dishes and pots and pans, heating, solar lighting, a water point, and dry toilets nearby.

Rustic shelters are offered as part of a  European plan without guide hunting package.

Auberge McDonald

This lodge is located at sea level 105 km from Port-Menier. It's on the north shore of the McDonald River at its mouth. From here on, the scenery is a happy marriage of land and sea. The road winds along the shoreline, composed of bays, capes, and sandy shores. In addition to a superb view of the sea, the inn offers lodging and catering services in incomparable comfort. The spacious living rooms are perfect for relaxing after a day of hunting. The rooms have been completely renovated to the latest standards.

Guests stay under the American plan with the "bring your own wine" formula. To avoid overweight luggage, we encourage you to buy your wine and liquor at the Port-Menier grocer-butcher store (CFIC).

Offered as part of an  American plan (with guide and meals) hunting package.

Auberge Chicotte

Located 161 km from Port-Menier, the site includes a lodge, cabins and staff quarters. The Scandinavian-style Auberge Chicotte was built in 1986. This accommodation face the sea and is close to the river of the same name. The word Chicotte appears on cartographic documents dating back to at least 1856, the year when geologist James Richardson inscribed Chicotte River on his map of Anticosti Island. This name is probably the English pronunciation of the French word chicot , which means wood debris. The Scandinavian-style buildings are located on the seafront and meals are served at the hotel, which also accommodates hunters.

Guests stay under the American plan with the "bring your own wine" formula. To avoid overweight luggage, we encourage you to buy your wine and liquor at the Port-Menier grocery-butcher store (CFIC).

The Jupiter 12

This lodge is one of the main reasons the Jupiter River has become so well known. It's 114 km from Port-Menier in a choice location by a fabulous salmon pool. This prestigious spot is still a top choice for the decision-makers of our society.  If the national park is the jewel of this island, the Jupiter is the heart. This is an upscale establishment offering customized service and discretion.

Guests stay under the American plan, with alcoholic beverages included.

Offered in American plan hunting packages:  with guide and meals or  with guide, meals and fishing

American Plan Package | + Guide + Meals

Starting at

/hunter 6 nights (in September and October) Western sectors (Price in CDN$)

$5,375/hunter 5 nights (in November) Western sectors (Price in CDN$)

Stay in a magnificent lodge with a view of the sea or a river. The lodges welcome from 8 to 32 people, in rooms accommodating up to 2 people. Leave your worries behind! We'll take care of the details. Our service and kitchen personnel will make sure everything is ready for your arrival. You'll love the warm and welcoming rooms and the delicious meals served in the dining room. The only thing left for you to do is enjoy this unique opportunity to concentrate on your favourite sport!

The package includes:

• Western sectors : Air transportation from Mont-Joli (departure available from Quebec City or Montreal - an additional fee apply)
• Eastern sectors : Air transportration from Quebec City or Montreal only (the additional fee is included in the package price)
• 6 nights' lodge accommodation and 5 days of hunting (in September and October) or 5 nights' lodge accommodation and 4 days of hunting (in November)
• Lodging in double-occupancy room
• Bedding and daily room service
• Fine restaurant cuisine
• 1 guide per group of 4 hunters
• 1 ATV per hunting sector  ( 4  ATV for stays in Chicotte sector)
• 1 crewcab 4X4 vehicle for 6 passengers
• Preparation service (including 2 shipping boxes)
• Average of 300 km2 (127 square miles) per sector
• Average of 333 km (207 miles) of forest roads and paths

Rates -  Western sectors (2024):

• $4,690/hunter in September and October
• $5,375/hunter in November
• Taxes are not included.
• Prices in CDN$

Rates -  Eastern sectors (2024):

• $5,090/hunter in September and October
• $5,775/hunter in November
• Hunting licence
• Service charges
• The package permits a harvest of 2 deer per hunter.
• American Plan (including meals)
• Customers must bring their own first aid kit.
• Sectors accessible with this package
• 1-800-463-0863 (toll free)
• 418-890-0863 (Quebec City area)

Periods: September, October and November 2024

Check out what’s still available

European Plan Package | Without guide (cabin)

/hunter 6 nights (in September and October) Cabin (Price in CDN$)   $3,140/hunter 5 nights (in November) Cabin (Price in CDN$)

Are you independent, organised, and a tad adventurous? The self-guided tour is just for you! The famous lodge has been transformed into 2-fully equiped cabins for groups of 4 hunters. An excellent hunting sector!

This package includes:

• Air transportation from Mont-Joli (departure available from Quebec City or Montreal - an additional fee apply)
• 6 night in a cabin (in September and October) or 5 nights in a cabin (in November)
• 5 days of hunting (in September and October) or 4 days of hunting (in November)
• 1 ATV per hunting sector (additional costs for stays allowed by random draw)
• Exclusive hunting sector

Rate (2024):

• $2,675/hunter in September and October
• $3,140/hunter in November
• Taxes are not included
• Not included: 
• Sleeping bag
• The package permits a harvest of 2 deer per hunter.
• European Plan (excluding meals)

Period: September, October and November, 2024

Package also available with rustic shelter accommodation

European Plan Package | Without guide (rustic shelter)

/hunter 6 nights (in September and October) (Price in CDN$)

$2,825/hunter 5 nights (in November) (Price in CDN$)

For independent hunters...

• 6 nights in rustic shelter and 5 days of hunting (in September and October) or 5  nights in rustic shelter and 4 days of hunting (in November)
• 1 ATV per hunting sector (additional costs for stays allowed by random draw)

Rates (2024):

• $2,360/hunter in September and October
• $2,825/hunter in November

Periods: September, October and November 2024

Package also available with cabin accommodation

European Plan Package | + Guide

/hunter 6 nights (in September and October) Cabin (western sectors) (Price in CDN$)

$4,265/hunter 5 nights (in November) Cabin (western sectors) (Price in CDN$)

You've chosen European plan hunting, with accommodations in attractive cabins, all located in remarkable spots by the sea or a river. They are fully equipped to make your stay pleasant and comfortable, with everything you need for preparing and enjoying meals together. Take advantage of the advice of a guide to make your hunting stay a resounding success.

This cabin package includes:

• Cabins accommodation
• 6 nights in cabin and 5 days of hunting (in September and October) or 5 nights in cabin and 4 days of hunting (in November)
• 1 ATV per hunting sector (4 ATV offered in Renard, Ruisseau de la Chute and Cormoran sectors)
• Average of 125 km2 (48 square miles) per sector
• Average of 160 km (100 miles) of forest roads and paths per sector

Rates - Western sectors (2024):

• $3,590/hunter (in September and October)
• $4,265/hunter (in November)

Rates - Eastern sectors (2024):

• $3,990/hunter (in September and October)
• $4,665/hunter (in November)

Jupiter 12 Package | + Guide + Meals

/hunter 6 nights (in October) (Price in CDN$)

$7,175/hunter 5 nights (in November) (Price in CDN$)

The eyes of any hunter at all familiar with Anticosti Island light up on hearing Jupiter 12. Renowned as a world-class salmon fishing destination, this lodge has also carved out a reputation for fine cuisine. Hunting at Jupiter 12 is a one-of-a-kind experience with the personalized services and high success rate visitors enjoy. And with one guide for every two hunters, many connoisseurs rate this package as simply the best.

• 6 nights' lodge accommodation with 5 days of hunting (in October) or 5 nights with 4 days of hunting (in November)
• Lodging in double-occupancy room, bedding
• A maximum of 10 hunters per stay
• Quality accommodation (electricity, room service)
• Fine cuisine with beverages included (wine, alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages)
• 1 guide per 2 hunters plus ATV
• Exclusive radiocommunications service for each hunter
• Exclusive 388 km2 (150 square-mile) hunting sector
• Numerous trails and roads, firing range, treestands
• Selective hunting
• $6,490/hunter in October
• $7,175/hunter in November

Period: October and November 2024

Jupiter 12 Package | + Guide + Meals + Fishing

/hunter 6 nights (Price in CDN$)

Sépaq Anticosti offers the opportunity to combine the pleasures of hunting and fishing in a visit fit for a king. A total of 16 sport hunting and fishing enthusiasts will experience a truly memorable adventure. For an entire week, sportsmen and women can test their mettle against white-tailed deer, Atlantic salmon, and sea trout. Take up this unique challenge in the spellbinding surroundings of one of Anticosti's most wildlife-rich sectors. A one-of-a-kind adventure package. A hunting and angling grand slam, unique in North America!

• 6 nights at Jupiter 12 Lodge, including 5 days of hunting and fishing
• A maximum of 8 hunter-anglers per stay
• The possibility of bringing guests if space is available
• The Jupiter 12 dining room's fine cuisine, including an excellent selection of wines and alcoholic beverages
• 1 guide per 2 hunter-anglers
• Salmon and sea trout fishing rights, hunting rights
• 2 deer per hunter
• ATV, canoe, Zodiac, etc. available for use
• Guided tours of the main attractions of magnificent Anticosti Island
• $7,940/hunter
• Fishing licence

Period: August and September 2024

New hunting territories

New hunting territories are accessible since the 2022 season. Sépaq Anticosti now operates nearly three quarters of our deer island, making this national treasure of great value to Quebecers more accessible than ever to one and all.  Find out more

Follow the guide

Hunting on Anticosti Island is very different from hunting on the mainland. To maximize your chances of success, our specialists have prepared a  series of video capsules chock full of tips.

Are You Alone? We Form Groups!

If you’re alone or you need an extra hunter for your group, our agents can team you up with other white-tailed deer hunting enthusiasts. There are plenty of opportunities for stays with a guide, based either on the American plan (including meals) or the European plan (excluding meals). Call today!

Press review

Hunting experts in the media sphere have filmed or writed about their trip on Anticosti Island over the years. Take a look at the stories of their stays. Find out more

Passenger information

The air transport included in the various packages offered on this site is provided exclusively by air carriers duly licenced by the Canadian Transportation Agency and having a Transport Canada Operations Certificate.

Sépaq acts as a "reseller" in accordance with Decision No. 100-A-2016 dated March 29, 2016, which granted this new status to transportation intermediaries.

The general conditions of carriage that apply are the conditions of these same carriers as they appear in their official tariffs, which can be consulted upon request at the point of departure or the point of return of air transport. The air carriers used by Sépaq are Strait Air (2000) Ltd., Air Inuit, and Chrono Aviation.

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Book a Big 5 Safari Day Trip

Half day trips.

Choose your preferred half day trip for more information and bookings

Early Morning

Full day trips.

Arrival 09h00am at Aquila Private Game Reserve. Departing at 16h30pm. You may add transport as an optional extra if required to the packages below.

• Traditional Safari

Quadbike Safari

Horseback safari.

• Combo Safari

DAY TRIP SAFARIS

Half day trips, early morning safari, afternoon safari, sunset safari, full day trips.

• Standard transport
• Fly-in options

ACCOMMODATION

• Standard Lodges
• Family Lodges
• Premier Lodges
• Karoo Cottages
• Family Luxury Cottages
• Premier Luxury Cottages

CONTACT DETAILS

• 021 430 7260
• [email protected]
• Donate to ARC
• Latest News
• Reservations
• Transport Options
• Map & Directions

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• Aquila Children's Policy
• Conditions of Visit
• Terms and Conditions
• Terms and Conditions for Specials
• Privacy Policy

Copyright© Aquila Collection. Aquila Private Game Reserve and Spa is part of the Aquila Collection.

• From R1 440 per adult
• 07h00am - 11h45am at Aquila

Our Cape Town safari has been rated as one of the Top 10 best day trip destinations by Sawubona Magazine and Time Out Magazine. Aquila’s traditional vehicle safaris are led by experienced game rangers and field guides, ensuring guests have the best opportunity to see South Africa’s iconic Big Five animals and other native wildlife species.

• 07h00 - Welcome drinks & breakfast upon arrival
• 08h00 - 4x4 Big 5 Safari Game Drive
• 10h00 - Time at Leisure
• 12h00 - Depart to Cape Town

Game Drives:

Duration of game drives and departure times are approximate and dependent on the interaction of the guests with the ranger and the sightings of animals.

Early Morning Transport:

Tr ansport to and from the reserve is for your own arrangement. 

Buy with credit, debit card or eft in the next step

• From R1 690 per adult
• 12h00pm - 16h30pm at Aquila
• 12h00 - Arrival and Welcome drinks at Aquila
• 12h30 - Buffet Lunch
• 13h15 - Big 5 Safari Game Drive
• 16h30 - Depart for Cape Town

Game Drives: Duration of game drives and departure times are approximate and dependent on the interaction of the guests with the ranger and the sightings of animals.

Afternoon Safari Transport: Standard transport is R995.00 per adult (Valid Nov 2023 – Oct 2024). Transport can only be booked before 3pm for the following day arrival. Pick up times for day trip transport are between 06h00 and 07h00am. 

• Age 3 and under: no charge with accompanying adult;
• Age 11 and under : 50% of the adult rate;
• Age 12 and over: pay full price.  

Please Note: Transport to the reserve and back can be booked as an additional add-on. All foreign guests travelling with Aquila’s transport service are required to carry their passports. 

Pick Up Zones Include: Atlantic Seaboard, Cape Town CBD, Constantia or Bellville. For private, luxury or air transfers, please contact our safari consultants after making your booking. Contact ( [email protected] or 021 430 7260  or read our terms and conditions .)

• From R995 per adult
• 15h00pm - 19h00pm at Aquila

A Big Five Sunset Safari Tour is the perfect Mother City escape after a morning of Cape Town views and activities. After a hot day in the Karoo veld, the animals are just starting to stir, moving towards the watering holes and coming out of the shade.

• 15h00: Arrival and Welcome Drinks at Aquila
• 16h00: Big 5 Safari Game Drive with Snacks
• 19h00: Depart for Cape Town

Sunset Game Drives:

Sunset safari transport:.

Contact ( [email protected] or 021 430 7260  or read our terms and conditions .)

Traditional Big 5 Safari

• From R2 195 per adult
• 09h00am - 16h30pm at Aquila

This full day Big 5 safari experience offers an exciting addition to your Cape Town holiday itinerary. Enjoy a great diversity of wildlife and immerse yourself in the untamed beauty of the Karoo. Aquila’s one day safari tours are an amazing opportunity for guests to see South Africa’s iconic big five animals, capture stunning wildlife photos, and experience an authentic African game drive safari without travelling far from the city.

• 09h00: Arrival and Welcome drinks at Aquila
• 09h00 - 10h00: Buffet Breakfast
• 10h15: 2 to 3 hour Traditional Safari Game Drive
• 12h45 - 13h45: Buffet Lunch
• 13h45: Time at Leisure
• 16h30: Depart for Cape Town

Transport to Aquila: 

Standard transport is R995.00 per adult (Valid Nov 2023 – Oct 2024). Transport can only be booked before 3pm for the following day arrival. Pick up times for day trip transport are between 06h00 and 07h00am. 

• Age 12 and over: pay full price.

Pick up zones include: Atlantic Seaboard, Cape Town CBD, Constantia or Bellville. For private, luxury or air transfers, please contact our safari consultants after making your booking.

Contact ( [email protected] or 021 430 7260 )

• From R2 990 per adult

The Quad Bike safari tour is a firm favourite, offering guests an exciting and adventurous opportunity to ‘rough it up’ in Aquila’s 10 000 hectare wildlife reserve.  No prior experience is necessary for the quad bike safari tour.

Please Note: Maximum weight per person: 95Kgs. Minimum age requirement: 16 years and older (250cc horsepower quad bikes). There are a maximum number of 10 people per quad bike experience, and only one person per quad bike.

• 09h00: Arrival and Welcome Drinks at Aquila
• 10h15: 1 to 2 Hour Quad Bike Safari Outride

Safari Outrides:

Duration of game drives, safari outrides, and departure times, are approximate and dependent on the interaction of the guests with the ranger and the sightings of animals.

• From R2 625 per adult

A Cape Town safari day trip on horseback is a unique and adventurous way to experience the wonders of a South African safari in the middle of a 10 000 hectare Karoo game reserve. No prior horse riding experience is necessary for the horseback safari tour.

Please Note: Maximum weight per person: 95Kgs. Minimum age requirement: 16 years and older. Aquila ensures that a strict one person per horse policy is upheld, with no exceptions.

• 09h00 - Welcome drinks at Aquila
• 09h00 - 10h00 - Continental Breakfast
• 10h15 - 1-2hr Horseback safari and visit to Eco-Synergy Centre
• 12h45 - 13h45 - Buffet lunch
• 13h45 - Time at leisure

Combo Full Day Safari

• R3 595 per person
• Traditional safari + 1 extra outride

Aquila’s Big 5 Combo Safari Tour offers guests from Cape Town the perfect opportunity to experience a traditional, 2 to 3 hour South African vehicle game drive, while maximising your wildlife adventure with an additional 1 to 2 hour horseback or quad bike safari outride — all in one day! 

Vehicle Safari – Traditional Game Drive: Combines the 2 to 3 hour morning Big 5 traditional game drive and either a 1.5 hour afternoon horseback or   quadbike outride together.

Option 1 – Quadbike Outride: Maximum weight per person: 90Kgs. Min. age is 16 years and older. 250cc horsepower quad bikes. There are a maximum number of 10 people per quad bike experience, and one person per quad bike. The quad bike experience is guided by two qualified rangers. The quad bike experience involves roughing it up with an experienced wildlife guide within the 10,000 hectare conservancy.

Option 2 – Horseback Outride: Maximum weight per person: 95Kgs. Min. age is 16 years and older. The horseback experience is guided by two qualified rangers. Horseback adventures include a slow walk across the plains with possible wildlife sightings and guided information about the Karoo veld and our conservation projects.

• 09h00 - Arrival and welcome drinks
• 09h00 - 10h00 - Buffet Breakfast
• 10h15 - 2 to 3 Hour Traditional Game Drive Safari
• 12h45 - 13h45 - Buffet Lunch
• 14h00 - 1 to 2 Hour Horseback or Quad Bike Outride
• 15h00 - Time at Leisure

Game Drives & Safari Outrides:

Transport to Aquila: 

Standard transport is R995.00 per adult (Valid Nov 2023 – Oct 2024). Transport can only be booked before 3pm for the following day arrival. Pick up times for day trip transport are between 06h00 and 07h00am. 

• Age 12 and over: pay full price.  

Please Note: Transport to the reserve and back can be booked as an additional add-on. All foreign guests travelling with Aquila’s transport service are required to carry their passports. 

ABUNDANT WHITETAILS ENTICE HUNTERS TO QUEBEC’S…

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ABUNDANT WHITETAILS ENTICE HUNTERS TO QUEBEC’S ISOLATED ANTICOSTI ISLAND INSIDE THE OUTDOORS

From 2,000 feet Anticosti Island doesn’t look like whitetail country. Vast clusters of black spruce punctuated by bogs and thousands of lakes seem more the home of moose or caribou, not deer that typically thrive in deciduous woodlands and farmfields.

Yet the 125 mile long, 40-mile wide island situated in the Gulf of St. Lawrence holds a healthy crop of bucks and does, the progeny of 220 deer relocated from the Gaspe Peninsula in 1917 by Henri Menier, a French chocolate manufacturer who bought the island from France. Menier purchased the isle for $125,000 as a vacation, fishing and hunting grounds for himself, family and friends.

Other wildlife – moose, caribou, elk, bison, red fox, hare, beaver and grouse – were also brought aboard the terrestrial ark. While the caribou, bison and elk died out the rest of the game – particularly deer – thrived on the 3,200 square mile island.

Today the small town of Port Menier, the only settlement on the island, located on the northern tip of Anticosti bears the name of the man whose foresight created one of the continent’s most unique whitetail havens.

A lumber company later purchased the island from Menier and in the early 1970s the Quebec government bought the entire island, opening it to government hunting and fishing camps. Four major rivers cut their ways through the island, inviting Atlantic salmon on their annual spawning runs.

Today five adjoining territories on the south portion of the island, each with 250-330 square miles of hunting grounds, are under private operation. They include Aquila, Salmon River and Bell River – all owned by Jean Gagnon who makes his residence on Anticosti during the fishing and hunting seasons. The remaining territories are operated by the Quebec government.

To a newcomer the island is, at first, intimidating – both on the ground and from the air. Spruce thickets, many with deadfalls piled one atop the other, and boot-sucking bogs are the habitats frequented by the 100,000 or so deer known to live here. Bull moose, measuring 50 inches from one antler palm to another, might also be seen.

This was my fourth visit in as many years to the whitetail haven opened only this decade via an estimated 1,000 miles of gravel roadways at a cost of millions of dollars. Gagnon alone has spent $1 million on new routes in his Bell River and Salmon River holdings. The gradual intrusion of roads annually brings hunters to places where some deer have never laid eyes on a human – and vice versa.

My most recent Anticosti hunt was unique in that it was my earliest visit to the island and I was to sample the hunting on the two territories about which I’d read numerous magazine stories.

Gagnon met our party at the runway carved from a high spot within a mile of the Salmon camp. This saved the 140-mile bus trip from Port Menier; previously the only way to get to the island’s primitive heartland. While friends and newfound acquaintances scattered among other camps, I was shuttled with a television crew of five French-Canadians to the Bell River Camp, some 40 meandering roadmiles to the south.

Following a tasty lunch in the beautiful cedar-logged lodge overlooking the Salmon River, where several big Atlantic salmon that avoided angler’s hooks will spend the winter, I climbed into the 4WD pick-up and met my French Canadian guide, Pierre Larose, with whom I’d be spending the next three days.

The bilingual Larose led the way as we pointed our nose into the stiff wind, then meandered along a stream coursing one of the territory’s numerous bogs. By sunset we’d glassed eight does and fawns, and watched as a chunky 6- point buck showed in our headlights on our way back to camp.

Anticosti is as far northeast as you’ll find whitetails. Consequently they lead a rugged life in some winters. Gagnon informed me that last winter was an especially harsh one, accounting for a winterkill of 23 per cent, according to Quebec government biologists who control licenses allocations and keep tabs on whitetail numbers. Gagnon also revealed that the 1987-88 winter only saw a loss of three percent of the herd but in 1986-87 about 43 per cent of the deer died.

The average hunter take fluctuates around 8,000 – somewhat insignificant in that the population rebounds each spring and many more suffer at winter’s claws. About 1,000 moose also live on the island; annual harvests numbering only a fraction of the total population. The island has no predators, save for the increasing number of hunters who visit each fall.

Indeed, Anticosti is underhunted. Problem is, many of the deer are so far off the roads and the thousands of marked trails that run perpendicular to them that they aren’t subject to hunting. A walk of 20-25 miles is possible in some places without crossing a road or trail. Herds build and severe winters caused mass starvation, including both fawns and big-racked bucks. Numerous red and silver foxes reap the bounty in winter and spring, feasting on venison provided by nature’s cullings.

While there’s no “bad” time to hunt Anticosti, the preferred weeks include late October and all of November, when the bucks are celebrating the varied stages of their annual rut. Early on, beginning Sept. 1, however, hunting rates at the lodges are lower, weather conditions are milder and the deer have seen relatively few hunters.

That made it prime time for my early fall visit.

Trouble was, my Sept. 24-29 hunt coincided with the remnants of Hurricane Hugo and a cold front moving down from the North. The combination made for blustery cold days, punctuated by 50 mph winds eating through the spruces and keeping the deer from their appointed rounds in the bogs and drier fields. Hunting was tough, although a break in the weather on the third day of the hunt accounted for my sighting of 29 deer – among them three bucks.

The day following my Sunday introduction to Salmon River territory, Larose and I parked the pick-up on the fringe of a vast series of bogs and fields separated by evergreen woods and linked by a meandering stream. We followed the waters until near noon, Larose showing reassuring evidence of his hunting experience by frequently pausing and pulling a topographic map from his pocket for compass readings.

“It’s easy to get lost here,” Larose warned. “Everything looks the same. You must have a map and compass.”

From previous trips I’d known of the predicaments in which a hunter can find himself. Wander off a bog into a spruce thicket, walk for 20 minutes, and you won’t know where you are. A compass, better two, and a map are as important as gun and shells.

Larose, learning from the morning’s discussion of my preferred hunting methods, knew that I liked to hunt alone. We parted company in the middle of a vast bog – he going one direction to check for deer sign in adjacent bogs and forests and me wandering the opposite way with plans to meet two hours later at the creek.

I sloshed through the bog, traced a path around a small lake, and roamed into the bordering woods of scattered spruces, tamarack, balsam firs and an occasional birch tree. Here careful walking across the soft mossy carpet offers the best of still-hunting. The high wind, cut considerably by the trees, provided a sound mask whenever a twig was snapped or the rustle of fabric scraping any of the numerous deadfalls might have otherwise signaled a wary deer.

I’d been sneaking along for 10 minutes, stopping every few feet to gaze 360 degrees for sign of movement, when I spotted the telltale V of a deer’s hind end less than 50 yards off in a small clearing. The deer, its head down, was grazing on the grasses and thistle that compose a substantial part of all Anticosti whitetails’ diets. Through binoculars I noted it was an especially large deer and, wind complementing my movement, I approached slowly behind a pile of deadfalls.

At 20 yards the deer turned sideways, only its rump showing. Busy feeding, it still hadn’t raised its head even though 2-3 minutes had elapsed. Between us was a fallen spruce and series of standing trees, further hiding the animal that by now, I was convinced, was a large doe.

Nevertheless I raised my .270 Remington and watched through the scope’s 3X mode as it took several steps to my left, giving me my first sighting of the front end of its body.

At the sound of the shot Larose jumped to his feet, having paused some 400 yards on the edge of the bog for a short nap. Minutes later his orange vest showed through the shadows and we spent the next 20 minutes photographing the fine 8-pointer, the stalking of which would have been a bowhunter’s delight.

Some biologists are of the opinion that Anticosti’s whitetails may have evolved into a separate subspecies, conditioning themselves genetically to the unique environment in which they’ve made a home for the past three-quarters of a century. Everything from the long guard hairs on their coats to their more “compact” leg and body structure hints of selective change from their ancestors.

Don’t expect to find Boone & Crockett deer here. Bagging a buck in excess of 125 B&C; points will qualify a bowhunter for the Pope & Young record book and that’s becoming an attraction for archers. According to Gagnon, less than one per cent of his clients bring bows. Yet the two deer, either sex, limit encourages some hunters to bring along a bow or muzzleloader to fill the second tag.

I carried my bow on two days of the hunt, later in the week joining guide Clovis Daoust, a jovial partner, with which to scour the wilds of the Salmon River territory. Immediate trust in his whitetail knowledge was brought about by the sighting of a 6-pointer within minutes of our departure from the truck. Following one of the numerous trails fringed with orange ribbons we arrived at a shallow ridge where the habitat abruptly changed.

“I like place like dis,” said Daoust in a heavily-accented English. “Beeg bocks come here to feed. Dis a good place.”

Seconds later the dark-pelaged 6-pointer magically appeared from a cluster of low-growing spruces, glanced our direction without focusing upon us, and as quickly disappeared. I’d had the scope to my eye the second I noted movement but, already having an 8-pointer in the meathouse and three more hunting days remaining, I let it pass.

By week’s end I’d clearly seen four more bucks, choosing to pass on a long-tined spike that stood 20 yards away as I drew my Bear bow in the final minutes of the hunt. A friend had taken a doe that he could not transport home and the previous night he’d offered to give it to me. Satisfied, I finished the hunt with one tag unfilled.

Two of the lodges on Salmon River sit on a bluff overlooking the ocean. Waves lap the beach and deer occasionally wade in the surf to feed on the salty kelp, sometimes disturbing the seals that bask on rocks and sand along Anticosti’s vast fringe.

Between enjoying the beautiful Safari Lodge and its 5-course meals I bided my time photographing the numerous red foxes and their silver-gray variations that are seen at nearly every turn. Great-blue herons, friendly Canada jays, raucous ravens, lingering warblers, trusting ruffed grouse, varied sea ducks, Canada geese and other objects of feathered fascination satisfied the birdwatching lust that makes my days afield more enjoyable.

I’ve already made plans for a 1990 hunt on Anticosti. I know the trophy of my dreams doesn’t live here and the best I can expect is a brace of 8 or 10- point bucks – maybe lucking out on a stag in the 12-17 point range like some taken in recent seasons. Most mature Anticosti bucks weigh 200 pounds or more.

As a bonus, plane flights from Montreal to the island include in the fares the return of two quartered deer.

Since my initial Anticosti adventure in 1985 I’ve discovered the joy of having a tract of 30 or 40 square miles to one’s self and the true one-on-one hunting that such a place provides. I know of no other spot in North America in which a hunter can enjoy as challenging and accessible a wilderness while having the chance to harvest a pair of mature bucks in four or five days of hopping bogs and slinking through moss-carpeted black forests.

The Anticosti hunting season runs from Aug. 1, the earliest anywhere in North America, through Dec.r 1. In August bucks-only are permitted with either sex legal from Sept. 1 on. The Atlantic salmon season ends Sept. 15 with a double-duty hunting and fishing vacation possible for the previous month-and-a-half. Deer tags cost $127.50.

Costs range from $1200-$3,000. Air flights are additional. Low cost European plan camps offer one guide for 4-6 hunters. Hunters bring and prepare their own foods. Costs at other camps vary depending on the time of the season and services. Meals, guides, meat handling and transportation on the island are included.

Most Pennsylvania hunters drive to Montreal (450 miles from Allentown), then fly to the island on private prop-planes chartered through the outfitters.

For information on Bell River, Salmon River (including Safari Lodge) and Aquila camps write:Anticosti Outfitters, Box C.P. 39, Cap-Chat, Quebec, Canada GOJ 1EO. Phone: (418) 786-5788.

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