Grand Slam Club / Ovis

Trophy Dall from the Far North

Eric & Lorna Mikkelson
3018 Kensington Crescent
Courtenay, BC V9N 8Z8 Canada
PHONE: (250) 897-0057
or (888) 293-2299
E-MAIL: nwtoutfitters@shaw.ca
www.NWTOutfitters.com

If your idea of a relaxing vacation is hunting Dall sheep in a remote mountain wilderness coupled with sudden weather changes and unexpected animal movements, then book your flight to Norman Wells, NT and let the fun begin. Eric & Lorna Mikkelson of NWT Outfitters provide some of the finest mountain hunting experiences the world has to offer. With hunting camps spread across more than 5,000 square miles of untouched wilderness RAM 2 in the heart of the Mackenzie Mountains, any trophy hunter should find the wilderness adventure they came looking for. “We’ve managed our game well,” says Eric, a veteran guide/outfitter since 1990. “We can offer mature animals in all species, including Dall rams, and have the organization, guides and equipment to make it happen. Your chances of taking an excellent Dall ram are close to 100% for rifle hunts, and in only about two days hunting on average.”

NWT Outfitters limits the total number of hunters they take each season, and only accept 10-12 sheep hunters. Along with the size of the territory and the variety of equipment they use, this ensures that no pressure is put on any of the species they hunt and allows each hunter access to areas that are fresh for every hunt, keeping their success rate and trophy quality high. Mike Davis of Magnolia, AR brought home a “double shovel caribou and super 38 ? inch ram. (My guides) really made everything easy; great to talk with. Eric and Lorna made me feel so at home. This has been a very happy camp. Super, super people!!” Eric and Lorna expect every rifle hunter to go home with a good ram (the average is about 37”,

OUTFITTER PROFILE
NAME:	NWT Outfitters
OWNER:	Eric & Lorna Mikkelson
LOCATION:	Nortwest Territories, Canada
SPECIES:	Dall Sheep, Alaska-Yukon Moose, Mountain Caribou Plus Black Bear and Roosevelt Elk on Vancouver Island
SEASON:	August 1 – September 18

with 10% in the 40” range.) The camps are “foot, float or fly,” and horseback hunts are not an option, even though NWT Outfitters will make all necessary arrangements to ensure that even the most mature hunter has a safe, successful hunt. However, all sheep hunting requires a certain level of determination and willingness to be successful. “Real fair-chase hunting involves lots of strategies and plans that are likely to change at a moments notice,” says Eric. “From the true sport hunter’s perspective, this is more about mental conditioning than physical stamina and will always require some flexibility.” The NWT Outfitters guide area is arguably the best mixed-bag area in the Mackenzie Mountains. Dall sheep hunting takes place from about August 16 through September 9, when the capes are of the best quality and the weather is most cooperative. This is an excellent opportunity to take a mountain caribou on the same hunt, and possibly an Alaska-Yukon Moose early in September. Archery hunting is also encouraged, but the success rate for hunting sheep with a bow is about 1/2 that of rifle hunters, depending on the skill level, fitness and experience of the bow hunter. Once you’ve left the 12’x12’ wooden frame tents and headed back to base RAM 1 camp with your trophy, you can finally “relax” with hot showers, home-cooked meals, satellite communications and internet service, all on the banks of pristine June Lake. Perhaps Bill and Connie Antisdale of Plainwell, MI said it best. “It’s great to be with people who know their business and care enough to do it well.”