Our hunting district has one of the longest seasons in Newfoundland for moose and caribou. The hunting season for the Conche area always begins on the second Saturday in September thru October. Bow season opens on the last Saturday of each season in August for two weeks only. (Note: October is usually the peak of the rutting season.) Spring Black Bear season begins late May until mid-July.
In accordance with Canadian Law, non-resident hunters are required to hunt with a licensed outfitter who is operating a hunting camp in a specified area. Upon your arrival, the licence and application will be completed on-site, no hassle. Licence fees are remitted to the Provincial Wildlife Division.
We hunt by spotting and stalking, from tree stands and blinds. Average shots for moose and caribou are between 80 and 200 yards. We use 4x4 trucks, powered boats, as well as 4-wheeled & 8-wheeled ATVs to transport the meat from the field to our lodge. Our guides are in great physical shape, so if you want to hunt for a trophy animal, your guide is ready to take you deep into the countryside. However, we will tailor the hunt to meet your physical condition.
After the appropriate photos have been taken, your guides will field-dress your animal. In the case of moose and caribou, they are quartered for easier handling. It is not necessary to quarter a black bear. Your animal is transported back to camp where it is skinned and put into our meat cooler until it is taken to Mayflower Meat Cutters, our in-house processor.
It is recommended that all hunting rifles for moose, caribou and black bear be a minimum of a .270 caliber. A 7mm Magnum or .30-06 is a good next step, providing that you are a good shot. On the other hand, rifles such as the .300, .338, .340 and H&H .375 Magnums are preferred. These rifles tend to be more versatile for moose, caribou and black bear. If the recoil of a large .300 magnums bothers you, then a smaller caliber should be used. A well-placed shot will do more than a pulled shot. Automatic weapons or handguns are NOT permitted. Moose have thick, tough hides, thus, a minimum of a 180 grain partition bullet should be used. Good muzzle velocity and energy at over 150 yards is suggested for an effective kill. Scopes are another important consideration. While many hunters prefer the fixed 4-power scopes, other hunters also use the 3x9 and 3.5x10 variable scopes. When using variable scopes during mornings and evenings the lowest setting should be used to gather more light.
Local butchers will prepare your animal in accordance with your requests at reasonable rates. They will cut, de-bone, wrap, label, vacuum pack, and freeze your meat. Mayflower will box and prepare your meat for air shipment and place it in cold storage until departure. When using an automobile for shipping, the weight and size of the meat is not as restrictive as with air shipments. For automobile shipment, may want to request the butcher to leave the bones. If you only wish to take a portion of the meat back with you, the meat can be left with the outfitter and donated to local individuals in need. Once the butchering and wrapping is completed, the freezing process requires time to ensure that the meat is completely frozen. Considering the high moose population density and the time required for complete freezing, many hunters actually plan to harvest their animal before the fourth day of the hunt. However, last minute meat processing can be arranged.
Roddickton can be accessed through the Viking Trail highway, route 430, by turning right at the Grenfell Drive route 432 and 433. Your voyage will be comforted knowing that the largest Super ferries in North America operate from North Sydney, Nova Scotia to Port Aux Basques, Newfoundland. You can make reservations by calling Marine Atlantic at 1-800-341-7981 or visiting their website. The closest Airport is St. Anthony Airport, about a one-hour drive from Roddickton. Airport Pickup from St. Anthony is included. Airlines have two flights daily flying into St. Anthony via St. John’s, Newfoundland. For reservations with Provincial Airlines call 1-800-563-2800 or visit their website to book online. The other flying destination option would be to fly to Deer Lake, NL (YDF) via Air Canada or Provincial Airlines.. Many of our guests like to rent a vehicle at the Deer Lake airport so they get the opportunity to experience Gros Morne National Park during the drive to their Mayflower Outfitters.
Newfoundland’s weather is very unpredictable. Temperature, wind and weather conditions can change in a matter of minutes here on the island. As the old Newfoundland saying goes, “if you don’t like the weather wait five minutes.” We recommend bringing a range of gear from lightweight to warm clothing. Expect frost in the mornings from October onward and rain at any time. You WILL get wet, so bring the best rain gear available.
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