Turtle River Whitetails
Turtle River Whitetails
Rated 5 out of 5.0 based on 43 Outfitter reviews.
Contact: John Cherkauskas
Location: Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan
Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer
State(s) Hunted: SK
Comments & Special Offers: Trophy Whitetails
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note: The following reviews predate the numeric rating system and are not included in this outfitter's overall rating.
outfitter review submitted by: Paul Hopfgarten on May 1 2010
Species Hunted: Whitetail
Game Quality: Great
Accommodation Quality: Great
Camp Condition: Great
Food Quality: Great
Guide Experience: Super
Other Personal Experience: Super
Overall Impression: The Best
Recommend: Definitely
Reviewer Comments: I have been to Saskatchewan 3 times.Twice with another outfitter and last year with Turtle River. Turtle River was by far the best. Richard and Kathy make sure everyone has everything they need. They get more excited than anyone when you get a deer. The guides are SUPER!!!!!!! Last year was real warm as it was all over North America so the deer sightings weren't as many but myself and my son got great deer. We are already booked for 2010. If you want any info you can call781-585-1955 or email hoppa58@comcast.net Thank you, Paul Hopfgarten
outfitter review submitted by: Jonathan Hopfgarten on Dec 13 2009
Species Hunted: Whitetail
Game Quality: A+
Accommodation Quality: A+
Camp Condition: pristine
Food Quality: Great
Guide Experience: Very experienced
Other Personal Experience: Very experienced
Overall Impression: A+++
Recommend: Yes Absolutely
Reviewer Comments: This is a top shelf operation. Great stands, great setups, great guides, great owner, great equipment, attention to detail, great food, great location WAY out in the bush. I had a blast and will be back next year. Cantact me anytime. Be careful there are a lot of liars and crappy places out there. Richard is more concerned about you getting a deer than you will be. And will probably be more excited when you get one.. I saw deer ALLLL day
outfitter review submitted by: Paul Hopgfgarten on Nov 28 2009
Species Hunted: Whitetail
Game Quality: Excellent
Accommodation Quality: Excellent
Camp Condition: Excellent
Food Quality: Excellent
Guide Experience: Excellent
Other Personal Experience: Excellent
Overall Impression: Great
Recommend: Yes
Reviewer Comments: Hunted the 3rd week in Nov. Weather was real warm for this time of the year,60 degrees one day. Shot a nice 8pt on the 4th day and my son shot a nice 9pt on the 2nd day. I have been on 2 Saskatchewan deer hunts and so far this was the best. Richard and Kathy run a first class operation and a tight ship. There is no screwing around. We were in the woods so far it took us over an hour everyday to get to our stands on quads. You will never see another person all day besides your guide. I will be going back next year with my son to try for a bigger one. Email me with any questions.
outfitter review submitted by: Dave Allard on Jan 5 2009
Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer
Game Quality: Excellent
Accommodation Quality: Excellent
Camp Condition: Excellent
Food Quality: Excellent
Guide Experience: Excellent
Other Personal Experience: Excellent
Overall Impression: Awesome
Recommend: Absolutely
Reviewer Comments: Hunted here in Nov. 2008. Saw tons of deer both days. Harvested a nice 8 point on the 2nd morning at 64 yards. I wish I would have been a little more patient, because Richard has some real beasts in his area--but you live and learn. Equipment was top notch. Stands were comfortable and roomy, and the front window sills make a great rest. Richard also has a 100 yd range on-site to check your rifle before the hunt. All atv's were in good working order, with no break-downs. His area is very remote. You are miles from any human activity. The remoteness provides "zero" hunting pressure from any locals. Richard and Kathy are 2 of the most caring people you will ever book a hunt with. They have every base covered. Richard thrives on your daily feedback from what you saw from your stand. The more info you give him, the better your chances. If you are considering booking a hunt in SK, do yourself a favor, and call Richard. I promise there isn't a better paid deer hunt out there.
outfitter review submitted by: Wilfred Douglass on Feb 5 2008
Species Hunted: Whitetail
Game Quality: Above Average
Accommodation Quality: Excellent
Camp Condition: Mostly New
Food Quality: Could not be better
Guide Experience: Excellent
Other Personal Experience: Excellent
Overall Impression: Can't wait to go back!!!!!
Recommend: TO ANYONE!!!!!!!!
Reviewer Comments: I have been to 3 other camps in Saskatchewan,and Richard & Kathy's is by far the best. I arrived as a client,and I feel I left as a FRIEND. The hunting experience of being way back in the "bush" is second to none. I saw the "Buck of MY DREAMS" on day 2,but was unable to get a shot,only to get fooled by a similar but smaller buck later the same day. My guide,Lawrence,was everything a guide should be. He worked very hard,and knew what he was doing.We are now keeping in touch as friends. I'm booked again,along with 2 friends.
outfitter review submitted by: Ray Cornish on Dec 4 2007
Species Hunted: Whitetail
Game Quality: Excellent
Accommodation Quality: Excellent
Camp Condition: Excellent
Food Quality: Excellent
Guide Experience: Excellent
Other Personal Experience: Excellent
Overall Impression: Excellent
Recommend: Highly recommend
Reviewer Comments: This was my second hunt with Richard. Deer movement was slow, seen several nick bucks. I shot a 10 pointer with drop tine, scored 158 on 4th evening of hunt. Food and accomidations were excellent. Super nice people that treat you like family. I would highly recommend this hunt and am looking forward to doing it again.
outfitter review submitted by: Charles Norton on Dec 4 2007
Species Hunted: Whitetail
Game Quality: Excellent
Accommodation Quality: Excellent
Camp Condition: Excellent
Food Quality: Excellent
Guide Experience: Excellent
Other Personal Experience: Excellent
Overall Impression: Excellent
Recommend: Yes
Reviewer Comments: Hunted the 2nd week of the 2007 season and the weather was a little warm, but we still saw some good bucks. 5 out of 6 got a nice deer with the biggest being 176+", a couple of 150 class, and a low to mid 140". The guides were very knowledgeable and the food and accomadations were outstanding. I would highly recommend this outfitter.
outfitter review submitted by: Michael Gates on Dec 2 2007
Species Hunted: white-tail deer
Game Quality: Excellent
Accommodation Quality: Top-Notch
Camp Condition: Excellent
Food Quality: Best of the Best
Guide Experience: Couldn't be better
Other Personal Experience: Excellent
Overall Impression: Better than excellent
Recommend: Definitely Yes
Reviewer Comments: This was my 3rd year of hunting Saskatchewan - but my first year with Turtle River. This was the hunt I have been searching for - a true remote area of Saskatchewan. I have hunted white tails with outfitters all across Canada and the United States, so my comments are based on lots of experience. Turtle River Outfitters is by far the BEST of all of them. Richard Bailey has created a hunting experience that I can't imagine can be topped by ANY outfitter anywhere. Richard spends all year preparing for the 4 weeks of the Saskatchewan rifle season. You will hunt from blinds that are as remote as you can find, you are brought in by ATV's (Quads)many miles. And it is not just the hunting that is superb - the accomodations, the guides and the camaraderie that develops in one week's time, truly makes it sad to say good-bye until next year. Kathy Bailey prepares true home-cooked meals that cannot be beat. Oh - and the deer - you will see bucks, lots of bucks and the size of bucks (150 class and bigger) that you expect from Saskatchewan. Richard's year-round scouting really pays off. I rank Turtle River Outfitters as #1 in Saskatchewan. Email me if you want more details on my overall hunting experience with them.
outfitter review submitted by: Ed Stratton on Nov 27 2007
Species Hunted: Whitetail
Game Quality: Very Good
Accommodation Quality: Excellent
Camp Condition: Excellent
Food Quality: Excellent
Guide Experience: Excellent
Other Personal Experience: Excellent
Overall Impression: Quality
Recommend: Absolutley
Reviewer Comments: Hunted with Richard Fall 2007. Tagged out the first day with a high 130's class buck with 13 scorable points. Saw a better buck the next day near one of the stands we were readying for the hunters. Better bucks in the area better bucks killed that week... Lots of scrapes and rubs, rut was full swing. Stands wer comfortable and well kept, Lots of land, lots of area between stands. Richards’s wife Kathy is a great cook and helps out in all areas even caught her dragging a buck around for pictures. Very accommodating, quality people, great place, highly recommended place to hunt!!
outfitter review submitted by: Charlie Neal on Apr 24 2007
Species Hunted: WHITETAIL DEER
Game Quality: GOOD
Accommodation Quality: EXCELLENT
Camp Condition: EXCELLENT
Food Quality: EXCELLENT
Guide Experience: GOOD
Other Personal Experience: GOOD
Overall Impression: VERY GOOD
Recommend: YES
Reviewer Comments: I hunted 6 days with this outfitter in 2006 and ended up killing a 140 9 pt. on the 6th day. I saw lots of game each hunt and vidioed 24 different bucks during the 6 days. I saw 2 bucks that may have been slightly better than the one I took but was hoping for something better. There were 4 other hunters in camp with me and each killed deer better than mine, the best being a mid 150 buck. This was Richard's first year owning the operation and I thought some of the stand placements could be improved and I think he will get that done in the future. The accommodations were great and Richard's wife Kathy (the backbone of the operation) prepared wonderful meals and worked non-stop to make sure we had everything we needed when we needed it. Although I did not kill as big a buck as I would have liked, I believe they are there and enjoyed my hunt immensely and would definitely do it again.
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Alberta Hunting Information
Alberta is a large, diverse province with rolling prairies, farmland, river bottoms, Boreal forests, and large expanses of the northern Rocky Mountains. Many species of big game, waterfowl, upland game and predators inhabit Alberta. Long known for monster whitetails, Alberta also is home to big mule deer, pronghorn antelope, elk, black bear, cougar, Canada moose, and bighorn sheep. In fact, 7 of the 10 largest bighorn sheep in Boone and Crockett record book are from Alberta. In addition to big game, Alberta offers some top notch bird hunting. Serious waterfowlers know about the large flocks of ducks and geese that call Alberta home or migrate through.
Manitoba Hunting Information
Manitoba is known as a top destination for avid waterfowl hunters. Huge flocks of ducks and geese can be found from the Arctic coast of Hudson Bay to the prairie potholes on the southern border of this Canadian province. There is no legal requirement for non-resident waterfowl hunters to use a guide, but many are available and a high percentage of non-Canadian hunters utilize them. In addition black bear, Canada moose and whitetails are hunted throughout the province.
New Mexico Hunting Information
New Mexico is one of the top destinations for trophy Elk and Antelope hunting. Draw odds can be tough depending on the unit but landowner tags are also available for those who don't draw. Mule Deer are plentiful but generally of average size. Only a couple of units and reservations consistently produce big muleys.
