Sylt Lake Tent Camps- Newfoundland Moose hunt review

[Deer Hunter]

Before we booked the 4 of us pretty much took that list of outfitters from the government website and divided it up and started making phone calls. We made a big spreadsheet with all the questions, costs etc. Our budget was between 4 and 6 grand Canadian. We eventually ended up with a short list of 5-6 that we wanted to book with. All of the outfitters on the short list had also given us, at our request a Canadian rate. Sylt Lake wasn't even on the list at that point. I will also add, after hours of research and viewing websites – Sylt lake’s website is just as bad as 2/3 of the outfitters in newfoundland that I looked at.
What became very apparent to me and pissed me off was how the majority of the outfitters wouldn't return phone calls or emails. To this day, of the 15-20 outfitters I contacted 10 of them never got back to me. If we waited more than two weeks for a response they were immediately off the list.
From our short list we had agreements on deposits, dates and prices with two outfitters only to have the outfitter go completely AWOL. It was so odd, it was like the outfitter was making a deal with they weren’t good with, so they avoided us. I don’t know, maybe it’s because one of our party members has mobility issues. At this point we were very frustrated. I almost felt since we were Canadian customers, they didn’t want to deal with us.
This all took place before we met Angus at Sylt lake. I personally haven't met the outfitter. My good friend (who is also going on the trip) met him at the Sportsman show last March. We were in contact with Angus on a constant basis the week of the Sportsman Show. He answered all our questions and sent us a whole pile of pictures of the accommodations etc as we had told him his website was shotty. Given what we were experiencing with our short list, and the general frustrations of booking in Newfoundland, we were excited about Sylt lake. We had an outfitter more than happy to cater to us and answer all our questions and he seemed far more generally interested in booking us more than any other outfitter we were dealing with. We felt pretty good about the place, and as such we booked.

I’m experiencing the same thing with a few Saskatchewan WT outfitters. They seem to ignore you when they find out your Canadian. I will remember that when our Canadian dollar is par and they want/need our business then.

[Brett M]

I found this from my hunting partner who hunted with me at Sylt Lake. I don't do social media and after reading the responses on here I know why I don't. I saw your post and it seems like you had as good a hunt as we did. Our hunts have always been awesome.

[skull]

I’m experiencing the same thing with a few Saskatchewan WT outfitters. They seem to ignore you when they find out your Canadian. I will remember that when our Canadian dollar is par and they want/need our business then.

I don’t think it is about the money
You know that you don’t need an outfitter to hunt in Saskatchewan
if the outfitter will take you hunting in his area, you will learn the area and next year you going to be hunting without his help
That’s what is the problem not the money
And I’m not saying this because you going to be doing it
but there is lotta people doing it

[Deer Hunter]

I don’t think it is about the money
You know that you don’t need an outfitter to hunt in Saskatchewan
if the outfitter will take you hunting in his area, you will learn the area and next year you going to be hunting without his help
That’s what is the problem not the money
And I’m not saying this because you going to be doing it
but there is lotta people doing it

Your right, I know that.
The thing is, If I wanted to do that I wouldn’t even bother with them in the first place, I would just do it. I know my way around the bush, I do that for a living.
The comment about the money is when it’s par, many Americans don’t travel and the outfitters quickly get desperate for our business.
I tried explaining to some but the good ones have no problems filling their place with Americans.
Sad really, I can’t even pay the going rates to hunt in my country.

[Big Jack]

Wow , I can't believe how one post can distort the truth and everyone piles on like it is gosple ! I have never posted on social media in my life however must respond to this. During my 40 yrs + hunting i have likely hunted with a dozen or more outfitters. The only one I have return to after the first hunt is Sylt Lake Outfitters ( Angus and Brian Curlew ). These people are salt of the earth and the hardest working hosts I have ever dealt with. They know their area and work hard everyday to put you on a moose ... the rest is up to you. It is called hunting not killing for a reason , it is hard work and alot of slogging through bogs but this outfit is great to deal with . The food is awesome ( Amies cooking ) , the groups are small , usually only four hunters in camp, and hospilality can't be beat. Getting a moose is the bonus and their success rate is nearly 100%. If anyone wants a personal reference i would be happy to share my experience with you. reply to this and i will provide my cell number. Had my first moose sausage of the year last night , yumm ...can't wait to get back to Sylt Lake Outfitters !

You need to understand the OP has been a member of our community for 10 years or better.
His experience alone would deflect me from this outfitter. If you read his post it is clear that some hunters were given preferential treatment.

Why don’t you call this outfitter up and let them know if this thread and maybe take care of this fellow....

[Big Jack]

I found this from my hunting partner who hunted with me at Sylt Lake. I don't do social media and after reading the responses on here I know why I don't. I saw your post and it seems like you had as good a hunt as we did. Our hunts have always been awesome.

No need to bash the community.

Guy had a bad experience and pretty significant detail went into his explanation.

[MarcoD]

Honestly I found out about this thread as a result of giving the outfitter a good reference by another individual.

I was asked how my hunt went. I told him and the outfitter name and then that individual sent me this posting.

Again I only commented on my experience and hope to one day be able to go back. I can’t afford a yearly trip like that. Wish I could though.

[magnumforce]

Toddy, when you get there, Angus will ask you for the entire amount for the hunt, only give him 50%, and give the rest after the hunt if he promised to guide for you (and only himself, the other guide is useless barely called and falls a sleep on you) and if promised a couple of nights at the spiked camp.

[magnumforce]

To Brett M, I am not making this stuff up, I have pictures of the guide sleeping on me. If you promise something and you should deliver!
Angus promised a couple of nights at the spiked camps, but he took the repeat American hunters instead, and he promised that he would guide me personally, which never happened.

[BlueBoard15]

That is a lot of money to be dishing out with no moose and terrible experience. He may as well of robbed you at that point.

As ppl are saying on in this thread. I would of been doing a ton of research and looking at the reviews.