Canol or Lancasters?

[jt4752]

Can anyone give me advice on NWT outfitters? Thinking about booking a Dall sheep hunt with either Canol or the Lancasters. What are y’all’s experiences with these outfitters?

 

[Cspraggins]

Both a very good outfits.

Canol has been on alot of hunting shows recently, which makes me think they are trying to push quite a few hunters through there, but they also have the largest concession in the NWT. As I understand it, Glenda runs a good ship there and lots of good rams are taken every year.

The Lancaster family is so well respected in the sheep world, I don’t think you could go wrong with them.

I would probably look at the secondary species and see which outfit produces the best animals of what you like there, as both of them appear to have the sheep figured out and they both consistently kill crankers.

 

[Blockcaver]

I arrowed a ram with Canol in 2017, the first year they owned it, and had a great hunt.

 

[TNsavageman]

I haven’t hunted with either one.
I did run into some hunters tagging sheep when I was tagging mine (‘22) that had hunted with Canol. They were all very happy with their experiences and two were going back in ‘23.

 

[MDM23]

i hunted with Canol in 22 and killed a 11 year old. Great outfit, first class operation all the way around. Lots of good rams, they try to only kill 10 yr+ old rams. Can’t recommend enough, I think they are currently booking for 2026. Haven’t hunted with lancasters but hear good things.

 

[MattB]

Hard to go wrong in the NWT. My preference would be Gana River, but hard to go wrong with any of the established outfitters up there.

 

[kybuck1]

My personal experience with canol is exceptional. Moose/caribou was my experience with them last year and the whole experience was awesome. Headed back to there on a sheep hunt. I've heard good things about Lancasters though as well. I don't think you can go wrong with either.

 

[OutdoorsMD]

Hard to go wrong with any of the outfitters in the NWT. I talked to most before finally booking with Gana River. I know people will say bigger rams come from certain concessions but I think the average rams from each area are pretty similar from what I have seen. There is some luck involved in shooting a big ram but the better shape you are in the more ground you can cover and you have to be willing to pass smaller rams even if they are 10+ if you have a particular minimum in mind. First thing is to consider if you want to go horseback or backpack as well as plane vs heli. I wanted the supercub experience and enjoyed the family atmosphere of base camp at Gana. I am sure I would have had a good experience elsewhere and also came down to dates and availability as well. Could not have been a better experience. Headed back in 2025 for moose/sheep/caribou.

 

[Fishn4eyes]

I hunted with Canol a few years ago and had a great hunt. Glenda and Glen run a great operation.

The Lancaster's have a sterling reputation as well but the only thing that might give me pause is I believe their area was decreased in size due to Park designation or something like that?

I am not 100% certain of that but probably a question worth asking if you are considering them.

As many have said, I don't believe there is a bad concession or outfit in the NWT to my knowledge, all seem to be very solid businesses.

 

[Scottf270]

Jim and Clay also own NWT Outfitters as well as Nahanni Butte. They hunt sheep, moose etc. in both areas. They are great guys and run a great operation.

There are only 8 guide areas in NWT and all outfits are very good. Research what type of hunt you want, cost if it varies, and availability. Can't really go wrong with any of them.

 

[NWTMountaingal]

i hunted with Canol in 22 and killed a 11 year old. Great outfit, first class operation all the way around. Lots of good rams, they try to only kill 10 yr+ old rams. Can’t recommend enough, I think they are currently booking for 2026. Haven’t hunted with lancasters but hear good things.

I may have cooked for you haha but super glad you enjoyed it!

 

[medvedyt]

if you want to go horseback or backpack as well as plane vs heli.

this is the most important to ask. thank you for that.

 

[Timjohnson11]

I've hunted with two and know people that have been to most all the groups up there. My personal preference would be Gana if you want more of the plane/backpack style hunt or Ravens Throat if you want the heli style. All the outfits are decent.

Arctic Red gets a lot of mentions as well. It's definetey the most 'traditional' of the outfits up there. No scouting, no helicopters (unless you are there one of the last two weeks when they have helis in for the moose hunts), limited moving of hunters around if things are going poor, etc. If you want that old school style, then Arctic Red would your choice. They run with slightly lower success rates however because of this approach.

Gana River would fall in the middle of the traditional/modern scale, somewhere between the (formally known as) Canols of the world and Arctic Red. Hence why it would be my ultimate preference. High success rates generally (as they still do some scouting) but still more of a traditional approach.

 

[aoudad]

I’m hunting with the Lancasters next year. I have no doubt it’ll be an awesome adventure

 

[ericthered]

I'm with Lancasters in 2026 and 2027.

 

[Brent9477]

I hunted moose with Lancasters in 23 be back this fall . Good camp / guides / food an game quality. You won’t go wrong with those guys

 

[Retiredoutdoornut]

I’m hunting with the Lancasters next year. I have no doubt it’ll be an awesome adventure

I am moose hunting with the Lancasters at their Nahanni Butte Camp in Sept. of 2026. Would you be open to talking with me regarding questions to make sure I am fully prepared for the hunt.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I've hunted with two and know people that have been to most all the groups up there. My personal preference would be Gana if you want more of the plane/backpack style hunt or Ravens Throat if you want the heli style. All the outfits are decent.

Arctic Red gets a lot of mentions as well. It's definetey the most 'traditional' of the outfits up there. No scouting, no helicopters (unless you are there one of the last two weeks when they have helis in for the moose hunts), limited moving of hunters around if things are going poor, etc. If you want that old school style, then Arctic Red would your choice. They run with slightly lower success rates however because of this approach.

Gana River would fall in the middle of the traditional/modern scale, somewhere between the (formally known as) Canols of the world and Arctic Red. Hence why it would be my ultimate preference. High success rates generally (as they still do some scouting) but still more of a traditional approach.

A good friend of mine went with Arctic red river a few years ago. From how he described it, it was amazing. It was everything you could ever want in a sheep hunt other than a 100% gaurantee.

Bonnet plume, nahanni butte, gana river, canol, hard to find any fault with any of them. If I was trying to book I’d start making calls and ask questions and go with the one that seemed right. I doubt you could go wrong with any of them though.

 

[ssgjpd]

I'm hunting with Lancaster in a couple of weeks, I will let you know how it goes. From everyone I know that has hunted with them, they have nothing but high remarks.

 

[aoudad]

I am moose hunting with the Lancasters at their Nahanni Butte Camp in Sept. of 2026. Would you be open to talking with me regarding questions to make sure I am fully prepared for the hunt.

Shoot me a PM I’m glad to help