North River Outfitters - North Bay, Ontario

Kris L.

Buckle down, this is a long review.

This outfitter isn’t what he portrays himself to be, the website and social media is 100% well kept but in reality it is completely different.

His version of lodging is a run down camper that is duct-taped together (but don’t worry people it doesn’t leak) with a door that requires two people to close it. With a small space heater that isn’t even close to enough to heat the camper. And don’t go pee at 3 am outside because there are bears in the area. Can’t use hydro in the camper (because it will blow the breaker in his house) so forget bringing any small coffee machines for when you wake up in the camper. Bring toiletries and towels but forget showering on what is suppose to be a week long trip, since no one can use the shower in his house. Need to go to the bathroom? Well there’s an outhouse but it’s filled to the brim and almost overflowing.

The meals that were “cooked and delivered by a chef” consisted of small sausages with not even enough buns for all of them with a handful of McCain frozen fries. And breakfast? A few small pancakes with two small breakfast sausages.

Now down to hunting.. where you’ll be dropped off on crown land (we checked the crown land atlas) with his buddies truck because none of his equipment was in working order. At the stands at 6am no cell signal or means of communication and at the site till 6pm. Did you shoot something early in the morning? Well even on a hot day you better hope it doesn’t spoil because you won’t retrieve it till 6pm. Oh and if you don’t know how to field dress you better learn on your own. And let’s not forget the “ground blind” that is a white lawn chair with a broken arm. Not even a recent sign of deer in the area either.

The guys lasted one day and one night on a $3000 6 day deer hunting trip thinking it was a great deal and trying to give the outfitter the benefit of the doubt. These are men that hunt up north for moose and bear yearly, they aren’t by any means hunters that expect much.

After speaking with the owner he refused to refund. So before anyone else gets ripped off please beware. Save your money and find a reputable outfitter.

DylyWeed

Can’t wait for the spring hunt in the post card that is North bay at my home away from home in North bay . Great people great time ten out of ten would recommend

Gary C.

Would seriously question this outfitter when they are claiming certain guns are banned when they aren't. Then they proceed to block people that call them out on their lies. Doesn't sound like a very knowledgeable outfitter.

Michael S.

Trip was Mid Feb 2023 - Ice Fish Trip should have been canceled and refunded due to poor access on ice. Bait for fishing was not readily provided, and counted how many we were using. Did not bring an ice scoop either day off two day trip. Ski doo got stuck frequently. Pop up huts were of poor quality, and not staked down, where one blew down the lake for guides to recovery. They did not give the run and gun experiance we thought we were paying for. One decent fish over two days, and only tried two locations. Guides were friendly, but not what I would call "active ice fishing guides". This operation needs more investment in good/new equipment.

After trip I offered to give the feedback to owner and he never pursued the feedback. Based on my groups experiance I would not recomemd this outfitter.

Ty M.

Sean has a lot of knowledge that he willingly shares, which is nice. I am a new hunter and I was able to ask questions and help in all aspects of the hunt (at my request), not just show up and shoot. I took home a bear (one I tried for 3 years to get with another outfitter) and more importantly some knowledge that will serve me in my hunting future. Hunting is a hard thing to get into in Canada. A lot of old school hunters complain about the sport dying but hide their knowledge and wisdom and "honey holes". Sean has been hunting his whole life and it was nice to to speak to an experienced hunter/angler/outdoorsman who shares his knowledge, wisdom and experiences freely and honestly.
Sean was accommodating, providing everything I required and even made changes I requested in advance. I had breakfast and supper in the camp and lunch in the stand.

I saw a review from someone saying he lied about his land. Yes some of the land is crown land, what he didn't mention is, that is a leased bear management area. He did not lie, he pays the government to use that land specifically to hunt on just like most other Outfitters. I will not get more into detail but this is how it works, he did not lie, I don't think that's a fair review. And it should be removed because the poster obviously did not look into how BMA work in Ontario. He also complained about not getting a deer. This is hunting, you can't predict what is going to happen. You can look up how many deer/bear are taken in that WMU and see it's a great area to hunt, but it is hunting...weather, disasters, droughts, moon phase, etc, etc all effect animals and he can't control that. If you want a guaranteed animal go do a high fence hunt. If you want a real good chance, CHANCE, at a trophy buck/bear this is the guy that will get you a great CHANCE at one. Nothing in hunting is a guarantee, as Sean says, keep taking away all the 1% things that keep you from being successful and he does this. There is extremely high success rates here, while I was here he had a return client that had been on multiple hunts with him, you don't go back many times if you're not happy...

Overall I had a great experience, this is not some fancy pants 5 star resort where the animal is tied out back waiting for you to shoot it in-between your massage and pedicure, and you sleep in a chalet with 10' fireplaces and marble floors, this is a hunt camp. I didn't go to hang out in the house or trailer, I went to hunt and I went to learn and I accomplished both. So if you are looking to go on a real hunt with a real hunter, this is the place.

I am planning to go back for many more hunts and fishing. Thank you Sean, for making me better hunter, sending me home with a trophy most hunters would kill to see let alone have (Chevron bear) and for a great week.

Russ H.

Did a six day bear hunt and bagged a very large bear. The team were pleasant and experienced, the lodgings nice and the food good. Could not ask for anything better. Will be back again for certain.

Al

Sean and Marilyn and their guide Neil have become second family to me I don’t know any outfitter as honest and hard working as them my second year coming back and all I can say is good things these guys are knowledgeable and know the area very well professional and what you’d expect from a fully guided outfitter the meals are amazing accommodations were great and I was able to tag out on my first bear and so did my buddy on our last day!! Fair to say I’ll be coming back every year! Thank you guys for treating me so well I couldn’t have asked for a better trip

Vlad Z.

Excellent place to go for fishing or hunting!
Amazing customer service and I can't wait to come back there. The area offers lots of lakes and breath taking views.
The owners are very friendly down to earth country folks and they work hard to please thier visitors.
Would recommend this place to anyone who looking for great hunting and/or fishing trip.