My first ever big game hunt was a family affair many years ago. My Dad, two of my brothers and I booked an early November whitetail hunt to Anticosti Island, Quebec. I remember it well; the way the wind blew all week, the oddity of chasing whitetails within ear-shot of the ocean. I remember warm camps and good food. But, when I hear mention of Anticosti the images that come first to mind are of the island's whitetails. Leaping across the trail in front of our careful stalks, my brother's two big bucks in the back of the pickup when we met for our lunch break on the first day and at the end of a 4-day hunt, the meat house crowded with 20 hanging deer, two for each hunter.

Anticosti continues to be a favorite destination for deer hunters from around the world and because of cost and location it still has favorite appeal for the first time adventure traveler.

Anticosti Island sits in the mouth of the bay of St. Lawrence, a little more than 60 miles off the northern coast of Quebec's Gaspe peninsula. This landmass rising up out of the cold waters of the north Atlantic is 138 miles long and 35 miles wide. Although home to a variety of wildlife, it is the island's 120,000 whitetail deer that lay claim to Anticosti's notoriety. Jacques Cartier discovered the island in the early 1500's. In the 1860's European chocolate tycoon Henri Menier turned the island into a private hunting and fishing reserve and imported 200 whitetail deer. To say the deer flourished in this ecological paradise is an understatement. The succulent vegetation in combination with a lack of natural predators resulted in what proved to be an unprecedented population explosion and today Anticosti is home to the largest concentration of whitetail deer in eastern North America.

For the traveling whitetail hunter the shear density of game on the island is the obvious magnet but there are several other factors that have contributed to Anticosti's acclaim. To start, there is a two deer bag limit and success rates average 75% for hunters filling both tags. Secondly, the island offers a unique geography and hunting experience. The predominantly coniferous forests are crisscrossed with thousands of miles of logging roads enabling hunters to get deep into the home territory of Anticosti's big bucks. Clear, salmon filled rivers dissect the island and of course there is the presence of the surrounding ocean, supplying the deer herd a daily diet of fresh kelp along its beaches. Lastly, there are only three outfitters licensed to hunt on the island, each is different from the others and all are first rate.

Sepaq, a division of the Quebec government, is the largest operation with 37 camps and hunting rights to nearly two-thirds of the island. Their trips originate from the small airport at Mon-Joli on the Gaspe. The season runs from early September into December and the outfitter's variety of package options include 1x4 or 1x2 guide service, extended horseback hunts as well as standard American and European plan hunts. Sepaq is also somewhat less expensive with your basic all-inclusive, 4-day American plan hunt starting at approximately $1800 US.

Both of Anticosti's other two outfitters are privately owned and located on the east end of the island. Their trips originate from Montreal making package prices a bit more expensive but also eliminating the 12 to 14 hour drive to Mon-Joli.

Safari Anticosti on the northeast shore operates three separate lodge facilities including the new Trophy Lodge as well as a number of self-sufficient Euro-plan camps. The accommodations are the best and the recent acquisition of a previously unhunted "trophy" territory adds a new dimension to an already first rate operation. Safari's 4 day, American plan packages start at $2400 US and include 1x4 guide service and air transportation from Montreal.

The island's other private outfitter is Cerf Sau. They are located on the southeast shore and have bragging rights for consistently shooting some of Anticosti's biggest bucks. Operating out of two recently renovated lodges, they offer 4 and 5 day American plan hunts with 1x2 and 1x4 guide service. Belle River Lodge is the pride of Cerf Sau. Open only from late October thru November, the "Belle" features great food and accommodations but they are known for the quality and skill of their guides.

All-inclusive American plan hunts with 1x4 guide service start at approximately $2950 with 1x2 hunts starting at $3450. All trips originate from Montreal.

There is a catch or two when it comes to booking a trip to this whitetail mecca. Primarily, all outfitters on the island give first dibs to current year hunters for rebooking the same camp and week for the following season. This in itself can result in locking up 60 to 70% of the island's hunter capacity. It also means that dates do not become available until a group declines on their option to rebook. For instance, if you want to hunt in 2004 your name has got to be on the outfitter's or an agent's list over a year in advance. You need to be a little flexible so as to take advantage of dates as they become available. Also note, that the best time to hunt is during the rut and all of the outfitters charge a $300 to $400 premium for November dates.

Think it's worth it? Ask someone who has been there if they would go back. Bryan Boutin of Williamstown hunted with Safari Anticosti last season. His answer without hesitation, "You bet!!"