THE HISTORY OF SAFARI RIVER
Safari River Outfitters has been in operation for over 20 years.
The first Outfitting operation was managed by Barry Sampson. Barry sold his business and land to several investors and the lodge was then managed by Allan and Evelyn Shkopich. In searching for a new location for Goose Haven Canada, Safari River Outfitters was discovered as the perfect home for the two businesses that now operate together. We are proud to carry on the reputation Safari River Outfitters has as a first class destination for trophy whitetail deer hunts, monster black bears, prize moose, and world class waterfowl hunting in Saskatchewan.
As this adventure took traction and grew, we were able to expand once again to purchase a beautiful lodge located on Green Lake. In its history of ownership, it is best known as Buck Paradise, changing ownership over the last 10 years.
Meet The Staff
LANCE & EMILY ROBINSON
Owner/Operations Manager & Outfitting Business Coordinator
Lance has over 15 years of professional guiding and outfitting experience. He is a registered Maine Guide and holds his Captain’s License through the US Coast Guard. He is a certified Wilderness First Responder. He has guided and participated in waterfowl, bear, deer, turkey, wild hog, alligator, moose, grouse, sea duck, ice fishing and open water and offshore fishing trips, carrying on his passion for the outdoors, which was handed down from his father and grandfather.
Emily has an undergraduate degree in Architecture & Civil Engineering, General Studies and Construction Management and earned her Masters in Leadership from the University of Southern Maine. Emily is pursuing her Maine Guides License in hunting, recreation and fishing. Emily is also a volunteer firefighter. She traded in her high heels and business suits to join Lance in the Safari River journey. They were married in June 2017 and had their daughter Brooke (born rut week of deer season in Canada November of 2019)!
CRAIG WHEELER
Executive Chef at Riverside
Craig has years of experience as a chef in several outfitting lodges and previously as an executive chef and owner of a restaurant in Southern Canada. His culinary expertise and delicious dishes will have you asking for his recipes and wanting to take him home!
Lori Dawn Saam
Executive Chef at Lakeside
Lori came to us as Craig’s Sous chef and he knew she’d be perfect for the task of running her own kitchen as we expanded to Lakeside. Giving you fair warning, her family recipes and homemade pastries and desserts may have you heading home a few pounds heavier!
MORLEY DULL
Canadian Director
Morley is from Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan and has been involved with the operations for several years. Morley’s passion is everything outdoors. His favorite is fishing but he helps with all guided hunts here at Safari River/Goose Haven.
The Guides
Left to right: Lance, Henri, Cooper
GUIDES AT RIVERSIDE: Henri Lazar, Cooper Link, Ashton McIntyre
GUIDES AT LAKESIDE: Joel Desjarlais, Kyle Gardiner, Chad Laliberte, Phane Ray, Tyler Wilson
Finding deer, bear, moose and birds is one thing. Putting a hunter within range of a mature buck, monster bear or big bull moose is another. Our guides are experienced hunters themselves. Our guides have over 75 years of combined hunting experience. Long before your arrival in camp, our guides are spotting fields, exploring new areas, putting up new blinds, running cameras and cutting shooting lanes. They will be working even harder while you are hunting. They are checking the wind, continuously checking cameras and bait stations, re-checking the wind and finally, and professionally taking care of your trophy once it is harvested.
Our guides put all of their effort into making sure that their clients have a safe, successful, and enjoyable hunting trip. Please remember how hard your guide works. A tip to your guide is customary.
Tipping is one of the least understood aspects of a guided hunt & can be the most awkward to discuss or ask about so we created some guidelines/tips to better understand the tipping process.
Camp minimum/average is 10% of your total hunt (per hunter).
10% = Good hunt
15% = Great hunt
20% + = Hunt of a lifetime
- Tips should be paid in USD cash directly to your guide and the Chef (they also work hard to make sure food is delicious- how much would you tip at a restaurant?)
- Chef gratuity is over/above the 10% (for example $350 to the guide, $100 for chef)
- As owners, we do not take any tips from this amount as we know our guides work hard for their tips and want to reward them to the fullest extent.
- If you had the hunt of your lifetime; harvesting a elk/buck/bear of a lifetime, etc. please tip accordingly (trophy = approx. $1,000)!
- Tips should be forthcoming whether or not any animals were taken-provided the guide did his/her best to find said animals. It isn’t the guide’s fault if it is a slow hunting week.
- If you tip lower than is customary, we take it to mean you are unhappy with your experience and do not plan to re-book with us.
THANK YOU!
Adapted from Peterson’s Hunting-April 2004
Cleaning Staff
HEAD OF HOUSEKEEPING RIVERSIDE: Tiami Wheeler
HEAD OF HOUSEKEEPING LAKESIDE: Janet Laliberte
Our staff does an exceptional job of keeping our lodge and guest rooms clean and comfortable for an enjoyable stay.
Partners in the Outdoors
