Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 27/02) - The owner of Arctic Safaris considers himself a dream maker.

Barry Taylor takes his customers about 320 kilometres north of Yellowknife to experience something they've dreamed about -- a rustic Northern hunting experience.

His high standards and ethics have not gone unnoticed.

Safari Club International recently selected Taylor as a finalist for the prestigious 2003 Outstanding North American Hunter of the Year award.

Taylor's philosophy is: give customers more than they've hoped for.

While he employs a professional cook, he keeps the experience from getting too elaborate. Believe it or not, visiting hunters stay in a cluster of grain bins.

"If you get a big fancy lodge, that's not real hunting," he said. "The grain bins are bear-proof, weather-proof, safe, secure and warm."

And although his clients are mostly men, Taylor is adaptable.

"This year we had an entire group of women hunters," he said. "They had a ball. It was a little different for us. We had group hugs every morning and a wine and cheese party every evening."