Memories of Deep River Deep River.

Memories Of Deep River

Hunting, Trapping, Fishing and Fur
Farming in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada



Halvor Ausland emigrated to Canada from Evje, Norway in 1920. After working at odd jobs in the Watrous and Shellbrook, Saskatchewan area, he travelled to northern Saskatchewan to try his hand at trapping.

He began his career trapping at Grand Rapids on the Beaver River and then moved further north, trapping at such places as Skeleton Bay on Frobisher Lake and the Mudjatik River, known locally as Deer River, south of Cree Lake, Saskatchewan.


Halvor and Knut Ausland - 1920.
Halvor Ausland (left) and his brother Oscar.
Photo was taken when Halvor was about to
emigrate to Canada in 1920
Halvor Ausland - 1922.
Halvor Ausland in his freighter canoe at Patuanak, Saskatchewan. He was on his way north to his trapline on Little Deer River - 1922. His Evinrude outboard motor was the first one in northern Saskatchewan at that time.
Halvor Ausland on his trapline - 1922.
Halvor Ausland on the trapline with dog team, Mudjatik River, northern Saskatchewan, - 1923. Note his camera case hanging on the front of his coat and frost on his whiskers.

In 1925, Halvor Ausland moved to Deep River (MacBeth Channel on the map) where established Deep River Fur Farm. It was located 24 miles west of the village of Ile-a-la-Crosse, and eighteen miles east of Buffalo Narrows on Aubichon Arm on the Churchill River system, known locally as Deep River.


Halvor and Mary Ausland - 1925.
Halvor and Mary Ausland upon their arrival at Deep River by scow - 1925.
Deep River Fur Farm.
Deep River Fur Farm - mid 1950's.
Halvor Ausland with foxes on horse barn.
Halvor Ausland with one day's trapping catch of foxes and coyotes. Deep River - early 1940's.
Heinan Lake trapping cabin.
Halvor Ausland's trapping cabin on Heinan Lake, Saskatchewan in the 1930's.
Little Deer River trapping cabin.
Halvor Ausland's trapping cabin on Little Deer River, a branch of the Mudjatik River, Saskatchewan in 1920's. Note the timber wolf in the toboggan.

Along with mink and fox ranching, he continued to trap and carry on commercial fishing operations. From humble beginnings, Deep River Fur Farm was to become one of the largest and most successful fur farms in northern Saskatchewan.

Halvor Ausland was not one to keep success to himself. Over the years, he helped many northerners establish fur farms of their own.

By 1956, there were 30-40, and possibly as many as 55 mink ranches in the Buffalo Narrows, Ile-a-la-Crosse area, the vast majority started with his help.

From a poor Norwegian immigrant, who came to Canada at 17 years of age and unable to speak English, he became a very successful, well known and highly respected businessman.

He accomplished this by sheer will and determination to succeed under the most difficult of circumstances without any help, or handouts from anyone, other than his family and hired help.


Halvor Ausland Milwaukee Mink Show.
Halvor Ausland (center) at the Milwaukee International Mink Show. He purchased the above Sapphire mink at the show and subsequently, was awarded the Grand Champion mink of the Show - 1957.


Click on the graphic links below to view page contents.

Map of Ausland Lake

Ausland Lake       

Deep River Fur Farm, Ile-a-la-Crosse, Saskatchewan.

Mink Ranch       

Hunting and Trapping web page.

Trapping       

Fishing on Deep River web page.

Fishing       

My Norwegian Roots, Family history.

Roots       

Norway Roots photo gallery.

Gallery       

Deep River from the air video.

Videos       

A History of Buffalo Narrows.

Buffalo       

My Norwegian family.

Family       

Old Aasland Farm.

Farm       


A number of books have been added to this website. They deal with the life and times of many Saskatchewan residents, homesteaders, trappers, fur traders, mink ranchers, bush pilots, as well as other groups, such as the Roman Catholic Church, various government officials and agencies, law enforcement agencies and needless to say, the local native population, consisting mainly of Cree, Dene and Metis.

Please be aware, any errors, or omissions, found in these books are the responsibility of the books authors, not the webmaster of this website. However, I do try to correct any obvious errors wherever possible.




Webmasters Note.

Although there are a number of books and other interesting on-line links on this website, I do not sell books. The books shown here have been reproduced strictly for the reading pleasure of any interested online viewers.




Click on the graphic links below to view page contents.

Sakitawak Bi-Centennial, Ile-a-la-Crosse 1776 - 1976.

Sakitawak       

A Century in the Making - History of Big River and District.

Century       

Timber Trails - History of Big River and District.

Timber       

A Look at the Past - History of Dore Lake, Saskatchewan.

Dore      

Lost Land of The Caribou.

Lost       

The Manager's Tale, Hudson's Bay Company history.

Manager       

History of the Early Mink People in Canada.

Mink       

True Lies of Frontier Charactors and Practical Jokers.

Characters       

True Lies of a Northern Bush Pilot.

Greening       

True Lies of a Northern Fur Trader.

Trader       

Ron Clancy, Northern Fur Trader and Author.

Clancy       

These Are The Prairies book.

Prairies       

Religous History of St. John The Baptiste Parish .jpgage.

Mission       

Saskatchewan Pictorial History book.

Pictorial       

Wings Beyond Road's End book.

Wings         

Who's Who in Furs.

Who         

Joe Anstett webpage.

Anstett         

Saskatchewan and the Rocky Mountains.

Southesk         

Face the North Wind.

Face         

North to Cree lake.

North         

George Abbott link.

Abbott         

Bill Windrum link.

Windrum         

Lefty McLeod link.

Lefty         

Cyril Mahoney.

Mahoney           

Albert Johnson.

Johnson           

Mink and Fish.

MinkFish           

How the Indians used the Birch Tree.

Birch           

Gold and other stories.

Gold           

Northern Trapper.

Trapper           

William A.A. Jay.

Jay           

Trapper John Hedlund.

Hedlund           

The Great Fur Land.

Furland           

My assorted Links Page.

Links           



My e-mail form link.
Guestbook two

Author: Webmaster - jkcc.com
"Date Modified: November 20, 2024."


Memories of Deep River © 1998 by Webmaster
is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.
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