Guides And Outfitters

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Choosing A Hunting Outfitter

Telling everyone your success story after a good day in the field is lots of fun. Hiring a good hunting outfitter increases the chances of a deer hunter tagging a big buck like the deer hunters did here. Hunter shown wearing Mathews Lost Camo.

Over the years, you have probably been on several outfitted hunts. Some of them were probably good hunts and you will always remember because you had a good time, regardless if you harvested an animal or not. You have probably also been on a few outfitted hunts that were very poor. Hunters remember those hunts because everything the outfitter told you prior to the hunt was a lie. Unfortunately for hunters in this situation, by the time you discovered the outfitter was a fraud, you were sitting in camp and your check had been cashed. One elk hunter went on an outfitted elk hunt several years ago that turned out to be a disaster. What he was told and what this elk hunter was sold were two completely different things. He was told that all of the hunting guides in camp were experienced elk hunters and bowhunters. This elk hunter was assured he would have Class A accommodations and would be elk hunting private land that had seen little hunting pressure. After arriving in camp, he quickly realized he was in for an adventure... but not the type of adventure he signed a $6,000 check over to partake in. The hunting guide had never held a bow in his hand before, let alone harvested an elk with one. The accommodations consisted of pop-up campers and an outhouse, which his wife who came along on the trip really enjoyed!

For many big game hunters, paying extra to have a guided hunt that includes a cook is worth it. When interviewing a hunting outfitter, ask who is responsible for providing the meals.

They did not even have a target in camp to shoot our bows at. That was okay; they shot at a rotting mule deer carcass that was hanging from a tree behind camp. As far as the hunting land was concerned, there were way too many hunters being brought to the camp to hunt. During the week this elk hunter was there, there were seven different hunters hunting the same piece of private property. There were five or more hunters in camp for weeks before I got there and for weeks after I left - and all of them were hunting the same couple herds of elk.

This elk hunter hunted seven days. In the first five days of his elk hunt, he didn't see any elk. The other elk hunters in camp had similar luck. After fighting with the hunting outfitter, he was moved to a different camp where he saw the behind of an elk that was 300 yards away. The other hunters in camp never saw a single elk. One hunter in camp had saved money for years to go on the elk hunt and had two kids in college. This was his once-in-a-lifetime hunt that turned out to be a nightmare. Oh, and by the way... their cook smoked a healthy dose of marijuana every day while preparing their food.

Most hunters choose a hunting outfitter based on a conversation they have with them at a sport show or outdoor function. Hunters walk up to their booth and listen to hunting outfitters tell them everything they want to hear. "Yes, we have trophy class animals. Yes, we have a 90% success rate regardless if you are using a bow or gun." They prove it to you by showing you a photo album full of grinning hunters holding their trophy buck or bull. So, you plop down a deposit and go home happier than a pig in mud. However, you might have the hunt of a lifetime... or you may not. Hunters are flipping a coin and without doing lots of research on the hunting outfitter, you stand a good chance of being disappointed. Choosing the right hunting outfitter requires the hunter to do a little homework and act as a private investigator.

Hunters should always ask hunting outfitters what type of housing will be provided. Often the more expensive the hunt is, the better accommodations you will have. Make sure that if you are paying thousands of dollars you're not staying in a pop-up camper!

Ask Questions

Always have a list of questions to ask a hunting outfitter. As you watch TV at night, write down questions you think of. Have the list ready before you attend a sport show. Ask the questions. Having the list in front of you as you talk with hunting outfitters will help you remember everything. Key questions may include: how much is the hunt? Are there any fees you're not telling me about? How long have you been in business? Do you specialize in bowhunting?

Make sure you get all of your questions answered before booking a hunt. If a hunting outfitter starts acting angry or upset as you ask the questions, move on to the next booth. If they answer each question with an answer you are looking for, they stand a good chance of being a reputable hunting outfitter.

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