Questions to ask Outfitters

Mallards_Only · Mar 6, 2009

Guys,
I am in the process of researching Outfitters for an archery elk hunt this year and plan to go on at least one hunt a year in the future. I know some of the questions I should be asking and will obviously request references in addition to looking up reviews online. I'm curious what questions some of you guys think should also be asked of an outfitter based on past experiences. Outfitters, feel free to chime in as well. Thanks.

Sukie · Mar 6, 2009

There is going to be a long list of these! I know one thing I learned last year is when talking to references ask them if they previously knew the outfitter/guide. The point here is that I caught an outfitter last year giving me friends as references. Not that someone can't be a friend of an outfitter, but in the state I drew there was no way of having hunted as much as the reference said they had. Also ask for both resident and non-resident names, as well as repeat or one time hunters. Just my .02.

Sukie

rumproast · Mar 6, 2009

"Where's the camp cookie and what does she look like?"

kilowatt · Mar 6, 2009

Where is the Liquor Cabinet?

Brian

mntman · Mar 7, 2009

That's a wide open question in itself.
You have to aske questions that are important to you.
If you have a disability or out of shape then your questions should be centered around terrain, using horses, elevation etc...
If you are a trophy hunter then you better be asking about every size of bull harvested, has the average been going up/down, # of hunters allowed vs the acreage they are hunting.

If you want a vacation as a hunt then ask where the liquor cabinet is and how good looking the waitress is that brings it too you ;-)

Oh and one potentially important one, Is there HIGH fences or not?

Best of luck, hope this helps.

Mntman

"Hunting is where you prove yourself"

flyingbrass · Mar 7, 2009

the best ones will already be taken by this time of year for this fall.
flyingbrass
cold dead hands

isayNUNYA · Mar 7, 2009

#1 Should I tip you $2000 or $2500?
#2 Are road blocks included or should I bring my own?
#3 Is it ok if I bring my 19 year old daughter and her friend?
#4 Your sure its not a ranch bull?
#5 What candle power is your spotlight?
#6 Will the average 400 inch bull fit throught the door of my
jet?
#7 Can I be included in chosing the name of my bull?
#8 Is it ok if I carry 6 or 7 beers in my pack for the guide?
#9 Your Leicas look worn, can I buy you a new pair?
#10 Can we sleep in till 8:00?

"I'll keep my Freedom, I'll keep my Money, I'll keep my guns! You keep the change.
---------------------------------------
"I needed a cheesy signature saying like everyone else"

rumproast · Mar 7, 2009

Oh, yeah--
"Is the guy you're stickin' me with got an alcohol history or does he have a wife about to give birth?"

Roadtrip · Mar 8, 2009

On the references...make sure you talk to some hunters that did not fill their tag. They will give you feedback on the outfitter that is not enhanced by taking a large bull. Toilet...make sure there is a tarp over the crapper. My friends went on a pack in hunt that advertised a complete camp set up and waiting. When they asked about the crapper....they showed them a shovel against a tree. You won't like it if it is raining and you slip and fall in the shitter as you tried the hover maneuver while holding onto a tree. Well, at least he didn't. Also...make sure they don't use greenhorn kids from College as guides. We hired a packer to help us on one of our hunts in Idaho and I ended up taking the string down for a bull I had quartered because the kid in the dressed up cowboy outfit was just plain dangerous. I figured he would kill himself or us.

Good Luck,

"Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life son" Dean Wormer, Animal House

shotgunjim · Mar 8, 2009

Ask your outfitter if he will be able to have several people find you a trophy bull and then sit on it from the month of June until your hunt starts.

If you can't take a crap in the woods without being covered by a tarp, you should'nt be in the woods in the first place, No matter what the weather is doing.

Mallards_Only · Mar 8, 2009

>Ask your outfitter if he will
>be able to have several
>people find you a trophy
>bull and then sit on
>it from the month of
>June until your hunt starts.
>
>
>If you can't take a crap
>in the woods without being
>covered by a tarp, you
>should'nt be in the woods
>in the first place, No
>matter what the weather is
>doing.

Is this realistic? The trophy bull part, not the crap part. LOL

Bura Nut · Mar 8, 2009

1. What trophy potential should I expect?
2. Is it 1 0n 1 guide to client?
3. How many hunting days in this price?
4. how many shot opportunities should I expect?
5. what has been your success rate over the last 5 years.

There are a ton of questions you should ask, but you should also be expected to live up to the client end of the bargain.

1. Be in good physical shape, able to chase the bugles
2. Be able to shoot out to 50 yards
3. follow directions when the opportunities unfold
4. have a positive attitude, be ready to do what it takes

Thanks, Allen Taylor......

mesquitehunter · Mar 8, 2009

I think any question is a good question. We get people all the time asking questions about info that's already on our website. Just make sure you read their website thoroughly. If there's something you don't see you should probably ask.

hntnhrd · Mar 8, 2009

Along with success rates ask about oppurtunity. We went 50% success last year but actually had 120% oppurtunity during archery season. I watched a hunter I was guiding miss a 300 class bull at 12 yards. He said it was the best experience 0f his life. I think he would have been even happier if he had connected !!
Also ask ab0ut f00d and types. Types 0f acc0madations. And specific gear y0u sh0uld have. ( archery hunt? m0st 0utfitters don't have bow scabbards for horseback hunts). Go over the website completly. Most decent outfits have a pretty well written site these days.
www.huntmontanaelk.com
Good luck and have a great trip.

HKShooter · Mar 8, 2009

Don't ask the Outfitter shiyt.

Ask him for a list of his guides for the past 3-5 years and talk to them.

Make 10 calls minimum. Do it for yourself so you know exactly what you're getting into. The owner/outfitter will lie to you, but you can get the truth (or at least a bit of reality) out of the actual guides.

If you hang around this site, you will know who the good guides are and who shoots straight. If I had the money, there are a couple guides on this site that I wouldn't even call references...'cause ya just know. There are some straight shooting guides, but in my experience they blow too much smoke up ars.

Just my 0.02 cents.

HK

mesquitehunter · Mar 9, 2009

HKShooter not all outfitters have a bunch of guides working for them. In my case it's just my brother and me We only take a few hunters a year. We've never lied to anybody or built our hunt's bettter than one should expect. For ourselves it's not about just making money it's making a living at what we love.

Through out the year we keep a blog on how our hunts are going and we post scouting pics throughout the year as well.

There may be some crooked outfitters out there but not all of them are full of ch!t as you said.

www.southwesthuntingadventures.com

hntnhrd · Mar 10, 2009

I kind of thought the same thing about that post. I guide 90% of my hunts and the way things are looking this year might be 100%. I think that if the outfitter has a bunch of guides then they aren't able to give that personal experience that smaller outfit gives, IM0. Just like any business a few rip offs make it tuff on the whole industry.

www.huntmontanaelk.com