Bad Outfitter's and what did you do?

GOutes

Active Member
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238
We are having some major issues with an outfitter that we had hired in the past.

Have any of you unknowingly hired a bad outfitter or had a bad experience with one?

What did you do?

PM me if necessary.
 
LAST EDITED ON Apr-15-18 AT 02:07PM (MST)[p]"Bad Outfitter"? In my opinion, all outfitters are bad, period.
That's because they give fat lazy guys with a lot of money a big advantage over hard working do-it-yourself guys with limited time and resources.
 
I have had some awful hunts at times, some outfitters/guides, are very good, but some are absolute disasters -- sad fact is once you're screwed you have no real legal recourse in almost every case in every state. The one time I had recourse I lived in the same state as that outfitter/guide, took him to Small Claims Court, won a $ 1,500 judgment, he told me not going to pay you. So I got his bank account number ( took some research), then took it out of his account & he never saw it coming.
I could go on & on, but you get the picture , you never know what they are like no matter how much checking you do, until you go hunt with them, then it's too late-- if they are terrible/crooked / incompetent , you are screwed. No laws to regulate them in any state/province, to my knowledge anyway. Local law does not care about hunters-- no rights ! It's a jungle out there !
Jerry Gold
Ft Collins, Co
EM: [email protected]
 
All Outfitters are bad?? I do not agree with that at all. There are plenty of good Outfitters . If I were ever fortunate enough to draw a LE tag in Utah or Nevada I would more than likely hire one. Being from N.M. and hunting here my whole life I have never had a need to hire one, but being that one of those tags will probably be OIL for me I would want the opportunity to kill the best bull possible.
 
All I've ever done is DIY.. kinda hard to put in hours when you live 3 states away! Damn sure not looking to piss a LE tag away in one of those states on a 320 bull. Do I need a guide for lack of ability? Definitely NOT! Do guides who spend a majority of their time there know where to find the big boys? I'm sure . Or at least a hell of a lot better areas than the guy who can't scout do ,with out question id be hiring a guide! After years of building points there are people who actually want to capitalize on the opportunity.
 
>
>No laws to regulate them
>in any state/province, to my
>knowledge anyway. Local law does
>not care about hunters-- no
>rights ! It's a jungle
>out there !
>Jerry Gold
>Ft Collins, Co
>EM: [email protected]


not true in Colorado at least - guides / outfitters must be licensed
 
There's good and bad in everything. If you truly do your homework its unlikely you'll end up with a bad outfitter. I've had the pleasure of going on a dozen or so guided hunts (and about 3 times that many unguided). I can truly say I never had a bad one. I've met some great folks and had some wonderful experiences. I don't have any advice for you (mostly because your question is pretty broad) but I hope things work out for you.
 
Got to be licensed in Utah aswell.

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I think it depends on what you call bad. Outfitters operate on their own time and in their own way, and that's ok, but you better be ready for it. I'm a cpa. Do I handle business like an outfitter does? Of course not. So need to know that going in.

I recently had a good outfitter, bad guide - Wyoming. I just made the most of it and voiced my issues with the outfitter after I got home. It didn't ruin the hunt, but made it not fun. I didn't voice it (details, names) on public forums and never would. 2 sides to every story....

I think the outfitter needs to know of the displeasure. But as far as $$ goes - I think you're hosed. It's just the gamble you take when you sign up unfortunately. Or at least that's how I see it. Just be careful is all you can do, and then even still, bad things happen.
 
Hunting is hunting. No guarantees. You don't say what the problems are or what you expected from your hunt. I agree with others that there are good and bad outfitters. I have been traveling 1800 miles one way to hunt mule deer and elk for 30 years. Most have been total DIY adventures. I have paid for 5 guided hunts over the years. 2 were good hunts. 3 were not. I used to call every reference I could get but I have never found a reference who would say anything bad about the outfitter. I have learned that you have to weed thru all their B.S. and do a lot of research. Don't ask about the big ones they kill because they all say they kill big ones. Ask questions about the little bucks and does and cows they harvest. Try to focus on what an outfitter can control and what they can't. At the end of the day, the outfitter is in business to make money. As others have said, there are good and bad outfitters everywhere. The trick is finding outfitters who are also passionate about hunting and not just passionate about taking your money. I have been hosed 3 times by bad weather. I have been hosed by an outfitter who flat out lied about how and where we were going to hunt. I have been hosed by bad luck. Last time, I got hosed by circumstances behind the scenes that I really struggled to get a grasp on what was going on with the outfitter. I have never been hosed by outfitters who were truly passionate about hunting. When you buy a guided hunt you are buying a product with no guarantee. Buyer beware. The very worst trip started out with ham sandwiches for lunch that were bread two thin slices of ham and butter. The next morning we asked the cook for ketchup or mayonnaise to put on the ham sandwiches. Who wants butter on a ham sandwich? The cook said no - that's how Rich wants the sandwiches made so that's how I have to make them. Thankfully that outfitter, who was not in camp, is out of the business. Good luck resolving your issues.
 
Some Licensed Guides are like lots of Drivers---- Bad Drvers. !! That's why everyone should have insurance-- but many don't have insurance or licenses either. They hit you & you're screwed Charlie ! As for " Liicensed Guides" in Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, that's a cover their butts sort of deal, have a really bad hunt & try to get any $$$ back, you are up a creek & no paddle ! I have had some super terrific guides, great as guides & people & hunters too, but oh WOW there are some outlaws out there to really ruin your hunts & leave you high & dry. It is truly buyer beware & no guarantees of anything, except they want all your $$ up front & cash preferably or cashiers checks. It's not just me either, I have heard many other hunters & they too have had some awful experiences too-- & never got 1 cent back. I am very careful but still got nailed by some outfitters/guides & saddled with nightmares. You can check out references to hell & back, but still never know until you get there & go hunting. Even then when you find a great guide, come back in several years & it could be totally different with him/them next time. One never knows-- it's all a crap shoot & roll of the dice.
Jerry Gold
Fort Collins, Colorado
E M: [email protected]
 
I truly believe that no matter how much investigating you do on an outfitter, he can screw you if he wants to. Thanks everyone for the PM?s, great advice on the forum as well.

I would be happy to give you who not to use via PM.
 
Interesting to see that a couple of you have had the same issue with this particular outfitter. Once a thief, always a thief!
 
>Interesting to see that a couple
>of you have had the
>same issue with this particular
>outfitter. Once a thief, always
>a thief!

Why don't you post his name so other people don't get screwed?
 

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