huntnphool
Active Member
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- 296
Just want to see how many of you are members to this service and do you think its worth the money...................rf
Garth Carters Hunting Service.........
- Thread starter huntnphool
- Start date
I am. The first 6 months are definatly worth the money. The last six months are landowner tags/hunting stories. In my opinion its a great tool, but you can't use it as a bible.
I'm subscribing again because it is the magazine I most look foward too, but it is pretty pricey!
I'm subscribing again because it is the magazine I most look foward too, but it is pretty pricey!
PleaseDear
Long Time Member
- Messages
- 10,431
I'm with COSA.... the first 6 months are informative and the last 6 months are basically worthless......... but as a memeber you can call down and get some info from Garth or Jason and that is helpfull 12 months of the year.... Yeh, I'll renew again.
G
gonehunting
Guest
I agree the first six months after that its pretty much worthless. You could save yourself 100$ and do a little research. In my opinion you can get as much info from this site.
K
ktc
Guest
gone,
Interesting. I have been debating the service myself. May just have to give up the cash because trying to scout and get info on the entire Rocky Mountain region is tough. Do you really believe you can get the same info here? Every time I ask, or pretty much anyone else for that matter, a big zero follows your thread to the bottom. You can pay for services here too.
Lets give it a whirl. I have 10 elk points in Colorado. Where would be the best bet to spend those points on an area with good bulls? I know, I know, 2, 10, 201 are out.
Interesting. I have been debating the service myself. May just have to give up the cash because trying to scout and get info on the entire Rocky Mountain region is tough. Do you really believe you can get the same info here? Every time I ask, or pretty much anyone else for that matter, a big zero follows your thread to the bottom. You can pay for services here too.
Lets give it a whirl. I have 10 elk points in Colorado. Where would be the best bet to spend those points on an area with good bulls? I know, I know, 2, 10, 201 are out.
M
Mule_Deer_Crazy
Guest
My buddy's a member and drew the Books this year. Called Garth about ten times and kept getting "call back next week", and never did get to have an intelligable conversation with him or Jason. I don't think he was impressed much, especially since he put in for the Books on Garth's suggestion with a comment from Garth that if he drew give him a call and he'd help him out.
I dont' think he's going to renew his subscription.
I dont' think he's going to renew his subscription.
M
Mule_Deer_Crazy
Guest
ktc,
Getting a tag is just the beginning! Now that you've got that once in a lifetime tag, what do you do with it. Researching the premium units isn't necessarily the hard part, it's putting that tag on a monster bull or buck that is the challenge. Especially if you live four states away and don't want to use a guide. All those hunter services are great for telling you where to put in, but getting your hunt area nailed down is a different thing altogether. And it didn't work too well for my buddy!
Getting a tag is just the beginning! Now that you've got that once in a lifetime tag, what do you do with it. Researching the premium units isn't necessarily the hard part, it's putting that tag on a monster bull or buck that is the challenge. Especially if you live four states away and don't want to use a guide. All those hunter services are great for telling you where to put in, but getting your hunt area nailed down is a different thing altogether. And it didn't work too well for my buddy!
G
gonehunting
Guest
ktc,
If your set on a hunter service. I would get some guys togother and split the cost. I wish I would have. It's a lot of money for a glorified hunting consultant.
If your set on a hunter service. I would get some guys togother and split the cost. I wish I would have. It's a lot of money for a glorified hunting consultant.
sneakem
Active Member
- Messages
- 599
You know there are a lot more people with the credentials to provide these services. And believe me when you get your name around and put clients and yourselves in the books and start slammin big animals you start to cater more towards they people that are going to pay you bills. Unfortunately thats what most people care about is the money. Not the faithful clients that helped them achieve sucsess. Not the hunting just reputation. Search around there are less egotistical people than can help you. If you can't find anyone I can definately help find people to suit your needs!
Sneakem!!
Sneakem!!
Egotistical, Sneakem? Wow whats that all about? Its a no brainer that they are going to cater more to those who pay more. Duh! What do you expect for a measly 100 dollar bill? You get good info from the publication end of story. Sure that is public info and anyone can get at it. It just makes it easier for those of us who dont have the time and means to research every stinkin state and unit we are applying for. After I draw I will do my own research on the unit.For now I just want to know odds and where the best critters are being taken and you get that! Sure Garth and Jason are out of the office a lot. They hunt for a living. Wouldnt you be? As for not getting in touch with them, well they give you a reference list of all the members who have had tags for the unit you drew in. You can contact them and get a wealth of info. All in all I believe it is a good service offered for what your paying. If your not applying in most western states for about everything possible I would question it though. If all your trying to draw is a Co. elk permit it would be easier to reseach your self.
Garth and Jason are very helpful and I dont believe egotistical at all. But then thats just MHO.
Wayne Brown.........
Garth and Jason are very helpful and I dont believe egotistical at all. But then thats just MHO.
Wayne Brown.........
sneakem
Active Member
- Messages
- 599
Egotistical is probably a poor choice of words. Carter does a fine job and is one of the finest in the nation. All I am saying is don't take on business you can't handle. Take care of your clients and they will take care of you. Don't take a mans money and not give them what you offer. Its bad business. After all a hunting consultant without clients is what?? There is always going to be dissatisfied clients it happens I know. Just personally if I took a clients money I would make sure they were happy or try my best to accomodate them. Client relations is a part of every business. If you can't help people and help them well, turn them to someone that can help fill there needs or expand and get more help if you want their money. In our industry what people say about you means everything and determines whether your successful or not!
Keepin it real!
Sneakem
Keepin it real!
Sneakem
K
ktc
Guest
gone,
We are going to split it up and share he service if we go that way.
MDC,
You are right getting tags is one thing, putting it around the horn is another. I like scouting my area and consider that part of the hunt. However, when one lives out of state, narrowing that search from a state to a specific hunting unit with the quality I am looking for is what I have trouble with. All you can do is look up odds, harvest reports, and get an overview of specific hunting units. The service does provide that much I believe.
No one knows about Colorado elk and 10 points?;-)
We are going to split it up and share he service if we go that way.
MDC,
You are right getting tags is one thing, putting it around the horn is another. I like scouting my area and consider that part of the hunt. However, when one lives out of state, narrowing that search from a state to a specific hunting unit with the quality I am looking for is what I have trouble with. All you can do is look up odds, harvest reports, and get an overview of specific hunting units. The service does provide that much I believe.
No one knows about Colorado elk and 10 points?;-)
G
gonehunting
Guest
ktc
unit 61 has some good bulls looks like you might draw with 10 points
unit 61 has some good bulls looks like you might draw with 10 points
sneakem
Active Member
- Messages
- 599
There are probably a few places where you could take a nice bull if you get away from the crowds. Colorado does a poor job in my mind with quality elk management. I believe Colorado does have the genetics and what it takes to grow large bulls they just don't live long enough. The bull to cow ratio is so poor and mismanaged that we are not doing ourselves any favors. Of course you could hunt 2,10 & 210 thats no secret. Tons of private land so they can reach that magical age. Unit 61 has the bulls but where the trophy bulls are is in the deepest darkest nastiest holes or on private ground. Too many vouchers are given to landowners who in turn action them off and hunters can hunt all the public lands with these. Its a better muzzleloader hunt because after the first day of rifle the big bulls head to the canyons. You could walk ten feet from them and not see them. So if you want a big bull there your gonna earn it or pay a tresspass fee. Unit 76 takes some good bulls but not enough to waste 10 points on in my opinion. If you were a colorado resident I would say go for RFW. The San Luis Valley and anything on the New Mexico can have large bulls but mostly on private ground, just like the Hill Ranch. Just some ideas I guess but your on the right track.
Sneakem
Sneakem
B
BruinBreath
Guest
I guess the Carter's run a good service overall, just my opinion, never subscribed to it, just going of of what I have heard and the free issues I get every year. One negative thing is that when he publishes draw odd's and hunter numbers everybody and their brother and sister's aunt and cousin and mother's step uncle applies for that unit with good draw odd's. The last couple of years the Kaparowitz sheep unit in Utah had about 200 to 250 applicants per year. Carter made light of this in the summer issue last year and now over 1,200 people applied for the unit this spring. He is always going to spotlight the units with the best odd's. Kind of ruin's it for the rest of us who just simply check state wildlife websites for odds, harvest stats and trophy quality.
I've always wondering if Garth actually applies for many of the units that he suggests to the hundreds of his subscribers? I imagine he doesn't have to because he can now bipass the draws in most states by purchasing landowner tags with all the $100 bills he collects each year from the sale of his newsletter!
Don't you think it is crazy to apply for popular units that have outrageous hunting odds? According to him, if you apply for enough of them...for enough years you will draw. Yes, many of the units he suggests produce whopper critters but his newsletter (and ideals) has definitely made it even that much tougher to draw tags!
I've actually hunted several of his recommended units before he advertised them. Once he gave the units rave reviews in his newsletter the drawing odds went out of this world! One use of his newsletter would be to look at his recommendations and apply elsewhere!
Another case in point...Garth recommends 2 and 10 Colo elk....and yes you MAY draw a tag between now and your 100th birthday!
Don't you think it is crazy to apply for popular units that have outrageous hunting odds? According to him, if you apply for enough of them...for enough years you will draw. Yes, many of the units he suggests produce whopper critters but his newsletter (and ideals) has definitely made it even that much tougher to draw tags!
I've actually hunted several of his recommended units before he advertised them. Once he gave the units rave reviews in his newsletter the drawing odds went out of this world! One use of his newsletter would be to look at his recommendations and apply elsewhere!
Another case in point...Garth recommends 2 and 10 Colo elk....and yes you MAY draw a tag between now and your 100th birthday!
PleaseDear
Long Time Member
- Messages
- 10,431
I think it is somewhat unfair to imply that Garth/Jason and family hunt behind a gate on the ole security blanket Landowner tags. They have hunted many public land draw tag units and have harvested some great animals of all species.
jimms, ya still interested in going 'dual' on bow antelope in Nv. in 2005.....
jimms, ya still interested in going 'dual' on bow antelope in Nv. in 2005.....
G
graybeard
Guest
I guess I'm a hipocrite (sp?) cause I don't like the way the odds get worse after he mentions them, but, I wish I would have started the business and had the money he makes. He must do a good job or he wouldn't be doing so well. I do all my own research and so it does bother me sometimes when the odds go up so high just because one person says it's a good place to hunt. Can't afford to put in everywhere so I'll just do a few a year. If you look hard enough you'll find plenty of other areas to hunt that are neglected by the Carters (or they haven't found out about them yet) and are still putting out great animals... Steve
Graybeard, I have the same feeling! Sure wish I would have thought of it before Gart. I am definitely jealous of how well he has done! There are lots of great units out there, but it takes a lot of time and boot leather to figure most of them out! Especially the ones that aren't that popular. I don't think most guys have the time to research or scout out areas so use Garth's word as gospel. It is just sad to do a lot of researching, scouting, and hiking in an area and before you know it the draw odds skyrocket.
G
gonehunting
Guest
I was just looking at the dec. issue. There giving away a lot of hunts for new subscriptions, and referals. Or you can buy a ticket for 50$. I looked through the list, and there are some awesome hunts. My problem is the majority of them say you have to draw a tag in 2005 0r 2006. Come on guys if we could draw the tags would be one thing. Most of us have been putting in for some of these areas for years. What makes them think since we won there hunt were going to get lucky and draw.
N
NDhunter
Guest
I was also wondering if the Jason or Garth Carter apply for the areas that they suggest as good units. A few months ago I ran their names in the Nevada drawing results for last year and yes they do apply in the same units that they suggest to everyone else. Also I saw that in one of their issues that one of them drew an antelope tag in WY in one of the units that they recomend. Semper Fi, NDhunter.
