If your are considering booking a hunt with Table Mountain Outfitters in Wyoming, you should reconsider. As a hunter who hunts out west at least three times a year, I know a good outfitter from a bad outfitter. Five years ago I hunted with Table Mountain Outfitters, and it was great. Of course that was before they got so big that they only want to do tv shows with Dave Watson. Two and a half years ago I contacted Table Mountain Outfitters to book an elk hunt. After two years we got drawn for Wyoming elk tags. Their web site claims all Wyoming elk hunts are conducted on private land, when we got there they shipped us of to hunt with another outfitter on 3000 acres of public and private land, everyday we were overrun with public land hunters. After I complained to the outfitter, he told our guide Jim to take us to another piece of property that he had, after getting to this other property we found out that is was private land, but not the outfitters, We were assualted by the land owner with a pistol. Believ it or not thats not tha half of it. After returning home I sent numerous letters to Scott and Angie Denny to try and discuss this issue with them, they are such low lifes, they did not even have the courtesy to respond. I have filed a lengthy complaint with the Wyoming Outfitter Board, who is currently investigating Table Mountain. I have also retained an attorney out of Casper, Wyoming to fill a civil action against them. Anyone else who has had a similar situation with Table Mountain I would love to help you get some of your money back also. If you would like to see a complete copy of the complaint I will email it to you in PDF format, email me and let me know, I have set up a dedicated email address to handle this issue, you can reach me at www.buyerbewareoftablemountainoutfitters@hotmail.c om
I've seen these guys on TV. Beyond that I know nothing about them. Of course I know nothing about you either.
That said, something is not adding up here. For starters, just because you hunt "out west" every year doesn't necessarily mean you"know a good outfitter from a bad one". I think your post is a perfect example of that. Perhaps Table was bad from the get-go but you managed to kill and elk on your first hunt, so you went hime giddy and starry-eyed thinking they were the best in the world.
Here is where things get sketchy for me: You hunted one year with them and had a good experience. Went back a second time and things went south. When you were "assaulted" by the landowner with a pistol, did you call the local authorities? How did they handle it? Do you have a police report?
What is the purpose of your suit against Table Mountain? Are you simply trying to recover the cost of your hunt? If so, why? Because you thoughteverything was private land whenit turned out it wasn't?Did you go with a rifle or archery gear? Do you have a written response from the Wyoming Outfitters Board?
Look, I'm not taking sides here. I have no vested interest in you or Table Mountain, but I see far too many people that come on these sites (as you have done) to bash an outfitter and we only get half the story.
RHS,
You are quick to the defense of this outfitter for a third party thatdoesn't have a dog in this fight. If the facts are as stated, the action against TMO is undoubtly a tort claim for breach of contract. I would imagine that most of your questions would be anwered if you read the complaint that was offered by the original poster.
No we di not get any elk, on average we saw 12 to 14 public land hunters everyday. The outfitter only had 3 spots to each day, the same three spots. Over looking a valley full of public land hunters, trucks, and atv's
I know exzctly what you are saying, as a building contractor here in Florida we get people with complaints, thats why I am offering full disclosure to anyone who like to see it. Also I will try now to clarify a few of your points.
The first time I hunted with TMO was a pronghorn hunt, this was several years ago when they were still relatively small and worked very hard for there clients.
When we got back to camp I complained to the outfitter, he said it would not do any good to call the authorities beacuse we were on the other guys property, I wanted to call, but it was not really up to me.
I made several attempts to get a response from TMO, I even sent certified mail, they're getting the mail they just wont reply. As of the 20th of March, the outfitter board has assigned an investigator to the complaint, I really don't feel it will go anywhere as TMO sits on the outfitter board.
Before you pass judgement on my, you should read all of the documents, for example when we booked the hunt the price was $4,000.00, when we got there we were told the price of the hunt had gone up to $4,500.00 and we each had to pay $500.00 more dollars, there website states that the price is set at the time of booking. Also their website claims 100% success for the last 6 years, we we got to the outfitter we were actually hunting with, he said his success rate was around 35%.
I will not only provide with a copy of the complaint but the over 75 pages of supporting documents, I have printouts from there website, receipts and endless documents supporting my case.
As well I have hunted with outfitters over 3o times in the last 9 years, I am a very good judge of outfitters, and very little has to do with weather or not you harvest an animal. Its more about does the outfitter work hard to provide a good hunt, and does he give you the experience he advertised and yoy paid for. My complaint has nothing at all to do with harvesting an animal, its about them taking my money then shipping us off to hunt wirh another outfitter that was not what I paid for and not what was advertised to me.
If you would like I would be happy to send PDF copies of all of the documents for you to review, then you can tell me if you think I am being fair. All I'm asking for is the $9,000.00 we padi for the hunts not the tag fees, airfare, hotels, food, rental car, and 18 combined missed days of work. The actual cash out of pocket exceeds $15,000.00 not counting the lost days of work, I think I'm being more than fair. If it goes to court according to Wyoming Stautes, we are entitled to all of it, I'm giving them a chance to get off easy.
Please let me know where you would like a copy of the documents emailed.
Thank you for taking the time to read my post. I'm not bashing all outfitters, just the opposite. I want to support the honest hardworking outfitters and see that people spend their money on the good honest hard working guys. Don't get me wrong, I know its just like contractors in Florida, the bad ones give everybody a bad name, thats why I am willing to disclose everything, to show I'm not some nut just out to bash somebody, I don't other people to get burned and sour them on hunting out west. My buddy who went with me, that was his first outfitter hunting experience and hes so upset with it, he said he'll never hunt with an outfitter again. I tried to explain to him they are not all like that. Its that type of thing that ruins it for all of us, even you as thats one less possible client for you, and I'm a big supporter of hunting and keeping the hunting industry alive, we can't afford to lose anymore hunters than we already lose every year.
Thank you for your post, and thank you for keeping an open mind and reserving judgement. If you would like a copy of the documents just let me know where to send them, my assistant is working on scanning all of the pages today, I should be able to email them in PDF format by tomorrow.
bighuntingdave- Not bashing you, but someone who has no history here (4 posts, and all on this thread) does raise some suspicion. You HAVE to realize this. It would be different if you were a regular here. Like I said, I'm not bashing you. Just my 2 cents.
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"Let Freedom Ring with a Shotgun Blast"- Robb Flynn www.honeyholevideo.com
I can understand that, thats why I am offerring all of the info for people to decide for themselves. I will be happy to email you the complete packet of documents for you to review then make a decision. I'm not here to try and bash anyone, I just think people have a right to know what they are spending there hard earned money on. I didn't like the feeling I got when I realized I was getting screwed over, and I don't want anyone else to have to go through that. I would also be happy to show you TMO's response, except even after numerous phone calls, emails, and certified mail sent to them, they wouldn't even respond or defend themselves, if they were honest and upright people they would have at least contacted me to discuss the issues instead they ignored me, I have no other choice but to file a complaint and suit, and as well get the word out. What they did amounts to fraud as well as violated several Wyoming State Statutes, and the Wyoming Outiftter Board Rules and Regulations. I am willing to send a copy of the supporting documents in PDF format for anyone to review before passing judgment. After you review the documents then feel free to pass judgment as you see fit.
From reading your post, I figure you are telling the truth. The problem a lot ofHNI membersare going to have,is the fact that you obviously joined our site justto bash these guys. You should take the time to realize how good our site is and participate in it.
If I ever do decide to hire an outfitter, I will definitely check a ton of their RECENT REFERENCES.
Good luck with your suit and if your in the right, I hope you win. Nothing worse than somebody ripping off fellow hunters. Let us know how it turns out.
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Quit whinin' or quit huntin', they don't go together!! Reese
When they outlaw guns...I'll be an outlaw! Reese
A .380 in your pocket is better than a 45 in the truck! Stolen
"IN GOD WE TRUST"
Buyer Beware of Table Mountain Outfitters
