I should know better than to get into this again but nobody ever accused me of being smart...

Correct me if i'm wrong JDand Skeeterbut I think the pointthey are trying to make is that your useless boob of an outfitter was every bit as useless two years ago. You just failed to pick up on the "red flags", like sitting in the truck smoking for 4 days after you shot your deer. Regardless of whether a hunter is seeing deer or not, the guide should be working hard looking for a better place. In your case, you shot a great deer, but your buddy was still in the woods. In that case the outfitter should have been scouting and looking for better places for him. the fact that he sat in the truck and sipped coffee with you should have been a "red flag" for you when consideringwhether or notthis guy would get your business again.

Maybe that's something that we are taking for granted as being common sense but wewere not in your shoes at the time.It's easyto be critical in the black and white world of a hunting forum ( I am speaking for myself here not Skeeter and JD).

I would also like to echo Skeeter by saying that two years ago when we discussed price and tipping, I took offense. Having seen and heard more about the guy, you have every right to be upset.

If anybody learns anything from this thread it should be: Be as critical of success as you are of failure. Especially when commiting $4500+ of your hard earned dollars for a trip.