ORIGINAL: bigcountry
I see people saying they would get thier money back. How? All sales are final. And think about it, would you really demand your money back? It would appear as if we are unhappy, because we didn't get more birds.
We were going to stiff them the 200 dollars we owed. But they demand a credit card for the first payment. Beleive me, you don't want to go down that road.
No big, in hindsight, I think you did the right thing. If you would have stiffed them the cost of the agreed upon hunt, that would have put you in the wrong, legally and morally. From here, however, your recourse is shaky. Its a risk you have to take, thats why these forums are good. You probably saved someone from getting hosed by these guys down the road. And, you may well be saved yourself from a bum steer by someone else who got the shaft in a similar manner.
Its kinda my fault. On the shore of MD, I have heard horror stories on Ken Schraders deer hunting leases. Where 6 hunters show up thinking they got a lease, and they bow hunt it all year, and then gun season comes and 8 more hunters show up. Big showdown. Lots of yelling. But Schrader is a pretty powerful guy over there with alot of pull with the law. He controls over 20K acres on the shore.
Yeah, but, they are the only crap game in town. Gotta take a chance. I wouldn't beat yourself up over it. But yes...I have heard of crap like that before, and you have to look over the fine print sometimes. Occasionally, those fine print statements are just standard procedure to protect everyone, but sometimes, they are guarentees that a guide can do whatever he wants and get away with it free and clear.
So honestly, I should have known better and regconized where thier is smoke, there is fire. But figured theirs's two sides to a story. Some people love the guy and come back to his bridgeport manor every year.
Also, they asked us to sign release forms before the hunt that gives them the right to collect funds no matter the outcome of the hunt.
That release is a big red flag. Admittingly, thats hunting and most people understand that. But forcing you to sign that release means that, legally, he could have set you out in a mud parking lot for 15 minutes, blow a call three times, packed it up and charged your Visa.
And as you were speaking about that dude who was putting out deeks and calling, in exchange for hunting free....thats probably exactly what it was. Of course, your average paying guest doesn't see it that way.
The way to do this, really, is to go one on one with a guide. Meaning, just you and your party, and one guide. No double parties, no people you don't know. That way, there are no social graces, and if you are getting hosed...you know whats up right out of the gate.
Good luck, big. Let us know what happens!