ORIGINAL: atlasman
ORIGINAL: MeanV2
You guys really have to do your homework more complete. Check references, then check them again, then check them even 3 and 4 times. An outfitter is not that important to me, but I want a good place to hunt and a warm, dry place to lay my head at night. To me an outfitter is someone who provides that when I am out of state. I don't need someone to hold my hand and tell me when to shoot. Just give me a spot and turn me loose. I hunted Dec. this past year in NE. and the guy charged me $300 I stayed at the ranch house 5 nights. No one lives there full time and it's not that fancy, but warm and dry it is and a stocked kitchen where you can cook, etc. Shoot there was even Direct TV
It's kind of a weekend getaway for him and he lives in WY. Plus there is 1,000 acres I have to myself to Bowhunt. I think I did Ok for 4 days
Dan
About sums it up perfectly right there...........you are ultimately responsible for the experience of your trip. There are lousy outfitters out there for sure and some "bad" experiences will undoubtedly pop up.........the VAST majority of which are due to lack of research on the hunter's part IMO. If a bunch of references are not available then I would be concerned.......if details are not clear I would be concerned.........if communication is poor I would be concerned. A good reputable outfitter has nothing to hide.
Do your homework and decide EXACTLY what you want going in and then go find it..........just be realistic about your desires........you aren't gonna find a mansion of a lodge with 5 star food cooked for you and access to 20 stands on prime ground full of bruisers for $500. If you want to save money then do what Dan described and take more upon yourself..........the basics are someone who will give you an HONEST chance at whatever animal you are after and a warm dry place to sleep with access to food and water........your budget and personal desires will be what determines what you add to that.
For those that are irritated about outfitters grabbing up land...........the only ones to thank for that are your fellow hunters. If guys were not willing to pay to hunt they (and leases) would not exist. You can't blame the landowners for taking money for something instead of giving it away for free.
If you were approached by an outfitter who offered you $25,000/year for hunting permission on your land (and you didn't hunt)..........would you really say "No......I already have some guy and his friend hunting there who I didn't know until they pulled in my driveway 3 years ago and they give me a fruit basket at Christmas time"
They have a family and taxes to pay on that land...........farmers around me are FAR from wealthy so I wouldn't blame them one bit. They would be crazy not to take the money.
It's just the way it is...........only two solutions. Become a landowner yourself or hunt public land.......that is what it's there for.
I don't like it anymore then you guys but the blame lies solely with us hunters.......if we were not shelling out the money then this situation would not exist.
I understand where your coming from Atlas but where I bear hunt its public land and its over run and bullied by most of the (want to be bear guides)! Like I said in the very 1st post on this thread we need guides where I hunt, there's the folks who just don't have the time that some do or the people who do not have a clue on what there doing. Thats what outfitters are for is to help people get what they want. They need to put a limit on the amount of outfitters in an area though, It will get ugly otherwise!