ORIGINAL: PA_BOW_HUNTER
Do you think it was a goodbusiness decision, even if you did pay for it, to hunt the same area that you are guiding. The PERCEPTION to the hunter, especially after you got into 9 bulls in 10 days, was that you had a honey hole that you did not allow the paying clients to go to.
The hunter does not know what kind of arrangement you have with your boss, he is only hearing that you are getting into elk every day and your friend even tagged out.
I see your point. And yes, maybe I shouldn't show the success that I had in an particular area. Might rub other clients the wrong way. But we did put them in a good spot. How many bulls has Cameron Hanes killed in this area? I can think of 6 or 7 off the top of my head. And about as many bucks. We had 2 guys hunt out of that camp this year, and they got into elk. I won't hesitate putting people in this camp. I did it again this year, and will do it again next year.
Me being a bowhunter, I think is an asset to the outfit. I live in these mountains during the summer and hunt it during bow season. I'm not just selling a hunt, or just a horseman, or an outfitter. I think I reflect
the average guy who comes in there to hunt. And I think it is good that I can put people in the best possible place to kill, based on first hand experience. I'm not that dumb, to think that it is good for business if our clients don't kill. I want people to kill, I want good references, I want good word of mouth. I don't welcome this complaint at all, especially in this public forum. But that is part of the deal, I guess.
I cut my teeth hunting these mountains, and yes I do know alot of area. And I know that if I put myself or Kirk or whomever I want, and we hunt the same area that was listed in this initial complaint. I know that I will have opportunities. Maybe not kill anything, but I will get into elk. In-fact we did kill this year, only a mere 45 minutes from this camp this year. A big 6 X 6 was shot at, and a spike killed. Out of a herd of nearly 100.
Maybe we will only do Backpacking Drop Camps during archery season. If you hunt off your back, then all you do is hunt. If you have a nice camp to come back to, with great food and good company. How hard are you going to hunt? If you get dropped off, and then hunt off your back. Well the only thing you have to do is hunt. And it might remove the argument from hunters, that there wasn't any elk in the immediate area of camp. Very rarely are elk in the immediate area of camp.
Thanks for the constructive critisism, I welcome that. And thanks for not saying that "I'm full of crap". I don't think that gets us anywhere.