I think hunting is slowly turning into a rich mans sport, but I won' t point the finger solely at the outfitter. There are growing number of people that just want to get out there and kill a deer, and a good number of those people are very rich, and pay a premium to go kill game. I do see a problem with outfitters as well using this to jack up basic rates, making the average guided hunt of 5-10 years ago out of reach for the average Joe today.

What really bugs me is when I see Alaskan guided hunts for grizzly bears that are $7500-$10,000 that are conducted in the same areas using the same resources as the caribou hunts that those same outfitters guide for $2500-$5000. The reason the grizzly hunts are anywhere from $2500-$5000 more expensive is because there is a guide required law for non residents to hunt them in Alaska. Same goes for Dall sheep and mountain goat, although the terrain is a bit tougher, and access by planes, horses, and other methods is expensive. When I can go on a grizzly or sheep hunt in a new area for about $250 out of my own pocket into an area that a guide takes a client for $7500 still baffles me. But the outfitters up here do not have a hard time booking full for several seasons ahead because there are a ton of people willing to pay the price.

This big buck craze where they are selling bucks by inches of antler, that is where it gets out of hand. When you watch a hunting show on the outdoor channel that gives a link to the outfitter they are using, then go to the webisght and look up pricing, it is downright amazing at times.

I don' t have the kind of money for all the hunting I want to do to go guided. I' ve gone on some exceptional hunts with family, friends and members from the board here. Last Sept. Don K. myself and Robert Scott hunted elk in Montana. The hunt cost me about $1000 total for tags ($650 alone), airfare (cashed in mileage), food and a couple extra bits of gear that I needed for the hunt. It was my first ever elk hunt, and going with guys that had gone before taught me alot. We almost got elk on a couple different days, and I had my chance at a monster bull, but the pines were just a little thick. I don' t think I could of gotten much more out of a guided hunt.

I still have yet to go on an outfitted or guided hunt, but I' m sure sometime in the future I will. I do agree they have their place, but I think some are getting out of hand, and dragging others along with them. This goes further with outfitters buying and leasing lands and moving out hunters that have used those lands for generations. It' s disturbing to hear about.