One of my jobs is administering Outfitter and guides. I mostly hear good things about them. One of the things we have on our inspection list is how are the services they offer. Such as, is the client getting what was advertised, what's the condition of their livestock and camp etc. They are also expected to educate their guest on the area they are in, including Wilderness ethics. We have our O/Gs go to a Leave No Trace training and should be following these practices out on the Forest just like everyone else. We investigate complaints and if an outfitter receives too many complaints they stand to loose their permit with the Forest Service. We appreciate hearing about both good and bad outfitting services. If you feel like you've been wronged, contact the permit administrator for the Forest/District. I am very fortunate as I'm dealing with a good bunch of folks, but I have seen many complaints on this web site and that bothers me.

It is not always the O/Gs fault that things go bad or you don't get an animal. You should ask a lot of questions before hiring an outfitter so you know what to expect. You better also condition yourself for the hunt. Nothing seems more frustrating for a guide than a client who can't get around or can't hit what they shoot at. Check all of their referenes too. If you expect to get an animal every time you go hunting then you got the wrong idea of what hunting is.