Montana 2016
 

We had a good season. Everyone filled within a few days of arriving and for the most part we had good weather. It has turned off cold, snowy, and windy. The deer have moved into our hay stacks so they are getting plenty to eat. I posted a few pics of what was taken and what's still left, and we have started scheduling for next year already. How did everyone else do?

What do you mean your scheduling for next year? Are you an outfitter, looking for money? By the way we did great with our DIY hunt! I hate outfitters! A lot of ranchers hire there kids, nephews, to Outfit/guide there ranch, I bet the real outfitters are pissed about that?

He has a ranch in eastern Montana and charges a fee to hunt the property, but doesn't guide according to a post he made on another thread some time ago.

I'm not mad about it, it's his property and he can do what he wishes with it, so can anybody else as far as I'm concerned. You hate outfitters? Well I don't hate anybody, sorry you feel that way about people you don't even know.

Really 2bear, I bet you hate non paying clients? And Big Ranchers who let there nephews guide, instead of real OUTFITTERS?

2 bear? Who owns the game, on your property?

Hey 2bear, hears another tid-bit? When an Elk herd moves in over-night and eats a big round-bale of hay, or even damages crops throughout the year? I've noticed that there is a crop damage Government plan that compensates your butt? The taxpayers fund that, :)

Judas Jenny gjersey! Not getting any this week?, LOL! What's the deal with this rant about outfitters and being nasty with a person you don't even know that may or may not even own any property? They have their place in society just like everyone else and FYI many places don't even allow a NR to hunt without going through an outfitter and a guide! Let up on the guy please, as it's not becoming of you to rip a person over things you don't have any idea about! Or do you have information that we don't know?

My,My, My Topgun, I see i struck a cord with my simple questions?

Say what?! You came up very lame on all your posts on this thread and the questions you asked of him not even knowing who he is or whether he owns land was pretty poor IMHO. He looks like a plain old outfitter trying to make a buck to feed himself and probably a family just like you and I'm surprised a Mod didn't step in and ask why you are being so negative to a member for what appears to be no reason at all!

Was out in Northern MT just before Thanksgiving, saw a lot of shooters in the 150s - 180s. Unfortunately couldn't get on one much bigger than this guy. Actually turned down a nice buck that was bigger than him the 1st evening :( Saw more deer rutting, chasing, fighting, & breeding in 6 days there than I could imagine. Had a blast, can't wait to do it again!

Yep...gjersy...you look ...Edited by Champlain islander...

That is a great buck pardner---Congrats! That late hunt when the rut is going is the demise of a lot of good bucks that wouldn't be taken in an earlier season and why a lot of guys like Montana for that late deer season. Did you DIY or go guided?

While I have no use for outfitters and will never use the services of one unless required by law, I don't hate them. There has to be an underlying reason for such a comment, do you mind if I ask what it is?

Then you would bet wrong. I hate many things people do, but I hate no people in and of themselves, it is not in my character. Neither do I owe you an answer to anything you ask, nor an apology for my way of life. What I can tell you is that I help DIYers who want to hunt elk all the time. You need not take my word for it either, in Great Days Outdoors magazine April of this year issue, there will be an article dedicated for those wishing to save money and DIY elk hunt, it is written by myself, free of charge with no compensation.


In general, I discovered that the majority of problems outfitters have with the general public are based on a narrative that just isn't true. In Montana 22% of the outfits lose money, of the remaining ones that turn profit the average is 29,000.00 per year. I think it safe to conclude outfitting is not a ticket to great riches, but a lifestyle choice. We all know a jerk outfitter, and frankly, we all have had encounters with jerk hunters. I also know a lot of great outfitters some of which donate time and money locally even though they don't have it, and some great hunters from the general public as well. In conclusion gjersy you are welcome and free to express your thoughts and opinions, however, I encourage you to not hate anyone. We have much to deal with in the rigors of life, why waste even a second hating?

TwoBear, thank you for the respectful response.

Gjersy, I suggest taking a look over the forum rules, and consider this a warning. Flaming or bating members, as well as speaking negatively towards legal hunting and the hunting community is against forum rules and will result in a temporary ban moving forwards. Fell free to express your opinions without attacking others.
Thanks.
-Jake

Please get a life and act like an adult because you are fitting his description perfectly and if it was a rule violation Jake would have caught it and the word is not starred out since the site accepted it. The OP is just a member of the site and happens to have made some comments about the season he had at his place in Montana. There is nothing in his post asking for our business and no links asking us to visit any site to do business with him. You, however, have violated rule 5 for questioning the Mod warning out on the open Forum instead of by PM as the rules require!

I did not mean to offend you topgun, I have a life and am an adult. So sorry that you feel i am fitting ....Edited by Champlain Islander.... I just was responding to Bocajnala's post. And i respectfully disagree with you that there wasn't a post trying to ask for business when he said he would be "scheduling for next year"

You didn't offend me, but your nasty posts to our other member were what I spoke to and to which Jake warned you sure should have offended him. He kept his cool and offered two very polite posts and I applaud him for that.The last part of the rule you think the OP violated says: "An advertisement is categorized as an outright attempt to solicit business. Any such posts will be removed." I stated I don't fell it was such and after reading the thread I have to assume Jake didn't either since nothing was said or done regarding it.

Not sure the OP's post qualifies ad advertising. He doesn't list any service and he doesn't show any price. Just a comment about getting ready for next year. To me that first post was more like a year in review. Heck it doesn't even have a photo.

Now I have to ask, since I don't have a dog in this fight, just what axe are you trying to grind?

Since Bacajnala has handled this I won't jump in. I suggest that all who have participated make sure any further posts fall within the rules. We mods really do want to see members stay within the rules.

wow! Wow! Wow!

That should get the Mods attention!

Hmmmm, didn't post ANY advertisements. Just reporting a successful year on his property. As far as pics go, they are all posted in Montana Mans album if you want to look. I personally have no problem with MOST outfitters. Have had to use a few over the years on out of state hunts where I just didn't have the time to scout properly or if I was doing a horseback hunt. Granted there are a good bit of scoundrels out there giving the hard working outfitter/guides a bad name. And then you have the total jerks that try to run folks off PUBLIC land. Ran into a couple of them. Lets just say they didn't like the outcome of those confrontations and leave it at that :devil: But all in all, they have a tendency to be hard working folks trying to make a living so I don't let the actions of a few taint my feelings about the group. But that requires being a grownup.

One would think after seeing a general warning better posting behavior would happen. Member Gjersy has been banned for 1 month for repeated rule 5 violation questioning a mod on the open boards. To the rest please let this go and don't fan the flames...Thank You- CI

Thank you CI!!!

Thanks to CI for taking care of this. I was attempting to moderate from my smart phone and it wasn't working as I couldn't figure out how to access all of the moderating options. Tried to give him a chance, but I guess he'd rather take a break.
-Jake

Guess I won't be finding out what axe he was trying to grind. This whole thread got kind of weird real quick.

Yeah...The poor OP gets jumped for nothing and didn't even post back on his own thread...And ty CI and Jake for doing what needed doing.

Actually the poor outfitter was the one who really got jumped on and then it got to questioning why the OP made his post! FYI I sent him a PM regarding his OP and got a very nice reply. He's just a good old rancher in the se corner of Montana that allows some limited hunting on his ranch for an access fee and he doesn't even take advantage of the free advertising he could do in the Classified Section here on this site

He ought to put something up in the free advertising section. A lot of members would be interested, especially if his elk unit is easy enough to draw. The "Swap-a-Hunt" forum is exploding which is great. However, not all members have a hunt to swap but most of them would probably be quite interested in hunting a ranch for a reasonable access fee. That's the kind of setup that could make for a great annual hunt if it's easy enough to draw for and the opportunities for elk are good.

For what it's worth, a landowner can guide on their own land here in Montana without being a licensed outfitter. They cannot guide on public land or on a neighbor's land even if they have permission.

No one really needs to hire a guide here to hunt deer and antelope....tons of public land, block management land, etc. Anyone should be able to hunt Montana for deer and antelope without a guide and be successful if they do their homework.

It's the same in Wyoming too, as no license is need to outfit or guide on your own deeded property.