I was wondering how many of you folks have been onone, have one booked or would like to go on one in the future and why?Also, can you share any experiances, good or bad, that you've had with an Outfitter, and what you hunted.I hope this will be a "friendly" thread.

I went on aguided archery huntabout 5yrs ago I did take a nice buck however it was notrealy even close toscoreing what he told me it would it went 127 he said it would be about 145. It was fun and they were realy friendly however I felt in a way though like I was not myself or something it just dint feel right It is hard to explain I don't know if it was because stands were already hung and everything was set to go for me I din't have to do any homework all had to do was make the shot, it was a 100% shot opportunity hunt. If I do another one someday it will be a big time property where I find a spot myself and hang a stand and move around if I have to basically just to hunt a realy good property I guess.

Yes on a couple levels. I am an outfitter and I have been on outfitted hunts and will go on many more. There are certain animals that I wish to hunt but can only do it with an outfitter.

If I run into a bad outfitted hunt it will be 50% my fault and 50% the outfitters fault. I would blame myself for a bad hunt because I either did not do my homework or had too high of an expectation for the outfitter. I would blame them for not doing what was advertised or not doing enough for me, within reason.

I went on a guided elk hunt to New Mexico in 2005. I used a guide because I would have no idea where to start looking for elk out there. Plus they know how to do the calling too. I felt it was my best oppourtity to get a bull. I got a nice 6 x 6 on the second evening of the hunt. I had a great time and plan on doing it again. I knew several people who had used the same outfitter and highly reccomended him. Do your homework in picking out someone to spend that kind of money with.

I've been on 3 outfitted hunts, 1st to WY for an elk hunt (Windwalker Outfitters), came away with a bull with my bow the first morning of the opening day. Everything about that hunt was positive.

The second one was a bear hunt in Quebec (Turnpike Ridge Outfitters) and again, I took my bear the second night in the stand, again awesome accomodations and hunting experience.

The third was this past week on that turkey hunt in KS (Paradise Adventures).....if you caught my story it was awesome! 2 birds in 2 days... Awesome accomodations and hunting experience.

Mind if I show pics?









Sorry guys, I couldn't resist the pics. PS...I used to be an owner of a outfitting business here in PA. It's no easy task and although some leg work is done, it's never a guarantee with free roaming animals.

And no wise cracks about the greying and aging.[8D]

You'll get none from me, bud... I used to pluck the occasional white hair that showed up in my goattee... Let it grow in this past week and I can tell I'm not gonna be able to do that anymore... 'fraid I'd bleed to death!

Great pics to both of you... You guys are gettin' me fired up for my elk hunt in August!! Now if I can just get off my lazy duff and start the process of getting in shape! []

well.......alright........ [>:]

Seriously, you guys that did your elk hunt .... how much was it????
JM .... what outfitter did you use?

I used New Mexico Outfitters, the price of the hunt was $3250 which included all meals, lodgingand guides.This was a discounted price because we hadhis camp filled by our group so he didn't have to find any more hunters for that week.I think he may have gone up since then also.Plus $766 for the Archery tag. They also took care of the application process (NM is a draw state for elk tags).

I also met these guys up in Alaska last summer and they took me salmon fishing. They go up every year and have a locker full of equipment. They got me all set up and took me on the river for a day. We all got our limits too.

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And no wise cracks about the greying and aging.
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Oh crap.... stole my thunder.

I've only been on one and that was an online contest win to PA for whitetails. I arrived at the appointed time. He said, "What are you doing here? You're suppose to come next week". About that time all the other winners and sponsors showed up. We were all wrong.... NOT. He didn't have heat to our cabins and we were told all bedding would be supplied. We had to carry our own cots to the unheated cabins and put on the one set of sheets and one Army blanket. It was below 30 and they hadn't finished insulating the cabins. Always prepared Dave had thrown in a minus 30 sleeping bag just in case. I had to loan a new set of smart wool to a sponsor so he wouldn't freeze. A head count as we were about to leave for the first mornings hunt at 0400 revealed the outfitter didn't have enough stands up. Always prepared Dave had thrown in a climber just in case. We'd been told all stands would be in place and were selected after extensive scouting. The male contest winner ... ME... saved the day by saying, point me to a woods and drop me off. I saw more deer and passed on several bucks during the 4 day hunt than all the rest together. After the first day I told him where I was going and to come and look for me if I wasn't out by 9. No one shot a deer. Some saw none. I guess you'd say I was less than impressed. The food was great. I froze my butt off every night until I got in my sleeping bag. The guide was an outlaw that had no clue. He just owned some land and had some access to other.

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And no wise cracks about the greying and aging.
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Does that mean that weight gain is open territory. LOL...

< Message edited by davidmil -- 4/15/2007 10:46:47 PM >

David, I went to quote your weight gain and accidently edited your thread. I had to back up, copy and paste your original thread to return your writing. My apology that is why you'll see my edit here.