What is your view on Outfitters?
 

So I'm doing a research paper on the effects of Outfitters on hunting (mainly in Illinois). I haven't got it narrowed down yet to what exactly it will be on, but I need to start off by getting a feel as to what people's opinion's are on the topic.

The poll doesn't matter as much as just getting an opinion from you guys.

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

Personally I've had it up to my neck with outfitters in Northern Minnesota bear hunting! Not all but most of the outfitters up there think they own the land, this is state land were all on. They've been trying to run us out where we bear hunt but there finding out it isn't so easy! We've been bear hunting this particular spot for 30+ years, there wasn't an outfitter anywhere when we first started. I've had some good chats with the local CO up there about these guides trying to run everyone out. We both agreed there's to many guides up there. The guide license in Minnesota runs right around 80.00 bucks, the CO and I would like to see them raise the Minnesota Bear Guide license considerably to get rid of the "want to be" guides then It wouldn't be such a problem with less guides. We do need bear guides where we hunt, some of these people don't have the time to do this stuff or just don't want to put the work that goes into it. We just need less of them and life would be allot better for us all up there! What I said by no means represents all outfitters, just some of the onces I've dealt with. I thought I better clarify that!;)

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

To each his own.

Had I the money to spend on them, I would most likely use them for DIY hunts here in the west.

For some species that I wish to take, I'll have to employ an outfitter or guide, but thats the only way to go about it.

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

I view them as a necessity if you want to hunt in Canada.;)

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

Im here in East Central, IL, and our problem is with the whitetail outfitters. My dad and I have been hunting about 200 acres for about 9 years now and then all of a sudden an outfitter bought half of the land that we had been hunting. He doesn't have permission to be on the land we hunt but we and the land owner have caught him and guys he is bringing in to hunt on "our" side of the property several times now.

It's kind of ironic considering he has signs up everywhere that read "Warning: No Trespassing 24 Hr Video Surveillance- Will Prosecute to Fullest Extent" and then right by the sign you can see his markers in the tree coming over to our side. I don't mark the way to my stand since I know how to get there during the dark, but one morning I noticed that somebody had put reflective pins leading to my stand. They also came from his side of the property. Their website talks about how much land they have to outfit...why do they need the 100 on our side of the line?

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

If you hunt in Canada you have to have an Outfitter. Some outfitters are good, some so so, and some O No!! All I need is a place to hunt where there is Game. I've hunted with outfitters before and I never thought they were a Big advantage except on my Bear hunts. Those established bait sites are Nice!!;)

Dan

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

i would like to go on a guided hunt but cant afford it and i also plan on working on an outfitter ranch or for the dnr or park system

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

There is no right answer in that poll for me.

I've used outfitters in the past, bear in Canada, elk in WY. I'm going to an outfitter in IL in Nov. I'm fine with it but I don't use them all the time, more like I rarely use them so again, no right answer in the poll.

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

I havnt used one yet but I will when I go on my 1st Elk hunt in Montana.It would be a good time to learn so that the nxt time I go and do a DIY huntI wouldnt be going outblind.

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

I'm with Rob...No answer for me either.

I've used them. I'll use them again. It's not wrong, it's just different. I wish I could go on one every year. It's 3 days to a week of a season..it's not this or that.

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

Same here..........have used them, will again...........but hunt mainly on my own.


Most people that have problemswith outfitters are those that have had land gobbled up by them or can't afford to use them.............misplaced anger IMO.

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

no answer for me. I will use them, but almost always hunt on my own.

I will most likely only be using them for out of state hunts for species i am unfamiliar with. Such as my planned Pronghorn bow hunt in SD this coming up fall.

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

I would..but prolly wouldn't care too

Around here theres outfitters everywhere...we have 6-8 right here in my county...with more coming

Its getting out of hand....I'm 15 and I'm always hearing "I'm going to hate it for the up and coming generations with no where to hunt"!

A couple of outfitters is ok....but when you have so many outfitters around its hard to find a place to hunt then theres somthing wrong! Its also bad when some people pay these outfitters and they wind up on Public Land!!

If the State of Illinois wasn't worried so much about Money and more concerned on people keeping their land then who knows what Illinois could be!

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

I think Im mostly like you...I understand outfitting and don't have much of an issue with it UNTIL it becomes to where people can't find places to hunt without paying for an outfitted hunt or having to lease. I think there should be some kind of a limit or something to where only so much acreage can be outfitted- or some kind of control over it.

One day it probably will get to where you have to pay an outrageous amount to hunt, I know I can't afford $4,000 for a 3 or 4 day hunt. Then what?

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

Public land....with all of those who had to hunt it from day one and those who can't afford guided hunts who may have hunted private ground before.

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I dont know where you're from in IL, but I know where I am there isn't any public ground for about 45 miles and theres already way too many that hunt it.

Im saying in the future, if more outfitters keep buying up land and forcing hunters off of it, how many more hunters are those public lands going to have then?

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

I am not voting but I will say this.......I am confident if this poll were taken to the general hunting population, at least here in Illinois, 5-1 would be against outfitters. Maybe even higher.

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

I don't have a clue as to hunt elk, moose, antelope or just about anything besides native Wisconsin species. Therefor I would have to have a guide of some kind and an outfitter would mostlikely be my only option.

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

I have hunted with outfitters twice many years ago and unfortunately both experiences were not favorable.It is possible I will hunt with an outfitter again in the future but pretty unlikely.I prefer to do it myself on out of state hunts.
I believe it is especially difficult to find relatively reasonably priced guided hunts that are actually good ones.I do think you can find good hunts on the high end of the price spectrum,but I can do it myself for 25% of those kind of expenses.
The one thing that a lot of hunters forget,myself included in the past is that there is good and bad in all walks of life including us hunters,we feel especially violated when a member of the hunting "community" deceives us.
These outfitters need to make a living regardless of winter kill or other conditions that influence the hunting in their area.
In general I would say that I don't like the proliferation of outfitters but I don't know what can be done to reverse the trend.

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

I have to agree with TSOC. I have done an outfitter once and was not satisfied. I guess I didn't pay enough money. I prefer DIY anyway. I may lease property for an out of state hunt but I would rather scout and hang my own stands.

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As others say, to each thier own. I prefer to do my own hunting, the whole process. Money cannot buy a great hunt IMO.

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You guys really have to do your homework more complete. Check references, then check them again, then check them even 3 and 4 times. An outfitter is not that important to me, but I want a good place to hunt and a warm, dry place to lay my head at night. To me an outfitter is someone who provides that when I am out of state. I don't need someone to hold my hand and tell me when to shoot. Just give me a spot and turn me loose. I hunted Dec. this past year in NE. and the guy charged me $300 I stayed at the ranch house 5 nights. No one lives there full time and it's not that fancy, but warm and dry it is and a stocked kitchen where you can cook, etc. Shoot there was even Direct TV:DIt's kind of a weekend getaway for him and he lives in WY. Plus there is 1,000 acres I have to myself to Bowhunt. I think I did Ok for 4 days;)

Dan

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

Merriam Turkey bonus!;)

Dan

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

I don't use an outfitter, and I don't have a problem with them until they make it mandatory that you must use one to hunt, like some places in Canada.

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

About sums it up perfectly right there...........you are ultimately responsible for the experience of your trip. There are lousy outfitters out there for sure and some "bad" experiences will undoubtedly pop up.........the VAST majority of which are due to lack of research on the hunter's part IMO. If a bunch of references are not available then I would be concerned.......if details are not clear I would be concerned.........if communication is poor I would be concerned. A good reputable outfitter has nothing to hide.

Do your homework and decide EXACTLY what you want going in and then go find it..........just be realistic about your desires........you aren't gonna find a mansion of a lodge with 5 star food cooked for you and access to 20 stands on prime ground full of bruisers for $500. If you want to save money then do what Dan described and take more upon yourself..........the basics are someone who will give you an HONEST chance at whatever animal you are after and a warm dry place to sleep with access to food and water........your budget and personal desires will be what determines what you add to that.


For those that are irritated about outfitters grabbing up land...........the only ones to thank for that are your fellow hunters. If guys were not willing to pay to hunt they (and leases) would not exist. You can't blame the landowners for taking money for something instead of giving it away for free.

If you were approached by an outfitter who offered you $25,000/year for hunting permission on your land (and you didn't hunt)..........would you really say "No......I already have some guy and his friend hunting there who I didn't know until they pulled in my driveway 3 years ago and they give me a fruit basket at Christmas time"

They have a family and taxes to pay on that land...........farmers around me are FAR from wealthy so I wouldn't blame them one bit. They would be crazy not to take the money.

It's just the way it is...........only two solutions. Become a landowner yourself or hunt public land.......that is what it's there for.

I don't like it anymore then you guys but the blame lies solely with us hunters.......if we were not shelling out the money then this situation would not exist.

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

I understand where your coming from Atlas but where I bear hunt its public land and its over run and bullied by most of the (want to be bear guides)! Like I said in the very 1st post on this thread we need guides where I hunt, there's the folks who just don't have the time that some do or the people who do not have a clue on what there doing. Thats what outfitters are for is to help people get what they want. They need to put a limit on the amount of outfitters in an area though, It will get ugly otherwise!

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

As I had mentioned in my original post I will continue to do it on my own.I am sure there are some reasonably priced outstanding hunting trips but they are by far the exception.You either have an outfitter or landowner who doesn't know what they have or they are not in it for the money.It is all about supply and demand.
The points made about research are absolutely true,it is each hunters responsibility to research their trips thoroughly.Many years ago I was naive and thought there was no way one of my "brethern" would not be straight with me.Of course like most lessons learned the painful ones have the most impact.
It also depends on what a hunter's intentions are.Are you going out of state every year to hunt the same species?Have you found country you really enjoy hunting? That's a do it yourself no brainer,provided we are talking whitetails or similar sized game.If you are only going to go every few years and you want a diversity of different hunting experiences than an outfitter is your best bet,especially so if you are hunting large game that will require Horses,mules or four wheelers to get game out.

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

YUP, there is no correct response for me on this one. I've hunted with an outfitter, fished with outfitters and probably will agains some day I hope, because that'll mean I'm off to Ill. or Iowa or Canada hunting. Of course if it's the Ill./ Iowa dealit means I've succummed to the preasure and want to shoot a macho buck so bad I'm willing to pay for it. It probably won't happen. I'll just go to Ohio where I can hunt several hundred acres for free. Heck, I'm going back to the same place in Canada for the third year in a row in June for fishing with an outfitter. I think you're trying to compare an apple to an apple to another apple and another appleand they aren't the same.(I could throw in there are bad apples in every barrell but I won't). I see places where I absolutely detest outfitters. I see places where you'd be a fool not to use one. They're all outfitters but from different apple trees. Those who come in to "The Newest Hotspot for Big Bucks" and lease up all the land so they can charge thousands for chance at the next world record"... well I find it bad for hunting.I feel sorry for the local folks who lost a lifestyle and heritage to a carpet bagger. Wilderness outfitters, fishing guides etc.... well they aren't depriving others a chance really. They're using a resource that probably wouldn't get used if it weren't for them. Places like Canada and Alaska where you're required to have an outfitter/guide... well it's the law and probably a good thing.

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

Places like Canada and Alaska where you're required to have an outfitter/guide... well it's the law and probably a good thing.

It's a Monopoly, Caribou hunting is on it's way to Guided only as well, we went on a bou hunt paid for the camp, boats, camp tenders, and hunted on our own. Too many Trophy hunters are shooting bulls to ground check, too small and leaving them lay to go after a bigger bull. This is why a required guide will soon be the law. And most of us won't go because of the price increase. A few always screw it up for the rest. I can still go Mule deer hunting in Wy. no guide for around $600.( most of that is gas),and have a chance and a Big Buck.

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

well I have used an outfitter in Il to whitetail hunt but do most of my hunting on our georgia lease. The reason outfitters are so prevalent in Il and other big whitetail states I think is because of people from places like me here in FL or GA were the chance of killing a deer in the 150" range is very slim, so we pay to gain permission to hunt good property in big buck areas as well as a nice place to stay and some decent food.

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

I agree


I somewhat agree but mainly disagree. I've lived in the midwest all of my life and grew up on a small farm. Many if not the majority of the farms are now corporate operations. Even 2,500 acres is not considered that large any longer. Farm land is being grabbed up at record prices, even way out in the boonies. Right now with the bio fuel surge, beans are $12 a bushel and corn at $4 a bushel. So the large corporate farms are doing pretty dang good. They are investors, not just farmers and they know what they are doing. I think thats part of the problem. Much of the land is now gobbled up by investors who realize there is a large profit to me made not just now but in the future.

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

Where in IL do you guys live/hunt that is surrounded by outfitters? I know of 1 in my area and he mostly outfits for waterfowl hunting.[&:]

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

I don't doubt that some farmers make a nice profit.........I simply stated that the guys I know around me are not rolling in money that is for sure.

We worry about outfitters scooping up all the land??........God forbid one of these huge corporations figures out that guys will gladly drop $8,000-$10,000 a year to hunt on prime land. Even a 50 million investment could be easily made back in under 10 years...........and for that much money you could own half a state.

I pray we never see the days of MASSIVE hunting "clubs" that sell memberships like Gold's Gym.

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

Isn't paying $4,000 for 4 days getting close to that? While I was hunting I saw this outfitter that hunt's beside me bring in 7 different hunters to hunt during the course of one week-- If they are paying anywhere from $3500 to $4000, thats around $26-28,000 in one week. No wonder he was able to goto all the neighbors and tried to buy up all 2,000 acres!

What got me thinking about this was because I read an article in a magazine talking about hunters in Illinois having difficulty finding hunting grounds anymore because so much land is beginning to be outfitted, and Im pretty sure it said IL is the most outfitted state in the country.

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

I have NO objection to guides in Canada, you have to have them I realize that. You can't go up there in that wilderness by yourself and expect to know what to do. Thats why I said mainly in Illinois- for one, I'm in Illinois and I'm supposed to keep the topic localized, and two, there's alot less ground to be had in Illinois then there is in Canada.

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

I am an Outfitter in Missouri, I feel very lucky and proud to be able to make a living doing what I enjoy to do. I don't look at what I do any differant than if I were a Trapper or a Commercial fisherman, or a custom farmer, For instance, if a custom farmer had all the land he could lease, or cash rent, taken up in an area, that he could plant and harvest on and make a living, and you are a custom farmer and can't farm the ground you always had to farm, does that make All custom farmers a bad Buiss? Same with trapping and commercial fishing, and the list goes on and on. The statement that Outfitters make so much money that they lease up everything in the county may or may not be true, but so could people that don't have anything to do withOutfitting. There are lots of people that could Buy the county. Its free Interprise in this country. Ipromise you that alot of this public landthat is purchased by the State and by the Gov, is not purchased for a place for you to hunt, these are purchased with a lot of underlying agendas, they are just opened up for you to hunt, some, some not.Any outfitter worth his salt, puts thousands of dollars back into the ground, for his benafit of course but also helping all of the surrounding area's. Food plots, feeding programs, sanctuary's, selective harvest, and the list goes on and on. These animals don't stay on our leases, they travel miles and miles helping all surrounding area's with bigger and better and stronger genetics. Bigger herds, larger flocks and lots of monies pumped into the economy to boot. Outfitters also offer a place for the many people in this country who haveno experiance hunting or a place to hunt, and also a placeforhunterswith no quality hunting, a place to experiance a truly managed area. Yes its a shame the land is not all open for anyone to just park and go hunting, but it holds true for any other activities that happens on private ground. I say if there is an outfitter close to you, chances are the wildlife in the area is getting a big boost in all ways.

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

Hey Don, If your looking to take it a step further and give a retired, fixed income guy a break on a guided hunt I'm the guy.. I do agree with what you stated, as long as a big fence is not in the future. That's what I'm seeing around me.

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

glockman55, thanks for the kind words! I can't advertise here, but would gladly work with you on a Hunt, because I truly love the sport and the challenge of outsmarting these big old Bucks!! especially with a stick and string.

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

I can't stand outfitters. Just because they go and get all the prime land... and piss off alot of people. because they can no longer hunt there any more with out paying all the money. in time it's goin to be the only way that you can hunt. unless you own your land..

RE: What is your view on Outfitters?
 

This poll is definitely biased in structure. I have used outfitters in a few cases mostly because you either had to by law ( caribou ) or with limited time it makes sense to have established stands and accomodations waiting for you in a new area . Some are crooks and some are legitimate people earning a living. I will use them again as there is no way I can realistically "pre scout" a Western state prior to a hunt. I don't use them in my home province when hunting deer, moose and bear but don't mind contributing to a local economy when doing road trip hunts.