Checking Outfitter References
 

I am considering going to an outfitter this fall. I have a list of references from the outfitter.
What questions or info should be asked of the references?

RE: Checking Outfitter References
 

Here are some common one's that we have used in the past for an elk hunt, hope it helps.

Questions for References:


What year did they hunt? What week? If you were to go again would you pick the same week ?[/ol]



Where did you hunt? What Package?[/ol]



Were they successful?[/ol]



Where the guides experienced? How many game sightings? How close?[/ol]


5. Would you rate accommodations for Bowhunters?



Were the guides successful in calling game?[/ol]



Did you have any student guides? What were they like?[/ol]



What was your guide’s name? Would you suggest them or ask for your particular guide again?[/ol]



What was the terrain and hunting conditions like? How physically demanding was the trip?[/ol]



What were the camps like? Where they sufficiently stocked and heated?[/ol]



Did you have the opportunity to practice with your bow in camp?[/ol]



Did you encounter other hunters? How often?[/ol]



How many hunters were in your camp? How many were successful?[/ol]



Where are you planning to go on your next Elk hunt? (If they say somewhere else in Colorado, then why are they not going to use this outfitter)[/ol]


15. Why did you pickthis outfitterover other Outfitters?


In a scale from 1 – 10, how would you rate the outfitter overall?



What items did you find that you needed that you did not include in your list. What items did you take and find that you didn’t need. [/ol]

RE: Checking Outfitter References
 

What would you change? (There is always something)

Did you pass a shot chance and if so, how did the guide react?

How's the food?

How's the life at camp?

How did you get along with your guide?

What suprised you about the hunt?

How many animals did you see?

If it was elk: How where the guides at bugling? How did the elk react?

Describe a typical day hunting

Would you go back? (This is especialy good if they did NOT get an animal)

Also, get references from the outfitter of unsuccessfull hunters, these will tell you more.

RE: Checking Outfitter References
 

Make sure you have references from a couple of years, and also Bowhunters who were unsuccessful as well as successful.

Dan