Exactly what I was thinking

i cant offer any advise as ive never been on a guided hunt but i would prolly trust him if its to late to back out because it sounds like you dont have much of a choice. good luck tho whatever you chose and i hope you get your dream buck!

He doesn't allow tweeking of stands because he has stand sites already set up (steps already screwed in certain trees/shooting lanes cut). He allows NO walking in the woods at all! He usesa hang onstand set up (male/female). He has probably 100 different stand sites for various wind directions. The very first thing he does in the morning is has his guide go out into the large field (see pic)in front of the lodge and check wind direction. He then decides where he's puttinghis 6hunters for the morning hunt.
I will say this man is very military like when it comes to his deer hunting. He is very precise in what he does. In his behalf, I'll say I've never seen ANYBODY as serious about deer hunting, as this man. He let me sit all day one day last year, but I was moved a short distance from the original morning stand. I guess because of wind direction.

I also thought I'd add, he allows NO clothing that willbe wornin the field, in the lodge. At all! That includes whatever boots you'll be wearing, bows, day packs, nothing. There is NO smoking/chewing either.[:@]Here's a couple more pics.

Now that might be a deal breaker . If you keep a spit bottle with you I can't see how it would hurt. Not any more than buggy running around picking guys up.

If he lets you sit all day then do it at least one of the days. Deer will sometimes pattern the hunters and if noone hunts at noon that could be the magic hour. Something tells me that he has a good handle on the situation and since he doesn't allow walking in the woods patterning the hunters is harder for the deer.
I know from fishing if a guide says to use a certain fly or lure you'd be foolish not to. He knows his home waters better than you do.
Maybe he can stagger his hunters, taking one in for lunch while leaving you in the recently vacated stand. If the deer indeed have the hunters patterned you may be in luck. He may also have this system in place cuz it is easier for him rather than having everyone do as they please. Good luck on your hunt!

Jeff- What does he do to cover everyone's breath? Time and time again I see people go nuts trying to hide scent but if your breath smells like crap and the deer are down wind then everything else is a wast unless you are huffing oxygen through a mask.

During prime rut? I think its half dozen, 6 the other situation....

being dropped off and picked up.....vs, driving to your stand parking walking in....I think helps, sounds like some benefits as opposed to those 2hrs midday....also hunting different spots etc....perhaps use walkie talkies and if the area is hot tell him you want to stay....otherwise follow his program....

This question makes me think back to my sport days, i recall my one coach and probably other coaches, saying, when at a camp etc....listen to that coach.....kinda makes me think, aside from some whacky idea....listen to his rules....he as you said is an accomplished hunter, has his own philosophies.....and has gotten the job done.

If anything you may want to get picked up, and speed the process along if possible, rather than 2hrs out of the field if you can do it in an hour....or rather than 3hrs...in 1.5.....either way talk to him, tell him your concerns and see what he suggests/says? Sounds like he'll tell you his reasoning, and maybe contradict your concerns/make you feel better, all I can say is I'd want to talk over every aspect I could prior to getting there.

Also maybe to shorten that lunch break, have a lunch packed....eat in the car....sure you can streamline it some ways, but I think he runs a solid ship, talk to references....see what they had though about taking 2hrs off during the rut to eat/shower? see if they liked it? if not what they would do differently.

Personally, I'd do as he reccomends. The proof is in the pudding and he owns a pudding factory!

IMO I would start looking for an outfitter that hunts the way I do. This outfitter has some great results but he isn't the only outfitter out there. There are plenty of outfitters in the Midwest that could provide results equal to this guy without you freezing your butt off and following his NAZI hunting policies.