I'm Back from Alberta
 

I'm back from my hunt in Alberta Canada where I hunted 6 days for whitetail. I want to first tell you guys who do not know me that I have hunted Canada 5 times and with this outfitter 3 times ...this was the WORST hunt I have EVER been on.... I went with a good friend of mine from North Carolina who also has hunted with this outfitter 3 different times in the last 5 years and this was the week when Rut is in full swing...we were the only two in camp ( he only hunts 6 per year ) and it cost us $4500.00 each plus Glen bought a moose tag for $500.00 ...+ airfare ...when we arrived it was cold and snowing and had been snowing for about a week with snow in the forcast for the week we would be hunting ...I had to make my trip to Alberta witout my rifle because when I arrived at the airport I could not find the key to my rifle case and they would not allow my rifle on the plane unless it was locked ...so I called Don (the outfitter) from Nashville before I flew out and told him ...he said he would have a rifle available for me when I arrived ..obviously not the best of situations but I was a victum of circumstance so I got on the plane and headed to Alberta ...once there my friend and I were very excited..this is something we had talked about and planned all year ...we had both took a nice trophy buck there in 04 and had agreed we were not going to take anything less the a 160 or larger anything less then that we were prepared to come home emptyhanded....now for the positive points of the hunt ...the outfitter had 4 stands set up for us ...very nice and comfortable with a small heater ...the food was very very good ...the accomodations were above averege ...now for the negitive points ... the first day when we were drove out to our stands we were told that we would have to hike into the blinds because the 4X4 might get stuck in the snow ...I had almost a mile to walk and Glen had about a half of mile ...now that may not sound like a long way to walk to deer hunt but try it through 2 1/2 foot of fresh snow with a loaded back pack and a rifle ...once there we were both soaking wet even though the temp was 10 degrees or less most of the hunt ... once in stand we would
sit for 11 hrs a day staring up a very narrow cut line hoping to see a monster buck cross out of the bush ... between Glen and myself we put in 120 hrs in the stand ..hiking in and out while our outfitter set in his truck all day smoking ...drinking coffee ...listning to sports radio ...and napping ...during the 120 hrs we spent on stand we saw a total of 6 deer ...thats rightONLY 6 deer between the two of us in 120 hrs...and the outfitter never offered to go try and scout out any area's that might show more activity ...he never did anything to try and help make our hunt sucessful ...there was no plan B ...just sit and watch ...needless to say we both left less then happy ..not because we did not harvest an animal but because we both felt we did not get the service we paid for ...no effort from the outfitter .... so lets just say this was a lesson learned ...and just a footnote about the rifle the outfitter furnished me with ...he wanted me to pay $100.00 for the use of it ...thats AFTER the hunt and AFTER he knew we were pretty upset...while in my stand on the 2nd day I was so bored that I decided to shoot at my decoy about 100 yards away...it shot WAY high.... so guys there it is in a nutshell ... the good Doctor is not a happy camper.

dd

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

Wow what a piss off. I found here in mid Sept when i went about and hour west of Red Deer there was about 2 1/2 feet of snow and i seen dick all for deer but the following week when there was little to no snow there were tons of deer so i think the snow had them staying put so what the guide should have done was offered to at least push the bush for yahcause when there is lots of snow on the ground thats what me and a few of my buddys do and it gets the game moving really good.

As for the gun i would have told him to shove it or say that if he can hit within an inch of a target at 100 hundred yards with it then MAYBE i would pay him but still he knew you guys had a crappy hunt and you were disappointed so in my eyes he had no right to ask you for money for the gun.

Well now you know not to go to them anymore.Sorry to hear about the unsuccessful hunt. Hope you have better luck next year either here in Alberta or with the neighbours to the east of us.

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

Heck give me $450 bucks next year (instead of $4500)and i'll set you up with a wallhanger ;)

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

Yep its aweful when u gotta earn your deer. I understand your mad cause you paid for a hunt and i agree it was poor of the outfitter but understand up here it ain't all peaches and cream. I have walked many miles, hands so cold they could not turn the key to start the vehicle, snow so deep quadding is out and never saw a thing. But would i do it again? In a heartbeat. :D oh a tip, if your walkin a long way strip down first then layer up in the stand, don't sweat at all.

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

Yep.... I'd rather walk in naked,freeze my arse off and get dressed at my stand than to sweat walking to my stand. Once you get sweaty, you're in for a long cold sit. Buy somemoisture wicking baselayers too. They work good.

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

Sorry you didn't have a great time Doc. Although it was disappointing that is the way it goes sometimes. It appears your outfitter has slipped and isn't doing what he can to accomodate his clients. Perhaps he is getting out of the business and isn't too worried about his reputation. But as you know...thats hunting.

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

DangDoc, you would think a guide with a good repeat customer would do everything he could to make the trip as enjoyable as possible. I know there are some good deer in Canada, but I saw 19 in about 2 1/2 hours in South Bama yesterday.......:)

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

DD, hate the hunt turned outbad, if your down my way, look me up, and you can go with me, FREE.

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

Soory to hear about that Doc. But, I'm glad I didn't go with you.LOL

But seriously, for that kind of money you could go just about anywhere. And the outfitter should be busting his rump trying to do everything he possibly can to get you the trophy of your dreams. And if he would have tried to tell me he wanted $100 for the use of his rifle, he would have been walking really funny all the way to the proctologist to get it removed.

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

LOL LMAO what i site that would be to see a bunch of hunters walking into the woods naked I might shoot... you never know might be an Albino hairlessSasquatch LMAO HAHAHAHA

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

Sorry to hear DD, I was hoping to see some mass. [&:]

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

TC I want to make sure it is clear to all that we knew going in that we were subject to come home with no trophy ...and we also knew that we would not see near as many deer in Alberta as we might see in Sasketchewan but we did expect our outfitter to do something to try and make our hunt a successful one especially considering we were very good customers...all we wanted or expected him to do was to put in the same effort that we did...after all he had $9500 of our money...and we did not get that effortfrom him ...as for what we wore walking in ...the first morning it was 7 degrees and when we dressed that morning had no idea we would have to be walking in ...the next few days we did dress down until we reached the stand ...CI as for the statement " thats hunting" I have to disagree with you my friend ...when I hunt I try to leave the woods thinking I have done everything I could that day to harvest a buck ....we did not do everything that could have been done IMHO...we were not looking for excusses but adjustments from our outfitter....One on One thank you for your kind offer ...I have moved up to Paducah Ky and have not yet found a decent place to hunt but will continue to look ...Longrifle I felt like doing just what you suggested but thought better of it ...one ironic footnote that is humorus ...as me and my wife drove home from Nashville we saw 17 deer in less then 2 hours and she laughed everytime we saw one ...and to rub sale into the wound when I got up this morning and was making coffee I looked out back and there stood 3 LOL ..go figure !

dd

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

Do you have to rely on your outfitter? Why couldn't you make your own adjustments if you were that displeased with the way things were going with him? Heck get down, go throgh the snow, and go stalk something.

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

I understand DD and sympathize with your issue. I haven't had the type experience that you had and I have been on guided hunts. I understand the disappointment you must have felt especially after having such a long time to anticipate the trip. I think I know you well enough through this forum to know that you will get over your irritation towards the outfitter. The important thing is to not let a bad week ruin your enthusiasm. Your move to Ky will just be another page in life and I bet you will find some great hunting there. Good hunters react to challenges and you sir are one of those. Keep the faith brother and glad you are back.

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

NY thats precisely what I did ....on Thursday night I told the outfitter that I would not be hunting the same stand again ...I had gotten down early thursday afternoon and went scouting on my own and found a concentration of fresh tracks in the snow crossing a beaver pond going into some bush...I felt if the tracks were doe tracks which is what they appeared to be that with the rut in swing I might find a buck in the area....as it turned out it must have been night traffic because after two days all I saw was one young buck 10 min before dusk on our last day .... CI thank you my friend ..yeh I will get over it but I did want to share my experience with my friends on the forum ...thought it might help a fellow hunter who may be thinking of going on a trip using a guide or outfitter ...

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

Bummer man...... that really bites. That's a lot of dough to shell out to have an experience like that.

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

This is why I would never be an outfitter. Premadonas bitching about actually being forced to hunt.

You're shooting at your decoy and you wonder why:

Maybe because you where shooting at your decoy!!! I for one would have shot that borrowed rifle before I took it into the woods so that I would know where it was shooting.

I wasn't there so I shouldn't take sides, but some of the things you say make me think that I would side with the outfitter. Listen I've known guys who went to canada in hopes of bagging a big whitey. Its pretty common knowledge that you will be expected to sit in a stand in very cold weather for 12 hours a day. You may only see a handfull of deer in a week of hunting. Everybody knows this, its the fact that one of those deer may be a huge buck that people put up with it.

Listen I'm not very politically correct, and I've been known to run off at the mouth too much. But, Quit your whinning its huntingyou sound like a real city slicker peckerwood!

Just my not so humble opinion! flame me

shato out

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

Sorry to hear it DD. I know you were looking forward to it. I have yet to be happy with an outfitted hunt. Guess you never get what was actually advertised.

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

well that sucks

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

see my post above.

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

Shato you sir are intitled to your opinion ...but like you said "you were not there" ...we arrived in Edmonton around 2.00 on Sunday ...left the airport about 2.45 and arrived at the place we would be staying around 3.30 ...from there it would have been a hour drive to be able to shoot this rented rifle and we had yet to unpack ...also it get dark there about 5.30 and we were in the stand the next morning at 5.30 ...so yes had all things been right it would have made sence to shoot the rifle but there was just no time .... as fpr "flamming you" I think you do a good enough job at that yourself ..you need no help from me.

dd

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

BC I suppose your right however this was not our first hunt with him ..in the past hunts the deer were moving and he really did not have to do much but be a taxie driver ...however because of the bad weather and all the snow the deer according to him just were not moving ...we felt he should have made some adjustments to try and compensate for the conditions ..maybe that was expecting to much on our part ...maybe he felt justified sitting in his warm truck all day ...smoking ..drinking coffee ...eating ...sleeping ...instead of scouting some for his clients ...anyway its water under the bridge ..just wanted to vent a little and share ...

dd

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

You know I think if I go, I am planning to go little earlier. Seems things pivot around snowfall.

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

Sir,

You didn't plan very well. You should have planned enough time to shoot your weapons upon arrival. Even if you were able to take your own rifle you should have shot it to make sure that it wasn't damage by the airlines. Maybe, the guy didn't provide the amount of service you thought you deserved. I can't argue that fact. I think he was a jerk for asking you to pay for the loan of the weapon. But, I don't buy the complaints about the hunting.

I don't buy the complaint about you had to walk a mile into your stand. BooHOO! You were "bored" while hunting so you decide to shoot your decoy in the middle of the day and you wonder why you're not seeing deer.That sounds like something my youngest boy would pull. He wanted to shoot squirrels while we were deer hunting.

I don't think you grasp the concept. Low animal movement is one of the things that happens. Heck, I've spent way more money than what you did and come home empty handed. One week I hunted for 7 straight days in rain, snow, fog, & sleet. Clumb numerous mountains. Spent one night on the mountain in grizzly country, because we hunted too long and couldn't get off before night fall. froze my tail off, didn't have enough food..... in the end I went home with nothing more than three Cows being spotted. Thats the way it goes sometimes. Don't like it, don't go.

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

Thank you for your opinion "Grizzly Adams" .... like you said before ..."you were not there" ...nuff said ..

dd

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

"Grizzly Adams":D I like that

Peckerwood city slicker!

Nuff Said (I got the last word)[8D]

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

Be nice Shato no need to try for a knockout. The doc had a bad trip and he was just venting to all his friends. Last week was bad for him and no need to make this one bad too. We are....all friends here ya know.

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

Well sad to here about the bad trip Doc! Was this the same place you bagged your mass attack buck? Also how is the hunting going in Kentucky? Not sure if I missed alot of your post but I had forgot you even moved!

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

Sorry to hear about your trip DD, sounds pretty rough for all that money.I'm interested on what the outfitters take on all this was.Did you ask him to do some additionalscouting for you and if so whatdid he say?

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

Man, I am pretty shocked at the way you act here. I have been pretty impressed by most of your posts in guns. And sometimes, very good info. By the way you posted on there, I figured you to be a grown man in your 40's with some impressive gunsmithing experience. But here, I am pretty surprised.

I have been hunting in Canada a few times, and I have had to fight tooth and nail to get to test my gun. They usually don't like you to fire a bunch of shots around the lodge, and usually things are extremely hectic right when you get off the plane. You should know this stuff.

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

Well your outfitter was right with the whole "there is too much snow so the animals arent moving" cause they hate moving in tons of snow like that but as i said earlier he should have at least got off his butt and pushed some bush for you guys.

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

Now as for Shato, buddy you dont have the right to harass DD beacuse of his post. The guy was told he was gonna be doing "STAND" hunting so of course he will think a mile to get to a spot is a long way cause i know where i sit is maybe 1/2 a mile. Sometimes though depending on the weather i will hike over 20 miles. Now im sure if he was told he would be hiking he wouldnt be complaining about a mile hike and enjoyed the fact he only had to go a mile.

Also im sorry but i know i get bored when sitting all day and im sure he got frustrated and pissed off (i know i would)at the fact that he had just spent 9500 dollars to shot a deer and the outfitter is screwing him and decided to take it out on the decoy which i also know i might do if its later in the day. And just cause he took a shot doesnt mean the animals are spooked from that area for the rest of the week. I know here in Alberta where i hunt i shot a mulie one day and went there the next day and seen four more standing right where i shot the deer. It was just the fact that the weather put a huge damper on his hunting.So you really have no right to call the guy a "Peckerwood city slicker" especially when hes just venting on a crappy disappointing hunt he just had.And at least he aint acting like the child on this board
WOW grow upat least DD is being a man and just letting yourself dig yourself into a hole(which your doing a fine job of doing by the way)

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

Hotburn it was the same place I took my big buck in 04 ....as for hunting in Ky I have not had the oppurtunity to hunt here yet but maybe Shato will invite me LOL ....

dd

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

Sorry to hear about the bad hunt Doc! Hope you get a good place settled in Ky so you cann start smokin' em there.

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

Thank you Bion ...

dd

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

It sucked because you didnt shoot anything, and thats the bottom line. I dont measure my hunting trips on success or not.
You had a bad trip and it cost you lots of money, thats why your pissed. **** happens, weather gets bad, vehicles break down, or it rains for days, been there done that.

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

I understand you frustration DD and I'm sorry to hear your hunt didn't go as planned.

However, i have a hard time really falling for the sad story given that the majority of your complaints stem from things beyond the outfitters control (weather, borrowed rifle, deer movement).

Your one legitimate complaint about lack of effort from the outfitter should have been evident before this most recent hunt, or is it that in the past you were willing to overlook his shortcomings as long as you went home with a big deer? Either way, given the amount of bellyaching you did about the price last time i'm suprised you went back.;)

I know that when a hunt doesn't work out that it's normal to want to find a reason why. Isn't it a little strange that after two successful hunts you draw a blank and all of the sudden the outfitter is a bum. Btw, am I missing something or were you in the truck with him...smoking...drinking coffee... listening to the radio? I thought you were on stand the whole time. How can you be in two places at once? Are we just assuming that he wasn't scouting because he kept you on the same stand?

Finally, I take it you retract the following statements:D:

" I would like to thank Don ****, my outfitter... for without their help I would never have found this buck of a lifetime. The valuable lesson I learned from Don about hunting trophy deer is that you have to be patient!" -Big Buck Magazine, Spring 2005.

You seemed pretty happy with his services as long as your mug shot was in a magazine;).

If you're ever looking for a reputable outfitter who will work his a** off for you i'd be happy to recommend one. He is top rate and often booked well in advance. Don't let one bad experience ruin you on hunting here but now at least you've experienced the downside of what hunting here can be. Good luck in Kentucky.

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

dang DD, that trip was doomed from the start[:@]


it'll get better;)

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

RE: I'm Back from Alberta
 

I got to understand something about you people on this forum. He told you why he is disappointed. You either think he is a liar or you have selective hearing. If you think he is lying say it. Be a man.

Holy cow, none of you guys were there, the guy puts a post on here, and I can't believe there's 4 pages of bashing. Makes no sense.