Even in some of the very best big buck states (mid west) the most desireable land is private. A lot of the time this land can only be accessed via an outfitter. Even if you could go it alone on some of these properties, by the time you found out the patterns/best stand locations ect, you would have eaten up a lot of your precious hunting time. Most folks only have a week to hunt.[&o]

it seems to me, atleast on all the hunting shows, most of the lands the outfitters useare private lands (usually farms) where they have just obtained permission by the farmer. to me anyone can knock on a door and get permission, they are just trying to monopolize these area's to make money off of someone elses land.

Thank you Vick for your input. I respect all forms of hunting that is legal. AS for outfitters hunting private land, well I know for a fact they hunt public land as well. So I don't believe hunters are paying for the land as someone stated. There is a demand for outfitters and all services should be paid for, in my opinion.
I also understand people who are limited for time. It's just something I think isn't for me. Different strokes. Let's just keep one thing in mind. Keep on hunting!!!!!

Spudrow from MO

I always said a big part of the cost is for the camp/outfitting not the guiding part. I think most of us if you dropped us in an area with game, we could get the job done.

But if hunting wilderness, how do you plan for a guy who doesn't live in that state to get it done? backpack all the gear in? and the animal out? rent horses? mules? also for a guy who has little to no experience with this stuff, good luck.

Also I think, are you looking to shoot just any animal? is an elk and elk? well then the DIY 'er has a much easier task than the guy who wants to DIY a 350" trophy bull elk.

Some species are more apt for DIY IMO.

If spending an extra $1000 vs. what it would cost you to outift yoru own hunt etc.....and if that means having a more enjoyable hunt and getting an animal vs, not that's cheap IMO. I don't want to take a elk hunting vacation, I want to be elk hunting when I go.

But certainly some insight on your skills for hunting other states would be interesting to know.

Also if DIY means hunting 2 weeks, just to get on game, vs. 1 week, well many guys that could mean going hunting vs. not going hunting.

But I do agree with you, and certainly the more I do it the easier it'll become, I think for many guys taking that plunge/chance to go on your own, to a new random area can be overwhelming, I get frustrated just looking at maps, seeing the miles and miles of forest/wilderness, its like where do you begin? will the be any game there?

I did read kinda a memoir once of this hunter, who had taken game all over the world, and taken mostly great trophies, and had been very successful, his advice, was, to never book a cheap hunt, he truly believed you go twhat yo paid for. and I think if you have the money and it's not much of an issue, you might as well pay for the best and have a great experience. Though if DIY gives your more satisfaction, then thats up to you as well.

That is the only way I have ever used an outfitter. Can't hunt in parts of canada without one.

As others have stated, sometimes it just isn't easy to hunt a different state or province all on your own. An outfitted hunt makes things a whole lot easier. Is the cost worth it? That is only something YOU can decide. It depends on how badly you want the animal. One should never think an outfitted hunt will guarantee you game, because it won't. Finding a good, reputable outfitter is not exactly easy either. Lots of rip-off artists in this field to say the least. I haven't been on an outfitted hunt for a good many years now, and honestly have NO desire to go again at the unreal prices they charge these days. Their prices have been going up way faster than any inflation rate I have seen for anything else! I wonder if the outfitting business is suffering as of late with the economy not being too good? I just can't see too many people shelling out that kind of money when the time are not that great.

I "do it the hard way" here in Mass. I'm out early in the spring, trying to identify any new travel routes before the green up hides everything. I put in food plots (by hand, deep in the woods)to help the herd through the critical antler growing/lactation months, I hang my own stands, I cut my own shooting lanes, I position my own trailCams and retrieve pictures every week so as to begin to pattern the deer. I do this where I live (actually 50 minutes away from my home) because I am able to!

But I like to hunt other areas also. I like to see other parts of the country and try to harvest deer in these areas. When I leave my wife & kids for any extended period of time, I darn well make sure it's worth my time away from them. If I leave on a business trip- I verify that it is business that couldn't be conducted via phone or videoconference. When I leave on a hunting trip- I want to be HUNTING while I'm away, not SCOUTING, HANGING STANDS, CUTTING LANES or PATTERNING DEER! I do my homework & find the best outfitter that I can afford. When looking for an outfitter, I look for four things:

- no undue pressure placed on the resources (deer or land) by the outfitter
- no assembly line of hunters running through the camp
- level of personalized service provided to hunters by outfitter is very high
- % of shot opportunities at quality bucks afforded to bowhunter in the last couple of years

Everything else is a distant priority. I don't care how good the meals are, just provide me some healthy food that won't give me the runs. I don't care how nice the cabin/ranch is, just provide me a warm, clean, scent-free bed & a place to store my gear where folks can't screw with or contaminate it.

If I do my homework right, I enjoy myself- whether I harvest an animal or not. I see beautiful country, meet new nice folks & have a legitimate opportunity to take an animal that I will be proud of. When I get to camp, I want to sit down with the outfitter and review a topo map of the property and understand where the stands are, what stands are good for what type of wind, what stands have been used by other bowhunters who were there prior to us this season and what stands he feels have been blown up or burnt out. I'll then wait my turn and request the stand that I feel would suit me best & ask the outfitter if he feels there's a better stand for me to hunt.

I still have to rattle orcall them in. I still need to stay concealed. I still need to put a good shot on them. I still need to recover them. Don't think for one minute that just because one hunts with an outfitter that it's a lay up and some 10 point, 150" buck is going to walk right to your stand & stop 15 yards broadside- it's still work. Just a different type of work where one is doing more hunting and less prep work.

Hereare pictures of two bucks that I'm hunting the "hard way" here in MA. I can't tell you the number of hours I've put in the woods in order to get pictures of these two bucks and begin to pattern them.





When I use Outfitters, I use thembecause I love to hunt and time is my most precious commodity at this point in my life.

Rob

You'd get arguments from many that hunting deer that are attracted by feeders as hunting the "hard way".

Hunting in most of Canada you must have an outfitter,i Believe Ontario is the exception.If yourtime is limited use an outfitter ,if not try to hunt on public land and as someone else said you will find a more satisfyinghunt.D&DHsome times have articles aboutareas in other states that cost evey little to hunt.

Steve,
The Feeders have to be out of the woods one month before opening day. We can't hunt over bait here in MA and I don't intend to. I use the feeder to help bring the deer in until the plot takes off- which it is just about to do.

I think you jumped the gun just a *tad* assuming I was hunting over a feeder. But that's OK- I don't know you, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt.

Where it's legal to hunt over feeders, I have no problem with people who do it. However for me, that's something I simply can't do here in MA.

Have a lovely hunting season,

Rob