It's been since '05 since I last made a trip to MT on an elk hunt. I figured why not....
My parents live east of Missoula and their neighbor and good friend about 5 miles away is an outfitter. After talking with Dad last week, this outfitter is a bit hungry. Courtesy of the outfitter tag deletes, the economy and MT's price increases of the recent past his business is suffering. Suffering so bad that he's only had 1 archery client this fall and he he has a 2 clients booked for the final week of rifle over Thanksgiving.
So I called him last Friday evening (I hunted with him on a couple day rides back in 2001 friend to friend hunt so to speak) and picked his brain a little last week about the area we would be in and what he had observed so far, post rut. It was a looooong conversation where I just shut up and listened (rare for me).
We then moved on to discuss some basic parameters. I basically told him I don't need any frills, it isn't about the food, it's about harvesting a big bull. I'll walk away and leave the rag's for another day and another hunter. It's going to be another 340+ bull for the wall or nuthin'. Keep this simple!!!!
He knows where the bachelor hang out is, as of Sunday's re-con mission. He knows they will be there until the snow gets to be 20"+ deep. He knows where they go if the snow gets deep or in the off chance they get bumped by another hunter coming in from above. He also knows that there are 2 bulls in that group that are 320+ that might be what I want and he's certain that there is 1 that is a 350+ and could be as much as 370 or more. Spotting at 1500+ yards it was tough to get a good read on him at last light on Sunday.
He's going back in early tomorrow morning and see if he can get a better look at the big bull in better light conditions.
Here's the deal that I asked for, and we agreed to after he contemplated this for 4-5 days in which he offered a few extras I did not expect:
Spike camp, which is set-up about 45 minute ride/hike combination away from the bachelor pad (both).
No frills, keep it simple (me).
Skip the camp cook (both), we will tag team the meal prep stuff and clean-up. It isn't about wining and dining me. It's about eating decent enough, sleeping well and hunting hard all day!
Skip the wrangler aspect (both), I own horses and I will be up when you get up and share that responsibility with you.
Since your setting this camp up in advance for me and will not be using it the last weekend, I will help break camp on the ride out day saving you the cost of coming back in to take it down (both).
He's going to ride in every 3-4 days between now until November 11th when we head in just to keep tabs on things and pending their existence he will set up camp on the 8th or 9th, or situate camp in another location if need be (him).
This is a 5 full day hunt, with a last couple hours tacked on on ride-in day. (both)
I have the option to extend as many days as I want, up to 4 days max, at a cost of $200 per day with just the 2nd guide as he needs to accommodate his other commitment for the following week at his base camp. (my option, his dollar figure)
If we overlap on time due to me extending (me and the other party to follow), we have an agreement that the other party will not hunt the same locale as me (him).
This is a backwards 2 on 1 hunt. I have 2 guides for the initial 5-1/4 day hunt. While I'm out with the outfitter himself, he will have a 2nd guide at camp off elsewhere canvasing the country in search of other possible animals. If the guide finds a bull for me, I go hook up with him then or the next day depending on where he is, and the outfitter then the assumes the role of canvasing country. He completely offered this one up and the thought had never occurred to me of it being an option.
If I tag out in the first day or two, he'll offer me a rebate on my base price if I/we choose to pack out early, rebate TBD later (him).
No trophy fee (him).
Take a mule deer at no additional cost, if I choose too (him).
Guess what the base price for this 5-1/4 day hunt is?
