What questions do you ask outfitters references?

[Bob33]

In my opinion, references are over rated.  You will most likely only be speaking with hunters that had a positive experience, otherwise the outfitter won't be giving you their name and contact information.

As Dale pointed out, try to solicit feedback from others who have hunted with them but are not on the reference list.

The guide / PH needs to have a hunting style that matches yours.  I've hunted with some that were akin to a hardcore drill sargeant, and others that didn't give a rip. 

You also need to be clear about what you expect.  Do you want a pleasant hunt, or are you willing to hike 10 miles in the dark to look for a trophy?  What kind of condition are you in? What types of shots are you comfortable with?  Will your outfitter accommodate these conditions?

[fair-chase]

Never been on a guided hunt, but in this day and age of over hyped celebrity hunters, I would ask if they are going to have any "professional hunters" filming with their outfit in the year you are planning on booking. It appears this is a major form of advertising for outfitters these days and I would not want to be hunting with an outfitter during the same season as a celebrity hunter. Even if the outfitter is a stand up individual there would be an inherent amount of pressure to perform for that client over you, the average joe hunter. I also would not want my hard earned money taking a backseat to some fancy pants celebrity. 

[brianmtsinc]

Bearpaw, I find this interesting what you and carpsniper2 have to say. I would agree that shot opportunity would count very high. When guys spend thousands of dollars they at least expect to have a chance. When I talk about the $25,000.00 dollars that was spent on my trip with absolutely zero opportunity, they also said that it was about the outdoor experience. That was not brought up in the front end of the trip, only afterwards. I can have a lot of enjoyment for a heck of a lot less money than going on a glorified camping trip. I am sure your trips are great, but there sure are some buggers out there. Mine happened a few years ago and I still have hard feelings about it. I see the outfitter out the Puyallup Sportsman show every year and I wait for him to get done talking to prospective clients. When they are done talking I walk up to them down and fill them in on what happened with my group.
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Woodman, My buddy and I do the exact same thing!  See the guy every year at the sportsman show and do our best to try and save a would be  sucker from falling into the same trap we did. 
Ours was only a $4k loss, but to us it was a hunt of a lifetime, and it happened back in 2007 and we are still burnt on the whole "guide thing". 

Our experience had nothing to do with animals (although that was poor too) and everything to do with the attitude of the guide.  He was an ass from the first morning when he walked out of camp without us and expected us to catch him, to calling to me after I hit a bull and said, "come take a look at this blood, I am sure you have seen more archery hits then I have!!" ... followed by "F'n arrow shooters.... "   

Horrible experience, but we have saved at least four other people from the same fate and there is some solace in that. 

HUNT - My number 1 questions to every reference you call - "did you like your guide?" 

Best of luck!!!

[carpsniperg2]

Never been on a guided hunt, but in this day and age of over hyped celebrity hunters, I would ask if they are going to have any "professional hunters" filming with their outfit in the year you are planning on booking. It appears this is a major form of advertising for outfitters these days and I would not want to be hunting with an outfitter during the same season as a celebrity hunter. Even if the outfitter is a stand up individual there would be an inherent amount of pressure to perform for that client over you, the average joe hunter. I also would not want my hard earned money taking a backseat to some fancy pants celebrity. 

Fairchase most times I agree with you but strongly disagree with you on this one. Why some outfitters might put extra effort into a big name client. It is not fair for you to judge like that and lump all of us together. I put just as much effort into all my trips no matter the client. So you say that because i had the alwines here last year. You would not hunt with me because you would feel like I would put more into there trip then yours? Come on now, that's not even close to the right way of thinking my friend.

[fair-chase]

Never been on a guided hunt, but in this day and age of over hyped celebrity hunters, I would ask if they are going to have any "professional hunters" filming with their outfit in the year you are planning on booking. It appears this is a major form of advertising for outfitters these days and I would not want to be hunting with an outfitter during the same season as a celebrity hunter. Even if the outfitter is a stand up individual there would be an inherent amount of pressure to perform for that client over you, the average joe hunter. I also would not want my hard earned money taking a backseat to some fancy pants celebrity. 

Fairchase most times I agree with you but strongly disagree with you on this one. Why some outfitters might put extra effort into a big name client. It is not fair for you to judge like that and lump all of us together. I put just as much effort into all my trips no matter the client. So you say that because i had the alwines here last year. You would not hunt with me because you would feel like I would put more into there trip then yours? Come on now, that's not even close to the right way of thinking my friend.

Your right Carp, I shouldn't lump all outfitters into the same category like that. For that I apologize. I still have some strong opinions on this subject but I will try to illustrate them better and not be quite so accusatory towards outfitters as a whole.

[RadSav]

If your guides territory is so small that he can not properly accommodate you and a celebrity at the same time you have chosen the wrong guide.  Same thing to be said for worrying about your guide taking all the good animals because he hunts the territory himself.  A good territory should support a certain number of hunters and the territory managers in a single year without any effect on the quality of animals harvested.  Many territory managers allow guides and wranglers to remove only management animals to weed out a bad gen potential or balance the doe/cow-buck/bull ratio.

I have never met a reputable guide that became one to improve his social status.  Most do it because they enjoy the life and to make a living.  Keeping all the big bulls and bucks to themselves doesn't lend itself to a successful business or to preserving their way of life.  That argument just does not hold any weight!

Your major celebrities like the Eastmans can really hunt wherever and with whomever they want most of the time.  They don't often open up the guide directory and throw a dart at the page to figure who they will be hunting with that year.  It sometimes comes down to money, but far more often it comes down to a lot of research and a guides reputation.  For me that puts a plus sign in that guides book.

Now if they are guiding some wannabe loud mouth celeb who has really never accomplished anything more than slutting themselves out to whomever will give them a discounted trip or product...Now that is a different story.  But, those guys are usually flash pan celebs and the guide service will often times just be looking for ad exposure too.  They are perfect for one another, but not usually perfect for me.

If Dwight Schuh, Larry Jones, Guy Eastman, Randy Ulmer, Craig Boddington, Wayne Van Zwoll, Jim Zumbo, Chuck Adams or other reputable celebs of character are hunting with my chosen outfit a few miles away I am feeling pretty good.  I know that means I am where the big animals are.  So maybe they have the senior guide working with them and I have some schmo that only has a few years experience.  Who really cares!!  That's a good reason to have a little peace pipe conversation with your guide telling him, "What do you say about really hitting this hard and showing up those guys?"  I bet you would have the time of your life.  If no celeb was on the mountain that day it would simply be "hunt as usual".  And you would still have no guarantee of having that senior guide with you.

When it comes to guiding - The best of the best did not get there by playing games.  They've reached that level through proper territory acquisition, hard work, proper management and customer service.  I don't care whether they hunt their territory or have multiple celebrities sharing the camp with me.  Those are the guys I want to hunt with.  Because they are the best of the best and some no-name Joe Schmoe like myself can use all the help I can get.

[lhrbull]

if you are looking at alaska send me a pm and i will give you the name of a guide i used and i wasn't successful the first time.

[jgrimes]

http://pioneeroutfitters.com/big-game-hunting/alaska-dall-sheep-hunts/

Not sure if you've looked into this outfitter. They have options for combination hunts as well. All hunts are done with horses (except their glacier ram hunt). They have been in the outfitting business for a long time.

I'm heading there in October to work towards my Alaska Assistant Guide License. I've been in contact with them and they seem like a really close knit outfitter family. Anyways, best of luck with your search.

[jgrimes]

http://www.bobfoulkrod.com/?page_id=946

An article about one of Pioneer's sheep hunts.

[carpsniperg2]

Never been on a guided hunt, but in this day and age of over hyped celebrity hunters, I would ask if they are going to have any "professional hunters" filming with their outfit in the year you are planning on booking. It appears this is a major form of advertising for outfitters these days and I would not want to be hunting with an outfitter during the same season as a celebrity hunter. Even if the outfitter is a stand up individual there would be an inherent amount of pressure to perform for that client over you, the average joe hunter. I also would not want my hard earned money taking a backseat to some fancy pants celebrity. 

Fairchase most times I agree with you but strongly disagree with you on this one. Why some outfitters might put extra effort into a big name client. It is not fair for you to judge like that and lump all of us together. I put just as much effort into all my trips no matter the client. So you say that because i had the alwines here last year. You would not hunt with me because you would feel like I would put more into there trip then yours? Come on now, that's not even close to the right way of thinking my friend.

Your right Carp, I shouldn't lump all outfitters into the same category like that. For that I apologize. I still have some strong opinions on this subject but I will try to illustrate them better and not be quite so accusatory towards outfitters as a whole.

There is the fair chase I know Glad to have you back bud. I cant speak for all outfitters but you have my word I would give you 110% weather your name is guy eastman or john doe/ show or no show. I will do my best for everyone that hunts with me.

[rasbo]

tell the guy what you want in a hunt,check local people and business's for more info on your guy if possible...we were screwed once...do all the homework you can.money alone don't buy a good hunt...if you are worried to much about getting an animal and money spent,you could be miserable on a hunt,if that makes sense...you are hiring them,get the hunt "you" want...make it clear and get it in writing..A good guy will make you wanna come back even if you don't get an animal..as RAD said food is up there for me,who cuts firewood also depending on the area...I cant stress enough, figure the money spent, gone, and don't worry about it.these guys are not magicians,the attitude you bring with you makes a big difference in a hunt..good luck and most of all have fun

[Opportunist]

I remember reading in the Huntin fool magazine an article about outfitters and their statement was that 4 out of 5 outfitters are incompetent in one way or another. Bad businessman, bad guides, pisspoor hunt areas, bad stock/equipment. Finding a quality outfitter that has it all is rare.

I would research where you want to hunt first, contact forest service personnel or provincial reps. and ask about outfitters in the area and ask about issues with their permitting or violations of their land use permits.

 Then contact the outfitters/guide association and check on their status within the organization and past complaints. I found an outfitter at a sportsmans show that had no land use permit or guide license in wyoming when I checked on them.

GOOGLE them. Find the good, the bad and the ugly.

 I would then contact them. Reference lists are a waste of time. These are successful clients, everyone is happy when they are successful. My dad and I hunted with an outfitter in Idaho whose references sounded great, I contacted 4-5, went on the hunt and found out they were as crooked as a dogs hind leg.

I'll utilize outfitters for packing services and access to tags, but that's about it.

[GUscottie]

From my personal experiences, I want shot opportunity and a trustworthy guide. I've had two different experiences. A horrible one in Virginia with full guide service and a decent one in E. Wa with no guiding, self hunt.

I have to admit, I've not done a super pricy, once in a lifetime hunt, but I want to have a good time, enjoy my company, and get out of it what I pay. If its OIL hunt, I want to have a decent opportunity, maybe not success, but at least the hunt I'll remember forever. I have to admit, my last deer was more memorable than anything, so far.

Best of luck!