Post by: dbur525 on December 03, 2008, 01:08:54 AM
Has anybody ever hired one of those pack outfitter companies to do a drop camp?
I'm really thinking about it, they supply most of the gear including a tent and stove, they set it up once you reach your destination.
I thought about staying out there 7 days.
I also thought it would make it easy to pack all your meat on a horse, i do not see any other way to get all that meat back without without killing yourself.
Post by: ICEMAN on December 03, 2008, 04:56:08 AM
You may wish to try to hook up with another member who is not committed to a group. Get out and scout together, and plan your own hunt together. This will make it seem more doable.... Good luck.
Post by: LongTatLaw on December 03, 2008, 05:15:13 AM
You could look up a member's site
Sherman Creek Outfitters
The guy is on here and his sign on is Outfitter. His real name is Joe Rasperson.
Ive never hunted with him but Ive been on his hunting land and Ive seen his land featured on the Drury Outdoors videos. He is in NE WA...about an hour North of Spokane.
He seems to really care about his clients and getting them on game but its all free range so no 100%!!
Also, another member has Turkey guided for joe so he can speak to Joe's dedication to his hunters.
his name is coasthunterjay
any way
he isnt a pack in guide (to my knowledge) but he has some skills and he is a hellofa nice guy!
:twocents:
dave
Post by: fc2038 on December 03, 2008, 08:13:38 AM
Post by: 1bowhunter1 on December 03, 2008, 08:23:06 AM
Post by: rasbo on December 03, 2008, 08:26:02 AM
Post by: dbur525 on December 03, 2008, 11:32:18 AM
we want to hunt the north central cascades, but will go where there is the best chance to get an elk. in state
Post by: dbur525 on December 03, 2008, 11:34:11 AM
i will look up that guy and see what he has to say
thanks
Post by: finnman on December 03, 2008, 11:38:20 AM
Post by: WALLEYERICK on December 04, 2008, 05:31:14 PM
and shoot straight.
Post by: norsepeak on December 04, 2008, 05:45:06 PM
www.ruggedclassoutfitters.com
Post by: huntnphool on December 04, 2008, 05:48:34 PM
His drop camp trips are awsome, one of my favorite trips ever. :twocents:
Post by: fc2038 on December 04, 2008, 06:51:01 PM
Post by: BrushChimp on December 05, 2008, 09:09:08 AM
Post by: Hoytstaffshooter83 on December 05, 2008, 11:25:21 AM
Post by: Machias on December 05, 2008, 11:28:46 AM
Post by: Hoytstaffshooter83 on December 05, 2008, 11:35:55 AM
Post by: huntnphool on December 05, 2008, 10:42:59 PM
Hey phool--- Did he drop you at a specific camp he set up? Or did you ask him to set camp up in a specific place that you requested?? I love the drop camps makes life easier when you want to do it yourself.
We rode his horses in several miles to a camp he had set up, we would hunt on our own from there. He dropped each group of several miles from each other so as not to get in each others areas. We towed several mules behind us with our gear and food. We were supplied with a large wall tent, wood stove, cooking stove, pots and pans, cooking utensils, propane, cots and had set the camp up next to a spring we could get water from. It was a 10 day drop and we would go to a specific spot each night to radio in. When we got our elk the packers were out the next morning to get it, we had to have the quarters ready for the mules.
Post by: hornhunter on December 06, 2008, 08:06:49 AM
Post by: nwhunter on December 06, 2008, 05:13:54 PM
Post by: huntnphool on December 10, 2008, 11:17:01 AM
From September 15 to November 18, we offer drop-camp hunts where we furnish tent, wood stove, Coleman cook stove and fuel, one lantern, ax, shovel, bucket, table, and a complete kitchen including cooking and eating utensils for the party. You need to bring only your personal gear and food. We'll pack you and your gear on horseback to your camp, and we'll make frequent checks with you for prompt care of your game or for any other necessity. We do also have radios in our drop camp, so you can have communications with our base camp. Our drop camp for a party of two is $2,200 plus sales tax per person, a party of three is $1,950 plus sales tax per person, parties of 4 are $1700 per person plus state sales tax. Each additional day over a ten-day schedule is $100 dollars per person plus tax. A 1/3 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve a hunt.
Post by: Opportunist on December 14, 2008, 06:19:46 AM
Being your first elk hunt you've got an elk killin' learning curve to work through and paying for a drop camp is an expensive way to start. I have no issues with utilizing outfitters for drop camps or pack services. I've done the guided trip thing, not my cup of tea, won't do it again. But I will use outfitters/packers in the future for drop camps, especially if I ever draw Wenaha.
There's alot of good OTC elk hunting to do in-state/out of state if your just wanting to kill an elk. This site has alot great guys and hunters that can help you out putting together a good elk hunt.
Post by: TheHunt on December 14, 2008, 08:51:54 AM
- If you are archery hunting then you ask how many camps did he put in for that hunt?
- How many camps were successful in harvesting an elk?
- What is the areas (in general areas) so that you can contact game and fish to determine the number of elk in an area.
- Do you have any individuals that you can contact who hunted with you last year that you could contact regarding their hunt? Becareful here... They could have drunk their nights away. Out of shape. Could not have any calling ability... The main thing is where did you camp and did you see animals. You want to be put in a location were there are animals.
- Becarefull as the individauls might give you their employees or family members. The local game and fish person should be able to tell you who works for them. If one of the names is a family unit member run from the guide.
- If you put a down payment on your hunt would the outfitter provide you locations (GPS) of his camps so you could scout it out? You would need to backpack in and spend the night. You would then tell him what you find in the different locations which is ok. That way you get the best spot. Now if you are a drop camp without doing this he would put you into an area with less elk and less quality as his fully guided clients would go to the better spots as he would want them to see more and have a higher percentage of getting an elk as he would make more money (Tips, references, etc).
- If you get some locations contact the Game and Fish. Ask them about the locations you found and which one would be the best. This is just additional information you can use. Do not give them too much information as this might be used against you by him telling others of the areas you discuss.
- Ask the game and fish what kind of person owns and works for the guide. Have there been any issues legal or not regarding the guide or his employees? Ask if he would send his mother on a hunting trip with the guide. Use your interview prowlness to determine what the issue was. He/she can not tell you or he/she will be sued by the guide service. But he/she can give you a personal opinion without being sued. Then you keep that information to yourself. DO NOT PUBLISH IT as you just screwed everyone who would ever contact him/her again.
- If the guide has clients who hunt with him on a yearly bases you need to find that out. If those people always go to a specific area and they are typically successful you need to know that. You will need to know were that location is? Possibly the next bowl to that location would be a good area for you to check out.
- Ask the guide how long he has guided in Washington? Ask if he has lived in Washington all his life? If he has worked in other states you might want to contact the other states for a background information?
- Call the Better Business Bureaus to see if there are any complaints?
- Get contact information on every successful hunter last year? You want to make sure the area is not shot out.
As you can see there are lots of strategies to this and if you do not do you homework you might get secrewed. Write down the interview questions prior to phone call. Be prepared... If you catch him in a lie/untruth want until the end of the interview questions before going back and getting a clearer answer. If you do this he/she will be on the defensive and will pick their words very closely.
If this is your first time... Why wouldnt you catch up with all the rest of the hunters with one hunt? You could work with the guide picking his/her brain on strategies, tactics, calling sequences, calling.. Heck you could bring a bunch of asprin and sit during the down time and practice calling in the great outdoors which your guide told you how bad you suck and the correct tone. This way your wife would not have to listen to hours of noise. Bring a note book if you do this?
Your goal is to find a spot that has elk. That you can get into elk every day!!!
Good luck
Jim
Post by: ICEMAN on December 14, 2008, 03:05:21 PM
Post by: Opportunist on December 14, 2008, 07:44:38 PM
Contact that states outfitter and guides association to see if the outfitter is licensed. I found an outfitter booking hunts at the portland sportsman's show that had no outfitter license.
Make sure they are in good standing within the outfitters association and have they had there license revoked in the past, what was the reason if it had been. Contact the forest service or blm office that the outfitter operates in and make sure they have the proper permits to run camps and hunts.
There is alot of legwork involved in finding a good outfitter. Garth Carter owner of the Huntin' Fool consulting service and magazine wrote an article about picking outfitters. He felt that 75% of the outfitters were incompetent in one way or another. Either poor businessmen, poor hunting area, bad equipment or unethical guides. One of these makes them incompetent. Now I would take what he said with a grain of salt being someone trying to get you to book with one of his recommended outfitters. But still some valid points. Remember the best outfitters are hard to book with because repeat clients rebook every year and fill up their calendar. Good luck!
Post by: TheHunt on December 14, 2008, 08:42:37 PM