I went on a Spring Bear Hunt in May of 2022. I thoroughly enjoyed my time and shot a beatiful color phased bear.
In fact, I sent a friend to hunt with the same outfitter a year later - however, I mentioned to him to bring his cape with him...even if the Outiffter offered to ship it.
Why? After 1 year, I had still not received my cape from the Outfitter despite promises to do so...and I had left feeling as though the Outfitter was distracted with booking other hunts while trying to wrap out our business...
Nearly 2 years later, my cape showed up at my front door step...in a box, no insulation...no care in the packaging, just an entire bear cape in a cardboard box.
After killing the bear and getting off the mountain, we stopped at a gas station complex within 2 hours, I bought ice to cool off the cape (not the outfitter), brought the cape to the Outfitter's house. Outfitter laid out the cape in his garage and (hopefully?) he put it in his freezer.
Suspecting a possible problem given the Outfitter's handling of the cape and lack of communication over the course of 2 years, I dropped the cape off with a highly reputable taxidermist - voicing my possible concerns. We agreed to send the cape to the tannery and see what happened when it came back...
Well, it was a disaster. Hair missing on both sides of the muzzle and nearly an entire ear - obvious signs of bacteria and hair loss. So much hair missing, no amout of special taxidermy magic could fix...
I paid the Outfitter, tipped the guides well and was pleasant in my communcations - and made an investment in the tannery only to have the cape come back in an unusable condition.
I solicit your thoughts on whether:
1. To mention this to the Outfitter;
2. To ask the Outfitter to make some accomodation;
3. To move on - remember the hunt for what it was - a pile of fun - and find a new adventure.
In fact, I sent a friend to hunt with the same outfitter a year later - however, I mentioned to him to bring his cape with him...even if the Outiffter offered to ship it.
Why? After 1 year, I had still not received my cape from the Outfitter despite promises to do so...and I had left feeling as though the Outfitter was distracted with booking other hunts while trying to wrap out our business...
Nearly 2 years later, my cape showed up at my front door step...in a box, no insulation...no care in the packaging, just an entire bear cape in a cardboard box.
After killing the bear and getting off the mountain, we stopped at a gas station complex within 2 hours, I bought ice to cool off the cape (not the outfitter), brought the cape to the Outfitter's house. Outfitter laid out the cape in his garage and (hopefully?) he put it in his freezer.
Suspecting a possible problem given the Outfitter's handling of the cape and lack of communication over the course of 2 years, I dropped the cape off with a highly reputable taxidermist - voicing my possible concerns. We agreed to send the cape to the tannery and see what happened when it came back...
Well, it was a disaster. Hair missing on both sides of the muzzle and nearly an entire ear - obvious signs of bacteria and hair loss. So much hair missing, no amout of special taxidermy magic could fix...
I paid the Outfitter, tipped the guides well and was pleasant in my communcations - and made an investment in the tannery only to have the cape come back in an unusable condition.
I solicit your thoughts on whether:
1. To mention this to the Outfitter;
2. To ask the Outfitter to make some accomodation;
3. To move on - remember the hunt for what it was - a pile of fun - and find a new adventure.
