Bear Cape Disaster - How to Handle?

[Bartbux]

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.

 

[Justin Crossley]

I would contact the outfitter and see what they say. I doubt they will admit they didn't care for your hide properly though.

 

[waspocrew]

Agreed - reach out to see what they say, but likely won’t admit to any issues and unlikely to have any recourse.

 

[CorbLand]

Option 1 - The outfitter will probably just say "sorry" and move on.
Option 2 - The outfitter will probably not take any fault in it. What type of accommodation is going to be sufficient for you?
Option 3 - Probably the best option.

 

[Bubblehide]

Obviously the outfitter did not flesh and salt your cape in a proper-timely manner. It is such an easy issue to avoid. Sorry to hear about your issue.

 

[bigv]

I would 100% contact outfitter. Be pleasant about it but be truthful. His care ruined your trophy. I wouldn't ask for any sort of refund etc but I'd make sure they he/she knows your disappointment. A really good outfitter would try to do something to make it square, like small refund, money off on another hunt etc. However, i would bet it all that won't happen. Let them know they tarnished your memory and move on.

 

[IdahoBeav]

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.

Did the outfitter mention any reason why he wanted to keep the cape and ship it? Were you unable to take the cape back with you after the hunt?

Since you enjoyed the hunt, I think option 2 is the best chance of getting anything. Make a friendly request for a discount on another hunt. Do the hunt. Take the cape back with you after the hunt, and then be done with the outfitter for good.

 

[FRANKBUCK]

I would 100% contact outfitter. Be pleasant about it but be truthful. His care ruined your trophy. I wouldn't ask for any sort of refund etc but I'd make sure they he/she knows your disappointment. A really good outfitter would try to do something to make it square, like small refund, money off on another hunt etc. However, i would bet it all that won't happen. Let them know they tarnished your memory and move on.

Not sure about the lower 48 but I know outfitters in AK are held pretty close to the fire on stuff like this. If the hide was properly fleshed and salted, the chances of slippage diminishes greatly. Guides/outfitters in AK are supposed to take care of the client's hide. I would contact your outfitter and see if he offers a solution. Chances are, he may not. But you never know.

 

[Bartbux]

Outfitter offered to freeze and ship given my travel schedule - I flew and the cape would not be frozen prior to flying.

 

[FRANKBUCK]

Gotcha. He's probably going to say that he offered another way but since you took it with you, he may not have much empathy.

 

[Reburn]

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.

What is the resolution that you hope will come out of this scenario?

 

[.204smokechaser]

If you have specific legal evidence the outfitter mishandled the hide, I’d be calling the state fish and game office or provincial office and make a complaint. You paid for a hunt and taking care of the cape should be factored into the outfitters cost of the hunt.

 

[JeffP_Or]

What is the resolution that you hope will come out of this scenario?

I too wonder what OP hopes the outcome to be; doesn't seem like there is much to do/be done. Definitely somehow let him nicely know what you got and see where it goes.

I too had a hide I left on an out of state hunt. Promises, time and unreturned phone calls etc. led nowhere. Was a good friends' recommendation and he got the story the guy just didn't want to be bothered with out of state folks as he gave priority to his local buddies. Between me and the friend I finally got a hide - of some scrawny, tiny fawn that may well have been a roadkill. Maybe your outfitter liked your hide better - or owed one to somebody else and in the interim time he was trying to find something that looked remotely close to your bear?

 

[Bartbux]

1. Not sure how I want the Outfitter to respond - apologies go a long way - but they are easy to throw out there if they don't cost you something - what does "making it right" look like here? Some things just can't be fixed...

2. Its absolutely my bear. Color phase was very unique. No chance it was swapped out. Although the outfitter was much more interested in fielding calls regarding certain hunts as tags were being drawn on fall species....

 

[Reburn]

1. Not sure how I want the Outfitter to respond - apologies go a long way - but they are easy to throw out there if they don't cost you something - what does "making it right" look like here? Some things just can't be fixed...

2. Its absolutely my bear. Color phase was very unique. No chance it was swapped out. Although the outfitter was much more interested in fielding calls regarding certain hunts as tags were being drawn on fall species....

If I was the outfitter my first question would be what do YOU want done about this situation.

Until YOU can answer that there is not point in discussing further as there is no clear path forward.

 

[EdP]

You could perhaps have put the hide in a box with dry ice in the center for your flight home. It would have been frozen pretty quickly that way.

 

[TaperPin]

1. Not sure how I want the Outfitter to respond - apologies go a long way - but they are easy to throw out there if they don't cost you something - what does "making it right" look like here? Some things just can't be fixed...

2. Its absolutely my bear. Color phase was very unique. No chance it was swapped out. Although the outfitter was much more interested in fielding calls regarding certain hunts as tags were being drawn on fall species....

It can’t be fixed, but it is worth bringing up. As a business owner he wants things to go smoothly - obviously he should have known it wasn’t handled correctly, but he may have a dimwit employee or relative helping who rushed it out the door. If he knew the hide wasn’t being taken care of, that’s a form of stupid that can’t be reasoned with.

Either way you have to chalk it up to the world not being a perfect place and letting it go, for your own good.

 

[Beendare]

Thats bad business....

Unfortunately, some of the best guides aren't good business people.

 

[Touchdown88]

Is there a possibility that the bear had mites? They will destroy a hide and you will not notice it until the hide is tanned.

I'm not trying to burn anyone but sometimes hides slip even with the best care. And I've seen bears lose all the hair on the face when they were dropped off at the taxidermist within a few hours in perfect conditions.

 

[SDHNTR]

Sorry this happened OP. Lesson learned. I’m convinced that if a hunter goes on a guided hunt and cares greatly about the quality and condition of his trophy he better be prepared to care for it himself.

Same thing with score. If you care about the numbers, better learn to field judge yourself.

Take the blame game out of the equation.