Outfitter Rant

[Blackstorm]

I have used my Colorado outfitter for several years and have been ecstatic in past years with what they provided, this year being the exception. I don't know if I'm right or wrong but the outfitter has several thousand acres of private land and a 13,000 acre concession on BLM that abuts their ranch. The outfitter only allows 6 hunters per gun season in each of the four gun seasons, the guides do a 2:1. I have harvested several animals on the ranch and BLM land and its generally a quality hunt. The original outfitter is transitioning out and a son in law is taking over the operations. This year started out great as one of the hunters canceled and the outfitter could not replace the hunter as draws had closed and there were no left over tags. I was placed with a hunter that only wanted to hunt the ranch which was fine with me, and the solo hunter hunted and tagged out the first day on BLM land. My guide was a sincere guy from the area but was not skilled, but this was not a problem as I had hunted it in the past and knew some of the better spots on the ranch. our group let the other pair of hunters and their guide select where they wanted to hunt and we would hunt another part of the ranch. I saw 5-6 sm groups of elk but no legal bulls the first two days, our guide mentioned this to the other guide. Here is where the issues started the other group would pick one area but within an hour or so they were in our area setting up to hunt within our sightlines. I mentioned this to our guide that I don't want them that close to our group as there was plenty of animals and grounds on the main ranch. The second night we saw some elk and backed out so they wouldn't get spooked and possibly stay in the area over night, and the told the other group that we were backing out and within 5 min they came in on their truck and roared past us to try and shoot an elk (they spooked them) . I asked to go out with the guide that tagged out with solo hunter on day one going into the BLM wilderness area on foot (about a 3-mile hike) to be away from these guys. The hike was hard but we saw elk all morning with a glimpse of one shooter. when we got up to put our stalk on these guys moved from where they were hunting to our end of the ranch about a mile and a half away and set up on the ranch border but about 800 yards away from us but we and they clearly saw each other. I called them out at dinner they need to do their own scouting and to stop poaching around me.

Was I wrong ?

I am not going back to this outfitter, I use outfitters and guides for these type hunts and I have used outfitters and guides many times and never encountered this before.
they claim that they were not poaching and the son in law was with them and he said it was OK

 

[dieselchessy]

Sounds like you need to talk to the outfitter and explain his son in laws behavior. Then find another outfitter, or try DIY public land and have a similar experience.

 

[Rich M]

Hope you didnt tip the guides. They are supposed to work together, not screw clients over.

Does sound like public land.

 

[AlphaK9]

That's frustrating and I would be pissed too.

 

[sndmn11]

What is a BLM concession and BLM wilderness?

Was I wrong ?

Yes. You knew other hunters would be doing the same exact thing you were. If you wanted to be the only hunter in the property, then that is the hunt you should have contracted.

 

[406RoadToad]

If you book a place with other hunters and are mad there are other hunters it’s on you.

If you had been in an area with no animals would you have expected your guide to say no we can’t go after elk on a different area of the property you had paid to hunt?

 

[Davyalabama]

It seems the guides are the ones with no respect for each other. I've known turkey hunting guides that did this, they were let go, that just isn't done. Now if the guide that was "poaching" on you was the owners SIL is the one coming in on the other guide, well, that shows you the type outfit it is going to be, he rules.

 

[ElDiablito]

What is a BLM concession and BLM wilderness?

That’s what I was thinking reading this.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

What is a BLM concession and BLM wilderness?

He likely meant a wilderness study area, the are multiple on BLM land.

 

[LongWayAround]

Licensed tag holders on property they have permission for are not "poaching."

If there was 13,000 acres next door, it sounds like you could have kept walking and put some distance between them and you. Maybe your mobility is more limited than that?

The overall picture sounds like a malfunction of the guides more than the other hunters. Afterall, they were also paying clients who wanted to fill tags.

 

[ElDiablito]

He likely meant a wilderness study area, the are multiple on BLM land.

Yeah, “concession” is the real puzzler….

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Yeah, “concession” is the real puzzler….

“Land locked”?

 

[ElDiablito]

“Land locked”?

 

[sndmn11]

He likely meant a wilderness study area, the are multiple on BLM land.

Do they have exclusive access rules?

 

[Rich M]

What is a BLM concession and BLM wilderness?



Yes. You knew other hunters would be doing the same exact thing you were. If you wanted to be the only hunter in the property, then that is the hunt you should have contracted.

For the guys to find the elk, then call in the other hunters is BS and you know it.

Sounds like there were plenty of critters to find a couple to shoot. But we know that not all outfitters are worried about folks shooting stuff.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Do they have exclusive access rules?

Nope, they just require boot/hoof access vs the ranch being able to drive trucks/UTVs onto them. Obviously the OP felt the guide should have spaced its clients out more courteously as paying customers, the guide can't do shit about public hunters on those areas though. Sounds like the OP didn't tag out and is frustrated at what us non-paying hunters have to deal with but thought he had bought his way out of dealing with other hunters.

 

[dtrkyman]

Competition between guides is common, not a surprise. In 20 plus years of guiding I have had more issue's with other guides and outfitters than the clients!

 

[S-3 ranch]

I would be very frustrated with the “pot licker “ thing with the other guides and hunters, I would probably return to hunt it again on the condition and agreement that the pot licker tactics stop.

“someone who copies or mimics another fisherman's tactics, techniques, or spots.”= a pot licking

 

[West.mass.hunter]

If you book a place with other hunters and are mad there are other hunters it’s on you.

If you had been in an area with no animals would you have expected your guide to say no we can’t go after elk on a different area of the property you had paid to hunt?

I've never been elk hunting so I'm an outside looking in. Shouldn't they at least let the original group try to at least tag out before they move in on the same herd?

 

[Jethro]

These type of threads are always tough since we only ever get one side of the story. But as described, OP has reason to be upset.

If you make an area game plan with other guides, hunting partners, or even a stranger you meet on the trail; you honor that plan.