Recourse for a Outfitted Hunt that was not what was advertised?

[wapitibob]

You had a bad hunt, a long way from getting screwed by an outfitter.

Getting screwed would be booking with a Canadian outfitter, paying your money, Canada blocking access due to covid, the outfitter spending your money, then telling you to pay another 30% or pound sand.

Getting screwed would be booking with a NM Outfitter, paying your money, then a 100 year monsoon washes out all road and trail access in the unit, the outfitter spends all your money, then tells you to pound sand when asking about a refund or a future hunt.

 

[Fatcamp]

Coming from a guy whose father has been dead for 35 years I think your priorities are a bit skewed. And that's putting it as nicely as I can.

 

[alecvg]

Lol you're not me I'm a spread the pain kinda guy

You sound fun.

 

[Random Dude Guy]

You sound fun.

Right?! Delusion of grandeur type is the vibe I get.

 

[Scottf270]

I'm sorry the hunt didn't meet your expectations. I think coming out of the gates with guns blazing set the wrong tone. I am also someone who values plain honest talk. I know I could never be a car salesman as I couldn't sleep at night knowing I had sold a car that was junk.

I see outfitters websites showing 140 to 150 inch mule deer but their written words always say " up to 170 bucks'. They technically are 'telling the truth', but if a guy is hoping to kill a 170 class buck, the outfitter needs to be more blunt or even turn the guy away.

An outfitter who over hunts his area or is not honest about trophy size is guilty of lying and is in fact committing fraud to a degree. Very few people are honest enough to cut their own paycheck.

Hunting is hunting. Seasons and conditions are variable, but animals not being there at all or not in the numbers or quality advertised should warrant a phone call from the outfitter allowing the hunter to take his chances, forfeit his deposit, or reschedule.

 

[Bachto]

We enjoyed spending time together which is all that really matters. We didn't need to do all that to go hunting and spend time together, I just had hopes for a really special trip. In hindsight I'd rather have just gone and spent time at our lease December than take this trip, but I was not able to do that since we had this hunt planned.

I have some soul searching to do on what is next because I have never looked forward to a hunt as much as this one before.

Hey man, after reading this entire thread I think this is the issue. You hyped this hunt with your 70 year old dad and had this idea of this epic hunt you would do and you guys would kill these giant bucks together before he got too old to go anymore. Hell, you may have even told your dad about the giant bucks you would kill together. When that didn't happen you may have even felt like you let your dad down in some way. Maybe not, I'm just guessing here. I think the feelings you are experiencing are coming from the fact that you had this big adventure planned with your dad and it didn't go exactly like you planned.

 

[SDHNTR]

Man, I sure would love to hunt a place where the expectation was 6 1/2 to 7 1/2 year old bucks! Outside of perhaps the AZ strip, I don’t know a single place left on planet Earth where that would be a fair baseline expectation. Mule deer just aren’t doing that well anymore, anywhere.

 

[RS3579]

It sounds as if a guided hunt/fishing trip is just not for you. Some people are never accepting of uncontrollable consequences. Good luck in your future endeavors!

 

[wind gypsy]

@wind gypsy I need to charge more for my hunts.

Agree, for everyone else

 

[jdmaxwell]

Its Hunting right.. unless you want high fence.

 

[wind gypsy]

Another thread showcasing the ugliness of people feeling entitled to shoot a trophy wild animal because they paid money.

In TX, might as well do as TX does and shoot some livestock if one is going to take this stance on it.

 

[ReddingArcher]

It’s a bummer, but populations fluctuate. They could have been much better when you booked and in 2 years things changed. The outfitter should have discussed this with you before the hunt, but also did you ask?

 

[NRA4LIFE]

I would move on.

 

[COelk89]

Another thread showcasing the ugliness of people feeling entitled to shoot a trophy wild animal because they paid money.

In TX, might as well do as TX does and shoot some livestock if one is going to take this stance on it.

You obviously did not read the whole thread. I don't care that I didn't kill something. It was a shitty hunting experience as far as seeing animals relative to what was advertised and thats all there is too it. There's nothing entitled about being upset that expectations were not met, and seeking other perspectives since I really had no baseline from previous experiences. I am more educated that I was before, and my emotions are subsiding due to that fact. I would call that maturing and learning from an experience. If you think that is a bad thing then so be it.

 

[COelk89]

It’s a bummer, but populations fluctuate. They could have been much better when you booked and in 2 years things changed. The outfitter should have discussed this with you before the hunt, but also did you ask?

I did not ask specifically about numbers of deer, just asked how things were going if they had successful hunts last year etc.

 

[COelk89]

Hey man, after reading this entire thread I think this is the issue. You hyped this hunt with your 70 year old dad and had this idea of this epic hunt you would do and you guys would kill these giant bucks together before he got too old to go anymore. Hell, you may have even told your dad about the giant bucks you would kill together. When that didn't happen you may have even felt like you let your dad down in some way. Maybe not, I'm just guessing here. I think the feelings you are experiencing are coming from the fact that you had this big adventure planned with your dad and it didn't go exactly like you planned.

Pretty on point.

 

[COelk89]

I'm sorry the hunt didn't meet your expectations. I think coming out of the gates with guns blazing set the wrong tone. I am also someone who values plain honest talk. I know I could never be a car salesman as I couldn't sleep at night knowing I had sold a car that was junk.

I see outfitters websites showing 140 to 150 inch mule deer but their written words always say " up to 170 bucks'. They technically are 'telling the truth', but if a guy is hoping to kill a 170 class buck, the outfitter needs to be more blunt or even turn the guy away.

An outfitter who over hunts his area or is not honest about trophy size is guilty of lying and is in fact committing fraud to a degree. Very few people are honest enough to cut their own paycheck.

Hunting is hunting. Seasons and conditions are variable, but animals not being there at all or not in the numbers or quality advertised should warrant a phone call from the outfitter allowing the hunter to take his chances, forfeit his deposit, or reschedule.

Yes I was very hot out of the gate. Have calmed down quite a bit from initial post with time to reflect and gain perspective from other people. Your comments are very on point to the things that could have been done to make us aware and adjust expectations. Thank you for the feedback.

 

[COelk89]

It sounds as if a guided hunt/fishing trip is just not for you. Some people are never accepting of uncontrollable consequences. Good luck in your future endeavors!

It's definitely not for me. First time, last time.

The things that could have been controlled were for the outfitter to set more realistic expectations to the situation on the ground at the ranch prior to the hunt. I'm not mad at the animals or the weather.

 

[COelk89]

Man, I sure would love to hunt a place where the expectation was 6 1/2 to 7 1/2 year old bucks! Outside of perhaps the AZ strip, I don’t know a single place left on planet Earth where that would be a fair baseline expectation. Mule deer just aren’t doing that well anymore, anywhere.

Well, I was supposedly hunting a 300k acre place but I have my doubts about all that too...300k acres should hold some old deer even in a terrible year. Just didn't see it.

 

[cuerro viejo]

Well, I was supposedly hunting a 300k acre place but I have my doubts about all that too...300k acres should hold some old deer even in a terrible year. Just didn't see it.

I can tell you from leasing large acreage out there, that I have literally gone 5 days and not seen a mature deer, to 4 of us tagging out the next week on 6.5 year old deer from 150-200. That’s the magic or hate to love of the greasewood desert. I have driven by 180 in deer(with in yards) that never moved. We didn’t see him until he were 500 yards away glassing back.

300k is a blessing and a curse because you can’t cover it all well, infact you drive by deer you should of stopped and glassed up, cruising and looking for the low hanging fruit

Just how hunting goes, forget the heads, relish the time with pops