Was leaving the hunt worth it?

[svivian]

 

[Broomd]

Damn, that's helluva long drive to think about this situation. Feel for you. Woulda, coulda, shoulda...
Grabbing that guide and paying him after the refund sounds like it was the deal to make (was that legal?)

The simple truth is that you'll be hearing that bull's bugles for the next 10+ years. I'd want that sh!t outta my head. Only one way to do that, get back out there.

 

[svivian]

 

[ljalberta]

View attachment 450243

Alright. This one had me in stitches laughing.

 

[svivian]

 

[Dos Perros]

@svivian is doing a masterful job of pointing out our collective hypocrisy.

 

[3forks]

You're 100% correct.

But the elk were there.

You’re 100% correct, too.

For what it’s worth, would have stayed.

But, if the OP’s only frame of reference for hunting elk is that he will get into them because on every other guided hunt he’s been on - that’s what happened - then his perspective isn’t going to be the as someone’s who struggled for years before they got into elk or even killed one.

On another note, since this hunt seems to have taken place in Grizzly country. the lack of food in camp could have been a good thing.

 

[Nickofthewoods]

 

[Bearwhisky]

Were you there to kill a bull or enjoy a relaxing camping experience?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[3forks]

@svivian is doing a masterful job of pointing out our collective hypocrisy.

And, for anyone who hasn’t lived in Montana - it’s basically a culinary waste land.

A 24 hour old egg mcmuffin isn’t going to be significantly worse than any other food you’d find in most towns in the state.

 

[rtkbowhunter]

Haha, I’m fine with leaving with no meat. That’s now hunting anyhow, the “guides” complaining before hand may have helped in my decision, as I said, I had asked him to stop bashing the owner and let’s hunt. Anyhow, I see this sets me up as a whining lil b$&:h, but that’s not how I see it. Had I paid less and expected less, it would have been great!! I just didn’t want a “reduced rate” as that’s what the guide had already mentioned happens and the fact he rode 2 hrs in the dark to bring 3 of us 1 pack of Ramon each at 11pm. Now if you’re ready for that and go into a hunt for that, that’s fine and great. Maybe a burger and a sandwich for lunch the next day and I’d had stayed..but not 1 Ramon noodle pack and a few cookies and 2 granola bars for the sack lunch the next day…I been booked with him for a year prior…

Which should have given you plenty of time to check references. I drop almost $10K, I'm not leaving bugling bulls...least not cuz of ramen noodles and granola bars.

 

[P Carter]

@svivian is doing a masterful job of pointing out our collective hypocrisy.

I enjoy pointing out hypocrisy, and the absurdities of much of this website. But I think there's consistency here: we would expect topnotch gear (to an extreme, comical degree that is really a caricature of spoiled Americans and some sort of weird "modern hunters" type) to get us on the game. But then stay on the game!

My prior post was too harsh. There's no excuse for being late, being unprepared, having bad food, etc. All that is on the outfitter and is completely inexcusable. At least bring a few loaves of bread and some PBJ so the hunter and cook/guide can get enough calories in a day to get it done.

That said, the essence of the hunt is the hunting! Stuff in the backcountry is different and you've gotta roll with the punches. Being a day late--while I think is inexcusable--can just happen. Things don't move on modern-America time back there. I try to be sure that I can be self-sufficient back in there to at least some degree. And often the best stories, and the best experiences, happen when stuff goes wrong and you're open to the experience as it comes.

 

[MallardSX2]

Lord have mercy that's an expensive elk hunt. I mean shit fire that's expensive. lol

 

[3forks]

For everyone mentioning the cost of the hunt, it’s the OP’s money and how he chooses to spend it is up to him.

I saw a post from the Mods recently that stated we’re supposed to refrain from making comments on the price of items in the classifieds. Why would this be any different?

The OP doesn’t have to post a fiduciary statement to justify to us how he chooses to spend his money. Also, for all we know, $10k is chump change to him and he could buy and sell most of us on here.

 

[Team4LongGun]

A bunch of you talk of "not paying" anymore than half, or some other less price. Aren't guided hunts paid in full prior to even showing up?

Someone mentioned renegotiating, which absolutely makes sense, as in saying to the outfitter I want xx amount of money back for this lackluster effort.

 

[sndmn11]

I would genuinely be concerned with the meat care after a kill, and whatever preparations need to be done for taxidermy in the field. If the guide/foodlesscook didn't know how to hunt, he probably doesn't know what to do after a hunt.

 

[DAOutfitters208]

You made the right choice. Anyone who would pay $10k just to be on bulls bugling and 1 pack of ramen is lying. If anyone wants to prove me wrong, Ill get you on bugling elk for $10k. Ill even give you 5 packs of ramen and a jet boil!

 

[Dos Perros]

Anyone who would pay $10k just to be on bulls bugling and 1 pack of ramen is lying.

When you book a hunt 1+ years out, sure.

But the psychology is different in this case. The question is "would you take $10k to walk away from bugling bulls?" People, being emotional beings, would make a different choice in that scenario.

 

[Team4LongGun]

our elk

WOW.

 

[CorbLand]

I cannot say that you made a right or wrong choice. If it was me, I think I would have tried to negotiate some type of discount but that is only because there were bulls bugling and you had a high probability of success. You had already invested the money and time to get there, I would have tried to go home with an animal.

I would have looked at the owner and said, this is not what was promised when I paid and I will give it a one more day for you to have what we agreed on be provided. If you cant meet that, we need to talk about a discount or a full refund and I am leaving.

I would have been pissed if I was promised what was promised and got what was given. There are a lot of people on here that are telling you to "suck it up" that bitch when someone lists an item in the classified for 5 dollars more than the crack head on the corner is selling it for.

With that, if you are happy with your decision, unless you are going to out the outfitter, there really is no need to post the thread.