Was leaving the hunt worth it?

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

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.

On a pack-in hunt you are limited to the amount of stuff you can pack. For our 7-day hunt our duffle had to be less than 40lbs including sleeping bag. The resident expert ultralight DIY guys on here will laugh at that for sure, but for inexperienced NRs, its a little more daunting. My 0 degree bag weighed in between 7-8 pounds, so I had roughly 30 pounds for clothes, gear, etc..., that I didn't want to carry 18 miles in on my person. My point is, for a pack-in hunt, with the amenities that were advertised by the outiftter, I'm sure the OP wasn't thinking about packing in his own food.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

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.

Ours was paid 100% in advance. 25% paid a year ahead to book.

 

[Team4LongGun]

Some of you just want to kick this dude while he is down. I've never done a guided hunt, but I can imagine its every bit of the anticipation and excitement, if not more than a DIY hunt based on expectations of hiring a professional. Everybody's hero Remi's website allegedly recommended this outfit, and the man stuck to HIS principles. I'll never knock a guy for standing up for what he believes in. Really sad to see all the holier than thou comments.

However, I would have stayed.

OP you made the right call, because it was your call to make.

 

[KsRancher]

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

Man, that made my day. Haven't heard that in 10yrs. My grandpa would say that. "WELL shit fire"

 

[HornPorn]

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

Not really. Ranch hunts are going for $15-20K depending on the ranch

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Not really. Ranch hunts are going for $15-20K depending on the ranch

Res hunts are in that range or higher too.

 

[MallardSX2]

I make pretty good money (or I though so) and there is NO WAY I could afford a 15-20K hunt. lol

Not a chance. And even if there was a chance, I still wouldn't pay it.

I have walls full of animals that just cost me a tag and gas money. They may not be Booners but I can live with that. lol

 

[Rob5589]

Read the last paragraphs about food:
View attachment 450209

Seems pretty clear OP was sold a bill of services for a specific price, and services were not rendered. You guys hating on him look like jealous aholes who are just chomping at the bit to put yourselves on a pedestal

Nah, most of us are just jerking his chain some. But truly, he nearly got a shot at a bull the first time out, and saw others. So while the food and camp was definitely subpar, being into bulls that hot straight away would make me like some ramen. At least for a day or two.

 

[dreamingWest]

Adding to my first post. I understand being pissed and extremely concerned about the rest of the trip.

I've done guided hunts, but not for elk because of so many stories like this. That said, $9k is basically the going rate now for a decent guided elk hunt and half the guys going on these guided archery hunts won't be in the bulls, and half that are won't get close enough for a shot.

That's why I have a hard time with leaving. It's a tough situation. Maybe I would've trusted the outfitter to make things right if he had good references. Or maybe once I got the refund (shocking that was offered) maybe I would find a way to DIY on public land. I just can't imagine driving all that way with gear and physical prep to only hunt one evening.

 

[P Carter]

On a pack-in hunt you are limited to the amount of stuff you can pack. For our 7-day hunt our duffle had to be less than 40lbs including sleeping bag. The resident expert ultralight DIY guys on here will laugh at that for sure, but for inexperienced NRs, its a little more daunting. My 0 degree bag weighed in between 7-8 pounds, so I had roughly 30 pounds for clothes, gear, etc..., that I didn't want to carry 18 miles in on my person. My point is, for a pack-in hunt, with the amenities that were advertised by the outiftter, I'm sure the OP wasn't thinking about packing in his own food.

Funny, I just weighed all my stuff. We have an 80-lb limit, I'm at 35 lbs with everything, including what I hope are "extras": 2,000 calories a day of food, sleeping pad, tent, a beer a day (not an extra!), and really any reasonable "luxury" I could think of that (camp shoes, extra boots, an extra rain jacket, an extra fleece just for camp, different sets of gloves to tailor to the weather, etc. ).

I certainly wouldn't want to carry all that in 18 miles, or even the actual distance people get packed in. (Nothing is truly 18 miles in, probably more like 10.) But if I can get my stuff carried in by horse I'll be good to go.

This isn't any sort of trophy or "brag," just an observation.

 

[full choke]

Sorry you had a shitty hunt experience.

I probably would have stuck it out, but that is hyperbole.

One thing not brought up yet- what if OP killed a bull? Was the cook/guide prepared to deal with it? Was the owner ready to get in and get the animal out? Were you provisioned to pack an animal out by yourselves if the outfitter wasn't willing/able to get there in a respectable time frame?

Sounds like there could have been bigger issues brewing.

 

[Nickofthewoods]

Yeah there are some pretty mean comments here. OP, hope you don't take this thread and the memes and stuff too seriously. Some members here would have had a higher threshold for putting up with what you did in exchange for the elk bugling in the area, some wouldn't.

 

[DAOutfitters208]

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.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Funny, I just weighed all my stuff. We have an 80-lb limit, I'm at 35 lbs with everything, including what I hope are "extras": 2,000 calories a day of food, sleeping pad, tent, a beer a day (not an extra!), and really any reasonable "luxury" I could think of that (camp shoes, extra boots, an extra rain jacket, an extra fleece just for camp, different sets of gloves to tailor to the weather, etc. ).

I certainly wouldn't want to carry all that in 18 miles, or even the actual distance people get packed in. (Nothing is truly 18 miles in, probably more like 10.) But if I can get my stuff carried in by horse I'll be good to go.

This isn't any sort of trophy or "brag," just an observation.

You are truly a better packer than me and my brother. I can only assume we packed in too many pairs of underwear, socks, ammo, and luxury toiletries, LOL!!!

Our pack in was INDEED 18 miles one way by horse from Swift Dam to camp. Badger pass is just shy of half way at 8 miles.

 

[FLATHEAD]

IMO, for that kind of money it should have been a top notch hunt all the way around.
However, I think I would have made the best of it, tried to kill something and then tell
them how I felt as I was gnawing on some elk loin cooked over a fire that I built.
"You guys suck!!! But I got it done anyway".
To each his own. Not hacking on the OP, I wasnt there.
I may have left also.
When a hunt starts out bad, it usually doesnt end well.

 

[9.1]

Posts 56 and 77 really cleared this up for me. OP should have lead with that info.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

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…

I don’t think any of us are saying you don’t have a right to be upset or ask for some money back to right unmet expectations. We are saying you should have stayed another day or two, killed an elk, then figured out what it would take to make it right. I just can’t imagine a scenario where I would leave the mountains empty handed surrounded by animals I was there to hunt.

 

[Mule3006Elk]

Read the last paragraphs about food:
View attachment 450209

Seems pretty clear OP was sold a bill of services for a specific price, and services were not rendered. You guys hating on him look like jealous aholes who are just chomping at the bit to put yourselves on a pedestal

Disagree. He asked, "Was leaving the hunt worth it?" He's going to get opinions through the lens of others. That is what he's looking for AND he's taking it lake a champ. Mad respect. Some people ask for opinions but can't take it. He can! If I ask an open ended question like that I expect the memes, jokes, etc. I'm good with that it lightens the mood. There is some good honest feedback in here as well.

But he would probably feel better going home with meat in the coolers and a negotiated refund of some sort.

FWIW. My lens.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

I am not knocking the OP decision to leave its his hunt/tag he can make it whatever he wants..I just know some of my most memorable hunts are the tags I filled despite all the adversity and had nothing to do with the size of the animal taken.

 

[Hatchet Jack]