Was leaving the hunt worth it?

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Three packs of ramen......what was the guide and outfitter eating? And was he going to bring in new packs each day? Ya, that's messed up. I don't eat egg Mcmuffins even when they're hot and fresh. Now Burger King bacon Croissan'wiches are another story. I would have stayed, but negotiated a new deal.

LMAO!!! I like both, but I'd been digging fresh holes if I ate either in the back country! However, sounds like this camp probably didn't even have TP. Woulda sacrificed a shirt sleeve or a couple pockets.

 

[Billogna]

Sounds like this could've been a Hunt Of A Lifetime...

 

[Mule3006Elk]

9K for that would piss me off especially considering you can DIY and get into elk for the price of the license/tag. SMH. I would only leave if I just couldn't mentally recover, AKA Karen, from the situation and I received a full refund.

If it's a partial refund my ass is going to to make the best of it and hopefully pack off the mountain with an elk.

If that were me I'm also burning some PTO to be on that mountain so I'm not leaving with my tail tucked. I would absolutely negotiate a large refund. Sounds like you got 2-3K worth of guide services (if that).

 

[Dos Perros]

Negotiate a better deal, kill a bull, drive home like a boss.

 

[Newtosavage]

“An egg McMuffin, 1 each and 2 cookies with some granola bars for the “sack lunch”. It didn’t dawn on me that the McMuffin would have been at least 24 hrs old by breakfast time. “This is not the camp or camp provisions I paid for.”
Meanwhile the elk are still bugling all around us. The guide and I was pretty positive about seeing/getting a bull either that morning or evening, but I couldn’t shake off the fact that he just rode 2 hrs in the dark to bring hay for the animals and 3 Ramon noodles and 3 old egg McMuffins for us. If I killed an elk that next morning, I was paying him for 1 pack noodles and an old sandwich and cookies. I was not going to let him think that little of me and get paid. So I demanded to be taken back to my truck in the morning and a full refund. He agreed and it happened. So now I’m driving back to SC LOVING that evening we hunted, all those elk seen, and even having to put ear plugs in because I kept laying there listening to them. Even sitting there for 3 hrs in the moonlight was something special. So there’s the story. All in all I chose to leave and not allow him to spend so little time/thought on me and still get paid, then to proceed from Wed to Sat with little food, 1 other person and have what seemed like my dream hunt as each day would be getting better as temps plummeted in the forecast….I’ll neve look at Ramon noodles the same…I’m confused and satisfied at the same time…

You made it easy on him. I'd definitely contact the guide assn. because if you don't, the next guy or gal will have the same experience.

 

[Mule3006Elk]

If I understand your statement correctly he rode 2 hours in the dark to bring 3 packages of Ramen?

TBO, that doesn't even make sense. Did he drop other stuff off at camp from the same 2 hour ride?

Doesn't add up in my mind.

 

[Nickofthewoods]

 

[WV Mountaineer]

I’d left. I’d went and bought what I needed to backpack in there and stay. And, made arrangements for a packer. Went back in there and killed a bull. Had the packer take it out. Then drove home truly satisfied I did the right thing.


Being a business owner, I know the messes that can happen when you depend on other people to do as they will tell you they will do. It sounds to me like this is what the guy is dealing with. He seemed more then willing to refund your money. Which crooks never do.

I know the responsibility lies on him. It’s his fault ultimately. He’s to blame. But, from your own words, I’m betting the short comings were caused by his help not coming through as he had arranged for. All he could do is apologize. And give you back your money. Because I’m sure he feels as bad about it as you were irritated with it.

Eitherway, I’d had zero remorse to back pack in and kill one of those bulls. I’d did my best to make that happen. It’s fair on all fronts. He’d likely agree with you too.

 

[svivian]

Rokslide logic......

Spend $800 on a pack "it better be f****** perfect, this webbing strap is 1/4" too low"

Spend $10,000 on a guided elk hunt "you should be happy you had dirt to sleep on cuz elk man"

 

[Pacific_Fork]

There are 3 types of small business owners I’ve learned to stay away from over my years of hunting and eating wilding game. Guides, taxidermist, and game processors. Sure, there are some great ethical ones out there but they are by far the minority. Liars, cheats, thieves, I’ve seen it all happen to close friends and family and a few personal experiences. DIY everything it saves the headache and you can be more proud of your accomplishments. It’s a win win really.

 

[sndmn11]

I think you made the right decision. You are paying for an experience of expectations that are outlined ahead of time. It doesn't sound like the outfitter came close to their own expectation of services.

I think the combination of the cook/guide's admittance that this happens a lot, and the provisions and effort by the outfitter would have had me doubting things. If the first time you brought up the deficiencies he offered a solution to be implemented first thing in the AM, then it might have reversed my doubts.

This site is full of "my custom gun has a scratch, I didn't pay for imperfect", and other experiences of first world issues. I doubt anyone here or elsewhere would accept their custom ordered Tundra to be delivered with half the options they paid for; "but it still has an engine!". In my eyes it is the same thing. If the expectations that were important to you were not tried to be met, it sounds like the right decision. Especially when those expectations are 100% in control to be achieved by the outfitter by simply following through on their own standards.

 

[3forks]

I think you guys are being a little bit hard on the OP.

I think the outfitter got lucky that there were elk in the area and they were bugling, because at least that justifies the possibility of the OP staying and just dealing with the sitaution.

If those elk hadn’t been there and the OP and guide didnt get into elk, I‘m sure anyone else in the OPs shoes would call that hunt a bust (Especially because the guide couldn’t call).

Anyway, I didn’t read every post - but the OP is not paying for a guarantee that he will kill a bull, but he was paying for a level of service and food that appears to be different than what he got.

 

[svivian]

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

We spent a little less than half that on our wilderness hunt last fall. 8 hunters saw 1 bull in 7 days (profile) pic. However, camp was set up when we got there (albeit a few hours late and in the dark), the cook worked her butt off, and overall the guides, wranglers, and outfitter were all good men. They did their best, $hit happened, and we didn't see many animals. However, it was an adventure and a trip of a lifetime for most of the guys myself included.

For almost $10k, it sounds like this outfitter is banking heavily on the fact he has an excellent location with a ton of animals and great opportunity percentages. For this maybe he figures he can skimp on the creature comforts. If the first day was as good as you said it was, and given my experience last fall, I would've gladly paid that much and dealt with the food situation to be into that many bulls.

 

[svivian]

 

[Dos Perros]

If those elk hadn’t been there and the OP and guide didnt get into elk, I‘m sure anyone else in the OPs shoes would call that hunt a bust (Especially because the guide couldn’t call).

You're 100% correct.

But the elk were there.

 

[PNW bow hunter]

I got the impression the outfitter rode in with food for a day, and was heading out the next morning. The outfitter wasn’t planning on coming back for 5 days.

I don’t think I could elk hunt for 5-6 days on one pack of ramen, a couple snack bars, and one egg McMuffin.

I would be pissed about the whole situation.

It was supposed to be a 1 on 1 guided hunt, and he got set up with the camp cook for 6 days with no food.

It sounds like that trip was going to get worse, not better if I am reading the details of the story correctly.

 

[Venom One]

Rokslide logic......

Spend $800 on a pack "it better be f****** perfect, this webbing strap is 1/4" too low"

Spend $10,000 on a guided elk hunt "you should be happy you had dirt to sleep on cuz elk"

LMAO. True and too funny

 

[ChrisAU]

Even if you made the right decision to get a full refund and leave them, why would you not stay and try to hunt your tag on public land? You just got 10k back. Go to the local sporting goods and buy all the best shit and go hunt, camp, and enjoy your trip. You said you CrossFit all year - you are in shape. What makes you think you need to pay someone to make this experience for you?

 

[Dos Perros]