What would you do??? Outfitted hunt

[Trial153]

Holy crap, 10 guys in camp late October. Can you imagine the numbers they run though that place in a year.
I hate to generalize but I have lot of experience hunting in Ohio considering I leased there for the better part of 10 years. Ohio outfitters are the bottom of the barrel. They pay some of the highest lease prices in the country they they run insane numbers of guys through their camp for the 4 month season. Most of their properties see more hunters then the average section of public land in Ohio.

 

[rayporter]

^^
grew up in SE ohier and still have property there.

I would run.

 

[kiddogy]

man the jealousy runs rampant.

I'd call it ,one o the perks of being an outfitter ,he's got as much right to kill a biggun as anyone else . not his fault you didn't book an earlier date.

I would wish him luck and be happy for him if he scored.

 

[rob86jeep]

You said later on that he isn't actually a guide, just a guy that knows the outfitter and got 10 people to also pay for a hunt. Part of his deal with the outfitter was probably if you get 10 guys to hunt, you can come a few days early. Just the same as they told you that if you pay the money first, you'll have first pick of the stands to hunt. The same way you're upset with the guy coming early, the other hunters may be upset with you getting the first choice of stands.

Like everyone else has said, it sounds like a shady operation altogether. Depending on the cost, you'll have to decide if its worth it to complain now and try to get a refund (knowing you'll be out the price if they say no) or just go hunt knowing you might have paid more than you wanted for a not so special hunt. Either way, you can always leave feedback for the outfitter based on your experience (good or bad). Sorry to hear it's not at all what you were told in the beginning.

 

[kiddogy]

Holy crap, 10 guys in camp late October. Can you imagine the numbers they run though that place in a year.
I hate to generalize but I have lot of experience hunting in Ohio considering I leased there for the better part of 10 years. Ohio outfitters are the bottom of the barrel. They pay some of the highest lease prices in the country they they run insane numbers of guys through their camp for the 4 month season. Most of their properties see more hunters then the average section of public land in Ohio.

well , if they pay the highest leaser prices it is probably what they must do to survive.
I get that some don't like this but he plain truth is , they couldn't keep doing it if there wasn't a demand. folks who don't like how they run things should move on to greener pastures

 

[Trial153]

well , if they pay the highest leaser prices it is probably what they must do to survive.
I get that some don't like this but he plain truth is , they couldn't keep doing it if there wasn't a demand. folks who don't like how they run things should move on to greener pastures

Plenty of folks do move on to greener pastures only after they find out they been fleeced out of their money and realizing they been playing musical stands with 10 of their new best friends for five days.

 

[rayporter]

I wonder if I could as what is the nearest town?

 

[tt_johnsclist]

Go on the trip, make the most of it and live and learn. You already made it this far. At the end you can leave some honest reviews that might help others. Like another poster mentioned, you are already going to be there at least 3 weeks pre-rut so chances are the only thing that dude showing up three days early is going to kill are mosquitos. Even if he does stick a buck Ohio is a one-buck state and all the rest will still be there for you. Use the hunt as a chance to learn the state, find a reputable outfitter word of mouth, and book a hunt for the first week of November next year!


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[DapperDan]

I wonder if I could as what is the nearest town?

I’ll be happy to share all that info post hunt. I can assure you of one thing for certain, I’ll never again book with a guy that’s trying to hunt at the same time....


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[rayporter]

I only asked because of my property.

2 years ago a fellow was giving guided hunts on my property. several if not many folks were hunting it.

some weird crap goes on. I wonder if the property owners are aware?

 

[NEWYORKHILLBILLY]

I would talk to the main outfitter . He cant fix this and make you happy if he doesn't know you upset. His job is to keep you happy. how he handles it will depend on how good he is. this is where your research ahead of time pays off.

 

[kickemall]

Already talked to main outfitter about refund. No refunds. Although I didn’t tell him why I was asking even though he asked if there was a problem. I didn’t really reply to that one... I did get a message shortly there after from the guy/outfitter I booked with if everything was ok. So I’m guessing the main guy informed the second guy that one of his booked clients was asking about a refund.

I honestly don’t want to rock the boat. Nothing I can really do at this point I don’t guess. sure don’t wanna piss off the wrong guy and end up hunting a spot with zero deer activity. Just not sure how to go about it. I asked the main outfitter about this second outfitter coming up early and he said yes he is. But said he is coming to guide. Not what I was told but is what it is at this point."


If they don't know what the problem is they can't fix it. You should be up front and tell them your concerns. I can't see you being any worse off by calling them on it.

 

[wind gypsy]

Holy shit this whole conversation makes me sad for “hunting”...

The day I have to worry about whether I booked the 160” trailcam treestand vs the 140” treestand is the day I stop ******* paying people to sit in their treestands.

 

[Marble]

If I paid with a CC I would contact them to see about getting a refund through them. I would also look at any contractual items I signed to see what it says.

 

[steeleywhopper]

Go have a good time. Heck, you might get there and everything is not what you imagined. Hopefully this turns out for the best and you and your wife have a great time. Good luck and shoot straight!

 

[RockinU]

Wait, is this an outfitter, or a host? Sounds more like a host that put together a group for an outfitter. They get kickback deals all the time. It's BS in my opinion, I've never understood why guys put up with it.

 

[RockinU]

I would talk to the main outfitter . He cant fix this and make you happy if he doesn't know you upset. His job is to keep you happy. how he handles it will depend on how good he is. this is where your research ahead of time pays off.

I hate to say it, but the outfitter is probably going to side with the host. He's the guy who's bringing in 10 full price hunters. I've known some good hosts, and most of them stay after their party has left and do their hunt from the deer that are left, but there are plenty more like this guy. It's why you should do all your own booking, party booking always has the potential to go sideways.

I guided a group last year where the host got very angry when the hunter I was guiding shot the deer he wanted...it was middle school girl type drama. They aren't welcome on that ranch anymore.

 

[rob86jeep]

I’ll be happy to share all that info post hunt. I can assure you of one thing for certain, I’ll never again book with a guy that’s trying to hunt at the same time....


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Why can't (or don't you feel comfortable) sharing that info now?

 

[Where's Bruce?]

If it were me I would have paid with a charge card so i could submit a chargeback request, find a breach in the contract and walk away with a lesson.

 

[coloyooper]

Worst part is this was a hunt I booked to take my wife on. I specifically booked Bc I was told that her and I would get to pic where we wanted to hunt Bc we booked first.




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You get this in writing anywhere? If so, I would raise hell. If not, you learned an expensive lesson. Good luck either way.