When should outfitters or guides have idea where deer are?

[hburggunner]

As season approaches, I had the question to ponder when it would be appropriate for outfitters and guides to determine key focus areas for deer. Meaning if you have a hunt scheduled, when would you expect to know locations to get into for glassing?

 

[sndmn11]

Two years to two minutes before.

Mule deer are fun because they don't care what you think they should be doing, and they are content being alone in places you wouldn't think they should be, or content to lay in the same spot for hours while you stare at them without seeing them.

 

[ropeup79]

When I get there. If they don’t have at least a good idea of where to find whatever species I’m looking for then what am I paying them for. I haven’t been on a guided hunt before to be transparent.

 

[hunterjmj]

They probably hit up the same places they see deer every year. Mule deer can be anywhere but they tend to be in the same places year after year. I hit many of the same glassing knobs year after year and it just works. I've never been on a guided hunt btw.

 

[IBen]

When I get there. If they don’t have at least a good idea of where to find whatever species I’m looking for then what am I paying them for. I haven’t been on a guided hunt before to be transparent.

You’re paying them because you failed on your previous public land diy’s and you dont have the time or knowledge to find your own spot.

 

[IBen]

As season approaches, I had the question to ponder when it would be appropriate for outfitters and guides to determine key focus areas for deer. Meaning if you have a hunt scheduled, when would you expect to know locations to get into for glassing?

They’re wild animals not farm animals

 

[ropeup79]

You’re paying them because you failed on your previous public land diy’s and you dont have the time or knowledge to find your own spot.

That’s why I’m not paying them. I live in WY, but if I’m paying someone as a nonresident to hunt a species I don’t have the time, resources, or knowledge to scout/hunt myself I would expect the guide to at least be knowledgeable about species/area. That said, hunting is hunting and wild animals are not always where you expect them to be.

 

[rookieforever33]

I wouldn't expect them to tell me ahead of the hunt specific glassing spots. If this is fully guided I would just expect to be told where to meet. Semi guided or drop camp I would expect some general knowledge beforehand and waypoints once I was there.

 

[Deadfall]

Firstly, guys go on guided hunts for all kinds of reasons.

Outfitters/guides should have general idea of what game is up too.
The really good ones will know all year around what's going on in the country they hunt.

You can scroll over all the maps and whatever you want. However, it's always different once on the ground. If it's a big predator area or the weather being defective can and will change habits day to day to and week to week.

If they operating on public ground other hunters can effect game as well.

Which is why really good ones spend so time glassing,before during and after season.

I've found that explaining lay of land type stuff to clients causes more confusion then helps.

We get alot of guys who are limited on experience. So I do spend a great deal of time talking about tactics. How to approach, when to be still, when to move. When to draw or shoot. Shot placement.

 

[Deadfall]

I find it far more useful to talk about animal movement and travel patterns in the field. Only as much as pertains to area hunting that particular day

 

[Rich M]

Part of me wants to go on opening day - a lot of the time the outfitters are just getting their shop set up. I'd go the second week just cause of that. They likely found a deer or two the first week.

 

[TaperPin]

Hunting highest probability areas and avoiding the low % spots, is what a normal guide does. Outfitters are in the same place year after year, client after client, and it becomes common knowledge between the guides where to put people and how to hunt the area, even if they haven’t been there at all this year, the best glassing areas haven’t changed since last year. The places they put you are the same places they’ll put the next guy, and the next - 10 years from now those are still the best places. If someone found some good deer in a certain drainage a few days ago, they may start there because it ups the odds a little, but it’s still playing the percentages.

There are some high $$$ hunts that are different and multiple guides are on the lookout for specific animals and you’ll be hunting specific animals rather than percentages. One of these hunts in my area was a well to do dad and his teenage son - the outfitter found an amazing deer and it was closely kept tract of and on opening morning the kid took a giant non typical. I have no doubt the hunt was 5x the normal price. When an outfitter has a big deer like this, phone calls get placed to individuals who make it known they are receptive to paying for unusual opportunities. Many videos are made with this kind of animal, but the number of mega wealthy hunters seems to be increasing and even the Eastmans can’t always afford to compete. BTW, the kid who shot the big deer couldn’t care less - it wasn’t anything he was into.