CEI Report post Posted May 2, 2013  Client Expectations are #1 This morning I read a Late-Season Elk Hunt report from a very unhappy hunter. Just to clarify, the outfitter isn't anyone we have EVER been associated with, let alone would recommend. The hunt was booked at an extremely above market price and it sounds like the hunter was told he was going to hunt on a private ranch. According to the report, they hunted public land everyday because the elk were not on the private property, even though he was told the elk winter on the ranch and paid an access fee. To top it off, he never saw a bull and saw hunters everyday. From the report, it sounds like the line ,"we kill 400 inch bulls on this hunt" was used by the outfitter in the booking process. Honestly, this is a bunch of bullshit, because they are including the bulls from the early rut hunts, which is a completely different hunt.  370-400 Bulls are not as common as you think! Get the facts! Here is the problem,... When hunters are looking for an outfitter for a draw hunt, they typically get a short list of names to contact. Outfitters start picthing and many times the best salesman wins, not the best outfitter. The client above heard these pitch terms, "100,000 acres of private property. High Success Rate. Many 400" Bulls taken.". So, these were the EXPECTATIONS he had when he booked the hunt. The reality... These are all bullshit, except for the high success rate. This outfitter knew the big bulls don't generally winter on the private property (I know it for a fact, because I know the property & public land around the property). They knew that 2/3s of the mature bulls are broke to crap, so the chances of harvesting a 400" bull was almost zero. They inflated their numbers, by stating they had killed many bulls over 400 inches on this hunt, when most of these unofficial 400" bulls were killed during the rut hunts. Expectations!!! We don't care if you want to kill the world record or shoot just any animal on your hunt, but you need to make sure your expectations are being met. Far too often, hunters are drawing tags and dropping 5-18K on hunts and their expectations are not being met, because they haven't been told the truth. If you want to hire a quality outfitter, you have to ask the right questions. You need to filter out the bullshit pitches and do your homework. You need to get the facts and make sure your expectations are going to be met. Don't be ignorant, because there are sharks in the water. Best-Craig Email View the full article Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
