SacFireJT reports in from Colorado

[Backcountry]

SacFireJt should be home today, and you won't want to miss his report of a very screwed up elk hunting trip. He was on the phone with me yesterday for an hour, going over countless things that sounded unbelievable, in terms of the outfitter being a mean jerk, dishonest, the property not being what we were told it was, the guides being scared of the outfitter, the cook being scared of the outfitter, no elk, all attitude, etc... honestly, I couldn't have made some of this this stuff up. Basically, everything we were told about the trip to get us to pay our deposit turned out to be the exact opposite, or an outright lie... this isn't a case of sour grapes as everyone on the trip is an experienced hunter used to bowhunting (i.e., low sucess ratio)... it's that they were all treated like crap and everything about the hunt wasn't what it was made out to be.

Anything else I post would be hearsay, since I wasn't there, but there is a hell of a story coming from SacFireJt...

In the end, I guess I'm happy I didn't go, but I'm still out over $1,000 since I sold the hunt at a loss and I already had my deer tag... most of all though, I'm quite bummed SacFireJT ended up taking my place... he told me yesterday that he's heard I'm a stand up guy, and that he knew that I was not the person that set this whole trip up (I was like the 5th guy recruited to go), and I appreciate him saying that, but I still feel partly responsible.

 

[SacFireJT]

Attitude is everything! I will post-up in a bit...

 

[Lurediver]

 

[ducslayer]

 

[Kentuck]

 

[soupr]

 

[SacFireJT]

LD, keep eating popcorn--you need to gain a little weight. OK, more than a little.

They say attitude is everything. I am going to attempt to take the higher road and not get into specifics about the outfitters service; or bad-mouth someone when I am not face-to-face with them.(expect LD) However, I will impart that I was very dissapointed with my hunt with the above outfitter and I would not recomend them to anyone.

Perhaps, others in my hunting party will post their feelings--they said they would.

Dispite what was mentioned above, we all had a great time on the drive to and from Colorado and I would hunt with any of the folks in my party again.

What I will tell you guys is about the amount of animals I saw and the conditions we encountered. We had 16 inches of snow on day 2 of our five day hunt. I saw very little sign in the fresh snow and the hunting was tough. In total, I saw 6 elk in the field (in one group) while I was hunting--5 cows and one rag-horn 4x4. I never heard a cow call or a bugle. I hunted hard!

On a positive note, The country was beautiful and the camp food was the best I have ever had, thanks to our fantastic cook!

Along with the other NorCal hunters this made the trip more enjoyable.

Thank God I was able to put a bull in the freezer a week in a half before this hunt!

 

[SacFireJT]

Mike for Predator's Archety in Gliroy, Ca. Mike is one heck of an archer and I plan on buying my next bow from him!

 

[Lurediver]

What was the reason, besides being a jerk? Any info would help

 

[Arrowslinger]

Look forward to hearing your comments Jeff as what you've uncovered w/ these guys might help others not make the same mistake w/ choosing an outfitter.

I will make one comment though, when the outfitter says they don't go after buggling elk because they don't want to scare them off so the rifle hunters have a chance.............they either don't have enough land or don't cater to archers, or possibly both.


Eiter way, you met some new folks and you're freezer is still full of OR elk..

 

[wmidbrook]

...sorry to hear it was a fiasco. Trips that don't even come close to meeting expectations are not fun. I've gotten a bum steer on a self-guided trip before based on bad info (from an Idaho F&G person no less)...something about hunting a few weeks prior to the usual arrive time after the migration come to find out later

Yeah, you'd think with all those elk in CO that every guide could put you into a honey hole, not a honey pot

 

[Live2hunt]

Which outfitter is it?

Just trying to rule them out from my list of outfitter to consider for future hunts.



L2H

 

[paulc]

Lots of bad outfitters out there.

I learned my lesson a couple of times. Dont go for the bargain unless you got more time than money to waste.

Other lesson. Unless you got lots of time to waste dont bother to go on hunts that you win at banquets or purchase at banquets. Have done both and both times very disapointed.

Now if i am going on a guided hunt it will be after gettng references from good sources..

Lots of guys out there that hang out the guide and outfitter shingle during hunting season and they are not serious hunters.

 

[spectr17]

That sucks. Still beats work gettin out and huntin.

Post a review on the outfitter. Just stick to the facts and I'm sure people will appreciate the heads up.

http://www.jesseshunting.com/reviewpost/showcat.php/cat/237

 

[snoopdogg]

I hope somebody else posts a bit more than was shared, other than the hunt sucked. But then again, that would sum it up!

 

[Zim1]

Sorry to hear things didn't go better. This was the reason a long time ago I decided never to use an outfitter again, and only apply for premium hunt units. It has worked out great for me. Now it's just a matter of being in good shape & picking the bull I want.

After going solo the last 10 years I am changing my focus so I can hunt with friends. We are applying for medium quality units in Wyoming, Oregon & New Mexico and hope to have fun hunts. 3 bulls on the wall is enough.

Where was your hunt? Was this an OTC hunt in Colorado? I promised myself to never waste my time hunting OTC units anywhere. I'll stay home & whitetail hunt rather than play that game. I've read way to many horror stories. One of the good things about a good tag is the other hunters there (especially archery) tend to be dedicated hunters, with no last minute unprepared slob hunters stomping around. Not to mention quality animals.

 

[Speckmisser]

Sacfire,

Like some of the others, sure would love to hear more specifics about your experience. You don't have to badmouth the guy, but some objective comments:

For example, what were your expectations and how (specifically) did the guide fail to meet them?

I keep hearing "attitude is everything", but that's no help to me or anyone else who may end up using this outfitter. Not even sure I have heard the outfitter's name here.

Most times, perspective is everything (moreso than attitude), so help prospective hunters make educated decisions based on what you perceive as failures on both your party's part and on the part of the outfitter/guide. Is there anything you guys could've done, either in advance or during the trip, to salvage the hunt?

And as Jesse mentions, please do post up in the Guide Review section as well... folks really are using that tool, and it's input like yours that will assist folks in their search.

 

[wmidbrook]

I agree with Zim in that a premium unit is a whole lot more likely to result in a quality hunt regardless of whether you are guided or self-guided.

There are some good OTC hunts out there but you have either a) real good experience (guided or not) in that area or b) quality information about the area. I'm sure there are some outstanding OTC hunts into wilderness areas and such...there are great OTC / quality cow hunts for the meat hunter too.

Nonetheless, I'd take a self-guided premium limited entry hunt any day over a guided OTC tag....just a personal preference thing based on what I've experienced with limited entry tags.

 

[One Track]

Sucks man. I would have hated to be you last week. That makes our discust in Motel 6 seem like nothin'.

You're right though. You only have control over one thing in life, Attitude. Chin up. Write it off. Get back out in the woods. Thanks for the warning. I think it was Cassidy Outfitters. Right?

 

[Backcountry]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (One Track @ Sep 27 2006, 12:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I think it was Cassidy Outfitters. Right?[/b]

Yes, it was Cassidy Outfitters... again, this was a trip that I had originally placed the deposit on, along with four buddies from my archery club. Things came up in my life and I couldn't go, so SacFireJT went in my place.

I talked to SacFireJT again last night and he said he was inclined to leave his post as is, and not get into a full blown bashing of the outfitter... he and I both figured that if anyone is seriously considering booking with Cassidy Outfitters they would most likely do a search, see his post, and then could e-mail him for more information... seriously, he could write a couple pages based on our conversations, but I think for now he wants to leave it as "strongly NOT recommended". Personally, I think it was so bad that he just wants to move on and forget it happened.

The good news though is that SacFireJT and my buddies from my archery club all got along great and some new friends were made, albeit under less than ideal conditions.

Anyway, my other buddies are apparently inclined to write a volume on how they feel they were screwed... none of them are very computer savvy or JHO members, but they are pissed, and at least one is intending to file a breach of contract lawsuit (a couple are retired sherrifs with nothing but time on their hands). If I can get a written synopsis from any of them, I will post it up, both here and in the guide review section. Apparently, they were treated even worse than SacFireJT was...

Backcountry