It seems like thirty years ago when I started elk hunting all of my hunting partners shot compounds but everyone bragged about how close they got to the animals whether they got a shot or not. Now many of the guys that shoot modern carbon tube casting devices consider fifty or sixty yards a good shot!
I had an elk hunt booked for the last five months and when I booked it I told the outfitter I shoot trad bows and we discussed the hunting area etc. I hadn't spoken to him for five months and yesterday he calls and asks me if I shoot a recurve. Obviously he knew this. He says he will refund my deposit or refer me to another outfitter because the country where he hunts is pine forest and they rarely get shots less than 50 yards! I called his referral and he told me there was more cover in his area but he asked me why I don't "upgrade" to a compound! thanks for listernig
That stinks! The outfitter is probably worried you'll throw off his kill percentages.
I have never hunted elk, though it is one of my dreams to do so. Since I'm still a trad newbie, I have not yet taken ANYTHING with my recurve. If I somehow manage to scrounge the $ for an elk hunt, I may take the compound (or, god forbid, something that goes 'bang' instead of 'twang'), because it will probably be te only time I can ever do it.
I'm probably not the most qualified to make recommendations, but if the outfitter doesn't appreciate the way YOU want to hunt, he's probably not the outfitter for you anyhow.
Good luck with the rescheduling.
Kingsnake
Think I'd take him up on the refund offer and find an outfitter that is willing and capable to work with you.
I once had someone say the same thing to me about a compound and I asked them why they don't just use a rifle. That pretty much will end the conversation.
It sucks, but it was kind of a blessing. Lots of outfitters would have just took your money and not worried if you had a real chance or not. Glad your getting out of it.
My first comment would of been, "Yes I will take my money back, I thought I was gonna be hunting with a quality guide and good hunter! Obviously you are neither!!" "A good outfitter should be able to get me a lot closer than that!!" Shawn
I would get my money and run. Has to be more than a few on here who could connect you with someone that would be a better fit for you as a guide.
I have never hunted them and never will be able to. I only know one guy personally that is a serious elk bow hunter. He shoots a compound with fingers. He has killed more than a couple in multiple states. I think his longest shot was 25 yd. He shoots them close and loves the thrill of getting right on them. He has not had a problem getting guides to get him close.
That's unreal...!!!! Well that's this society and world we live in everything has to be easy or we can't do it....well ya got me started example "crossbow"! You might as well take a gun! IMO he should do his footwork and put you inclose with the elk
The place I looked at hunting in Wyoming is wide open with very few trees but with hills, draws and large rocks. They take elk all the time at less than 20 yards. Find a real bow hunting guide.
Book a hunt with Fred Eichler. He's a trad hunter himself.
Yep, I'd take that refund. This outfitter is already making excuses that have nothing to do with his abilities. I wouldn't want to spend so much on someone who is starting out defeated.
People have been killing plenty of elk for decades with arrows inside 25 yards. Sure, the terrain will make it more or less difficult/likely that you can get close enough, often enough for success.
Take the money and run. Also, count your blessings. Sorry to hear about your trouble. (nut) :o
I'd say you were blessed: To find out BEFORE you blow thousands of $$ only to be sorely frustrated!
Take the offer and be happy! Choice of weapon is nothing personal obviously the outfitter knows his limitations. Plenty of fish in that sea!
Thankfully, you have time to make other plans instead of ending up with a disappointing hunt.
I did a little research and I think this had nothing to do with trad bows. When I signed with this guy he said there was plenty of cover in the unit. This was to be a semi guided hunt and he told me I could hunt the whole three weeks if I wanted and I provided my own food. I just looked on his website and he has raised the price 25% from what I was paying and that is only for one week and he has three separate hunts. He must have had lots of interest and it boils down to greed. Anyway I'm going to take the money back and run!
:biglaugh: :laughing:
Well I've hunted elk for 50 years now and in some ways the outfitter was telling you the truth. There are a lot more oppurtunities at 50 yds then at 20 yds. BUT that's what we sign up for with traditional equipment.
It's not always about killing the animal but more about how we go about it.
What he doesn't realize is that trad hunters are often happy going home empty handed with memories of close encounters that didn't pan out.
His compound hunters not so much.
Unless you hunt with a trad hunter that is a guide you will run into this issue.
Find yourself another outfitter that caters to trad bowhunters.
Mike
Take your money and go elsewhere. Regardless of his reasons that is a good sign to go elsewhere.
At least you got your money back. There has to be a real guide out there somewhere. Good luck.
Yes, take the money back. If 50 yards is the usual range his clients shoot from, one of two conditions is likely. One is that his hunting terrain is consistently wide open, or he guides a lot of archers as opposed to bowhunters. No, they are not necessarily the same.
Nothing is guaranteed at 50 yards, good choice to get your money back and look elsewhere!
"upgrade"..... That's funny. I havn't ever felt like I was at any disadvantage shooting a longbow or recurve. Maybe I'm crazy but it keeps makes me (& a lot of other) happy.
Good luck finding a guide that "gets it"
Re-imbursement is the proper option.
Many an outfitter is not experienced in actually accommodating a traditional archer. Last season in Alabama, hunting with a popular veteran turkey outfitter, I was the 1st traditional archer in 15 years. No set-ups were designed to have any shot less than 18 yards. After watching me set-up, he started taking notes, told me that he was highly impressed and would have things in proper order for this season ...and would also implement these types of set-ups for conventional bow clients. Note: Hunting Nebraska this spring.
Contacted ...likely the number 1 Outfitter in NZ...an outfitter that is regularly on TV. I was to be only the 2nd traditional archer to have visited....Chose an outfitter that had much experience and success guiding traditional clients. This particular outfitter already knew that 25 yards would likely be the max range for Reds.
It may prove quite beneficial in avoiding being the 1st successful traditional archer. Also, highlighting limitations and requesting a direct response is imperative. The only guarantee expected, for me, is to be empowered to put forth an opportunistic effort.
Getting upset with outfitters will serve no beneficial purpose. Being fully aware of possible outfitter and personal limitations must be an intricate facet of the traditional hunter's repertoire. Confidence may serve to heighten anticipation and success while much of that confidence is acquired thru thorough preparation. Informed, self-directed and decidedly taking the initiative may considerably enhance the chances of imparting some control in achieving a more desirable destiny.
Unfortunately, much of this acquired experience, that of which would not fill a thimble, may be attributed to my own personal failures.
From the overall sounds of your comments about the outfitter I think this is a blessing in disguise in regards to the overall hunt. I think he wants things to be easier on him and the total experience would probably have been lacking. With this experience in mind I would spend a lot more time talking to other outfitters to see where they stand and talk to their references (both "successful" and unsuccessful). I second getting ahold of Fred Eichler at Full Draw Outfitters just south of here. Great guy who understands where trad archers come from and lots of animals in the area. Good luck and God Bless.
Sounds like its a win win, he realized he was not going to give you the hunt you wanted and opted out and is willing to give you a refund ( good on him) now you can look for a better option good on you. you could have been really stuck with a dud of a hunt when you got there or worse knowing that you were going to get a dud of a hunt with no option for a refund.
I thought bow hunting was about getting close and personal. Maybe the guide should just switch to guiding gun hunts.