Here is a few tips that have served me well over the years...some were learned at a heavy price:
1. Advertise on various forums for references...do you really think the guide is going to refer you to someone that is going to say anything other than good about him???
2. Once you get good references call the guide and have a conversation with him. You should be able to tell pretty quick whether or not he is on the level. E.g., if everything the guy says is fantastic or sounds too good to be true then it probably is.
3. Realize that the biggest thing you are up against as a first time hunter is guide to previous customer loyalty. Who do you think is going to be taken to the best location with the biggest deer??? The hunter that has been showing up at this guides place for 6 years straight or the new guy????
4. The second biggest thing you are up against is the quality of the actual guide that guides you...it will probably not be the guy that does the talking over the phone or sounds so friendly when he convinces you to book with his outfit. He only has so many guides and just like the best places, they will be placed with the multiple repeat hunters...typically, the new hunters get the new or "less than stellar" guides.
5. Nail down any and all costs involved over the phone BEFORE you send any money...if the guide is unwilling to give straight, cut to the chase answers or if you feel like you are unable to nail him down then walk away.
6. When selecting a place to hunt a certain animal go with the best location for the best chance by published populations if "best chance of actually killing the animal" is number one with you, even if it cost more. You will be glad you spent the extra money....example, if you want to kill a nice black bear there are a lot of big ones in Pennsylvania. But, they don't allow bait or dogs and they have a lot of pressure on public land. Maine is very over hunted and the bear are not really big on average. It is a documented fact that Ketchikan, Alaska has the densest population per square mile of black bear and some of the largest skulls to get you in the record books or at least see/kill one. I was there once and accidentally saw more black bears not hunting than any other guided trip in my life.
7. You know what weapon you are comfortable with, the one you shoot the best and the caliber you need to take the game. If the guide requests that you bring something else.....look elsewhere.
Good hunting!!!!
