There any rules here saying I can’t share a story here, names, in hopes of preventing others from getting screwed? Crappy outfitter experience.
SD outfitter to avoid
- Thread starter J.d. Popkes
- Start date
Pheasant. Fishing.
Why is that?
Coyotefurharvester
Silver $$ Contributor
Mainly, sometimes there are 2 sides to a story. You could tell your side, minus business details.
Lets get this started, What part of the state did the outfitter claim to be based from. What services were you led to believe were being offered? What services were lacking? If you had it to do over again what would you have done differently to screen out this less than you were hoping for "guide"
From a South Dakotan, who has never been a guide. Sorry you came away feeling burned.
From a South Dakotan, who has never been a guide. Sorry you came away feeling burned.
DirtySteve
Gold $$ Contributor
Tell the story so others can be fore warned
Lonny in ID
Gold $$ Contributor
Share the story.
Rock road outfitters
Gregory SD
Talked To him on the phone, said me and my two boys want to shoot pheasants and fish the Missouri. He said that he absolutely provides that service. Set the date. I’ve never used an outfitter, asked what tip was customary, agreed. Paid nearly half in advance. He showed a video of where we’d be staying, gave what seemed like a standard legit sales pitch. Just us, no large group, has dogs, tons of birds and fish, perfect time of year, etc. Meal situation was extremely vague, said there’s a great cafe or meal provided, says we’re “super casual”, which in hindsight is a red flag.
Arrival, paid remainder and tip in cash first thing, didn’t want to lose it and didn’t want to have it lingering.
Hunted first day, me and my sons, him and two guides. 7.5 miles walked in extremely dense cover, only real one good dog, he got injured and had to go back, nobody limited out, one had maybe 2 birds, shot one on the road. He provided a decent meal. Day two, same group of people,no good dog, walked worse thicker cover, fewer birds, quit at noon, went back to the “lodge”, warmed up yesterday’s burgers, bunch of people in the lodge, went to our “apartment”. He asked later that day if we wanted to road hunt, I declined, didn’t come for that, didn’t need a guide for that. Its not even legal for guides to road hunt on roads that don’t run along their lease. said we’d be there for fishing in the morning. Got to the lake, trolling motor won’t work, zero bites, he said I’ll buy you lunch, and be done. By now my group was indeed done. Cafe was closed, I had packed a lunch because this was my 3rd day and by now knew that was on me too, I was pretty done. The cafe was closed another day for breakfast so we ate gas station food. I asked in the beginning if I should bring food or if it’s all handled, glad I didn’t bring food because where we stayed there was no grill or plates, pans etc like shown in the video. Best meal was at the bowling alley, just me and the boys. Apartment wasn’t something you’d pay to stay in, certainly not what was in the video. Whole food thing was a cluster f.
Met some locals around town. In talking with them I explained how we were doing and asked how they were doing. They laughed at us when I told them who I hired and how it went. At that point I really felt like a sucker.
We just got out of there.
Couple days later I get to thinking, I’d ask for a partial refund. The tip, the fishing, and half of a day of hunting. I just got a bunch of excuses, he wanted to get some of the refund from the landowner, and on and on. Finally he says just no to any refund. $4k in fees and tips, 400 in licenses and a 10 hour drive home. Plus food.
Too many other details to name, you get it.
Expensive lessons learned.
Gregory SD
Talked To him on the phone, said me and my two boys want to shoot pheasants and fish the Missouri. He said that he absolutely provides that service. Set the date. I’ve never used an outfitter, asked what tip was customary, agreed. Paid nearly half in advance. He showed a video of where we’d be staying, gave what seemed like a standard legit sales pitch. Just us, no large group, has dogs, tons of birds and fish, perfect time of year, etc. Meal situation was extremely vague, said there’s a great cafe or meal provided, says we’re “super casual”, which in hindsight is a red flag.
Arrival, paid remainder and tip in cash first thing, didn’t want to lose it and didn’t want to have it lingering.
Hunted first day, me and my sons, him and two guides. 7.5 miles walked in extremely dense cover, only real one good dog, he got injured and had to go back, nobody limited out, one had maybe 2 birds, shot one on the road. He provided a decent meal. Day two, same group of people,no good dog, walked worse thicker cover, fewer birds, quit at noon, went back to the “lodge”, warmed up yesterday’s burgers, bunch of people in the lodge, went to our “apartment”. He asked later that day if we wanted to road hunt, I declined, didn’t come for that, didn’t need a guide for that. Its not even legal for guides to road hunt on roads that don’t run along their lease. said we’d be there for fishing in the morning. Got to the lake, trolling motor won’t work, zero bites, he said I’ll buy you lunch, and be done. By now my group was indeed done. Cafe was closed, I had packed a lunch because this was my 3rd day and by now knew that was on me too, I was pretty done. The cafe was closed another day for breakfast so we ate gas station food. I asked in the beginning if I should bring food or if it’s all handled, glad I didn’t bring food because where we stayed there was no grill or plates, pans etc like shown in the video. Best meal was at the bowling alley, just me and the boys. Apartment wasn’t something you’d pay to stay in, certainly not what was in the video. Whole food thing was a cluster f.
Met some locals around town. In talking with them I explained how we were doing and asked how they were doing. They laughed at us when I told them who I hired and how it went. At that point I really felt like a sucker.
We just got out of there.
Couple days later I get to thinking, I’d ask for a partial refund. The tip, the fishing, and half of a day of hunting. I just got a bunch of excuses, he wanted to get some of the refund from the landowner, and on and on. Finally he says just no to any refund. $4k in fees and tips, 400 in licenses and a 10 hour drive home. Plus food.
Too many other details to name, you get it.
Expensive lessons learned.
To be clear we probably were near birds I think. It would have taken 5 dogs, which is common, or a naval bombardment to flush them out.
1lessdog
Silver $$ Contributor
Never give a tip till end of hunt. You tip according to hunt enjoyment and success.
I was on two guided hunts this fall. First one for bear was not good and left no tip. Second one was Moose. Guides were very good and they did everything. Even a campfire in the mornings. Meals were great and nothing to complain about. I shot a Moose on 5th day with 3 day left in the hunt. I would highly recommend them for a Bear or Moose hunt.
I was on two guided hunts this fall. First one for bear was not good and left no tip. Second one was Moose. Guides were very good and they did everything. Even a campfire in the mornings. Meals were great and nothing to complain about. I shot a Moose on 5th day with 3 day left in the hunt. I would highly recommend them for a Bear or Moose hunt.
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