Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Guided hunts w/trophy fees

We're all very proud for you.

Bill, agreed - right there with you.

Did you see me talkin to you azzhole ? I didn't think so. GFY.

There's much you don't "get".

How the fugg would you know ? You don't know shyt from shinola. Just think you do you smug little prick.

If it's a guided hunt, ask them if they will go by whatever guide calls the deer in the stand. You may come out ahead or behind a little but there won't be any big surprises. I'm not a fan of pay by the inch either and this has worked for me a few times. Most outfitters are pretty reasonable and will work with you given the opportunity.

I'm no fan of the pay by the inch operations, like others here have expressed. There is however, a difference between X$ per inch type hunts and a set Z$ more if the animal is above Y inches long or wide.

I too prefer the all inclusive trophy fees but I have shot a few critters that I had to pay more for because they were bigger than a particular number. Not a big deal really as long as you're aware of it up front and it is a set additional price and not a sliding scale.

I would be interested to hear what this "additional cost" info is all about. If it is a sliding scale, I would avoid this outfit.

You are the classic keyboard commando....

I don't think I've ever read a single thing you've ever posted that wasn't bitching, whining, or just being a plain dick. Have you?

Prove me wrong, dare ya...

some people don't get it....bob

good posts.....great attitude bill...….bob

Don't misunderstand, we have hundreds of thousands of acres of hunting land here, but much of it is farther than I want to travel now, and some of it is pretty tough sledding when you're North of 65. Where I usually hunt is an easy drive of less than half an hour, and so I can go on the spur of the moment and put in a couple hours without mounting a major expedition. If it starts raining like Hell, I can be out of the woods in short order and hit it the next good day. Weekends early in the season, there's a fair number of hunters around, but weekdays and later on they thin out, but so do the deer, which can travel a short distance and be on private land where they aren't hunted. I bought a crossbow this Spring and expect to have a lot more days afield with fewer hunters around, and most of the deer I shoot with a rifle are in range for an arrow anyway. There are also some areas that are restricted to archery and Booners are to be had there, and a couple of muzzleloader-only areas where bucks run above average, but they require road time I'm not willing to put in often. Once the archery/crossbow season opens the 29th of September, I'll be able to hunt straight through to the end of the year, and then four more days in January with my sidelock percussion rifle. If I were able to fill all the tags I can buy, I can take about 15 deer, give or take a couple. Anyone that puts in the time and effort can do very well here.

TFF

Yeah, made me sick too when the price went up!

Back in 2000, I did a guided 6 day hunt for Mule Deer in Montana. Between Broadus & Miles City on a private Ranch that was just under 100,000 acres. I think it was $1700 total for which included accommodations & food and a guaranteed Landowners deer tag & Hunting License. Also got to shoot hundreds of Prairie Dogs and shot several Pheasants, and grouse.
The Mule Deer I shot scored 187 with a broken main beam. He was missing 6 or 7 inches from the end of the right main beam. My buddy killed a Mule Deer on that same hunt that scored 164. Best $1700 I ever spent IMO. No trophy fees either.
Part of the fun for me was hunting that beautiful Big Sky Country. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. But I bet that same hunt nowadays would be $3500 or more.

Perkins Outfittes? 😎

I'd find a new place to hunt. Holy sh it.

You could fly up here to scout for a weekend. Fly home. Fly back up and hunt for a week, and still be out less money. And we have real deer here.

Sounds good to me. The more I learn about WV the better it sounds. Can't believe how cheap houses are there compared to here.

Best thing my ex ever did for me was getting me to move here. Second best was becoming my ex.

I have no issue with incremental fees. If the hunt value is there then is to my benefit to have some protection if not much happens during my hunt. Say 50% for the hunt opportunity, 25% if a shot opportunity on a mature animal and 25% upon drawing blood, harvest or not. I think of some Canadian bighorn hunts were harvest rates are very low due to what qualifies as a legal ram. Some moose hunts are similar where finding a moose with the required number of points can be hit or miss.

I have been looking online for some hunts, and the trophy fees / penalties keep me from actually booking a trip. I actually would hate to drop $2500 bucks and come home empty handed but on the other side of that coin I think I would actually hate myself if I had to pay an additional $1000 or $1500 dollars for a trophy fee, and if it comes down to the last day of the hunt, I am not paying a penalty for shooting what whatever state that I am in, says is a legal deer. Sorry Mr. Guide or Mr. Landowner, I am gonna have to make payments on that balance.


A big whitetail buck would be nice, but 3500 to 5000 K for a whitetail, nope! Y'all can keep your deer and your land, I am good, as I am sure somebody if going to pay the price you ask for. You can't eat the horns!