Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Outfitters and "Draw blood policy"

Now if we can just get bow hunters to punch tags for non-recovered deer.............

Done hunting yes, leave camp and accommodations...no

If they're on an outfitted hunt, as the OP described, they would be held to same standard.

As far as I know, that's how most outfitters run things. It's the law in most states and outfitters can lose their licenses if they disobey it. Also, the client pays the outfitter to help him hunt. There has to be a standard for the outfitter's performance, and in this case that standard is that the client gets a shot at an animal. You can't hold the outfitter responsible for a client's bad shooting.

That said, I could see the outfitter making an exception out of the goodness of his heart if something unusual happened, say if a pack of dogs or coyotes pushed the animal onto land where hunters had no right to enter in pursuit. I could also see that same guide making you wait until everyone else in camp had tagged out before you got another chance.

Frankly, I'd be suspicious of an outfitter than let clients wound as much game as they wanted.


Okie John

Even if I wasn’t guided i wouldn’t keep shooting if i had already put a bullet in something. That’s poor taste in the ethical and moral department to wound and move on to try it again.
Shot a deer on Kodiak once but before we got to it a brown bear ran thru and grabbed it up. Punched that tag even though never laid hands on it.

Sounds fair to me, wound an animal, it counts as a kill. It’s that way on our lease.

I have never done a guided hunt, but isn't this a pretty standard rule?

I went on an elk hunt with those rules.

Every hunter should have that mindset. Otherwise, I think it's called slob hunters.

Why would you be hunting instead of looking for the deer you shot anyhow?

But, yes, that rule would be more than fine by me.

Never been an outfitter, but have been severely frustrated by some buddies that I helped with their hunts. Such a policy would have saved me days of effort.

I know a couple of outfitters here in Montana that take bow hunters.If they wound an elk or deer,then that is their tag. It may make the hunters think about taking marginal shots.

Done hunting yes, leave camp, no. Do they have to leave camp after successfully tagging out? don't understand that part.

As any outfitter, what's their #1 complaint about client hunters, bet you more often than not, it's shooting ability. If it's a western hunt, probably toss up shooting ability of physical condition.

If you've paid thousands for the trip, you'd better reconsider that 600 yard shot that so many brag about. Be a hunter and get closer. Pass on the trick shot that has wounded so many animals.

I should have put a caveat on my initial response. I can't see being made to leave camp.

Fixed it for you.....

Absolutely! I'm the same way on the ground I own and will hold my kids to that standard regarding their one buck tag.

I also agree with the folks that one shouldn't have to leave the camp/accomodations, but no more hunting is fine by me.

You going to regale us with the tale that spurned this flurry of posting activity?

I hope your disappointment with the outfitter didn't affect your tip to the guide. He did his job, you messed up yours.
Tips are an important part of their pay, don't screw him because you missed.

Don’t be cheap!

I don't think the OP got the initial response he was anticipating.