Jeesh...where to start. The guide and his compatriots wanted nothing more than to get back to the local watering hole each evening. There was NO appreciation for nature...once I spied a maple tree that had a half dozen or so Pine Grosbeaks in it...worthy of stopping to admire. Guide grunted they're just birds, and that was that. They were chewers, smokers, suspected druggies. Stalking was not part of the equation...it was a bumpy pickup ride ALL day while a hillbilly designated as the "hound" followed fresh tracks with a tracking collar on him. When the group of elk neared a road or two track, it was haul a$$ to jump out the truck and basically shoot at animals as they crossed. I was encouraged to shoot at animals greatly obscured by brush at long range, on a road, on private land, etc.... and it's not like I don't hunt the same terrain for whitetails. Shooting into a tightly packed group of animals was also encouraged. When a mistake is made, ie....bull taken with an antlerless tag...two animals hit, etc. it's the HUNTER"S responsibility, not the high school dropout's. I declined to take several low percentage shots, and was chastised.
Drones were used to locate and harass animals by one of them, I was contacted by the DNR after the hunt and inquired about this, but without video proof they would not pursue the guy. We had farmers contact the guide during the hunt to state they had animals that could be taken easily, but the guide declined all offers because a trespass fee was involved, which I originally was told was included in the price. The whole hunt lacked professionalism from beginning to end, and hell no, they did not get a tip. Most of the other hunters guided by this group also jumped out of the vehicle, and blazed away at animals that had been chased all day. Single shot kills were rare. Mine was a single shot kill, but that's because I declined the shots they suggested I try.
I dislike remembering the hunt, and I've been on many a fine guided hunt. This was NOTHING like those. This was a free for all circus... run more like running bear or cats than hunting elk. Was not my cup of tea in the slightest. I'll never apply again.
Last edited by jacare; 01/09/20.
