Outfitter Review Thread

[Fall's Legend]

Maybe Bill will see the merit in a thread where experiences with outfitters can be posted, good and bad. I don't know if this site has sponsors or not? That can certainly effect reviews. I will wait and see if this has merit. Thanks.

 

[Bill]

No sponsors, no advertisers, no banner ads. For now anyway. Don't want any buck on the bag guys complaining about us teaching guys how to do it for 1/3 of the price. :)

My only experiences with outfitters are using a great guy (now retired) years ago to put us in a drop camp on public land in Wyoming. Didn't want to deal with dragging camp stuff that far. It was nice, he took us in to a set up camp and checked on us every two days. 7 guys killed 4 deer so it was a good trip.

My only experience with whitetail outfitters is having one lease ground near us a few years back. I'm sure there are good ones out there but this outfit made me raise an eyebrow. The guy running it was published in a magazine with his holy Grail buck. The whole article was about how he had pics and Intel on this buck and it's bedding area from summer until he killed it late season with a muzzleloader. Somehow paying clients never got a shot at him. Hmmm

Again I'm sure there are guys that bust their butt to make their clients comfortable and successful.

 

[Fall's Legend]

Bill,

This was just an idea driven by the desire to see more members and more activity on this site. I wish more folks were into sharing about habitat. Thanks.

 

[Bill]

Bill,

This was just an idea driven by the desire to see more members and more activity on this site. I wish more folks were into sharing about habitat. Thanks.

I get it, hopefully some guys with more knowledge of outfitters chime in. I'm going to move this to general discussion. I know I recommended putting it here but now I think it may get lost.

We get lots of traffic but I think some are apprehensive to post

 

[Fall's Legend]

Fishing season right around the corner. Best I ever had in Canada-Trout Lake in NW Ontario. Booi's is the place. Jim and Tracy. Walleye, Lake Trout and Pike. Fly-in only.

 

[Buckly]

No sponsors, no advertisers, no banner ads. For now anyway. Don't want any buck on the bag guys complaining about us teaching guys how to do it for 1/3 of the price. :)

My only experiences with outfitters are using a great guy (now retired) years ago to put us in a drop camp on public land in Wyoming. Didn't want to deal with dragging camp stuff that far. It was nice, he took us in to a set up camp and checked on us every two days. 7 guys killed 4 deer so it was a good trip.

My only experience with whitetail outfitters is having one lease ground near us a few years back. I'm sure there are good ones out there but this outfit made me raise an eyebrow. The guy running it was published in a magazine with his holy Grail buck. The whole article was about how he had pics and Intel on this buck and it's bedding area from summer until he killed it late season with a muzzleloader. Somehow paying clients never got a shot at him. Hmmm

Again I'm sure there are guys that bust their butt to make their clients comfortable and successful.

I see it way too many times. When you look at an outfitter that shows harvest pictures and the outfitter always has the biggest taken, it throws up a big red flag to me.

 

[Ed Brodt]

My only experience with an outfitter was last spring. Three of us went Prairie Dog hunting in South Dakota. Prairie Highland Outfitters. Unbelievable experience. When I would read stories in the magazines and watch shows I was always skeptical. At least in this case it was as advertised. Lodging and meals included. Five star on both accounts and the shooting was phenomenal. First time in may life I actually got tired of shooting. It was so good we are going back this year.

 

[bueller]

Canada fishing question. Have any of you guys ever fished Whitefish Lake in Ontario?

 

[Fall's Legend]

I have not. But, I will never fish a drive to lake in Ontario. Don't know if this is one or not. World of difference when it is a fly-in.

 

[bueller]

I have not. But, I will never fish a drive to lake in Ontario. Don't know if this is one or not. World of difference when it is a fly-in.

I've never been to Canada and have the same feelings as you but this is a trip that family members have gone on for years and I've always passed on the opportunities to go because of work or other obligations. Unfortunately the group has decreased in size over the years as some are no longer with us. I don't expect the fishing to be out of this world but I sure hope it's some of the best I've experienced.

 

[Fall's Legend]

You are going for the right reasons. Canada fishing is special. I cannot same the same for bear hunting in MB so far but like you I have high expectations for this year. Going with a different outfitter. Good luck!

 

[Bowsnbucks]

This didn't happen to me, but to a good friend & co-worker. It was in Maine, back in late 1989. He and several other co-workers booked with a guide and they were told to sit in their stands until picked up at the end of the day. There was no deer sign of any kind around where they were placed. After several days of not seeing any deer - or sign - he decided to use his topo map and cross a stream to check out the hills and ravines on the other side. After doing so, he saw deer sign everywhere and it looked like he was in a different hunting world. There were also signs that the outfitter/guide had other trails and stands further back in the woods. So it looked like they had been "played" and put in an area where there were no deer. It wasn't a friendly camp after that day. They hunted on their own from that day until the end of the week, regardless of what the guides told them.

 

[Bill]

I fished at this place in Canada once. http://www.cygnetlake.com/

Fishing was so so. But if memory serves me they were like 100% on archery bear. Never hunted with them but it's a name to research.

 

[Fall's Legend]

Thanks Bill. After Ontario closed Spring bear for a few years I have only really looked at MB. Success rates I really question now.

You know, with this site not taking ad dollars from outfitters, a section on reviews might have legs. Readers would probably trust comments as being more authentic.

 

[Bill]

I just made this thread a sticky in successful hunts. Let's see how it goes.

I'm all in for new stuff. If it takes we'll give it its own forum topic.

 

[Telemark]

Thanks Bill. After Ontario closed Spring bear for a few years I have only really looked at MB. Success rates I really question now.

You know, with this site not taking ad dollars from outfitters, a section on reviews might have legs. Readers would probably trust comments as being more authentic.

They re-opened it. I am planning a spring bear hunt in Ontario in May.

 

[Fall's Legend]

What outfitter? Bear only, or fishing combination? Good luck!

How did you learn about your outfitter?

 

[Telemark]

I don't use outfitters. I can't afford it. I will be hunting on my family's land and/or my friend's property.

This is from the 2017 regs:

"REMINDER – Black Bear Resident and Non-resident Spring Seasons
The black bear spring season pilot has been extended
through 2020 in all Wildlife Management Units (WMUs)
that have an open fall season to gather more information to
assess the effect of spring harvest on human-bear conflicts
and to support economic growth and tourism.
The spring season will be held from May 1 to June 15
for both resident and non-resident hunters. The harvest
of bear cubs and female bears accompanied by a cub is
prohibited."

https://www.ontario.ca/document/ontario-hunting-regulations-summary

They probably won't publish the 2018 book till April, but according to this there is a Spring bear season for the next three years at least.

 

[Ben.MN/WI]

Canada fishing question. Have any of you guys ever fished Whitefish Lake in Ontario?

I've fished Whitefish Lake in Ontario for several years, but that was 15 or 20 years ago. The fishing was phenomenal for walleyes for a while (every year our group would catch a few 8 pounders in a week), but they quality really went down in later years. Same goes for perch - there were tons of jumbo perch, but word got out and they took them out by the truckload during ice fishing season. I haven't heard how the fishing is up there these days though.

What time of year does your group plan on going? We always went in early/mid June. If you are going around that time, let me know and I can tell you know what worked best for us when we fished that time of year.

 

[bueller]

I've fished Whitefish Lake in Ontario for several years, but that was 15 or 20 years ago. The fishing was phenomenal for walleyes for a while (every year our group would catch a few 8 pounders in a week), but they quality really went down in later years. Same goes for perch - there were tons of jumbo perch, but word got out and they took them out by the truckload during ice fishing season. I haven't heard how the fishing is up there these days though.

What time of year does your group plan on going? We always went in early/mid June. If you are going around that time, let me know and I can tell you know what worked best for us when we fished that time of year.

Thanks Ben. I've heard the same about the jumbo perch factory of 10 years ago being thinned out quite a bit. Numbers and size not what they used to be. I'm hoping the lake hit a valley and is back on the way up a bit.