Any guides here?

[jim in Anchorage]

I guided for a number of years in Alaska. I would say 9 of 10 of my clients where first class hunters, men you would be proud to hunt with.
Always did there share, never complained
But their was always that one. You can guess what I mean.
Have you ever been though this?

 

[Don McDowell]

I gave up guiding, as it was more and more obvious there were less people that were truly interested in hunting, and more people that just wanted to kill something to hang on the wall, and brag about it. That also caused me to realize that herding these folks around was taking something I loved to do and turned it into a job.
Interestingly enough several of my former "clients" have become good friends and we hunt together every chance we get.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

Yeah never take something you love and do it as a job. That can ruin it pretty quick.
Again though most of my clients where first class sportsmen.
But there was always that one...

 

[Patocazador]

I've used guides in the past but I always felt that it was their animal that was shot. All I did was pull a trigger. They found it, got me in position, and estimated the yardage. After about 4-5 hunts I started doing it on my own. I wasn't as successful but I felt I earned the game.

No problems with the guides (except one who wanted me to shoot illegal animals) but I felt better doing it myself.

 

[Outfitter]

I am a fishing outfitter, starting my 21st year, a little different expectations involved. Several of my guides abandon me to guide hunting each year. Bow hunting with a great, enthusiastic young guide would be an incredible opportunity. Working as a team, with the right expectations would be a worthwhile experience. Do your homework before booking a trip! It can be unforgettable.

 

[H&Hhunter]

I guided for years. I agree, most were good folks. But yeah every group has "those" folks in it. As far as guided hunts now. I only guide friends or family and I would rather not hunt with a guide myself.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

I am a fishing outfitter, starting my 21st year, a little different expectations involved. Several of my guides abandon me to guide hunting each year. Bow hunting with a great, enthusiastic young guide would be an incredible opportunity. Working as a team, with the right expectations would be a worthwhile experience. Do your homework before booking a trip! It can be unforgettable.

I just had a disscusion about this. I have also have been a fishing guide.
But the big difference is at end off the day the fishing folks go home.
You're stuck with the hunters, in a remote area for 2 weeks.
I had one hunter tell me he wanted not one, but two Boone and Crockett caribou!

 

[jim in Anchorage]

I guided for years. I agree, most were good folks. But yeah every group has "those" folks in it. As far as guided hunts now. I only guide friends or family and I would rather not hunt with a guide myself.

Don't you have to in Africa? Hunt with a guide that is.

 

[H&Hhunter]

Don't you have to in Africa? Hunt with a guide that is.

It depends on the country. There are several countries that allow "Chase de libre" (hunting without a guide) for all species. In most traditional safari countries a PH is required. However there are some that allow hunting of non dangerous game without a professional hunter (PH) present if you've met some other requirements.

Africa in general is much like Canada and to a lesser degree Alaska in regard to non resident hunters.

I've done a large percentage of my plains game hunting in Africa without a professional hunter present. But I also had locals around to help me out with the logistics.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

It depends on the country. There are several countries that allow "Chase de libre" (hunting without a guide) for all species. In most traditional safari countries a PH is required. However there are some that allow hunting of non dangerous game without a professional hunter (PH) present if you've met some other requirements.

Africa in general is much like Canada and to a lesser degree Alaska in regard to non resident hunters.

I've done a large percentage of my plains game hunting in Africa without a professional hunter present. But I also had locals around to help me out with the logistics.

Well that's interesting. I would think a guide is required for cape buffalo?
Alaska has odd laws. Live here for a year and you can hunt sheep\ brown bear without a guide. I've known people that have lived here all there lives I wouldn't trust on a rabbit hunt.

 

[H&Hhunter]

Well that's interesting. I would think a guide is required for cape buffalo?
Alaska has odd laws. Live here for a year and you can hunt sheep\ brown bear without a guide. I've known people that have lived here all there lives I wouldn't trust on a rabbit hunt.

In the countries that allow "Chase de libre" you can hunt all the DG species to include elephant, Cape buffalo and lion without a guide. These are all previous French colonial countries. Ex British colonies all have strict PH requirements.

 

[outlawjw]

Helped a friend landowner out for years as a guide on her private land & ran into a couple hunters that were as you say . If we couldn't talk out ourdifferences I would take them out just long enough to have an order come out & then would take them back to the ranch to try to get another guide . Since I had the best reputation for trophies they usually came around to being freinds instead of bosses & you know.

 

[ZeroJunk]

I hunted the same area in the Bob Marshall wilderness for about 30 years. Most of the time it was without a guide. But, that outfitter passed away and seemed like the newer outfitters wanted somebody to saddle your horse and hold your hand. May have been a liability/insurance issue. Don't know. You end up with guides that weren't alive yet when we started hunting the area.

There is another side to that guide coin.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

I hunted the same area in the Bob Marshall wilderness for about 30 years. Most of the time it was without a guide. But, that outfitter passed away and seemed like the newer outfitters wanted somebody to saddle your horse and hold your hand. May have been a liability/insurance issue. Don't know. You end up with guides that weren't alive yet when we started hunting the area.

There is another side to that guide coin.

You just don't know what you're getting with a new hunter. I had one, new to me, walk into a water saturated sand bar and promptly sink to his knees. He'd still be there if we hadn't pulled him out. But after a day or two you figure out who can be left alone, and who can't.