I'd appreciate some ideas/input from all you all-pro hunters out there. I'm contemplating signing on with Carter's Hunter Services, i.e. the Huntin'Fool. It's not cheap, and I'd like to hear what you guys think of it. I'm sure there are lots of members out there, plus a bunch who've decided against it. Also, I spect there are those that have been members but dropped it. I'd like to hear all your pros & cons. Thanks.
The Huntin'Fool
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JohnnyOrygun
Member
Just for the record, what is Carter's Hunter Services, never heard of them before. Is it a hunting club or some sort of guide/hunting service? Just curious.
qajaq59
Member
Apparently it's a guide/hunting service but I don't know anything about it. http://www.huntinfool.com/
It reads like you best have a few dollars to spend though.
It reads like you best have a few dollars to spend though.
MountainWalk
Member
My boss uses this service, and he says its quite worth it if you are very serious. Better than US outfitters. with them, if you draw, you have to use their guides. With Hunting Fool,, you are not required to use their guide service.
I'm rather surprised that there are serious hunters out there that aren't at least familiar with them, whether they subscribe or not. Their basic service is in regards to drawing assistance in the many lottery draw hunts, mostly in western states. They also do a lot of area statistics research to help isolate superior areas, break down draw odds by state, area, etc. They really aren't real expensive, I'm just not sure if their benefits are that much above what the average guy can/does do, hence my question. Maybeso I'll rephrase it--do most of you guys do all your own research and applications? I know that 10 or so applications in 8 or 6 states can be a hassel, and easy to slip up and miss a deadline and maybeso loose all your points. That can be pretty devastating. Carter's assures this won't happen in their promotion. Is it so? Has anyone had unsatisfactory experiences with them? How about positive experiences? Of course Carter's has hundreds of positve subcsribers listed in their promotions, but I'd like to hear some opinions not solicited by Carter's.
Harve Curry
Member
I never heard of them either till I got my outfitters license, then the mail started rollin in from brokers wanting to sign me up. Lots of expensive mailings. I'd get mail from them saying who they referred to me and then a bill, but no client from them ever called. I think the best recommendations come from word of mouth, keep out the middleman broker, and keep in mind what pleases one hunter may not please another hunter.
JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone
Member
https://www.huntinfool.com/resources/index.html
Most all the information you need is accessible from the state resource sites they list on one of their pages. Sure, HuntinFool has the magazine and probably some good services, but if you do your own homework you'll save money.
I don't see their fees on the site at all. If I don't know what I'm getting for what price, I'm not buying.
Dedicated hunters will get this information them selves and SCOUT the area in person.
You refer to 'Serious' hunters... Serious hunters I know, don't use guides. (not that there's anything wrong with a guided hunt, there are areas where it's smarter/safer to have assistance.)
Before this thread, I had never heard of HuntinFool. (blame their marketing program) Am I a serious hunter? Well, I've never hunted out of my home state of Washington. I don't hunt over gardens, farm land, food plots, feeders or sitting in a tree stand for days on end. I hunt from the ground. I've taken several Deer with iron sighted pistol at short range during general firearm season. Most recent Coyote was at ten paces. I've hunted since I was a teen, only missed the seasons when the Military took me to far away places or when I was injured/recovering. Deer mostly. Elk, Bear, Varmints... I may not be a 'Serious' hunter, but I think I'm pretty skilled. I've brought my two teen boys into hunting Deer. Even forced them to use open sight rifle until they got a Deer before they were allowed to have a scope... We visit certain areas throughout the year just to scout. We visit our inlaws and outlaws in hunt camps throughout seasons. It's not all about a garaunteed animal -paying for a guided hunt. (OK, I shouldn't have said that. There are no garauntees.) In my book, a serious hunter does his/her own homework.
-Steve
Most all the information you need is accessible from the state resource sites they list on one of their pages. Sure, HuntinFool has the magazine and probably some good services, but if you do your own homework you'll save money.
I don't see their fees on the site at all. If I don't know what I'm getting for what price, I'm not buying.
Dedicated hunters will get this information them selves and SCOUT the area in person.
You refer to 'Serious' hunters... Serious hunters I know, don't use guides. (not that there's anything wrong with a guided hunt, there are areas where it's smarter/safer to have assistance.)
Before this thread, I had never heard of HuntinFool. (blame their marketing program) Am I a serious hunter? Well, I've never hunted out of my home state of Washington. I don't hunt over gardens, farm land, food plots, feeders or sitting in a tree stand for days on end. I hunt from the ground. I've taken several Deer with iron sighted pistol at short range during general firearm season. Most recent Coyote was at ten paces. I've hunted since I was a teen, only missed the seasons when the Military took me to far away places or when I was injured/recovering. Deer mostly. Elk, Bear, Varmints... I may not be a 'Serious' hunter, but I think I'm pretty skilled. I've brought my two teen boys into hunting Deer. Even forced them to use open sight rifle until they got a Deer before they were allowed to have a scope... We visit certain areas throughout the year just to scout. We visit our inlaws and outlaws in hunt camps throughout seasons. It's not all about a garaunteed animal -paying for a guided hunt. (OK, I shouldn't have said that. There are no garauntees.) In my book, a serious hunter does his/her own homework.
-Steve
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HunterGirl
Member
I hunt every year....never heard of the place. Never had to worry about a draw either.
testar77
Member
Never heard of it
Kingcreek
Member
Never heard of them until now.
I had one good experience thru Jack Atcheson and Sons of Butte MT some years ago. I've used some different guides on my own and had some great, some good, and some not so good experiences.
I had one good experience thru Jack Atcheson and Sons of Butte MT some years ago. I've used some different guides on my own and had some great, some good, and some not so good experiences.
Well, apparently I speculated incorrectly. I really thought that most everyone would be familiar with them, and I wanted to hear what folks thought of their service. I sure as hell didn't intend to offend anyone about being a serious hunter. Like I said, I thought nearly everyone would be familiar with this outfit. Incidently, I've never had a guide on a US hunt, but they are often (usually) mandatory outside the US, and obviously, I've had lots of guides in such locations. I've never subscribed to Carter's/Huntin Fool, though considered it a time or two over the years. I have again thrown out their flyer, won't be subscribing. As someone stated, anyone can do the research themselves, true, but their argument/selling point is that when you are applying to 8-10 states, it can get very time consuming and they do it for you, saving huge amounts of time--which is true, but I'm not subscribing.
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JohnnyOrygun
Member
Sorry if I had any info on them I would share it, but to be honest, I have never heard of them before this thread. (I guess that is pretty obvious from my first post 
Anyhow, Moosehunt, good luck. I can see how the kind of services they offer would be useful. In Oregon, we have a draw system for some hunts, it does get confusing trying to figure out which unit to try and draw and how many preference points are needed to draw the more popular units. I don't have enough preference points for any of the good units, yet. I can see if you were trying to draw hunt in several states, it could be a very confusing and time intensive effort.
Any rate, good luck and good hunting! Have fun
JohnnyOrygun
Anyhow, Moosehunt, good luck. I can see how the kind of services they offer would be useful. In Oregon, we have a draw system for some hunts, it does get confusing trying to figure out which unit to try and draw and how many preference points are needed to draw the more popular units. I don't have enough preference points for any of the good units, yet. I can see if you were trying to draw hunt in several states, it could be a very confusing and time intensive effort.
Any rate, good luck and good hunting! Have fun
JohnnyOrygun
My brother signed up a year or two ago. He went bow hunting on the north rim of the Grand Canyon this year because of it. I don't really have the time or money for those kind of trips right now, but I believe it simplifies things when trying to win draws in multiple states and keeping up to date on all the deadlines and seasons. There are some really convoluted out of state regs out there and a lot of information to keep up with. I think it's likely worth it if you've got the money but not a lot of time.
HuntElk4Fun
Member
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- 4
For what it is worth, they aren't a guide service but Hunting Consultants. Their service is geared for people who want to or hunt multiple western states. They provide information for getting in the game out west, application procedures (even provide a great application service if you want) and endless information about all that is big game hunting out west. Best of all, as a member I can call and talk to their hunting consultants as often and as many times as I want!!
Granted, I live out west and hunt multiple states... still, I'm an avid hunter, know alot about the states, but the information and services they are provide are second to none IMO and saves me time! I get sick of looking up state after state and trying to keep up. They have various other stuff too. I think if you draw a state/species, they provide a list of other members who drew before you to call for information.
They do refer you to guides if you desire but don't push it on you. It's just another extension of the service. I for one am a DIY hunter, but know of some buddies who have been referred to guides by them with great experiences.
Granted, I live out west and hunt multiple states... still, I'm an avid hunter, know alot about the states, but the information and services they are provide are second to none IMO and saves me time! I get sick of looking up state after state and trying to keep up. They have various other stuff too. I think if you draw a state/species, they provide a list of other members who drew before you to call for information.
They do refer you to guides if you desire but don't push it on you. It's just another extension of the service. I for one am a DIY hunter, but know of some buddies who have been referred to guides by them with great experiences.
That's the way I see it. They don't force a guide on you, correct? That is, if through their program you draw, they may recomend guides, but you are not obligated to use one or any. Correct??? Not like Cabelas, where if drawn, you WILL use their guide. Am I correct?
Harve Curry
Member
Howdy Moosehunt,
The way I understood it the fee is on the guide/outfitter. They recommend several guides to a perspective hunter, give them your contacts, then send the guide a
letter with the hunters names only that might call you. If the hunter books a hunt the guide/outfitter has agreed to pay the fee/percentage to the broker. This notice of hunters was always followed by a statement as if a hunter did book a hunt.
I don't think you need a guide in any of them lower 48 states, just Alaska.
Mainly the best use of the guide I see is that for busy people everything is ready when the hunter arrives. The guide knows the game and the country and can adapt to changes quick if the game has moved. That is hard to do by yourself if your traveling from afar with a limited amount of time. Except for bow seasons all N.M. hunts are 5 days. I don't know what Cabela's require of their hunters. Hunters connected with them have rented lodging from me to hunt in unit 21. They're here in Winston each year to hunt a private ranch.
In New Mexico they started the licensed outfitter/guide system about 10 years ago. An outfitter has to prove experience, pay G&F $500 annually, pay 3% to each USDA Forest he hunts in, insurance, plus file alot of papers defining what your going to do, how long, and where. Guides pay the G&F $50 anually and have to work under a Lic. outfitter.
So you can see who's makin the easy money, G&F and USDA. You can look up alot of stuff here:
http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/
The way I understood it the fee is on the guide/outfitter. They recommend several guides to a perspective hunter, give them your contacts, then send the guide a
letter with the hunters names only that might call you. If the hunter books a hunt the guide/outfitter has agreed to pay the fee/percentage to the broker. This notice of hunters was always followed by a statement as if a hunter did book a hunt.
I don't think you need a guide in any of them lower 48 states, just Alaska.
Mainly the best use of the guide I see is that for busy people everything is ready when the hunter arrives. The guide knows the game and the country and can adapt to changes quick if the game has moved. That is hard to do by yourself if your traveling from afar with a limited amount of time. Except for bow seasons all N.M. hunts are 5 days. I don't know what Cabela's require of their hunters. Hunters connected with them have rented lodging from me to hunt in unit 21. They're here in Winston each year to hunt a private ranch.
In New Mexico they started the licensed outfitter/guide system about 10 years ago. An outfitter has to prove experience, pay G&F $500 annually, pay 3% to each USDA Forest he hunts in, insurance, plus file alot of papers defining what your going to do, how long, and where. Guides pay the G&F $50 anually and have to work under a Lic. outfitter.
So you can see who's makin the easy money, G&F and USDA. You can look up alot of stuff here:
http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/
HuntElk4Fun
Member
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2008
- Messages
- 4
Yes, correct. They specialize in providing information, getting you guide if you want one is just part of the many services they provide. Most of the member articles in the magazine are DIY hunters. I think the magazine/services are geared for all types of hunters. It's a no brainer for me.
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