Ok, so my friend and I book a hunt for a 2 on 1 guide. We arrive at camp a day early to get ready for our hunt. Saturday as we prepare to be packed in we are told that our guide, who wasnt at camp, had an emergency and should be in our camp sometime during the first day. Now we had 3 hunters in camp with one guide. Which that hunter went with, which left my buddy and I doing our own thing. Second day comes and goes and still we are hunting on our own. It wasn't until the 4th day that we had a guide since the other hunter tagged out. What would you do in that situation, we have a signed contract that states a 2 on 1 guided hunt for 6 days
Depends on so much more than what info is given. How did the hunt turn out? What was the emergency, was it legitimate? Were you on animals? Id express displeasure in the guides absence but at the same time realize they are human like us too. A reputable outfit will come to a deal of some sort with you, a subpar outfit will leave you out to dry, but if you did your hw in the beginning that shouldn't be a problem.
That's an easy one, Rob... 3/6 days with a guide = 3/6 of the guide's pay. It's that simple. If you were able to keep your temper in check, you're a better man than me! This isn't a head boat on the lake, we're talkin'. It's not every day, someone from PA gets to go after monster bulls in NM.
I would be having a chat with the outfitter. You signed a contract that he or she provided stating that your were to have a guide. He should have got another guide for you or taken you guys out himself. I would be talking to the owner rather soon.
I'd be wanting another hunt if it didn't turn out alright. You didn't get the hunt you paid for. You paid for a guide, you should've had a guide. You could have gone and hunted elsewhere on public ground for free and done the same thing.
We were not told what the emergency was nor were we talked to in any great discussion prior to our hunt. Heck we were in camp early too. Matter of fact I had to bring it up once we got back. I had a discussion with the owners about my dissatisfaction but they never said a word to my friend. I personally thought they would of after I told them. My dissatisfaction comes from the fact they never pulled us aside to explain their situation prior to our hunt. Nor did they acknowledge to my friend and I that we didn't get what we paid for. Nor did they offer any type.of refund or credit. Like I said, I had to bring up the subject....
Did you pay in full before the hunt? That's BS ..I would be chewing someone's ear off ...they broke contract...
They would lose in small claims court .... but you would prolly have to go up there ..... what a crappy situation.... can I have the name of the place so I never go up there?
Sounds like a shady operation to not keep you in the loop when something was going on keeping you from your hunt. Definitely need to come to terms with the outfitter over this. If they care about their business at all, they will make it right.
I definitely think they should be doing something to help "make it right". I understand stuff happens, but they need to step up there. Hope it works out for you
I would give it some thought and see what you would like done to make it right... Then approach the outfitter (trying to be as positive as possible). With anything in life, it always seems better to have an idea of what you want someone to do about a problem than to just complain and hope they actually do something.... Like the idea of 1/2 the hunt was guided - so at a minimum you should be within your rights to ask for a 50% refund... OR if you believe their story, maybe you want to shoot for going out there next year at NO outfitter cost - even if you have to buy a LO tag, may still be a decent deal...
I believe its best to take a few days to.think about it and try to leave the emotions out. Complain, never a good idea but to say i didnt get what was promised is true. Personally I would, as an outfitter, I would of explained the situation at the front, not let my hunter approach me at the end of the hunt, which is what happened.
Not only did you not get what you paid for, you got a lesser hunt on a rare tag, they can never make that up to you. Follow up and to see if they're willing to make amends, which doesn't sound likely seeing as how they weren't even apologetic. If they don't come through get the word out to prevent others from having similar experiences and take further legal actions if necessary. At the least the state management agency (DNR) and/or guides association should be informed as well. They're doing harm to the reputation of the whole guide institution and to the state in general.
Rob, I'd ask them if they were willing to put me on a hunt for FREE next year, or if they intend on refunding my money for this year's hunt. His response would be the determining factor on whether he'd have good or bad reviews by me. If there's an "outfitters' association" in NM like in Colorado, you could take it up with them as well.... Just my thoughts though.
That is a very good point and something I thought. Not only did I loose out on the a lesser hunt.....I told them I had higher expecations from them and that they set them, not me...based on what I was told. Time will tell what will come of this, however I was told by them that good news spreads just as fast as bad news.....
