I got back from Montana yesterday afternoon. It was a great week and the hunting was pretty good but we had some MAJOR issues. If I included all the details this would be 10 pages so I will try to just hit the high points. We paid for a 2X1 guided hunt (a first for both my father and I). The first evening there were 2 guides in camp so we each went out with one. I went with the head guide who would not be in camp the rest of the week. He gets to hunt the ranch two weeks after us (this is important later). We went to a nice park surrounded by timber (thick pines) and called. I wanted to sit on this one corner and he wanted/made me go somewhere else. A 5X5 and a cow walked about 10-20 yards from where I wanted to sit and about 80 from where I was. Before dark we began the long walk back to the 4wheelers and on the way ran into a small group of cows... and the biggest bull I have ever seen in my life. I kid you not, the guide said that he would go a bare minimum of 380 and probably 390+. 6X7, as wide as a great caribou, and tines you would measure in feet not inches! His body was about twice as big as the cows, no joke. Anyway, we crawl to 47 yards and he was open and broadside but the wind was blowing hard and so I passed. Then after some time he got to 45 yards again, in the open, standing still, broadside, and the wind had calmed to a breeze. I drew my bow, began to settle my pin, and the guide wouldn't let me shoot. Bow still drawn I ask why, he says too far, I say it is 45 yards, he says tree in the way, I say he is in the open, he says "Oh", I look back to shoot and the bull began to turn away and I only had an ass shot. At the time, I gave him the benefit of the doubt, but on the 4wheeler ride back to camp I began to get upset. There was no reason to not shoot that bull. I will make that shot 95% of the time or better. I couldn't understand why he stopped me and I began to wonder if he just wanted to hunt the bull himself in a couple of weeks. Again, I gave him the benefit of the doubt. As the week went on I learned a lot from the other guide however. First, according to the head guide, we were not "allowed" to hunt the timber. You know, that place where all the elk are. We did anyway eventually. We were "supposed" to just glass in the mornings and then go after them in the evening thus wasting half of our hunt. We finally determined that this guy did not want any of "his" elk disturbed and if it meant the clients got nothing, then too bad. Had we not hunted the timber we would have gotten into no more elk than I did the first night. We also learned that no one on that ranch had ever killed bigger than around 300" and yet that head guide has killed 350"-370" the last 3 years running. A couple years ago, he made another guy pass a 35 yards shot at a 360" bull because they needed to "pull out because the wind is going to swirl and he will bust us". So anyway, in the end I had what was quite literally the opportunity of a lifetime and it was taken away from me. Had I known then what I know now I would have just shot him, but this being my first guided hunt I was stupid and listened to him instead of myself. This bull will haunt my dreams for eternity. I just can't get over that I could have and should have killed him. I don't know what to do. I can't even get myself to give a rotten rat's ass about deer hunting anymore. All I can think about is that damn bull. There is some good news though. The guide we had the rest of the week was a great guy and we had some close encounters with other really good bulls but nothing materialized into a shot. His family owns a ranch in MT and he invited us to go deer hunting with him there any time we want and can draw a tag. He also gave us a bunch of info on some great public areas that we plan on hunting in the future. My dad and I had a great time together, learned a lot, and plan to be back in MT, but I have to say that the first evening's events kind of overshadow a lot for us.
Yikes, I understand your frustration Jim. I too think he was saving It all for himself. 45 yards Is a long poke though but I'm sure that has nothing to do with what he told you. What an a-hole! A 390" bull Is a monster, I've seen one that I believe would of went 400" (7x7). I had mine at 15 yards, another hunter screwed It up!:evil: I believe I will never see another like It, I understand your frustration all to well. Where In Montana were you If you don't mind me asking? Montana Is where I do my elk hunting at. PM me If you want to Instead.
Jim, that flat out sucks man. Dont know what else to say about that dufas, sounds like he needs a mud hole stomped in him.
Sorry to hear that you had such a bad experience with teh first guide. That really sucks and it does sound like he is trying to keep all the large bulls for himself. Hope your next trip is better.
We were about 60 miles from Helena on a private ranch that borders the Bob Marsh or Bob Marshal or something like that public hunting grounds. Is that where you go? To be honest, I would be as upset if the thing had been a 5X5. Ok, well close to as upset. The point is it is my hunt, my money, my chance. 45 yards is a long shot, but I am more than comfortable taking that shot at an elk. I have been practicing my butt of these past few months and I am literally drilling arrows at 50 yards day in and day out. Just a bad situation and just as bad was that they tried to keep us from hunting elk like they need to be hunted to have any realistic chance of being successful. This was a huge trip for us. I can't afford to do it again. I hoped and prayed that this would be a chance for my father to take a top notch bull, and he didn't even get to draw his bow. That is truly the worst part for me. I don't know how much longer he can hunt elk just b/c he is getting older and his knees are getting bad. Oh well. Big disappointment on a lot of levels.
Sorry your hunt didnt go so well!!! Whats the name of this outfitter??? Id burn him to the ground at every chance!!!!
Man that stinks!!! Did you talk to the outfitter about this??? Maybe he should be made aware of this!!Walt
I really do feel for ya Jim! I like the passion you have for your dad when It comes to hunting, you and I are allot the same on that level. I hunt In 2 different spots In Montana. The one spot Is In Livingston, mountain country. The other Is In Fort Peck, big rolling hill country with elk everywhere but also people every where. That's where I seen the potential 400" bull I was talking about In my other post. Let me know If you would be interested In going back out to Montana In the future. The Fort Peck area would be allot easier on your dad out there. We could try our best to set him up. Maybe I could even get my old man back out there. My dad use to elk hunt every year In Colorado back In the day.
Fort Peck? That is amazing. That is where the nice guide was from and invited us to his family's ranch to hunt whitetail and mule deer. I do hope to get out there some time, but it may be a couple of years since I blew my reserves on this puppy.
Jim, Really sorry to hear of your trip. That is some messed up stuff, there is WAY too much involved in killing an elk to have the one person you are supposed to rely on turn & stab you in the back.
I am reluctant to mention the outfitter or guide by name yet. I would like to contact the outfitter first, let him know what happened, and give him a chance to try to resolve the issue before I dedicate my life to destroying him. What was done cannot be undone, but I can't blame the outfitter quite yet for the actions of the guide. I am just waiting until I calm down a little before I contact him and end up acting like a fool over the phone.
Exactly! That is why I am going to file a complaint against him with the Fish and Game Department since he is a licensed guide.
Well if they dont do you right BURN'EM!!!!! And I would tell him just that. Let him know you have a Army behind you and we will put the smack down on his so called service!!! That guide is a Freakin TOOL!!!!!!
Jim, 45 yards on a big bull, broadside isnt any tougher of a shot than 35 on a whitetail imo.. That guy flat out didnt want you to kill that big bull. This topic still burns me up especially when I know how hard a guy has to work sometimes to get a shot on a bull not to mention you paid this guy! Its tough here for me anyways in the brushy habitat I hunt. They just dont walk out in the open at bow range very often, let alone a 390 giant.
I am sorry, but when a hunter pulls his bow back to shoot, a paid guide better shut the hell up. Jim was paying for the guide to get him in position to shoot an Elk. It is Jim job to judge if it is a good shot or not. Jim it would have been a long night for me, and that so called guide!!!
Sorry to hear about the rough deal Jim. Steve, what part around Livingston? I spent a lot of time just north of there in Wilsall flyfishing. Awesome area!
I 100% agree Troy. And you should have seen the body size of this beast. We had a McKenzie elk in camp and I swear he was at least 50% bigger than that "lifesize" elk. If I would have missed it would have missed a VW bug!
huntingson, I applude you for waiting and wanting to talk to the outfitter with a calm head. I am going to bet he didn't know that was happening,But that should be one of the first quetions asked while checking out and outfitter weather deer or anything because you hear that very thing alot!! Walt
