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Hunter Comments

Chris Peterson passed off the guiding to Ryan Pederson, as Chris didn't show up until the end of the second day. Ryan did an acceptable job but both he and Chris left after the morning of the third day. Both Ryan and Chris stated that we would have to stay in our current blinds all day--this was unacceptable as we weren't seeing any antelope. Then they both left town, leaving 3 of us alone. Fortunately the rancher was there and helped us getting to and from our blinds. After two days of not seeing anything from our blinds, the rancher felt sorry for us and put us in other blinds the last day, where we did finally see some game. Chris (the main guide) and Ryan (assistant) left us half way through the hunt.This is not how it was described to me when I booked the hunt with Chris. Unacceptable!

Was the outfitter notified of problems? - NO

Outfitter's Response

The weather in north western South Dakota has been very wet this year. They haven't seen this much rain in 20 years. Yes the hunting was tough and the antelope were not coming into the water holes. We were having to hunt the fence crossings and alfalfa fields, not to mention the antelope were scattered all over because of green grass everywhere. I was attending a wedding in CA at the time so Ryan helped the hunt. This was an unguided hunt in the first place, the rancher shoes the hunters the different blinds set up and it is the hunters responsibility to hunt and come and go as they want. I find the statement that Mr. Dawson did not see any antelope in 2 day's is what we call Lying. He may have not had any in bow range but he did see antelope!. Mr. Dawson also harvested on of the nicest antelope on the ranch, this coming from the rancher himself. Ryan and I visited about this hunt and Ryan remembers helping one of the Dawson brothers look for arrows. I (Chris Peterson) knowing it was going to be a tough year to hunt in August decided to make sure Ryan and I were there to help as much as we could. August of 2007 I was at the ranch to set up blinds and get things ready and the hunters had 100% opportunity and 80% kill. This year hunters still had 95% opportunity with 40% kill. September 14, 2008 (yesterday) the antelope began there rut and my hunters harvested a 12 and 13 inch buck and today harvested a 11 and 14 inch.