Bowsite.com

I booked this hunt after being recommended by Bowhunting Safari Consultants Jay Osting. He had previously sent several people there, including some family members. I had a GREAT hunt. I was trying for the second leg of the "Turkey Slam", and accomplished the task. The first evening I whacked a 22# turkey at about 20 yards. I would have gotten two, but my bow broke and that buggered up the rest of my hunt.

Dana is a fine guide. He has been at this for over 20 years and knows his stuff. During the time I was with him I saw over 50 birds, about half of them toms. The only reason I didn't get my full limit was my bow breaking. I still had some time left so Dana spent the last day taking me up to Mt. Rushmore and over to Sturgis, a drive of several hundred miles, rather than just letting me sit in the cabin. I paid for the gas and bought lunch, but he went waaaaay out of his way to see that I didn't just sit for a day.

As far as the other review goes, Dana told me his side of the story while I was there. He was quite troubled that the hunt went so poorly. Now, I was not a witness to that hunt, but I believe it is fair to say that there are two sides to the story.

My assessment is that it was a poor match between the hunters and the guide. Personalities probably played a part in the conflicts that they had. But the crowing event was the last day that they hunted.

Dana had been having them go into some blinds, where they both-a husband and wife team- passed on several shootable bucks. They were tired of sitting in blinds and pushed to go spot and stalk. Dana brought them up to a group of Mulies who were bedded and unaware of their presence. The shot was suppose to be about 50 yards and both people said they could shoot that far. The wife drew first and then "bleated" at the mulies to get them to stand. It the confusion of them going on alert after she did that, she missed. The husband gut shot a 180's class mulie, that got off. They were reluctant to do the tracking so Dana went looking for the deer unil dark. The next morning he tried to get them to go out with him to look for the deer, but they said no, and they wanted their money back. Dana refused to refund their money especially since the husband had shot a deer. Dana went out looking for the deer and when he got back they were gone.

Dana has a policy that if you draw blood that's your critter. Harsh words were probably exchanged and the whole thing has gotten to be a sore spot both for the hunters and the guide.

The reason I bring this up is that I feel that it is important to present more than one side of a conflict so future clients can decide. Knowing what I know now, from reading the review and talking with Dana, I would not hesitate for a moment to book with him for deer, turkey, antelope or elk. I would highly recommend him