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I have known Jim and Deb Schell since 1991. They were kind enough to donate an antelope hunt to the first fundraising banquet of our Rochester, NY Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation chapter. As luck would have it, I won that hunt and had a wonderful trip for both antelope and mule deer. Following that trip I hunted with Jim's team several more times for archery elk and whitetails. We also took a wonderful family summer pack trip with the Schell's, enjoying 5 days in the mountains with Jim, Deb and their fine sons. My kids still rate that one of their best vacations ever.

Having hunted in many states and abroad, with a variety of outfitters, I can state with no reservations that Jim and Deb run a top notch operation. You can pay more, and you may find bigger antlers somewhere else, but all things considered Rough Country Outfitters is very hard to beat. Jim is fussy about the lands that he leases for his clients, choosing the best properties available and working closely with landowners for trophy management.

A great hunt has many components and the Schells pay attention to all considerations. Their camps are clean and well maintained, you'll be warm, safe and very well fed (Deb is a fine cook). The guides I have met were all experienced as hunters and guides, and coached very carefully by Jim to work hard at giving clients the best possible experience. I've also hunted with Jim, and no one will work harder for you or set higher standards for ethical hunting. Jim's patient with his guests but also a straight shooter, and if he doesn't agree with you, he'll tell you. I have learned a great deal from Jim in the field and in camp; he's just a top notch guy to be around and I am glad to call him a good friend.

I've hunted whitetails 3 times with Jim in the Black Hills region near Hewlett, WY (close by scenic Devil's Tower). The number and quality of bucks has to be seen to be believed - on my first trip, we averaged 40 bucks per day sighted. On all three trips I have personally seen at least one buck in the 140+ B&C class, and on my last trip spotted a very rare double drop tine buck that would grace any trophy room.

On my last hunt there, I was hunting with a pal who had never taken a big whitetail buck. We booked the last hunt in November hoping to see the big boys chasing the last hot does. Sure enough, Jim rattled and called in a super 4x4 buck who probably measured 145 B&C points. The buck was 40 yards from me, head on, in heavy cover. I chose not to shoot, hoping my friend would get the shot, and of course the buck made me regret that by sneaking away. Later on this trip, I saw the double drop tine buck mentioned above - he ran by me at about 200 yards, but I passed on the shot, not wanting to wound such a trophy. My friend shot a 125 B&C class 4x4 buck on our last day. So while we only had a 50% kill for our party, I would rate it a wonderful hunt.

I noticed a negative review on this site by a disappointed archery elk hunter, and read Jim's response. Trying to take a trophy bull elk with a bow in big country is no small challenge, and no matter how good the country, the guides and the hunter sometimes things don't work out. I hunted elk 1 on 1 with Jim on national forest, from a tent camp, with horses. We hunted hard and on the 4th evening, Jim called in a 330 class 6x6 bull, made far more difficult by the presence of a cow and calf in our little basin. It took about 20 minutes to pull that bull in close enough for my shot, and Jim did a fine job calling despite interference from the inquisitive calf and cow. I took the shot, at the last minute held too high, and hit the bull in the shoulder blade. We searched long hours for that bull then and again the next morning despite our knowledge that the arrow had not penetrated any vitals. We finally found the mangled arrow and no bull. I was heartsick, as was Jim, and my hunt was over by Jim's rules, fair enough. But any fault with that result was mine, not Jim's.

Rough Country Outfitters is worth serious consideration for your hunting dollars, and I have great respect for the Schells. If you get to Wyoming in good physical condition, you have the right gear and know how to use it, you'll have a great hunt and almost certainly have a good chance at a representative trophy. Whether you put your tag on an animal or not, you're sure to have great memories of your trip.