Bowsite.com

Hunter Comments

Before booking this hunt in January the owner (Jeff) told us that he only takes 6 hunters max for the week. There were 14 hunters with Hickory Creek our week. He led us to believe that we would be staying in his lodge pictured on his website. When we arrived we were taken to cabins 10 miles away. (Returning hunters and their friends stayed in the nice lodge with big tv and nice sitting area.)Our cabins were poor compared to the lodge advertised.(No tv or chairs.) Dinner consisted of home cooked meals that were pretty good. Breakfast was cereal/muffins. Lunch was sliced ham everyday. Our guide(Jordan) tried hard to put us on a good deer and even put up a ladder stand for me on 30 minutes notice. But he had 4 guys to get in and out of woods and was late 45 minutes several times. He was also not truthful with us.He took us to a 160acre ranch 30 minutes away on the 4th morning. He made a point to tell us that this ranch had not been hunted yet. But when we found a fresh blood trail, he then told us about a friend of the owners that shot a 145" nine pointer TWO days before.And he showed us a pic on his phone 5 hours after saying this piece had not been hunted. Strands were in good locations and consisted of loc ons and ladders stands. Ladder stands were small but set well. Loc ons were older, had poor seats, some creaked and most were not level. Steps usually ended below platform making access difficult and dangerous. Quantity of deer was good. The two of us saw 74 bucks and almost as many does. But most bucks were small.We each saw one shooter about 140". I had one really good day where I saw 10 bucks and the one shooter. From previous review on here Hickory Creek had 40+ bowhunters for the three weeks before Thanksgiving.Only 3 bucks were taken and only 2 of those met the 135" minimium. Weather was perfect. mid 20's in mornings with very light winds.Bucks were cruising and some chasing hard, but very limited mature buck sightings. Jeff became difficult to reach and did not respond at all to emails in Sept/Oct. I have been on a bunch of outfitted hunts and fully understand that there are no guarantees, but I would not recomned this outfitter based on his dishonesty and the low # of mature buck sightings from everyone in camp. Anyone may email me for more details.

Was the outfitter notified of problems? - YES

Outfitter's Response

Wow Rick it was nice meeting you too!!! First off my website clearly states 6 hunters PER camp. And there is always room for more as long as the group booking that lodge is alright with it. The lodges are booked on a first come first served basis, and a returning group booked the main lodge before they left in November, way before you booked in January. The lodge you were in was being renovated when you booked and could not be pictured accurately on the website. Jordan was not aware of any previous activity on the 160 ac farm when it was describe to you and your father-in-Law. And we he told me about the blood trial you came across he was told a “Paying Customer” had killed a buck there two days earlier. I think the lack of accurate information on Jordan’s part rather than dishonesty better describes the situation. Thanks Rick, for stating my “Hunter & Kill stats”, but you will here for only Six days you have no idea what you are talking about. You also forget to mention that the six hunters in camp, saw a total of 153 bucks and 109 does. With other’s seeing multiple shooters (140”) or better. The other two hunters you came with had a great time and left a deposit check for 2013 for (4 hunters) not including you of course!!! And the two other hunters also rebooked for next season. So, don’t appoint yourself a spokesman for everyone in camp that week. I agree that during the season I can get very busy with the hunters in camp and lose track of emails. I try to give the hunters in camp my undivided attention and sitting in front of a computer fielding emails about (How’s it looking, what’s been killed) would not be doing that. Between Turkey, Deer, Predator, Ducks & Quail I have 200 plus hunter’s come through my camps and with your poor review it just proves the old adage that you can’t please everyone.