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Hunter Comments

This report is based on one of the worst guided hunts I have ever been on. The report is not based on success or non success. I have been on over 15 big game hunts across North America and have never experienced anything like what happen on this hunt. The 22 year old guide we were given had never guided in this area before, he got lost the first day [no hunting just hiking], that PM the other guide brought out a map to show him. The 2nd day I hunted a tree stand for 1 hour before I was told we were moving camp [lost day of hunting]. 3rd morning I ask if the owner Trent would come by, I was told he was hunting and would not be by. That day I was placed in a tree stand late, he then proceeded to circle the stand throughout the day 200 yds away with my hunting partner. I was told to get out hour an before sunset [prime time]. 4th day we had our 1st set up and the 1st time I had seen game, we hunted for an hour then went on top of a ridge I ask for other set ups and was told “NO” he text and slept the rest of the day. In the evening my hunting partner was hunting a tree stand and stuck a cow he heard her crash less then 100 yds. away . When me and the guide arrived 45 min later we followed a very heavy blood trail for 60 yds. [starting to get dark] were told we are stopping for tonight. My partner said he heard her crash just a little ways further but he refused to go any further. We stopped with 2 spots of 3 ft diameter bubby blood we insisted to cont. due to warm temp. but was told NO. The next day the elk was found 30 yds from where we stopped. The meat was taken into the packers where it was thrown away due to spoilage, from warm over night temps. My last day consisted of walking up to the ridge where the guide text again and slept, we left 2 hours before sunset. As soon as I got home I wrote a letter to Trent. He responded 2 weeks later and his very first words out of his mouth was [There’s nothing I am going to do]. There is so much more, I could literally write a book, everything from the guide not having the right hunting cloths, scared of the dark and bears, to passing out on the sight of blood, to sleeping all day and texting. There was 3 of us in camp and all can attest to what happen. Mark Houba

Was the outfitter notified of problems? - YES

Outfitter's Response

This report is a case of non-communication. When I spoke with Mark the first words out of my mouth were "I'm not going to do anything... until I talk to my guides and packer that were there.” as there are always two sides to any story. I was not in camp and did not know what happened. The guide was young, but has pleased many other clients, and the week after this incident pleased one of our oldest bowhunters and clients. After speaking to my guides and packer who were in camp they told me that they had asked Mark every night if everything was ok and he said yes.... so it seems to me that Mark should have spoken up if there was a problem, and he should have done it then, not afterwards. The guides could have easily came to my camp and I could have traded out myself as a guide or another guide if there was a conflict with the guide in question, but we are human and are not mind-readers. Bottom line, he should have said something THEN when something could have been done about his complaints.

We spoke to the other client that was in camp (the third hunter) and he told us that Mark complained to him everyday about his guide and made it uncomfortable for him... so why didn't you voice your problems to the guys who could do something about it, Mark?

My guides said that the other hunter that was hunting with Mark agreed that they should get of the blood trail of the cow and my guides told me it was a mutual decision to stop. The cow may have been 30 yards away from where they stopped for the night, but they didn't know that and were afraid of pushing her, anyone who has hunted elk knows how tough they are and the last thing you want to do is push one.

My packer told me that Mark and the gentleman hunting with him both said they would like to come back before they left camp, also Mark missed a shot at a bull. This all lead me to believe that Mark's complaints could have been unwarranted. We try to please all of our hunters, but you cannot please everyone. We have many happy clients and a great track record. I recommend that hunters be honest with their guides and others in camp and flat out tell them if they don't like them and how they hunt, do it WHEN the problem occurs, not after the fact. From what Mark says he didn't like his guide from the very first morning, he should have said so and the problems could have been alleviated and something could have been done about it.