Bowsite.com

The biggest issue was the deception on the size of elk we were going to be hunting. My dad spoke to Epic outdoors and was told they have bulls 330-340 average up to 370, which Josh Horrocks confirmed on our first call. He told me numerous times that he had huge elk and that they get better every year. I specifically asked why his website states 285-340 with average 320 and he said it was old and he has much bigger bulls now. His exact words were “the best elk hunting of your life”. He also told me on the drive up that he had a “couple of 350+ bulls lined up for us”. Imagine my surprise when he decided to have a conversation with his team one night within earshot and I hear him say to his guides that they haven’t seen any 350 bulls ALL YEAR. I heard him talk about how worried he was that there weren’t any big elk or mule deer on the property and that he needed to “pull something out of a hat.” I could easily tell the same thing after seeing the same bulls everyday and nothing over 320. I don’t expect to show up to a place and just shoot a 350+, but for that amount of money you should at least see something decent.

For $21,000 you expect big elk. Not the small bulls we saw all week (260s-310s). In my opinion they have killed off all the mature bulls and he is still charging premium dollars for something that’s not there. When asking around I found that he books 16 gun hunters and 3-4 bow hunters every fall. Gun hunters all have around 100% success (but small) and bow hunters about 30%.

For that amount of money you also expect some basic amenities. I don’t expect to be fed expired food and leftovers for $21,000 (which I was) There are a host of other things I could nitpick over, but overall this was the most disappointing hunt my Dad or I have ever been on.

Was the outfitter notified of problems? - YES