Mathews Inc.

Ironbound Outfitters

Newfoundland
Website Address posted for sponsors only
Hunter: Ed Stiles
North Carolina
archery hunter
Ratings to date: 1
Average Rating 1.0
Hunter Comments
I do not recommend this outfitter

This hunt was a lifetime archery hunt for moose which my brother and I had planned over a five year period. We booked our archery hunt with Mark Pike over two years ago. We specifically requested an experienced archery guide and he assured us that would be the case. Upon arrival in camp, via helicopter, we were met by our guide, Gerry, whose first comment was "where are your guns?" I informed him we were bow hunting only and he replied "they have sent me not one bow hunter, but two!" He then asked how what our range was with a bow. When I advised him we need to be within fifty yards, he replied "there is no way I can get you within fifty yards of a bull moose." We then asked if there were bow targets in camp to make sure our bows had survived the flight. He replied there were no bow targets and never had been one in that camp. He suggested we test our bows by shooting arrows into the marsh area above camp. At this point we were acutely aware that we had a guide who knew nothing about archery. Gerry guided us as he would rifle hunters. In the four days we hunted we saw one small bull moose out of archery range which was not a shooter. We saw several bulls in the three to four mile range that Gerry advised were too far to go after. After the hunt we were driven back to Deer Lake by Mark's dad, Dave (who was a decent guy). I related my concerns to him as to why we were in a camp for gun hunters when we had specifically booked a bow hunt. He advised that he could not answer that question, but he knew there were three other camps better suited for bow hunters. He suggested that I take this up with Mark, who I have yet to meet. He said he would advise Mark of our concerns. I finally received a text from Mark that the guide should not have made the comments that we did not have a chance to kill a bull moose. He advised that I should have let him know while I was in camp of my concerns and he would have moved us. My reply was that he should have put us in the right camp to begin with. He offered to let us come back again next year and put us with a different guide.....at full price! I can only assume that Mark forgot that we were bow hunters or the outfitter just does not know how to bow hunt.

Was the outfitter notified of problems? - YES

Outfitter's Response

None to date. If you are the outfitter please email us.

Hunt Information
Date of Hunt - September 2019
Implement - Compound Bow
Hunt Type - Guided
Personal Guide - Gerry
Number in Camp - 4
Weather Information
Did Weather Affect your Hunt? No - Weather not a factor
Weather Comments:
No weather comments submitted
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