Like a lot of hunters, I am an avid fan of the Sportsman’s channel on cable TV. I will watch hours of TV when it’s a nonstop hunting bonanza. It’s easy to get caught up in the moment and begin to ooh and ah in amazement or clinch your teeth during those amazing stalks; sometimes you may catch yourself going into an unconscious stare at some of the monster whitetails that you see taken day in and day out. Most hunters dream about the opportunity to go on a guided hunt someday with a professional outfitter.  Utilizing an Outfitter may greatly enhance your opportunities to locate and harvest your own trophy buck.  After all, they are the professionals.

The Outfitters are supposed to know the deer’s habits. They know where it lives, where it eats and beds down. They should be aware of what time the deer travel by a designated stand area.  An Outfitter has put in an unlimited amount of time scouting the deer on their hunting land.  They use different techniques such as using trail camera photos and just sitting for hours in stands each day watching trails.   It requires a great deal of time to record the deer’s habits. It is this experience that we as hunters expect and rely on when evaluating a potential Outfitter for our hunt of a lifetime.

Depending on location and services provided, some of these outfitter hunts can costs several thousand dollars.  With such a hefty investment involved it is usually something that most hunters should plan several months or even a year in advance to ensure they are prepared for the commitment and costs.  As most of us know it takes planning and research to obtain the most reward for your money when choosing the proper Outfitter.

No Outfitter can guarantee you a kill.   If they do make such a statement then that should be a flag that something may not be right.  There are many variables in play in the wild of the woods.   Weather changes can affect animal behavior.  Natural occurrences such as breeding periods can change when and if deer are actually moving throughout its habitat.  While certain behaviors can be habitual and somewhat predictable, the deer is still a wild animal, and it has no script that it has to follow.

An Outfitter has no control over such natural phenomena.  Every hunter has to remember that you are not paying to kill an animal.  You are paying for the experience of having an opportunity to get a shot at a trophy deer.  You as a hunter have some control over this experience.  Asking the right questions can help you find the proper Outfitter to give you the best experiences they can in helping you conquer your quarry.

Once you have made the commitment to searching for a great Outfitter, many things come to mind.  What species do I want to hunt?   Where areas of the country do I want to hunt?   How much can I afford?  How do you find a good Outfitter? The thought of finding a good Outfitter can be overwhelming. From my own recent experience I will try to convey some thoughts, ideas, and suggestions on specific questions to ask a potential Outfitter that will give you better insights into making a good selection.  My experience as a whitetail deer hunter extends across many years; unfortunately the opportunity to harvest an older mature buck has avoided me.   My quest is to harvest a deer that is over 6 years old.  My expectation is for its antlers to measure above a 160 inch Pope and Young score. This to me would be a quality size buck and one that would be worthy of mounting and having stories told of it for years to come.  

In a search to locate an Outfitter that was going to assist me in this conquest, I knew there would be many concerns.  As any wise hunter would do, I started to make a list of possible questions that could be asked of an Outfitter to ensure the best possible outcome.   The decision to pursue a whitetail deer had been made, so now a location had to be decided upon.

I have seen all the shows on the Sportsman Channel and know there are several locations that can be chosen to spend my hard earned money.   I look out west and think about the huge mule deer in Montana or Colorado.  These deer are very nice size as their antlers seem to reach to the sky and are thick like tree trunks. I possibly could look north to the monster Saskatchewan deer in Canada.  Those bruisers are huge with antlers that might scare a mediocre hunter like me. Canada has absolutely huge deer that appear to be the size of a rhino coming through the woods. Going east up into New York or Pennsylvania may be the answer because there are some very nice record size bucks coming out of this area.  The state record here is right around 180 inches. The Midwest area of the country has been coming on strong lately too. All of the Quality Deer Management practices throughout this location have allowed some serious trophies to come of age.  Kansas has some very consistent, mature whitetails and they seem to be in every county. The choices seem endless and will require me to put some thought into this and come up with a way to chose which would be the best location for me.

So how do you pick an area?  With all these wonderful choices how do you narrow it down to one area of the country to set out on a quest to find and conquer the trophy deer that will allow you to have bragging rights around the camp fire?  Like any good Monday morning quarterback, get out a quarter and gave it a flip. This remedy of flipping a quarter can quickly reduce it from four area choices down to two.  Reviewing the last two choices decide which sides on the quarter are which, heads it’s Kansas and tails it’s Canada. Give it a high flip, of course the quarter seems to take forever.  It’s like it is floating in space.  Finally it hits the table with a clink and rests upon one flat side.  You cover it with your hand and then slowly pull it back to discover what the outcome may be... It's heads, so you are heading to Kansas for a dream hunt adventure   You have a location selected, so now you have to find a specific Outfitter than can make your dream hunt come true.  This is where the homework really begins.  I would start researching all the popular websites looking for suitable Outfitters. Seeking recommendations from other hunters, reading online reviews, and scanning the internet. There is soon a list developed of several outfitters in the vicinity of where the hunt should take place. It’s now time to get on the phone with each perspective Outfitter and ask a few questions about their specific hunting operation.  At this point it appears that some of the hard choices are complete.  You have an animal to pursue, and you have a location in which to pursue it.    As stated previously as I was going through this process, I tried to formulate a list of questions that would help me get to know an Outfitter better and to understand their commitment to working with my expectations to be successful. The following is a list of those questions and a thought behind each one of them that may assist you after you have chosen your special hunting location.

The best way to evaluate an individual is to speak with them for a few times. A person’s personality will easily enlighten you as to whether this person is someone that you would want to hang out with.  I’m looking for someone that can appear to have my best interest at heart and not just be seeking the cash in my pocket. Is the outfitter personable, cheerful, friendly, and do they come across as trustworthy. My advice to you is to listen to their words and explanations to each question.  What you hear coming from ones mouth is typically what their heart is full of.

1.  Ask about all costs and what is inclusive of those costs.  Do fees include accommodations, food, and transportation to stands, are tips necessary?  You are on a budget, so make sure you know that no extra costs will come up.

2.  What are your success rates? What are some of the scores of past hunts, ages, weights of past kills?  What are these numbers based upon?  Is it actual kills, missed chances, or maybe just seen deer?  There are no guarantees in hunting and no Outfitter should offer such a deal unless they are penning deer.

3.  What percentage of customers are repeat bookings?  Most good outfitters will be booked up early. Some fill up years in advance.   Customers will come back again and again to a good outfitter.  If there are only new customers booked, this could raise additional questions.

4.  How many hunters will be in camp with you?  What are sleeping arrangements?  Comfortable arrangements are a must and too many people in camp just add to the stress and tension. This is your hunt, and you need to be relaxed and focused.

5.  Ask the guides how much experience they have. Ask them to explain a typical day out hunting.  You should know and understand what is expected of you as much as what you expect of your guide. Get a feel for what your guides views are on a quality hunt.  Do their views match what you are looking for in a successful hunt?  Having an inexperienced guide will only cause you frustration and demean your host.

6.  Obtain a list of references of both successful and unsuccessful hunters. Call them both and get a feeling for why some were successful and some were not. Will they be returning?

7.  What is their cancellation policy? Nobody can foresee the future. Accidents happen, flight delays, bad weather, any number of things can occur that will cause you to miss your hunt. Make sure you know the outfitters cancellation policy in advance. Will you lose your deposit?  Can you rebook?  Is travel insurance available in advance?

8.  Ask questions and more questions and more questions?  It’s your hunt.  If in doubt, go ahead and ask the question so that you can ensure that everyone’s expectations are met and a successful time will be had by all.

 This is not a conclusive list  to ask Outfitters.  It is a good beginning and a way to start that dialogue between a potential outfitter and a customer.  I had conversations with several outfitters across Kansas. Some people just felt shady and some felt like I had known them for years. Some of them were contacted several times with follow up questions in an effort to see how they reacted to my repeated calls. One Outfitter stood out above the rest with their professionalism.  That was 180 Outdoors .

Matt Wonser, the owner of 180 Outdoors was a very personable guy.  He asked me as many questions as I had asked him. He wanted to ensure that if someone was coming to his camp that he wanted them to be successful and satisfied with the overall experience. He wanted each person to fit in with everyone else at the camp and have a good time.   He encouraged me to call other outfitters and even gave me a few additional questions that should be asked to ensure you gathered thorough details.

The following areas are questions that Matt added to the mix of concerns when interviewing potential outfitters. You know these were flipped right around and immediately asked of him for his input.

1)  The most important area of concern is what do you want from a hunt? Match your goals to what an outfitter already does.  It is much more enjoyable to slide into a good fit rather than trying to get someone to cater to certain needs that they do not normally accommodate.[1]

 2) Hunting pressure. How many hunters are going to be hunting their properties? Does the outfitter have a plan to control hunting pressure?[2]

 3) When checking on references for an outfitter, look into their character. Are they honest? Do they care?[3]

 4) Will you be dealing with the person that sold you the hunt or someone they hired for that week? Miscommunication causes problems in all aspects of life. Make sure that you are aware of the hunt details. and who your guides will be beforehand.[4]

The process to contact Outfitters had come full circle after conversations with about 15 potential Outfitters. Detailed recording of input from them allowed the selection process to narrow.  One particular Outfitters expectation was perfectly in line with my goals. All hunters want success in the field and my hope is no different.  Personally I want that 180 inch monster to walk out in front of me 10 yards away, but the camp experience should be as enjoyable as well since you are sharing this with other hunters that will be there also. The answers from 180 Outdoors, has ensured me that this is to be expected.

 180 Outdoors appears to be a good outfitter who wants success for you as much as you want it for yourself.  They approach each and every detail from a professional standpoint.  My reservation is for the first week of December in 2010.   This will be the first week of the rifle season in Kansas. It will be time to be alert, eager, excited and ready for anything.  My equipment is checked out and ready to go. The countdown calendar is on my windows screen. The taxidermist is on standby.  It’s almost time to say goodbye to Florida and hello to Kansas.  

I thank Matt and all the guys at 180 Outdoors  for their advice, opinions and guidance as preparations for my venture into Kansas continues.  Most importantly, thanks for their patience and understanding as I continue to ask questions each day to ensure success for everyone. It is highly recommended to call around and ask questions of all Outfitters, but before you make a choice in Kansas give Matt and his team at 180 Outdoors a call at (620)-330-7282 just so you know that you have covered all your bases. Stay tuned as for a follow up report on the outcome of this dream trip to Kansas coming soon.

Life is short and it goes by too fast. If you have been dreaming of an opportunity to do an Outfitter hunt then by all means treat yourself.   Start with this short list of questions and then let it flow from there. You can never ask too many questions and you will certainly be able to weed out the not so friendly outfitters quickly if they do get tired of your questions. We all work hard so that we can play hard. Go pick and outfitter and get outdoors now.

Matt Wonser 180 Outdoors, 2009.

*All pictures courtesy of Matt Wonser 180 Outdoors , 2009, and are from his camp in Liberty Ks

By Dave Culver

David “KraQr” Culver grew up on a small farm in Southeast Missouri which helped ingrain a passion for the outdoors and develop a foundation in his life.  He not only grew up with working experiences on a farm but was introduced to all things sporting goods as a small child.  His father owned and ran a small sporting goods store which focused primarily on firearms and repair.   At a very early age Dave gained a mutual interest in firearms and how to safely use them.   Dave enjoys talking about firearms and sharing stories of some of his personal collection.

Hunting rabbits, squirrels, coyotes, and other animals around the farm was always a teaching moment.  Hunting was a way of life and most of the time was for food rather than sport.    Dave became an avid fisherman and had plans of pursuing a professional career in tournament fishing as a teenager.   Distractions in life and other goals derailed his fishing plans but not the pursuit of a whitetail deer.   Dave started hunting whitetail deer as a teenager and continues to pursue that goal across many states and locations.   For him, It’s more about the experiences you share than the conquest of the hunt.

When not out scouring the woods, Dave works as a computer security architectural engineer and a real estate broker in the Panhandle area of Florida.   Dave is an Air Force veteran of Operation Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and many other deployments.  Dave spends his free time with his significant other, Jenell.   They recently bought a new home and as expected each had their own requirements while searching. She wanted a big kitchen and he had to have a yard big enough to practice shooting his bow.   Now they are both satisfied and she will hopefully join him in the tree stand this year.

Comments(1):

1. Great info!

   Well thought out and very informative! Thanks for the info!

   Thursday, September 09, 2010 Robert