There’s nothing worse than a bad hunting trip. Have you ever had high hopes of taking home a trophy, only to end up walking away empty-handed? That’s where the role of hunting guides come in.
Hunting guides will find game for you on your hunt, but their responsibilities don’t just end there; when you hire a hunting guide, you’re paying for the full package: ground transportation, equipment, the scheduling of your hunt, meals and with some guides, lodging . Hunting guides also make certain that you’re physically and legally protected during your hunt by informing you about the best safety practices and what the local hunting regulations are. In addition, most hunting guides have received basic first aid training and are prepared to assist in a medical emergency. They truly have all the bases covered. Hunting guides make your hunting trip more enjoyable by allowing you to take your mind off the details and just enjoy the thrill of your hunt.
Considering the points above, if hiring a guide interests you, you’re going to need to ask a few good questions to find the guide that can provide the hunting trip that you want to experience. Start off by asking the guide how long he’s been licensed and operating his guide service. Statistics show that guide businesses that have been around for several years are more reputable. Guides that treat their customers with indifference or don’t perform for their customers tend to not last for more than a couple years. In addition to being in business for a while, make sure your guide has been hunting for several years. This is important because, in general, a seasoned guide is going to make better judgments than a guide that doesn’t have the same amount of experience when a critical situation presents itself.
Be sure the hunting guides you’re interviewing are skilled in locating the specific species you want. There would be no sense in hiring a guide that specializes in hunting pheasant for your elk hunt. If you’re pursuing big game, you’ll want to know the size of the animals on their property; ask if they have current trail cam pics. Don’t hesitate to request references; experienced hunting guides should have a reference for you to contact or a written testimonial for you to look at. Sometimes included with the written testimonial, is a picture of the customer’s trophy. Also take into account the guide’s knowledge of the location that you will be hunting. You want to be certain that your guide will be comfortable on that particular location. Hunting guides accustomed with the locale are probably going to know the best spots for the particular game that you want to hunt.
The success ratio of your guide is perhaps the most important quality in your search for a guide. Ask how successful (or unsuccessful) he has been at finding the species you want to hunt. Some of this information you can discover on your own by reading online reviews, but you may want to verify what you’ve read from the guide himself. Of course, the fee the guide charges will determine whether or not you can afford to book the trip. Though, in and of itself, the price shouldn’t dictate whether you choose a specific guide; you’ll want to choose the guide that you think you will deliver the best total value for your money. Lastly, find out if he has a maximum group size per outing. The less hunters on the ground, the more individual attention you will get.
Considering all that hunting guides do to ensure you have a betting hunting experience, they can be well worth the cost. They take the guesswork out of planning the trip, share their knowledge with you, and they can teach you to become a better hunter. Your guide may also furnish some of the equipment and gear on your trip, so you can save a bit of cash just from that. If you do your homework and choose your hunting guides carefully, you can truly have the best hunting trip of your life.