Every year, thousands of hunters strategically plan hunts throughout North America with an outfitter. Whether you drew a tag-of-a-lifetime, you’re planning your first hunt out west, or you’re looking at areas where you are required by law to be accompanied by a guide, hiring an outfitter is a big decision and investment. There are a lot of benefits when it comes down to it, ranging from time and knowledge to ability, safety, access, and more, but it all comes at a cost. That is why I want to share the top reasons I would recommend hiring an outfitter.
PLANNING
Planning a hunt can be very overwhelming and can take away from the experience of the hunt. There’s a good chance that the tag you have in your hand is in an area you have never set foot in before. Logistics alone can be a big enough headache and can make it frustrating to know where to even start when planning a hunt you are unfamiliar with. On most new hunts, I discover that there is a lot of gear that is required which can eat up a budget quickly. Top that off with meals, lodging, and other unknowns and pretty soon you have added up enough cost that hiring a guide would have been the cheaper route and would have been a less stressful process.
TIME AND MONEY
These are the two biggest factors hunters consider before making a decision about going on a guided hunt. If you have limited time and are looking at a new area, it might be a good investment to hire a guide who is familiar with the area. This could really increase your success when on a time crunch. If you are in the position where you have a lot of time that allows you to be away from your job and other day-to-day obligations, you might consider saving your money and putting more time into your hunt by preseason scouting and staying for the duration of the season. For the vast majority of hunters who do not have the ability to take weeks of vacation to go on a hunt, hiring a guide might be the difference between a successful hunt or going home with memories and a tag in your pocket. Paying someone for their expertise can be a great investment depending on what you are looking to get out of the hunt.
KNOWLEDGE OF THE AREA
When you book a hunt with an outfitter, you are not only getting a guide, meals, and lodging, but you are also buying their knowledge of the area. It takes a long time to figure out hunting spots and the pattern of the animals, so hiring someone who has years of knowledge can be a huge aid in your success. A good guide should know the animal habits like bedding and feeding areas or where they water along with the pockets they get pushed to when they are pressured. This type of information isn’t something you can just buy online. It is learned over time with boots on the ground in the field.
ACCESS
Hiring a guide can also come with the benefits of access to private land or getting you away from the crowds on a public land hunt. There are a lot of outfitters across the West that have great private land leases that are a hunter’s paradise. A well- managed private land hunt is hard to beat in terms of a quality experience. Private land that doesn’t get a ton of pressure can be a very special experience. This is also why you tend to pay a premium for these types of hunts. On the other hand, hiring an outfitter that has horses or mules that can get you access into less pressured areas can also be a big asset. There are a lot of areas around the country that are difficult to access by foot. Hiring a guide for their "horsepower" can be worth its weight in gold, especially once you get an animal on the ground. Stock is also a big benefit to the hunters who are not as mobile on foot or have restrictions when it comes to hiking. Though a horse can relieve you of a lot of hiking, be prepared to get saddle sore if you are spending more than a couple hours in the stirrup.
SKILLS AND FRIENDSHIP
If you foresee yourself being someone who wants to hunt more often on your own but you are not sure where to start, hiring a guide might be a good initial investment as it could cut back on learning the basics of what it takes to be successful on a hunt. Depending on the hunt, you can learn and pick up on a variety of skills, such as calling, glassing, camp prep, and even packing with horses or mules. Along with the knowledge you can gain from a guide, there’s a good chance you are going to make lifelong friends with your guide or other clients in camp. Having guided for several years myself, I can tell you from firsthand experience that some of my closest friends and hunting partners were people I met in camp. There is a lot you can digest from spending a week in the woods with people who are more seasoned than you.
There are a handful of benefits to hiring a guide for a future hunt. I know the price of certain hunts can very unappealing, but I believe there are guided hunts available for just about anyone in every price range. Take time to prioritize what is most important to you going into a hunt and consider all options before making a final decision. Whether you already have an outfitter in mind or you are just starting the vetting process, we would love to help you answer any questions or help you book your next dream hunt!
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