I just returned from a much anticipated 3 day bow hunt in Central New York with a guide service by the name of CP's Guide Service (www.biggamehuntingny.com). The crux of this message is to never consider using this guide service while searching for trips in NY. I had the misfortune of learning the hard way.
This was not my first guided hunt in NY and I have had several decent hunts. However our group decided to change it up this year and found this guy at the Outdoors Show at the Big E last Spring. He had everything to offer, archery and gun hunting, on-site butchering, a country inn with 2000 adjoining acres and 50 stands. All this less than three hours away and for only $650. Sounded like a good deal so I checked several references who all gave the guide high marks.
Well...., that was before the guides wife took out a restraining order against him so that he lost the property and everything that came with it. That left him scrambling for lodging which turned out to be an absolute dump where we slept on stretchers. No lie.
We could have dealt with less than ideal living quarters, but what he did next was abysmal. The guide had yet to step in the woods this year and this is his full time job. His stands (which turned out to be 18 and not 50) had not been touched since last year. Most of them were not even close to where the deer had been traveling. Thank god I brought my climber to make adjustments. He didn't talk to us to see what we've been seeing, if we wanted to move, if we needed help,...etc. He didn't talk to us period! After three days, this guy still didn't even know our names!!! He basically took $650 from the six of us and just took off each day. Getting out to all of the stands was our own dilemma and several were over a half hours drive.
The weather was terrible which I can accept, that's part of hunting. There were deer in this area in good numbers too. But his lack of preparation, professionalism, his rudeness and the fact that he was not honest about his situation is what ticked off all of us. So much so, that we all abandoned the hunt on the last afternoon. The one guy who took a deer called the guide to ask for help after it crossed onto private property, he was told to just trespass and get the deer back to camp. Sorry, but isn't that the guides responsibility to help out in that situation?
Alright, enough whining. Just wanted to let people know to stay clear of this clown.
That sucks bud, hopefully whats left of the MA season works out better, and you can write a happier post. Glad you could join us!
ReplyDeleteGot to take the good out of the bad too. A good friend of mine had some good advice. He said that he wouldn't go on any charter or guided hunt unless he personally knew someone who had been before or knew the guide. Good advice to live by as you put so much energy behind the planning and anticipation of a trip.
ReplyDeletePlus, the farm country was beautiful out there and we did see a few deer. It was good to be with the guys and spend the time in the stand. Just like anywhere else.
Plenty of MA left and CT is on the agenda this week so all is not lost.