TXhighrack

I go on atleast one guided deer hunt each year. Even though I live in this area, own a ranch, and get to hunt thousands of acres for free, I still book a hunt in this area each year. I dont care if I'm not the one who set up the deer stand or the fact that I didnt "scout" the buck. Getting the chance to step foot on some of these ranches, sitting around a campfire with 12 other guys that you've never meet before talking about hunting, being able to stay in a awesome lodge/ranch house, and getting to see deer that you've never seen before, this is worth the price of admission for me, getting a buck is just extra.

Personally I would never hunt public land for whitetails. For elk and maybe even muledeer I would, but not whitetails.

TXhighrack

I have a question for all of you.

Why do people have such a problem with guys paying to hunt whitetails? I pay anywhere from $3,000-$6,000 a year on a whitetail hunt. Some of you guys probably think that I'm not a "Real Hunter" and/or that I paid to kill "livestock" etc. But if I said I paid $3,000-$6,000 each year on an elk hunt or a mountain goat hunt, you guys wouldnt have a problem with that?

It seems like there is a double standard when it comes to paid hunts. Its alright to hire an elk guide, and its alright to pay $15,000 for a dahl sheep hunt. But if you pay a couple thousand to hunt whitetails or if you hire a guide, then you did something wrong and your not a "true hunter". Why is this?

Personally I dont care if somebody pays $50,000 to kill a whitetail buck, it dosent bother me at all. Just like I dont care if somebody pays $150,000 to kill a bighorn sheep. Somebody wants to hunt on public land and is happy to see a spike then more power to them, but if I or somebody else wants to spend our money to hunt whitetails then that is our bussiness and we shouldnt have to defend our decision.

martin.8

There are different stages throughout our lives that control how much time we can put into hunting. With family, children, money, and work issues there is little time for scouting and actually hunting. A guided hunt may be the best choice depending on our circumstances individually.
In my case all hunts are good- but when I do everything myself it is the most rewarding which makes a great memorable hunt. * I am lucky to have lots of time off.

Straightarrow

There must be a million different types of hunts, all ranging from very easy to very difficult. The fact that there's a guide doesn't automatically make it easy.

They all have their good points and their bad points. I say hunt the way you like and try not to knock the way others hunt. There's plenty of anti's out there working hard at that.

akaSharkey

I guess I am poor by some hunters standards. I cant afford a lease, guided hunts, four wheelers, and 5th wheels to stay in at camp.
I cherish every minute I get to spend outdoors. When I get a good buck it makes it all the sweeter knowing I put in the legwork. If someone wants to pay someone to do everypart of the hunt but taking the animal, it is their perogative. I dont choose to hunt that way. I also dont pay much heed to the record books(P&Y and B&C). Chuck Adams has taken many record book animals with a guide, that does not make him a great hunter in my book.
My greatest joy is being able to pass on the knoledge I have learned over the years hunting to my children.

Buck Huntin Girl

bsscofield... some people get lucky I guess while others put a TON of work into every year's deer season, all year long.

I think it is more rewarding I guess to know that you did your legwork and know that it paid off... But of course that's just my honest opinion and I can't say that if I was GIVEN (not have to pay) the opportunity I wouldn't take it, I just wouldn't pay the money out for a hunt like that, although I wouldn't mind accompanying someone who DID as I said earlier just to get a look at the game out there, ya know?

Bird Hunt Dog

I have absolutely no problems with anyone spending money on Whitetail hunts. But if I had $3-6,000 for a hunt it would be on a Canada Moose hunt. I love to hunt Whitetail deer but I can't see me spending a bunch of cash when I have Pope & Young's in my back yard. I realize I am lucky and a lot of hunters don't have the land or the finances to hunt trophy deer. This is just me talking. To each there own!!

Huntnsinme

I would like to go on a guided hunt at least once, Just to get a chance at seeing some monsters, I cant seem to find any around here, people on public lands shoot whatever they see with no care about the herd or quality of deer in the areas. Its too bad though because as many people that are out there hunting public lands they sure could make a difference in the herds around here. I think the experience would be awesome.

Blodg

If the guide takes you out and puts you in a certain treestand then it is "shooting" and not "hunting". Like others said, the most enjoyment comes when you immerse yourself in the entire hunting experience, and not just shooting an animal. My uncle has been doing a rifle hunt in Alberta for the last few years and he has taken a few nice bucks. But when he described it to me I couldn't help but smirk. Not only do the guides put them in a certain stand but they are not even allowed to get down after they have shot a deer! They have to wait until the alotted time for the guide to come back and pick them up! I don't know how that would be considered enjoyable.

To each his own, but its not for me.

GR8atta2d

Bare in mind, most guided hunts are 3-5 days. A person does not have to give up hunting his current area and methods. He/she can still pursue the local deer population. Going on a guided hunt is just another opportnity to see some different land and different critters. Perhaps you can tag an animal that is of a different quality than what you see in your area. Certainly the opportunity to see as many as 10 quality bucks per session, on stand, is unique, at least for me.
Like I said, I had a blast, 4 of us went down to Texas, so it was like a mini- extension of our PA Deer Camp. This was a break from the usual solitude of my Archery season.
Actually where we went it was a 4 day hunt. The first 2 days we spent in a remote lodge. The "Guide" took us there the night we arrived, told us where the stands were and we all picked a stand, sight unseen. He told us how to get to the one we picked and that was the extent of the guiding. He went back to the main lodge -some 40 miles away- and we were on our own. He left us 2 trucks.
I was the only one to score from the remote lodge as we were somewhat picky. However the evening when I took Dad to the stand I got my deer from was priceless. I sat with him, we had bucks everywhere and trying to decide which if any to take was awesome. We decided to pass on all of them that evening and he eventually scored on a nice buck from the main lodge.
As a bonus, I got to hog hunt, which i've never done, and while I didn't score I did get to see some.
One of the most interersting things was when the Main man asked me to get some Turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. He gave me a left handed (I'm right handed) old remington 1100 and 1 yes 1 shotgun shell and told me to get 4 young hens. Believe me or not. I did get 3 young hens with 1 shot. There were hundreds and hundreds of Turkey that converged on the area once daylight hit. In fact Johnny Houston did a show from that very ground-blind, but he didn't shoot the turkey he just jumped out and scared them all.

It was different expirience and well worth the money and I didn't have to give up my normal hunting at home or at camp.