Sitka Gear
What to do ? Bad outfitter experience
New Mexico
Contributors to this thread:
Philly man 26-Sep-23
Philly man 26-Sep-23
Painless 26-Sep-23
Philly man 26-Sep-23
Oryx35 26-Sep-23
Philly man 27-Sep-23
Jethro 03-Oct-23
From: Philly man
26-Sep-23
So this year I drew unit 45 in new mexico. I contacted reaper backcountry outfitters and booked them(5000$) to drop me off in the pecos wilderness 6 miles from trailhead. They would also pack me and my dream bull out. So Sept 10 I drove 2000 miles to New mexico we would leave the trailhead. Just me the guide two horses and a mule. We started off on Hamilton Mesa trail almost 6 miles. The only trail junction was to make a right on bob grounds trail(wich would take me exactly to my camp site on top of next mountain to the east. Bob grounds trail was near non existent in tall open grass area. Well, he never found the trail So after 30 minutes of not finding trail at tree line he decided to go through heavy thick timber down to creek, then up the mountain in even more thick timber. Well after 4 hrs we finally get to campsite we take out the gear and fund that my bows sight broke on the rough trip. So we have to go back to trailhead and now must drive to Albuquerque a couple hrs away To get my bow fixed. So after two days We go back in and he says we can go back but couldn't guarantee bow wouldn't break again. So we decide to camp off of Hamilton Mesa trail. So now I already lost opening day And after everything decided to scout the next day. Now I use my GPS and low and behold it took me directly to the bob grounds trail and it was a nice open trail.(would of been to easy) My guide never found the trail because he only had onix on a downloaded pic. Now at this new camp site I have to travel 1500 vertical feet just to start my hunt and 1000 ft just to get water for my camp.(when my original camp off of bob grounds trail had the elk(including a hot cow,wich I missed) and water with virtually no vertical climbing. The original dates For the trip were Sept 13 to the 25th. The Season started on the 15th. I traveled 4000 miles for this trip but the guide couldn't make 1 correct turn ? Now the outfitter does not want to assume any responsibility for the guides failure. Should I pursue this legally ? Money is important but I had a great deal of money and effort into this trip.

Any help/ questions are appreciated.

From: Philly man
26-Sep-23
I should also add at beginning of first trip from trailhead guide said he would be back in 3 hrs,that would mean noon. Well we did not get back until after 4 pm(7hrs). Crazy !

From: Painless
26-Sep-23
Buyer beware. My hunting partner and I just got screwed by an outfitter just east of the Pecos. Didn't see an elk. Total waste of time and money.

From: Philly man
26-Sep-23
Can u tell me wich one ? So I staw away from them.

From: Oryx35
26-Sep-23
That sucks! You should file an outfitter report. It's one of the golden nuggets that really makes bowsite unique.

I hope this doesn't come off as a jab, but I'm curious if you Google them before booking? When I Google them, 3 of the 4 top results are related to their recent legal troubles. My search results may be a result of the fact that I had previously read up on the charges. If you did see the past trouble, I'm curious what they had to say about it.

From: Philly man
27-Sep-23
No jab, I found Reaper backcountry outfitters by chip ortiz on a page on facebook dedicated to New mexico elk hunts. On that page he does have his supporters. In retrospect they could be family and friends. As far as his previous legal problems, I seen them after I already gave him my deposit of 2,500. Just wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt.

From: Jethro
03-Oct-23
Little late now, but what you should have done is pulled out your gps and found the trail as soon as the guide could not. Guide/hunter relationship must function as a team.

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