The following is my trip report from a recent adventure with Fair Chase, Ltd. for javelina and hogs. This is a modified North American Hunting Club format.

1) Outfitter: Fair Chase, Ltd

2) Owner: Rob Kiebler

3) Address: P.O. Box 1679, Azle, TX 76098

4) Phone: 972-523-5621 (cell)

5) E-mail:  fairchaseltd@aol.com

6) When: January 18-20, 2012

7) Where: El Indio, TX

Guided: Fully

9) Drop: No

10) Transportation to hunting area: By truck driven by guide and/or outfitter.

11) Accommodations: Motel-type rooms that exceed the comfort and quality of actual motels; two beds per room per bathroom.  The strip of rooms has a large porch with Cracker Barrel rockers.  Separate game room, lounge and bar also with a large covered porch and rocking chairs. Separate kitchen and dining building.

Above:  The “motel” type rooms at the Cinco Ranch.

Above:  The interior of a Cinco Ranch room.

Above:  The exterior of the game room and bar.

Above:  The interior of the game room/bar.

Above:  The pond is just outside the “motel” rooms.

12) Trophy hunt only: No

13) Species hunted / harvested: Javelina and feral hog hunted. One javelina harvested with two botched opportunities on feral hogs.

Above:  I love stalking javelina.  Probably because we are of about the same intelligence level.

14) Tools used: Compound bow.

15) Land hunted: Private

16) Cost: Booked at 2012 rate of $375 per person per day for three-day hunt including one animal per day, food, various beverages, lodging, guiding, transportation on ranch and basic meat and trophy care. Check with outfitter for current rates. Additional costs included air fare $296.30, rental car $223.56, license $49, and tip.

17) Challenging terrain adversely affect hunt: No

18) Did weather adversely affect hunt: No

19) Quantity of game: Outstanding

20) Quality of game: Excellent

21) Guide’s Competence: Guide and outfitters’ skills and ability to apply them exceeded my own hunting skills.

22) Guide’s Hunting Ethics: Excellent

23) Condition of Equipment: Good

24) Food: Outstanding!

25) Trophy care: Excellent

26) Meat care: Good

27) Number of outfitted / guided hunts for myself: 9

28) Recommended: Highly!

29) General comments: Rob is part outfitter, part guide, part host, part concierge.  His customer service is second to none that I have ever experienced.  Smilie the ranch manager who also acts as guide is also the consummate host.  Juanita and Pattie prepare fabulous Tex-Mex meals that absolutely ensure a hunter will not starve away from home.  The approximate 15,000 acre low/no/cattle fence O’Brien Cinco Ranch is a fantastic place.  My only regret hunting with Fair Chase and on the Cinco Ranch is that I can’t do it every year or multiple times each year.  

Temperatures ranged from forty to low eighty degrees.  Being cold-blooded I often wore long underwear in the mornings and shucked them after breakfast.  Cell service for many visitors is extremely limited on the ranch which is on the Rio Grande River in southwest Texas.  Shot distances from blinds, ladder stands and tri-pod set-ups ranged from 16-21 yards.  There is a separate gun area.

happy hunting, dv

If you liked this blog you may like the following:

• An Interview With A Bowhunting Booking Agency
• Outfitter Report – Shiloh Ranch Hunting Camp 2007
• Powder River Outfitters – Outfitter Report
• Outfitter Report – Dries Visser Safaris
• Outfitter Reports – Why You Should Be Doing Them
• Outfitter Report – Javelina And Hogs In Texas
• Boar Attack – Anatomy Of A Hog Shot Gone Wrong

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Copyright © Jerry E Long, 2009-2012

  

The following is my outfitter report from a recent adventure with Dries Visser Safaris for African plains game.  This is a modified North American Hunting Club format.    

1) Outfitter: Dries Visser Safaris

2) Owner: Dries Visser

3) Address: P.O. Box 751, Thabazimbi, 0380, South Africa

4) Phone: +27 147790644  

5) E-mail: dries@dvisser-safaris.co.za

6) When: August 16-23, 2010

7) Where: Thabazimbi, South Africa
Guided: Fully   

9) Drop: No

10) Transportation to hunting area: Truck driven by professional hunter (PH). 

11) Accommodations: Duplex cottages with separate lodge, dining area, bar, BBQ area and pool at main camp.  Huts, covered dining area, fire patio and separate shower/toilet structure at a Kronsberg camp.

12) Trophy hunt only: No

13) Species hunted / harvested: Gemsbok, blesbok, kudu, wildebeest, warthogs (male and female).

14) Tools used: Compound bow.

15) Land hunted: Private

16) Cost: Daily rates, 1×1 professional hunter upgrade and trophy fees totaled $7214.00.   Check with outfitter for current rates.   Additional costs:  Tips $985.00, air fare $1545.00+$15 FEDEX shipment, Dip &Pack $640, shipment of trophies $1073.26, overnight in Johannesburg $136.44, travel insurance $219.00, trophy clearance $295, taxidermy for one animal $875.00.  Estimated final total:  $12,997.70.    

17) Challenging terrain adversely affect hunt: No

18) Did weather adversely affect hunt: No     

19) Quantity of game: Excellent

20) Quality of game: Excellent

21) Guide’s Competence: Excellent   

22) Guide’s Hunting Ethics: Excellent

23) Condition of Equipment: Excellent  

24) Food: Excellent   

25) Trophy care: Excellent   

26) Meat care: Excellent   

27) Number of outfitted / guided hunts for myself: 8

28)  Recommended: Yes!        

29)  General comments:  This was the trip of a lifetime (and I’m hoping to make a second…).  Dries Jr is a great guy who runs a tight operation.  Kerneels, my PH, was intent on being a great host as well as professional hunter.  The same applies to the other PHs, trackers, Chef Duane and the rest of the staff.  You can find my daily journal from the eight day hunt here. 

30) Contact me at dustyvarmint at hotmail.com if I can be of help.

happy hunting, dv   

If you liked this blog you may like the following:    

• An Interview With A Bowhunting Booking Agency
• Outfitter Report – Shiloh Ranch Hunting Camp 2007
• Powder River Outfitters – Outfitter Report
• Outfitter Reports – Why You Should Be Doing Them
• Outfitter Report – Javelina And Hogs In Texas
• WWAC – What Would Africa Cost?
• dv Goes to Africa – Expenses Part I
• dv Goes to Africa – Expenses Part II
• dv Goes To Africa – Bow and Arrow Set Up
• dv Goes to Africa – Packing List and Packing
• dv Goes To Africa – Completing The CBP Form 4457
• African Archery Safari – Part 1
• African Archery Safari – Part 2
• African Archery Safari – Part 3, Travel Day 3
• African Archery Safari – Part 4, Hunt Day 1
• African Archery Safari – Part 5, Hunt Day 2
• African Archery Safari – Part 6, Hunt Day 3
• African Archery Safari – Part 7, Hunt Day 4
• African Archery Safari – Part 8, Hunt Day 5
• African Archery Safari – Part 9, Hunt Day 6
• African Archery Safari – Part 10, Hunt Day 7
• African Archery Safari – Part 11, Hunt Day 8
• African Archery Safari – Part 12, Return Trip Day 1
• African Archery Safari – Part 13, The Conclusion

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Copyright © Jerry E Long, 2009-2011

 By Jerry Long, August 16, 2010 

Here’s a trip report from a hunt to Shiloh Ranch Hunting Camp in Stonewall, OK.

High school classmates 20 years later; Brian, Will and myself. 

1) Outfitter: Shiloh Ranch Hunting Camp

2) Owner: Matt & Cheryl Napper

3) Address: 28570 CR 3630, Stonewall, OK, 74871

4) Phone: (580)265-4462

5) E-mail: shilohranch@tds.net

6) When: March 19-21, 2007

7) Where: Stonewall, Oklahoma

Guided: Pointed out stand locations, offered advice, etc.

9) Drop: No

10) Transportation to hunting area: Hike in & out, used quad vehicle to recover harvested animals.

11) Accommodations: Shed type cabins including WELL-equipped cooking / dining cabin, lounge cabin, sleeping cabin, shower, and privy. 

12) Trophy hunt only: No

13) Species hunted / harvested: Feral hog and Fallow deer.

I took a nice 132 pound sow. 

Lifetime friend Mike “Bluehawk” Adams took this nice hog with a traditional percussion blackpowder rifle.

My father took a nice sow with his .75 caliber flintlock.  Awesome dad!

Buddy Brian with a nice fallow doe taken from a Double-Bull blind.

14) Tools used: Bow, blackpowder (.50 traditional caplock and .75 traditional flintlock).

15) Land hunted: Private

16) Cost: $295 per person per first feral hog or wounded hog, $1.50 per pound for additional hogs, Fallow deer variable depending on sex from $300 up.

17) Challenging terrain adversely affect hunt: No

18) Did weather adversely affect hunt: No

19) Quantity of game: Excellent

20) Quality of game: Excellent

21) Guide’s Competence: Excellent. For better or worse (our shooting) we utilized Sage the tracking dog on three occasions this trip.  I really enjoyed seeing her in action and recovering the fruits of her labor.

22) Guide’s Hunting Ethics: Excellent

23) Condition of Equipment: Good

24) Food: We provided our own and it was enhanced by the well-equipped cooking / dining cabin. Shiloh can provide meals upon request without prior notice.

25) Accommodations: Good. The shower is cumbersome.

26) Trophy care: Not required, but could be handled by local locker.

27) Meat care: Shiloh has teamed up with a local locker, P&P Deer Processing, with outstanding results. Fifty dollars (up $10 from last year) paid for a “basic” hog package that included some OUTSTANDING pork sausage. Plus, Alvin and his employees couldn’t be nicer. 

28) Number of outfitted / guided hunts for myself: 4

29) Contact me on Bowsite, handle dustyvarmint if you have questions.

30) Recommended: I HIGHLY recommend Shiloh Ranch. I specifically recommend Shiloh for an archer’s first hunt or someone who wants to build experience and confidence.

General comments: This was our second trip to Shiloh.  There was a $30 or $35 tracking fee for use of Sage the tracking dog.  On the second or long day of hunting, hunters were required to be out of the field from approximately 10:00 am to 12:00 pm so that corn could be spread on the internal and external roads.  I sat stand two the entire time this trip and felt the hogs were more skittish this time than in 2006.  Additionally, despite sign to the contrary, the ranch was certified chupacabra free by Cheryl (I didn’t ask for industry qualifications).

happy hunting, dv 

If you liked this blog you may like the following:  

• No Bird Left Behind - A Turkey Tale
• Outfitter Report – Javelina And Hogs In Texas
• Boar Attack – Anatomy Of A Hog Shot Gone Wrong
• Pronghorn – Rained Out
• The Best Valentine’s Day Ever – Winter Bowfishing
• WWAC – What Would Africa Cost?
• Return On Investment – Outdoor’s Style
• dv Goes to Africa – Expenses Part I
• dv Goes to Africa – Expenses Part II
• Passing On The Tradition
• dv Goes To Africa – Bow and Arrow Set Up
• dv’s List Of Archery and Bowhunting Don’ts

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1) Outfitter: Powder River Outfitters booked through Close Encounters booking agent Gary Martin.

2) Owner: Powder River Outfitters, Ken Greslin.  Close Encounters, Tom Close.

3) Address:  Powder River Outfitters, Box 678, Broadus, MT 59317.  Close Encounters, 989 Highway 48, Luck, WI 54853.   

4) Phone: Powder River (406)436-2538.  Close Encounters, (715)472-8253.

5) E-mail: Powder River, pat@davegardnercpa.com.  Close Encounters, tom@closeencountersbowhunts.com.

6) When: August 15-19, 2009

7) Where: Broadus, MT
Guided: Fully   

9) Drop: No

10) Transportation to hunting area: Truck driven by guide. 

11) Accommodations: Mobile homes for sleeping accommodations.  Separate kitchen/dining house.    

12) Trophy hunt only: No

13) Species hunted / harvested: Pronghorn / none.

14) Tools used: Compound bow.

15) Land hunted: Private

16) Cost: Booked at rate of $1300 per person for five day hunt including food, lodging, guiding and trophy care.  Check with outfitter for current rates.  Additional costs:  Travel (shared) $112.00, licenses/tags $246.00, tips $66.00.    

17) Challenging terrain adversely affect hunt: No

18) Did weather adversely affect hunt: Yes     

19) Quantity of game: Excellent

20) Quality of game: Excellent

21) Guide’s Competence: Fair   

22) Guide’s Hunting Ethics: Fair

23) Condition of Equipment: Good  

24) Food: Good   

25) Trophy care: Not Applicable    

26) Meat care: Not Applicable   

27) Number of outfitted / guided hunts for myself: 8

28)  Recommended: Yes        

29)  General comments:  The area around Broadus was suffering from some pronghorn winterkill and the weather through out the summer had been wet.  However, there were plenty of good bucks.  Temperatures were mild and it rained every day but one.  Not good for a water hole hunt.  Spot and stalk was the right method to use in this weather, but the guide and outfitter didn’t seem interested in employing it for anything other than a few hours one afternoon.  After some significant discussions with the guide we fit in about three stalks before heading to the blinds in the late afternoon.  At one point the guide encouraged me to jump out of the truck and shoot a pronghorn – one of my absolute pet-peeves.  The guide didn’t believe wind-direction was of concern.  There weren’t enough blinds in our guide’s area of responsibility to hunt the wind properly.  The blinds had no peep holes to look out of except the saw kerf around the windows.  We left the morning of the fifth day amidst further rain storms.  There was some confusion regarding a $50 difference between the Close Encounters contract amount and Powder River’s contract amount.  I’m still confused on that issue.

Bottom line is I relied on the booking agent (who hunted with us) and failed to talk to the outfitter before and during the hunt to clear up problems that could have made the hunt successful.  The weather did us no favors.  I honestly have no doubt that had the weather been hot and dry shooting opportunity would have been close to 100%.

You can find a more detailed, three part story of this trip here, Pronghorn – Rained Out.

30) Contact me at dustyvarmint@hotmail.com if you have questions I can answer.

happy hunting, dv

If you liked this blog you may like the following: 

• Pronghorn – Rained Out
• Pronghorn - Rained Out Part 2
• Pronghorn – Rained Out Part 3 

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Caveat Emptor Hunter

How comfortable were you when booking your last hunt?  Did you feel like you were talking to a used car salesman?  How many “90%” success assurances have you gotten from outfitters?  Did you check references?  Where did the references come from?  If you had a bad experience did you tell anyone?  If you had a good experience did you tell anyone? 

From my perspective the outfitting business still seems like a Caveat Emptor, buyer beware, environment.  While reviewing Outfitter Reviews and surfing forums I frequently see hunters stung by bad experiences.  Don’t get me wrong.  I am certain the majority of outfitters are hard-working, honest folks just like the majority of us and that they also get stung by poor customers.  That isn’t the focus of this blog, though.

Of the seven paid hunts I’ve taken at least three of the outfitters represented a 90% success rate.  The first was probably closer to 15%, the second probably exceeded 90% by a ways, and the third was a disaster.  When notified that a prior pronghorn hunting party only had one missed shot opportunity at 72 yards one outfitter told me, “I can’t help it if he can’t shoot.”  When assured of a 90-100% quality (booking agent’s word) shot opportunity I once expressed my frustration about 30 yard shots at quickly moving turkeys not being quality opportunities.  Over time I learned about the number of animals he had wounded on this ranch and have doubts as to whether he knew what a quality shot was.

On the converse, I’ve been on hunts where the outfitter under promised and over delivered.  I recently took a trip to Texas where the service and hunting was so good I wonder if I’ll ever experience anything like that again.  Read more.  When I couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn on one hunt (always check your sights upon arrival to camp) the outfitter persevered until I connected.  A hog I once wounded attacked the outfitter. 

Write An Outfitter Review

So what can we do to notify the next hunter of a good or bad experience?  My answer is to write and POST an Outfitter Review, Trip Report or whatever you want to call it in many places.  I don’t think it is enough to say, “Hey, it was great!”  Although better than nothing, it isn’t all that helpful.  Let the next guy or gal know what to expect as well.  Definitely tell us about the outfitter, but tell us more.  Did you do something to save yourself some money?  Did you make any mistakes?  Let us know.  The format I use is based on the North American Hunting Club Outfitter Reports.  See one.  I try to report on the outfitter, my experience with him or her and what I might have done wrong or right.    

After completing the report we’ve got to post it where search engines will pick it up and hunters will see it.  I recommend online forums you frequent, Bowsite Outfitter Reviews, Hunting Information Systems Outfitter Reviews as well as requesting and returning a North American Hunting Club Outfitter Review form.

Feedback

I also let the outfitter/booking agent know I intend to complete a report and post it on the internet.  I keep them informed of where the report is posted and encourage them to reply if they wish.   Bowsite incorporates this function.  NAHC offers this to outfitters who have received negative reports.   I posted a negative report on a hunt last year keeping the booking agent informed and he replied to it.  While I may not agree with his perspective I’m glad he had the opportunity to state his case.  Heck, I might just be wrong!

Tell It

The next time you take a hunt help your fellow hunters; tell us about it.  Tell us all about it.  Let us know what to expect.

happy hunting, dv

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Coming up on Mostly Archery

• How To – Make Your Own Turkey Friction Call
• Overhauling My Bow
• dv’s Gear Provider Recommendations – ACE, provider of ASAT, Sitka Gear and Wilderness Athlete Products

1) Outfitter: Fair Chase, Ltd

2) Owner: Rob Kiebler

3) Address: P.O. Box 1679, Azle, TX 76098

4) Phone: (972)-523-5621 (cell)

5) E-mail:  See dv’s links page.

6) When: January 22-25, 2009

7) Where: El Indio, TX
Guided: Fully

9) Drop: No

10) Transportation to hunting area: By truck driven by guide and/or outfitter.11) Accommodations: Sleeping trailers with individual rooms; two rooms per bathroom. Separate game/lounge trailer. Separate kitchen and dining building.

12) Trophy hunt only: No

13) Species hunted / harvested: Javelina and feral hog hunted. Two javelinas and one feral hog harvested.

14) Tools used: Compound bow.

15) Land hunted: Private

16) Cost: Booked at 2008 rate of $250 per person per day for three day hunt including food, lodging, guiding, and meat and trophy care. Check with outfitter for current rates. Additional costs: Air fare $276.50, shipment of bow and arrows $80.00, prior night’s stay in hotel $116.00, license $45, tip.

17) Challenging terrain adversely affect hunt: No

18) Did weather adversely affect hunt: No

19) Quantity of game: Excellent

20) Quality of game: Excellent

21) Guide’s Competence: Guide and outfitters’ skills and ability to apply them exceeded my own hunting skills.

22) Guide’s Hunting Ethics: Excellent

23) Condition of Equipment: Good

24) Food: Outstanding!

25) Trophy care: Good

26) Meat care: Good

27) Number of outfitted / guided hunts for myself: 7

28) Recommended: Yes!

29) General comments: I could write positive volumes about Rob and cite numerous examples of the outstanding service he provides and the outstanding time I had. In short it was great Outfitter, great Game, great Food, great Time!

I packed leaning towards heavier weight clothing, but didn’t pack enough light weight clothing. Temperatures swung from high 70′s down to below freezing with wind chill. I shipped my bow down and back via FEDEX which saved me $120.00 from taking it on the plane (Continental Airlines would have charged $100 each way). I should have taken one of the bow “holsters” that allows you to rest your bow on your thigh while spotting and stalking.

My first javelina.  

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Coming up on Mostly Archery

• Outfitter Reports – Why we should be doing them.
• Overhauling My Bow
• dv’s Gear Provider Recommendation – ACE