When I first booked with BMO I was excited. Their website said things like “Hunting Experience of a Lifetime” and it reported that it was one of the “Biggest Ranches in the Nation”. It talks about the joy of sharing hunting camp and understanding each hunters specific and unique goals. It advertises itself as a “World-renowned outfitter”. As an experienced hunter I’m always looking for a great hunting experience. My goal is no longer to get the biggest or the best - although it would be great- but it is to have fun, enjoy myself, meet other hunters, and get that feeling of camaraderie only hunting camp can give you. I don’t spend this amount of money to be immersed in company politics and drama.
My hunting experience started out slow but I was enjoying what I love- the pursuit of the hunt and being outside.
We finally spotted a good bull, but ran out of daylight. Had another encounter with the same bull, but just didn’t get it done. But that’s hunting - I understand that.
The next morning I’m excited to head out to return to the same spot to find that bull, but my guide is mad. He told me another guide is going after the same bull. We get there and the other guide had indeed scared the elk off.
We get back to the lodge and the General Manager threatens to fire my guide. My guide was also told that we could not hunt that farm anymore.
It was a very awkward situation at camp - definitely not fun and friendly.
After another awkward conversation between the general manager and myself we were “allowed” to hunt the farm again. By this time there is so much tension and drama, it was not an enjoyable experience.
When we got to the hunting spot the next day the other guide was there again. If I wanted to be on top of other hunters I would hunt on state land. Not here where they claim they have one of the “biggest ranches in the nation”. I was disappointed and thought the entire situation was handled in a very unprofessional way. I slept on whether or not to reach out to someone about my experience but reminded myself that I sacrificed my time, energy, and money to make that hunt, thinking it would really be “the hunt of a lifetime”
I reached out to the booking manager, GM, and owner. It seemed they only wanted to remind me that I signed a contract and I “wasn’t guaranteed anything”. I couldn’t help but feel like just a number - they did not care about my experience.
Although it is unfortunate to write a “negative” review, my motive is not to bad mouth this company. It is to express my experience and make sure other people do their due diligence before they choose an expensive hunt. I wish I would’ve done more research and if I had, I would not have gone with BMO.