How Guides Make Time To Hunt

With less than 24 hours until my clients arrived, I grabbed my bow and climbed into my stand to wait on one of the giant bucks I knew lived in the area. Like most guides, my own time to hunt is limited in the fall. If I want to hunt, I have to steal any spare hours I can.

Tipping my can call upside down, a soft doe estrus bleat drew in a doe and a fawn. Trailing behind was a spectacular 170-class giant. It doesn’t always happen like this, but when a gift presents itself, I graciously accept! Preoccupied with the doe, as he crossed in front of my stand, I drew, settled my sight pin on his chest and released. One of those fairy tale-like hunts, it was short-lived and had a happy ending … but they’re not all like that.

Clients often think that my guides and I have it easy, suggesting we know where all the big deer are, so we can just go out and shoot them. As much as I wish this were the case, it isn’t. Indeed, we have great areas and, over time we learn where the bigger bucks spend most of their time, but contrary to misconceptions – no, we don’t have any tied up. Furthermore, rarely do I, or any of my guides, get to hunt the same properties or stands that we have set up for our guests. My own philosophy is that any big deer we shoot, is one less a client can take. I know many outfitters who think the same way. In most instances, if I or any of my guides want to hunt for ourselves, we have to find other ground. Any time my guides and I are able to close a tag – especially on a big buck - its really a matter of luck, especially given our limited time and opportunity.

Perception Versus Reality

I’ve heard clients and friends say that I’m the luckiest guy in the world. They literally think I’m living the dream. While I can’t deny the long list of intrinsic benefits, I can tell you being a professional outfitter and guide is not without its own unique challenges. Topping the list - I lose a substantial chunk of my own hunting time each and every fall.

Every guide starts out working for an outfitter because they are passionate about hunting. They appreciate wildlife, they love hunting, and the good ones enjoy people. Early on, it’s a thrill just to be doing what we love. After all, what could be better than hunting for a living, right? Then reality sets in and, before long we realize we’re missing out on our own opportunities to hunt. Don’t get me wrong, most of us thrive on helping others achieve their goals, but over time, we yearn to hit the switch ourselves. In short, we soon begin to feel as though something is missing. Here’s how I, along with hundreds of other guides and outfitters across North America scratch the itch.

Adjusting to Circumstances

Career guides are often tied up hosting clients straight through mainstream hunting seasons. To increase the odds for success, outfitters book their clients during prime times. In turn, the guide’s hunting takes a backseat to that of the guest.

Take two of the most common guided hunts available today – the trophy whitetail hunt and the waterfowl hunt. An average whitetail hunt usually runs six days, with a short turn around between Saturday and Sunday until the next group of hunters arrives. Sometimes a guide may be able to slip away for an evening hunt Saturday or perhaps a morning hunt on Sunday, but in many jurisdictions, this isn’t possible. Take Alberta, where I outfit and guide, for instance. Provincial regulations restrict big game guides from hunting themselves for a period of 24 hours after they’ve been guiding a client. Different jurisdictions have variable laws and each guide must consult their state or provincial regulations to determine what they can and can’t do to salvage the very little time they can, to hunt for themselves.

In the end, its about adjusting to this new reality, capturing what little time they can, and capitalizing. Bottom line – if guides want to hunt, they need to determine an efficient approach to increase their odds for success when they do finally make it into the field to hunt for themselves.

Modifying Expectations

Most guides take great pride in providing stellar opportunities for their guests. Even for themselves, many won’t consider shooting anything but a trophy-class animal. Then again, I know several guides who desire only to fill the freezer. They know that its unrealistic to expect trophy-size animals when you only have a day here and there to hunt for yourself. In turn, they modify their expectations and again accept this as their reality. If they don’t need the meat, many are willing to end the season still holding an open tag.

Short Term Solutions

While most career guides work around the clock during fall and spring seasons, nearly every one finds short-term solutions for getting out themselves. For instance, commercial waterfowl outfitting is a fast and furious game. Early mornings and late nights are part of the job. In other words, sleep is a precious commodity and guides are encouraged to capture it whenever possible. They go hard, but there is usually a short break between groups that are in for three-day stints. Good outfitters recognize the importance of making time for their guides to get out in the field for themselves, both practically and for morale. With this in mind, a lot of outfitters will provide at least one break during any given week where the guides can slip out for an evening or morning shoot between groups.

Deer hunting is different, but early morning and late nights are still part of the equation. The thing about hunting is that most pursuits involve walking to, or from, stand or blind locations, or general set-up and take-down, under the cover of darkness. With most commercial operators running Sunday through Saturday with six full days of hunting in between, the weeks can be long and exhausting for guides. During calendar dates when weeks are offset, guides can sometimes capture a couple days when camp is empty. Then again, every week is different and sometimes clients tag out early. If they do, situations periodically allow the guide to slip away to do some hunting for themselves.

Hunting the ‘Off-Season’

Work is work, and guiding can be all-consuming. Sometimes the only viable option is to look at alternative hunting opportunities. Thankfully - if we’re strategic - there is always a season or opportunity open somewhere every month of the year. Aside from mainstream fall deer, elk, moose, sheep, and bird seasons, many guides capitalize on early and late opportunities, along with species that are open during what most of us refer to as the off-season. In a few states, early pronghorn antelope or wild sheep seasons open during the heat of the summer. When most other traditional big game seasons are still closed, these unique season dates allow guides to capitalize on a little early season hunting.

Although some will work year-round, rare is the guide who is employed 12 months of the year. For those who work the spring and fall seasons, mid-winter North American predator species like coyote, wolf, cougar, and bobcat, offer exceptional ‘off-season’ hunting opportunities! I know a number of guides who specialize in hosting predator hunts. These folks do the opposite, often foregoing their own hunting of the species they are most passionate about and hunting for themselves during their ‘off-season’, which in turn, means considering mainstream seasons. Others guide all fall, but keep the spring off. For these folks - spring bear, turkey, and waterfowl are the ticket.

Trips Abroad

If guides just can’t figure out a way to hunt at home because of their commitments, there is literally a world of opportunity abroad. Whether self-guided, booking through an agent, or contacting a professional operator in another country directly, more and more guides are traveling to hunt.

I’ve found this to be one of the most efficient ways to continue enjoying my own favorite pastime. As long as guides are open to travel and have the means to do so, there is a world of opportunity out there. With different climates and variable hunting seasons available across the globe, the options are endless.

For instance, I know more and more guides who travel to hunt Africa during their down time from April to August. The month of May, and September through to the end of November, are my own busiest months, so any seasons that are open around those four months are appealing to me. Most recently, I’ve enjoyed Saskatchewan snow goose hunts in April and Namibian plains game hunts in August. From time to time, I get a break during the first two weeks of October. When this happens, I always capitalize. Over the last several years I’ve enjoyed a muskox hunt in Nunavut and a chamois hunt in Austria.

Sure enough, a guide’s life is unique and full of spectacular opportunities and experiences. Some are born to guide while others are not. Those who thrive on it, always find ways to hunt for themselves.