Hammell's Wildlife Connection

[petey]

New Sponsor,

My old friend Bill Earl is now their head guide. Please be sure to check out the new announcement that was made about the Huntchat member only hunt.

Visit the site at http://www.huntillinoisdeer.com

If you have any questions call Bill or ask me!

Bill: 618-316-0237

I just talked to him on the phone and he's got my archery buck picked out. He's getting me trail cam pictures this weekend and says my buck will go 175 right now That's just one of many he's been seeing on the new property.

[fabsroman]

Hey Petey, is he going to lead the "archery" buck up to you with a rope? LOL

Just kidding. However, where is all the fun of hunting without having to do any of the work. You should be looking for the big boys in your neck of the woods.

I have mixed feelings on guided hunts. The guides are doing all the work and we are just pulling the trigger. What kind of hunting is that? Then, I want to go to Africa, and there is no way I would want to hunt out there without a guide. Same goes for grizzly hunting.

When I apply the same theory to fishing, I have no problem going on a charter boat. Granted, the captain knows where the fish are, but at least I still have to fight them. I guess I would still have to make the shot on an animal too, but it just doesn't seem the same.

[petey]

You obviously never been on a guided big game hunt??

They do all the work and we pull the trigger?? ha ha, that's pretty funny.. . most of the time all you do is pay for a good meal. I can assure you it's not the case here.

Tresspass fee, good food, someone who sets stands in known locations and have/will produce game, take care of your game, provide transportation, lodging... call it what you want but this is what you pay for.

Almost all of us don't have the time to scout (out of state) when you want to go on a weekend hunt. More than likely if you do a "hunt-on-your-own" in a place that you've never hunted, by the time you actually figure out what the game is doing your time is spent.

How do I know?? I've gone on over 12 do-it-yourself elk hunts in the western states alone! Sometimes you luck into them on the first try, sometimes it takes you 7 days to find them and then it's too late. You pay to have all that stuff figured out before you get there. The food/lodging and transportation are just bonuses.

In any rate this hunt caught my eye enough to book, and I've been on enough guided, semi-guided, non-guided hunts ALL over the US and neighboring Countries to know what's good and what's not so good. By the way you still have to draw the bow and make the shot, and that can be a VERY difficult thing on a 175" buck. I'd wager that most average archery hunters that don't see that caliber of buck couldn't do it.

[Skyline]

Fabs youcome out with stuff quite often that makes me shake my head in wonder.


Hey Petey, not to burst the bubble or anything, but just about any outfitter I know will give you a free hunt if you bring between 7 and 10 hunters. If they are paying a booking agent 10 or 15% it amounts to the same thing.

[Steverino]

Skyline,

I agree with you on the discount for multiple hunters-I have found this to be true as well.

I can vouch for this particular area in my home state as well as for the guide Bill Earl. Bill's knowledge of whitetail deer as well as the area are second to none and I know of few guides that work as hard as he does to put his clients on deer. Hammells made a very wise decision in acquiring Bill's talents-one that will pay big dividends for both the outfitter as well as the clients.

I believe that a good guide (having served myself as a fishing guide for a period of time) imparts his knowledge unto others whether afield or on the water. There are many that will put clients "on game" or "on fish" but don't necessarily increase your knowledge of animal behavior or seasonal migration patterns/routes that work in concert to make you an overall more successful hunter or angler-whichever the case may be.

Bill makes suggestions based upon your feedback and his knowledge of the area and the local whitetail population. The decision ultimately rests with the hunter as does the 'moment of truth' when it's just you and the deer.

I personally am looking foward to checking out Hammell's sometime in the near future!

[fabsroman]

Skyline, it must not take much to make you shake your head in wonder. Everybody has their own style of "hunting" and I just do not look forward to the day I have to use a guide, but I see that day coming some time in the near future. I am hoping that it will be a good experience, but who knows.

I guess hunting with a guide is kind of like being invited to a buddy's place and him telling me where the deer are coming from and what I can expect to see out of one of his stands.

It is just going to take me some time to get used to.