69firebird
Well-Known Member
I had a bad experience with these guys in 2009. I was just reminded of it again with the last Colorado OTC post so i figured Id could vent some.
A friend bought an non guided archery hunt at an NWTF auction from these guys. We had been told we were going to be in a spike camp.
I never spoke with the Palmers before I arrived, My friend did all the planning. For 2 weeks before we left to go to Colorado, Brian Palmer would not answer his phone or return calls. Warning sign!
But we had paid for everything else so we headed out, tried calling again several times enroute. We got into Moffat CO and asked around town where Brians place was and no-one could help, the GPS got us close enough and we found it.
We explained to Brian we couldn't get him on the phone and he said he was having phone problems (they whole time we were at his place he was on his phone taking calls and texting). He then told us he didn't think we were still coming!!!
There was another group of hunters there aswell waiting to check in. They were talking about a tent camp and Brian was guiding them.
We started to check in and were told that we had been moved to a cabin in the valley and there were lots of elk there and good chance we would shoot one. (Upsell! What happened to the spike camp? Did those other guys get it?, Did we get dumped off cause this was a donated hunt from Brian?)
He also told us he couldn't give us any information to help us out because it was a non guided hunt.
We didn't see him all week, we heard 1 bugle and got in close in some elk in the dark. Otherwise no luck. The cabin was amongst a few other residences on a fairly travelled road.
Company, scenery, and fishing was good.
On the drive out of camp we met Brian on the road. Who then informed us where we should have been looking for elk and that he's only got a 10% success with archery.
I was a young man and this was my first trip outside my province hunting and first time dealing with an outfitter. I should have been asking a lot of questions when I arrived at Brians but didn't know any better and kept my mouth shut.
A friend bought an non guided archery hunt at an NWTF auction from these guys. We had been told we were going to be in a spike camp.
I never spoke with the Palmers before I arrived, My friend did all the planning. For 2 weeks before we left to go to Colorado, Brian Palmer would not answer his phone or return calls. Warning sign!
But we had paid for everything else so we headed out, tried calling again several times enroute. We got into Moffat CO and asked around town where Brians place was and no-one could help, the GPS got us close enough and we found it.
We explained to Brian we couldn't get him on the phone and he said he was having phone problems (they whole time we were at his place he was on his phone taking calls and texting). He then told us he didn't think we were still coming!!!
There was another group of hunters there aswell waiting to check in. They were talking about a tent camp and Brian was guiding them.
We started to check in and were told that we had been moved to a cabin in the valley and there were lots of elk there and good chance we would shoot one. (Upsell! What happened to the spike camp? Did those other guys get it?, Did we get dumped off cause this was a donated hunt from Brian?)
He also told us he couldn't give us any information to help us out because it was a non guided hunt.
We didn't see him all week, we heard 1 bugle and got in close in some elk in the dark. Otherwise no luck. The cabin was amongst a few other residences on a fairly travelled road.
Company, scenery, and fishing was good.
On the drive out of camp we met Brian on the road. Who then informed us where we should have been looking for elk and that he's only got a 10% success with archery.
I was a young man and this was my first trip outside my province hunting and first time dealing with an outfitter. I should have been asking a lot of questions when I arrived at Brians but didn't know any better and kept my mouth shut.
