Independent Guide

[mibowhunter]

Does anyone know anyone who would guide a hunt on the side .. not as expensive as an outfitter? It wouldn't be for a couple of years as I've got other hunts planned. I'm not picky about the state or location.

Thanks for your help.

[FullCryHounds]

What your asking for is illegal in most states. Here in CO., anyone providing guiding services must have the client under a contract with a legal outfitter. You can't even accept gas money from your buddy if you take him out and catch him a cat.

[Benny G]

Same in New Mexico and Arizona. There have been guys that took people out without going through an outfitter, "to get more of the pie", but when found out by the game department, ended up with less.

[sheimer]

Montana is the same, gas money is more than you can accept without an outfitter's liscense.

Scott

[nait hadya]

very similar here in alberta, no reward or gain. and there are guys that will squeal like a pig if they even suspect you are getting paid for it,witch i am not. some things i have done to protect against false accusations is to have a buddy drive his own truck,quad,snowmobile, as the case may be. you may think it silly, but the outfitters don't mind tellin lies to put some heat on the local hunters,that poacher you turned in a while ago might drop dime on ya or if your buddy goes sour on ya because you wouldn't let him shoot out a female,your arse is covered.

[kaycee cat hunter]

you can in wy as long as its on private land and you own it and you dont cross any state or blm land

[houndnem]

same in utah.

[imchestnut]

Pretty sure that would be illegal in Idaho too...

[Colohunter]

Like most of the other guys said its not legal in most states but alot of outlaws around here do it anyways. They come up with clever ways around they law like charging you for other services they provide but not for the hunt. I've heard about one guy thats also a taxidermist so he takes you out and gets you a cat for free as long as you overpay him to do the mount.

[houndogr]

Good call Colohunter. These are the same guys that preach about not shooting females. But then come too find out they are wacking anything they tree.

[Colohunter]

Of course they let their "client" wack little females they are getting paid. And of course their not going to go bragging about these little females, they may even lie about them because they are embarrassed by their greed and lack of moral fortitude. They may even get on this site and put on a show about letting the females live.

[houndogr]

If i'm not mistaken one of these guys even claims to be the best houndsman in the west

[houndnem]

well I know utah is crackin down on on the under the table guiding. now you have to have a professional license just like a contractor or anything else. the division of occupational & professional licencing has a website/ database. if you suspect somebody is doing this illegal guiding you just check them out on the website and if you want you can turn them in to the d.o.p.l. who will impose the fines or according punishment. the only problem is that they have to prove that there was 100$ of monitary gain. that's the hard part I guess.

[Colohunter]

In Colorado almost anyone can be an Outfitter. All you have to do is pay for the registation, insurance and jump through a few hoops and have a clean record.( Yes I have an Outfitters license) The real problem lies in people guiding on public lands without commercial use permits from the Forest Service. I dont offer any lion hunts because I dont have use permits for Forest service land and my private deer and elk leases arnt good for cats. The illegal outfitters are basically stealing cats from honest sportsmen and properly permited outfitters. Its some what confussing but Outfitting or guiding without being registed with the state is a felony weather its on public or private. But guiding on public land is only a small fine. If you are a registered outfitter but get caught guiding on public land without use permits your outfitters lisence wont be renewed. If you have neither an outfitting lisense or use permits and are caught outfitting on public lands you could get both a felony and fine. With our small quota units an outlaw outfitter can cause the units to close and keep the recreational hunter from getting his fair use of our public lands. JMO

[Brent Sinclair]

Does anyone know anyone who would guide a hunt on the side .. not as expensive as an outfitter? It wouldn't be for a couple of years as I've got other hunts planned. I'm not picky about the state or location.

Thanks for your help.

Save your paso's and go with one of the outfitters on this forum that is close to where you live, who is licensed!!!!!
These guys are lion hunters and their job is to provide you the client with a quality hunt, they are insured and bonded as well as have hounds that will get you a quality trophy...
Going cheap is just asking for a wreck in most cases, not always..... some of the young outfitters just starting out on their own are quality operaters, they have been taught by the guys in the business and are good lion hunters.....they may charge less than some because they need to get a foot in the door with some referals....
Do some homework and pay what you can afford to an outfiter you feel comfortable with hiring... get a few references form them as well...you'll be glad you went this route in the long run .......Good Luck