AlcoholandOutfitting:Alcoholisaconstantpotential threattoa finehuntingexperience.Weobserveda numberofwranglers“undertheweather”inourearlier years.Theirclientssufferedbeingleftonstands,losing untrackedgame,andnothavingacapablecampcook theypaidfor.ForestServiceruleenforcementand potential(oractual)litigationfromclientsfortunatelyhave improvedthesituation.Legitimateoutfittersdonotlet anyemployeesdrinkbeforedinner/sundown/gunsdown whenclientsareincamp.Theyalsodonotallowclientsto mountahorseifintoxicated,requiringthemtowalkforlegalandsafetyconcerns.TheForestService revokedonelodgeowner’sWildernessAreapermitwhentheyheardaclienthadgivenjustonealcoholic drink (“snort”) unknowingly to an under age wrangler.Manyoutfittersaskthattheyreceivetipsforlaterdistributiontotheirwrangles.Thereasonistoavoid theemployeefromhavingenticingextrapayintheirpockets.Wranglerscandrivetotownforsuppliesor clientpickup.Theretheymaybecomehomesick,girl-struck,orbar-tempted,andbenegligent,tardyor forgetcompletingduties–orevenquitwithoutnotice.Intoxicatedormissingwranglerscangive outfitters and hunters a bad experience.OutfitterVettingisNecessary:Checkoutpotentialoutfitter’sreferenceswellbeforebookingthem.The ColoradoOfficeofOutfitterRegistrationlistingisthebestplacetostart.TheRockyMountainElk Foundationlistingisincomplete,becauseitlistsonlydonorstoitsfoundationwhopayforalisting. However,ontheupside,someoftheseorganizationsmayhavealongerhistoryofgoodoutfitting.Ask personalhuntingfriendsforreferences.IadvisenotrelyingsolelyonInternetlistingsandblogs.Theyare becomingincreasinglymisleadinganderroneous.Poororillegaloutfittersmayusepaidschillstopost good reviews.LegalColoradooutfitterregistrationcanbecheckedonlineatwww.dora.state.co.us/outfitters, or call 303-894-7778UPDATE WEBLINK AND PHONE NUMBER RogueDeFactoOutfitters:Donotuseorcontractwithrogueindependentoutfittersforyourowngood. Nightmarishanecdotesexposeswindlerswhoranawaywithhardearnedcashintendedforalifetime hunt.Manyahunter/huntgrouphasbeenswindledoutoftheircontractprepayment,been“stoodup” whennooneappeared,orbeensubjectedtoamiserable,poorhunt.One“host”evenaskedahunterto tagananimalheshotwithoutalicense.Thatwouldbeconsortingwithapoacher.Werememberarogue bunchofferingtopackoutelkiftheycouldgetsomeelktipsfromus.WhenIaskedfortheirlicense,their license hunt area was for another area thirty miles away.Unregisteredoutfittersconvictioncanbesevere. Coloradowildlifelawequatesoperatinganunregistered outfitwithillegalsaleofwildlifeorgamemeat–oneof the worst wildlife felonies.Coloradooutfittersmustbebonded,insured, registered,passfirstaidqualificationsandage requirements.Theymustprovidesafetyequipment, suchasemergencycamp-to-basesatellite communicationdeviceswhenoperatinginwilderness orremoteareas.Therearenohunting,scoutingor competencyexamsorqualifications.Again,geta personalreferencefromsomeonewho(independentperson,notanoutfittershill)previouslybooked with the outfitter.IwasavolunteerBoardMemberforamajorCreditUnionfortwentyyears.Iheardalotofstories.One involvedanwesternColoradooutfitterwhotookaloanforanewtruckimmediatelybeforehunting season.ByDecember,hispaymentswerefourmonthsdelinquent.Finallycontacted,hesuggestedwe repossessthevehicle.Itwasinasnow-filledgorgeinthemountains,whereithadcrashedofftheroad. Thispresentedmultipleproblems,becausewestillheldthetitleandwereresponsibleforremovingthe truck remains from remote BLM land - in the winter!. I had to wonder what kind of hunts his clients had.BorrowedPackHorses:Neverborrowyourneighbor’shorseunlessyou KNOW itisagoodmeat-packingsteed.Horsesnotconditionedtothesightandsmell ofgamewilllikelybecomeunruly,cantankerousandmaybedangerous before,when,orafteryouloadgamemeat.Youmaybekicked,shoved, steppedonorbitten.Apoorlypackedhorsemaybecomeunrulyalong thetrailastheweightshiftsandheavypacksaddlechafes.Ononeelk huntwerentedahorsethatobviouslyhadover-perfectedtheroll, causingthesaddletorotatewiththehorseflailingairwithallfours.It wasmostinconvenient,dangerousanddangembarrassingafterthe thirdreloadingepisode.Anotherdisappointingsurpriseiswhenyour homesickborrowedhorsebeginstobrayandstomptheground (stompingsoundsareadangersignalforgame).Thatruckusisnot amenabletoprimehunting.Andwhatdoyoudowithabrathorsethatis ruiningourhunt,wastetimewalkingitouttobasecamptogetridofthe cauterwauling wonder?DoNotAbandonYourHorse:CountySheriffsareresponsibleforfinding ownersoflost,abandoned,starved,ormistreatedhorses.Keepyour privateorrentalhorseproperlyfettered.Thismayincludewrappinga pieceofbailingwirearoundthehalterropeknotsothatboredsteedswill notusetheirteethtounraveltheknot;horsesmayhavepickedupthis talentattheoutfitter’sranch.Gettingupinthemorningtofindyour horse(s)goneandprobablytrekkedfivemilesbacktohomecanbevery disconcerting.AnexampleoccurredonNovember1,2011.ForestServiceinspectorsfoundandseizedtwounderfed, possiblesickhorsesatTheBudgesFlatTopsWildernessLodge.GarfieldandEagleCountySheriffs’ OfficesofAnimalWelfareconfirmedtheanimalmistreatment,removedalltheremainingLodgehorses onNovember10,andarrestedtheLodgeownerforanimalcruelty.SeizureofalltheLodge’shorses duringelkhuntingseasonwouldhavebeenadisasterforLodgeclients.(New,conscientiouslicensees subsequently are operating the Lodge.)