I have this sick feeling in my stomach now. We booked with this outfitter for the fall of 2020. Deposits have already been sent.
Again, if it was me in your position I would absolutely be proactive and first contact the outfitter requesting a refund of your deposit due to what was reported in the review posted here. If it's done early enough some outfitters are Ok with it. If they balk, which sounds likely, tell them you are going to contact the NLOA and then do it asap. Give them the link to this thread even and explain your situation. Hopefully they will take interest and contact the outfitter in an effort to find some resolution.
So I just went to their website and the total lack of any information at all "except contact" us immediately raised a giant flag for me.
Good luck
Hey Magnumforce I really am sorry and surprised to hear about your experience with Sylt Lake Outfitters, I cannot comment on what you were promised, however I too met them at the Toronto Sportsman show last spring and hunted Moose this past September with them.
Honestly I do not normally express publicly my reviews, however felt I just had to this time. This is my first post so please bare with me.
Our party consisted of three hunters with two adult tags and there was another lone hunter in camp as well that week. We had an absolutely great time hunting out of the main camp! Angus, and the guides did everything they could to get us on Moose and even with tough weather we went out everyday. It was a tough hunt and we filled our two adult tags both with nice big mature animals and saw some great country.
The meals were absolutely fantastic everything made from scratch including bread, with no shortages packed lunches that never ended. Accommodations were clean and comfortable, and the overall family atmosphere of a smaller camp is what we really enjoyed.
I would, and plan to book back another Moose hunt with Sylt Lake Outfitters in the future.
I find today with the reach of social media a small business can have their name thrown around and drug through the mud very quickly and the damage can be detrimental which compelled me to post our hunting experience.
Again I cannot comment on your experience or any others, however am surprised. Sure I do agree there are a few things they can do better but I believe we all have the opportunity to improve. Having newer equipment would have been great, however the equipment that was in camp was made available to us whenever we wanted it and it worked when we needed it.
I am hopeful this post does not offend anyone, as I truly tried to make the post a reflection of our hunting parties experience. For others who may be considering this Outfitter like any other do you research ask around for references and I am hopeful they will also support my position on this outfitter.
Meet the owners at the Sportman Show this year, booked a guided moose hunt, both father and son that run it said I would have a great time, it was a total disappointment, over promised and under delivered, worst hunting experience.
Promised that I would spent a couple of nights in a spiked camp, never happened, catered more to the repeat clients, where they got their moose at the spiked camp. Angus who is main guide hands me off to a second rate guide who rarely called, doesn't work a moose we saw 1/2 before legal leaves the area completely go to another area loaded with hunters (its like they never wanted me to get a moose save for clients for the following week), we blow a tire, and no spare tire, thank God a good Newfie came out and helped. I spent most of the day as a tire jockey for the guide, digging for spare tires back at his house, didn't pay $4250.00 to be a tire jockey.
Then the guide falls asleep on me in the woods, and breaks into old cottages to find out who owns them. I couldn't make this up it was like a gong show.
The outfitter equipment is junk, they run old Polaris ATV's had two failure in one day on two different ATV's, afternoon hunt spoiled.
I knew my chance of getting a moose were very slim when the other two hunters saw 5 bulls half way through the week, who the owner admitted to me on the way back to the airport that he put more effort into their hunt, but it was good to take my money.
I told Angus that I wanted a partial refund said he would talk to his father, never heard from him again when I got back home here in Ontario. Left multiple messages, no reply finally his father called me back, gave me some BS about making it right and would discuss with his son about a refund, and would get back to in a couple of days never did, about 10 days later I left multiple messages and no reply. Finally he answered and said he did everything right and no partial refund....place is a joke
I have been skunked before on hunts but it was a terrible experience and these owners are not trustworthy people.
Since I am invested at this point, what actions did you take to correct your problems when you were there and how did they respond? What did you guide say when you questioned the lack of calling and moving prematurely?
Wow , I can't believe how one post can distort the truth and everyone piles on like it is gosple ! I have never posted on social media in my life however must respond to this. During my 40 yrs + hunting i have likely hunted with a dozen or more outfitters. The only one I have return to after the first hunt is Sylt Lake Outfitters ( Angus and Brian Curlew ). These people are salt of the earth and the hardest working hosts I have ever dealt with. They know their area and work hard everyday to put you on a moose ... the rest is up to you. It is called hunting not killing for a reason , it is hard work and alot of slogging through bogs but this outfit is great to deal with . The food is awesome ( Amies cooking ) , the groups are small , usually only four hunters in camp, and hospilality can't be beat. Getting a moose is the bonus and their success rate is nearly 100%. If anyone wants a personal reference i would be happy to share my experience with you. reply to this and i will provide my cell number. Had my first moose sausage of the year last night , yumm ...can't wait to get back to Sylt Lake Outfitters !
Funny how there are single post users defending this outfitter. I have seen too many outfitters being unfair. Most of them keep the big game for themselves and give paying customers the leftovers. I saw one video of Dan from 'hunting the beast' mentioning outfitters will ask him to come to hunt 'big buck' for free and he will not do it as its unfair to paying customers.
Funny how there are single post users defending this outfitter. I have seen too many outfitters being unfair. Most of them keep the big game for themselves and give paying customers the leftovers. I saw one video of Dan from 'hunting the beast' mentioning outfitters will ask him to come to hunt 'big buck' for free and he will not do it as its unfair to paying customers.
Posts both positive and negative should make someone go..Hmmmmmmm?
Originally Posted by toddy
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