Thread: Why do people use a guide?

You must be bored bro, opened a can of worms and hit a few nerves aswell

It's an interesting one, each to there own I guess. Some guys want a guide to make the hunt easy for genuine reasons, while others want instant gratification and reward. Every individual circumstance is different, but personally I wouldn't pay for a guide and learnt to hunt the hard way hunting sika in the Kaimanawas at 16, while all my mates were partying. It took me around 20 days Bush stalking before one stood still long enough for me to pull the trigger. I think this helped shape my perspective towards hunting.

One thing I have learnt over the years taking guys hunting is that most don't have a strong drive for the hunt and backcountry. I've had guys get homesick after walking in for 5 hours, had guys broken and negative towards hunting after 1 unsuccesful day in the hills, had others that think they are deserved of a trophy stag because they have done a weeks hunting so have "put in the time and deserve it" . I normally just bite my tongue and never invite these guys again, hence why I only hunt with 3 or 4 others. These are the guys that want to hunt the same way as me with the same ethics and morals.

I'm not saying it's wrong to pay for a guided hunt but for me the thought of it doesn't give me any satisfaction, the head on the wall that I've put heart and sole into is the one that will always mean the most. I guess everyone has a different amount of passion for the sport and the blood sweat and tears each person can or is willing to invest in the reward differs.