Wow how costs have changed
Went to NF 2013 the three of us cost $1,500 USD per person for (6) day hunt, Moose Tags for all Bull, Cow, Calf.
Bear & Caribou were extra.
Harvested Three Cows, I let a Young Bull pass (not a good shot).
Guide Service Owner was terrible. Didn't show up at Backwoods camp for two days after hunt started with THE extra Bear Tags. I had a 500-550+ lb Black Bear in my scope at 200 yds and could not shoot the second morning. My guide said could not shoot until he had a Tag in his hand. Probably wanted me to shoot so he could get the reward for illegal kill.
That evening the owner showed up with our tags.
Needless to say there was not much of a Guide TIP$$.
About another $1K apiece we chipped in for gas, food, Ferry.
Total was $2,500.00 per person.
It was still a two week+ adventure going from GA to PA then to NF and back.
It was almost like the movie "Grizzly Adams" without the Indians attacking. Main hunting lodge was PRIMITIVE and went on two day woods hunting staying in 4' high Rock shelters at night with just a small cut down 30 gal drum for fire, Was provide bread and caned sardines/capers while hunting. At Base camp ate cooked Roots (potatoes like) and rabbits. Got to eat meat when we shot a Moose.
One of the WORST or BEST experiences of my hunting career.
Oh yah The guide I had-around 10:00 am he would look for an old abandoned shack and then start a fire inside and go to sleep until around 2:00pm. Said the moose were sleeping too.
At the "Newer" Lodge the guides stayed there with electricity (generator) and running water and they got drunk at night while we stoked a 30 gallon drum with wood for heat to keep from freezing and kerosine lamps for light.
This was after Japan stopped buying a certain tree for lumber making a PAPER product. The entire area where we were at depended on Lumber Harvest. It was economically depressed.
The guides we had were laid off workers from the Lumber Business. They were just backyard hunters trying to make extra money.
I guess to day it it much more expensive and better hunting facilities.
Just make sure you get good references.
If you ever go to a guide service for hunting or fishing and they say:
OH MAN YOU HOULD HAVE BEEN HERE LAST WEEK - WE GOT SOME REAL TROPHIES.
You are screwed!
