Unit Elk Management Group

Submitted by: Donald K

Review Submitted: May 20, 2011

Hunt Date: Oct 16, 2010

Species Hunted: Elk

Days Hunted: 5

Hunt Type: Guided

Primary Terrain: Any

Method: Rifle

Price Range: 7000-8999

Rick and Kevin Sears just want your Money!

I really hope people take these reviews into account. I booked a hunt through Public Land Bucks and Bulls (which is now shut down probably because of over booking and Rick/Kevin Sears lack of proper game management) so I am writing this review under one of their many Outfitter Scams. My Father is not getting any younger so I wanted to go on a big game hunt with him while I had the chance. We talked with Rick Sears and he sold us the most amazing hunting experience we could imagine. When I spoke with him I told him we were going to do a father son hunt and if he could give me a deal because I don't have all the nickles in the world, but I wanted to go somewhere that we had a good opportunity at a nice bull. I was told 330-340 bull was about the minimum we would shoot. He saved us a combined amount of $500!! Really not much when your paying over $7000 each! I really wish now I would have google'd his name. Like everyone else said it was all money first and then after you pay you don't matter. Even the guides were very upset with the way he was running things. Things got so bad (there were about 18 hunters in camp!! We were told 8 maximum!!) that Rick Sears told the guides to have us shoot anything 5x5 or bigger on day 3!! This is on day 3 of a 5 day hunt and we are being told to forget about the 330 and up bulls we were promised and to shoot bulls that wouldn't even top 270!! That's proper game management huh? My father saw one small 5x5 on day 2. I didn't see a bull until my last evening at dark. And once again I was told to shoot at it even though it was way past shooting time. I couldn't even make out the elk when I looked through my scope on Twilight. Needless to say my father and I left empty handed. Even though this hunt cost me more than I could have afforded to spend, I am more upset at how I was lied to multiple times over the phone leading up to my hunt. All the Outfitter ever asked about was the money! Rick Sears told my father he would personally be guiding us since there were only 8 hunters to be at camp. First off, he isn't even a guide. Secondly, 18 hunters is not 8 maximum!! I tried to do something nice with my father and all we got in return were lies. Rick or Kevin Sears are not to be trusted. I am not saying that people haven't had success with them but if you call success 3 out of 18 hunters taking elk over 5 days a success then I don't know anymore. The moral at the camps was awful because of this. By day 2 everyone started to figure out what this operation was all about. My guide left the day we left because he didn't want to work for an Outfitter who only cares about money. Rick and Kevin Sears are not the type of people we want in our hunting community. We want people who genuinely care about hunting and hunters. I am a member of SCI and my Uncle was the President of our SCI Chapter. Trust me I am cycling Rick and Kevin Sears around the SCI community. Not only did they take my money and run, they stole all the great memories I thought I would have on my big game hunt with my father. If you are looking to book through either of these guys, think twice about it!

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Submitted by: Lanny Schwartz

Review Submitted: Dec 30, 2010

Hunt Date: Oct 13, 2010

Species Hunted: Elk

Days Hunted: 5

Hunt Type: Guided

Primary Terrain: Desert

Method: Rifle

Price Range: 7000-8999

This hunt is a scam

Kevin Sears is a great salesman and promises near 100% shot opportunity at big elk. I showed up in camp. That night I ask if I need to wear orange in NM (no). I asked what were legal shooting hours in NM. Sears says, we don't pay attention to that, if we can see them, we shoot them. Then, I never saw him again, he left camp. My opportunities for big elk all occurred long after legal shooting hours. The guide never tells you to shoot. I think they have this planned deniability. The guide says, there he is, he's right in front of you! Take a long thru your scope, what do you see? Several times I looked thru the scope with this encouragement and could barely see the cross hairs. Although I could see an elk, I could not even see antlers since it was so dark. I refused to take the illegal shot. At least I saw some big elk. The other hunter in camp watched an empty rye field all week. The last day of the hunt I told the guide that I would shoot a small bull for meat to take home. The last night 4 small elk came out. The guide would not say if they were legal on their tine length. Much later he asked if I wanted to shoot one. Now it is way passed shooting time. I asked him what happens if I shot one and it was not legal. He tells me we have to call the game warden. Again, they cover their ass legally. I suspect that if you shoot after dark they call the game warden and collect the reward. Other funny things happened. My guide was a pretty good guy. He did call an elk to withing 50 yds. It stayed behind a juniper, but also the guide stood in front of me so I couldn't shoot it I did see it. Then, 6 weeks after my hunt I get a certified letter from Kevin Sears telling me I owe $400 in taxes on the cost of the hunt. In my 62 yrs I have never paid sales tax except at the point of purchase. Hard to believe this wasn't suspicious. I encourage anyone thinking of hunting with this guy that you carefully look over reviews on this site. Search for Kevin Sears and see what others say. Also, search for Ric Sears, Kevin's uncle--probably the most reviled outfitter in the west. Kevin used to work with Ric, and I don't think the apple falls far from the tree. Also, do a Google search on these two Sears and read some interesting stuff.

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