Upfront Outfitters
Upfront Outfitters
Rated 1.75 out of 5.0 based on 8 Outfitter reviews.
Contact: Mike Jenkins
Location: Washington
Species Hunted: Elk, Mule Deer, Black Bear, Pronghorn Antelope, Mountain Lion
State(s) Hunted: WA, OR
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Submitted by: Brian Dinger
Review Submitted: Apr 1, 2024
Hunt Date: Oct 7, 2023
Species Hunted: Mule Deer
Days Hunted: 5
Hunt Type: Guided
Primary Terrain: Mountain
Method: Rifle
Price Range: 7000-8999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
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Submitted by: MW Shane
Review Submitted: Jan 11, 2024
Hunt Date: Dec 17, 2023
Species Hunted: Elk
Days Hunted: 3
Hunt Type: Guided
Primary Terrain: Mountain
Method: Rifle
Price Range: 1000-1999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
Submitted by: MW Shane
Review Submitted: Jan 11, 2024
Hunt Date: Dec 17, 2023
Species Hunted: Elk
Days Hunted: 3
Hunt Type: Guided
Primary Terrain: Mountain
Method: Rifle
Price Range: 1000-1999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
Submitted by: John Herd
Review Submitted: Apr 2, 2020
Hunt Date: Sep 7, 2019
Species Hunted: Mule Deer
Days Hunted: 7
Hunt Type: Guided
Primary Terrain: Mountain
Method: Bow
Price Range: 7000-8999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
Elk Hunt - Overpriced for a poor experience
TL;DR: A lot of money for a poor experience and an overall lack of professionalism. I paid $7,550 for a 7-day Roosevelt elk public land hunt with Upfront Outfitters and was disappointed with the lack of preparation, professionalism, and enthusiasm I experienced. When I arrived, the plan was to sit in a treestand versus stalk because of the rain, which is not exciting, but understandable. As you would expect, I had no cell service and was miles away from camp. When the day was over with zero activity, the guide didn’t come back to pick me up at the put in, so I hitchhiked back to camp. After the second day in the stand and zero activity, the guide spent a third or more of every remaining day riding around, checking the weather, and trying to determine where we should go. It felt like we were just poking around, spot after spot, to try and make something work without any real strategy. The third day of the hunt I pushed a 70-pound electric bike up 2,400 feet in the rain. I love a challenge, and was totally cool with it, but once we got to the top the guide's attitude plummeted. We didn’t even use them up there and the guide decided we should ride them back down because the fog was too rough - by then it was 3:00pm. My expectation would be the guide would know the weather, and at the least, recommend we turn back if it wasn’t ideal. When we hadn’t seen anything after four days, we got a spot from Mike, the owner, mid-week that required a Lewis and Clark permit. We drove around looking for cell service so one of us could sign up for the permit, and then to find a business that had a printer to print the certificate, so we could get on the land. Don’t know why this wasn’t covered ahead of time. I was told I would be in a cabin for the trip and, if I so preferred, a spike camp so we could get on elk early in the morning. I was in a tent with a cot at the entrance of public land and a 15-min drive from a campground with showers. Not only was it inconvenient, it wasn’t consistent with what I was told I was paying for. We had bagels with cream cheese and meat prepared by the guide for lunches that I had once in the treestand, and other than that we went to lunch (of which I bought a few). I don't eat breakfast so didn't need or expect food in the morning, but the lunch situation was strange. Dinners were fine, nothing great. Vacuum-sealed and prepped by the outfitter. Anytime I pay this much, I expect a high level of professionalism. The worst of this happened on the 6th day where the guide got in a dispute with me over the length of the hunt. He thought 6 days, I paid for 7. He drove off to ask the outfitter and two hours later came back to apologize for the error, while also explaining how it messed up everyone’s schedules. On the 7th day, he was apathetic so I called it half way through and didn’t tip. I’ve never withheld tip from anyone, ever. The guide texted me on my drive home: "I knew you were dissatisfied as you are the first hunter to ever stiff me." Tip or not, this is unacceptable feedback that should be between guide and outfitter. Finally, the outfitter called to understand what had happened. He said to email him my feedback, and that he would make it right by taking me out personally. I emailed him, no response. I sent another to check-in after the season, again, no response. Not only was this a bad experience with limited actual hunting time, but it couldn't even be redeemed with good customer service. Do not recommend.
Submitted by: Alan Hunter
Review Submitted: Feb 8, 2015
Hunt Date: Dec 1, 2014
Species Hunted: Black Bear, Mountain Lion, Mule Deer, Pronghorn Antelope
Days Hunted: 5
Hunt Type: Guided
Primary Terrain: Mountain
Method: Muzzleloader
Price Range: 4000-4999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
Elk Hunt
I was disappointed with the overall hunt for numerous reasons. First off, I was paired off with an inexperienced guide who smoked, defecated 20 yards from where we set up in a ground blind, crinkled, snack wrappers, etc. No wonder I didn't see any elk! The outfitter said there was 8-10 tree stand in place. If there were any, none were offered or made available. A float hunt never materialized. In the outfitters defense he claimed he fired my guide and offered to make it good. I declined a discounted hunt and we settled on waiving the second payment installment on the hunt. Most of the time on this hunt I felt that we were scouting for the next group of hunters and not stealthily walking through the woods.
Submitted by: Alan Hunter
Review Submitted: Feb 8, 2015
Hunt Date: Dec 1, 2014
Species Hunted: Black Bear, Mountain Lion, Mule Deer, Pronghorn Antelope
Days Hunted: 5
Hunt Type: Guided
Primary Terrain: Mountain
Method: Muzzleloader
Price Range: 4000-4999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
Elk Hunt
I was disappointed with the overall hunt for numerous reasons. First off, I was paired off with an inexperienced guide who smoked, defecated 20 yards from where we set up in a ground blind, crinkled, snack wrappers, etc. No wonder I didn't see any elk! The outfitter said there was 8-10 tree stand in place. If there were any, none were offered or made available. A float hunt never materialized. In the outfitters defense he claimed he fired my guide and offered to make it good. I declined a discounted hunt and we settled on waiving the second payment installment on the hunt. Most of the time on this hunt I felt that we were scouting for the next group of hunters and not stealthily walking through the woods.
Submitted by: Mark Lewis
Review Submitted: Nov 18, 2014
Hunt Date: Nov 8, 2014
Species Hunted: Mule Deer
Days Hunted: 9
Hunt Type: Guided
Primary Terrain: Wetlands
Method: Rifle
Price Range: 7000-8999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
Buyer beware
Do your homework before booking with this outfitter. Hunted on public lands the entire hunt that were easily accessible by the locals. Not one legal animal (elk or deer) was encountered during the 9 day hunt. Outfitter charged 8k for the hunt and was not willing to give any refund. Please feel free to contact me.
Submitted by: Scott Hiam
Review Submitted: Mar 10, 2011
Hunt Date: Nov 6, 2010
Species Hunted: Elk
Days Hunted: 5
Hunt Type: Guided
Primary Terrain: Foothills
Method: Rifle
Price Range: 3000-3999
Number of animals seen, met expectations?
Size of animals seen, met expections?
Hunting pressure in the guides area, met expectations?
Would you hunt with this Guide again?
This was probably the most professional hunt I've ever been on. I've heard Mike ran a great operation both in Washington and New Mexico but this was better than I could have expected. I've been on several guided hunts with guides and outfitters claiming to be good but they can't compare with the experience I had with upfront outfitters. Unlike many, mike didn't guarantee or promise me shots, yet our camp was 100% on shot opportunity. I didnt kill a bull but i did shoot at two different animals. You can't ask for more. He is also one of the few outfitters I've researched in western Washington who was legally permitted and insured. You won't be wasting your time or money with these guys.
Contact: Marty Brown
Location: Corpus Christie, Texas
Species Hunted: Whitetail Deer
State(s) Hunted: TX
Wyoming Hunting Information
Wyoming is a great state for hunters! It offers a wide variety of good big game, turkey, small game, upland and predator hunting.
Ohio Hunting Information
Ohio is best known for its trophy whitetail deer. In fact, the world record non-typical whitetail was harvested in Greene county by Mike Beatty in November 2001,
Manitoba Hunting Information
Manitoba is known as a top destination for avid waterfowl hunters. Huge flocks of ducks and geese can be found from the Arctic coast of Hudson Bay to the prairie potholes on the southern border of this Canadian province. There is no legal requirement for non-resident waterfowl hunters to use a guide, but many are available and a high percentage of non-Canadian hunters utilize them. In addition black bear, Canada moose and whitetails are hunted throughout the province.
