Outfitter Review - Seven J Outfitters

Outfitter Information

Outfitter Name: Seven J Outfitters

Outfitter / Contact: Jeff & Deb Smith

Location: WY, USA

Hunt Information

Animals Hunted: Antelope

Game Quality: Good

Game Quantity: Good

Accomodations: Good

Camp Condition: N/A

Food Quality: Good

Guide Experience: OK-not great

Other Personal Experience: N/A

Review Information

Hunter: Jim McNeese

Phone: 423.477.9155

Email:

Would Recommend: Doubtful

Overall Impression: Fair

Five of us friends hunted antelope @ 7 J in 2005. While we were all successful, we shared many of the same negative feelings about the experience. We stayed in their house/lodge in Sundance, WY., and while it was comfortable, we couldn't relax...we always felt like we were being watched so that no one would mess the place up...(example; no hunting boots allowed inside). Also, the meal schedule was way too inflexible (in the evenings we all like to get together before supper, have a "scorcher", recap the day's hunt and relax). Not here--"hurry up and eat"... Since this is the hunter's vacation time, and he's the one paying the bill, he should be allowed a little leeway. As far as the guides went, they were ok (but ours took a little too long looking at the animal thru the spotting scope-- while the animal's walking out of range). Our biggest complaint w/ the guides was that after we tipped them, they just about ignored us. A course in "people skills" would be useful for some of these guys. About the game seen; even tho we were antelope hunting, we visited one of 7 J's mule deer camps, saw racks left by previous hunters, saw lots of live mule deer, and lots of mule deer country during our travels. I'll say that we (remember, there were 5 of us) never saw a single buck muley (dead or alive) that would measure near what they claim to be their average muley taken (we were told the average score on bucks would run around 180"). The quality of mule deer they claim to have is very questionable.And finally, this rule requiring hunters to take all game into town for butchering stinks. What's going on here? Is everyone in Sundance making a living off the visiting hunters? Are the businesses and outfitters in cahoots w/ each other, all sharing in the proceeds? You get targeted by the police if you speed just a little, you get stuck w/ a game skinning/processing/skull cleaning/freezing & wrapping bill, even the local Fed Ex office charges an outrageous amount to ship your trophy home (and that will be cash please-no credit cards accepted). Sundance definitely did not seem like a "hunter friendly" town, and you'd think it would be since a lot of their annual income is generated by hunters. We felt "used" by the town of Sundance.All in all, our experience was not satisfying. We killed, yeah, but as all hunters know, a lot more is involved in a hunt than just pulling the trigger. We would NOT recommend this outfitter unless some of his guides have a "personality transplant", the "house" rules relax a little and the town eases up on hunters.

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