Anyone ever dealt with these folks? Good, bad, indifferent? Is their point preference thing worth signing up for? Thanks, Jeff

Isn't the owner the one who got caught using an airplane during elk season? Something about the Feds arresting him for it on one of the sites earlier

Jeff,

George Taulman, head honcho at USO, just got indicted for major game law violations (using a plane to drive game towards client hunters or something like that). I would wait until it all shakes out before sending them any $$$$.

George

[ 01-22-2003, 06:46: Message edited by: GeorgeS ]

There is currently pending legal action against them, both state and federal. It seems they like to spot elk from helicopters and then relay the info to guides on the ground by radio. Arizona Fish and Game dept, as well as Federal F&W officials have charrged the owner George Taulman, as well as some of his guides. This info was in several national hunting magazines.

bowhuntr

Thanks for the info guys. I just got a brochure from them (unsolicited) in the mail today. It has glowing reports from Boddington, Gen Chuck Yeager, and Jim Zumbo. Makes one wonder......Jeff

Innocent until proven guilty I guess, but there is a lot of smoke surrounding this operation.

Jeff,

I wonder if Boddington, Yeager and Zumbo PAID for their hunts?

I hope this is not the case. I have gotten info from them in the past and always thought they were well thought of. I know that Bill Jordan/Realtree uses them a lot. Some of their pricing seemed quite reasonable.

Somebody keep us posted.

It is conceivable that a client could be unaware of unethical/illegal behavior, if they are using aircraft to spot game. However, if they were driving game it would be nearly impossible for the hunter to be ignorant of the violations.

This is particularly disturbing to me, not because of the 2 hacks but that the Chuck Yeager's somehow involved.

In my opinion, they sre going ruine western hunting! The rich will be the ones who can do it only. They are the same SOB's who sued and won in AZ. So now Az to keep it for there residents will have to raise the fee for out of state people so high that normal people can't afford it. I like guides, but can't afford them and don't all land to go that way. Just my $.02, I hope they take his liscence! Good shoot'n!

I agree that their ethics may be questionable, their polotics are a problem, but also watch out what you are getting. Freinds in NM that just went professional say as soon as they became licensed USO tried to get them to join up, no checks to see if they were capable, nothing, just sign up with us and we'll get your hunts booked! They may have some great guides and they may have some not so great.

I've got an axe to grind with New Mexico. I was born and lived there for twenty six years. I think I mule deer hunted for about twelve of those years throughout all the mountain ranges in the southern half of the state.

Seems about ten years ago the outfitters and guides forced through legislation requiring that an out-of-state hunter coming to New Mexico has to hire a guide. I don't know if this ignorant law got repealed or not. I hope so.

For me it would be like hunting with a rock tied to my ass.

I don't mind having a guide to hunt private land or special hunts, but to have to have someone "guide" me on a public hunt in mountains I know better than they do just tells me a special interest group found a way of getting a free pay day.

I have no objection to a state charging whatever they want for an out-of-state license, just don't make me have to drag some Goober along with me to tell me stories of his great hunting exploits, unless I want him.

I had the opportunity and pleasure of hunting with General Yeager. I found his ethics to be impeccable. Those I know who have hunted and know General Boddington have not stated anything to the contrary.

I just got their brochure in the mail. It has the photo of their 2 planes and says, "...A tremendous advantage we have in finding these trophy animals is in the use of airplanes...airplanes have become an important scouting tool...we currently own two airplanes and rent others during peak times to provide guides and clients with the latest location of game that is legally possible."

Without having some regs in front of me that sounds quite unethical, if not illegal, to me. To do that AND put it in your brochure in a mass mail out is probably pretty stupid. It would only draw the wrong kind of attention even if you were legally doing this. Sooner or later you're going to screw up and the Feds will catch you.

A big bust was made recently in Alaska re: the use of 2 way radios in hunting. They came down on a couple of guys pretty hard to make an example. That is often the way of the Fish & Game because they catch few in the act and so they make an example of them to put the fear of God in the rest of us.

I hunted with George in 1992. I booked the hunt thru Cabelas (Ihave used Cabelas since and pleased) on a ranch in NM that had not been "hunted for many, many years". Arrived to find 15 goat hunters for the 2 day season. The operation was like a factory and the goats were common to say the least. George is a slick one and I wouldn't hunt with him if you paid for the hunt. I always say what goes around comes around and I think George is going to get his, eh. Maybe he should have stayed in Las Vages NM in the pharmacy.

All I know about the guy is that he seems to be able to pull strings to get tags for famous people.

A couple of years ago he got tags for both Jim Zumbo and Larry Weishun in the same season for moose here in Colorado. That is one of the hardest tags to draw and I found it incredible that 2 major gun writers got tags at the same time and for the same season, and with no preference points. I know people including myself that have been putting in since the state first started issuing tags. Neither of these writers are residents of the state and they were eligible for only 10% of limited tags.

Seems as though either they beat some pretty heavy odds that year, or somebody made some things happen.

Mac

Friend of mine hunted with them a few years ago in NM. Saw very few Elk and no shooters. Would never use them again.

Kensco, you don't need no stinkin' guide now! Come on back and hunt the three mule deer that are left in southern NM. Stop by and I'll take you calling coyotes, we'll have much better luck.