Wondering if Tag Soup is good for you? I’m either really bad at picking places to travel to, wrong timeframes, or overall just bad luck. Just wrapped up my fifth consecutive out of state trip that concluded with eating a tag. Last year I went zero for two.To make matters worse. All seven trips resulted in no opportunities and I only seen one buck out of all seven trips that was a shooter. He was 175yds off and I had my bow. These are not cheap or budget hunts either.

This is not a rant by any means and I enjoyed the overall experiences to hunt different parts of the country.That said. Is it normal to have such luck with outfitters in general? I’m relatively green at the out-of-state and outfitter game. I did lease a farm in North Missouri a few year back. That worked out and I shot my biggest whitetail to date by the third hunt. Starting to think that’s the better option of the two.

What has been y’all’s experience, expectations and reality when setting up with an outfitter? I have invested a lot of time and money these last few years, and now my wife is interested in tagging along which adds more to the expense. I am beginning to wonder if that juice is worth the squeeze.

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That’s not good at all. Most reputable out of state trips I’ve been on with outfitters or hunting private land have been 100% shot opportunities on mature bucks and at least 50% on kills. Thats not good at all.

I'd be kinda pissed. That's a lot of money for no opportunity....

Man that does not sound good to me. I went on my first out of state trip this year, I had a blast I filled my doe tag but not my buck tag. However, I did not go with an outfitter, I did a public land hunt. I considered the trip a success because I was able to get a doe on public land and I had 3 encounters with shooter bucks. If I was paying an outfitter I think I would have atleast the same expectations of seeing good deer.

I’d rather fail on my own for free on public land than give my money to an outfitter running 12 people through a property every week

That’s bad, especially if gun hunting.

There’s always variables, but like Matt said, I would expect to kill one half the time. Taking into a lung weather and luck.

I’ve done two outfitter/diy week lease type deals. One in Missouri & one in Oklahoma. Killed a 130s deer each time.

Now, if you’re waiting for a 160”+ deer, you will have some low odds. But if you’re with a reputable Midwest outfitter, I’d expect chances at 140” + nearly every trip. With a bow.

Man sounds terrible tbh when I go out of state I expect an opportunity at least turkey wise

I’ve never been with an outfitter, always private though. I have had shot opportunities 4 out of 4 years and killed 3 out of 4.

Tag soup a few times, but it's a much lower percentage than you have stated. Only 2-3 in the last 8-10 years where we never got a shot opportunity, and we do 2-4 hunts every year out of state.

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I would pay a farmer or go door knocking before I gave a dime to an “outfitter”. I know the ins and outs of several operations and I use to guide. Trust me when I tell you that they are for entertainment and not success. In this day and age, you can’t run enough people through at current prices and give everyone opportunity.