I agree with the comments above about booking with an Outfitter anywhere in W MT. The only public land, general unit where I would ever recommend someone hire an Outfitter, would be a situation where you are being packed in with stock, or accessing landlocked FS ground via private. In that situation, you are getting access and logistical help that is actually a service.
The promises these other guys make are outrageous. A lot of the permitting has changed as well. Instead of having a defined area for a specific Outfitter, more and more areas are going to managing by “Use Days”. It’s on the Outfitter to report their days. It’s turned into the Wild West.
If you draw a coveted permit, you’re booking around White Sulphur on a huge exclusive chunk of private, or in my backcountry/private example above… you’re getting a unique service for your $. But if you’re 1 of dozens of clients that is going to park at the same gated road, or trail as every other general tag holder… you are simply not getting anywhere near the service that you are paying for.
I would think long and hard about spending the $ that is being charged to hunt ANY general OTC unit in MT. Even if you have to save and wait another year to book with an Outfitter that can truly provide you with a unique service, I would save and wait. Others may disagree, but be careful with your $. Don’t spend $1000s on snake oil.
I have no knowledge of the Outfitter mentioned above by
@cowboy11 . But if it’s around Big Timber, more than likely it’s largely private and/or you are accessing FS ground that is landlocked by private. So yes, that’s a situation to look into about the service they’re providing. Do your homework. The A-B and the Crazy’s are both around Big Timber, but VERY different locations.