PSA: Horox Outfitters

BabaYaga

FNG
Joined
Oct 7, 2019
Messages
10
I’m posting this review to give the community a little information for the greater good. I know it’s going to spur conversations about paying too much for a hunt or chastising me about not doing my research. I’m willing to take my lumps in order for the next hunter to not have the same fate.

My father and I booked a muzzleloader hunt with Horox outfitters (Josh Horrocks) for the week of Sept 30-Oct 4, 2019 for $21,000 per hunter. It’s 60,000 acres in a great unit in Utah, and those tags come with a hefty price tag. There were numerous issues with the hunt, but the biggest issue was the deception on the size of elk we were going to be hunting. My dad spoke to Epic outdoors and was told they have bulls 330-340 average up to 370, which Josh Horrocks confirmed on our first call. He told me numerous times that he had huge elk and that they get better every year. I specifically asked why his website states 285-340 with average 320 and he said it was old and he has much bigger bulls now. His exact words were “I’m going to show you the best elk hunting of your life”. He also told me on the drive up that he had a “couple of 350+ bulls lined up for us”. From the start I could tell something was off. For 3 days all of the bulls we glassed were 260-310 (2 hunters and 3 guides all working together). Maybe one was 320, but it was a stretch. There were many bulls on the property, but all little bulls with plenty of cows. I don’t expect to show up to a place and just shoot a 350+, but for that amount of money you should at least see something decent. Imagine my surprise when Mr. Horox decided to have a conversation with his team one night within earshot and I hear him say to his guides that they haven’t seen any 350 bulls ALL YEAR. I heard him talk about how worried he was that there weren’t any big elk or mule deer on the property and that he needed to “pull something out of a hat.”

For $21,000 you expect to see big elk. Not the small bulls we saw all week (260s-310s). In my opinion they have killed off all the mature bulls and he is still charging premium dollars for something that’s not there. When asking around I found that he books 16 gun hunters and 3-4 bow hunters every fall. Gun hunters all have around 100% success (but small) and bow hunters about 30%.

For that amount of money you also expect some basic amenities. I don’t expect to be fed expired food and leftovers for $21,000 (which I was). There are a host of other things I could nitpick over, but overall this was the most disappointing hunt my Dad or I have ever been on.

I reached out to Josh and told him the exact information I’m posting in this review. He simply stated (verbatim)-
“Was hoping you guys would have killed some bigger bulls we whacked a couple pigs after you left wish you guys would of held out for something bigger for sure” No apology, no explanation, simply dismissive.

I asked for pictures of these “pigs” and they were the same size bulls we had seen all week (probably a 300 and a 310). My Dad and I actually recognized both of them as bulls we had passed up.

After doing some research upon returning home, I realize this is not the first time something like this has happened with Horox outfitters. Hindsight is 20/20 and although my money and elk season is lost, I hope this review will save someone else the heartache. I don’t like to post a review like this, but I don’t want this to happen to another hunter. I also feel like we need to protect the integrity of the sport.

Feel free to PM me for all of our scouting pictures, pictures of what we killed, and what Josh Horror considers a “pig” elk for $21,000.
 
Joined
May 10, 2017
Messages
2,160
Yeah I’d be pissed with what you’re described. Not surprised as Utah has a culture of douchbaggery (flat bills, sit a mile back in photos, park across public roads, 8,000 spotters for hunts).

For $20,000 you’re in on the best of the best tags and units.
 

AGPank

WKR
Joined
Jan 16, 2013
Messages
978
That should be fee for a once in a lifetime trophy. I think both NM and AZ reservations will be in that range.

A3 Trophy Hunts has some unreal elk

Diamond Peak Outfitters in CO has some landowner tags in 2, 201 for that range.
 
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BabaYaga

FNG
Joined
Oct 7, 2019
Messages
10
There have been some big bulls killed on this property in the past, but the landowner got greedy and killed all the mature ones.
 

ELKhunter60

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Aug 26, 2018
Messages
190
Location
Sparta. Michigan
Thanks for sharing your experience. I did a few guided hunts when I was younger and finally decided I'd be better off going DIY. Haven't regretted it. There are a lot of great outfitters out there, but there are also a bunch of shady characters. I was referred by a friend to the last outfitter I ever used. On our way back to camp one night we saw a mule deer buck standing next to the road. The guide stopped his truck and dug out a spot light that he wanted me to hold for him while he shot. I told him "no". Couldn't believe it. I reported it to the outfitter and he did his best to make it right with me - but I stopped using outfitters after that.
 
Joined
Aug 6, 2012
Messages
1,661
That sounds like a guy more interested in today's profits than a well reviewed long term business.
He has pics of nice bulls on his webpage but I wont claim to know what they would score.
Lots of good CWMUs in the state but some definitely need to be reined in.
There is a CWMU board that should hear about your experience in addition to posting here.
 

realunlucky

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 20, 2013
Messages
12,624
Location
Eastern Utah
I would of thought EPIC would have steered you clear if they knew the outfitter was under performing, if they didn't know they shouldn't have recommended them. What good is a consultant if they haven't done thier due diligence?

Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk
 

netman

WKR
Joined
Mar 30, 2018
Messages
764
Location
Indiana
my buddys 415" elk was killed in NM on a ranch with NO fence. Fair chase. he killed it with a muzzleloader. Point i was making is that you can kill a big elk for way less than $20k per man. For that kind of money I would expect a 400" elk and a bionic blowjob. My buddy that killed the big elk had no clue he was going to shoot this whopper. He got stiffed by the guide in the end. The guide filmed the entire hunt. After settling up for the hunt fees and a $1500.00 tip the guide wanted a $1000.00 addition fee for the hunt video.
Another buddy of mine just killed a 340-350 elk in NM on a fair chase no fence hunt with his bow. All in tab including taxidermy, copenhagen snuff, tip and airfare he spent $14k
 

Fatcamp

WKR
Joined
May 31, 2017
Messages
5,659
Location
Sodak
Wow. And people bitch about WY general tag taking two points.

I can honestly say I had no idea people would spend that kind of money to hunt elk.
 
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BabaYaga

FNG
Joined
Oct 7, 2019
Messages
10
We have contacted Epic and they were shocked to hear the feedback. They said he was off their list.
 

Djacker

WKR
Joined
Aug 29, 2017
Messages
338
Location
Minnesota
I hate to be this guy but, you saw plenty of elk by the sounds of it. And are mad that you didn't shoot a "BIG" bull. How is your elk season a loss? You got to go hunting didn't you? If you wanted to kill a BIG bull, go on a high fence hunt. Fair chase hunting is never a guarentee, even with a lot of land. There's 2 sides to every story too. Sucks you paid that much to not shoot a big bull, but its hunting not killing!!!
 
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