Going Semi-Guided For Deer
By Mark Melotik
Several years ago I was bowhunting Kansas with a couple buddies, and a few days in we were on the trail of my friend Jared’s hard-hit buck. As we followed the winding blood trail it eventually led us into an area that made the hackles stand up on my neck.
The isolated, sign-filled spot reeked of a big-buck hangout. Better, because we were on a semi-guided hunt, after recovering Jared’s deer the next step was to hang one of the hang-on stands stashed in my truck.
Over the next couple days I saw a parade of rut-crazed bucks cruise through my newly found area, and on the hunt’s last day I arrowed one of my best bucks. I cut the shot as the mid-150s brute was just about to fight a fine 140s-class buck just 30 yards in front of my stand. To this day it’s my favorite deer hunting memory.
If you’re like me, forking out hard-earned cash for a fully guided hunt can be a budget-buster. Conversely, a semi-guided hunt is not only much more economical, it will likely offer some welcome DIY opportunities.
The definition of a semi-guided hunt can vary slightly from outfitter to outfitter. But generally, we’re talking about a five- to seven-day hunt that offers you exclusive access to a specific tract of private land that’s been tightly managed for trophy quality.
Typically, the outfitter will have pre-set a certain number of stands or ground blinds, and you’ll be shown a map detailing their locations. If you use the same hunting app, your outfitter might give you a digital tour, during which you can mark the stand and parking locations in your own app.
After that, you’re pretty much on your own.
Besides saving $1,000 or more off the cost of a fully guided hunt, to my mind one of the biggest bonuses of a semi-guided hunt is that most offer you the ability to set your own stands. To me this option is critical — and a big departure from most fully guided operations that don’t want you ever leaving assigned stands.
As I see it, the opportunity to set a new stand in response to a hot movement pattern — hopefully one you’ve seen with your own eyes — is the very essence of a semi-guided hunt. I would recommend bringing your favorite saddle system, or two hang-on stands with climbing sticks, and one ground blind/chair combo. Options are good.
Are you ready for the semi-guided, out-of-state challenge? Some research now could pay off big later this fall. And especially, if you score early in your home state and are eager to continue your roll in the whitetail woods of a neighboring state.