Being a whitetail deer outfitter with plenty of competition, we have had a lot of questions asked. Most people don't ask enough questions though. We will try to provide you, our potential hunter with answers and insights as to why you should hunt in Indiana with us this fall. For example, a question I am often asked is “What is your success rate?” This is an important question to ask when looking for the outfitter you will book with, but other questions need to follow to fully understand how the success rate can be compromised.
One being “Is there a fine for shooting a deer under a certain size?” If the answer to this question is yes, the outfitters success rate will be lower. |
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| Another question, “What is your repeat clientele rate?” is equally important because an outfitter with a high repeat clientele often has hunters holding out for a large deer, and this will also affect the success rate score. I believe the best thing to do is write your questions down, and really think them out to make sure there aren't other question you should be asking. Also when they're written down you can jot the outfitters reply down as you go.
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I’ll try to address questions like these in FAQ.
Where does your hunting take place?
All of our hunting takes place on tightly controlled, well managed private leases in northern Indiana. We hunt natural funnels on the edges of bedding areas, small woodlots, river bottoms, fencerows, ditches and agricultural fields. Our hunts are 100% fair chase. |
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What is the cost of a license for non-resident hunters?
Non- resident licenses are available over the counter or online. The fee is $150 for each of the following seasons- bow, firearm, and muzzleloader. An additional $150 license is required to shoot a doe. After the first doe tag, each subsequent tag is $24. Be sure to sign your license when you purchase it. You will only be allowed to be harvest a doe during the firearm and muzzleloader seasons. A complete listing of Indiana regulations can be found at www.in.gov . Youth hunters must be accompanied by a parent or have taken a hunters safety course. |
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When are your hunts?
Hunts are listed under the rates and dates page. We strive to provide opportunity by allowing our hunters to hunt 6- 6 ½ days. These hunts are conducted during the “prime time” pre-rut, rut, and post/ second rut. |
What is a Membership Hunt?
Camp Kay Outfitters offers three different membership hunts. Bow Memberships are available from October 1st through November 12th. Gun Memberships are available from November 13th – December 19th. Full Memberships are available from October 1st –December 19th. Memberships are designed to give you the best opportunity possible to harvest the trophy of your choice. You can hunt as often as you wish in the designated time periods. In 2009, 100% of our members either killed a buck or had an opportunity at a 125” or larger buck! |
When hunting with Camp Kay Outfitters what should I bring?
• Sleeping bag
• Towel and washcloth
• Personal items
• Rain gear
• Weather Appropriate Clothing
• Rubber Boots- Mandatory
• Weapon and ammunition
• Binoculars
• Camera
• Orange Vest and Hat
• Day Pack
• Flashlight/ flashlight with red lens for walking to the stand in the morning
• GPS for your vehicle- Garmin, Tom Tom- Mandatory
• Cooler |
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When are deposits and final payment do?
A hunt is not considered booked until we have received a sufficient deposit in our main office. Our deposit requirements are as follows: Hunters booking more than one year in advance are required to pay an initial deposit of 25% and an additional 25% by January 1, of the year in which the hunt takes place. Hunters booking for the present year are required to pay a 50% deposit to confirm the hunt. All final payments are 60 days prior to your hunt date unless other arrangements are made. Book your hunt early to get the hunt that best fits your needs and schedule. |
Do you have a cancellation policy?
It is our desire to fill all openings on each hunt. Once you book a hunt and send a deposit, you are then 100% liable for the entire cost of the hunt. If you find a need to cancel a hunt, you must let us know as soon as possible. The sooner you let us know, the better your chance is of getting your hunt sold and most of your deposit(s) back. We will do our best to fill the vacancy with an on-call client or a substitute of your choice. If we are unable to book the hunt, no deposit will be returned and you will still be liable for 100% of the cost of the hunt. |
Do you have a wounding loss policy?
Every hunter is required to shoot their weapon upon arrival or before hunting. We understand that weapons, sights, scopes can be damaged in transit. Our management objective is to provide trophy opportunities on all our leases, and we have to treat wounded animals as possible harvested animals. If you hit an animal, it becomes our responsibility to help you find it. You are required to call your guide who will do everything he can to help you locate and retrieve your trophy. You may not continue hunting until every attempt possible is made by Camp Kay Outfitters staff to locate your deer. If your guide is unable to locate your deer, you may continue to hunt after making sure your weapon is sighted in. |
How is meat handled?
If you take your meat with you, you’ll need your bring coolers to do so. Processing for your buck is included in the price of your hunt. Make sure that you can legally take your buck’s head home with bones or brain matter. We do not have CWD in Indiana but some states require that you have your animal caped for transit and we will assist you in this process. |
How much do I tip my guide?
We are often asked, “How much do I leave my guide as a tip?” This is a hard question, because a gratuity is left to show consideration for a job well done. Everybody’s opinion of what that is worth is a bit different. We don’t demand anything but appreciate everything. From our experience, the following is a good rule of thumb. If you, the client, feel that your guide worked hard for you, was knowledgeable about the hunting, and did everything in his control to ensure you an enjoyable quality hunt, then no less than 10% of the cost of the hunt is what we suggest, and is more or less the industry standard. Remember that successful deer hunting is not a seasonal job. |
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| Months of glassing fields, knowing how and when deer move, setting stands, and placing you on a trophy buck is a difficult yet gratifying task. Please consider this, our guides scout on their own time year round, usually making several trips, to ensure their client the best opportunity at a trophy animal. They live in the area and also use their own vehicle and their own personal equipment (i.e. binoculars, spotting scopes, cameras, etc). Again, I want to reiterate that a tip is a personal expression of gratitude, therefore a definitive value is difficult to determine, however for those who pose the “how much” question, these are simply some industry guidelines that we have observed, and feel that it would be helpful information to you, our clients. |
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What about your staff and leases?
As with any successful outfitter, the principles of success are, first, the country he is fortunate enough to hunt, and secondly, the quality and knowledge of the guides he has representing his organization. Now it may seem like I’m bragging, but once again we have the staff and leases that deserve to be bragged about. I just can’t say enough about the quality of our guides, not only as guides, but as people. They work hard every minute of every day and with great enthusiasm. When you arrive, a guide is assigned to you. Listen to him and know that he has your best interest at heart. All of the guides know what it takes to be successful on our hunts. The leased farms are scattered throughout three counties. This is advantageous for many reasons, but primarily not having all the ground in one pieces ensures trophy whitetail hunting for years to come. |
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What is included in the cost of the hunt?
Our hunts are all semi-guided. You are required to arrive to the camp location 1870 North 375 East Monticello, Indiana before noon the day before your hunt starts. The reason for this is that you must sign a waiver of liability, sight in your weapon, attend an orientation meeting, and have time to go with your guide to the location where you will be hunting. Our intention is to have enough time to hunt in the evening. You will be given a pass for your vehicle and will be responsible for your own transportation to and from the farms. |
You will need a GPS to do this. The driving distances are generally 10-25 miles from your hotel room. You will contact your guide after every hunt morning and evening to speak with him about what you saw. It will be his discretion on moving you to a different stand based on what area you are hunting and what type of buck you want to harvest. Your hunt will last for 6-6 ½ days based on the season you are hunting. You are paying for the opportunity to hunt a trophy whitetail. Your guide is your best friend for the week (or maybe a lifetime) because he has done everything that he would do for himself including all the scouting work and stand placement. All you have to do is show up and hunt where he tells you. He will help you find and retrieve your deer, as well as check it in, and help you hang it up for pictures. Buck processing is included but license, meals, lodging, and gratuities are not included. Lodging and meals can be purchased separately for an additional $500. |
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What are the prices of your hunts?
Check the Rates and Dates for hunt pricing. We have made this hunt affordable, yet highly successful though the generosity and support of others. A large portion of your money is used to buy supplies and improve the hunting for you. |
What is the average score or your deer and what are my odds at a monster?
Our success is hinged on five distinct elements working together. They include the following. If you want a trophy buck, he has to exist in the area where you are hunting. Indiana has become a known trophy producing state. Our one buck rule coupled with excellent genetics has produced monster bucks for many years and will continue to produce the quality of bucks that you can be proud to hang on your wall. In 2009, we had 63 hunters. 26 of them shot bucks for a success rate of 41%. |
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An additional 17 hunters- 27% had an opportunity at a 125” or better buck. The industry average for whitetails in the midwest is only 20-25% success. Our average buck harvested in 2009 was over 130”. Please remember that this average is not a true reflection of what size of deer there are in our areas, but what hunters are willing to harvest. Some hunters saw deer around the 200” mark. We truly had a successful year considering 68% of the hunters either shot a buck or had an opportunity to shoot a 125” buck (look at the gallery page).
You need the land and enough of it to allow adequate rest and rotation of farms. Camp Kay Outfitters is the largest outfitter in Indiana because we have the most land in Indiana. More land means more deer and more deer means more opportunities for you.
You need the guides who know how to hunt these deer. My guides are simply the best at what they do. We can provide you with references if you would like. Leave your style of deer hunting at home and let us show you how to kill one of our deer. That’s what you paid us for isn’t it? Hunters that listen to their guide kill deer.
You must be given the opportunity to have opportunity. Camp Kay Outfitters isn’t the largest outfitter in Indiana by mistake. We were given the opportunity to be the best and subsequently are willing to give you the opportunity to do your best. Opportunity can be summed up with one word- Time. Time means the number of days allowed for hunting to maximize a hunter’s opportunity at a trophy deer. We give you the time to hunt effectively regardless of how much time you choose to hunt. Our advice is you spend as much time as possible hunting because you never know when Mr. Big is going to make an appearance. When comparing outfitters and possible hunts, don’t just look at the price of the hunt, but the time allotted to harvest a quality whitetail. There are too many outfitters that run their business like a factories offering 3 -4 day hunts. We both know that this is a hunt but time given and spent hunting is crucial to a successful hunt.
The last element is you. We will give you the deer, guides, land, and the time. We just need you! |
How much do your Deer weigh?
Generally our average 3 ½ buck weighs around 175-190 dressed. We have harvested deer well over the 200lb mark though. |
Do you have a fine for shooting a deer under a certain size or a trophy fee?
Yes and no. You are required to shoot a buck at or outside the ears. Bucks outside the ears are considered mature. Some people are happy with a buck that is even with the ears. We are striving to produce bucks averaging over 130”. A $500 fine will be accessed to hunters who shoot a buck to “fill a tag” that is inside the ears- 1 ½ years old. This money will be used to improve our hunting. We will show you the difference at the orientation meeting so there are no misunderstandings. If you are not looking for a trophy hunt please hunt with another outfitter who is willing to compromise his hunting for a quick buck. We do have true trophies to hunt but not everyone is going to shoot a buck. If you want a guaranteed hunt then please book with a high fence outfitter. This is hunting not killing. We have no trophy fees for shooting a monster buck. |
What is your repeat clientele rate?
This season will be the third season for Camp Kay Outfitters. Season 1 was a do it yourself hunt that was not as successful as the semi-guided hunts of season 2. In 2009 very few hunters left dissatisfied with their hunt. Again, we can give you references of hunters that were both successful and unsuccessful who will be returning this year.
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What weapons are legal in the firearms season?
You may use a bow, muzzleloader, shot gun with slugs, pistol, or rifle that shoots pistol rounds between .357 and .500 with a casing length of no more than 1.625”. Standard center fire rifle cartridges like 30.06 are not allowed. The 460 is also not allowed due to cartridge length. |
What is the weather like?
Temperatures fluctuate dramatically during our deer hunting season. Generally in November the temperature can range from 30-70 degrees. December weather can be mild or cold. |
What is your closest airport?
You can either fly to Indianapolis, Ft. Wayne, or Chicago Midway. They are each 2 hours away. You will need to rent a vehicle. Generally, it is best if there are 2 people per vehicle. |
What is the best time to come hunt?
We put a lot of time and effort into our stand or blind sites, and we hunt different ones at different times of the season. Some work better during the pre rut, some during the rut, and others during the post rut. By doing this, we have great success throughout the season. Therefore, the best hunt is the one that you prefer and which suites your schedule and budget. |
When is your rut?
Generally we have two ruts. Our primary rut usually takes place the 10th-15th of November. |
What are your stands like and can I bring my own stand?
Our stands are either stick/portables, ladder, or box/ground blinds. We have over 100 setups. You can bring a stand with you but it is up to the discretion of your guide whether or not he lets you use it. We understand that you may be used to a certain style of brand of stand but ask that you use our stands because they have already been set and the less disruption the better your odds are of harvesting a trophy. |
Do you use bait?
No, it is illegal to bait in Indiana. We do have plenty of corn fields though. |
Are taxidermy services available?
We do have a local taxidermist that does excellent work and is very reasonably priced. It is recommended that you visit him during your hunt to see the quality of deer in our area. |
We hope to have answered your Questions: You are very important to us. We've put a lot of pride and effort into our work so, as a serious trophy hunter, you will have the most enjoyable, memorable and successful hunt we can give. We consider ourselves to be one of the most professional outfitters in the midwest. We hope to see you soon!!!
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