Terry Overly

Master Guide Terry Overly

My name is Terry Overly. I’m an Alaskan Master Guide and have been personally and fully active in the Big Game guiding industry for many years now.

My history goes back many decades. As a young man, I had the honor to have known and flown with some of Alaska’s best of the monarchs – Bill Ellis, Bud Hickethier, Ron Hays, Ken Holdem and Ray McNutt, just to name a few.

Many times I have sat around the campfire with these men, telling stories of hunting big rams on the peaks and sky-lined ridges, or hunting brown bear or grizzlies; 70” plus bull moose; book caribou; polar bears out of Kotzebue; and of course, beautiful women everywhere… a trophy is a trophy.

We had many a good meal and sipped fine ale gathered around some of these fires, with a beautiful woman sitting on our knee – fanning us and feeding us grapes. Well now, that sounds almost too good to be true… but you know what? It really happened that way sometimes!

Most of the time you couldn’t get more than three or four of almost any of these men together at any one time or place without worrying about a fight breaking out. But, that’s the way Alaska was back then. The land was our land and it was free. The Country was wild and open for all. We were proud to be who we were.

Oh God, Thank you for letting us see and experience then… then; and for not letting us know then how screwed up now was going to be!!

Okay now Boys, you have to understand that right now IS the “Good Old Days” for you. This is as good as it’s going to get. It’s up to you to perpetuate our heritage… Big Game Guides. Outfitters. Hunting and fishing and freedom.

There will be more campfires to sit around; more fine ale to sip; more stories of rams, moose, grizzlies, browns, caribou and flying; an occasional fight; and if you’re really lucky, you might even get some pretty girl to sit on your knee.

But, this is what we have now and we must work within the ever-changing system and bureaucracy. We WILL meet all the challenges!!

"Generally our guests are well prepared for their trip with us.  We send them extensive  information, including what to bring, weather, flights into and out of Fairbanks and Anchorage, hotels, charter services in and out of our camp, license and tag information.

Having all necessary equipment and being properly prepared for your trip, whether it be to Alaska or Africa or anywhere in between is of the utmost importance - your comfort, safety, peace of mind and the success of your trip depend on it.

A good outfitter will be sure that you will understand what to expect on your trip with them. The type of camp you will be in, the weather you can expect for the time of year you will be visiting as well as the type of terrain you will be in should be made clear to you. If the outfitter does not send this information to you, request it, the outfitter , I am sure, will be happy to send it. 

This is your your vacation and in some cases, a once in a lifetime experience. Choose a good outfitter, ask questions, take his advise and do not look for "bargains ".

I remember years ago, sometime in the early 70's we had a group of hunters from Arizona land here in Chisana. Stepping off the aircraft with their gear, and as their charter flew off, not to return for 10 days, I felt compelled to ask the question that any experienced outfitter would ask as I realized that I was carrying ALL of their duffle by hand with very little effort.  With somewhat of an apprehensive feeling, I asked, "Is this all of your gear?". As I watched my new hunters side stepping  mud holes and tripping over rocks and roots in their shiny street shoes, slacks and floral shirts, the answer came back, "why, yes".  We had a slight problem.  These men assumed outfitter meant "outfitter"  in the very fullest sense of the word. They had with them only what they were wearing, one H&R .410 gauge shotgun and very little else. No boots, jackets, hats or even rifles. We did get them "outfitted" and they had a very successful hunt.  This was a learning experience for them as well as myself.

We have very few guests arrive at camp with too little gear or "ill prepared" by not having proper clothing or equipment. The opposite, however, is quite true, as we have many clients arrive bring and send ahead way too much of everything and quite a bit of stuff that they will never need or use. We recommend that you keep your gear to 60 pounds or less. This can be done but is more difficult than you might believe for most clients to do, the reason being that they are trying to prepare for those unknown conditions that they might encounter.

I have found, the best way to be sure that your clients are properly outfitted  and that the gear meets your weight limit is to communicate with them often and furnish good information as to what to expect.

Every outfitter has different expectations of his clients as do clients have different expectations of their outfitters and guides. These expectations must be talked over and worked out prior to the trip, this is just good business as well as the professional and courteous thing to do.       

I would say, in my experience, Europeans,  on the average are the best prepared and the most  aware of the necessity of keeping gear to a minimum.  My European clients will bring half the gear as most of my other clients and yet seem to have everything they need. I believe there are several reasons for this. (1)  They ask more questions. (2) They follow the lists given to them well. (3) They do not bring unnecessary gadgets and the gadgets' support stuff.  

Good outfitters and guides will want to be very aware of their client's needs, wants and expectations. This is one of the most important things on any guided trip.

From an outfitter's standpoint, the proper matching of your clients to his guide is one of the most critical aspects of the profession.  At times the overall success of the entire trip can be in jeopardy if a mistake is made at this point.  Let us understand, to an outfitter and guide, success of any trip, can be broken into two basic parts.  Of course every hunter wants to get his game, as does every guide want his hunter to get his game. This is the "kill" success.  However, the success of the overall trip, excursion or hunt, is as important if not more so and at times much more difficult to achieve.  A client can be successful with taking his desired trophy (kill success), but feel as if he did not have a good trip otherwise.  Sometimes this is due to a poor match of guide to client, and at times it seems there was just nothing you could have done or could do to please this hunter.  I believe most of these cases are due to unrealistic expectations of the hunting client.

I have been guiding in Alaska since 1961.  The prospective clients and hunters must realize this is 2009, and nothing like things were in the 50's, 60's,70's and even the 80's and 90's.  

We are living in times where our rights to own firearms is in question, where there have been millions of acres of prime hunting land tied up and signs posted "NO HUNTING" and limited access to the general public made law.  There are more hunters after fewer animals on less land with more restrictions placed on them than ever before in history.

Today's hunters for the most part do not have the experience of the hunters of the 50's, 60's and the 70's.  This is no fault of theirs, they simply do not have the open land to hunt on as available to them as time goes by.  A high percentage of today's hunters have unrealistic expectations of hunting in general.  This is an innocent misconception based on hunting stories of old.  Tall tales of the big ones that got away and are still out there.  The uncontrollable desire to follow in the footsteps of their hunting heroes of days gone by.  This is understandable, but not realistic.  I believe it will all work out in the long run, maybe 100-150 years things will be different again, but like they were in the 60's...don't hold your breath.

I have had only a few prospective clients or hunters in all the years I have been guiding then outfitting that I felt, after talking to them on the phone, that would not fit into our way of operating.  I usually send them to other outfitters that I feel they might benefit from.

We send all of our guests Information and Welcome Packets.  Most of them have spoken to me personally on the phone and are very prepared for all aspects of their trip.

Sizing up your client and putting him with the right guide to best suit his personality and disposition is very important.  In my opinion, it is a professional mistake to underestimate the negative impact this oversight could have on the overall success of any trip. I would say 90% of the time, during the course of a 30 minute to an hour conversation, you should have a very good idea of his or her expectations, concerns, needs and who best to place him or her with as a guide and where. Having said and believing this to be true, Murphy's Law is always present and says, "..no matter how you try, you will occasionally blunder".

As an Outfitter and Professional Master Guide myself, I want to know if there are any health concerns or special needs, dietary supplements, foods or physical concerns such as heart problems, diabetes and so on.  Age and general physical condition are also noted. Speaking for myself, I have been in the outfittin business for 50 years now. We enjoy the outdoors, hunting, campfires and the companionship of our guides and clients as well.  Life is too short and the roses smell good.  I believe you should take the time to smell them. 

When I am corresponding or speaking with potential clients, I always make sure to mention and discuss the fact that the better physical condition a guest is in, the more enjoyable the trip will be. The fickle finger of fate will mess you if given the chance, and with that in mind, know that just being in good physical shape will not guarantee you nice weather, or hunters- a large trophy, but it will make going after one much easier than if you are in poor shape. There is definitely no substitute for skill and luck.

Now, on hunting I will say more...

Shooting ability is much like physical ability, the more you work at it the better you get.  I always suggest to my clients to bring the rifle they are most comfortable with and of course a rifle of big game quality. 25-06 thru 338 with the 300 mag - Winchester or Weatherby being my personal favorite all around cartridge  for North America.  If you had only one rifle, the 300 mag Win or WBY shooting 180 RR bullets will take down with ease and confidence anything in North America, Alaska included.  We always sight-in rifles on our shooting range before leaving to head out to the field. 225-250 yards is what we aim for dead on, and has proven best for most high power rifles.

My operation is somewhat unique because we use horses on all of our trips.  We are located in a fly-in area and some of the best big game country in Alaska. I do not want nor will I operate a high torque fast lane trip. We all enjoy the country, our guests, the horses, our surroundings, hunting, the stalk and the overall experience.  We are dedicated to the success and satisfaction of our clients. They should not have to worry about organizational 

procedures, let us run the trip- we have been doing it for a long time and we are good at it- besides that is what we are getting paid for.  I have a saying I use often, here at Pioneer Outfitters, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do, and damn-it- this is Rome".

"Trophy Class" is a controversial phrase. I believe that a trophy is like beauty, it's in the eye of the beholder. Of course you must stay in the legal guide lines, but after that comes a personal perception.  We will always try to find the biggest, oldest critter we can as guides, but the client has the final deciding vote on when to pull the trigger.

Some hunters do not seem to understand that hunting wild big game in the North Country of Alaska, BC and the Yukon is very different from hunting in a lot of other areas around the world and in the United States. The great North Country is rugged, vast and abundant with wild life.  There is nowhere else on Earth like it. Some of the best big game hunting in the world is in Alaska.

Outfitters and Guides are not miracle workers. Some clients seem to be under the belief that just because you are a Professional Outfitter or Professional Guide you must have some magical control over the weather and lesser beasts.  Clients as these, seem to have a very difficult time understanding why hunting is so hard at times and occasionally unsuccessful. A client like this believes if they don't harvest their game you as the guide and the outfitter were obviously doing something wrong.  These are definitely unreal expectations. Hunting is hunting. Pursuing game is hunting. Killing game is successful hunting. Or just plain luck. The Outfitter wants you to get your game, the guide wants you to get your game;  it's their job, it's our job, it is what we do, there is no logical reason we would not want any client to get their game.  The game doesn't want to see you or to be killed. The weather just happens, whether you are there or not, it just does what it does. I believe the key to a good hunting trip is realistic expectations, of yourself, your outfitter, your guide, the area , game and your overall hunt.

Have fun, enjoy yourself on your hunt and remember  everyone is working for you and rooting for you, except for the game and weather, and they don't really care!

One of the biggest mistakes a hunter looking for a guided hunt can make is to look for a "bargain hunt".  Sure, you can get lucky, and you might get your trophy at 1/2 price, it's kind of like the lottery or playing the tables in Vegas. A good outfitter cannot afford to cut prices too much, if at all. When prices are cut, services are also cut.  Which means your options are also compromised. Like moving camp, shorter hunts, 2 hunters to 1 guide.  Good grub and good guides may also be some of your losses.  A quality and reputable guide/outfitter, due to the professional structure of his guiding operation has so much invested, in equipment, supplies and personal that are on hand and maintained for your comfort and success as a client, that he cannot cut-rate hunts. A bare bones price will get you a bare bones outfitter and a bare bones hunt.

GOOD LUCK."