wow thats terrible

I hate to see that happen to anyone, especially a 13 year old.  Please let your son know this is not typical to Texas Hunting.  I really wish you guys much better luck on your next hunt.

I'm sorry you had that bad experience.  I turned 13 in September and the first deer I shot at was a doe a few years ago and I wounded it.  I know it's a horrible feeling but that's what happens sometimes.  Let me tell you one other thing, having a hunt this bad is so so rare in Texas.  I'm sorry.

       -Dylan Dean

I have hunted with lots of outfitters and it sounds to me you got took! Tell your son he should not loose his confidence in deer hunting, I have hit a deer or two that we never recovered, it hurts but it happens. I hope the next time you come to Texas to hunt you do get your limits and get what was quoted to you. I once to got took by one of those outfitters that wouldn't do what he quoted to me. He changed all the rules before we ever started hunting? It will make you very angry. Better luck next time!!

So sorry to hear about your hunt Jeff...it does sound like you and your son got a bad egg.  Please don't think every situation is like that down here.  There are a number of good, hard-working, ethical guides in Texas that would break their back so you and your son could enjoy your hunt.  Several of them frequent this site. 

All anyone has to do is look at all my other postings and reviews on this web site and you will find out quick, fast, and in a hurry the kind of reputation Dos Plumas really has. Isn't it amazing how quick some of us are to judge before getting both sides of the story. If you still have any questions, drop Jason Parrish ( owner of THF ) or Bud Force ( THF team ),a line and ask them what type of opperation I run.

Allen, I was kinda thinking the same thing. About the quick to judge part. I have never used a guide or outfitter to hunt. So I don't really know what is expected from them or how it works. But, I have read alot of good things about you and your operation. I know on many things people expect things to be a certain way and when it does not happen exactly that way they will twist it around to make it sound as bad as possible. I'm not saying that the OP is lying about what happened. He probably saw it exactly the way he described it. you cant please everyone every time. But I'll stick to the majority opinions every time. As I said earlier this is the only negative post I've seen about you or your operation.

Guns don't kill people....Its those pesky little bullets making lots of holes that all the blood leaks out of.

I must admit that this review comes as a shock as during the entire hunt Mr. Smead praised us on what a great time they were having. My wife, ranch hand and I actually enjoyed their visit but all of us got the feeling that Mr. Smead's son was not all that interested in hunting. He actually told me he was bored and brought his book on vampires to read on the stand. There was no hint of dissatisfaction from Mr. Smead and it disappoints me that he did not approach this matter in a more professional manner. I always say that "our success depends on your success" and I truly believe this. My positive reviews on this site are evidence of my beliefs. I'm not going to speak badly of someone else but will only give the facts. This was NOT a guided hunt as he stated and this group was hunting with rifles. I do not typically offer guided hunts for whitetail. I do charge $25 a hunter to stay extra nights after their hunt is over which I explain to everyone who hunts with us so there is no miscommunication. It is possible that Mr. Smead forgot our conversation as he booked 10 months prior to his hunt.

I believe that this poor review is no more than a person blaming someone else for his inability to shoot. This review would have never been posted had the animal been harvest instead of wounded by his son. Mr. Smead and his son were obviously not experienced shooters and should have practiced more before going on a hunt. I want to note that his son's shot was only 80 yards yet he still missed. After this miss, Mr. Smead told his son "Well, at least you hit him." This statement reinforces unethical hunting practices which I want NO part of on my ranch. This type of attitude teaches our youth that it's ok to wound animals and not give them the respect they deserve.

In addition, Mr. Smead should have brought more reliable guns as his gun jammed after the initial wounding of the deer and a second shot was attempted. We later jumped up the deer out of his bed and he shot and missed a 50 yard broadside standing still shot and then his gun jammed again and then one more time after taking another missed shot at a hog while night hunting.

I believe he failed to mention these important facts.

I feel as an outfitter my job was to put the game in front of them which I did. Mr. Smead and his son were unable to close the deal and therefore he needs someone to blame. I appreciate the fact that texashuntfish allows the outfitter to add to the facts as there are always two sides to every story.

Allen Williams Dos Plumas Hunting Ranch

Thanks for your open mindedness. This response is what I have posted on other sites that this guy went to. 

Allen,

This is exactly why I'm not involved in guiding/outfitting for hunting and fishing.   I read between the lines and definitely had the impression that this guy lacked any real experience hunting and probably had some unrealistic expectations.

I'll reiterate your thoughts...Deer and other creatures were not put here on earth for our entertainment.   They were placed here to provide nutrients for our bodies.  They are living, breathing, thinking creatures of god and they deserve our respect in harvesting them humanely.  If you can't do that, then you are not prepared to engage in this sport. 

Secondly, If I've paid a large sum of money to hunt deer the last thing I want is some yeah-hoo tromping around half the night in the same pasture that I'm going to hunt deer in the morning.  Save the coyote hunting for after deer season ends. 

Again, it's apparent that this guy has unrealistic expectations due to a total lack of understanding....lest I say, ignorance.  

I wouldn't worry too much about this guy as I'm sure he would be disappointed regardless where he hunted or who he hunted with.  Personally, I think you were kind.  He wouldn't have gone afield again on my place after demonstrating his (and his son's) incompetence after that demonstration on the first deer.   

Sounds like some mis-communication here.  Perhaps Allen could have clarified a few things but it also sounds like Jeff could have prepared a few things better. 

His son had never fired this rifle before?  Really, You're going to make an out of state trip and spend thousands of dollars and not know where your rifle is hitting?  Thats irresponsible.  Leaving the store not knowing which type of ammo you have is also irresponsible, you aren't buying apples here.  You are buying something that could save or take a life.

I've been on both sides of this issue myself.  Some responsibility has to be shared by the guide, if he is at fault.  However, I've had clients that have shown up stoned, drunk or otherwise unable to hit the broad side of the barn. There is only so much a guide can do with what he has to work with.

 Lord knows there are some Yahoo's out there.  There are guys who shouldn't be in the woods, ever.

There are also some "guides and outfitters" who put a sticker on their truck, make a website and all of a sudden they're a guide too....

I think what happend here was ill preperation,  by the hunter, and perhaps by the guide for not having seats in the blind. But over all some  miscommunication involving all parties.  Everything I've heard about Dos plumas has been positive but everyone has bad days.

The Hunt goes on forever, the season never ends. http://www.hossfly.com 979 777 1725

I also had a bad experience @ Dos Plumas. Went on a hug "hunt" in 2008. Feeders didn't work 3 out of the 4 times in the field. 3 rifle hunters and and 2 bowhunters in the same 500 acre pen. No archery target in camp. Had to go to town and purchase my own. A father and son showed up on Saturday morning The father didn't hunt due to health issues and the son had never shot a bow before. The kid, 16 or 17years old,  shot a ram "ear tag still in" through the snout on the morning "hunt". Said his sights were off. Allen tried to show him how to shoot a bow in not much more than 20 minutes. This isn't ethical to me but I'm not the one catering to a return guest. Asked if we would help the guide and kid find the wounded ram so the kid could  take it. We all went into the 500 acre pen and I did manage to find the ram bedded down. The kid couldn't get set up and the ram spooked. We found it again, the kid shot it right up the arse from 10 yards. It ran and the guide" see also 18 year old ranch hand" had to finish it off with a rifle. Don't get me wrong here Rodger the ranch hand worked his butt off. So did the 3 of us trying to find the wounded ram. We stayed out and fished in a couple of the stock tanks, the BEST part of the weekend. When we returned to camp we were not even so much as thanked for finding ram and helping to harvest it. Went out for the evening hunt and again the feeder didn't work. Never saw a hog the entire weekend. When Allen picked us up after dark he took us to different stands and told us since we wanted to hunt that night, here it is. Nothing was said that afternoon about staying out and not being brought back to camp. We were also told that he was not coming back to get us and we were going to have to walk out. If I had known this was going to be the case I would have had my flashlight. and not had to walk out in dark.Needles to say I was not in the least happy!! This is not my idea of a class operation. Prospective clients BEWARE !!! Take it for what it is worth.

Found this post and thought I would share my experience at Dos Plumas.  There were lots of hogs although all were really small.  Only big ones were sows that you had to pay extra to take. 

Allen asked if one of us would take an injured ram he had seen.  My buddy Travis agreed.  He missed it cleanly as his gun was way off.  When we had all three taken our rams we called Allen and told him to come get us, and that T had missed the one with the bad leg.  Allen brought his dog to "find" that ram because he was sure T had hit it.  And would be charged for two hunts as he had taken another ram.  He drove us to a spot were he said he saw blood on the way down to get us.  If the spot was blood it was days old.  I have hunted for many years and I have never seen an animal leave only one spot of blood the size of a dime, and no hoof tracks near it in the red sandy soil.  After looking for about an hour we found nothing.  So Allen was a bit testy about the whole deal and swore T had shot that ram.  The next evening I was on a stand with my bow and that injured ram came limping in under the feeder.  I took some pics of it with my digital camera and then the ram went and bedded down in the brush outside the feeder.  A bunch of piglets came in and left, and then Allen and my crew showed up just after dark. I told him that ram was bedded dopwn a short distance away so I took my streamlight and he and I went looking for it.  It stood up, and we literally caught it by hand.  He checked it over and there was not a mark on it other than the severly swollen foot that was causing the limp.  Allen acted really ticked off and hardly spoke the whole way back to the house.  I don't if he was mad about being wrong about him hitting the ram, or if he wanted to get paid for a second hunt by T.  So needless to say we won't be going back either.  I had hunted at a Ranch in East Texas a few years before and the hogs were much bigger and the guy was a very cool person.  I have also since found a business associate who has a deer lease in South Texas near Victoria and they want as many hogs killed as possible.  I just went down there three weeka ago and took three in two days.  They were free range, and all were bigger than any we saw at Dos Plumas.  I took a boar that went 250, and am having a euro mount done of his head right now.  

I think Allen has the right idea, and right pricing, maybe get some bigger hogs, and loose the "I am always right" attitude.