★☆☆☆☆DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY!!!!! Absolute worst hunting experience I've ever had was at Wilderness Hunting Lodge in Tennessee. We were 100% lied to from the start. Very first thing we asked about and were told was, "You'll have individual rooms. Not bunkhouse style." Guess where we stayed. In a bunkhouse, that was so crowded, I had to sleep on the couch. Next thing was the style of hunt. We were offered spot and stalk, stands over feeders, or dogs. I chose stands and feeders because for one, I have mobility issues because of a back injury when I was a teenager. And two because I don't believe in potentially sacrificing a dog's life so I can shoot another animal. When we got there we were told that there were no stands available or guides for a spot and stalk so it was dogs or nothing. These dogs had no collars or kevlar for protection. First time out, one dog gets killed within seconds of getting on a pig. Another severely wounded to the point they had to put them down. Then they just threw them on a burn pile. They had rams and hogs both. First ram we came up on just stood there, within arms length. And it was extremely thin and malnourished looking. The guide says, "That's a good one. You want him?" I asked, "What's wrong with it?" He said, "Nothing. Why?" Needless to say, I passed. Same thing with the first hog we walked up on. Ok size. About 125-130 pounds. It saw us and walked up grunting and wiggling its tail, like it was happy to see us. Guide says the same thing. "You want him. That's a good one." Again, pass. Finally, after a four hour climb up a mountain after telling them I had mobility issues, I got a decent hog. Fast forward two days later. We go to check out. The owner says, $900 each. My dad that was there with me says, "Excuse me. How much?" The guy says, "$900." My dad says, "We were quoted $400 each." Owner says, "Yeah. That's for the hunt. With trophy fees, guide fees (which our guide got a $100 tip already), and lodging it comes to $900 each." Needless to say a pretty heated argument followed, that other hunters got involved in because of the same reasons. We were all quoted $400 and no additional fees were ever mentioned during conversation, in the pamphlet we were sent, or on the Internet. First hunt we ever booked for anything. It took us almost a decade to lose the taste in our mouth and decide to try again, somewhere else. So I guess what I'm getting at, one thing that is just as important as your rifle, ammo, or any other gear, is RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH!!!!! Then when you're done, research some some more.
