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To: The Hunting Report From: Steve Morris of Morris Hunting Company Date: June 9, 1998 Re: Michael Sansone?s bear hunt
I have received your letter and a copy of Michael Sansone?s report. This negative report did not surprise me as it reflected Sansone?s negative attitude from the time that he arrived. I say this from my nine years as a registered guide and my ten years prior to that as an assistant guide.
Sansone was treated no differently than any of the other clients whom I had this spring for brown and black bear hunts. I had a total of 10 clients for two different hunts. All the other clients were very pleased with their hunts. A total of six bears were killed. The other clients who were unsuccessful have no complaints about my operation and intend to return for future hunts. Mick Sansone seems to feel that he was hustled as he reports to you and to Garth Carter.
I placed Sansone with a very experienced guide in the area where an archery hunter was successful last spring season. The camp, we call it Moose Valley, is a denning area and bears are regularly seen. In fact, Sansone told me he had seen a bear on the ridgeline above the camp, yet in all of his reports he claims to have seen no bears. This tends to make his story and complaints sound better.
After seven days of miserable weather, Sansone informed me he wanted his money back and would leave the hunt early. I urged him to stick the hunt out; I planned to take him to another camp. I offered to extend his hunt beyond the ten days he was booked for. I also offered him a discounted return hunt, if he did not have an opportunity for a shot at a bear. I have done this for previous hunters who were successful, including this season?s clients.
In my years as a guide/outfitter, I have been praised by my clients and many return and most of my business comes from referrals by satisfied clients. No outfitter can guarantee perfect weather nor 100 percent kill rates. I have the best available setups for Alaska hunting. However, sometimes we can?t guarantee total satisfaction to certain types of clients.
I ask that you use your best judgment on printing Sansone?s complaint. I expect you will be receiving more positive letters from other clients of mine, some of them not always successful in the hunt, but having found the whole experience rewarding which is part of what hunting is about. I hope their reports are also made available to the hunting public. Finally, perhaps other guides and outfitters should be made aware of Sansone as a client; thus I have forwarded all materials regarding this incident to the Alaska State Attorney Generals office in Juneau. Perhaps my unfortunate experience with such a client as Sansone can be avoided by others. I believe that it is Mick Sansone who is trying to hustle me. If he returns to Alaska and tries this with another guide at least there will be a record of it.
Mick Sansone did forward some copies of magazine articles to prove whatever it was he was trying to prove about himself to you and Garth Carter. I have enclosed a copy of a magazine article published in Alaska Bowhunter (available on Steve L. Morris by request). This article about Tim Laurie has some real merit here. Tim hunted in the exact same camp, with the same guide, starting on the same day, one-year prior in 1997. Mick Sansone should take lessons here from Tim Laurie. Not so much regarding his bear hunt, but in his moose hunt. Tim Laurie returned last fall to hunt moose after his successful bear hunt in the spring. He had terrible weather for seven straight days. I flew over them several times to check on them and was unable to land do to the strong winds. Finally, on day seven, I was able to land. Tim was very frustrated with the weather and the hunt. He said his hunt was going bad right from the beginning when his luggage was three or four days late on arriving. He was frustrated and told me he was done and wanted to go home. I had to convince Tim into staying, I told him I had a big bull moose spotted not far from Ilaimna and there was three days left in the season. The next day I flew him out to this new camp with another guide. The next morning, Tim killed a very large moose (he claims it is the new number five SCI archery) with one-day left in the season. When I landed to pick him up from the camp the first words out of his mouth were ?Steve, I thank you enough for talking me into staying.? Mick should take note!
Thank you for considering my documented professionalism regarding this situation. I have enclosed a detailed description of the hunt should you wish to refer to it.
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To: The Hunting Report From: Steve L. Morris of Morris Hunting Company Date: June 9, 1998 Re: Report of Morris Hunting Company Bear Hunt, Spring, 1998
I conducted two hunts; one from April 25 to May 5, 1998; the other from May 10 through May 25, 1998. I had a total of 10 clients for the two different hunts. A total of 6 bears were killed.
THE FIRST HUNT
This hunt was in unit 17 which borders unit 9 but is open every year whereas unit 9 is only open in the springs of even numbered years. I had two clients for this hunt, John Clemmons for Wisconsin and Tom Budd from Alberta, Canada. Tom Budd had a guide/outfitter, Gordon Burton from Alberta, come along with him for the purpose of videoing the hunt. Gordon Burton purchased a license in the event they were successful early, then he would hunt. I had two camps in unit 17. One with John Clemmons and guide Jim Love. The other camp had Tom and Gordon along with guide Mike Featherstone.
The day I flew everyone into the camps the weather was beautiful. The following 11 days we had terrible weather. It rained and snowed every day. The winds were also extremely strong. Mike Featherstone spotted one bear while the two clients were holed up in the tent. Client Tom Budd claims he spotted one other bear. These hunters stayed the duration of their hunt. John Clemmons did not see a bear until the night I flew him out of camp.
THE SECOND HUNT
Mick Sansone was scheduled to arrive on May 8, two days prior to the opening of the hunt. I do this as much as possible to position everyone into camps and in the event of bad weather. Sansone arrived with two other clients, Tom Krueger from Minnesota and Lynne Greene from Nevada. A fourth client, Lloyd Brown, an outfitter from Colorado, arrived on another flight the same day. The weather was bad enough that I was unable to fly and neither did the Air Taxi that I was using. The next day the weather was bad all morning. I made one attempt to fly out to the camp where I intended to place Sansone but had to turn around due to weather. That morning two more clients arrived, Armand Brackman and Jeff LeClerc from Minnesota. Prior to noon on May 9, I was unable to fly or place any clients in camp. Around noon I flew Steve Cook, Sansone?s guide, into camp. I then flew out Sansone who was the first hunter in the field. I managed to get all hunters into the field by the end of the day. I moved 10 people, guides and clients. I chartered a Beaver to move one guide and three clients to Cottonwood camp.
Steve Cook had guided in the camp, called Moose Valley, on at least four other hunts. In the spring of 1997, Cook guided an archery hunter to success with an eight-foot bear. Then he guided Garth Carter to another eight-foot bear three days later and three other bears were seen from this camp. Two kills in six days of hunting from the same camp that Sansone now hunted. This is a productive camp and it is in a denning area.
I was still doing some flying on the first day of the season so I flew over their camp late that first day just to check in and make sure they didn?t forget anything important. I spoke to the guide over the radio and he indicated that they were fine. I informed them that I would give them three days or so before I would check on them again. I checked in on them on the 14th. Sansone appeared very unhappy about this hunt so far claiming that the weather was bad, and he wasn?t seeing any bears and that he was, hunting hard. Steve Cook indicated to me that Sansone was not a very pleasant client and that he was mad from the very first day when they awoke to a snowstorm. I told Steve I would check on them on the 16th or 17th and move them then, if necessary.
I returned on Saturday and Sansone met me at the airplane. Steve was glassing from down the runway. I informed him I was going to move them to Cottonwood area on the coast. I told Sansone that it would be difficult archery hunting because of the steep brushy terrain. At this time he made some comment about using a gun. Then he asked me if I would give him a refund of some kind and he would just go home, because he was burned out. He also mentioned the fact that he had paid me with cash and that it should make a difference. I explained to him very clearly that he still had several days left on his scheduled 10-day hunt, and that if he could extend longer it would not be a problem with me. I also told him if he did not get an opportunity at a bear on this hunt, I would have him come back on a reduced priced hunt. I have done that in the past. Sansone asked if he could possibly get to a phone prior to making his decision and I told him it would be no problem to stop at the cabin in Iliamna, enroute to Cottonwood Bay.
We arrived at my cabin in Iliamna, went inside and I placed the phone in front of Sansone to make his call. I then went outside and when I came back into the cabin Sansone told me he decided to leave because ?he just didn?t feel good about it.? I told him that was his decision but I had to fly to the Cottonwood Bay camp anyway to bring back a hunter.
I flew to the coast camp to pick up Lloyd Brown. When I arrived, I waited for Lloyd and his guide Dave Garganta to show up. They arrived about a half-hour later. Lloyd had killed a bear on their way back to camp. He was very happy about this bear although it was not large. I loaded up and flew Lloyd back to Iliamna about 11 PM. Also in this camp the same day, Lynne Greene killed a bear, but I did not know that at the time. These two bear kills were in the same location as I intended to fly Sansone but he refused based on his statement that he just didn?t feel good about it.
When we got back to the cabin, Sansone appeared unhappy as Lloyd talked about his hunt. Lloyd also indicated what a great setup I had. About midnight, Lloyd stepped out of the area for a minute and Sansone pulled out some paperwork and flashed a blank copy of the Hunting Report Evaluation form in front of me and asked me if I was familiar with it. I replied I was. I was a subscriber for several years. He said he had checked the with Hunting Report prior to coming on this hunt and they did not have any reports on me. I replied that lots of guides will hand various report forms to clients at the conclusion of a hunt and encourage them to fill the forms out and send them in. It?s not a practice of mine. Mick used this tactic as if to threaten me.
The next morning Lloyd and Sansone departed Iliamna with Lake Clark Air to return to Anchorage. Sansone left early in his hunt when he had an opportunity to hunt a new location and an offer to extend if that was necessary. He chose to leave, based on his two statements that he was burned out and he just didn?t feel good about it.
COMMENTS REGARDING SANSONE?S REPORT
References: Sansone called at least two of my references. Tim Laurie (847-464-4 1 17) who killed a bear the spring before in Moose Valley Camp and Ryan Dorak who also killed a bear last spring. Ryan called me to let me know of Sansone?s call and Sansone told me that he spoke to Tim Laurie. He may have called others. Ryan Dorak (920-822-5419) spoke to Sansone about hunting in Alaska. Ryan briefed me about this conversation he said that Mick was very worried about the money issue.
Facilities: Sansone?s report claims that camp facilities were poor, equipment was fair and food was fair. All my other hunters? claims that I provide excellent camps from cabin accommodations in Iliamna or Cottonwood to spike camps, with quality tents and equipment. Everyone seemed very satisfied with the spike camps. I had intended to put Sansone in a higher altitude spike camp in unit 9, to get above some of the dense brush and steepness of the coast. However, these camps were completely snowed in, with conditions that made them dangerous to get to and stay in. Mick makes a complaint about this. The camp he hunted in is only 10 miles from the unit 9 border.
My arrogance: Everyone had an opinion and Sansone is entitled to his. However, nine clients are very happy, but one isn?t. Within reason and regulations, I tried to provide the best hunt possible while keeping my clients safe. I offered Sansone options, which he chose to ignore. Regarding arrogance please read Mick Sansone's letter to Garth Carter, dated May 22,1998. In the last paragraph, Mick makes his statement that he doesn?t want to hear ?huntin is huntin not killin. . . gosh we sure havin bad weather?. It sounds as if Mick Sansone is exempt from this or maybe he?s above these conditions. It is an arrogant attitude at best.
Discounted hunts: Sansone comments about booking a discounted hunt and getting what he pays for. I had two hunters who paid less than he did for their hunts and both killed brown hears. One of these hunters did not arrive until May 15 to hunt the last 10 days of the season. He got a nice bear on the 20th of May after Sansone had returned home.
Issues of responsibility: Sansone has written to Garth Carter regarding what he feels are Carter?s responsibilities for Sansone?s not having a good hunt. Perhaps instead Mr. Sansone should question his own responsibility were he capable of doing so. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- NEW DOCUMENT ---------------------------------------------------------------------
To: The Hunting Report From: Steve Cook Date: June 29, 1998 Re: Michael Sansone?s hunt
My name is Steve Cook. I?ve been hunting in Alaska since 1979, five years have been spent as an assistant guide, three of those years working for Steve Morris. After reading the letters and reports that were sent by Mr. Sansone to various organizations, I felt it necessary for you to hear my side of the story.
I work full time for the Air National Guard. I use my vacation time from the Guard when I am guiding for Steve Morris. I do this because I enjoy getting out and seeing new country, meeting people, and also it gives me a little extra spending money. I have worked for other guide/outfitters and seen other operations. Since I do not need to guide for a living, you can believe me when I say, Steve Morris runs a top-notch operation.
The gear he has is the finest available. He stocks his camps with the finest food, and he takes care of all of his clients and assistant guides as well. He has assistant guides waiting in line to work for him. I have no problem telling you or anybody, it is a privilege to work for Steve Morris. Since I am an avid bow hunter myself, I am usually assigned to hunt with any bow hunters we have. As far as the outfitter not scouting, I personally have now guided seven brown bear hunters (including Mr. Sansone) five have been successful, and three were taken in the very location Mr. Sansone and I were hunting.
The first day of the season we experienced a snowstorm that lasted into the evening. Mr. Sansone was never very optimistic about the hunt and his negativity lasted throughout the hunt, even though on the 2nd day we spotted a quality bear. I estimated it was about three miles away, and headed the other direction.
There are some things I read in his reports that disturbed me. The statement about seeing no bears is not true. We saw a large bear the 2nd day heading away from camp. He doesn?t mention anything about seeing many animals including, caribou, moose and a beautiful gray wolf at about 40 yards. I?ve been hunting in Alaska for 19 years and have only seen three wolves. This was a highlight for me even if he was not impressed. As for arrogance, even after I told him ptarmigan season was closed, he still went out and shot one.
On the 6th day we were sitting in camp because of bad weather when Mr. Sansone told me he had never been away from home this long and he was home sick. Everyone probable gets a little home sick, but I find it very unfortunate that because an individual might be home sick, can stop his hunt short, demand money back and get negative reports published, because he decided to go home.
I?m sure there are some flim flam wannabe outfitters (quote form Mr. Sansone,) out there that your reports have helped get rid of. Morris Hunting Company does not fall into this category. Mr. Sansone talks about a ?close knit hunting community?. If this is the type of individuals you have in your close-knit community, I for one do not want anything to do with it.
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To: Garth Carter?s Hunting Services From: James T. Kruger Date: July 21, 1998 Re: Hunting experience with Steve Morris
Steve Morris of Morris Hunting Company in Anchorage, Alaska has sent me an unfavorable hunting experience by Michael Sansone and asked if I would respond directly and impartially to you regarding my hunting experience with Steve.
First, I?d like to give you a little background about me I am a self employed small business owner similar to Mr. Sansone so I think I come from the same hard earned environment and must select my hunting time and expenses accordingly. I am a rifle hunter and spend many hours preparing for my hunts and have my own rifle range to assure a successful kill when the right moment occurs. My first guided hunt was in 1972 and have had guided hunts almost every year since, some successful - some not, some outfitters good - some not. I have hunted from the Arctic to the lower 48 states.
I have been trying to get a brown bear for three years. The first year in Iliamna I sat on the side of a mountain for 10 days and saw nothing. The second year (and with the same outfitter) we hunted hard but did not have the opportunity to get close to an acceptable bear. I considered those two hunts as ?OK? but not the best. This last year I chose to hunt with Steve Morris in Iliamna and I saw bear and could have shot some but they were not large enough. I have booked a hunt with Steve Morris for the same area for the fall of 1999. I was on my hunt the same time as Mr. Sansone and would rate the outfitter, guide, conditions of the camp and equipment and the quality of the food to be excellent.
I believe a hunter has to realize that your hunt is for a selected period of time (10 - 15 days). The bear can come out of hibernation anytime before or after your selected time. Selecting that time is the key however that?s like predicting the weather. Also, you need to consider the location of the hunt such as remote locations and the area of the hunt. A hunter cannot expect the amenities you receive at a game ranch with those of a hunt in the lower 48 states and in turn you cannot compare the Alaska mainland with the peninsula (Iliamna) because of the remoteness and cost for bringing in supplies and the ever-changing weather conditions. Everything must be flown or shipped in because there are no roads.
In my final analysis of Mr. Sansone?s expectations of his bear hunt. - I believe he should stick to the game ranches in the lower 48 states. I do not want to be considered in his scope of an avid experienced hunter. GET REAL MR.SANSONE!!
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To: Michael Sansone From: Garth Carter of Hunter Services Re: Follow up letter to report
This is my follow-up letter to my May 29, 1998 letter to you.
After visiting and receiving correspondence with everyone I could concerning your spring brown bear hunt with Steve Morris, I offer you my opinion.
It turns out you hunted with the same guide, in the same area as I successfully hunted last year and also the same as one of the archery references you called, Tim Laurie, who also successfully hunted it last year. Therefore it appears you were hunting with a good guide in a good area.
According to Morris and your guide Steve Cook, you did in fact see a bear, and requested to leave before the completion of your hunt.
Morris stated that he had agreed to move you to another area and extend your hunt at no additional cost. Then, if in fact you were unsuccessful, he offered for you to come back at a reduced price -- sounds fair to me.
Michael, hunting is hunting. I wish you would have had a more enjoyable hunt, but you did not. I think you were treated fairly, that?s my opinion.
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