 | Hunter Testimonials |
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Over the years we have guided many hunters to their trophy Arizona Bulls as is apparent in our Photo Galleries. Not only do we value the trophies taken, but more so the friendships forged with our hunters during the hunts that continue to this day. We realize that there is more to a hunt than just the animal taken. It's about demonstrating to our hunters character, integrity, and creating lasting memories that will stay with our hunters for a lifetime.
Check out what our hunters had to say about their Arizona Elk Hunting experience with Chappell Guide Service.
Click Here to read our Testimonials 2 Page Click Here for the Elk Units we Hunt
Chappell Guide Service- "Big Bulls of Arizona"
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| Dear Steve,
Just thought I'd give you an update--- I know I have to wait for the 60 day drying period, but I just "unofficially" scored my elk according to Pope & Young. The tough guy scored 376 7/8's Gross and 368 1/8 Net!!! Pretty nice elk I'd say, Pretty darn nice!!!
It was one fantastic hunt. Daniel, your guide, was the very best! I cannot tell you how much we enjoyed hunting with him. He was very personable, fun to be with, knowledgeable, and a hard worker. I was fortunate to harvest a beautiful bull and had a wonderful time every day of the hunt. I will recommend your guide service to everyone I know.
Thanks Steve for giving me one of the best hunts of my life.
Dave Warner
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| Steve,
I just wanted to say thank you again for our Arizona late elk hunt experience. It will be a hunt that I will never forget. When I first spoke with you on the phone after I drew my tag, I knew I was in good hands for my hunt. Your experience in elk country shows, we went in for a specific bull and ended up harvesting him. That speaks volumes when you're chasing late season, pressured elk. You go above and beyond to get a hunter his trophy bull.
It was an honor and a pleasure to hunt with you and I hope to do it again sometime. It may look like my wife or son will draw a tag before I do again, so you can plan on seeing the Sarver family again.
Thanks again,
Jon Sarver |
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| Hi Steve,
As you are aware, I just returned home from my 2011 Arizona Late Elk Hunt in Northern Arizona with your outstanding guide, John. At age 59, this was a hunt that I had dreamt about since my high school years. The hunt was just as you had described in our correspondence and phone conversations. Lots of hunters, elk scattered, and long range shooting (680 yards anchored mine).
I have hunted with six other outfitters and your outfit is right at the top. Thank you so much for taking the time to provide me with everything that I needed in making my Arizona dream hunt come true.
Dave Wright- Indiana |
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(via phone)
"Mr. Chappell I wanted to let you know that I had a very enjoyable and exciting hunt with your guides.
Brian and I both got great bulls. I just wanted to call and tell you thank you. Again, very exciting hunt!"
Gilbert Ross
Thank you Gilbert and Brian and congratulations on 2 awesome Arizona Bulls!
Steve
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Steve,
Thank you for an Awesome elk hunt!! The guides were very professional. Their expertise, knowledge, and dedication to the hunt was outstanding.
The elk hunt was once-in-a-lifetime and it was probably one of the most enjoyable and relaxing hunts that I have ever had knowing that I was in the hands of experts.
Thanks again,
Brian Fagerberg |
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| Hi Steve,
I finally made it back home and am trying to get caught up with everything.
I had an AWESOME hunt with your guides, Rod and Dennis, and as you saw from the photos, the elk that I got was a VERY NICE BULL!! I could not be happier with the way the hunt was conducted, and the professionalism exercised by these fine outdoorsmen!
We hunted hard, had to endure some poor weather conditions, and traveled many miles each day in search of mature, trophy bulls, which were not so easy to come by on the late hunt. The country where Rod found my bull was some of the thickest, nastiest, tangled up mess that I have ever seen, and it is a miracle that he was able to pick out this bull in that stuff!
I was truly amazed at the cabability these guys had when glassing up elk in that huge country. I thought I was good at glassing up animals in big country with the extensive mule deer hunting that I have done in the past 15 years, but I cannot hold a candle to Rod or Dennis!
These guys also worked very hard to ensure that the meat was well cared for and kept clean in the field, as well as taking extreme caution with handling the cape and the skinning process. They were like Clydesdale Horses when it came to packing the meat and cape out! I have nothing but good things to say about every aspect of the hunt, and would highly recommend your guide service to any potential clients!!
Thanks again for putting me in the best possible hands for this hunt, and I hope you and your family and team have a great Holiday Season!
Robert Batson
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Steve, Thanks for the most memorable hunt of a lifetime in Unit 9, Arizona!
I had been saving points by myself for many years to go on an Arizona Elk Hunt and wanted to do it right. Well, I did!! I couldn't believe it (or could my friends), but the hunt was exactly like you described it to me- only better. Hearing 6 to 8 bulls bugling every day and getting within archery range to 3, 4 or more daily was unbelievable. It was just like the videos.
I knew after a few days of hunting with you, Nevan and Gary that I was having a memorable, close encounter elk hunt whether I killed or not. The kill was just an added feature.
I feel very qualified to say after hunting 13 out of 14 days with you that your preseason scouting, knowledge, calling expertise, and dedication to the hunt is unequalled in a guide service. Come next September I'll be wishing I was there hunting elk with you in sunny Arizona. Steve, would you please thank the guys again personally for me that were there to help make my hunt a success.
Thanks Again!
Bill Arnold |
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Steve,
We had a great time on the hunt. I cannot say enough good things about your guide Anthony- he did a great job. I suspect our late hunt was better than most and would attribute that to knowing the area, knowing how to hunt, and remaining persistent and positive.
I have never hunted with a guide before and wasn't sure if it was for me, but now see how guides provide the opportunity for hunters to experience new places and hunt world class game. It was a tremendous advantage to have Anthony lead me into elk country- but we still had to hunt hard.
We saw some bigger bulls during the hunt and missed a couple of opportunities, but I am very pleased with the bull I shot and the overall experience. It was a long shot and I was allowed to participate in the activities after the shot.
I suspect it will be several years before I draw another Arizona elk tag. When I do though, you will hear from me again.
I would be happy to speak with anyone considering your outfit and would give a great reference.
Thanks again,
Chad Howard
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Steve,
I cannot fully express the pleasure and enjoyment that I experienced with you on my recent Arizona Muzzleloader elk hunt. I consider myself to be very demanding of my guided hunts; on the outfitter, guide, and myself. In the days following a hunt, situations usually begin to be revisited in my head and the critiqueing begins. I can honestly say that there is nothing I would have changed on our hunt.
The thrill of having bulls literally standing over me will be forever etched in my memory. The number of quality elk that we encountered, being surrounded by screaming bulls, and the dozens that you called in made this the true Hunt of a Lifetime. You run a first class outfitting service and provided me with the opportunity to harvest a beautiful, trophy bull.
Sincerely,
John Glatz |
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| Steve,
We made it home last night around 10PM...
We had a great time and are looking forward to hunting with your guides Mitch and Austin again already. I don't know if I can say enough about them to do them justice. They are a couple of awesome guys. They are very professional and hard working. We were impressed with how well prepared they were and how well they knew the area.
Probably the biggest plus for me was how much fun they made the hunt. I knew going into the hunt that it was late and would be harder to get on animals than other times, but they made the hunt enjoyable none the less.
I will be talking with you in the very near future about places to put in for next year.
Thanks for everything,
JD McDaniel
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Steve,
Thanks for a great hunt! Your guide could not have been more accommodating! He always asked what ideas I might have in regards to where to hunt, how to approach the numerous bulls we encountered, etc. It was nice of him to give up time with his family to go to dinner with me almost every night even though my hunt was "guided only".
He was always on time to pick me up to hunt, always positive, and just a great guy to be with. The only thing he needs to work on is being more brave when lightning strikes 40 yards away!
I'll be in touch about my future application choices. Thanks again.
Tom Lindley |
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I will never forget the day that I got the phone call from my oldest son saying that I had drawn an Early Muzzle loader Unit 9 Bull tag. I was so excited! I called everyone that I knew to tell them the news. Then I began to think about all of the work that I had ahead of me... sighting in my gun, scouting, buying all the necessities, etc. I knew that I had drawn the tag of a lifetime- now all I had to do was capitalize.
Within weeks of the draw results I began to visit with various guide services. One stood out- Chappell Guide Service. Steve sent me a DVD and I watched in amazement at some of the bulls that were on it. I thought to myself, "Man would I like to get a shot at a bull like those!" I called Steve back and we set up the hunt!
It seemed like the next few months took forever to pass, but the day finally came. I met with Steve and John, who would be guiding me. On opening day we immediately got into bulls. John was very impressive to hunt with. He could hear a bull bugle, recognize him, and say, "He's going this way," and everytime we would intercept the bull. We were seeing lots of good bulls but just weren't getting the good shot that we needed.
On the third evening of the hunt, John intercepted a bull that had cows with him. The cows walked past us and out of site with no shot at the bull. Then John cow called and the cows came back. John said, "Get ready, the bull will follow." Again John was right. The bull came out and my shot was right on!
My bull is a 6x7 with an extra brow tine that scores in the 360's. What a fantastic hunt! Thank you Steve and John for making this a Hunt of a Lifetime for me!
Sincerely,
Randy Cumbie |
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Steve,
My Archery Elk Hunt with your outfit was the Best of my Lifetime. I really enjoyed George Jr. & Sr. They were very professional. The only problem was that they fed me too much!
Be assured if I ever get drawn again for elk that I will be in contact with you to hunt again with your team. Please feel free to use me as a reference.
Sincerely & Thanks Again,
John Breitkreitz |
| Hi Steve,
We have been busy since I got back from the elk hunt, trying to get the cotton ready for harvest, doing some laser leveling, and planting alfalfa. I think the worst day hunting is more fun than the best day farming!
I wanted to let you know that I really enjoyed my elk hunt. Your guide was thoroughly familiar with the hunt unit, and it was very apparent that he had put in a lot of time scouting the area and the elk. He found elk virtually everyday we went out.
As you mentioned, this was not an ideal year due to the lack of moisture, and earlier start of the hunt. But, whatever your methods are for hiring quality guides for your hunts- it is working. If I get drawn again, you will be the first call that I make.
Thanks,
Claude Brown |
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Steve,
The hunt with your guides couldn't have been better. I feel that they did the best possible job for me.
I had hopes and visions of a slightly bigger bull, but I am convinced that we got one of the biggest available this year.
Bringing my own camp and going "guided only" was the perfect choice for me.
Sincerely,
Billy Cox |
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| Well what can I say but that it was another awesome season. I had drawn a late bull rifle tag. With low draw results here in Arizona, I was fortunate to get drawn. I have been to many Elk Society and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation events where I first met Steve back in 2005.
I have been on many guided hunts all over the US and have had a lot of experiences with guide companies. Once I received my 2009 draw results, I immediately booked my hunt with Chappell Guide Service. I have been following his elk seminars and his Extreme Bulls videos for several years. I knew that Steve and his guides would be the perfect fit for me.
The guide's knowledge and behavior patterning of elk was outstanding. His hunting ability and professionalism was by far among the best that I have experienced. With the challenges of a late season hunt and a huge amount of hunting pressure in the area, I had my doubts, but we were on bulls every day.
I was successful and harvested a 6x7 with a gross score of 355" on the third day of the hunt! I feel that a strong friendship has been formed. When I draw again, I will definitely hunt with Chappell Guide Service. I highly recommend them to others for a great and stratifying hunt of a life time!
Best of Wishes,
Rodney Faria, Phoenix, AZ
Click Here for Page 2 of the Testimonials |
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