Hi Bill,
Steve and I wanted to thank you for
an incredible time. You truly run a well organized camp.
It is unbelievable the amount of organization and work
it takes to run such an outfit. I'm trying to get Steve
to book another hunt for 2010. Once decided, I'll be in
contact.
Thanks again for the adventure I'll
always remember.
Bruno |
Bill,
Now that you've packed everything
out and can take a breather (yeah right), I just wanted
to say Mike and I really enjoyed our hunt with you.
Unfortunately, my camera did not survive the tumble off
the horse, so the best picture came out the worst. I've
enclosed some others also.
2007 was not a kind year to my
business early on, but it's looking up finally. If the
trends continue, I might be able to do this again
sometime. It the meantime, I will heartily recommend
your outfit to anyone who asks, and if a customer needs
a reference, have him give me a call. You run a tight,
professional, ship. The way it should be.
Sincerely,
Rod |
Bill,
I don't yet have any words to
describe how I feel about that smile on Riley's face but
I want to try to let you know how big you are. He
trusted you without doubt in a place that most kids his
age would never think of going. You heard about is
calling out for you in a dream? He was panicky at first
then he settled after three or four times calling out
"Bill!!!". You must have handled whatever it was because
he was right back to sleep. Looking forward to knowing
you all better and meeting more of the family.
Ryan & Riley
Riley says thanks a million and
please take care of his dogs while he's gone! |
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The theme for the MDF
Convention this year was "Hearts for Habitat"
and it truly lived up to this theme. One very
special moment actually had its beginnings at
the 2003 MDF Convention when Bill Plante of
Scapegoat Wilderness Outfitters in Fort Benton,
Montana donated a wilderness elk and mule deer
hunt for youth |
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only hunters. His goal with
this donation was to get more youth out to experience a
wilderness
hunting experience with their
parent and to pass on our precious hunting heritage.
After the hunt was sold at auction, Ron and Katie Frey
of Frey's Gunshop in Ridgecrest, CA said that they would
joint with Bill for the 2004 Convention by building a
custom rifle fit for a youth. Then John Smithbaker of
Brunton added in a pair of Etna binoculars and Waylon
Janousek's Wildlife Taxidermy of Great Falls, Montana
donated a deer shoulder mount, making this one
incredible package!
At the Saturday night auction, this
page went up for bind. After some excited bidding, the
final bid was reached at $7,000.00! The successful
bidders turned out to be a trio of MDF Life Members and
Conservation Partners - David Arthur, Bill Kiefer and
Leon Searles. Three men from three different parts of
American, but with the same heart and love for our
hunting heritage and mule deer country. They announced
that they would like to see the hunting tradition passed
on to a young person that had not had the opportunity to
experience such a hunt with their parent. At that
moment, these three men announced that they were giving
the hunt to a young man in the audience and called forth
13 year old Nolan Young of Reno, Nevada. Nolan is an
extraordinary young man who was born with cerebral
palsy. Nolan has hunted with his Father, Jay, for
chukars in Western Nevada, but has dreamed of hunting
mule deer. His dreams soon became a reality thanks to
the four MDF members who gave from their hearts to
ensure that our American hunting heritage gets passed on
to the next generation.
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Thank you so much for giving me and my Dad
the chance to hunt and experience Montana's
Scapegoat Wilderness with you. I think of
it often and will remember forever.
I Thank
You!
Your hunting friend,
 |
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Mr. Bill Plante
Scapegoat Wilderness Outfitters
P.O. Box 824
Fort Benton, MT 59442
Dear Bill,
I was referred to you by a client
of yours who told me that you would provide one of the
greatest hunting experiences of my life. I was not
disappointed. You provide what I believe hunting should
be; true fair chase of quality wildlife on their turf
with incredible scenery and unpredictable weather. On
top of that, you provide fantastic horses, great guides,
good food and an overall enjoyable experience.
As you know, we were the last hunt
of 2006 and the weather really did a number on out
ability to take an elk. I am not at all disappointed at
this fact for in true hunting there should be no
guarantees. Everyone on our hunt took an incredible mule
deer and despite the uncooperative weather, you and your
guides never gave up on trying to put us in position to
take an elk. You provide a hunting experience where
every animal taken is a true trophy, not only because of
the opportunity to take a quality animal, but because of
the experience associated with taking the animal.
I can honestly say that not a day
goes by since my return home that I do not think back to
our hunt. I will and have recommended you to everyone I
know who is looking for a challenging and rewarding
hunting experience. I look forward to returning to
Montana and creating more great hunting memories with
you soon.
Best Regards,
D. Chad Nuce |
Scapegoat Wilderness Outfitters
P.O. Box 824
Fort Benton, Montana 59442
Dear Bill,
I would like to thank you for the
10 great days of hunting I had this year. Your offer
great hunting, an excellent set-up for camp facilities,
gentle horses to ride, wonderful scenery and most
important, friendly and helpful people to guide us.
Although I didn't take any elk on this trip, I still
truly enjoyed myself and I learned a lot about elk
hunting. The next time I come out I plan to be better
prepared to climb your "hills". You run a first-class
operation and I'm glad I booked my trip with you.
Thanks again.
Tim Baker |
The Rocky Mountain Elk
Foundation
2291 W Broadway
P.O. Box 8249
Missoula, MT 59807
Dear RMEF,
Just a note to tell you how much in
enjoyed my hunt. Naturally it's exciting getting a 5 x 6
bull and a 5 x5 mule deer, but more than that, I've
never in my 23 years had a guide that worked so hard as
Bill Plante of Scapegoat Wilderness Outfitters. Neither
have I had a guide be so attentive to what shape I was
in, so as not to walk me into the ground while still
making sure that I hunted as hard as I possibly could.
Quite honestly, Bill is the most knowledgeable person
regarding elk and deer that I have ever had the pleasure
of hunting with. The horses, camp, personnel, and the
food were all great! It was my hunt of a lifetime. I
will go back.
Sincerely,
Dan Colacurcio, Jr. |
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MULE DEER
The Official Publication of the
Mule Deer Foundation
Fall 2003
Volume 8, Issue 4
President's Message
"Time To Hunt
Leaves are turning. Tall peaks are covered with
snow again. Pack mules are shod and saddled.
Wood stoves are burning in wilderness canvas
tents. Rifles are sighted in. Imaginations are
going full tilt. These are what set hunters
apart from others in our urban society. These
are also some of the things that my son,
Cameron, and I experienced recently in the
Scapegoat Wilderness of Montana.
The adventure began at the
2003 MDF Convention when I purchased this hunt
at the auction. Bill Plante of Scapegoat
Wilderness Outfitters donated this youth hunt to
support MDF and to get more youth afield.
Cameron hunted and I left my rifle at home!
Months of planning, packing, dreaming and
sighting of his rifle ensued. The activities
before the hunt are an important and necessary
part of the overall experience. Bill is an
outfitter extraordinaire and we had a fantastic
experience. Great camp, good food, solid pack
and riding stock coupled with an outfitter who
works hard, is very capable, knowledgeable and
personable makes for a trip to remember.
Though this trip only
lasted a week, Cameron and I will have precious
memories that will last a lifetime. Thanks Bill!
Get out and hunt this fall
- and take a youngster with you. Together, you
will never forget the experience.
Yours in Conservation,
Terry Wayne Cloutier,
President/CEO
Mule Deer Foundation
P.S. Bill has donated
another great youth hunt for the 2004
Convention. |
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Bill Plante -
Owner / Outfitter / Master Guide
Scapegoat Wilderness Outfitters
7268 Bailey Road
P.O. Box 824
Fort Benton, Montana 59442-0824
Phone: 406-622-3210
Fax: 406-622-3210
E:Mail:
swo@ttc-cmc.net
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