Here is my 2, ok, maybe 3 cents
Only reason I am chiming in, is the properties that I hunt are around 10-12 miles away from his Boot camp property, so I think that makes a difference about the area. Also, living in MI, I walk properties that are owned by people who have attended, and also have had private visits, etc.
All of MI is not created equal, so a lot of times the hype behind his situation is because its "MI". He gets an amazing amount of praise because he does have success in a state, where most don't. However hunting 10-20 acre woodlots in that area, I can definitely say that his set up is good, and his results are good, but not really any different than what we experience with our hunting, and with our set ups. Which is also good. We use all the techniques discussed on old forums, and this one. We hunt half his acreage, 2x as many hunters, and I have days where I see 20+ bucks, and most days usually 7-10. Most are 1.5 yrs old, but killing a good buck like he posts are not as rare in that area as most of the state. They are great deer, and not knocking him, but to bring in those kind of paychecks based on those deer on the wall, in that area, is crazy to me. I don't think he could have pulled off his marketing in any other state, for this many years. We have the most hunters, most fragmented private land, and most desperate hunters for any edge. A secret society of deer hunting knowledge that your neighbors don't have, and he promises to never do a private visit to any of them if you pay for a private visit ??? like a virtual infomercial. This offer may expire tomorrow if your neighbor calls. ACT NOW !!
I don't think he has any mind blowing information that people that aren't as passionate as the people who visit these type of forums have from years of tinkering, reading, posting, etc. It may just do the same as a book, post, etc, is Highlight something that you are doing, or could do better, or more of, etc. Sometimes that is worth a lot if it makes you work harder, or put more of a priority on an aspect that you are lax in, etc.
For example, I am in my mid 30's so I have a pile of friends that hunt their parents land, or have just purchased new ground, etc. Haven't been logged in 50 years. No access screens, etc. Wide open woods, and deer can see you from 500 yards away. I talk, and talk, and show them pics, walk them on our property and they are blown away, and in aw at the work/difference, etc. and they wont get the woods logged, or fire up a chainsaw in 10+ years of talk. Its a big step and commitment. They go to a 2 day BC, and the next day are calling loggers to get them to come out, ordering trees, or seed to make their ultimate bedding and screening. They no doubt will have the best hunting they have ever had 5 yrs later after attending an BC. Deserve credit ?? Something about paying for information, or being in a tight lipped club to make you more enthusiastic about habitat work and actually pulling the trigger on some projects. Doesn't matter, I guess. Its human nature to act like that , and long story short, the BC did help them get past their mental block, or because it was a "professional" gave them the leverage to convince their hunting partners to move forward. Probably worth the 800$ just for that. Sometimes a 20$ book can do the same, others wont be convinced till they pay more. People just have odd ways of needing confidence.
On the skeptical side of just the claims. He does own land with his business partner in OH as well as MI. He use to post their harvest pics as " MI trophy" ,now just labeled the year/trophy.
Being a salesman, and this situation of exclusiveness/no technology has its advantages with anything he claims. ONLY 2 people hunt their properties, both of which are partners in the business. Never has used a trail camera, never has video taped any hunts, etc. Which is fine, but when you are a millionaire by marketing yourself on these claims, you could charge double if you were willing to prove it. Not proving it may have bigger advantages in some situations ??
NOW his property is new and improved with buck zoning system. I'm trying to crunch the numbers on this statement. They have 23 acres of woods. They run boot camps starting the first week of March where they march people all through the woods during the end of shed drop of the bucks. Yet, 2014 they claim they picked up 44 sheds, and in 2015 they picked up 46 sheds. Neighbors walking their properties, cutting wood, shed hunting, bunny hunting etc all winter and during that time, Struggling with believing this.....
Just my observations. I hunt in that area, and have learned 800$ worth of info from all of you, so I wanted to let you know a bit more about the area/situation as its different than 85% of the rest of the state. His property is set up very good and he has worked hard, just like most of us. I bet we'd be impressed walking his property, just as walking any of our own. I bet we wouldn't charge each other 800$ though
