USA: Beware Of Todd Rice With Sonoran Outfitters

[Gerry Addison]

Just wanted to add my name to the long list of people that have been cheated by Todd Rice of Sonoran Outfitters. A good friend of mine did a Bison hunt with Todd Rice several years ago and said it was one of the best hunts he had ever been on so another friend and I booked the same hunt with Todd Rice for this past December. We both sent deposits totaling $12,000 and then he went dark on us. Wouldn't answer emails, texts, or phone calls. Finally not long before the hunt was scheduled to happen he texted that it wasn't safe to go there and he would refund "every penny of our money". Well now it has become a never ending number of excuses as to why he hasn't paid us. When I finally did research which I should have done in the beginning I see he pulled the exact same scenario on another person in 2023. Turns out he has had many judgements against him for pulling these same things including a large judgement by the Arizona District Attorney's office for 10 individuals. I'm in the process of filing a claim against him with the District Attorney's Office and we'll see what happens with that. Just want to be sure that none of you on this site make the same mistake I've made.

 

[Doug3006]

Yeah, there are a bunch of internet articles about him and his outfit. It’s maddening that he’s still ripping people off more than 7 years after having been adjudged a scammer by the Arizona AG.

 

[Gerry Addison]

He is still ripping people off because no law enforcement will do anything about him. Arizona District Attorney told us to contact our local law enforcement and we did. They told us Arizona would never extradite him because $12,000 wasn't enough money to fool with. So he continues to do this same thing to people. I was contacted not long ago by another gentlemen that was taken for another large sum of money. It is maddening that officials refuse to do anything.

 

[buck wild]

If he is living in another state and you sent $$ over a wire transfer, maybe your local Federal AUSA will be inclined to become involved, especially if you can gather up other affected folks and pad the loss amounts.

 

[Hogpatrol]

He'll first have to steal from a politician then it'll be game over.

 

[BRICKBURN]

He is still ripping people off because no law enforcement will do anything about him. Arizona District Attorney told us to contact our local law enforcement and we did. They told us Arizona would never extradite him because $12,000 wasn't enough money to fool with. So he continues to do this same thing to people. I was contacted not long ago by another gentlemen that was taken for another large sum of money. It is maddening that officials refuse to do anything.

Here I was hoping that there was some good news. Sorry no one is helping resolve this.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

He is still ripping people off because no law enforcement will do anything about him. Arizona District Attorney told us to contact our local law enforcement and we did. They told us Arizona would never extradite him because $12,000 wasn't enough money to fool with. So he continues to do this same thing to people. I was contacted not long ago by another gentlemen that was taken for another large sum of money. It is maddening that officials refuse to do anything.

Wow! It is Arizona after all. Law enforcement there is asking for this to be "resolved" some other way. Mr Rice probably should be wearing body armor while guiding. Guys like that have a way of having accidents on purpose. Especially in a business involving guns in the backcountry. He is either very brave or very stupid!

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Gerry, if you are really interested in shooting a bison, explore what some of the Indian reservations have to offer. More and more of them are getting on board with this. Typically not much hunting involved but if a wall hanger and a couple years' meat supply is what you're after, they can accommodate. Now you know you need to do your homework, with them as well. READ THE FINE PRINT. When you hunt on a reservation, you're in a jurisdictional twilight zone. Sounds like Arizona generally is no less risky for hunting consumers.

 

[Hyde Hunter]

South Dakota has quite ranches with Bison hunting

 

[Hogpatrol]

Rockin' G Ranch has bison hunts

 

[deewayne2003]

Yeah, there are a bunch of internet articles about him and his outfit. It’s maddening that he’s still ripping people off more than 7 years after having been adjudged a scammer by the Arizona AG.

Yeah, had to take Dan Pederson a gunsmith in Arizona to court for the return of a rifle he had for 2 years.

Local PD had stacks of complaints and knew the situation quite well but local DA would do nothing.

 

[Gerry Addison]

Gerry, if you are really interested in shooting a bison, explore what some of the Indian reservations have to offer. More and more of them are getting on board with this. Typically not much hunting involved but if a wall hanger and a couple years' meat supply is what you're after, they can accommodate. Now you know you need to do your homework, with them as well. READ THE FINE PRINT. When you hunt on a reservation, you're in a jurisdictional twilight zone. Sounds like Arizona generally is no less risky for hunting consumers.

We have looked at some of them but I haven't found one that I was confident in. I've heard some bad things. Would love to talk to someone that has had a good experience.

 

[Gerry Addison]

South Dakota has quite ranches with Bison hunting

We have looked at many of those hunts but most are "canned" hunts on small properties and one day, go out and shoot one. Not what we are looking for.

 

[KevinB]

Thank you for this update. I had been reaching out to him for hunt, but now I will look elsewhere.

 

[Gerry Addison]

I'm glad we prevented one person from being ripped off by this thief.