Nick Suft with his giant 240+ Arizona Strip Buck taken with Shadow Valley Outfitters in 2018
Shadow Valley Outfitters was created in 2015 to offer our clients a more personalized approach to the guided and outfitted hunting experience. Owned and operated by Pat McCarty and Ben Brochu, we worked for some of the largest Outfitters in the state and choose to walk away for a more personalized approach. Our business model is based around building relationships with our clients before they arrive in camp, working extremely hard for our clients, and truly enjoying our time together during the hunt. In fact, many of our past clients return the following year just to hang out in camp and help the other hunters.
We believe that honest conversations are the foundation for a successful hunting trip. We will always give our hunters realistic expectations for what we expect to harvest during the hunt and we will never over hype a hunt just to book a hunter. Honest conversations will give you and your guide the best chance for an enjoyable and successful hunt.
We know that many hunters have different expectations and hunting goals. We can build hunting packages to fit any hunter’s goals and expectations. Maintaining a small business model allows us to have the flexibility to maintain the personalized approach we created Shadow Valley Outfitters to meet.
By way of background, Pat and Ben are both first responders with strong ties to Arizona and extensive experience in land and wildlife stewardship. We have a combined total of over two decades of professional guiding experience.
Pat McCarty is a Captain and paramedic with the Prescott Fire Department. He is married, has three children, and resides in Prescott, Arizona.
Ben Brochu is a recently retired first responder and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Science/Ecology from the University of Arizona. He spent 14 years with the Arizona Game and Fish Department in a variety of roles, including Dispatcher, Wildlife Specialist, Wildlife Manager/Game Warden, and Terrestrial Wildlife Program Manager for Region 5 in Tucson. He later completed his career as an engineer firefighter with the Tucson Fire Department, retiring in October of 2025. Ben is married and has two children.
Shadow Valley Outfitter's guide Trevor Davenport with a great strip buck he found and helped harvest.
We have assembled a team of over 60 guides around the state, each of which specializes in specific units and species they’ve grown up hunting and guiding. We have experienced and knowledgeable guides to cover every unit and species in Arizona.
When you book a hunt with Shadow Valley Outfitters, you can be assured that you are hunting with a guide that has years of experience guiding that same hunt. Our guides have been fortunate to harvest bulls into the 350-400 inch range and bucks well over 200 inches. We will not subcontract you to another guide service.
When you book with Shadow Valley Outfitters you will know who your guide is in advance and you will be in contact with him well before your hunt begins. We will spend the weeks and months before your hunt scouting hard to maximize your hunt experience. We keep track of antler growth, animal movement and feed conditions throughout the year to help you make the most of your hunt. Shadow Valley Outfitter guides will be able to give you real time scouting reports that will help give you accurate expectations for your hunt.
Our camps are set up with comfort in mind. We know a comfortable camp provides for good rest and an enjoyable experience. Fully outfitted hunts are done primarily out of wall tents, however camp trailers are occasionally used. During some hunts when we have larger camps, we typically hire a cook and have a large cook/eating tent with several tables, chairs and heaters. During fully outfitted backpack style hunts, a small ultralight tent and sleeping pad will be provided as well as dehydrated meals, instant oatmeal, lightweight snacks, coffee and water.
On guide only hunts, some clients prefer to hunt out of cabins, hotels, or Airbnb/Vrbo rentals depending on their needs or preference, while others elect to camp with their guides in the field. We are extremely flexible and happy to discuss any option you'd like.
You are welcome you to bring a family member or friend along with you to share in the experience during any hunt. On fully outfitted hunts, we charge $50/person/day for family/friend add-ons. There is no charge to bring anyone on a guide only hunt.
Hunting style is completely based on what's going to give you the best chance for success - extensive glassing, spot and stalk, calling, and sitting a blind are typically most common. During most hunts, we use a combination of hunting tactics. Your guide will recommend the best tactics for the conditions and animal behavior we are seeing.
