RE: Why are hunts so damn expensive???
In terms of a brown bear hunt 10k is a bargain, maybe too cheap for a quality hunt. Think about how much it costs to own and maintain an airplane, or a 60-80 foot yacht for the boat based hunts. It costs thousands just to feed them in a land where everything has to be flown in. I can only imagine what the insurance costs for these operators. Plus the guides, camps, support staff.I assume the wages are much higher in a place where milk is probably more than $5 bucks a gallon.
I too lust after one of these hunts. The brown bear is my number1 animal I would like to hunt. But it will probably never happen.
It kills me to think about the cost of many hunts today howeverwhen you consider the guides are working 16-18 hrs a day thier wage is a bargain.
As to the booking agents: The guys who are looking for an easy buck won't last long. thereis no easy money in this business. If an outfitter is willing to book the hunt around his Agent he has just shown you he is not trustworthy. If he is willing to screw the guy who brings his clients to the door He is certainly willing to screw YOU! A good agent has invested thousands on every outfitter to make sure they are legit, and thousands more on the ones who didn't make the cut. Due to the here today gone tomorrow agents, the days of a free evaluation hunt are over exept for a very select few. I spent time with 4 outfitters last year on my own dime and none of them made the cut. This costs alot of money but I do it so you don't have to.