Hey guys, some one here is a booking agent will you email me if you see this.
[email protected]
thanks todd

Todd - You' ve got mail

I' ll be sending you an email. Edited the phone # out. Please use e-mail for that

A little food for thought....who does a booking agent work for, you or his client?

Thats a good question, and I' ve often wondered the same thing. Is a booking agent the same thing as a salesperson for an outfit? I understand that a booking ageny must also have a reputation to keep up. But if a hunter wants to book through an agent, does he now have to worry about two reputations? I also understand that a booking agent can be a real benefit when traveling overseas to say africa. How does a booking agent get paid???

A booking agent get' s a percentage from the Outfitter - they are a salesperson for possibly several business' s.

I' ll take a crack at this, since I' m trying to build a Booking Agent business. I started my business representing New Brunswick Outfitters at the shows out here in the southwest. I knew there was some business here for them, but it was not cost effective for them to fly out here, pay hotel, meals, etc. I was going to do this for free, until they offered to pay me for it. Yes - commissions. As prospective clients asked for more options, I began to seek out other reputable Outfitters to represent. I agree that I have 2 sets of clients - the Outfitters, whom I try to represent equally, fairly, and honestly; and the hunters and fishermen, whom I do my very best to pick out the ideal Outfitter for. Until I can get to every Outfitter, I learn as much as I can about them, their operations, references, locations, etc. I feel the best service I provide though, is for the sportsmen. Sportsmen, unless they have recommendations from friends, etc., have a zillion choices for Outfitters. I try to take their criteria - budget, species, location, physical condition, hunting style, etc., and make good, solid recommendations. With my current base of Outfitters, I can usually give them at least a couple of choices. I never liked being presented with one option. I can be as involved, or not involved, as the client likes. I can simply refer them, or I can book all the dates, collect deposits,etc. I do not lie; if I don' t know, I say I don' t know; I don' t embellish, or blow smoke. Different booking agents have different policies - I don' t charge the clients for my services, and I won' t represent an Outfitter that wants to " mark up" my price, to absorb the commission. You should always pay the same price, whether you book through me, or directly. Booking agents should be following up with their clients, to ensure satisfaction. Sorry for the long post, but I enjoy this endeavour immensely. I like all the Outfitters I work with, and I enjoy talking to and meeting with sportsmen and women. That being said - I am not sure whether I suck at it, or whether I' m simply the victim of a poor economy. So far, I' m not doing very well at it, and do it primarily for enjoyment.

Muskrat89 laid it out pretty well. I have a hunt consulting business, and though I help outfitters, I work for the hunter (and myself). Sure, the outfitter benefits, but I seek to provide the best hunts to my clients, period. If they don’t have good trips, I don’t have a business. One year I booked 11 Osceola turkey hunters to a place (and hunted there myself). Everyone killed a gobbler, everyone. I quit using the outfitter though because I didn’t like his attitude and personality with clients. The hunting was good, but for $1500 I think people should be treated with great hospitality and have a great overall experience. This spring, I had 81 turkey hunters that took 92 gobblers and missed 20 more. I already have 76 turkey hunters booked for 2004, and 8 for 2005. So repeat business and reputation mean everything in this business, and if you screw people, it takes no time for the word to get around. Then you are out of business. Good booking agents work for their clients first, or they won’t be around long. Like Muskrat89 said, you talk to a client, find out exactly what he is looking for, and then you give him a few options of hunts that you think will fit his needs. If someone comes to me and wants a hunt, I will set them up on a hunt where know they are with good people that will treat them right, there is game to be hunted, and they will get 100% effort from people that run very high success rates. All hunts are fair chase, so there is no guarantee, but my turkey hunts average 90-95% success with many outfitters at 100%, and my deer and elk hunts average over 80% with most of my private land hunts hovering around 100%. I cut out the leg work for clients, and if they book through me, they have piece of mind that they are going to the right place where they will not get ripped off…

Tim Herald

Tim, you can talk of your business, but you cannot provide links, unless you are going to pay to advertise through Huntingnet.

Sorry about the links..didn' t mean to break the rules...thanks...Tim