New to outfitting, looking for your advice.
03-22-2015 | 12:21 PM
#23
Spike
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Minnesota
Call Mark Werner at Kamaloops, BC. He is the past president of the Guide Association for the Western providences. He has bought worked and sold several concessions. He has always been successful. He will guide you in the right direction, but he is also a very busy man.
03-27-2015 | 04:03 PM
#24
Thread Starter
Spike
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: NB, Canada
Do you know if he works with people on the eastcoast, that are on a small scale.
03-27-2015 | 06:13 PM
#25
Fork Horn
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 494
Likes: 0
From: Altadena CA
ALWAYS answer EVERY question a potential client asks. This never fails: I send an e-mail asking five SHORT questions (i.e., "When does the season start?" or "Do I need to bring my own sleeping pad"). The outfitter responds (sort-of) to questions 1, 3, and 5, so I re-send asking questions 2 and 4, and he responds to only question 4. This ALWAYS happens. Drives me nuts!
(Lest you think I'm some sort of "grazer" who asks a billion questions and never books, the aforementioned problem usually happens AFTER I've already booked and I'm just trying to iron out logistics.)
Also, if you're going to have your daughter or wife answer the phone, make sure they know what they're talking about (or make sure they have YOU call the client back).
As others have said, be a straight shooter. No BS.
Keep track of client requests and HONOR them. If you say you'll provide a sleeping pad, a non-smoking guide, beds without a tailboard (News Flash: Some hunters are over 6'), a non-psycho horse, decaf, etc., make sure you follow through.
(Lest you think I'm some sort of "grazer" who asks a billion questions and never books, the aforementioned problem usually happens AFTER I've already booked and I'm just trying to iron out logistics.)
Also, if you're going to have your daughter or wife answer the phone, make sure they know what they're talking about (or make sure they have YOU call the client back).
As others have said, be a straight shooter. No BS.
Keep track of client requests and HONOR them. If you say you'll provide a sleeping pad, a non-smoking guide, beds without a tailboard (News Flash: Some hunters are over 6'), a non-psycho horse, decaf, etc., make sure you follow through.
Last edited by BTM; 03-27-2015 at 06:17 PM.
03-27-2015 | 10:36 PM
#26
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 3,695
Likes: 1
From: Illinois
BTM, just a small hint here, 99% of ALL horses that are breathing are freaking PSYCHO! Or they are the walking dead.
Munna07, Most have given you pretty much all that can be given on a site. I've used many outfitters in my years of hunting though I am fairly self sufficient. I just find it a little easier as well as safer to use someone familiar to the land if it is somewhere I have never been. What I look for in a guide/outfitter are three things:
1) First and foremost is SAFE! I really hate being in the woods with an unsafe individual.
2) Knowledgeable. Knows his equipment as well as the game that is being hunted.
3) Honesty! Don't try to BS me. If you don't know about something then be honest and say you haven't learned about whatever it is. Don't attempt to "con" your way through it. You may end up with a client such as myself that has seen pretty much all of it and will call you out on the "con" and you will not only lose that client but several more when he makes a few phone calls or hit's a few sites such as this. If I were to call a "New" outfitter/guide such as yourself and I asked you something that you didn't really have much knowledge about and were honest with me, it might very well be that I could help you learn it and I would also be mentally giving you "cudo" points for your honesty. Lots of old farts like me out there that appreciate an honest person more than much of anything else.
I wish you well in your endeavors.
Munna07, Most have given you pretty much all that can be given on a site. I've used many outfitters in my years of hunting though I am fairly self sufficient. I just find it a little easier as well as safer to use someone familiar to the land if it is somewhere I have never been. What I look for in a guide/outfitter are three things:
1) First and foremost is SAFE! I really hate being in the woods with an unsafe individual.
2) Knowledgeable. Knows his equipment as well as the game that is being hunted.
3) Honesty! Don't try to BS me. If you don't know about something then be honest and say you haven't learned about whatever it is. Don't attempt to "con" your way through it. You may end up with a client such as myself that has seen pretty much all of it and will call you out on the "con" and you will not only lose that client but several more when he makes a few phone calls or hit's a few sites such as this. If I were to call a "New" outfitter/guide such as yourself and I asked you something that you didn't really have much knowledge about and were honest with me, it might very well be that I could help you learn it and I would also be mentally giving you "cudo" points for your honesty. Lots of old farts like me out there that appreciate an honest person more than much of anything else.
I wish you well in your endeavors.
03-29-2015 | 12:43 PM
#27
Thread Starter
Spike
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: NB, Canada
ALWAYS answer EVERY question a potential client asks. This never fails: I send an e-mail asking five SHORT questions (i.e., "When does the season start?" or "Do I need to bring my own sleeping pad"). The outfitter responds (sort-of) to questions 1, 3, and 5, so I re-send asking questions 2 and 4, and he responds to only question 4. This ALWAYS happens. Drives me nuts!
(Lest you think I'm some sort of "grazer" who asks a billion questions and never books, the aforementioned problem usually happens AFTER I've already booked and I'm just trying to iron out logistics.)
Also, if you're going to have your daughter or wife answer the phone, make sure they know what they're talking about (or make sure they have YOU call the client back).
As others have said, be a straight shooter. No BS.
Keep track of client requests and HONOR them. If you say you'll provide a sleeping pad, a non-smoking guide, beds without a tailboard (News Flash: Some hunters are over 6'), a non-psycho horse, decaf, etc., make sure you follow through.
(Lest you think I'm some sort of "grazer" who asks a billion questions and never books, the aforementioned problem usually happens AFTER I've already booked and I'm just trying to iron out logistics.)
Also, if you're going to have your daughter or wife answer the phone, make sure they know what they're talking about (or make sure they have YOU call the client back).
As others have said, be a straight shooter. No BS.
Keep track of client requests and HONOR them. If you say you'll provide a sleeping pad, a non-smoking guide, beds without a tailboard (News Flash: Some hunters are over 6'), a non-psycho horse, decaf, etc., make sure you follow through.
03-29-2015 | 12:50 PM
#28
Thread Starter
Spike
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: NB, Canada
BTM, just a small hint here, 99% of ALL horses that are breathing are freaking PSYCHO! Or they are the walking dead.
Munna07, Most have given you pretty much all that can be given on a site. I've used many outfitters in my years of hunting though I am fairly self sufficient. I just find it a little easier as well as safer to use someone familiar to the land if it is somewhere I have never been. What I look for in a guide/outfitter are three things:
1) First and foremost is SAFE! I really hate being in the woods with an unsafe individual.
2) Knowledgeable. Knows his equipment as well as the game that is being hunted.
3) Honesty! Don't try to BS me. If you don't know about something then be honest and say you haven't learned about whatever it is. Don't attempt to "con" your way through it. You may end up with a client such as myself that has seen pretty much all of it and will call you out on the "con" and you will not only lose that client but several more when he makes a few phone calls or hit's a few sites such as this. If I were to call a "New" outfitter/guide such as yourself and I asked you something that you didn't really have much knowledge about and were honest with me, it might very well be that I could help you learn it and I would also be mentally giving you "cudo" points for your honesty. Lots of old farts like me out there that appreciate an honest person more than much of anything else.
I wish you well in your endeavors.
Munna07, Most have given you pretty much all that can be given on a site. I've used many outfitters in my years of hunting though I am fairly self sufficient. I just find it a little easier as well as safer to use someone familiar to the land if it is somewhere I have never been. What I look for in a guide/outfitter are three things:
1) First and foremost is SAFE! I really hate being in the woods with an unsafe individual.
2) Knowledgeable. Knows his equipment as well as the game that is being hunted.
3) Honesty! Don't try to BS me. If you don't know about something then be honest and say you haven't learned about whatever it is. Don't attempt to "con" your way through it. You may end up with a client such as myself that has seen pretty much all of it and will call you out on the "con" and you will not only lose that client but several more when he makes a few phone calls or hit's a few sites such as this. If I were to call a "New" outfitter/guide such as yourself and I asked you something that you didn't really have much knowledge about and were honest with me, it might very well be that I could help you learn it and I would also be mentally giving you "cudo" points for your honesty. Lots of old farts like me out there that appreciate an honest person more than much of anything else.
I wish you well in your endeavors.
04-22-2016 | 06:13 PM
#29
Fork Horn
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 494
Likes: 0
From: Altadena CA
BTM, just a small hint here, 99% of ALL horses that are breathing are freaking PSYCHO! Or they are the walking dead.
Munna07, Most have given you pretty much all that can be given on a site. I've used many outfitters in my years of hunting though I am fairly self sufficient. I just find it a little easier as well as safer to use someone familiar to the land if it is somewhere I have never been. What I look for in a guide/outfitter are three things:
1) First and foremost is SAFE! I really hate being in the woods with an unsafe individual.
2) Knowledgeable. Knows his equipment as well as the game that is being hunted.
3) Honesty! Don't try to BS me. If you don't know about something then be honest and say you haven't learned about whatever it is. Don't attempt to "con" your way through it. You may end up with a client such as myself that has seen pretty much all of it and will call you out on the "con" and you will not only lose that client but several more when he makes a few phone calls or hit's a few sites such as this. If I were to call a "New" outfitter/guide such as yourself and I asked you something that you didn't really have much knowledge about and were honest with me, it might very well be that I could help you learn it and I would also be mentally giving you "cudo" points for your honesty. Lots of old farts like me out there that appreciate an honest person more than much of anything else.
I wish you well in your endeavors.
Munna07, Most have given you pretty much all that can be given on a site. I've used many outfitters in my years of hunting though I am fairly self sufficient. I just find it a little easier as well as safer to use someone familiar to the land if it is somewhere I have never been. What I look for in a guide/outfitter are three things:
1) First and foremost is SAFE! I really hate being in the woods with an unsafe individual.
2) Knowledgeable. Knows his equipment as well as the game that is being hunted.
3) Honesty! Don't try to BS me. If you don't know about something then be honest and say you haven't learned about whatever it is. Don't attempt to "con" your way through it. You may end up with a client such as myself that has seen pretty much all of it and will call you out on the "con" and you will not only lose that client but several more when he makes a few phone calls or hit's a few sites such as this. If I were to call a "New" outfitter/guide such as yourself and I asked you something that you didn't really have much knowledge about and were honest with me, it might very well be that I could help you learn it and I would also be mentally giving you "cudo" points for your honesty. Lots of old farts like me out there that appreciate an honest person more than much of anything else.
I wish you well in your endeavors.
Yep, which is why I don't book horseback hunts any more! Had my fill of them.
04-24-2016 | 09:53 AM
#30
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,484
Likes: 0
From: WV
Regarding giving away some hunts.....from a marketing perspective, that is a great idea.....best way to really break out is in social media.....have a contest......"like my page on face book for chance to enter for free ________hunt......and/or a fishing trip......if you are really serious about growing a business, I'd offer some deals like that annually.....create a buzz around a marketing campaign like that.....post the winners entire hunting experience with you online