I posted this down in the "off season forum' it was suggested I post it up here so here it is.

I'm just getting into the guiding bussiness and before I set my rates I'm looking around to see what everyone would consider a fair price.I want to do this for the fun and excitement not the money{ok money too}.
Anyway I've got 6 day guided bear hunts over active bait's,lodging in a remote lodge,homecooked meals,transportation to and from the stands,care and cold storage for kill,everything included except bear tag cost,which is around ($95us).I'm wondering if $1000us is a fair price?I will also be trying to arrange hunt's that will suit everyone's price range and needs.Thank's for you help and great looking site you have here.

Here are the HUNTER questions...


[ul][*] What State or Province are you hunting?[*] What is the bear population like?[*] What is the average bear quality going to be (e.g. the size of your average 2-3 yr old bear)?[*] How many hunters are you going to hunt per week?[*] How many weeks are you going to have hunt camps?[*] How many bait stands are you going to put out?[*] What type of stands do you going to use?[*] Do you put up new baits for later groups?[*] What are the sleeping accomodations like?
[/ul]

Nova Scotia,Canada
bear population is getting bigger every year{6 per bait last fall}
200-350+
6 hunter's per week{max}
3-4 weeks
two bait{atleast} per hunter coming in.
ground blind mostly some tree stands.I prefer ground blinds,for the thriller.
every hunter will have atleast 2 new bait that have never been hunted.
lodge sleep's 6 and is nestled on one of Nova Scotia's finest rivers,cook stoves wood stove for heat,propane lights,propane stove,generator to run lights and radio.Lodge is all pine inside.

how would guys get to your camp?

Would you pick them up or would they have to rent a vehicle?

What is the nearest major airport (Halifax, I assume)?

What is the nearest commercial airport?

being picked up for a little extra fee $100cdn"Halifax airport is a 3 hour drive away one way,Yarmouth is 1 hour,Digby municiple airport is within shooting distance of my house.Pick-up at Yarmouth would be $50 cdn.And yes that's return.
Or they could just rent a car.

Trapper,

If I am not mistaken, Nova Scotia doesn't offer spring hunts and the bag limit is only 1 bear?

If true, that might be the biggest hurdle for you regardless of your pricing.

SA

Your right Nova Scotia doesn't have a spring bear hunt.We hunt only fall bears.And the bag limit is only one bear.I see it like this the fall baers are bigger and have been feeding at the baits sites for amonth.We start baiting 30 days before the season opens so there are really hitting good by the time we get to hunt em.
Why would it be a hurdle?Give hunters achance to save there money over the summer,when living is alittle cheaper.Spring is the worst time for me and money.lol Spend it through the winter on extra power and heat and thing's like this.

Because in the Spring, it is the only big game in town.

I am not sure about the East Coast guys and Southern boys, I guess their whitetail seasons start kicking off in October. I have to figure that they are in full blown scouting mode in Sept.

For us Westerners, we are hunting antelope, mule deer and elk already in lots of states. The guys that aren't hunting have been are in full blown scout mode.

SA

Thank's Spyro...for all your input.We only have a fall hunt to work with.I guess not having had a spring hunt we don't know what we're missing out on.But at least we got a good fall season.

Trapper, I think it would depend on what is included. I know some outfitters charge roughly 1300.00 canadian for a 6 day black bear hunt in the fall but this includes pickup and delivery to and from the airport and 3 meals a day. They also offer an economy hunt for roughly 1000.00 canadian where the hunters cook their own meals. These sound like decent prices to me. You should also check on shipping arangements from your area so that they can have the hide and meat shipped home. Maybe there are even other hunts available in you area that time of year so you may be able to offer combo hunts.