Help me build a new way to swap!
 

The website is now live!

www.hunters-exchange.com


I would like to get some feedback from hunters about a new system that I am building. I would like to see what other hunters feel are important pieces to include into it, and also, what isn't as important.

I posted the following paragraph under "Swap a Hunt".

How does everyone feel about a system that allows you to deposit your hunting or fishing trip into a preverbial bucket. Then, once you have deposited this trip into the bucket, you get to pick from other trips that have been deposited into the bucket. This would fix the problem with trying to find someone that wants what you have and also has what you want. It could be set up so that after each trip you rated the sponsor of the trip. giving future hunters / fisherman an idea of what they could expect.

After recieving a ton of possitive feedback from this site, as well as others, I decided to make it a go.

I am working with web designers now, and I am looking for as much input as possible. Please let me know if you have any ideas!

Thanks again for all of the support so for!

Keith

[email protected]
(231) 627-7360

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

Sounds like the way a timeshare works.

If you can get enough people interested I think it could work.

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

I guess I can see the similarities. One big difference being you don't have to buy a "timeshare" to deposit into the system. you deposit something you already have.

I agree, that the more people depositing into it, the better it will work.

I'm trying now to start getting information from people that are interested, that way when it's up and running, there are already a bunch of trips in there.

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

I don't know about the dropping your trip in the bucket. The whole premise of the swap hunt is you hunt with me and I will treat you well and then I hunt with you and you return the favor. That is a built in accountability to some extent. If you were taking someone that you would not be hunting with in return you would not have that drive in place to make sure they have a good hunt. If Joe comes and hunts with me what's there to assure me that Tom is going to let me come hunt? Do I have it wrong or is this that the type of system that you were referring to? Now two things that I think would be beneficial in a swap hunt setup is have a good rating and feedback system in place. Also, since I have heard of people getting burned on these things before, you could make both parties pay in a sum of money that is equal to the value of the hunt. The money would be held until both parties have hunted. That way you don't have to worry about someone hunting with you and then backing out or just generally showing you a poor hunt in comparison to the hunt you showed them. That could include everything from lodging and accomodations to transportation and game. Hunting is hunting but there is alwasy the oppurtunity for someone to misrepresent their land (ie. they may tell you that you will be hunting private ground and you wind up hunting public etc.) In the case of a successful hunt both parties get their money back minus a small fee. In the case that a hunt is challenged then parties must have agreed to let an arbitrator settle the matter. The arbitrator would take a nominal fee say $150 from both sides, for arbitration costs, and pay the winner their funds back as well as the funds of the other party. That would give both sides incentive to not file for arbitration unless it was waranted and to first try to work things out amongst themselves. I personally think that would be a benefit because there are many people out there that are fearful of swap hunts because they are afraid they will get taken. This would certainly proved some accountability. I haven't put much thought to this, I am just throwing some ideas out but those are some things to think about at the least.

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

You are right on with your description of the system. It will be the only system actively rating "swappers". Right now, many people do get burned on swaps. There should an amount of concern with swappers - given they way it has worked in the past.

Initially, I am personally contacting depositors to "keep people real" about what they have. That certainly will not 100% guarantee that someone won't slip through, but it will weed out most. From there, satisfaction will be rated by the hunter / fisherman going on the trip.

I like your arbitration angle too. I want to put more thought into it, but off the cuff I like it.

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

Time share hunts. Sounds good as long as they are equivilant.

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

I've been putting some thought into a way to make people feel comfortable depositing a trip initially.

I could charge a refundable fee, like suggested. But would that actually repel more people than it attracts?

Isn't being an independent 3rd party that shows reviews of swappers better than the system everyone uses now?

Also, I could allow people to contact the potential swap, to get their own comfort with that person before they book it.

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

personally, i have done a few swaps, and had all great hunts. everybody that has hunted with me would say the same im pretty sure. i think the deposit would scare people off, it would me, thats the reason im doing swaps, not paying guides. talking on the phone beforehand would be a great idea, i talk on the phone a LOT to other hunters, and so far (knock on wood) i have been right on my initial impression. im sure ill get burned one day, hope not though. some of my thoughts

have a rating system: if your not swapping hunt for hunt with one person, i dont see how this could work without one. weed out the bad ones

watch anyone who guarentees any kind of animal (unless its high fenced, but who wants to go on that anyway) not many areas is that possible.

for anyone who has done these before, get refenences if possible

good luck with this, i love the idea. if i come up with anything else, ill post later
brad

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

I am not much for a TRADE so to speek. I do have a few hunters every year come to my home or camp to elk hunt.So far every one of them have been very good people.I do not expect ANY THING in return for my help.I do know that any one of the guys that have came to my home I could go hunt,fish or just vacation in there home most any day. I look at it as making friends to hunt with,not people I take hunting.

I know if I hade to pay to come hunt IT IS A GUIDED hunt.I nore the guys that I have hunted with, want a guide.This is why they call it a trade.

I beleave it is all in what YOU as the hunter expect to get when you go to some place to hunt.I do know that some people promess more than they can give,This is a problem allso.But I do know that you as the hunter know what hunting is like so you should not be miss lead.

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

I love the rating idea! That would keep the trips equal, or at least you would know if your doing a lesser trip!

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

Well you wouldn't be paying anyone here and the difference would be that as long as everyone was honest that you would get your money back. However, I can see where it would run some people off but then again I wouldn't use a service that didn't offer some type of guarantee. I would rather just pay someone for access to their property and do my homework and know that I am getting my money's worth. I am glad that you have had good hunts and I hope that you continue to do so. However, I have had some good ones and some bad ones and I had no way of knowing until I got there. Sure, you can talk to someone and you can talk to them alot but that is no assurance. People get screwed every day by family members that they have known for their whole lives. You never know who is being honest and who is a gifted con-artist that knows how to tell people what they want to hear without offering them the moon. The only way you know for sure that your investment of time and money is safe is to have a system in place that will hold both parties accountable. It may scare some off but you'll never get hunters like me without such a system. I won't do swaps anymore. I would rather just pay for access and avoid the hassle.

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

youve had bad swaps, that sucks......

i do think there is something to what your saying. and maybe the money would help to an extent, but part of the reason for swaps is so you dont have money out of pocket, as some people with families are not able to turn in much of a deposit like that, with license costs and all. but on the same token, i do realize how lucky i have been in my swapping hunts. ive made a lot of lifelong friends.

i can see it both ways, maybe if the deposits werent too high it would work
brad

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

If I charge a large deposit, it will deter people from using it. If I don't, there will be people that don't use it. (kind of a loose - loose).

However, if the hunter feedback / Rating system is similar to Ebays'. Showing how many people this person has swapped with. And how many have had positve experiences with a %....

Let me ask this question - Would you feel comfortable making a deposit into a system, then booking, say, an Elk hunt. With a past hunter review of this:

20 hunts swapped
95% positive experience
The 1 out of 20 complained because it rained the whole time.

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

the way i see any out of area hunt, guided or no.....
if the accomodations were up to snuff per what was prearranged, the "host" gave a good overall effort, and game was present, whether i fill or not, althuogh i do like to see at least one decent animal per trip, then it was a good deal. if i wanted a guarenteed kill id hunt behind a fence (ya right). sometimes things just dont work out. this last year i went to ohio on a swap hunt. i did not see a decent buck, but.... the weather my whole trip was high winds and rain. sign was abundant. the one day i chose the wrong stand, my buck showed up under the other one set up on the other side of the property. passed up numerous does and little bucks. had a blast. fill a tag, no. good swap, hell yes!!!!!!

one thing to note with the rating system, some people will never be happy unless they get the big one. for some, no amount of effort will work if they dont get the buck they want. that is ridiculous, but it is a fact. maybe the rating system should have a few catagories every hunter would have to list, ie host effort, sign, game seen, harvests, hunt according to predetermined agreement, etc.

something else i thought of. what if nobody wanted what someone was offering. that is gonig to be a problem im sure, so many people want to try something new, and only have whitetails to offer. would there be a limit, like only 1 or 2 trips, and then you have to host to be elidgible again? or will it be a free for all? just a thought

on the info on your hypothetical situation, hell yes id do that hunt. rain is uncontrolable, and some people ya cant please

brad

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

That's a great point. We really need two rating systems.

1). One for the hunters to rate their experience.

and

2.) One for us to rate what someone can exchange for.

the second would be an administrator tool. Adjusting based on the type and quality of the hunt, but also, the ratings of other hunters. a Trade Value.

This would limit the person that deposits a bad hunt from getting a good one.

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

but that may run people off, if they dont have a hunt "worth" what someone else has. how will this be decided? i think this is where your gonna run into problems, unless you limit it to one for one, but then some people may not be able to go on many trips. i could be wrong on this, but some of these hunts jsut wont be big draws i dont think. when i was advertising my swaps online, i offered "guided" muley and antelope combo, with high odds of success for both species. i had a lot of interest, but so many said all they had were deer, and they even mentioned that the trade may not be fair. i think this is a great idea, one i would like to be a part of, but i just worry that some people through no fault of their own will not get to enjoy it like some others.

any ideas on how to combat this, everybody wins??

brad

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

Well, lets look at the two scenarios.

1. one for one
First come first serve. You put something in, you get something out.
I think alot of people, would put in something worth nothing and get something of high value. and for example you put in your trip antelope/muleys and end up having to pick ...say.... a day of carp fishing. You wouldn't be very happy. I don't think I like this one

2. Trade Values ( for example I'll use 1 to 10)
You deposit a high quality antelope/muley trip Rates an 8. This means, you get to pick from anything that scores an 8 or lower.

Now, lets say I have something that scores a 2 (maybe a day of squirel hunting?).

In this case I couldn't get yours, but you could get mine, if you wanted to.

This may keep people with lower value trips from depositing, but you know what - what other option are they going to have? If they want your trip, you're not going to swap with them anyway. They would still have more options with this than without.

And at least you know you have access to trips higher in quality than most.

Now another variable, lets say someone else deposits a trip very similar to yours. Except, you have a high satisfaction rating of 95% and he has a rating of 60%. Obviously your would have more value, maintaining your 8. He gets a 2 or 3 point deduction because his rating is much lower.

I don't intend for these rating and percentages to be exact, just an example of how it could work.

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

i like it. that may work pretty well.

one thing i would maybe look at, maybe higher ratings for hunts with great reviews, maybe even over trips like mine, a combo. if the host is up to snuff though, the rating should speak for itself.

what if a guy did take a trip with a substantially lower rating then his oiwn? could he take two for his one, or would it be one for one? ya never know, squirrell hunting maybe what someone is looking for.

speaking for my self here, i would be looking at trips with hosts of the highest precentages, not so much the species i would be after. also, what if soneone with a trip worth say an 8, wanted to go on a trip with a guy whos rated 9? i know its more than his, but there close, and anything that high should be a quality trip either way.

i think your on to a helluva idea, make it work. i would probably put a couple hunts in the hat on my end
brad

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

My concern with letting people pick 2 because they have a higher rating is this.

Say yours is an 8, and there are 2 - 3's and a 2 that you want. Lets also assume this is in the early stages where there are not allot of deposits, maybe 10. If you were allowed to take those 3, we would have two others that couldn't book. That concerns me a bit.

How about this? This may be the answer to both of your questions.
Once your inside a, say, 60 day window (or 45, or 30), it opens up. Allowing all hunters to pick from all trips. In other words an 8 could pick a 10 (this would keep trips from going unused).

We could also, in the same time frame run specials, where you got to pick 2 for 1's.

Again allowing what might go unused, to be used. That way it's not taking away from someone that was going to book it as there 1 for 1?

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

this all sounds pretty good, but heres one more thought.
your last post says it would open up within either 30, 45, or 60 days, if not already filled. anyway, at least for me i set my swaps up VERY early, for two reasons. one, in wyoming, and many other western states, non residents must apply very early. also, i set em up early so i know how much vacation to delegate to all hunts, mine and my swaps.
these could interfere i think, but can be worked around im sure
brad

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

Keep in mind you could book any equivelent (or lesser) trip way in advance. Were only talking about your ability to take your trip and exchange it for something better.

I'm trying to build the trade Value system now. If we gave you, as well as most north american big game an 8. I'm trying to figure out what would be above that, Dangerous Game (polar bears, elephants, lions, etc.)?

I think it should be dictated more on the quality of the trip, than what your hunting.

Keep in mind I am thinking out loud. to try to figure out how to do it.

Maybe only a 1 - 5 scale. Putting Big Game, multiple day trips in the 4 or 5 range.

That would keep any trips you want to do closer to equal, with more emphasis put on you offering a quality trip. If you deposit qaulity trips, you wil be able to get what you want.

This could also reward high qaulity trips with bumping them up a level. So if your a 4 but have a 85% hunter Satisfaction rating you could pick from the 5's

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

Well, I've been working diligently with the designers this week. They are giving me a tentative date of May 1st to test the site, and May 7th as a planned opening of the site to the public.

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

Sure but it seems like you may be overlooking the fact that it would take 20 years to build up that kind of feedback and it will take at least a couple of years and a couple of swaps before any of the members start getting some decent feedback.

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

How are you going to determine ratings? How would I know that my hunt that is rated at an 8 is truely equal to someone else's hunt that is rated as an 8. If we are the ones doing the rating then we may have very different ideas of what and 8 is and if you are the one doing the rating then how do you know how to rate them, other than what we tell you about the hunt? Depending on whom is the most descriptive and convincing then I may wind up trading a 9 for a 7 simply because that guy did a better job of painting the picture of his hunt and may have even embellished a little. Just curious how that would work?

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

Your right, if one trip a year is all that they deposited, it would take forever to get that much feedback. Some people I have talkd to are going to deposit a few trips each year, but it would still take a while to get it built up.

Before I get to far, I want to make sure everyone is on the same page. These are some definitions, so we are all talking about the same thing.

Trip Rating - The average satisfaction of hunters / fisherman, that have hunted or fished with that particular host.

Trade Value - a value (1-5) of a trip, assigned by the website administrator, allowing people with equal value trips to exchange.

Now, Getting back to your question. Trip Rating will be broken into several catagories: Lodging, Meals, Game Quality, Hospitality, etc. Allowing a few different catagories to add up for an overall rating. There are two reason for this 1.) to keep frauds from getting into the system and making "bad deposits" 2.) Push people to offer the best trip possible.

Initially we are going to require references. People that have hunted / fished with you in the past that can give some feedback on what you have been able to do.

Once you've got a couple trips under your belt, the feedback from guests will take over.

Now the Trade Value question, It is assigned by the administrator but driven by you the depositor. In other words, all big game animals are going to be assinged either a 4 or a 5. I'm still trying to see if there is a need for a level above big game, for maybe, dangerous game, or some other very high end critter. Whatever it is, everyone in that description starts out the same - lets say 4.

Maintaining that score is up to you. If you mislead your hunters you should expect your score to be lowered. If you maintain A high level of satisfied hunters, you could expect your trip to bump up to a 5.

Trade Value is as much for inventory control, as anything. Keeping someone from depositing a day of squirel hunting and choosing a Pike County, Illinios Deer Hunt is the biggest priority. That keeps higher quality trips available for you and others like you wen you want them.

I would think someone that really wants to defraud someone, would try to do it one person at a time. It would be easier than jumping through the hoops of getting fake refferals!

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

one thing i see with this, what if a person has never done swap hunts before? says that everybody will need references, which is all good, but for a lot of people this is a new thing. i myself have only done this for a couple years. that means for newbies, it wold take 2 years before they could take part. i know the references are for security, but i dont necessarily think new swappers should be shut out, maybe a lower rating?

overall i like this. it would be cool to be able to look over a few different trips.

brad

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

That's exactly what i meant......Although I was so long winded, it was probably hard to get.

I didn't mean that you had to have them, just that if you couldn't provide them, you would score a little lower.

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

I had a fun meeting with the site designers tonite. Because of the extreme details in the rating system and trade values etc. it is taking a little longer to build than planned. I would like it to be right instead of rushing it. Because of that we are looking at closer to end of the month before it is completed. I will keep everyone up to date.

I believe it is imparitive that we get as many deposits into the system as possible for the opening of the site. We have decided to offer a very limited number of people (20), 2 trips, for their making 1 deposit into the system between now and when it opens about the 1st of June. The 2nd trip couldn't be booked until January 1st 2006. A great 2006 hunting trip with no swap on your end!

Anyone interested just drop me an email with your specifics:

Name
Phone #
What your depositing
When it is for
email address

And the best part, what you want to do!


I promise we won't have to offer this same thing once we get up and running!

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

Well, It is finally up and running. Check it out when you get a chance!


www.hunters-exchange.com

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

Here are a few examples of some of the trips in the system now!

1. Deer, ducks, and fish
2. Lake Huron Salmon Fishing
3. Duck and Hog Hunting
4. Bowhunt for elk or excellent late season mallard hunting
5. big whitetails, turkeys,hogs
6. Alaska fishing
7. alabama whitetails
8. Salmon Fishing in Washington State
9. whitetail bow hunt
10. Elk Hunting Oregon
11. hunt elk,mule deer,antelope,moose or mtn.goat in colo
12. Idaho Sage Grouse/Chukar hunt
13. Arkansas Duck Hunt
14. MN Whitetail bow hunt
15. whitetail hunt on Maryland's Eastern shore

Add yours anytime!

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

I've promised to keep everyone updated on what is currently available. Over the last couple of days I have had several people inquiring to what is currently available. So here goes:

9 whitetail hunts
3 Elk Hunts
2 Bear hunts
5 Fishing Trips
2 Mule Deer
2 Gator Hunts
A bunch of turkey, ducks, geese, phesant Etc.

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

Since 11/18/2005 a little over 3 weeks ago, we have over a hundred users, and over 40 of them have deposited trips so far!!

There are some very nice trips in the system. I would start planning 2006 hunts right now!

Thanks for all of the tremendous feedback!!!

Keith

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

All I can say is WOW!!

About 200 users and growing daily! Tons of great trips from New Mexico Elk, toIllinios Whitetails, to Alligators, to Canadian bears and on and on and on................


Thank you!!!

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

Hey Just an update. Just a couple weeks of free exchanges left on free exchanges!

Keep in mind, you don't need to book a trip by Feb 1st, just have deposited your trip.

Thanks,

Keith

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

It would be nice to be able to view the other deposited hunts before posting your own.

My .02.

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

I agree that it would be nice to see those trips. However,the problem that exists withthat situation, is that someone with a lesser desirable trip could view alotof real nice trips, and solely deposit their trip, based on the trips they've seen. Once they deposit they're trip, they find that they can't book the one they saw and deposited for.

I'll be the first to say that the system is not perfect. It does however, offer more opportunities to users compared to traditional swaps.

Hope that helps to understand why we do it this way.

Keith

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

As promised, I am keeping everyone up to date. Here is a list of trips available right now. Keep in mind trips are available on a first come first serve basis. New trips are added daily.



Merriam Turkey hunt in Nebraska 4-15-2006 5-22-2006
Fishing Trip Florida West Coast Fishing 1-1-2006 12-31-2006
Fishing Trip Louisiana Offshore Fishing 4-2-2006 4-2-2007
Fishing Trip Salmon Fishing Northern Lake Huron 7-1-2006 9-1-2006
Elk Firearm Idaho Elk Hunt 10-13-2006 10-28-2006
Whitetail Whitetail Deer Hunting in Pa 10-10-2006 11-12-2006
Elk Hunting in New Mexico 9-24-2006 12-30-2006
Ontario Whitetail 10-2-2006 11-22-2006
Ontario Black Bear 8-15-2006 9-7-2006
Exotic Hunting in Texas 2-28-2006 11-28-2006
Alligator Hunt in Louisiana 9-6-2006 9-17-2006
Whitetail Whitetail in New York 10-15-2006 12-19-2006
Deer Hunting on the Eastern shore of Maryland 11-1-2006 1-31-2007
Elk Idaho Wilderness Elk 9-10-2006 10-1-2006
Fishing Trip white bass fishing trip 2-1-2006 3-28-2006
Whitetail Deer, Hogs and Fishing in North Carloina 11-16-2006 12-31-2006 Whitetail in Missouri 9-15-2006 1-15-2007
Fishing Trip Lake Ontario Fishing Trip 4-21-2006 11-1-2007
Fishing Trip Salmon Fishing in NY Lake Ontario 4-20-2006 10-31-2006
Fishing Trip Atlantic Salmon 6-9-2006 6-18-2006
Alaska fishing 6-19-2006 10-19-2006
Turkey Hunting in Kansas 4-21-2006 5-31-2006
Whitetail whitetail hunt on Maryland's Eastern shore 12-20-2005 12-20-2006
Turkey Hunt in Alabama 3-20-2006 4-30-2006
Fishing Charter Fishing Walleye/ Perch 4-15-2006 10-31-2006
Whitetail Big Bucks in South Cenral Illinois 10-1-2006 12-20-2006
Whitetail Trophy Whitetails in Maine 10-1-2006 12-11-2006
Whitetail Deer Hunting in Minnesota 9-16-2006 12-15-2006
Fishing Trip Walleye Minnesota/Canada 7-15-2006 10-15-2006
Fishing Trip Salmon Fishing in Michigan 3-14-2006 9-14-2006
Turkey Hunting in Alabama 3-20-2006 4-30-2006
Coyote hunt in Nebraska 1-8-2006 10-29-2006
Merriams turkey hunt in Nebraska 4-15-2006 5-20-2006
Elk Hunting Oregon 8-22-2006 9-22-2006 Used
Black Bear 3 day black bear hunt 11-20-2006 11-22-2006
Whitetail Deer, ducks, and fish 11-16-2005 1-1-2006
Black Bear West Virginia Bear Hunt with dogs 12-5-2006 12-24-2006
Turkey Spring or Fall Turkey Hunting 5-1-2006 11-30-2006
Duck Hunting in South Dakota 10-1-2006 11-1-2006
Whitetail Montana Hunting 10-27-2006 11-15-2006
Fishing Trip Lake Michigan Salmon-Trout 4-1-2006 9-5-2006
Arkansas Duck Hunt 1-1-2006 1-26-2006
Arkansas Duck Hunt 11-20-2006 1-20-2007
Arkansas Duck Hunt 11-20-2006 1-29-2007
Arkansas Duck Hunt 11-20-2006 1-29-2007
Arkansas Duck Hunt 11-28-2006 1-28-2007
Arkansas Duck Hunt 1-27-2006 1-29-2006
Whitetail North Carolina Whitetail Hunt 9-14-2006 1-1-2007
Florida Alligator and Offshore Fishing 9-1-2006 10-1-2006
Florida Offshore fishing 1-22-2006 1-22-2007
Fly Fishing Colorado 5-15-2006 10-1-2006
Whitetail pennsylvannia deer hunt 10-1-2006 12-4-2006
Whitetail Deer Hunting in Indiana 10-1-2006 12-24-2006
Salmon Fishing in Washington State 7-1-2006 8-31-2006
Trophy Rio Grand Turkey Hunt 4-1-2006 5-3-2006
Trout Fishing in Black Hills 4-15-2006 10-5-2006
Goose Hunting Spring Snow Goose Hunts. 1-1-2006 12-31-2006
MN Whitetail bow hunt 9-15-2006 12-31-2006
Whitetail Archery Antelope, Mule Deer or Whitetail in Nebraska

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

It's a great idea, but the problem is the only thing most eastern and southern bowhunters have to offer is deer..... Most hunters in the US are in those areas, so hunts for elk, mule deer, etc will be few and far between and will begobbled up quickly.

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

I agree that there are more trips from the Eastern US vs Western US. About 2/3 compared to 1/3.I don't think that western trips get booked any faster.

One of the things that eastern states have vs western states, is liberal seasons and over-the-counter tags. Before someone books a western trip they need to make sure they can get a tag. For instance, thereare several high value trips like New Mexico Elk, and they have not been booked.

The other factor, is that there is alot of high quality deer hunting in the eastand midwest. Illinios, Iowa, Ohio, etc. Alot of people want to go to those regions, for no other reason than the publicity thatthey have had.