The Top 10 Mistakes New Clients Make

Hunters across the world dream about specific hunts that will scratch an itch that never seems to go away. With modern television, the internet and classic old hunting adventure books, it’s easy to develop dreams that can only be fulfilled with a hunt. It’s the reason there are outfitters, whether you’re talking about big game, waterfowl, upland game, predators or even reptiles. Outfitters bring local knowledge and expertise to help a client be successful, no matter what you pursue. Like anything in life, there are good and bad, and it’s up to the client to ensure due diligence is done before forking out any cash, but that’s where many make mistakes. The excitement of making a dream come true often blinds people and misleads them when wanting to knock big items off their bucket list. Communication is key, and good outfitters will provide information and answers to client’s questions and not leave them wondering. However, there is often a lack of communication, which leads to false expectations, issues and potential disappointment—on both sides. I can't stress enough how important it is to go through a list of questions to ask your outfitter before booking.

Some outfitters benefit from knowing what information is important to any new client and go out of their way to ensure a professional exchange is informative and generates enthusiasm. Knowing some of the mistakes new clients often make can give you a leg up on the competition when the rubber meets the road, or help a deposit make its way into your bank account instead of the guy who has the booth across the aisle. It's important for both parties to understand what is expected of each other. Outfitters need to know what clients expect from their hunting guides and hunters in camp should be aware of how to be the client outfitters like in camp. As funny and simple as this may sound, being on the same page is crucial.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT
BY JAMES BRENNAN,
PROFESSIONAL GUIDE

This should be No. 1, in my opinion, and this is a message I gently tell all my clients: Fitness is the absolute No. 1 reason people go home with an un-punched tag in their pack. You do not have to be a marathon runner or Olympic weightlifter to be successful, but you do need some level of fitness and health. I can’t count how many times I was cursed out or yelled at because the hunter could not get around in the mountains. You have spent months planning, hopefully, and knew that the hunt was going to be for elk in the mountains so get in shape. If you are a smoker, quit. If you are a heavy drinker, stop. As a guide, I feel as if I've failed if my client does not harvest an animal. Clients make it very hard if they can’t hike more than a quarter mile and, by day No. 3, they’re done. Even if you have to put your hunt off for a year, do it. Be honest with yourself curb the ego and hunt to your ability. Take time and read these conditioning tips from a pro.

Here are 10 common mistakes new hunters and clients often make when looking for, booking and undertaking a hunt. As an outfitter or guide, success lies with finding solutions and answers to these potential issues before they ever come up.

1. NOT ENOUGH RESEARCH

If a client hopes to shoot a 160-class whitetail—or bigger—on a guided hunt, make sure you book with an outfitter that has a proven track record to produce that caliber of antlers. One of the most important questions to ask is, who measured the antlers? The gross score of antlers, horns and skulls is often widely interpreted, and clarity on a specific scoring system—and if a qualified measurer did the calculations—is paramount. If an outfitting area hasn’t produced a 160-class buck in years, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see one on your hunt, and anyone looking for an honest 160-inch deer will only be disappointed with anything less.

2. CLIENTS BUILD FALSE EXPECTATIONS

Rest assured: There isn’t a trophy buck for everyone, no matter where someone hunts, but knowing they exist and seeing pictures of the quality of bucks, bulls or whatever your main quarry is the client hopes to harvest, will be a step in the right direction. Clients need to ask about the odds of shooting a big deer. That is, if an outfitter took 20 hunters the previous year and shot two bucks scoring 160 inches or better, the client knows straight-up they have a 10 percent opportunity, which is realistic. If they want something with better odds, you may not want them in camp unless there is a clear understanding.

3. THEY DON’T CHECK REFERENCES

When someone is shelling out thousands of dollars for a hunt, paying for travel, licenses and covering tips, they better make the time to check out several outfitter references before booking. The time it takes to earn enough money to do a hunt can’t even be compared to an hour or two speaking with previous clients. They shouldn’t be shy with an outfitter and ask if they’ve ever had an unhappy hunter. It’s often critical information in making a decision, as they investigate the concern, and find out what the outfitter did to make his client happy, or not, when there was a dispute. Clients should check out the website of anyone they want to hunt with and, if they see a photograph of a particular animal, they should ask if they can have the person’s name and contact information.

4. THEY DON’T ASK THE TOUGH QUESTIONS OF REFERENCES

Clients need to get a description of the camp, food, lodging and general atmosphere from everyone they talk to. If stories are consistent between references, they will know they’re getting sound information. Good food can often make up for poor weather or hunting conditions beyond anyone’s control. If a reference says things a potential client doesn’t like, as in people staying up late and being disruptive to everyone in camp, they should expect the same when they get there, or not book. As an outfitter, providing “camp life” information up front, such as pictures on your website, will go a long way.

5. LOST OPPORTUNITY COMES FROM THOSE WHO DON’T COMMIT

The hunter who can’t make a decision is often disappointed with the time or place of his hunt. If a client wants to shoot a monster buck or prime fattened mallards, they need to ensure their hunt occurs at the best time possible. An early September duck hunt will produce lots of opportunities, but the birds will likely be drab in color, and certainly won’t be as fat as later in the fall. If they want to kill a big bull elk, and an outfitter can take them during the calling season but has limited spots, time is of the essence. If they wait ’til prime spots are booked, they’ll be hunting long after the rut when elk have been chased for weeks, and won’t be in the prime spot at the prime time. Talk with your potential clients and learn about their biggest desires, and then work with that information accordingly.

6. NOT KNOWING THE BEST SEASON OR THE GAME

The timing of any season is critical to success—that’s a given. If someone plans a trip to Alberta or Saskatchewan and hopes to shoot an adult speckle-bellied goose, they need to be there during the relatively narrow window of mid-September to early October, when specks are most plentiful and in full migration. These birds are early migrants, and if a hunter comes at the end of October they’ll enjoy great gunning for beautiful mallards, fat honkers, and even waves of snow geese, but the specks will, for the most part, be gone. The same goes for any game hunted. There is the right time, and then there are the shoulder seasons.

7. NOT RESEARCHING THE GUIDES

Well-run camps usually have return guides from year to year. I’ve been in several camps where the guides have worked with their outfitter for decades. Return guides speak volumes about personalities and the ability to keep a productive and relaxed atmosphere amongst everyone in camp, from staff to guests. If there is a yearly turnover of guides, clients should ask why, or get a contact number to talk to one of the previous employees directly. If you have a regular contingency of staff, boast about it. Clients will be pleased to see guide profiles online, so they know exactly who they will meet in camp long before they get there. A day in the life of a guide can be grueling; you don't wan't your guide to be one that can't hack it.

8. AFRAID TO ASK PROFESSIONAL QUESTIONS

Is your outfitter insured or bonded? Are they a member of a guide or outfitter association? Are they licensed by the state or province where they operate? These are questions that can prevent a client from booking with a rogue outfitter and potentially having trouble down the line. It does happen, and reputable outfitters should be more than happy to prove their professional conduct and standards. Is there a contract or waiver that needs to be signed? Does it protect the hunter and his or her investment as much as it does the outfitter? Know up front if a deposit is required and what happens if the hunter needs to cancel for any reason. If there are limited entry draws that need to be submitted, will the outfitter do it for the client, or do they have to tackle the task on their own? Are there extra fees? I once went on a Dall’s sheep hunt in Alaska and didn’t find out until the day we were leaving that the hunter had to pay the pilot directly for flights. My understanding was the flights were included in the price of the hunt. After paying for travel and the hunt, I was in a situation where I had to make a quick run to the bank. Are there trophy or harvest fees set by either the outfitter or government agency regulating the hunt? I hunted in the Arctic and had to pay trophy fees to the government, which only took cash. Clients need to know important details and never presume they will automatically be asked.

9. NOT CLARIFYING HOW THEY HUNT

Clients need to make sure they have a sound understanding of how a typical day in camp will play out. If their hope is to hunt on foot and be on the move, the last thing they want to find out when in camp is that hunts are only conducted out of treestands. If someone thinks they are going to hunt off horses or mules and finds out the majority of clients are transported by ATV or UTV, they can clarify what their wants are right up front. If they go on a waterfowl hunt and expect to be in waders, perched on the edge of a cattail-fringed wetland, they likely aren’t going to be happy with laying in a coffin blind. If an outfitter offers different styles of hunting, it’s important to make sure you know what each client wants and expects.

10. FORGET TO ASK FOR OPINIONS ON GUIDEFITTER.COM

Clients not using an interactive website designed to bring hunters and outfitters together takes away the platform and opportunity to ask a community for advice. Where is the best pheasant hunting? If someone has never hunted elk before, they naturally want to know what the best areas to be successful are. Outfitters doing things the right way will have the accolades on their profile to prove it. Satisfied clients should be encouraged to boast about their dream adventure to help inform others. A picture can say a thousand words and be far more economical than advertising and working trade shows. Like in any industry, the people doing things right are often too busy to look back and do the little things, such as providing the details your potential clients could be looking for on Guidefitter.

CONCLUSION

As an outfitter, don’t be afraid to make a list of questions clients should ask. If you are the best in your area or field, it will make you shine above the others. The hours and days spent talking to clients are not only an investment in your business, it often represents your stability into the future. Remember, there are no dumb questions, just improper answers.