Hunting packages - What to offer!!!

Hi to all,

It is nearly time to send out offers on hunting packages for the 2013 season, and i thought to myself what to offer as a package...is there still clients that hunt for EXAMPLE for their first safari; beginner packages...and it is always the same stuff like the normal Impala, Blesbuck, Warthog or Blue Wildebeest...Why not compiling something what you are looking for. Any ideas will help.

ok how about elephant, buffalo, lion, roan, kudu, bushbuck and a couple of warthogs on a 10 day hunt at lets say $12000.00 for the whole package...

sorry couldnt resist

Originally Posted by spike.t

ok how about elephant, buffalo, lion, roan, kudu, bushbuck and a couple of warthogs on a 10 day hunt at lets say $12000.00 for the whole package...

sorry couldnt resist

spike.t,

I can do it for a $120 000...lol....couldn't resist.

A question for you..

What group are you trying to reach, new, 2nd time hunter or experienced safari taker?

next question what game animals are you wanting to remove from your hunting grounds?

New 1st time safari taker would look at a 7 or 10 day package with a basic course like:
1. wart hog
2. impala
3. zebra
4. red hartebeest
5. blesbuck

2nd time safari taker...now what did they get the first time and what do you have that is different to bring them back?

have a choice on the above like
1. warthog or impala
2. Red hartebeest or blesbuck
3. zebra or Blue Wildebeest
4. Kudu
5. eland
6. giraffe

for the seasoned safari taker...and you pick is what i would suggest.
lay out a group of 5 to 7 animals and then anything over that is at trophy fee cost...

my kind is basic PH fees and i sent my list prior to arrival for us to go after...

Looking at your web you have good list of plains game to pick from...you have sable & roan plus hippo and croc. these are hard to put in a package as do you have one chained to a tree to shoot kind of deal...and i would never take a package on these and would opt for trophy fee only on my pre hunt list.

Originally Posted by Bushwack

Hi to all,

It is nearly time to send out offers on hunting packages for the 2013 season, and i thought to myself what to offer as a package...is there still clients that hunt for EXAMPLE for their first safari; beginner packages...and it is always the same stuff like the normal Impala, Blesbuck, Warthog or Blue Wildebeest...Why not compiling something what you are looking for. Any ideas will help.

Originally Posted by Bushwack

spike.t,

I can do it for a $120 000...lol....couldn't resist.

Hi Bushwack

my 2 cents have some of pkg to include things for spouse to due like day trips and spa stuff shopping what ever is avaible and close to your operation

i went last year for the first time to namibia and included was a day trip to etosha

some of us can get away for a hunt easier if the spouse is involved and has things to do

merlin

An attractive package for the seasoned hunter would include:

Discounted day rates +

Group A animals 10% off list price
Group B animals 8%
Group C animals 5% and so on.
Anything with no wiggle room at reg price.

To protect yourself impose a minimum number of animals that must be shot to qualify for the discounted rates.
That leaves things wide open and still gives the hunter a deal on the animals they want.

98% of the first time Safari guys I talk to want a Kudu. This is a tough question because we all have different ideas of what Trophy's we must have. Tell them you will put together a package just for them. Our PH put three packages together for us based off of what we had on our list we sent him. He gave us very fair packages then he added in one free Springbuck or Warthog each. A fairly inexpensive animal but thats all it took for us to book. We all shot more Trophy's than was on our package but I think that is fairly normal.

Everyone is making excellent points so far in their answers & comments, I think.

As a DIY hunter who had never done a paid hunt of any kind until I just recently went on my first African Safari, I'd have to say that the best thing that you could offer to the first time guy would simply be good all around flexibility. It is amazing to me how different I see things now, as opposed to when I was making decisions on booking my hunt.

Based on my experience, and the questions that a lot of soon to be first time African hunters are currently asking me, it is obvious that a lot of uncertainty naturally exists in the minds of the first timer. Just be clear that you are willing to work with them in modifying and/or creating packages for them, and be quick to answer even the most trivial questions in a good manner that will leave them comfortable that they will be taken care of. They may have read a hundred good hunt reports, but it's the one or two bad ones that stick in their mind when investing their own time and money to travel half way around the world on a often once in a lifetime adventure.

I think that if you assure them that you intend to treat them right and make them feel that you are giving them a good value in their Safari, they will likely book with you then do as I did and shoot about twice as many animals as they intended too!

just my 2 cents,
Jeff

To add on to my earlier post...

The reason i put in the either or for trophy animals is some potential hunters are looking at your package, however they do not want an animal that is listed.

I know when talking to PH's at conventions / outdoor shows when a package is pushed that include animals that i do not want i walk on...most do not want to budge on the animal selection in the package...

jm2c

Good idea to ask about this from the potential users!

I would only include in a package those trophy species that are really available in good numbers - so that getting a good specimen by any hunter, even an inexperienced first timer, is just about a given.

The real motif of offering a package should also be considered. Do you simply wish to draw attention? Do you want to ensure that the hunting client actually shoot some animals? It has so often happened that a client sees a good trophy, be it a kudu or whatever else, on his first morning. The client then "falls for the challenge", and then persues that animal at all costs - even to the point of taking nothing else! Although such a client will get all my respect, there is not much profit for many hunting outfitters if, no matter how hard a client hunts, he actually gets nothing!

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren

Originally Posted by Andrew McLaren

It has so often happened that a client sees a good trophy, be it a kudu or whatever else, on his first morning. The client then "falls for the challenge", and then persues that animal at all costs - even to the point of taking nothing else! Although such a client will get all my respect, there is not much profit for many hunting outfitters if, no matter how hard a client hunts, he actually gets nothing!

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren

Isnt that the same risk undertaken when a hunter chooses to pay day rates and hunt game from the regular list anyway?

A pre-made package was fine for me as a first timer when I went last year, but not something I would choose now unless it was a VERY good deal.

Low daily rates, some free or very cheap non-trophy animals and a big discount on a trophy animal or two that usually are rather expensive and you will have a good chance to get on the property are factors that grab my attention.

James, Your list is a great start, except for the fact there are hunters like me (who will just pay the trophy fee for one) but the 2nd, 3rd, 4th (you get the picture) I plan on hunting Blue Wildebeest, everytime I go back. Love those critters.

My thought, is the repeat customer would get the free animal or two if he brings a few friends to hunt, or even free day rates (really except for the evening how much extra food and drink would it cost the outfitter) expecially if he brought 2-4 buddies to hunt. There is the extra PH or 2, but again, prospective "return clients" of the new guys brought in. My business is based on word of mouth, as I am sure yours is as well. I give repeat customers some breaks if they refer someone.....

I think the best package would be, If you (the person booking the hunt regardless of species to be taken) if you bring yourself and let's say three other hunters, you stay free, regardless if it is a 7 day or 21 day safari, 4 people hunting is going to generate some serious cash flow,i.e. additional animals.

Only way I could see this as a loss is if SpikeT and I were drinking up all your booze......lol......

What would catch my fancy is a package that would allow me to shoot a bunch of critters.
So here's my idea. Call it "earn a cull program"
Each time a hunter shoots an animal off the trophy list at normal cost, he/she would earn the right to take a cull animal at no charge. This system would be win-win. The hunter would be able to have fun shooting many more animals. The outfitter would collect the normal trophy fee's, but at the same time be able to employ a management plan for the females, broken horn or whatever other criteria that classifies an animal as a cull.

Another idea that would be appealing to me would be to include two days in the bush with the trackers teaching me some skills, sharing how they hunt, track, read sign make traps, bows, arrows, etc. That would be real interesting.

Bushwack, all the above advice seems good to me. Another idea: Work out your day rate for, let's say, 10 days. Add a blanket trophy fee, and the client gets to choose what he wants to fill it with, picking from your fee list, maybe with a percentage, as Diamondhitch suggested, or offer an additional impala / warthog or similar. It gives people the flexibility to adjust.

Originally Posted by Stretch

What would catch my fancy is a package that would allow me to shoot a bunch of critters.
So here's my idea. Call it "earn a cull program"
Each time a hunter shoots an animal off the trophy list at normal cost, he/she would earn the right to take a cull animal at no charge. This system would be win-win. The hunter would be able to have fun shooting many more animals. The outfitter would collect the normal trophy fee's, but at the same time be able to employ a management plan for the females, broken horn or whatever other criteria that classifies an animal as a cull.

Another idea that would be appealing to me would be to include two days in the bush with the trackers teaching me some skills, sharing how they hunt, track, read sign make traps, bows, arrows, etc. That would be real interesting.

Your idea about a "earn a cull program" would for sure make me interested and put me in big risk of extending my trophy fee budget

Great ideas and thanks you for the info.
Regards from sunny Namibia

So what's coming of this Bushwack???? What kind of package you going to offer???

Thanks guys, will place some packages soon to this forum, had seen some very good ideas