A little food for thought - Pricing on African Hunting Safaris

Excellent Rants by Chris and Brickburn! I'm enjoying this thread and learning, loving the opportunity to look at it from the other side of the coin, keep it coming.

My take on per day vs. per night
I would add to Brickburn's comment regarding charging by the night. When I called a booking agent to learn about hunting in Africa, one of the first things he pointed out was that you pay for hunting days not by the night.. And went on to explain that on a 7 day hunt (for example) you get a full 7 days of hunting as the day you arrive and depart are not counted. This was completely new to me and I had to get out a calendar and lay it out to get it into my thick skull. He went on to say that if one arrives early enough, or departs late enough, some outfitters will take you out hunting for a bit extra on the arrival and departure days...... Now tipping is one of the most difficult things to come to a conclusion on... But certainly things like that should weigh heavily when making that decision.

This booking agent went on to rave about what a great deal hunting in Africa really is and compared it to elk hunting in the Western USA... He had me hooked long before we got there for our first time! Now I see outfits quoting a 10 day hunt with only 8 hunting days it that also gets my attention. In a negative way. They are free to do business as they like, but do not be mis-leading in the advertising. Seems as though a new fad for many hunts offered is to quote the total days including the arrival and departure days... I suppose that is ok as long as it is explained and up front honest.... But it is a shame to see African Outfitters slipping away from the tradition of quoting full hunting days and throwing out that really great little competitive extra that Africa had to offer hunters from around the World.

My rant on hotel pricing
On the hotel pricing, that seems like a good analogy and in some ways it is, and others it is not. I will say that I often am traveling for business and just stop to get a room whenever and wherever without booking ahead... Maybe it was stupid and risky of us, but we even did this when traveling the Garden Route on our own in RSA... But it was not busy season. Anyway, I always ask "can you give me a good rate?" and get a lower rate than full price at least 95% of the time, then I still ask if there are any other discounts such as a Corporate discount.... I get an additional 10-15% discount probably 3/4ths of the time just for asking politely. And never felt I got less service because of it. Now if it is the last room for the night, probably not happening, but sometimes it still does, it has never hurt me to ask. And it never hurts to smile when asking!

Looking at the costs of a hotel, they have very small true variable costs. Really just cleaning the room including supplies, a small amount of electricity, maybe a free breakfast. In an average hotel that might be about $12. And large overhead, including all the costs of owning the place, the front desk person who has to be there whether full or not, etc. So Say their total cost is $52. If they charge $102, they make a $50 profit right? Not unless they have sold enough rooms to cover all the overhead costs... But if it is late at night and they are not full, what is the profit on the extra person who happens to walk in at the last minute checking for a room and if the price is not low enough, will go to the place across the street??? I would argue that they could rent that room for the $52 total cost and make $40 profit... Not sure how this relates to hunting but I'm sure there is a little something in here that is applicable.

Paw Print said:

Chris, I am very glad you posted this thread, it gives all of us the opportunity to answer questions that many must have thought about. It also helps to clear wrong perceptions. Calling comfortable accommodation a "lodge" is just a word widely used. I also employ one tracker and skinner full time who does most of the work. As I stated the lodges I use , has their own, I have been working with them for a few years, and trust them.
Unfortunately my "home" chef is in a career of her own and cannot travel with me.
Well from what I learned(my major subjects were, economics ,accounting, and marketing), one division of a business can create a competitive advantage for another division that is just part of a marketing plan. Subsidizing it would in most instances mean that a certain division is working at a loss which is not the case.
I did definitely not see it aimed at me, however as Brickburn stated in his post I was also contacted by other outfits trying to push me into raising prices. This means that whenever something like this comes up I feel totally comfortable to explain my pricing. There is actually a few outfits who advertise on here at lower prices than I do.

Click to expand...

Pieter,

I agree with you wholeheartedly and have no intention to question any of what you've said or how you are pricing your hunts. By all accounts you've been running a solid Outfit for the past three years...

Quite frankly; I had no idea of how you were pricing your hunts until this thread...

Although I've studied formally a bit and have some qualifications - most of my education comes from the "University of Life"...

Similarly to you - I also spent some time in a corporate environment and have a basic understanding of how things work in business... One being that a sustainable business cannot flourish if one segment of the business supports the other... not on the long term at least... The problem with such an arrangement is that - should the "profitable" division of the business falter - the division that it supports also will... This is only logical.

Best,

Wheels said:

I understand your comments but will respectfully disagree.

Do I like it when a newbie comes into my industry, bids on contracts and take them away from me. NO. I complain and grumble like most. Free enterprise however is great. It keeps us on our toes. If we do a good job at a fair price we will survive and thrive. We will figure out where we can cut costs or provide a greater value for the money. Without competition we would raise our prices to a point that it hurts our industry and customers can't afford our services. "Pigs get fat....hogs get slaughtered"

At one time or another each and every PH in SA was a newbie, struggling to get by. The ones that couldn't compete have gone elsewhere where their talents are rewarded at the appropriate compensation level. The ones that proved themselves are the ones that are in business today with repeat clientele. As has been noted above, some get to the point they don't have to market themselves very much. We the hunters market their product for them as happy clients. The market does a much better job of weeding out the weak than the government or a PH organization. Do some provide a shoddy service. Yes, but in the end they won't be very successful or will fail.

Your last comment, "Every new PH takes away the living of another....". This is not true when the pie is growing. If the pie is not growing or is shrinking this is a true statement. But what is wrong with that happening. In my industry do I deserve to stay around if I am not competitive with the new people coming in? What gives an old PH the right to take away the living of a new PH if the new PH provides a better product at a better price?

Free Enterprise ROCKS! Love it and embrace it and it will treat you very well!


All the best.

Click to expand...

A PH gets paid a daily rate, they dont make the prices in the market, that is up to the Outfitter. PH's make a living on a days work and a days pay. No work no pay, it has nothing to do with price, it has to do with oppertunity.
The PH does not determine if he has a job tommorow or not, no matter how great he is, its up to the Outfitter in how well he markets and hoe many hunts he sells or how many clients return to hunt with him. Outfitters get the hunters, not PH's, although many Outfitters do PH as well.

The pie is not growing at the rate the mill is churning out PH's, the reason for PH numbers staying the same even if they get pumped out by the dozen monthly.
Many,many PH's do not PH full time, they have other jobs in the off season or do something else to generate a income.

If you picked a surgeon would you pick one who does it part time a week a year?

I have hunted with many fresh PH's, there are some very,very good ones among them, they just dont have the oppertunity to do it full time.
Flooding the market with PH's is never a good thing for clients. Its simple math, more PH's, same amount of hunting days (though stats show days booked are getting less per hunter) would make less experianced PH's.

I understand that you believe in the free market system and there is nothing wrong with that, you dont wait for oppertunity,you make it
I dont PH any longer unless a client specificaly wants to hunt with only me, it is unfair to PH's making a living trying to do it everyday and also unfair to the client if I spend a small amount of time actually hunting each year, its a skill you need to keep sharp, 7 days a year just isnt enough for that

Appreciate your point of view

hunthardsafaris said:

A PH gets paid a daily rate, they dont make the prices in the market, that is up to the Outfitter. PH's make a living on a days work and a days pay. No work no pay, it has nothing to do with price, it has to do with oppertunity.
The PH does not determine if he has a job tommorow or not, no matter how great he is, its up to the Outfitter in how well he markets and hoe many hunts he sells or how many clients return to hunt with him. Outfitters get the hunters, not PH's, although many Outfitters do PH as well.

The pie is not growing at the rate the mill is churning out PH's, the reason for PH numbers staying the same even if they get pumped out by the dozen monthly.
Many,many PH's do not PH full time, they have other jobs in the off season or do something else to generate a income.

If you picked a surgeon would you pick one who does it part time a week a year?

I have hunted with many fresh PH's, there are some very,very good ones among them, they just dont have the oppertunity to do it full time.
Flooding the market with PH's is never a good thing for clients. Its simple math, more PH's, same amount of hunting days (though stats show days booked are getting less per hunter) would make less experianced PH's.

I understand that you believe in the free market system and there is nothing wrong with that, you dont wait for oppertunity,you make it
I dont PH any longer unless a client specificaly wants to hunt with only me, it is unfair to PH's making a living trying to do it everyday and also unfair to the client if I spend a small amount of time actually hunting each year, its a skill you need to keep sharp, 7 days a year just isnt enough for that

Appreciate your point of view

Click to expand...

Appreciate your explanation and understand where you are coming from.

We approach the topic from different world views which is perfectly fine.

We can agree to disagree and still be friends.

All the best.

CT Safaris said:

Pieter,

I agree with you wholeheartedly and have no intention to question any of what you've said or how you are pricing your hunts. By all accounts you've been running a solid Outfit for the past three years...

Quite frankly; I had no idea of how you were pricing your hunts until this thread...

Although I've studied formally a bit and have some qualifications - most of my education comes from the "University of Life"...

Similarly to you - I also spent some time in a corporate environment and have a basic understanding of how things work in business... One being that a sustainable business cannot flourish if one segment of the business supports the other... not on the long term at least... The problem with such an arrangement is that - should the "profitable" division of the business falter - the division that it supports also will... This is only logical.

Best,

Click to expand...

Good to see we have the same background. I agree wholeheartedly, however as I stated before that is not the case if all divisions make profit. Especially when one division adds value to the other. But this is not a "how to run your business" thread. It is an excellent opportunity for outfitters who price differently to explain why they price as they do. Like I stated before by starting this thread you have given all potential clients the chance to get answers to the "why"s".

Not sure but that quote chris uses looks like it could be from me.Some Outfitters charge higher prices than others because they "can" and not because they need to..."

My main problem with the talk of cheaper hunts is everyone seems to think they are always bad.I guess it all comes down to what you think is cheap.For some day fees of 200.00 could be great with others they maybe willing to pay the 500.00 a day.They may need there pillow fluffed and a mint on it ever day to feel like there special.I dont need that or want to pay for that.I dont need to be told I am getting a cheap hunt either.I know what I am paying and make sure I know what I am getting.

Now so many outfitters like to act like there only money is made on day rates.We know that is not true and the thousands they make on a plains game hunt on trophy fees is not chump change most of the time.Even after they pay the landowner they make money.

Next we have the staff they all need.Well I wish I had a cook ,cleaning lady ,guy doing my lawn work and such.Some maybe needed others overkill for me.Before everyone loses there mind lets just say I work for myself and have more then one job to do a day and yes some I hate.Any outfitters wants to add up hours they do and I do I am game to have that done.Most day end up being 10 to 14 hours work days and yes then I get to go home and work on what needs done there.Lets see driving around walking to go hunting compared to roofing/drywalling ,digging holes to start building something.That point is dont try and tell me you work harder for your money then I do.I have a truck I pay for gas plus more tools and stuff I need for my business.

Now this year we have the perfect example to show what I meant by my comment that chris used.This are not the real numbers but I will give a example.We all know ele hunts took a big hit this year.Maybe a ele hunt use to be 40,000.00 and at that time hunters were told that is the best they could do.If they did less they would go broke.Your heard the area is wild and this and that.Then comes the banned on ele imports to the usa.What happens ele hunts by the same people drop to 20,000.00 to sell them.Now I am to think they did the hunt and lost money or they charged that because they could at the time.

Some outfitters want to work with the working class get your hands dirty kind of guy.Others want the guy who works and make 10 times what I do.Neither is wrong and both are priced different if people want to say so or not.Because some outfitters are happy making a living and enjoying there work at the same time why cant they decide how much they charge.

What makes some outfitters think they can say someone who only charges 250 is not giving them the same as the one who charges 400.Or one guy is terrible because he charges 2000 for a kudu and one charges 3000.Maybe he is happy making 25% on each animal instead of making 75% or more each animal.

Some may do 5 show a year and spend thousands on a year to do others may do 1 or 2 maybe even none.Some instead of doing show they discount hunts as there advertising and get hunters talking about them.Same amount of money going out but in two different ways.So one is wrong and one is right because some feel they should set the market prices to there liking.

Sorry for rambling on and the post maybe all over but thats just me so love me or hate me that is what I think

Paw Print said:

one division of a business can create a competitive advantage for another division

Click to expand...

Pieter I like to refer to this as "synergies" ... Or two things working together where the sum is equal to more than the parts.

Others call it "vertical integration". Of course you need to enterprise these "divisions" on your books to be sure one is not subsidizing the other... But the good CEO (that's you is going to have a handle on this.

The free market will dictate which of those enterprises are the most profitable and often a business that concentrates on one thing can do it better and more profitably, but just as often a top manager can work the synergies to cause each enterprise to build on the profit of the other... I think this is what you are referring to... I assume if you can add taxidermy to the services you provide to a client, you have not had to add proportionally to your advertising to do it, and likewise you have not had to sit down and talk to two clients about each, you can probably discuss taxidermy poses while hunting or over meals where if you did not offer that, you might discuss it but you would not profit from the time invested.

To all you guys from RSA;
I am impressed by what a successful model of Capitalism the hunting industry is in RSA! I don't mean to take anything away from other places.... But you have probably got the best mixture of any place on Earth of a great healthy populations of game, top professional in their fields, top quality facilities and services, sound infrastructure to work with and within, at good competitive prices... Keep doing what your doing!

ActionBob said:

Pieter I like to refer to this as "synergies" ... Or two things working together where the sum is equal to more than the parts.

Others call it "vertical integration". Of course you need to enterprise these "divisions" on your books to be sure one is not subsidizing the other... But the good CEO (that's you is going to have a handle on this.

The free market will dictate which of those enterprises are the most profitable and often a business that concentrates on one thing can do it better and more profitably, but just as often a top manager can work the synergies to cause each enterprise to build on the profit of the other... I think this is what you are referring to... I assume if you can add taxidermy to the services you provide to a client, you have not had to add proportionally to your advertising to do it, and likewise you have not had to sit down and talk to two clients about each, you can probably discuss taxidermy poses while hunting or over meals where if you did not offer that, you might discuss it but you would not profit from the time invested.

To all you guys from RSA;
I am impressed by what a successful model of Capitalism the hunting industry is in RSA! I don't mean to take anything away from other places.... But you have probably got the best mixture of any place on Earth of a great healthy populations of game, top professional in their fields, top quality facilities and services, sound infrastructure to work with and within, at good competitive prices... Keep doing what your doing!

Click to expand...

Bob, English not being my first language you have explained it much better than I ever could.

I´ve only met two PH´s who are employed full time by the landowner/outfitter, the rest work part-time and have another job. Obviously any of us will want to hunt with the guy who is busy most of the season,(that has always been my case), rather than the occasional PH.

Now, I read here there are more PH than the industry needs, and there are guys doing very few hunts per years, just to keep their license. Is this due because taking a PH course is too easy ? ( that´s what one of my PH´s told me) That some people take it because it makes it easier for firearms ownership ? If that is the case shouldn´t it be wiser to make the course more demanding, or the conditions to keep your license stricter, in order to have less but better prepared PH´s who would then hunt more ?

I would very much like to hear your opinions on these questions.

One other note on cheaper hunts.Should I feel bad the pieter and loodt saved me thousands and I mean thousands on my hunts.Should I feel bad they made less on me.

I bet you ask pieter and loodt with the money they did not make on me with cash I handed them.They will both end up making that money back plus in ways that dont get talked about by must outfitters.I just dont take or look at what they did for my son and I lightly.I just dont take and take with out giving back in areas I can help them in.

Nyati said:

I´ve only met two PH´s who are employed full time by the landowner/outfitter, the rest work part-time and have another job. Obviously any of us will want to hunt with the guy who is busy most of the season,(that has always been my case), rather than the occasional PH.

Now, I read here there are more PH than the industry needs, and there are guys doing very few hunts per years, just to keep their license. Is this due because taking a PH course is too easy ? ( that´s what one of my PH´s told me) That some people take it because it makes it easier for firearms ownership ? If that is the case shouldn´t it be wiser to make the course more demanding, or the conditions to keep your license stricter, in order to have less but better prepared PH´s who would then hunt more ?

I would very much like to hear your opinions on these questions.

Click to expand...

I believe the SA PH course adds value to anyone who completes it, but it is a easy course to complete. If you are dedicated and can study a bit it should be no problem for the avarage hunter to pass it. That being said, it what the Gov prescribes as a requerment. I have had clients who have passed it no problem.

The course it self will never make you a complete PH, that only experiance and abillity can do. I would like to see a apprenticeship becoming part of the SA PH program, but that is not up to me.
Port Elizabeth university offers a course in game farm management with one of the courses being a PH course, this I believe adds value to any young man or lady employed as a PH.
There is a new course on the cards which will enable one to get his DG license in about two weeks, previously only possible by doing these hunts as a 2nd PH, but like most things a few people found a loop hole and did not actually do the hunts, they just sat for a photo with the DG and got a letter from a friend or two that are Outfitters stating that they hunted DG. Nasty, but true. These are a minority.

There are many very good PH's in SA, they paid school fees the hard way. I dont see things changing in the short term, I do hope it does.
Yes there are PH's that hunt just enough to keep their licence, some even book days from other PH's if they are short on days.
I dont think you will find those guys here on AH though

Sorry a bit off topic

Hi Chris,

Great forum topic.

I put together a excel spread sheet for a potential Safari traveler. I am not sure if they booked a hunt or not, i just performed a service to help the person out and find a good trip.

What i did for the person was take 6 different operators from the same area in South Africa. The person is new to international travel and hunting and was looking for a African safari. This came about after i indicated that it could cost about the same as a guided elk hunt in New Mexico.

What were we looking at were daily fees and trophy fees per animal. Some were listed in South African Rands, Euro's and USD. Therefore, i had to use my currency converter to put the correct prices in the spreadsheet. It was easy to compare the total expense after they had selected the animals that they were considering going after. After looking at all 6 operation, one was clearly lower in costs, one was clearly higher and the other 4 were real close in total costs. And i suggest that he contact the four to see about obtaining references prior to booking a safari.

The question that were brought back to me; why were some PH daily fees lower when compared to the others. Reason being the PH owned the property. Other than the property owner, the other PH fees were relatively close.

Then the question followed about why the trophy fees had the variance, when they were in the same area. The land owner pricing were easier to explain, than the other trophy fee price differences.

For the spreadsheet, I shied away from using operations that charged different price for average and above average trophy quality. The sliding scale for trophy fees, based on inches.

No where in our search were we trying to under cut one PH from another, I was suggesting that he should have a great experience with any one of them. However, he needed to be controllable prior to booking.

I also put together an information package on purchasing airline tickets, using a rifle service and some motels, should he decide to make the plunge.

Billc , loved your point on elephant hunt pricing and you're absolutely right about helping the outfitters. I have set up two meet and greets 160 miles apart for the outfitter that I talked about in my earlier post with a very good chance that he will get a couple groups book.

Guys keep this thread going. I very much enjoy listening in to your conversation.

Seems I've ruffled a few feathers here. This was not my intention but so be it...

Analogy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analogy
In a narrower sense, analogy is an inference or an argument from one particular to another particular, as opposed to deduction, induction, and abduction, where at least one of the premises or the conclusion is general

Analogy | Define Analogy at Dictionary.com
dictionary.reference.com/browse/analogy
a similarity between like features of two things, on which a comparison may be based: the analogy between the heart and a pump. 2. similarity or comparability:
analogy - definition of analogy by The Free Dictionary
www.thefreedictionary.com/analogy
a. A similarity in some respects between things that are otherwise dissimilar: sees ananalogy between viral infection and the spread of ideas

Referring to 2 and 4 star hotels was an analogy... I stated this from the outset but it appears some might have misinterpreted what I was trying to bring across....

I never said or implied that one Outfitter offers 2 star treatment / accommodations and the other 4 star - hence the price difference between less and more expensive Outfitters and I was not saying or implying that Outfitters who charge less offer an inferior hunting experience. Based on Bill's responses and posts it is clear that lower priced Outfitters can actually provide a superb hunting experience and that's great... (BTW Bill; my post was also not directed at you specifically - sorry if I touched a nerve!)

The cost example and analogy I used was to give folks a better idea of how these costs are put together and an idea of how I approached the costs of my trip to Canada. If it costs me $250 to host a client at an exchange rate of 11/1 - what will it cost me if the exchange rate changes to 7/1? Agreed - these costs are variable and some might be able to cut costs here and there... But the question is: "By how much? - $50? $60?" If your margin is $20p/d on a hunt - what is you "cushion" if the exchange rate goes South?

My rates are not be the cheapest in the industry - nor are they the most expensive but one thing I can say this:

In spite of the fact that my contract states prices are subject to exchange rate fluctuations and in spite of some severe exchange rate fluctuations over the past 11 years I have never needed to change pricing after signing a hunt contract. It is simple - if the rate falls - I make less money - if it increases - I make more. This risk is mine - not the Clients' - and because I do not have to rely on selling carcasses or process meat into biltong to stay in business - I manage that risk - effectively.

Best regards,

Chris

Wheels said:

At one time or another each and every PH in SA was a newbie, struggling to get by. The ones that couldn't compete have gone elsewhere where their talents are rewarded at the appropriate compensation level. The ones that proved themselves are the ones that are in business today with repeat clientele. As has been noted above, some get to the point they don't have to market themselves very much. We the hunters market their product for them as happy clients. The market does a much better job of weeding out the weak than the government or a PH organization. Do some provide a shoddy service. Yes, but in the end they won't be very successful or will fail.

Your last comment, "Every new PH takes away the living of another....". This is not true when the pie is growing. If the pie is not growing or is shrinking this is a true statement. But what is wrong with that happening. In my industry do I deserve to stay around if I am not competitive with the new people coming in? What gives an old PH the right to take away the living of a new PH if the new PH provides a better product at a better price?

Click to expand...

Well said, thanks @Wheels

I am a young PH that has had very little opportunity, granted I am based in Botswana and registered in the EC (Thankfully that will change this year) but I know where I stand and that is at the bottom of the pecking order. Sure I would love to hunt +200 days a year but that isn't going to happen right off the bat. I need to bide my time and be respectful of the industry and the way it turns, but when I do get my chance, you can be sure I am taking it with two hands and will do my hardest to prove my self! When I see an older experienced PH, I don't view him as competition but as an opportunity to learn from him and better my own skills as a PH. A similar thing can be said for the older guys that are now running the Outfitters, take those youngsters and mould them. Show them what it means to be a Professional Hunter, surely that will be to the benefit of the industry?
There is one thing that is for sure, the people in this industry are extremely accommodating and always willing to help, that I have experienced first hand.

Cheers
Jono

Chris I get your points and you have told me the same ones when I talked with you before.No nerve touch here just gave my take on your post since you used a quote I said in a post.I wanted to just give some facts to back up what I said.

I have seen to many times on post that cheaper or discount means bad hunt or your giving something up.Someone even talks about getting a leopard hunt for 15,000 or under it is a cheap bad hunt.Yet must of that is just talk from guys selling the same hunt for 25,000 to 28,000.Now I know they all do that to protect us hunters and never to make sure there profit margins stay up there were they think they should be.Now again dont get me wrong if they can get 28,000 more power to them just sick of them always saying the 15,000.00 is going to be bad.It maybe just what that hunter wants and can do at the time.Maybe he is ok with 50 %or so odds of getting one because it is his only chance for him to do the hunt.Plus after all it is about hunting not always getting the animal everytime.

I myself like to deal in facts and truths.Which after the hunts I have been on shows for a fact you can take great animals have a great time and not give up anything if you do the right search.I have had great food with nice lodging but also taken animals that match anyones taken anywhere else in SA.I did this all for far less they must outfitters charge.Those are just facts nothing more.

I myself would think any outfitter who quotes me a price on a hunt is making money on me.They are in business to do so and we all know that.Do I care how he makes his money on me no I just need to know what my hunt will cost me.Now if someone is going to give me a great deal and pass on some saving to me because he figured out a way to make money doing other things good for me and him.

I dont need to know if he pays 25 a night for lodging or gets food cheaper because he knows someone.Dont care if he pays 1000 for kudu he charges me 2000 for.I care that his price match what I think I should be paying and can afford to pay for what I want.I let it up to each outfitter to know what they need to make a living.


There is many ways to run a business and many different clients to go after.Lucky for me I have found some who dont mind working with me so I can get to africa more then once in my life.Some guys dont like it because they think it hurts the outfitting business or more likely will hurt there wallet.I myself can not think of a business that it does not happen in.You can find high and low pricing in everything out there.Each one matches a client in some way or another.I pick the one that makes me happy and live with what ever the results end up being.So far lucky for me they have all been great.

There are always price differences, it doesn't mean one outfitter is bad and the other is good. It's just that sometimes one outfitter is able to offer one type of hunt cheaper than the next. It does not mean they are equal. You see difference in spiral horn safari prices on AH. The price difference is largely do to where the hunt is offered. Comparing Limpopo Province prices to East Cape prices is not always fair...it should be East Cape to East Cape and Limpopo to Limpopo.

As others such as Wheels and ActionBob have said, free enterprise is alive and well in the hunting industry! Is it perfect? No, but it is pretty dang good. It lets me as a hunter have a vote, with my pocketbook and it also lets the outfitter have a vote, with his pocketbook. Sure there are fluctuations, but it all balances out in the end based upon supply and demand.

Outfitter making "too much money":

1. Hunters don't hunt as much
2. New outfitters/PHs come into the market to try and make some of that money
3. Prices end up going down

Outfitters don't make "enough money"

1. Hunters hunt more for the better deals
2. Outfitters/PHs leave the market as there is no money to be made
3. Prices end up going up

It is a balance, just like the wildlife we all love so much. When you have a natural balance between predators and prey all is well. When you get too many of either one bad things happen.... Neither of the above examples are inherently bad, unless something is purposely done to keep them from going back into balance. Again, as in nature, only the strong survive!

CT Safaris said:

................ (BTW Bill; my post was also not directed at you specifically - sorry if I touched a nerve!)

Click to expand...

Chris, this is a pretty easy nerve to find on bill.

CT Safaris said:

............... If your margin is $20p/d on a hunt - what is you "cushion" if the exchange rate goes South?

Click to expand...

Not much cushion in this environment. Although it appears the 2008- 2009 season was the one to survive.

CT Safaris said:

My rates are not be the cheapest in the industry - nor are they the most expensive but one thing I can say this:
........... over the past 11 years I have never needed to change pricing after signing a hunt contract. ................... I manage that risk - effectively.
Best regards,
Chris

Click to expand...

I have had some issues with this change in the past and it was not a pleasant surprise. I'm glad you have managed not to surprise your clients with price increases. No doubt playing a part of your good reputation.