Would you or have you hunted with an outfitter because of a “Hunting Celebrity” or Influencer?

The only thing I've done that's close is i was already going to Aransas pass Texas fishing with a friend when I watched Steve Rinella founder gigging in the same area with surrender at sunrise.
He had an opening while we were there so I booked and had a great time with my family.

Well, sort of. Craig Boddington referenced a PH he hunted with in his book Safari Rifles. The PH was Ray Millican who we went on a Mozambique DG hunt with in the mid 90’s. Back then there was no internet so to speak and I had obtained the outfitters and hunt info from the back of a hunting magazine. I did check references that were supplied and Mr, Boddington having previously hunted with Ray and mentioning him in his book played a role.

Let’s just say we didn’t have the same experience Boddington had. I now fondly recall that hunt as a wonderful adventure and disaster all rolled into one. Had the internet and sites like AH existed back then I wouldn’t have chosen this hunt (nor would anyone else have for that matter) with Ray but instead would’ve chosen PH Russ Broom in Zim.

Had a hunter and a pair of fishermen at camp to film promos for our vacation association. Damn self absorbed jerks thinking they are above anyone else in camp and that laws and policies don’t apply to them. Both violated the law as well as my request to be conservative. Never again after that. Most shows are either faked or scripted

Generally no, that said, I’ve hunted with multiple boddington endorsed outfitters/ph’s and they were top notch

Grandpa Moose said:

Had a hunter and a pair of fishermen at camp to film promos for our vacation association. Damn self absorbed jerks thinking they are above anyone else in camp and that laws and policies don’t apply to them. Both violated the law as well as my request to be conservative. Never again after that. Most shows are either faked or scripted

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I'm surprised they weren't scouting for the teeth that they once had after that encounter.

I'll say yes and no. I generally don't give 2 cents about celebrities or really even know what influencers really are today. That said, there are folks who I would absolutely book with because I would like to hunt with them at least once. And the example of Dalton & York, I did decide I would like to hunt with them based in part on what I saw in some of the hunts of theirs that were filmed and put on YouTube. Not because of youtube at all, but the quality of the animals and experiences the client's seemed to share, sparked an interest for me.

I did end up booking a late season, last minute hunt with Dalton & York this past October and haven't regretted it for a second. Enjoyed their area and the folks so much, I head back to hunt with them again next month, and likely at least a third time in 2027.

I never had a guided hunt until beginning of 2024, which was my desert bighorn in Sonora, and then several trips to Africa since, which will hopefully continue for years to come. Through this foray into an almost addiction to hunting dangerous game in Africa, there are a few folks that I have met who have impressed me. Not as celebrity of sorts, but as individuals that I think very highly of as human beings and professional hunters, enough so, that I would like to hunt with them at least once sometime in the future. Some are known for years of hunting experience and success, some for their knowledge, some just struck me for their genuine zeal for their profession or something about them seemed to meld from a personality standpoint.

For now, in the next few years at least, my short list for buffalo hunts are Michael Fell, Dave Langerman, Johnny Russell, and Buzz Charlton. Since I also have a strange desire to hunt buffalo in every country possible, I need to broaden outside Zimbabwe more too, but 3 of my 4 short list are all in Zim.

As years pass, I hope to add others to my list as well, only time will tell.

No not at all.
But having said that I have found places I want to hunt after seeing it on a show.
St vicent island found out about it from a old public station hunting show.
And I have hunted a farm that been in a few hunting videos back in the 90s.
There was a local father and son that had a show on pbs and had some videos out about bow hunting.
I ended up hunting a farm that they had shot a few video on
But it had nothing to do with them my brother was dating the farmers daughter.
And they had big peanut and corn feilds.

It’s like everything else. There are some good ones and some bad ones. I dislike a lot of the US hunting celebrities.

Don’t get me started on “influencers”


I’d like to make a reality show where all these pretty young female influencers get invited to the show, but they don’t know they are actually going to have to demonstrate actual outdoor skills without help. I’ll bet there is a wide range of capabilities when you have to do more than take selfies.

You know what they say about guarentees

Yes, well known safari personalities have influenced my hunting and equipment decisions. It hasn’t all been spot-on but I certainly consider the input important.

Never have been influenced to select a hunting outfitter by a celebrity or an influencer… but I have ended up hunting a few places and found out after I was already there that someone “famous” had recently hunted with the outfitter I was with..

Years ago my wife and I did a guided day on the water chasing paddlefish in Oklahoma… Melissa Bachman had just fished with them the week prior and filmed an episode with them (that hadn’t aired yet)..

The outfitter we hunted ducks and sika with on Kodiak was Clint Blacks outfitter of choice for Kodiak brown bear and had been in camp a few weeks before us…

the outfitter we hunted with in New Zealand last year had guided Luke Combs several months before we got there…

And the place we did a cast and blast hunt with in Argentina had hosted Larry Potterfield the year before…

I enjoy watching hunting and fishing shows… and often get ideas about places I’d like to go or what I’d like to hunt based on what I see… but I’ve honestly never booked with a specific outfitter because a particular celebrity or influencer said “it’s good”…. I automatically assume if a celebrity or influencer “likes” something it’s because they got paid, got a free hunt, or got something else out of the deal.. no different then when I read gun or ammo reviews in a gun rag, etc..

That doesn’t make them “bad” or mean the outfitter isn’t stellar… it just means that’s what they do for a living, and I’d rather do my own research…

I generally don’t seek out outfitters because a “celebrity hunter” used their services or recommended them, but I will admit to booking my first guided hunt based on a reference from Craig Boddington. I was a young and impressionable college student, Eagle Scout, and fellow south paw, and he provided sound advice. Truthfully, he was the first person to open my eyes to the fact that African hunting was obtainable for the average white collar American and not just a hobby for the ultra wealthy.

In general I think someone looking for quality hunts both in Africa or other countries would be much better served with the sponsors and recommendations from some of our membership here than where influencers and celebrities are hunting.

I met a bloke called “Colorado Buck” in Alaska a few years back. He flew in on the cub that I flew out on. I thought he had to be some celebrity as his rifle had his name engraved into the action.

When I got home I googled him. I’m now wondering if he picked the same outfitter because he knew I was there hunting.

Anyway, that’s what I’m saying from now on.

Mtn_Infantry said:

Would you, or have you ever made a decision to hunt with an outfitter because of a “Hunting Celebrity” or “Hunting Influencer”?

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If I get discount, yes.
If I dont get discount, or worse (higher price because of celebrity status), no.

If outfitter offers something really special, for a price affordable to me, and other outfitters dont have the same thing available, yes. Then celebrity status is irrelevant.

Generally, celebrity status is irrelevant to me.

No is the short answer.

But I have made the effort to meet some everyday Aussies from this forum when the opportunity was available. We share common interest and occasionally I have reached out to ask a question or seek advice and always got a prompt reply.

I watch a bit of YouTube including hunting channels.

While celebrities or influencers are showmen and entertainers they must have some amazing experiences.

Would I go shoot with Jim Harmer (Backfire) or Eric Cortina. ( Black Jack challenge) Sure

Would I ask Gavin Gear (Ultimate Reloader) for technical advice? yes

Pieter Milan from Impact Shooting has an African channel with a few hunts.

I don’t have the skill level or cash to keep up with these people but I enjoy their content and they seem to down to earth. Just people like us.

Aussie taxidermist Tim Blackwell guided a tour to South Africa. Probably an influencer in certain circles and a genuine bloke so, yeah I would hunt with him if things aligned.

I might also add there is a big difference between someone who has been really successful with an outdoor show or writing books and articles……than someone who is classified as an “influencer”. I think you could replace that title with “wanna be”. It’s pretty easy to tell the difference in the big game hunting industry.

When you pivot and look at the tactical part of the firearms/sporting market that’s become an absolute joke (influencers). There are some excellent and knowledgable ex spec ops guys,…then just a whole bunch of tackelberries.

uplander01 said:

I might also add there is a big difference between someone who has been really successful with an outdoor show or writing books and articles……than someone who is classified as an “influencer”. I think you could replace that title with “wanna be”. It’s pretty easy to tell the difference in the big game hunting industry.

When you pivot and look at the tactical part of the firearms/sporting market that’s become an absolute joke (influencers). There are some excellent and knowledgable ex spec ops guys,…then just a whole bunch of tackelberries.

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I saw an influencer when i was shopping at costco. Girls cart had like 5 cameras on it. My wife was like. Who cares about your grocery shopping. It was annoying cause this chick was practically yelling in the isle.

Would you, or have you ever made a decision to hunt with an outfitter because of a “Hunting Celebrity” or “Hunting Influencer”?

Guilty as charged..........but let me explain, your honor.....

I do a lot of research before selecting an outfitter. Different sources get different weighting. First hand knowledge from friends or trusted AH members get a lot of weight. Recent info gets more weight than old stuff. When someone states they hunted with so&so about 10-15 years ago, I give that lower weighting than the guy who hunted with him last year. So to summarize, I use a lot of sources before committing to a hunt with a certain outfitter. It's worked out pretty well.

Now about Keith Warren and my Alaskan moose hunt. I did a lot of research and part of it was numerous Youtube videos of past TV shows from Keith Warren's, "The High Road." As far as TV hunting shows go, it's one of the better ones in my opinion. All hunting TV shows though are mostly commercials. Keith Warren had 4 or 5 different hunt videos for moose, grizzly, sheep, etc with Castle Rock Outfitters and raved about Brent Keith.



I documented the details in my moose hunt report. It was bad. The outfitter had gone through a divorce recently and didn't have anyone to handle the thousand of details needed for a good hunt experience. Things like buying groceries, answering the phone or emails. Renewing the permits and licenses with the State of Alaska.

Not exactly, but a picked a guide for a bear hunt after reading an article, I forget which publication but it was a legit one, where they interviewed the guide about how he finds bears.

No