Best Ways To Advertise A Hunting Outfit?

The oil rig thing made me mad.

I was just recently elected to the board of local chapter of the Wild Sheep foundation. I have also tried to donate hunts for african outfitter. So I get to see both sides. Honestly, if an outfitter does do a 100% donation it is hard for the charity, to go through the advertisement, auctioneer for a split is tough. Especially on some of the reserve items. For example a lot for African hunts sell around 1000 dollars, if there is a 70/30 split back to the outfitter, 300 dollars to the charity, 700 to the outfitter. The charity did a lot leg work for 300 dollars though every bit does help.

The same token the outfitter needs to recoup some costs and needs to be able to make a living. Using the scenario above 700 dollars doesn't even cover day fees, any trophy animals donated he is eating the cost.

I imagine being forced to donate and the all costs to be at the show just add to the financial pain but hopefully they sell enough hunts to not be stuffed by a customer.

There is a lot of intangibles here, at the show does someone meet an outfitter and go on future hunts within, does he see the donation online and use that as the starting point for research. Does the charity get new members there because they want to bid on the hunt? So much of this can't be defined, who knows where the next conversation will take you.

I do think advertising here is very effective. But it helps if you are active on the forum as well. You can't sponsor and walk away, I have booked one hunt through here, and about to book another, this upcoming one will be for 6 guys, so you just never know.

I know an outfitter in Alaska, he does no shows, he does not really advertise, but has a 2 year wait, why, he is active on a couple of forums so people know him and word of mouth.

The other point here is pick a method and strive to be the best at it. If you are going to do shows, be the man at the shows, if you are going to do magazine advertisements have the best layout in the best location, if you are going to do forums, be active and be around. There isn't a magic bullet but there are numerous paths to success.

You got it wrong, the "charity" gets the 70%. Outfitter 30%. It has become a disease...

@SS Pro Safaris you are correct sorry about the confusion there. A few of the higher price ones it flips (at least that I have seen) and the high price ones with a reserve are the killer for both parties!

Again my post above was at the local level.

When I was donating hunts, 100% donation on plains game was almost automatically turned down, forget the split. It was pretty shocking to me and sometimes I was turned down in a pretty rude manner. I call the national guys or email, and it was almost like I was a joke to them and told to get in line to get a booth and then I can donate and it better be something then plains game.

I had a small local chapter reply back could I 100% donate a cape buffalo hunt.

I hope this can be fixed in the future and I feel like I am in a position to do it at least start the change to make it work for the charity, outfitters and hunters as well.

@sierraone I understand. While I'm not here to bash DSC, SCI, TU, QU, PF, DW, RMEF or any of the other big advocacy groups out there. I am here to say that there is harm happening to a lot of people because of the present "business model".

The hunt represents revenue that must be monetized so the club gets money. In the middle is happy pro and customer. On the edges is exploitation by a client or an outfitter. I just hate the sad tales.

I wish they'd say "10% of all fees donated to X" and then you'd never have to guess about some of these donations or clients so much.

I hope so too, its choking the hunting industry to its knees

SS Pro Safaris said:

I also attended the Central Texas Wildlife Legacy, what a disappointment, definitely not the right place to kick of your Outfitters career. We were more outfitters on the floor than attendees.
One outfitter flew from Germany to attend, felt sorry for him.

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(1) Zero Advertising
(2) Bad Weekend
(3) Even worst show hours

@Jasper99, this morning I have visited Cinegetica, which is the most important hunting show in Spain.

There were many outfitters from all over the world, but I only visited those I know, just to keep in touch (and yes, I did get a very interesting proposal). To me visiting every stand is a waste of time, as I don´t know these guys, or what their reputation is, so what is the point ?

Word of mouth, this forum, or other social media, little expense, just have to put in some time, that would be my advice.

Word of mouth is king and having a reputable TV show or magazine writer hunt with you is very economical means of getting mass word of mouth. Obviously reports on here are great word of mouth as well.

I'm a younger guy, so internet presence is what its all about (this doesn't mean facebook... I never look there for hunting related stuff).

Start with sponsoring AH and get a thread going that shows your accommodations, trophies, etc.

Make sure your webpage is solid. If its out of date, lacks information, poor quality, it will be ignored. High quality videos, photos, layout, prices, etc etc. There are thread on AH that talk about good webpages.

Next, post a smoking hot deal for AH members only. This will get you publicity within 6 months after they return and write reports. You can also gain a foothold on the other forum(s) in the same way... but they're a bit less friendly and a bit more judge-y over there...

Also, consider paying to get your webpage higher on the google and bing search results. I don't know what this costs, but if you do it for certain periods of time, maybe tied to when you post a good offer or shortly after a positive report is posted about you, you'll be able to get more traffic headed your way.

Wow, you guys rock! Thanks again, passing this along!

Dear Jasper99
...after so many years for us in the trophy hunting business, we ask ourselves the same question every year since the trend is changing constantly...
Once you figure out the answer to your question, let us know what worked?
Best wishes.

Kowas Hunting Safaris said:

Once you figure out the answer to your question, let us know what worked?

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I think you have a good idea what works my friend. Although I have not hunted with your outfit I have heard nothing but good things over the years. You must be doing something right. ( happy clients that spread the word maybe?? )

As many have already mentioned, word of mouth is the MOST important marketing tool. Its an uphill struggle to get off the ground but being active on AH and other forums, offering interesting and out of the box deals would increase he's odds of attracting a client/clients who are willing to take a chance on a new Outfit instead of staying with the more recognised and established companies. SEO options are also expensive and in a competitive industry, there are no guarantees on how long or how successful this avenue will prove to be.

Keep providing the clients who take a chance with great service and things will work out in the end.

Jasper, VERY similar experience: I hunted with Marius at KMG, hosted him for an EXPO in NC - what a BUST!!!
Then he went to a show in NY and had some success. I believe he now attends NY regularly and another former client is his booking agent there.
Also, The African Hunting SHow that the Gazette sponsored is about dead. It was at the COnvention Center in conjunction with SCI, the last time I went it was upstairs at a sporting goods store - very small.

For me, sites such as this are the best, along with hunting reports and word of mouth.

Just a thought or two if you are still following your thread.........................advertising is wasted if not targeted to the correct audience. Advertise a volume dove shoot in a bird watcher magazine? Of course not. That is why word of mouth works so well..................we usually talk to friends that are interested in hunting. Wyoming just sent me an email saying they had far more applicants for controlled hunts this year than ever before. Same probably true with Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah........all states that I apply in and have been rejected by. Many of these states still publish paper regulations and take advertisers..............that would be a great target audience............Western hunters applying for a license, hunt or tag. The surge in applications in these states that I am familiar with tells me that there is plenty of interest........maybe more than ever...................target the right people.........................and best of luck...................................FWB

You opinion and feedback on this topic remain interesting... let's hear from you.

Jasper99 said:

I've become good friends with the game manager of a South African Safari where I hunted in 2015. He runs an awesome outfit. He traveled to Austin, Texas last month for a Wildlife Expo (his first time to the U.S.) where he was hoping to meet potential clients and spread the word on his business. He was disappointed in the show and how things went and has asked for my help in figuring out the best way for him to advertise here in the U.S. He's not opposed to coming back to shows or even hopping around different cities and hosting house parties for clients. Buying advertising on websites, magazine ads, etc., etc. are all on the table. I don't personally know his best route but told him I'd do a little research for him. Thoughts/opinions/recommendations are appreciated! Have a blessed day! John

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Going to some of the SCI Chapter Banquets and being a donor/sponsor is a good way to start. It is much less expensive than the big shows. There is a problem though and that is that there are so many RSA outfits donating to these banquets. I am on the board of our San Angelo SCI Chapter and we are somewhere like number 5-6 in the nation for fundraising and doing well. Contact me if interested in donating for next year's banquet.
Philip

rookhawk said:

I say this as a long time SCI member...the donation scheme is a sham.

In order for you to set up a table at my chapter of the SCI, you must donate. Typically, you must donate a hunt. Let's call that $5000. Bow every year you come like a good boy and throw my chapter a $5000 hunt for a table for say 5 years and we love you for it. So you decide to go big and do the national event and a different state chapter.

A.) they want a $10,000 hunt, and you do it.

B.) they want it every year

C.) "thanks for the hunt, but there isn't any room left at the convention this year, so no table for you anyway"

D.) Good deeds for local chapter A have no credit given for chapter B or national meeting C

Then you decide to advertise here on AH and your prices suck, because you've been giving away so many hunts that you must charge paying customers more to make up for it and you're not competitive, so you get no bookings.

Then you decide, "that's okay, the auction donation people will buy extra animals or extra days and I'll break even anyway" only to find out that a measurable proportion of those that won auction donations string 2-3 hunts together, kill the minimum game, no tips, then leave. You then grumble in anger that they've taken advantage and no intention of paying for anything.

In the end we find you and your friend in the veld with the suicide notes attached after you've given away your life savings to "charities" hoping to build a business and you realize they've taken everything from you and gave little.


So that's how it typically works.

Advertise online and do word of mouth. If some cause has you so enthralled in why they are doing, donate Money instead of hunts for access to advertising.

Just my opinion. Read the online reports of donated hunts by vendors that did so for free advertising or a free table at sci/dsc. A lot of sad stories from all sides.

The pay to play nature of SCI is a horrible thing for the industry.

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Rookhawk you are 100% spot on!

Tokoloshe Safaris said:

Rookhawk you are 100% spot on!

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Mind if I make up some pretend math to support that?

I think you have exportable bull elephant hunts for a very fair $15,000 on occasion? Pretty common knowledge that hard costs to the councils/campfire/parks for the elephant tag is at least $8000? $500 in CITES permits? $1000 to the government for the mandatory game scout? Wear and tear, plus fuel on an $80,000 land cruiser, plus the PH's wages, plus staff and housekeeping?

Miracle of miracles, a working operator is able to operate on a 20% gross margin, but lets imagine with the facts above that is possible, so you would net $3000 on the hunt.

SCI would say: "You know, if you'd like to donate us one of those elephant hunts, we'd let you have a booth at our event and it would be GREAT for your business, wink, wink, wink".

So you donate a $15,000 hunt, losing $12,000 in hard-money cash cash. All you need to do is then sell FOUR more elephant hunts in a year to recover your donation to be at BREAK EVEN, ZERO profit for the year.

Unfortunately, not too many operators get 5 Trophy Exportable Bull Elephant tags in a season so they can donate one losing 80%, then sell the other four, recovering the donation on the first one, so they can be absolutely at zero profit basis for the season whatsoever. (assuming you don't drink, eat, need housing, medical care, or the many thousands of dollars for travelling and lodging to come to America to take advantage of that "free" booth you bought at the convention so you can try to sell the other elephant hunts you may not have on quota.)

The average reader that sees all of the above:

"Huh, Zimbabwe must not be a very good place to hunt, the prices are expensive and I NEVER see these guys at the conventions. I'm going to RSA to hunt 5 days in the East Cape because they are clearly better since every booth at a show offers that".