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

[Mtn_Infantry]

Saw @375 Ruger Fan post in another thread and thought this would make a good topic.

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

I love watching hunting shows just like the next guy, but personally, I put very little credibility in “Hunting Celebrity” endorsements and even less in the current world of Influencer endorsements. I’ll actually go so far as to say if I see “Hunting Influencer” endorsements I run the other way. Hunting Celebrities have definitely influenced me on wanting to hunt somewhere or something, but never been the reason I reached out to Outfitters XYZ. It might’ve helped narrow down a country or location like NWT over BC, Alaska, or the Yukon but the decision was made based on talking to all the outfitters in each area, and their average joe references.

I completely understand the marketing tactic behind it, but I personally avoid them. Working in Sales & Marketing I see how most celebrities and almost all “influencers” are aren’t loyal to a product or brand, they’re just loyal to the paycheck from a brand (regardless of industry). I’m sure I’m painting with a fairly broad brush but IMO if an outfitter was so good, he/she wouldn’t need to give away or discount a hunt, to get his/her operation on TV or onto the internet. They’d have a fairly long waiting list and be booked a year or two out. There are a couple “celebrities” that I’ve met over the years who’s endorsement I give a little more value to, but I’d never go on a hunt based solely on their endorsement of let their endorsement sway me.

Now an operator who works with a videographer to film and publish different clients hunts I view a bit differently. An example of this would be Dalton & York working with Andy Buchanan of TIA, or Vaughan Vosloo of Untamed.

What are your thoughts? Do celebrity endorsements sway your decision? Do the T&A endorsements of influencers make you look into a product or service?

 

[Betterinthebush]

No influence on my decision whatsoever.

The only way it matters is if I can talk to that person on a reference call personally as I had to with a pro athlete. And even then his opinion counts only as much as everyone else’s.

 

[Gerty]

I saw the earlier post that triggered this one. I have enjoyed several videos posted by that particular “celebrity hunter” until he posted one of himself shooting a whitetail doe with a 50 cal. Not sure the point of it.

 

[MontanaPat]

While I pay little attention to any product endorsement from one of the hunting show folks there are certain products I buy that endorse shows but I buy them more based on recommendations from folks on AH, Swift bullets being a good example.

I have booked one hunt based on seeing a certain TV show that hunt with a certain outfitter there a lot. That hunt was a deer hunt in Saskatchewan with Buck Country Outfitters that the folks from the show Driven hunt with each year. I had no knowledge of any good outfitters in Saskatchewan at the time and was randomly looking. This outfitter looked like they had a good set up so I reached out to them for info, did a little due diligence in speaking with the outfitter and it took a couple years to get a good date I wanted so booked the hunt. The hunt went great and I shot a nice buck and was happy with the experience. The TV show folks weren’t there the week I was and I’ve never met them but my hunt experience was a good one and I would go back

 

[baxterb]

No. I've known enough people who've known enough people to know what you see on TV or advertising is a far cry from the truth. i will most certainly rely on personal recommends, but that is really more of an old school 'letter of introduction' in which there is an expectation created in both directions - BOTH directions is the important part.

 

[Sabre]

I am extra skeptical when looking up outfitters recommended on hunting shows. I wouldn't book a hunt just because they were recommended on a hunting show. Multiple times I have looked up reviews for outfitters I saw on hunting shows and saw many people say that they had terrible times and felt like they only rolled out the red carpet and put in a lot of effort for famous clients.

I have ended up hunting a few places where "famous hunters" had gone the same year or previous year or were coming right after me. All of those were good experiences with good outfitters I had researched independently. It has also been fun seeing the same places I hunted on TV shows or in videos I liked. But it wouldn't even make a 1% difference to me when I'm researching places to book.

The opinion of people whose opinion can be bought, has negative equity to me.

 

[Tbitty]

B

Thread 'What TV hunting personality?'

Apr 18, 2024

If you had the opportunity, which TV hunting personality would you go on a hunting trip with? And what would you want to hunt, where?

I'll start. I'd pay alot of money to hunt with Steven Rinella in Alaska. Moose or brown bear.

2nd choice - Eva Shockey...hunting not required

• btheis13
• Replies: 121
• Forum: General chat

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Similar thread a couple years ago. I would not book a hunt specifically because of a TV show or celebrity personality, but I have looked up a few places to get ideas before. There are a number of people who seem like fun to hunt with, but as has been mentioned, sometimes on camera and off camera changes them a lot.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

No and no.

 

[WAB]

I have talked to Craig Boddington about areas in general. He is very knowledgeable and very willing to share ideas.

 

[375Fox]

I think we are all influenced a lot more than we are willing to admit. The more you see of something on hunting TV shows, YouTube, magazine articles, advertisements, hunt reports the more likely you are to develop a positive opinion of it. It’s not necessarily a bad thing if it starts you down a path of researching that hunt and comparing different outfitters and talking with references. Celebrity hunters are definitely catered to in exchange for positive marketing for the outfitter, but most hunters aren’t willing to publicly write something negative that would go against that image either. There are a few current celebrity PHs that inexperienced African hunters have a really high opinion of because of their marketing efforts. If you start speaking to hunters privately there are some problems.

 

[3chunter]

No. The opposite. I want to hunt at a place before it blows up into high status. lol
I don’t want 5 star lodge and a place that will house a lot of people.
I also prefer to hunt at places which don’t spend thousands of dollars on shows travel,etc either.
The more of that stuff they have the less likely you are going to get a custom personal experience in my opinion.

 

[Cam300]

I’ll tell you what I’ll most certainly never do again - share a camp with a hunting celebrity. Got stuck sharing a camp with a “celebrity” filming a TV show. He was a nice guy, but they sent him to the best hunting area at the expense of the other hunters. Many went home empty handed. He got his on day 1. Oh, and we “couldn’t” go there because of “anti-hunting activists”. Of course, that didn’t stop them from taking him…

 

[West_Texas_Bull_Shooter]

I have a friend, James, who has been to Africa 6 or 7 times. He recommended Dirk de Bod very highly, then we both went to the last DSC show held in Dallas and we found Craig Boddington and told him what I wanted (Plains Game Safari) and what James had said about Dirk. He very strongly verified what James had said. So I contracted Dirk and had the absolute best Hunting Vacation I ever had.

 

[farmer_john]

I honestly dont know what makes a hunting celebrity. And I dont watch much tv.
So probably not. Reality tv shows always seem scripted.

 

[kpoynter]

I think we all may have benefited by watching shows and YouTube videos.
In my case over many years….
I would not characterize it at all like the Op…but there are definitely some geared explicitly towards marketing
However, I think we get to really see many quality outfits along with physically seeing the areas, terrain, game, flora and fauna with our own eyes…also the style of hunt and accommodations
I find it very valuable

 

[Rumrunner]

I never really watch any hunting shows. Wouldn’t place much value in them anyway. I do watch YouTube videos of various hunts where the hunter has contracted to have his hunt videoed. Typically to see how the outfitter/PH interacts with the client, their personality, the concessions, accommodations and recommendations for animals to be harvested.
I have used this method to help narrow down outfitters to have in-depth conversations at DSC. If I’m going to make a significant investment I prefer to do it face to face, get to know them and shake hands.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I have talked to Craig Boddington about areas in general. He is very knowledgeable and very willing to share ideas.

Craig is one of the exceptions for me personally where I give his endorsements a little more weight but will still do my own due diligence and talk with other hunters. He’s hunted a lot of different countries, areas with in them and species. Several of him and Jim Shockey’s hunts have made me want to hunt a specific country or species, not necessarily with that outfitter. Example Uganda and Ethiopia. I feel their hunts and documentation of them is more to show the adventure/their brand than push a specific outfitter or product compared to many others.

I’ve been fortunate to have met both of them several times and had great conversations every time. In each interaction they both offered great insights without pushing me to a specific outfitter. I sat next to Jim for several hours one time and he asked a ton of questions about my hunts and future hunt plans, though not as many questions as I asked him.

@Gerty yes, thought it deserved its own thread and was an interesting topic. Plus the sales/marketing side of me is also curious. I too have met that same individual and enjoyed his videos. For me he’s not someone I’d let sway me. His videos to me seem a little more “for the camera”, and his hunts seem to be more of a promotion for products/outfitters.

 

[fourfive8]

Would I or have I? No

 

[Hedge774]

As I lay dying of the flu and C19 back in 2023, I binged on safari videos and shooting channels. I watched a video from Backfire where Jim took his family on safari. In a fever induced haze, I decided to email him and see who he used. I was amazed that I had a well written reply less than 12 hours later. Jim told me not to use the outfitter that he used. He listed the reasons why and suggested I contact an agent. I was skeptical, but the Nyquil had her hooks in me. Within 2 hours, the agent had texted me and we arranged a phone call. He asked a lot of questions, which is good. We talked for two hours getting everything out that I looked for and what my budget was. The outfitter he put me in touch with was perfect, and he only charged me $100 for his services. The safari couldn't have gone better and I go back in 5 weeks. I don't know if this matches the criteria for the question, but it was a great experience. Now, where's that Nyquil....

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

No