Pay hunts

What are some things you look for in an outfitter? What would get you to choose one place over another? I know there are lots of crappy places and it makes people leery.

I will be looking for a few hunters and need to know what it will take to get them out on my ranch hunting without giving away free hunts.

first thing I would ask, how many acres? 2. low fence 3. what animals present, 4 game camera pics

Having a well managed deer herd is a start.

Having a ton of pigs for people to come shoot also.

A few exotics wouldnt hurt?

PATIENCE and the willingness to be super helpful to making sure your clients get to shoot what they want to shoot. remember not everybody is a pro when they come to your place so helping them hunt effectively is your job as an outfitter.

game pics of recent days

friendly attitudes

decent blinds that a 333 lb guy can fit in.

OK, I have everything except exotics.

Now to figure out how to price so people feel safe.

Need a little more info. Are you looking to day hunt it? Week long trips? Or a lease with people you can interview and vet before letting them on?

I think they should be able to see deer, not necessarily see shooters tho; that's part of hunting. What will be your criteria for who gets to pull the trigger, and on what age of animal?

For me, I would like to see trail camera pics of recent activity. You can charge day rates, with a reasonable trophy fee and people would beat a path to your door.

Looking to take people on 2-4 day hunts. Hunts will be guided as we have quite a few "trophy" bucks running around. Has a cabin on it. 587 acres free range. We see +/-20 deer at every sit.

Being guided anyone who gives a deposit can book a hunt. I do allow people to come see the ranch. I feel this works well for both parties.

Right now we have so many bucks of all ages I will point out deer. Everyone should get a shot at something. If they want to hold out for bigger etc. that's their call.

I was asking $750 for a 3 day hunt with cabin and food, fully guided. Is that a reasonable day rate? My trophy fees are 1k lower than what I saw on outfitter websites. I plan to get pictures this coming week.

Feel free to go to this thread and give advice.

http://texashuntingforum.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/6853996/Re:_Plan_to_sell_hunts_for_the#Post6853996

Here is a picture after one of our 7 feeders went off.

I have been to many outfitters with good results. My main deal is comfortable quarters, accurate description of game. One comment you made previously was you do not want the light colored pigs shot. What if it is after dark?? I do not like the idea of making a mistake on a hunt. I will call Jason this week

I will take pictures of the inside of the cabin. I can see why that would make honest people nervous with the white pig thing. That's something I will just mention at the ranch. I just wanted to be totally honest and not restrict someone after they got there.

If you've hunted a lot of outfitters I'd love to hear your thoughts when you come up to pig hunt. I'll give you a discount. You can just bring less corn

BTW - What website do people use for pictures? Photobucket charges now and Tinypics stopped working for me.

It depends on what you are hunting and what you are looking for. If it is a trophy I want to talk about management age and second expectations lodging etc

I have been to this place. It is a beautiful place. Tim has put in a lot of work cleaning this place up. The cabin is nice. You will see A LOT of deer here.
Tim, just getting started, I think your price is very fair. I don't go on any paid deer hunts other than my one week in Kansas. That is a one set price, whether I kill or not and whether I kill a 140 or a 200+. I'm not a fan of "kill fees". I'd rather see a set price for what you consider a trophy and a price for what you consider a cull. What I have learned from my outfitter in Ks and the hog hunts we do on our place, sometimes some things happen that is just out of your control, like the weather, and we adjust accordingly.
If I didn't have a place to hunt, I probably would already have a hunt booked with you.

Any Spring Turkey hunts?

Thanks Sqiggy. Right now I can't do a set fee or the first 3-5 hunters would cherry pick the big ones I've been watching for 2 years.

I guess I could do two prices but that's hard to since I'm trying to let the up and comers live.

I will however set up a price structure however an individual hunter prefers. I know I won't have an issue with repeat clients. It's just getting people out there the first time. Which is why I let interested people come view the ranch before they book.


And right now there are no spring turkey hunts. I have someone wanting to buy spring turkey rights. If they see this they can chime in as a reference also for the ranch.

Honesty more than anything else.

An honest description of game one can expect to see when they hunt with you. Don't show pictures of something not included in the hunt you are selling. Pictures like you provided are great.

An honest description of the lodging & food your guests can expect to receive. Pictures to go along with the description would be better.

Don't make commitments you can't keep.

I have been on a few paid hunts and quite honestly they were not as advertised. Lesson learned the hard way and the reason most people are very leery - they have been burned ......

That's why I started this thread. Trying to figure out how to show people who have been burned that I'm not full of it. Hard to do though but is one reason I encourage people to come see the ranch and meet us. Or come do a cheap hog hunt.

I added pictures I took this last week to my thread in the Outfitter section. Let me know if there's anything else I should/could do to ease people's minds.

http://texashuntingforum.com/forum/ubbth...e_b#Post6731008

I hunt a large ranch where the owner does management hunts so I have been exposed to a lot of it. Someone above said be honest - under promise and over deliver rather than the other way around and people will come back. When you have hunters staying several nights remember you literally become the baby sitter, especially if you are feeding them, etc.

Your hunters will see deer they want to shoot that you do not want shot - you will have to prepare them ahead of time as to what they realistically can expect to see and kill. Also have each hunter be required to fire their gun in at your range with you there before they ever go hunt. You will be amazed how many either have guns that are not zeroed in or they are just poor shots - they can and will wound your animals. If they are not a good shot at the range then you know what kind of shots in the field they can or should not take. My experience is that 95% of the hunters who come will be easy going and good to guide.

Best of luck - looks like an awesome place

Yes now to spring turkey hunts. The other group only booked opening weekend as they will be out of state the rest of turkey season. Last year the 3rd and 4th weekends were the best.

PM for details. Yes we have at least 2-3 roosts on the property. I will start a new or bump my old spring turkey hunt thread in the outfitter section.

And Ramsey from page one of this thread is heading out today to hunt hogs. I will try to do a live hunt thread in the hog hunting section if anyone wants to follow along.