Hit the nail on the head!

Most all the outfitters I've met or talked to seem to be straight up guys.

Ditto for most of the hunters.

Outfitters have a product to sell, Hunters are the consumer. Nothing wrong with a consumer trying to get a better deal. Nothing wrong with a seller to sell at whatever price - there is all sort of overhead and cost associated with the business.

No need to bash either side. Consumer wants to pay too little - don't sell. Provider asks too much - don't buy.

There are INSANE deals that happen all the time - on both sides. Know of a case where someone paid $5600 for a 30" oryx and was happy to do it - talk about a guide who was a real salesman!. And I am sure there is some landowner out there who is tired of his oryx and would let a couple go for $1000 - or even less. Heck last fall there was a guy on this board that was managing a high fence and the owner wanted ALL the animals out and was going to start over and the critters went for insanely low prices.


The thing that consumers/hunters should be more understanding about is that the "guide", "outfitter", or whatever provides a SERVICE. Many cases it is not his own animals he is selling, so some of the costs are fixed. He spends his time finding ranches, scouting animals, and all sorts of stuff that is real work. You want a smoking deal - try doing all that legwork yourself - and often the guide doesn't "mark up" the animal at all. Appreciate what they do.

The flipside is that guides often are not proficient in the "art of the deal". They are guides and ranchers, etc. For example, offer an oryx for $1000 but the required lodging and meals, and guide fee is $450. Still the same total price. Most guides don't like doing that with "required" or "restrictions" because they are trying to keep it simple and offer the greatest flexibility for the client in terms of animal, food, lodging, etc. So they are really trying to help.

I imagine that "cost accounting" for animals is got to be pretty interesting. I imagine the cost of feed, vet bills, age of animal all come into play.

I am not a rancher and don't pretend to be. But I got a real eye-opener talking last fall to a whitetail breeder who is very sophisticated in his business. Some of his breeder bucks cost him close to $10,000 and he has them priced at $15-$20K - but those animals have a "shelf life". Some of those animals reaching 7 years of age are going to be worthless pretty soon. Better to sell the animal for $5K before it dies and he gets nothing. Only good business.

So there are always special "deals".

With the cost feed skyrocketing, the drought, size of their herd - and now the government screwing them with new regulations - it wouldn't surprise me that some saavy ranchers will want to reduce their oryx herd - even if it means selling animals cheaper and cheaper. Again, smart business.

This could mean some smoking deals for the consumer - nothing wrong with some lucky hunters wanting to capitalize on the opportunity. Smart consumer.

The market will drive the price. IMHO, this has already been taking place and $1300-$1400 for an 35-40" oryx ALREADY has these factors taken into account - or we'd be paying $3000 for the animal.

My advice, jump on these deals now. Will it go lower? Maybe, but if you wait too long you might just smart yourself out of the opportunity.

Robert Stuart I couldnt agree more. You pay for what you get. People want trophy class exotics for a fraction of what you can buy them!! Trust me people, I have emails from some hunters

I definately agree! The animals we harvest here are worth the money if you really want a nice trophy animal.

Money is tight and businesses are cutting back… including on employees.

People are not sure whether they will have jobs.

So they want to find the best deal on a hunt.

I am no different.

MY TURN,,, I believe that TXag hit close to it. To me it really depends on supply an demand. Is that not what our whole nation runs on. If you have quality stock, an you want more for it, thats okay to take pride in what have. I do not believe that there is anyone on here that has not tried to get a lower price on something. Marketing 101, figure out how to still make money an stay competitive with others at the some time.
I get really frustrated sometimes selling game, most buyers say they are selling hunts for what I am asking. Then there is the ones that say they are buying them from someone else for several hundred or thousand less than I am asking. Frustrating !!!!
I don't believe either side is wrong. The only thing I question sometimes is where do some of the prices originate? Economy, buyers, market demands, not sure but think all have an input on our hunting business. Be proud of raising a good animal, then to be proud when you get a good deal as well.

I think all the reasons you gave for setting prices are correct. I also think prices are set as to how bad a person wants to sell an animal and how bad another wants it. You can have one person out there willing to give X amount for it, but he may be the only one. So you cannot say that I want that amount for my animals because there was only one that was willing to do so. I have a price that I sell my Ibex for. I have people call to ask if I have any for sale. I tell them what i have and what I want. If they want them they buy them and if they don't it is fine also. I do not raise them as my primary source of income so I will eat tomorrow if I make a sale or not. I did do hunting and trading game as my only source for a few years a long time ago. I do NOT miss those days. It is a rough business and I can appreciate the hard work those people do.

Hey Robert....Don't get personally offended when someone asks for a deal!
Dealing goes back to the caveman days and is still done in every country
and in most business today. I think we have gone through this before.

Hey Robert....Don't get personally offended when someone asks for a deal!
Dealing goes back to the caveman days and is still done in every country
and in most business today. I think we have gone through this before.

[/quote] Yes sir I understand just saying some people are wanting to offer a ridiculous amount for an animal... Way below live hoof stock pricing... Then they say well i can get it here for this much.. I tell them go ahead and go there and good luck to them.. like they want you to match their pricing.. I ever shop around before I buy something I understand every one wants the best deal they can get..

Great thread for a Wednesday night. I love the opportunity that presents itself with exotics. I realize that I do not have the funds to pursue exotics. I have seen some great deals on this forum. I have been lucky over the years to have the occasional exotic present itself. My best to date was an axis buck that I shot off Kerr WMA about 10-12 years ago. The hunt was a result of the TPWD drawn hunt for exotics. Hopefully this year I will be drawn for Mason Mountain WMA. There are great opportunities for exotics out there you just have to look for them.

Robert, I'm sure you and all outfitters get offered some ridiculous prices. I do in my business as well. Most of the time it's A)someone who has no knowledge of going rate and who's just "window shopping" anyway, B) an honest person just looking to start the bargaining process, or C)someone just looking to get a great deal at my expense.

My response is always the same: We can't do it for that price and stay in business. If you find someone who can, best of luck to you.

80% of the B folks come back after they figure out they can't get the same level of quality elsewhere and we agree on a fair price. And the A and C folks end up doing nothing.

Like I said before, a win-win is the best scenario for everybody. if you've got honesty and integrity on both sides it works out.

Had two offers this morning. One for an oryx bull - 37" for $1,500 (live sale) and another for an oryx bull - 40" for $1,750 (live sale). Guess I could buy them and sell them for $1,000 to hunt and lose money or I can feed a young one for four or five years and sell it for $1,000 to hunt and lose money. Either way, I go broke, one way is just faster than the other. Having said that, I believe in the free market system, but you also have to be realistic. Isn't it a great mess that "Big Brother", our judicial system and our "Friends" have put us in.

There is nothing wrong with looking for a deal. I myself have been following Trozacky's post's and seeing what folks are offering. You never know....so why not ask. In fact I am interested in an Oryx for 999.00 that is no more than an hour drive from Fort Worth.

Lets start the Walmart Kill Fee list:

Oryx - $1000, Black Buck over 20 inches straight tape - $800, Axis over 30 inches - $750.

Please list addtional services separate or included in kill price: guide fee, cleaning services, accommodations, food service etc.

Can we do an Ebay Exotic Auction hunt website?

Also why is everyone upset about pricing...Pigs used to be $400 to kill a single pig...now on some ads we can kill upto 2 pigs for $100. Supply and Demand gotta love Capitalism.....