Outfitter camps, and the numbers of hunters shuttled through them.

[windymtnman]

I was out for a horseback ride a couple days ago, and rode past an Outfitter drop camp. I had a nice chat with a father and son from Arkansas that were taking it easy in camp. The Outfitter in this area, has used the same 4 camps for decades around here. Two are drop camps, and two are fully guided.
I've thought many times that these camps have 4 archery hunts in them and at least 2 or maybe 3 rifle hunts later on in them. Doing the math, that means during archery season the drop camps have somewhere between 16 to 24 hunters in September and say 12 to 18 rifle hunters later on.
What are your thoughts on the productivity of these camps, having so many hunters that are occupying an area for 6 to 7weeks at a time? Do you think the game pretty much figures out that they're sharing their habitat with intruders? Yeah, I know an area devoid of big game today, and have a good population the next day when game is spooked out of the surrounding areas, but I also know that 10 x 0 = 0, when the game has moved out.
Obviously, an Outfitter has to have his clients being somewhat successful to stay in business, however I also see hunters paying big money to be Outfitted, and the game is nowhere to be found.

 

[wytex]

I wouldn't think that many hunters would go through them.
Is it a general area or OTC, LQ etc ?
Unless he just wants the $$$ and doesn't care I would think he manages his hunter numbers.

 

[quarterhorse]

Alaska drop camp for caribou. We landed and unloaded our gear. The hunters that were there loaded up and left. A week later the plane landed and some hunters unloaded. We loaded up and left. Seems like the name of the game there was to cycle as many dudes through as possible.

 

[windymtnman]

I wouldn't think that many hunters would go through them.
Is it a general area or OTC, LQ etc ?
Unless he just wants the $$$ and doesn't care I would think he manages his hunter numbers.

Well, most Outfitters I've known, want a minimum of 4 hunters in a camp, and often 6 hunters. it takes numbers to create revenue, and much of the effort to run hunts is the same to some degree whether you have 3 or 6 people.
4 hunters in 4 different hunts they run in September is 16 hunters in that same camp for the month of September.

 

[Mallardsx2]

15 archery hunters and 15 rifle hunters at $4000 a pop (plus a tip……)

$120,000 in 2 months sounds ok to me……I’m surprised more people arnt jumping on that cash train.

 

[antlerradar]

15 archery hunters and 15 rifle hunters at $4000 a pop (plus a tip……)

$120,000 in 2 months sounds ok to me……I’m surprised more people arnt jumping on that cash train.

No way outfitters are making much money at 4k a person on fully guided hunts. @Eric Albus would know better than I, but there are a lot of cost involved. Just the horses alone are likely going to take up a quarter of that 120K, maybe more. Then you have all the equipment and gear and insurance. Put some one on a horse with a gun and insurance is going to be sky high. Sure to be plenty of other cost involved to.

 

[Mallardsx2]

No way outfitters are making much money at 4k a person on fully guided hunts. @Eric Albus would know better than I, but there are a lot of cost involved. Just the horses alone are likely going to take up a quarter of that 120K, maybe more. Then you have all the equipment and gear and insurance. Put some one on a horse with a gun and insurance is going to be sky high. Sure to be plenty of other cost involved to.

Say what you want but there is also little chance on finding a drop camp for $4,000 these days. So in all fairness, they are for sure making a ton of money for the amount of work involved. Fully set up camp for 4 (1 time purchase)- $3500. Take the horses away and just set camps up for people using a sxs's or 4 wheelers and run people in and out and your still making a KILLING with 30 people for 2 months work. I love it when people try to make it sound like there is so much more to it. BTW I am strictly speaking DROP camps. I still think they are a flat out money making machine. Especially if you are not involving stock at all. Lot of guys would love to get picked up at an airport and just dropped off at even a back road accessible camp.

If you toss a couple guides in that camp and sell guided hunts at $8,000 a piece now your talking serious earnings even if you are paying the guide $2,000 a week to be there......Like I said, outfitters are killing it right now and now more than ever with boomers having a pocket full of cash to burn before they kick the bucket IMHO.

Not my cup of tea as I don't like to do a lot of handholding with strangers but there is a TON of money to be made if a guy will work for it regarding guiding. Especially in the future as most younger people can hardly tie their shoes....

 

[cgasner1]

No way outfitters are making much money at 4k a person on fully guided hunts. @Eric Albus would know better than I, but there are a lot of cost involved. Just the horses alone are likely going to take up a quarter of that 120K, maybe more. Then you have all the equipment and gear and insurance. Put some one on a horse with a gun and insurance is going to be sky high. Sure to be plenty of other cost involved to.

Tax man also