Life’s too short to worry about how people spend their money on their vacations. But for conversation:
I’ve had two clients not get animals guiding.
The first was the classic brown bear client. Books the hunt with no research and bought a new gun just for the hunt. Showed up out of shape and no idea what spring bear hunting is. Wanted to walk all over. First day of the hunt I spot one of the biggest bears we’ve ever seen. Mile long stalk and wind was perfect. I video the bear coming in and he’s less than 100 yards away. He never pulled the trigger. Wasn’t comfortable with his gun and honestly scared of bears. Bear’s 6th sense kicked in and he was gone. Reviewing the video we had the bear under 100 yards for 1 min 30 secs. We spent the next 9 days passing up little bears and seeing one more shooter but he gave us the slip. Hunt fulfilled right? We did our part he didn’t do his part. But the outfitter decided to let him come back the next year for 50% off (18k). Prime dates and back in our prime spot. At the time I was ok with it because he hunted hard the first year. But the weather was unusual the first year, hot and sunny. Anyone that knows spring bear in AK that is not how it usually is. 2nd year it was normal, wet and cold. He stayed in his tent the whole time. He hates rain. Once we spotted a bear we would shake his tent flap and ask him if he wanted to look at it. He said if it wasn’t a shooter he didn’t care. Day 5ish we saw one and got him to 130 yards. Again he froze up when the bear was broadside. After some very choice words he finally shot and killed the bear. Even though he blew it the first year I felt terrible he didn’t get an animal. He hunted hard and nothing worse I’ve experienced than coming out of the field unsuccessful. But the way he acted the 2nd hunt? After day two I was on the bears side. But I knew if he killed a bear we could GTFO of there. Little side note, after he killed his bear he wanted extraction ASAP. I called the pilot and it was his daughter’s graduation and he mentioned a storm was coming and we would be stuck there two days. I begged for him to get the client which he did. Pilot was right, I was stuck there for two days and the client was gone to lower 48 before I got out. To this day the only client I’ve blocked/ghosted/lost contact with. Outfitter had instant regret once we got out letting the guy come back for 50% off.
Second client to not get an animal was a guy who booked a mountain goat hunt because we average 97% success. He had been on 5 previous unsuccessful goat hunts. When he got off the plane he was wider than he was tall. We instantly knew the spot we had to take him. Our easiest spot is normally reserved for 65 year old + hunters. This guy was mid 40s. Born on third base but thought he hit a triple. We got to spike camp with no problems. Woke up the next morning and walked the mile to the goats. We got above them and had them dead to rights. But he didn’t want to walk any further. That’s when he told us he’s never made it to day 3 on a goat hunt. Always gives up. We went back to spike camp that night and he seemed in good spirits. The goats were even an easier spot in the morning but he said “boys I want to go home”. As mountain therapists we tried to talk him out of it. But he wouldn’t have it. Said he’s been a quitter his whole life. Before we got off that mountain I sent the outfitter a message not to offer a reduced price to come back.
I know most legitimate outfits want all their clients to be successful if they do their part and usually try to offer a reduced price to come back to achieve their goals etc. it’s not always feasible if it’s a draw tag in an hard area. But I can’t relate JP’s coffee analogy to guided hunts. Generally you’re not selling them an animal you’re selling an experience. This is not in reference to gov tags or PLO hunts where they provide you pics of animals etc.
For me I have no interest in killing another sheep, goat or bear etc But nothing beats seeing the excitement of others achieving their goal in getting one of the above. Especially the blue collar guys who saved for years.
3 more months and be back to helping people chase their dreams.
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