Elk outfitters BC/Alberta

I think the species desired here has a lot to do with it too. You start taking sheep, goats, and grizzly and the expenses and limited tags change things. No theatrics when I say very frankly I'd be running at break even or worse right now on my main species if I was to go par. Many elk outfits have generous quota, far lower operating costs that don't involve extreme remote areas or flying, and I can imagine on a more ubiquitous species like that guys will flex. Who wouldn't budge? I'm a GOABC member too and know most of these guys at least in passing. What I'm wondering is if the busier guys are the ones who can't budge on the price. Like many things, but even more so in hunting, haircuts, and healthcare, you often get what you pay for.
 
Ardent said:
I think the species desired here has a lot to do with it too. You start taking sheep, goats, and grizzly and the expenses and limited tags change things. No theatrics when I say very frankly I'd be running at break even or worse right now on my main species if I was to go par. Many elk outfits have generous quota, far lower operating costs that don't involve extreme remote areas or flying, and I can imagine on a more ubiquitous species like that guys will flex. Who wouldn't budge? I'm a GOABC member too and know most of these guys at least in passing. What I'm wondering is if the busier guys are the ones who can't budge on the price. Like many things, but even more so in hunting, haircuts, and healthcare, you often get what you pay for.
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This makes absolute sense.......

As a guy that "runs a business" essentially, money is money, and I am expected to turn a profit for my company..... When our dollar is high, I may requisition parts and supplies from south of the border if cheaper..... when our dollar is low, I need to be flexible and look for same parts and supplies within Canada.....

While I agree there is a romance with buying Canadian and taking care of each other, at the end of the day I have a family to take care of at home and need to do a good job to maintain my income.... and I employ 150 people that require me generating a profit to ensure their livelihoods too...... couple that with a limited number of "contracts" ie. grizzly tags per outfitter or the amount of resources an outfit has to complete x hunts per year, and every contract or hunt has its own price tag.....

If you want a deal, put your name in with some of these guys and be ready to jump on a cancellation hunt.... have had many outfitters, including Ardent offer me great opportunities and prices on these, unfortunately my career doesn't often leave me available to jump on these.......

Btw Ardent.... congratulations on the two year anniversary of your fledgling outfit....... I think you have the attitude, business sense and passion to pull it off.......
 
So when you buy a truck you go in and pay what the window sticker says!?

Anyways we are getting off topic. In my opinion, and clearly others on this forum who recommended these outfitters that are matching prices, these are decent outfits offering fair hunts.

If I had double the money to spend I'd pay it to go to New Mexico and shoot a 400" bull that they've been watching all year that doesn't leave their ranch. Or to New Zealand for a stag or Argentina. But I have a budget.
 
69firebird said:
So when you buy a truck you go in and pay what the window sticker says!?

Anyways we are getting off topic. In my opinion, and clearly others on this forum who recommended these outfitters that are matching prices, these are decent outfits offering fair hunts.

If I had double the money to spend I'd pay it to go to New Mexico and shoot a 400" bull that they've been watching all year that doesn't leave their ranch. Or to New Zealand for a stag or Argentina. But I have a budget.
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No, I don't ..... I haggle and have my personal max price in mind...... I also know that the dealer has his too...... and I know that, if the vehicle I am trying to buy is popular or rare, I can expect the dealer to hold near his asking price knowing that, when I leave, others will come.... it's exactly why I buy my vehicles in January that are actually last year's model.....

If the outfitters you are talking to are willing to drop their prices based on your request, then that means they built haggling into their prices, or they have many openings they are concerned about filling.... it has absolutely nothing to do with cdn vs US dollar.... and everything to do with what they can do to maximize profits......

If they are offering a hunt at a price that is "too good to be true", then maybe you need to question yourself as to why and ask them about their success rates.....no good outfitter offers bargain basement hunts unlesss sudden cancellation occurs......
 
bearkilr said:
What do you mean "back to Canadian"? Outfitters charge in US because their clientele is 99% American. Ever wonder why African outfitters charge in US$ and Euro and not SA Rand?
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My thought was what happens to the profit margins if the dollar goes equal? Do they just up their US prices to match the dollar as it moves?
 
freddyfour said:
My thought was what happens to the profit margins if the dollar goes equal? Do they just up their US prices to match the dollar as it moves?
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You can up the prices some, but you still have to stay competitive, especially on common species. If you have Stone's sheep or similar species with limited availability, you can raise prices some, but bear, deer, elk, etc. you have to keep in mind that there are a lot of US outfitters offering the same.
For the most part it means less profit.
 
freddyfour said:
My thought was what happens to the profit margins if the dollar goes equal? Do they just up their US prices to match the dollar as it moves?
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Then the solution would be simple....... convert your Canuck bucks into greenbacks and pay as such...... even your credit card will pay out at current rate with a small mark up........
 
Thanks Brad, fun and challenging doing it.

Like any picture there's a lot to it. I'd still like to see 69firebird's info on who would and wouldn't drop, as I can likely offer some insight. I know a bunch of these guys and if you approach busy, top notch outfits for a price drop when you're even less connected to them than someone they actually met and likely had a beer with hashing out a hunt at a trade show, I can't blame them. It's nice to keep up relations and help Canadians but these guys have to make a living and pay for their territories too... and we're not talking about family or friends here. Completely left out are the BC territory costs which I've just touched on.

Better territories cost far more, and only one outfitter to a territory (or as approved by the owner). The guys with prime territory to work have bigger payments to meet, territory costs in BC range from a hundred grand to millions, they are not created equal. If 69firebird will give a brief list on the outfits who couldn't budge and the ones who will on just a phone call I may be able to provide some info that would be useful. There may be a reason some are so willing to drop 25% just after saying hello on the phone and others won't. Or, we can stick with the more convenient assumption greed is the answer. ;)
 
Ardent said:
Thanks Brad, fun and challenging doing it.

Like any picture there's a lot to it. I'd still like to see 69firebird's info on who would and wouldn't drop, as I can likely offer some insight. I know a bunch of these guys and if you approach busy, top notch outfits for a price drop when you're even less connected to them than someone they actually met and likely had a beer with hashing out a hunt at a trade show, I can't blame them. It's nice to keep up relations and help Canadians but these guys have to make a living and pay for their territories too... and we're not talking about family or friends here. Completely left out are the BC territory costs which I've just touched on.

Better territories cost far more, and only one outfitter to a territory (or as approved by the owner). The guys with prime territory to work have bigger payments to meet, territory costs in BC range from a hundred grand to millions, they are not created equal. If 69firebird will give a brief list on the outfits who couldn't budge and the ones who will on just a phone call I may be able to provide some info that would be useful. There may be a reason some are so willing to drop 25% just after saying hello on the phone and others won't. Or, we can stick with the more convenient assumption greed is the answer. ;)
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More like 30%. Current sell rate is $1.295 CDN for $1 US.
 
freddyfour said:
My thought was what happens to the profit margins if the dollar goes equal? Do they just up their US prices to match the dollar as it moves?
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This one's easy, if the US $ dropped 25-30% and we're back at par both US and Canadian clients would pay the same figure regardless of currency. I.e. if $10k US used to be $13k Canadian, both Canadian and American clients would now pay $13k regardless of preferred currency. Nothing would change, unless you're American.
 
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Ardent said:
This one's easy, if the US $ dropped 25-30% and we're back at par both US and Canadian clients would pay the same figure regardless of currency. I.e. if $10k US used to be $13k Canadian, both Canadian and American clients would now pay $13k regardless of preferred currency. Nothing would change, unless you're American.
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Raising prices by 30% for the US market may be met with a lack of bookings. I wouldn't say it's easy.
 
bearkilr said:
Raising prices by 30% for the US market may be met with a lack of bookings. I wouldn't say it's easy.
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That's what I'm getting at, I must be hard to try and forecast your profit margins when the dollar is so flexible. At the same time if it was to go par it would be equally tough to raise the prices to reflect the dollar difference. To a simple guy like me I would figure it easier to just price CDN that way you always know what you are getting.
 
freddyfour said:
That's what I'm getting at, I must be hard to try and forecast your profit margins when the dollar is so flexible. At the same time if it was to go par it would be equally tough to raise the prices to reflect the dollar difference. To a simple guy like me I would figure it easier to just price CDN that way you always know what you are getting.
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When 90% of your clientele is American, it's easier to charge in US as they don't like trying to figure out exchange rate/hunt cost, especially with the way our dollar has fluctuated in recent years. It can mean big cost differences.
It's more work and a headache to charge in US, I'd think of it more as a service to guests.

This topic seems to pop up when the US dollar is strong, not so much when it's closer to par. Funny.

Anyhow, back on topic. I've hunted mule deer up in the Elkford area some time ago and saw a ton of huge elk, unfortunately they were all on the coal mine property.
 
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69firebird said:
If I had double the money to spend I'd pay it to go to New Mexico and shoot a 400" bull that they've been watching all year that doesn't leave their ranch. Or to New Zealand for a stag or Argentina. But I have a budget.
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Mate whats your flight prices to NZ? "DIY" Hunting , No Guarantees but New Zealanders love to offer a hand and point you in the right direction, Heck you could even sign up to a forum an mention you're coming over an would like a great chance at a Stag an you would 'offer' a bit of a helpers fee, seeing as you guys Pay so much to hunt in the above mentioned stuff.

Aussie and Kiwis (NZrs) arnt into paying for Animals to shoot, We Hunt them fair chase.... ####, I've got Access to Red Deer in Australia no real gurantee but You spend a Week here in the Roar and we'll get a look at a few..

Send Me a PM... an visit Hilldog Safaris FB page ;) that's me..
BTW the Visitor Rules an Regs are... Quite relaxed as far as "permits to shoot" an "visitor licenses" for what you wanna do...

fishhuntnz or nzfishhunt is a good forum, sure there is Farmed Big Stags in NZ an they may let it go in their paddock the day before you Arrive.... but that's just LAME to me :) but I'm not the one paying $6k for a Deer.

Cheers mate
WL
 
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