Anyone here ever thought about starting a hunting lodge.
- Thread starter _Rai_
- Start date
Its a great lifestyle, but expect to work hard for your money. Depending on the province you live in there may be a lot more to it than just buying a cabin in the woods and putting out a 'guide for hire' sign. 
Most people looking to hire a guide check references closely so starting a business with no background could be a tough slog.
Most people looking to hire a guide check references closely so starting a business with no background could be a tough slog.
I'm sure you guys would come at least once.Its a great lifestyle, but expect to work hard for your money. Depending on the province you live in there may be a lot more to it than just buying a cabin in the woods and putting out a 'guide for hire' sign.
Most people looking to hire a guide check references closely so starting a business with no background could be a tough slog.
My cousin talked of starting a hunting and fishing lodge in Northern Saskatchewan and asked me to be a guide. I never said no but I know he'll never do it. But it did plant a seed and I've thought it would be fun.
Nothing personal, but I would never use a guide that was new and imagine that many others would feel that way. For that reason alone, starting out would be tough- regardless of how good you were or how well you treated your customers. "How long have you been doing this?" was probably the first question everyone asked me when I guided them. In my squeeky teenage voice the answer always was "All my life!".
Usually you give good service expecting repeat business, but most hunters only use a guide once or twice at best. Now a fishing guide would be more likely to get repeat customers.
When I picked the guide for my pig hunt in Hawaii I phoned him and had a big chat about his background and style/approach to hunting first. I also wrote a couple references he sent me...... they might have been his cousins for all I know but thats not an unreasonable level of checking.
If you are serious, the way around this is to go work for an outfitter for a couple seasons, build some local knowledge and a reputation then start your own business. Good luck!
Usually you give good service expecting repeat business, but most hunters only use a guide once or twice at best. Now a fishing guide would be more likely to get repeat customers.
When I picked the guide for my pig hunt in Hawaii I phoned him and had a big chat about his background and style/approach to hunting first. I also wrote a couple references he sent me...... they might have been his cousins for all I know but thats not an unreasonable level of checking.
If you are serious, the way around this is to go work for an outfitter for a couple seasons, build some local knowledge and a reputation then start your own business. Good luck!
Sad part is the only real outfitter we have is a small business ran by one guy.Nothing personal, but I would never use a guide that was new and imagine that many others would feel that way. For that reason alone, starting out would be tough- regardless of how good you were or how well you treated your customers. "How long have you been doing this?" was probably the first question everyone asked me when I guided them. In my squeeky teenage voice the answer always was "All my life!".
Usually you give good service expecting repeat business, but most hunters only use a guide once or twice at best. Now a fishing guide would be more likely to get repeat customers.
When I picked the guide for my pig hunt in Hawaii I phoned him and had a big chat about his background and style/approach to hunting first. I also wrote a couple references he sent me...... they might have been his cousins for all I know but thats not an unreasonable level of checking.
If you are serious, the way around this is to go work for an outfitter for a couple seasons, build some local knowledge and a reputation then start your own business. Good luck!
Problem right now is I have no idea what to do, I don't have money to do anything, maybe I should start with youtube. I mean I do have different views on what to carry.
Go talk to the guy- he most likely could use a hand during the pre season for scouting or helping with clients. As fast as you are helping (since you are totally new, that will mean all the heavy messy work that takes no skill) you will be learning. To start as a guide you need boots, a pack and a gun- none of which needs to be amazing. Save your money and invest in skills and knowledge. Not all good hunters make good guides and good guides aren't dependant on fancy gear.
Here is an example of guide gear that works. I went cougar hunting with an outfitter last spring. This was his 'go to' gun. A well used 30-30 with an old belt and two zip ties for the sling. My point isn't that the 30-30 is the best gun, its that a fantastic guide doesn't need the fanciest gear to get the job done. He needs skill and knowledge.
Here is an example of guide gear that works. I went cougar hunting with an outfitter last spring. This was his 'go to' gun. A well used 30-30 with an old belt and two zip ties for the sling. My point isn't that the 30-30 is the best gun, its that a fantastic guide doesn't need the fanciest gear to get the job done. He needs skill and knowledge.
What Jay said plus you pretty much need the ability to speak German.
Rai. Not to be too harsh but if you have not started hunting yet you are a long way from being a successful outfitter.
It is relativley easy to get hired on with an outfitter so you can always see for yourself.
To not make a living at it your gonna need a half million to get started.
Rai. Not to be too harsh but if you have not started hunting yet you are a long way from being a successful outfitter.
It is relativley easy to get hired on with an outfitter so you can always see for yourself.
To not make a living at it your gonna need a half million to get started.
I'd guess that most of the people here have thought about owning a hunting lodge at one time or other.
The reality is that a successfull operation involves a lot of work, sometimes foriegn partners, salemanship and too often a thinly painted over slimeball.
I do applaud your enthusiasm, but if you're just getting "started hunting" and have yet to have any firearms... you are dreaming in technicolor if you want to start a successful outfitting operation. Experience is key in this business.
Booking clients as a means to cope with your "lack of money" is going to make for some extremely unhappy customers as well.
Give this some serious thought before jumping in.
Booking clients as a means to cope with your "lack of money" is going to make for some extremely unhappy customers as well.
Give this some serious thought before jumping in.
MudChucker
Regular
- Location
- Niverville, Manitoba, CA
back in the 90's (Im 40 now) I wrote a business plan to do this at timothy lake near 100 mile house BC - I was thinking reasonably small - I figured I could guide year round as seasons move from month to month right into fishing season....
land acquisition, construction, equipment, advertising, employees, plus 3 years of expenses on hand... I needed 900K to get the ball rolling.
I went and spoke with someone who had that kind of money to lose and he (my dad) said... "I could give you the money, you could build this, but, your only going to buy yourself a job, and one that likely wont pay as well as one you could have if you simply went to university and worked for someone else"
I went to university, and Im pretty certain he was right.
land acquisition, construction, equipment, advertising, employees, plus 3 years of expenses on hand... I needed 900K to get the ball rolling.
I went and spoke with someone who had that kind of money to lose and he (my dad) said... "I could give you the money, you could build this, but, your only going to buy yourself a job, and one that likely wont pay as well as one you could have if you simply went to university and worked for someone else"
I went to university, and Im pretty certain he was right.
Do a search on the mailing addresses on all the northern lodges, you will find out that they are 80 % if not more owned by U.S. owners, sad but true up here! A long time ago, the land and site area's where almost given away for some of that old texas oil money, many have changed hands over the years but the fact still remains our goverment pimped out the north!!! A few years back, I checked out doing the same thing, but fishing only, well the hoops and loops a Canadian has to go through is just nuts.
hey you guy's here's a few guy's in northern AB that are outfitting and are worth checking out , brichmeadowsoutfitting.com. i've only heard great thing's about these guy's and yes i grew up with them, they are alot of fun.
if it's not allowed to post an outtfitter on here then pl remove this posting
if it's not allowed to post an outtfitter on here then pl remove this posting
TheCoachZed
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I know a couple guys who are trying to break into it.
I think it'd be a good seasonal job to work around fishing or something, but nothing I'd try to make a full time living off.
I think it'd be a good seasonal job to work around fishing or something, but nothing I'd try to make a full time living off.
Logan_Lamothe
Regular
- Location
- Big River, Sask
A guide here in sask just had 38 bear tag allotments for sale asking price $500 000 with a deeded lodge site. So expect high start up costs for bait, atvs, lodge, stands, and guides.
The LampLighter Lodge was up for sale a couple years ago. 105,000 acre outfitter lease with I believe around 30 whitetail and 30 black bear tags.
Not sure what he's asking now, but at the time it was around $700,000 for the campsites, cabins, store and outfitting business.
If you got into guiding 30 years ago, it's a goldmine. If you have to borrow to make a go of it, it's a tough living.
