Why do Canadian guided hunts costs so damn much compared to international hunts?

Still doesn’t change the unfortunate reality that there are far more people who want to shoot a Stone Sheep, or a Grizzly than there are Stones or Grizz. Applies to any mountain and northern species that and ends up on magazine covers that reach beyond our borders. There is a fundamental supply constraint, and a very high demand of well funded folks competing for those tags.

There is the great work around, become a resident, and go chase the dream for the price of the floatplane or horses, that many of us here have partaken in personally. But it’s going to remain expensive, under any system, look at Alberta bighorns or desert sheep handled with non-exclusive territories.
 
I am especially offended how the Canadian hunts are all in US dollars. Then there's the guides ,not all but several badgering their "clients" about how much the tip should be. I had this happen in the Yukon in 94.
 
There are a lot of guided hunts in BC which happen in marginal success areas. Usually means driving on a mountain back road and hoping something shows up or being dropped off by the guide on the edge of a high clear cut and telling you to stay put until you're picked up in the evening, just before the game starts coming out to feed.

Then there are areas where the chances of a successful hunt are extremely good to a slam dunk, and you pay top dollar for such hunts.

Many hunts will include airfare from a local airport to the lodge, an eyes on guide, usually between two hunters, full accommodations, such as cabins, horses and meals.

Your only job on such hunts is to pull the trigger on a well aimed round and if you choose, help the guide with cleaning and prepping your trophy.

Some lodges offer proper butchering of the animal, along with cutting, wrapping and freezing for the trip home.

None of that comes cheap.

African hunts aren't as expensive, because costs aren't as high.

When choosing an outfitter, do a lot of due diligence.

They should have a web site with pics of accommodation, what they provide and what they expect you to provide or do.

The best ones send you a contract of their obligations and what can be expected of them.
 
mbogo3 said:
I am especially offended how the Canadian hunts are all in US dollars. Then there's the guides ,not all but several badgering their "clients" about how much the tip should be. I had this happen in the Yukon in 94.
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While I understand why they use the US dollar for their primarily US customer I also find it ridiculous. It is not like the Americans would not come just because they have to convert currencies.
 
freddyfour said:
It is not exactly rocket science! I expect to pay with the currency of the country I am in regardless of the inconvenience.

Obviously this is just my opinion and is worth about as much as you paid for it.
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Ok sure, so if a Yukon outfitter is advertising a Dall sheep hunt at $38k US, do the math and add 37% to arrive at your figure in CDN $. Or are you hoping to get it for $38K CDN?
 
bearkilr said:
Ok sure, so if a Yukon outfitter is advertising a Dall sheep hunt at $38k US, do the math and add 37% to arrive at your figure in CDN $. Or are you hoping to get it for $38K CDN?
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No I'm not expecting to receive a massive discount. I would prefer he set the price in canadian dollars that makes sense for him to turn a profit.

What happens if our dollar jumps up considerably over the time that the bookings are made. Does he just take the bath?

Listen, I've said I understand why outfitters do it. Doesn't mean I have to like it, does it?
 
freddyfour said:
No I'm not expecting to receive a massive discount. I would prefer he set the price in canadian dollars that makes sense for him to turn a profit.

What happens if our dollar jumps up considerably over the time that the bookings are made. Does he just take the bath?

Listen, I've said I understand why outfitters do it. Doesn't mean I have to like it, does it?
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Most Americans still like dealing with cash and cheques. Receiving funds via Pay pal or credit card, they take a percentage. On some hunts that's like buying a new car with a credit card, not gonna happen. Even wire transfers have fees on both ends.

And yes, if the exchange tanks, you take a bath.
 
It would be crazy to pay a Canadian outfitter in US currency. Why would you want to pay to convert our money to US just so he can pay to convert it back. Those money changers were enough to make Jesus snap; and if anything I have even less patience than him. Oddly; every Canadian hunt I’ve paid for was quoted in Canadian dollars.

From a client’s point of view its good to be quoted in their own money, because like any customer they want to know what something costs, not more or less what its going to cost 2 years from now. Even well heeled clients typically never got that way by being stupid. You don’t have them over a barrel, because no matter how much some think an outfitter is calling the shots the potential client is fully free to take his money elsewhere,
and at the decision level it doesn’t take much for him to keep looking. It’s a big old world out there. This does leave a Canadian outfitter with the uncertainty of what the greenback is going to be worth to the loonie, but come on, you’re going to win more of those than you lose.
 
bearkilr said:
Most Americans still like dealing with cash and cheques. Receiving funds via Pay pal or credit card, they take a percentage. On some hunts that's like buying a new car with a credit card, not gonna happen. Even wire transfers have fees on both ends.

And yes, if the exchange tanks, you take a bath.
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So it is on the Outfitter to absorb the cost of the currency exchange on every hunt they sell? Seems like an odd business model. Unless they are charging even more to account for the amount the bank will take on the exchange. Does any Outfitter charge in CND dollars?
 
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freddyfour said:
So it is on the Outfitter to absorb the cost of the currency exchange on every hunt they sell? Seems like an odd business model. Unless they are charging even more to account for the amount the bank will take on the exchange. Does any Outfitter charge in CND dollars?
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I don't know of any that have their advertised price in CAN $, but certainly they'll state what the price is in CAN $ if the client is from outside the US, be it within Canada or from Europe, etc.
Most outfitters have US $ bank accounts (CIBC, RBC) and some even have US based accounts, so you can exchange when the rate is favourable. There are also businesses that deal strictly with large sum exchanges and they'll give a slightly better rate. Figure on 30% exchange rate and it's been pretty close over the years, a bit of a bonus right now.
 
freddyfour said:
So it is on the Outfitter to absorb the cost of the currency exchange on every hunt they sell? Seems like an odd business model. Unless they are charging even more to account for the amount the bank will take on the exchange. Does any Outfitter charge in CND dollars?
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If I'm writing a Canadian cheque in the US (which is far less likely than it used to be, but still) I specify "in US funds" right on it. I assume that pro operators here will know to insist on the same but in practice you just have to mention the US thing to the bank teller when you cash it.
 
And Dustin’s booking 2028 looks like. I think the best of the BC sheep territories was for sale a few years ago for around $6 million, before you’ve spent a cent to make offering the hunt possible. That has a natural and obligatory trickle down. I wouldn’t be at all surprised he’s leasing access at $75,000-100,000 per tag, as last I heard he didn’t own a territory.
 
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