2024 Alaskan Drop Camp Caribou

[North River]

it was just a joke. Thus the . But since you brought it up if your price reflects you making less than minimum wage that is your choice and poor business decision. But we both know that’s not true. You have paperwork? You have to drum up work? Welcome to owning a business.

It shouldn’t have any effect on the paying customer. Professionalism applies to all industries. Overbooking is poor business practice and unprofessional. The excuse is because it’s seasonal work is BS.

That’s not what I said at all. The price reflects what it is, it’s the customers’ choice to pay it if it is good value for them. But of course all the work that goes into the business is paid for by the customer, that’s how open commerce works.

You are correct that overbooking is poor business, but that gets sorted out. If someone is constantly overbooking, word gets around and they loose business because of it. However, in the industry we are discussing, it’s not that simple. You are always underbooked or overbooked. It never works out perfect. That’s something that professionals and customers have to accept. What worked last week is all of a sudden overbooked when the weather shuts you down for 3 days. But pushy customers that don’t understand and greedy operators struggling to keep the $$ flowing lead to accidents every year.

But you just keep knowing how it all works from the outside, you’re doing great!

 

[FAAFO]

I don’t think this is what north river brought up? I believe he said less than a blue collar union worker…
At the risk and apology to the OP of us going off thread, a business can raise their rates whenever they want for sure. But there is a market rate folks will pay and rates they won’t pay. Charging more doesn’t mean making more in business ownership.

He edited his post. And even with the comparison to making less than someone else that gives you the right to offer shitty service? Naw….

What’s the price point people will not pay in alaska currently? Transporters are reaping the price of demand and it’s essentially priced out a lot of residents. Not me, but many people I know.

If you’re a transporter in this state right now and are not booked up and making good money that’s your own fault.

Guiding is bad enough with some of the clients. Good grief I better be making good money if I’m dropping off Rokslide Randy’s!

 

[FAAFO]

That’s not what I said at all. The price reflects what it is, it’s the customers’ choice to pay it if it is good value for them. But of course all the work that goes into the business is paid for by the customer, that’s how open commerce works.

You are correct that overbooking is poor business, but that gets sorted out. If someone is constantly overbooking, word gets around and they loose business because of it. However, in the industry we are discussing, it’s not that simple. You are always underbooked or overbooked. It never works out perfect. That’s something that professionals and customers have to accept. What worked last week is all of a sudden overbooked when the weather shuts you down for 3 days. But pushy customers that don’t understand and greedy operators struggling to keep the $$ flowing lead to accidents every year.

But you just keep knowing how it all works from the outside, you’re doing great!

You just described every business in AK. Either too busy or not busy enough . Employees bitch when they are too busy and the same when it’s slow.

Pushy customers lead to accidents? Wow. I’d be damn if I let a customer push me to that point.

You going to be in kodiak this spring? I assume this is Taj based only on the name. Great operation you have.

 

[Lowedown]

This was very enlightening and enjoyable to read, thanks for all the details and sharing!

 

[wyosam]

He edited his post. And even with the comparison to making less than someone else that gives you the right to offer shitty service? Naw….

What’s the price point people will not pay in alaska currently? Transporters are reaping the price of demand and it’s essentially priced out a lot of residents. Not me, but many people I know.

If you’re a transporter in this state right now and are not booked up and making good money that’s your own fault.

Guiding is bad enough with some of the clients. Good grief I better be making good money if I’m dropping off Rokslide Randy’s!

It would be interesting to look at number of permits drawn vs number actually hunted by residents for areas that require bush flights (or other transport for that matter) over the last decade or 2. I was surprised to see how many don’t get hunted while browsing most recent harvest statistics. People who aren’t following the cost are in for a big surprise when they draw that tag. I could afford it, but likely won’t ever spend that kind of money on a hunt. Just thinking about it makes me miss Wyoming.


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[kwackkillncrew]

It would be interesting to look at number of permits drawn vs number actually hunted by residents for areas that require bush flights (or other transport for that matter) over the last decade or 2. I was surprised to see how many don’t get hunted while browsing most recent harvest statistics. People who aren’t following the cost are in for a big surprise when they draw that tag. I could afford it, but likely won’t ever spend that kind of money on a hunt. Just thinking about it makes me miss Wyoming.


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residents are a bit more in the know the non res for costs and efforts to get to places up here, just recently a guy on here said his brother drew a tag and was waffling on the idea of even hunting it because the "trophy quality" might not be good and its "costly" to fly in to it. I would tend to believe residents dont end up hunting some tags due to they might have drawn multiple tags and hunted those while tossing the other in the garbage. I have to get rid of the not caring if i toss one in the garbage to hunt a different tag i drew. I might draw more tags if i did that instead of only putting in for what i know i will be able to do if drawn.

 

[BRWNBR]

The cost of transportation in Alaska is a little crazy in my mind. My 30 min beaver flight to camp for drop and pick up last fall was 2500. I used to pay 800 bucks for that flight. I dropped my Kodiak area. South end of the island is now 5-6k depending on drop location.

I heard the term “good money”. With the cost of life increasing. Charter rates going up doesn’t mean anyone is profiting more money. They are just keeping their business open. Likely the same profit margin as before but it’s costing the consumer a lot more.

Saying resident are priced out of transporters is kinda silly I think. They are no different than non residents. Both have jobs. Maybe it’s their ego? lol or maybe they aren’t making good money and it’s their own fault? What makes a resident any different. Like some said, some folks just choose not to pay for a service.
One less guy running after that lone moose in south central Alaska. Let those guys out with Renfro all get together and wave at each other from all the ridge tops!

 

[North River]

He edited his post. And even with the comparison to making less than someone else that gives you the right to offer shitty service? Naw….

What’s the price point people will not pay in alaska currently? Transporters are reaping the price of demand and it’s essentially priced out a lot of residents. Not me, but many people I know.

If you’re a transporter in this state right now and are not booked up and making good money that’s your own fault.

Guiding is bad enough with some of the clients. Good grief I better be making good money if I’m dropping off Rokslide Randy’s!

The post was never edited. You missed the point entirely. No transporters, air taxi owners, or pilots are likely to be in the 1% anytime soon. They are just trying to make a living like anyone else. Bad service is bad service, the market sorts that out. There is no more bad service per capita in the Air transport business than any other industry. Plenty of guides out there charging big $$ for bad service, but they too tend to get weeded out over time.

There are some transporters charging what the market will bear, no reason to hate them for it.

There are also plenty of air taxis willing to fly residents or non for the going rate, which is based on expenses more than market, it is a competitive market. Pay it or don't, there's no conspiracy against resident hunters.

 

[wyosam]

The cost of transportation in Alaska is a little crazy in my mind. My 30 min beaver flight to camp for drop and pick up last fall was 2500. I used to pay 800 bucks for that flight. I dropped my Kodiak area. South end of the island is now 5-6k depending on drop location.

I heard the term “good money”. With the cost of life increasing. Charter rates going up doesn’t mean anyone is profiting more money. They are just keeping their business open. Likely the same profit margin as before but it’s costing the consumer a lot more.

Saying resident are priced out of transporters is kinda silly I think. They are no different than non residents. Both have jobs. Maybe it’s their ego? lol or maybe they aren’t making good money and it’s their own fault? What makes a resident any different. Like some said, some folks just choose not to pay for a service.
One less guy running after that lone moose in south central Alaska. Let those guys out with Renfro all get together and wave at each other from all the ridge tops!

I guess the difference between resident and non-resident in my mind is that the nonresident is more likely to be on a once in a lifetime type hunt vs a hunt you might do regularly. I don’t care what they charge- it’s a pretty limited commodity that is in high demand- price the service accordingly. The only thing I wish is that F&G was improving their funding by charging nonresidents more. Compared to what non-resident tag prices are doing in the Western L48, AK is practically giving tags away.


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[kwackkillncrew]

Compared to what non-resident tag prices are doing in the Western L48, AK is practically giving tags away.

colorado non res elk tag is ~800 ak non res elk tag is 600
montana non res moose is $1250 ak non res moose is 800
seems ak could do better if they want to keep up other western states.

 

[wyosam]

colorado non res elk tag is ~800 ak non res elk tag is 600
montana non res moose is $1250 ak non res moose is 800
seems ak could do better if they want to keep up other western states.

Utah just doubled everything for non residents. In 2-3 years $2k Elk tags are going to be common. Some of the Utah special elk hunts will be 1800 with the recent change, and the Wyoming special (slightly higher odds) elk tags are 1750 or something.


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[Mvaughan]

Utah just doubled everything for non residents. In 2-3 years $2k Elk tags are going to be common. Some of the Utah special elk hunts will be 1800 with the recent change, and the Wyoming special (slightly higher odds) elk tags are 1750 or something.


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Might as well charge the residents more, too….make that money!!!

 

[FAAFO]

The post was never edited. You missed the point entirely. No transporters, air taxi owners, or pilots are likely to be in the 1% anytime soon. They are just trying to make a living like anyone else. Bad service is bad service, the market sorts that out. There is no more bad service per capita in the Air transport business than any other industry. Plenty of guides out there charging big $$ for bad service, but they too tend to get weeded out over time.

There are some transporters charging what the market will bear, no reason to hate them for it.

There are also plenty of air taxis willing to fly residents or non for the going rate, which is based on expenses more than market, it is a competitive market. Pay it or don't, there's no conspiracy against resident hunters.

Whoops sorry! I did misread some of what you said. Working and screwing off at the same time. . I’d fire myself but I’m the boss

I do agree 100% with your post above. Hell last time you flew me in it was a smoking deal compared to other services around. And they were all booked up the year before and you fit us short notice.

 

[North River]

I like flying locals and those that have it figured out.