Worried about my sheep hunt

[Spiral Horn]

Just confirmed my June Azerbaijan Tur Hunt is officially postponed until at least this coming fall depending on how travel and tourist Visas firm up. We’ll just have to see how the dice roll and adjust accordingly.

 

[BS Shooter]

Is anyone else out there worried about actually going on their hunts? I have so much money into my outfitter fees, gear and everything else with my 2020 NWT Sheep hunt. I hope all the economic and virus fears are sorted by August. How about you?

I think you will be fine. If things stay the way they have been for that long we will have bigger things to worry about. I have a sheep hunt booked this fall also and my biggest worry is weather!

 

[Jardo]

I’m trying to decide if I should book my New Mexico outfitter for an elk tag I drew. He said that if the hunt is canceled, I would get my money back and he said it was federal law.

Does anyone know what he is talking about? Is here a federal law that says outfitters must refund money if the hunts are canceled?

I’m thinking he is full of shit but would love to hear from anyone with first hand knowledge.


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[ericthered]

I’m trying to decide if I should book my New Mexico outfitter for an elk tag I drew. He said that if the hunt is canceled, I would get my money back and he said it was federal law.

Does anyone know what he is talking about? Is here a federal law that says outfitters must refund money if the hunts are canceled?

I’m thinking he is full of shit but would love to hear from anyone with first hand knowledge.


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Once you give them your money, be prepared to loose it.....

 

[JFKinYK]

From NWT chief public health officer today...

“"The ability for us to relax measures relates to … border security," she said, adding that the territorial government will only allow N.W.T. residents and essential workers to enter the territory this summer.”

 

[Poser]

I’m trying to decide if I should book my New Mexico outfitter for an elk tag I drew. He said that if the hunt is canceled, I would get my money back and he said it was federal law.

Does anyone know what he is talking about? Is here a federal law that says outfitters must refund money if the hunts are canceled?

I’m thinking he is full of shit but would love to hear from anyone with first hand knowledge.


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Can’t imagine what law he might be referring to. You could ask for a contract stipulating a 100% refund under such circumstances. Not sure if that still ensures you would get your money back unless you are willing to spend money on arbitration. What if he goes belly up and files chapter 11? Agree to place the deposit or even the full amount in the hands of a 3rd party lawyer to hold until an agreed upon date.

 

[22lr]

Its a catch 22. You either pay up front or risk outfitters going under because of so many cancellations. Or you try to wait and pay, and then the outfitters go under because they can't sustain their operation without the cash flow from the reservations. This is a horrible time for any business that relies on travel.

Accept there will be a much higher risk for trips in the coming months. Any smaller business operations are probably going to be play by ear for awhile.

 

[Ariettabob]

I just sent an email to my outfitter asking for some answers before I send off the balance due next week. Being a businessman myself, I understand the dilemma he’s in, but some things need clarification. If the Yukon doesn’t open up will there be refunds, hunts pushed to next year or pushed to the next open date, which could be 2-3 years down the road. I get that there’s more unknown than known, but I feel like these are legit questions needing some clarity. We’ll see.

 

[Kotaman]

I'm starting to worry about the sheep hunts in the far North this fall...Yukon and NWT specifically. The Outfitter/Guide industry will be crushed if this fall doesn't happen.

 

[Old and gray]

Have a July 15th hunt booked in the NWT. I’d be surprised if it goes ahead.

 

[Jimbob]

Not looking good for hunts this summer, fall might be dicey as well. The provinces are saying that international travel does not look good.

Heck, here in BC they don't want me to travel 6 hours north to go hunting. "Stay in your neighborhood this summer, enjoy local activities" is what our provincial health officer has said.

Any international traveler will be required to quarantine for two weeks.

Hopefully, more data will come out that shows this virus is not as bad as thought and they will accelerate opening things up but I'm not optimistic about that.

I really hope things work out for you guys that have hunts planned.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I’m trying to decide if I should book my New Mexico outfitter for an elk tag I drew. He said that if the hunt is canceled, I would get my money back and he said it was federal law.

Does anyone know what he is talking about? Is here a federal law that says outfitters must refund money if the hunts are canceled?

I’m thinking he is full of shit but would love to hear from anyone with first hand knowledge.


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get it in writing....

 

[Ariettabob]

Ok, I just received an answer from my Yukon outfitter. I could really use people’s thoughts and experiences with their outfitters. He’s demanding my remaining 50% by 5/15. If balance isn’t received, I lose my 50% deposit. If covid kills the season I’ll be rescheduled sometime in the next 3 years. I’ll lose 25% of the total hunt cost to cover his this years expenses and he’ll carry 75% of my total to the rescheduled date. So, considering it seems less than likely that the hunt happens, he gets $6250 free and clear from me plus holds the rest of my money for up to 3 years. Anyone else think this is fair? Anyone else experiencing this right now?

 

[Trial153]

Ok, I just received an answer from my Yukon outfitter. I could really use people’s thoughts and experiences with their outfitters. He’s demanding my remaining 50% by 5/15. If balance isn’t received, I lose my 50% deposit. If covid kills the season I’ll be rescheduled sometime in the next 3 years. I’ll lose 25% of the total hunt cost to cover his this years expenses and he’ll carry 75% of my total to the rescheduled date. So, considering it seems less than likely that the hunt happens, he gets $6250 free and clear from me plus holds the rest of my money for up to 3 years. Anyone else think this is fair? Anyone else experiencing this right now?

This sucks. Who is the outfitter.

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[Poser]

Ok, I just received an answer from my Yukon outfitter. I could really use people’s thoughts and experiences with their outfitters. He’s demanding my remaining 50% by 5/15. If balance isn’t received, I lose my 50% deposit. If covid kills the season I’ll be rescheduled sometime in the next 3 years. I’ll lose 25% of the total hunt cost to cover his this years expenses and he’ll carry 75% of my total to the rescheduled date. So, considering it seems less than likely that the hunt happens, he gets $6250 free and clear from me plus holds the rest of my money for up to 3 years. Anyone else think this is fair? Anyone else experiencing this right now?

Pretty standard fare from what I’ve seen in other industries. For example, There is super high end cat skiing operation out of Canada that is $1000 a day, 5 day minimum + add ons. The used that same cancellation policy this spring. My friend who books African safaris did the same but with a lower 12% retention fee.

 

[HunterEng]

If he's gonna keep 25 percent no matter what.....demanding the other 50 precent 2 months before the hunt seems a little excessive....a lot is changing quickly....should give u some leeway too....ur both in a shitty situation....in a month everything could be good to go

 

[Old and gray]

Doesn’t seem right to hold 75% of hunt cost if the hunt could happen three years from now

 

[Spiral Horn]

Ok, I just received an answer from my Yukon outfitter. I could really use people’s thoughts and experiences with their outfitters. He’s demanding my remaining 50% by 5/15. If balance isn’t received, I lose my 50% deposit. If covid kills the season I’ll be rescheduled sometime in the next 3 years. I’ll lose 25% of the total hunt cost to cover his this years expenses and he’ll carry 75% of my total to the rescheduled date. So, considering it seems less than likely that the hunt happens, he gets $6250 free and clear from me plus holds the rest of my money for up to 3 years. Anyone else think this is fair? Anyone else experiencing this right now?

This seems extremely “heavy-handed” by the outfitter if I’m reading your post correctly. This doesn’t sound like a negotiated agreement on how to resolve the situation impacted by COVID-19, instead the outfitter is dictating all terms because he already has the client’s 50% deposit and “strong-arming” the client by threatening to just keep it if the client doesn’t now pay 100% of the cost of a hunt that may not happen this year. As far as moving to an open date within the next 3 years - in the meantime is the outfitter going to rationalize changing the deal further in the intervening years or deducting another % of what the client has already paid if his costs increase? Will the outfitter even be in business 3 years from now? Don’t know if this is in keeping with Canadian Law, but it is stories like this that will hurt the industry and give all international hunters great pause in laying out huge deposits and prepayments in the future.

BTW - as someone already asked, who is the outfitter?

I had a hunt that was just deadlined - fortunately, my outfitter is taking a completely different approach and is willing to work out agreed upon future hunt dates with me once the dust clears.

 

[KU_Geo]

Ok, I just received an answer from my Yukon outfitter. I could really use people’s thoughts and experiences with their outfitters. He’s demanding my remaining 50% by 5/15. If balance isn’t received, I lose my 50% deposit. If covid kills the season I’ll be rescheduled sometime in the next 3 years. I’ll lose 25% of the total hunt cost to cover his this years expenses and he’ll carry 75% of my total to the rescheduled date. So, considering it seems less than likely that the hunt happens, he gets $6250 free and clear from me plus holds the rest of my money for up to 3 years. Anyone else think this is fair? Anyone else experiencing this right now?

Who’s the outfitter? I’m looking at booking a hunt in Yukon and am definitely interested in finding out who this is as this seems unusually heavy handed.

 

[Laramie]

Kind of late to recommend it but for people looking at future hunts, CFAR (cancel for any reason) travel insurance would be really good to have right now. Most travel insurance companies aren't covering Covid related cancellations right now but the ones that have the CFAR are paying 75%. Not perfect but beats potentially losing it all!