Wyoming Thorofare Elk Questions

[voltage]

How is that possible? No contract signed?

Great question. Yes, there is a contract at a 30% lower price.

 

[ez_willie]

Great question. Yes, there is a contract at a 30% lower price.

Weird, I think I would simply let them know I would be honoring my contract and showing up to hunt.

 

[Grundy53]

I would imagine the contract may have a stipulation stating they can raise the price.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

 

[link]

Thats the ugly business side of the whole thing. I'm sure there's some type of wording in the contract for "price may go up to unforeseen, out of our control costs increases" Fuel, food, permits etc.
As a contractor, there is no way I could honor a bid or quote for a year, let alone a couple years. That said a 30% increase kind of makes me think there is a little greed involved.

 

[KyleR1985]

I just hunted with Brandon and Kendra.

I have personal experience, but it’s my own opinion - them raising their prices isn’t a reflection on their moral fibre. I suppose they can just be greedy. But I’d bet my house on that not being the case.

Let me pose a hypothetical. I’m making up numbers for this exercise:

Hunt price to hunter is 10k. Their cost is 7k. This includes paying help, and the considerable overhead of maintaining back country camp and stock.

Due to success, they’re booked out several years at prices that net them that 30% profit. They’re happy. Hunters are happy.

Over the course of 1-3 years, all of the costs go up to 11k per hunter.


You have two options of which guide to hunt with:

- guide A - charges you the agreed upon 10k, and is posting a net loss of 4k to take you in the woods.

- guide B - charges you 13k, offering you a chance to exit the contract with no cost, and makes 2k instead of 3k if you go hunting with them.


I know who I’m picking to take me miles from civilization to do something I can’t do on my own.

Who would you pick?


It’s easy to say that guides are greedy or not keeping their word. It’s harder to consider the counter factual.

 

[voltage]

It is certainly less than ideal, but here we are. Unfortunately, my partner is backing out. The timing isn't great, so I am hoping to still salvage the opportunity for 2025.

 

[LFC911]

To me if you had a waiting list that was 5-6 years out, you would be smart to raise your prices and get that down to a 2-3 year wait list...supply and demand. Simple econ 101. That way you're not scrambling to find hunters every year and have a nice flow in the pipeline.

 

[voltage]

To me if you had a waiting list that was 5-6 years out, you would be smart to raise your prices and get that down to a 2-3 year wait list...supply and demand. Simple econ 101. That way you're not scrambling to find hunters every year and have a nice flow in the pipeline.

I agree. The timing could be better, though. A notification this late is hard. When a person has saved for this for years, a 30% increase can be hard to adjust to this late in the game.

 

[MuleyFever]

So what are they charging now?

 

[ez_willie]

If I have ever have $ to go guided I have good lawyer $ too, I’m hunting on the contract I signed unless of course there is some fine print that says they can raise the price which really defeats the purpose of the contract in my mind. Tell them you lost your job and are now paying 30% less. Quit booking and taking down payments years in advance, learnings expensive sometimes.

 

[voltage]

If I have ever have $ to go guided I have good lawyer $ too, I’m hunting on the contract I signed unless of course there is some fine print that says they can raise the price which really defeats the purpose of the contract in my mind. Tell them you lost your job and are now paying 30% less. Quit booking and taking down payments years in advance, learnings expensive sometimes.

Expecting a good hunt after that tension would be asinine.

 

[DanMan]

I sure am glad that I went with Constant Quest. The hunt, camp, and everything was first rate. I booked 3 years ago and sure glad that I did because their posted rates increase every year but my cost stayed the same

 

[voltage]

In the event that my comment is lost in the back and forth above, I am looking for a partner to do the late hunt with YO in 2025. Skip the line! You need 4+ points. PM me if interested.

 

[eoperator]

Well my tri x hunt originally scheduled for 2025 is getting bumped back to 2027. They are nearly full for 2031 damn.

Back to the application drawing board for this year.

 

[toddh]

Why did you get bumped back?

 

[eoperator]

Why did you get bumped back?

They didn't offer much for details only said they had a bunch of guys that didn't draw and he wouldn't be able to fit us in until 2027 possibly 2026 with cancelations.

I can wrap my head around a 1yr delay but 2 kinda sucks because we will have 9 points by then.

 

[toddh]

They didn't offer much for details only said they had a bunch of guys that didn't draw and he wouldn't be able to fit us in until 2027 possibly 2026 with cancelations.

I can wrap my head around a 1yr delay but 2 kinda sucks because we will have 9 points by then.

Man that sucks. I booked with constant quest for 2031. I should have 6 points going in. Wanted to play it safe. This is my second trip.

 

[Split toe]

What is Yellowstone Outfitters rates now?

 

[Nontyp]

If you sign a contract, that price should be honored. If the guides are afraid that the rates may increase, then they should not book hunts out past a year.

I’m in construction and we sign contracts as a finish trade we are normally one year to one and a half years out from the start of the project when I submitted my bid. I am locked into that price. If they’re going to book out in advance, they should add 3 to 4% for every year that they’re booking out from current as to keep up with inflation. Sometimes you take it in the shorts and there’s a massive price increase that you could not foresee but then again if you’re not comfortable taking that risk quit booking your backlog full then don’t book 3,four or five years out.

You know, if fuel prices go down or hay is plentyfull you’re not getting a refund

If it was me, I would call the other outfitters such as constant quest, and Hidden Creek, whom I have hunted with in just the last couple years and see if they have an opening for this coming year. Hidden Creek may because they have the ability to run multiple camps and can handle more guys if you’re looking to go into the fair. I would try to get in there as soon as I can to start building points again. I would hate to wait a couple more years building points that are unneeded unless you wanna share your points with me in a couple years.

 

[Dos Perros]

They didn't offer much for details only said they had a bunch of guys that didn't draw and he wouldn't be able to fit us in until 2027 possibly 2026 with cancelations.

I can wrap my head around a 1yr delay but 2 kinda sucks because we will have 9 points by then.

You should go hunt 51 instead.