| Over the years, I have learned many things about | | | | 1. Location. Where do I want to go? Am I willing to |
| the word "value". There is a generic description for it | | | | fly or drive? How is the habitat this year? How was |
| found in any dictionary, but to each and every one | | | | the spring hatch? How was the winter? What is the |
| of us we interpret it a different way. We also tend | | | | weather like in this area during the hunting season? |
| to alter our views on values as we grow older, | | | | 2. What amenities do I want? Full lodging, meals, |
| holding new things in higher esteem as we mature | | | | game cleaning, etc? Is my license included? How |
| enough to appreciate them more than in our youth. | | | | about ammunition? There are many choices out |
| For example, take your first autographed baseball | | | | there, so identify these needs upfront. |
| card you got as a kid. Boy was it cool for the first | | | | 3. Budget. How much am I willing to spend? What do |
| day or so! But, sooner or later, it ended up close | | | | I get in my package, and how much will I still be |
| pinned to the front fork on your bicycle to make a | | | | responsible for? |
| very cool sound. Now, if I had that rookie Rod | | | | Most of today's outfitters know the importance of |
| Carew signed baseball card today, you better believe | | | | having a strong online presence, and simply by |
| that it would have never seen a second outside of a | | | | searching with a few key phrases will help give you a |
| plastic sleeve! | | | | lot of information to dig through. Review the |
| We also can appreciate value when it comes to | | | | information they have online, and if you are |
| travelling and selecting an outfitter for our hunting | | | | interested, fill out their contact form for additional |
| needs. When I was younger growing up in | | | | information. |
| Minneapolis, my friends and I would become the | | | | Another great way to gather information is to attend |
| ultimate hunting know-it-all when the season came | | | | any local or regional outdoor trade shows. These |
| upon us. We would open the state map, the walk-in | | | | usually are scheduled for sometime between January |
| atlas, and anything else we could find to select our | | | | and April. A lot of outfitters exhibit at these shows |
| Mecca of choice-you know, the one that when your | | | | as a regular part of their marketing plan. They know |
| finger is on it on the map visions of numerous flushes | | | | that tens of thousands of people will be in |
| and full game bags immediately filled your mind. And, | | | | attendance over the length of the show, and almost |
| even when you spent hours driving, finding a hotel | | | | all of them are pre-qualified prospects! They will have |
| room, a place to eat, somewhere to cold store your | | | | brochures, videos, and many, many stories to tell |
| bag (if you had any!) and end up coming home with | | | | about their outfit. Gather the brochures, but ask a lot |
| one bird, you still saw it as a value. | | | | of questions. |
| Now that I am older, hopefully wiser, I have learned | | | | Watch the outdoor TV shows on local and satellite |
| the value of hunting with a good outfitter. Sure they | | | | cable programming. A lot of the outfitters will be |
| are costly, but the expense is well justified. I've | | | | featuring their offerings, and here you will get more |
| heard many "weekend warriors" say, "I'm not going | | | | of the visual information that you may need. |
| to pay hunt-I can figure out where to go by myself." | | | | When you have identified potential outfitters, the |
| Realistically, the bulk of them can't. There is little point | | | | next step is to contact them and get the questions |
| to driving hundreds of miles for a long-anticipated | | | | answered. Ask for references-these people are a |
| hunt only to run into posted signs, fumble around in | | | | valuable resource for information too. |
| strange country for week, spend a lot of money on | | | | Don't be impulsive either. Of course these outfitters |
| gas, motels and meals. All that just to shoot two or | | | | are going to tell what a great operation they have, |
| three birds and then drive back home! A much better | | | | but in their line of work if you provide a bad |
| deal is to book with a quality outfitter and shoot a | | | | experience word gets around. From the hundreds if |
| limit each day andhave a good time doing it. Bottom | | | | not near a thousand outfitters I have met and talked |
| line, the difference between a fine hunt and a lousy | | | | to over the years at trade shows, almost every |
| hunt is the couple of hundred extra dollars paid for an | | | | single one of them understand their customers needs |
| outfitters services. | | | | and have a proven track record of meeting those |
| So where do we start? First and foremost, you must | | | | needs successfully. |
| know what you want from a hunt. It really is no | | | | In summary, do your homework, and don't rush to a |
| different than planning the annual family vacation. You | | | | decision. Ask questions, talk to friends and hunting |
| must do some research. Research on the internet is | | | | buddies, and references given to you. Make sure you |
| now the method of choice for millions of people. You | | | | feel comfortable with your selection, to ensure that |
| need to identify some of the following issues before | | | | you have a memorable hunt of a lifetime! |
| you start your search: | | | | |