List of required questions for negative hunt reports

[AfricaHunting.com]

I have a suggestion for @AfricaHunting.com and @BRICKBURN:

Since you require outfitters who are posting hunts to provide certain information, would it be possible to require that those wishing to post a complaint about a hunt post certain information? We seem to have way too many threads where bald statements are made, and then information is leaked out slowly, and then only when demanded by someone. And then we often find out there there is, of course, another side to the story. Requiring certain basic information would eliminate a whole bunch of nonsense, and I suggest it would be fairer to all concerned.

Getting sort of tired of having my annoyance level increase, only to find I have to transfer the annoyance to a new party half way through.

@Hank2211, thank you for this post.

I do agree that we should have some guidelines put in place for posting a negative hunt report. Yes, there are always two sides to every story and I know well enough from being on the outfitter side of the business that there are also some "bad" clients. I think it is fair and reasonable to ask that a negative report come with some basic information and I think that it is always good to reserve judgement until both parties have had their opportunity to share their version of events. BTW we already make the effort to contact the other party involved to make them aware of the post concerning them and give them the chance to respond to the report.

I don't want to make it too strict or I fear that some hunters who are already fairly reluctant to post a negative hunt report may not do so at all.

What basic questions should be required?

 

[Jay Kelley]

I know there are many other things to worry about, but I'm concerned about the legal and ethical issues. How were firearms and hunting licenses handled and was the hunting legal and ethical in terms of baiting, stalking, blinds, etc. That would be a good thing to have on any hunting report - positive or negative.

I've not hunted overseas, but I've had some bad experiences in the states - finding out we did not have permission to be where we were and once even being told "you don't need a license, the wardens never check" (I got a license and hunted with someone else.) I don't think getting caught doing something illegal/unethical in the states would be fun, but I imagine the authorities in some other countries are even less patient.

 

[Buckdog]

If someone is going to call out a outfitter/Ph then they should provide these details
1.who 2. what the beef is. 3. where 4. when 5. why they are posting

 

[siml]

............outfitter/ph/client........

 

[Hank2211]

I would add:

1. What have they done to try to resolve this directly with the outfitter/PH/agent/whoever; and

2. What do they want done about their complaint, if anything.

 

[lwaters]

I figure if you won't tell who the outfitter is your most likely trolling.

 

[sierraone]

If you are unable or unwilling to list the 5 W's, just keep it to yourself or just tell your hunting buddies face to face.

 

[thi9elsp]

@AfricaHunting.com Jerome - I would suggest that we have a group work separately from a 'public' forum on the site and come up with some structured data around the hunt reports. Ratings 1 - 10 on different criteria, Would you hunt with them again y/n, etc. If a low rating or no I wouldn't hunt with them again, we could launch into a set of sub-questions. And provide an area with some free-form text. I would be happy to take time to work with you and others designing something like that. In the end, it would enable us to have a more robust solution and offering to the members. Let me know. John

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

@AfricaHunting.com Jerome - I would suggest that we have a group work separately from a 'public' forum on the site and come up with some structured data around the hunt reports. Ratings 1 - 10 on different criteria, Would you hunt with them again y/n, etc. If a low rating or no I wouldn't hunt with them again, we could launch into a set of sub-questions. And provide an area with some free-form text. I would be happy to take time to work with you and others designing something like that. In the end, it would enable us to have a more robust solution and offering to the members. Let me know. John

I can appreciate such structure but from experience know it will interfere with the open process of posting on the site.

 

[Philip Glass]

I agree any report good or bad should be full of the details of the hunt. I believe there are too few negative reports. People want to share a great story but are reluctant to share a bad experience. AH should be a place to fairly, professionally, and politely air a negative experience. I assure you there are plenty Safaris where things go wrong. I also agree, for a variety of reasons, there are MANY bad client hunters!
Regards,
Philip

 

[Fire652]

Who was the outfitter
When was the hunt
What happened
Did you work with the outfitter on a resolution
Were the circumstances out of the outfitters or ph control

My number one would be did you tell the outfitter you are posting a negative (or positive) review. If you have to hide behind anomitoty then I have no use for the report. I have no problem calling out the outfitter and letting them know I am posting a negative review

 

[Royal27]

If someone is going to call out a outfitter/Ph then they should provide these details
1.who 2. what the beef is. 3. where 4. when 5. why they are posting

This

I would add:

1. What have they done to try to resolve this directly with the outfitter/PH/agent/whoever; and

2. What do they want done about their complaint, if anything.

Plus this

that should sum it up and keep it fairly simple.

 

[K-man]

Not to be contrary, but why not have the same rules for ALL hunt reports, good or negative? What about a report that is mostly good, but maybe a couple of negative items, like lodging or food, or just communication? I think all reports should have the same basic items listed so that everyone gets the same benefits. I have no problem thanking a good outfitter as well as pointing out problems with a poor one.

 

[DCN]

It's come to the point where a negative report isn't worth the abuse you open yourself up to. Just sayin'

 

[twilly24]

Listing all parties involved should be the only requirement.

 

[rinehart0050]

I do think it's interesting that there seems to be a spike in negative reports right around show season and then things go quiet for the remaining 9 months of the year.

 

[Lrntolive]

Easy.
Who, what, when, where, how.

 

[Hank2211]

I do think it's interesting that there seems to be a spike in negative reports right around show season and then things go quiet for the remaining 9 months of the year.

Could this be the revenge factor? Or perhaps someone decides that this is the best time to put the heat on . . .

In either case, unless we want to be party to ruining some potentially innocent person's reputation and business, it seems we should insist on more than what we've been seeing lately.

 

[thi9elsp]

@AfricaHunting.com Ok, but my interpretation of this thread is that members are looking for consistency in the hunting reports. We won't get that through ongoing free form hunting reports. I think @K-man sums it nicely. Same data whether good or bad report. John

 

[Hank2211]

@AfricaHunting.com Ok, but my interpretation of this thread is that members are looking for consistency in the hunting reports. We won't get that through ongoing free form hunting reports. I think @K-man sums it nicely. Same data whether good or bad report. John

Haven't filed a negative report . . . I'll have to try to fit this information into my positive ones . . . don't blame me now if they get even longer.