Hunting experience
A great attitude
Socially very good
Willing to do any kind of tasks no matter how shitty
No bad temper
Know how to deal with difficult people
Diesel mechanic
Look presentable
Know how to pour drinks
Etc etc
Happy to not earn much money
Stuart Williams of
@Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS is 100% correct! I hunted with him not once but twice because he runs his business with respect to clients. Any successful business needs satisfied and hopefully repeat customers.
An outfitter and PH must be:
A. Skilled hunter
B. Personable, i.e. have good people skills
C. Good manager of the hunt, camp, marketing and so on...
I have hunted with other outfitters that I will not recommend to anyone. Those experiences taught me what to look out for, and what a outfitter/PH should not do!
This is my perspective as a client;
As a client the PH is working for me. I as his client expect the PH to tell me what to do and what not to do in the field. He is in charge and I in turn will follow his guidance. This is mutual respect.
Here are a few things not to do from this client 's perspective;
1. Do NOT disrespect a client's wife or female guests. Take care of the extra demands of the females in the hunting party and the male clients will tip you handsomely! Happy wife, happy life!
If a client 's female is too demanding, pull the client aside and ask him to explain to the female...
2. Do not pour the PH and other staff mixed drinks such as gin and tonics without offering the same to your clients. If the rule is there is a charge for any hard liquor, make sure your clients know this and add their drinks to their bill.
3. Per the above, Don't nickel and dime clients for every little thing. Better to account for average miscellaneous charges in the stated price and reward any low usage/cost clients with a discount at the end of the hunt. They in turn will probably use most of that to increase the tips! Win-win for all!
4. Do not treat the trackers and other staff as Hebrew slaves! Don't yell unnecessary, make sure they are well fed, ensure trackers have clothing, boots, and backpacks in good condition. Good backpacks are really important if you expect them to carry for you or clients!
5. Concerning the above, take responsibility for the actions or inaction of you and your staff. Don't put any blame on staff, you are in charge and thus responsible! Instead, look to correct the situation without excessive drama and train staff for better performance in the future. Yelling like an A-hole just removes any doubt of what you are!
6. Do not treat clients as some foreign bxstards by seating them at the dining table far from the PH, owner, and cook. Further, try to engage with your clients as best you can at meals. If you speak your client 's language, converse with them. Otherwise, try to communicate. Once you get to know them they may become a lifelong friend!
7. Don't serve leftovers from a client's dinner plate as lunch the next day. No kidding, I once cleanly cut off a little piece of bland beef steak so that maybe the staff might realize that the large portion remaining was meant for them. My inner voice told me to do this...
That steak was turned into meat pies for lunch the next day. Gosh if I didn't eat that road kill at dinner why would I want it the next day.
Note: This US Marine can survive on C-Rats, MREs, goat, mystery meat, dog on a stick from a street vendor, fish heads and rice, Ramin noodles, road kill deer, and crap long past the expiration date.
8. For a USA client, try to serve African game venison. I live in a small town that has one supermarket with butcher department, one farm that offers fresh beef cuts to order, and two premium butcher shops. Americans eat dead cow all the time!
9. If a client makes a small mistake that was not life threatening, don't yell at them. You may not like their response and they won't forget what an A-hole you are.
