Ive always booked with large operators thinking that if things went bad that they could bail you out of trouble. By this I mean problems with govt officials , big game quotas, and abilty to change areas and get charters. Is there really an advantage to booking with say HHK over say John Sharp?

Like anything else you will probably find pro's and cons to both.

Bigger isn't always better and in many cases is actually worse.

John Sharp has a pretty good reputation from from those that have hunted with him.
Both in getting you to the game and dealing with Govt. Resources.

HHK also has a great rep. I think in many ways it's the comfort level you derive from your dealing with with agent/ph's that will make the difference.
Just my 2-cents.

quote:

Like anything else you will probably find pro's and cons to both.

Bigger isn't always better and in many cases is actually worse.

Very true and wise words these!

What about the small operators ability to get concessions, certainly they cant afford to lease one for themselves so are the left with subleases? Mabe thats not a bad thing.

quote:

Originally posted by gunny:
What about the small operators ability to get concessions, certainly they cant afford to lease one for themselves so are the left with subleases? Mabe thats not a bad thing.

Gunny,
to my understanding that's how it's done, sub-leasing for lack of a better term. Even swapping favors between PH's, and concession holders based upon quota's etc is known to happen.
A lot might depend on the game you have in mind as well? Buff? Ele? P/G?

i wouldnt worry about the size of the operation, i would take greater notice of their reputation.

From what ive seen some of the smaller operators such as John Sharp and Charlton & McCallum in zim have a great reputation. If they have been round a long time and have a good rep then i see no risk in hunting with smaller operators.

The subleases are normally let off the bigger operators anyway, so essentially in the case of the two above you are hunting in the same area you would if you were hunitng with one of the bigger operators.

A top-flight small operation like John Sharp's is great in that when you book with John Sharp, you hunt with John Sharp, pure and simple. You aren't farmed out to a possibly green kid that you've never heard of before and consigned to an over-shot, high-traffic area, all the while thinking you were going to hunt with the namesake of the safari company you booked with in a game-rich paradise. In some cases like this, the client maybe gets to hunt with the namesake for one day (he usually takes out his old, high-dollar clients) or doesn't even get to see him at all.

The quality small operators -- and again, Sharp is a great example -- have ongoing relationships with those in ownership positions or with rights to top game-producing areas that are largely known, bought and paid for, and logistically established ahead of time. In a case like this, there is no disadvantage, and often considerable advantage, to booking with a smaller operation.

The small operators I stay away from are the guys who hang out in the U.S. all winter during the convention season, selling safaris. Once they get back home, they THEN go out in an effort to secure certain areas at specific times to satisfy the bookings they secured. Sort of the cart before the horse, and if this approach sounds shoestring and iffy, it is..........

AD

check refrences on all you consider.

Weren't the big ones small first?

Be leary of the 19 year old that just got their license,or the place that has too many clients in camp at once.

quote:

Originally posted by baboon:
Be leary of the 19 year old that just got their license,or the place that has too many clients in camp at once.

In South Africa you have to be 21 to get a PH license, be carefull of the guy that dont know the bussines ( no matter how old or young he is)

Wimpie

I prefer smaller outfitters. You can deal with the boss direct rather than a manager, sub-contracted PH, agent or whomever.

Doesn't mean I would not use a larger outfitter (and have) if the right opportunity presented.

There are good large outfitters and there are very bad large outfitters, and the reverse is also true, good and bad small outfitters..

Some small outfits choose to stay small so they can provide a personal touch IMO...getting big sometimes takes away from the overall experience of the client IMO..but not always.

I guess IMO that is not a criteria I put much stock in, I book for both, and judge by performance and results only...

Ask your wife or any woman if size matters They will probably tell you that it would be nice, but it really comes down to quality, perfomance and results that matters more than the size, which would be your answer to your question

Adam,
Thanks for speaking on my behalf.
Now, please call my wife at BR 549.

You are correct in your comments.

You really can't generalize.

I have hunted with the largest operator in one country and basically a one man operation in another and found them both excellent.

Maybe I'm lucky, but I'd like to think I just do my homework--which is really what it all boils down to.

Farktoof asked the crucial question: “Weren't the big ones small first?â€

The key is that you should book with an operation that is growing in the direction and at the rate that the owner/boss desires.

At the start of their operations all hunting outfitter firms are small. Some owners have ambitions to grow big. Some of the owners simply do not have what it takes in personality/organizational ability and a number of other qualities, to grow big, or even to grow at all. Some of the small ones grow to medium size, but at some point in time the owner runs out of organizational skills/ability to grow bigger. Some others may grow past the medium size and get to become big, or even really big, operations before the same happens. If the owner of this medium sized, or big, or really big operation recognizes his limitations and makes peace with his status in life, drops his operation back a little so that he is still operating within his ability/comfort zone, you may get a good deal from him. It boils down to the fact that these operations are at the size the owner wants to be, and they do not grow at the owners wish. If however the owner does not recognize that he is trying to grow beyond his personal capacity and keeps on trying to grow bigger, and in the process biting off more that he can chew, you are likely to get burnt because of shortcuts and compromise measures.

Some small operations, like mine, and from what I gather from the postings here also John Sharp, never wanted to grow big. I undertake Hunting Outfitting as a second semi –retirement career, and I don’t want to grow big. I just want to get better. I want to grow better at pleasing my clients, better known amongst the safari-booking public to the extend that I can select my clients to exclude the “tape measure shooters†and only guide those that I consider to be real hunters. It is my expressed wish and desire to always be personally involved with each client’s hunting safari, not always as Professional Hunter, there are enough experienced young PH’s with sharp sets of young eyes and good ears not yet half deafened by shooting to appoint for that, but at least as a mentor. I personally get great satisfaction from helping a good young PH become an even better hunter and client guide/companion!

It is only when you book with a small, and still inexperienced, operator that you need to be careful. He may have but a single vehicle, usually a double-cab, very few concession areas and, quite important, few trusted friends to ask to pitch in and help when help is required. Provided the small operator has the required experience, and is either not growing by choice, or is busy growing within his capabilities, there is no reason why you should not book with a “one-man-showâ€.

So Adam,
Are you trying to tell us that you have a small penis, but that your wife loves you anyway????