Hunts should be fun for both hunter and landowner

By MANDY SPIKES | Central Texas Edition

Simons gives his presentation on package hunts. - Photo by Mandy Spikes

June 12, 2003 -- Hunting can be a fun and exciting sport for both hunter and landowner. The key to a successful hunting experience, though, relies on the way the guest is treated while on the hunt and the knowledge that the landowner has in case something goes wrong.

"It's critical to make the guest happy while he is at your place," stated Greg Simons, owner of Wildlife Systems Inc., during his package hunt presentation at the Wildlife Business Development Strategies seminar, held in Junction on June 4.

He said three aspects to consider when going into the package hunt business is the prehunt, the hunt, and the posthunt.

"The first aspect, the prehunt, is very important. This is where you talk to the customer and sell them a package program to satisfy their needs. You want them to go to your place of business and you want to keep them the following years. First impressions make all the difference."

Simons stressed that the landowner has to think about the upkeep of the facilities and the equipment. The camp staff must be properly trained and the client must be informed of what to expect so that they can be prepared for the hunt.

"You don't need a luxurious lodge, but you must have a nice facility to work with. Maintain and look over the equipment you have. You will have to rely on it to take care of you and your customers.

"With personnel, the guides must be knowledgeable of the sport of hunting. It's important that they are also very familiar with the hunting area. You are going to rely on both the guides and the cooks through the course of the year. It's always a good idea to try and make sure they are on the same page as you, as well as each other. They need to know what to expect from you and what you expect from them.."

He suggested having an annual guide program to allow the guides to meet each other and establish a sense of camaraderie. This also allows everyone to go over the company policy. In turn, it will reflect well on them as well as the company.

"It's necessary for the client to be prepared when going on the hunt. They need to know what to expect."

During the hunt itself, Simons said that the owner needs to look at the transportation, orientation, the game care and procedures, and promotional photography.

"You must consider the money for transportation. Hunters need to get from point A to point B. Once the hunters are at your place, it's a great idea to have an orientation so that they know what's going on, such as the rules.

"Game care is a lot of work. You need to do a satisfactory job. There is also some legal aspects to consider. Having a business like this requires certain amount of documentation and you must make sure you are covered."

Simons said that many operations lack good promotional photography. "It's not hard to get good photos, but it takes time. You need to figure out how to take good pictures for your business."

According to Simons, the follow up, or the posthunt, is just as important as any other part of the business.

"You need to evaluate how the hunt went for your guests. Find out what their thoughts are so that you can retain their business. Also, find a way to stay in touch with them. This customer service aspect is vital to having a thriving and successful hunting business," he advised.

Landowner participants at the session were also reminded about their legal responsibilities when people venture upon their property.

"I am here to inform you, the landowner, on your rights and how to protect them," said Judon Fambrough, senior lecturer and attorney at law with the Texas Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University. "Landowner liability is there for the safety of both the guests and the customers. We're lucky to live in Texas because you are protected in the hunting area."

He said the bottom line is that as a landowner, you are responsible for everyone if they are on your land, especially if they are a hunter.

"There are four categories in case law. The first is the invitee. This is your economic visitor, or your fee-paying guest. It's your duty to warn or make the area safe from all dangerous conditions that you know about or you should know about. The only thing is that you can't guarantee their safety."

The second category he gave was the licensee. This is the social guest, or those who are permitted to enter, stay or hunt without paying. "It's your duty to warn or make safe and you must be on the lookout for these things. You need to warn them on what you do know, not what you should know.

"The third is trespassers or those who don't have permission to enter. The last category is a child who is unaccompanied by an adult. They fall into the attractive nuisance doctrine."

This doctrine states that if a landowner is maintaining a dangerous condition, if it's where children will trespass, and if it's no longer an economic benefit to the landowner, then that person is liable. "This document applies to children seven and under. When you have a child eight to sixteen, it depends on the child. Children over sixteen are thought to understand dangerous places and are not covered under this doctrine..