The Ultimate Guide to Booking Outfitted Hunts
Booking an Outfitted Hunt Can Be an Overwhelming and Time-Intensive Process
The sheer number of outfitters to choose from makes the options seemingly endless. After reading through this guide, the process of booking a hunt shouldn’t be as overwhelming. However, the only way to consistently find yourself on hunts where your experience meets your expectation is by booking through someone who can align those two for you. That’s where Huntin' Fool Adventures comes in. For no additional cost, you can hop on the phone with one of our professional booking advisors. They’ll listen carefully to what you’re looking for and then recommend a proven outfitter who will deliver the experience YOU are looking for.
Hunt Booking Guide
- Are you hunting in a group or solo?
- Set goals for trophy size and overall experience
- Decide on hunt style:
- Guided
- Semi-guided
- DIY (Do-It-Yourself)
- Choose your weapon:
- Rifle
- Bow
- Muzzleloader
- Other
- Lodging needs:
- Luxury lodging
- Backcountry tent
- Somewhere in the middle
- What is your overall goal out of a hunt?
- Kill a world-class animal
- Spend time in the field with friends and family
- Explore new areas and travel
- Other
- Research the genetics and trophy potential of the unit
- Know your draw odds or availability of landowner tags
- Decide between public or private land access
- Look up harvest statistics and terrain difficulty
- Build a multi-year strategy for high-demand areas
- Be flexible with your timing and location
- Are there species you have dreamed about hunting?
- HFA can be strategic and get you on hunts that you thought would be:
- Out of budget
- Too difficult logistically to go on
- Licensing systems vary by state/country
- Research draw deadlines and application processes
- Use resources like Huntin’ Fool to simplify the draw
- For over-the-counter tags, confirm purchase steps
- Coordinate with your outfitter on licensing responsibilities
- Are tags and licenses included?
- Are there taxes for the hunt?
- Any trophy or harvest fees?
- Are meat processing or taxidermy drop-off provided?
- Who handles food, lodging, and gear?
- Get a full breakdown of what's covered and what’s not.
- Add up all costs: hunt, travel, gear, tags, tips, etc.
- Include tipping (10–20%) in your final budget
- Review the outfitter's payment schedule:
- Most require 50% deposit up front
- Know the timeline for remaining payments
- Read reviews and request references.
- Don’t rely on trophy photos alone, ask questions.
- Make sure your personalities and expectations align.
- A great guide makes all the difference in the field.
- Confirm arrival location and time with your outfitter.
- Book flights or plan your drive well in advance.
- Ask about airport pickups or rental needs.
- If traveling with a firearm, check legal requirements.
- Early planning = better prices and fewer headaches.
- Start training well before your hunt.
- Match your fitness to the hunt type (e.g. mountain vs. plains).
- Practice regularly with your weapon of choice.
- The better prepared you are, the more you’ll enjoy the hunt.
- Huntin’ Fool Adventures will put you on a hunt with realistic expectations.
- Success is about more than inches of antler.
- Focus on the overall experience and adventure.
- Huntin’ Fool lives by "Undersell and overdeliver."
- Cancellations: Another hunter’s loss can be your gain. Watch for cancelled hunts being re-sold for big savings (often 10–50% off): View Cancellation Hunts
- Discounted Hunts: There are a variety of reasons a guided hunt can get discounted. The important thing to know is not all discounted hunts are created equal. HFA vets every discounted hunt we advertise.
- Be First to Know: Huntin’ Fool Adventures offers a free mailing list to keep you informed about hunts with our Endorsed Outfitters. SIGN UP
- Huntin’ Fool – Priority Booking: As a Huntin' Fool Pro Member, you'll be the first notified about cancellations and discounted hunts.
This is crucial as they go fast and are limited in quantity.
Sign up for a Pro Membership
Beyond the list above, one final piece of advice is to book well in advance. Hunting opportunities are becoming increasingly harder to come by. The earlier you start your planning the more options you will have. Preparation is key, so take your time to research and communicate with the outfitter to get the most out of your adventure.
Outfitter Cheat Sheet
How to Choose the Right Outfitter
- Ask the right questions to ensure expectations align with reality.
- A great outfitter provides excellent service, not just high success rates.
- Avoid being misled by outdated or misleading success stories.
- Your experience should be worth your time, money, and anticipation.
Key Questions to Ask an Outfitter Before Booking
- Outfitter Credentials: Are you licensed? How long have you been in business?
- Guides & Experience: How experienced are the guides? Will they scout before the hunt?
- Hunting Property: Private or public land? Property size? Trophy quality?
- Costs & Fees: Any additional fees? What’s included/excluded?
- Hunting Logistics: Guide-to-hunter ratio? Lodging details? Daily schedules?
- Success & References: References from both successful and unsuccessful clients?
- Wounded Game Policy: What happens if an animal is wounded but not recovered?
- Post-Hunt Services: Meat processing? Taxidermy options? Backup weapons?
- Cancellation & Flexibility: What’s the cancellation policy? Can extra hunting days be added?
- Game & Trophy Expectations: Minimum size requirements? How many animals are seen daily?
Download the Huntin' Fool App & Never Miss a Deadline!
Huntin’ Fool offers a wide variety of services and resources within the hunting space, and the Huntin’ Fool App offers access to them all. Utilizing this app, you will be able to apply for hunts, plan hunts, buy hunts, and win hunts. This app is simple to use and puts the tools you need to go on great hunts right at your fingertips.
Still Have Questions?
At Huntin' Fool, we are always looking for ways to improve our service and help out members to the very best of our abilities. We believe communication is what makes our Huntin' Fool community great!