Price for a paid hunt

[Tlong]

I understand that not everyone is a fan of high fence or paid hunts. However, for someone like myself, I will probably never get an opportunity at a buck over 130", unless I go on a paid hunt, or h.f. Now, with that out of the way, I also understand that the ranch owner, or guide has to make a living. My question is, why do some outfits charge more for a bigger deer, even if they did nothing special to grow that particular deer any larger than the others, for example...lets say a deer up to 140" is $1000, and a 150" is $2000. Why? I feel as though I am being penalized for shooting a better deer.
Just for clarification, I am not asking if you think H.F. is right or wrong, and I know there is a difference between a high fence hunt and just paying to use someones land that is not fenced. I just want to know how some figure their prices and charge more for bigger deer.

[Fishndude]

Cost of producing the deer is one factor!

[Zen Archery]

Supply and demand my friend and the fact that 150+ is considered a trophy class buck they can charge as much as they want.

[Codie]

because big deer are what MOST folks want to shoot and there is a lot less big deer than there is smaller deer. SUPPLY AND DEMAND, they charge more because they are in demand and there are not a whole lot of them

[Tx Taxidermist]

Supply and demand. What the market brings.

[Lovec]

Supply and Demand Everybody wants to shoot a big deer, there are fewer of them, they can charge more. They can charge whatever someone will pay.

[Tlong]

I can see that....What about the ones that charge per inch over say a 140. Why can't they just say 150-160 is this much, and 160-170.....and so on. I would hate to shoot what I thought was a 140, and it end up being a 160 and I have to pay an extra $2000!!

[JMG]

Supply and demand. The average score for a buck is 125". So 50% of herd will score under 125". With that said, 30% of the herd may go in the 40s. Maybe 15% that will go into the 150s, 10% in 160s, and even smaller % for those that score over the 165s and more. Lets face it, a 120 class deer will eat the same as a 160 class, but it boils down to what you are after antler wise.

[Coach]

I can see that....What about the ones that charge per inch over say a 140. Why can't they just say 150-160 is this much, and 160-170.....and so on. I would hate to shoot what I thought was a 140, and it end up being a 160 and I have to pay an extra $2000!!

If your guide tells to to shoot a 140 and it ends up being a 160, he needs to be fired and you don't pay extra!

[Throwin Darts]

thats like going to a car dealership and expecting to pay $15k for any car on the lot whether it be the 4 cyl hatchback or the f-250 king ranch diesel.

[Tlong]

thats like going to a car dealership and expecting to pay $15k for any car on the lot whether it be the 4 cyl hatchback or the f-250 king ranch diesel.

If you pay more than 15K for a Ford you got ripped anyhow!!! j/k

[cosmiccowboy]

I can see that....What about the ones that charge per inch over say a 140. Why can't they just say 150-160 is this much, and 160-170.....and so on. I would hate to shoot what I thought was a 140, and it end up being a 160 and I have to pay an extra $2000!!

Even on great ranches package hunter expectations can be somewhat unrealistic. When I was guiding the price breaks on the management deer were set up like you suggest...under 130 was one price, 130-140 was another...140-150 was another...It was VERY common to have groups of management hunters come out that were still competitive about "who shot the biggest one"...They ALL wanted a 139 & 7/8. It was extremely frustrating to put them on 136-138" deer hunt after hunt and have them hold out for "something bigger"...they just didn't believe that there wasn't a perfect mature 139 7/8 out there....Many times they ended up settling for a smaller deer than they had passed up on the last day.

[Bodey]

Our place is low fence and we consistently harvest P&Y bucks over 150. That's what I want my hunters to shoot. There is no price increase for big & bigger. I charge penalties for young and small. The minimum criteria for no penalty is "gross 140 and 5 1/2 yrs. old". There are, of course exceptions for identified "management bucks".

[temple droptine]

I agree with cosmiccowboy. I still guide after being put through the ringer on management hunts. It seems like all of them want a trophy 8 point that'll go 140 or better. They get a little upset when you tell them that is a shooter, and they pass on it, not to see another one in that caliber the rest of the hunt, and they settle for something else. That being said, to answer your question, as said before it is supply and demand. My ranch owner puts in countless hours and money towards having the best he can possibly offer to his clients. Genetics and feed are not cheap, they cost big time. Therefore when you approach the higher end bucks, you should expect to pay a higher end price. We have 3 levels of deer, and three price levels (management, trophy, and super trophy) We as guides are to be aware of what the hunter is after, and ready to pay for. We advise what a shooter is, if it is not in the class they are paying for, we take the hit. That is why I put in countless hours studying the game on the ranch, so I am not paying for someone elses animal. But, to sum it up the reason it is so dad blamed expensive is because it is a business, and we have allowed for it to become this way, supply and demand system, and demand will almost always win out.
-crb

[redfish76]

I can see that....What about the ones that charge per inch over say a 140. Why can't they just say 150-160 is this much, and 160-170.....and so on. I would hate to shoot what I thought was a 140, and it end up being a 160 and I have to pay an extra $2000!!

Most of the ones I've seen do work like that: <120, 120-130, 130-140, etc. However, if you are 20 inches off, that doesn't solve your problem.