Dear Future Hunting guide,
Thanks for taking the time to write me. Starting a
hog hunting service.
Well, there's alot of folks doing exactly the same
thing. 13 acres is not much area at all to do it on
tho. But you asked my suggestions so here goes:
1. Make sure there is no game laws in your state or
country against what is referred to as a "canned
hunt".
2. Find you an insurance company that you can obtain
Liability Insurance from and tell the company exactly
how you are going to do it. to avoid no coverage at
time of need for misrepresentations on your part.
3. Even tho they wont stand up in court, have your
clients all sign a hold harmless agreement holding
you, and anyone you ever knew in your life holding
you/them harmless from liability claims.
4. Make safety, a number one priority.
5. When you advertise or talk to prospective clients,
make sure you are open with them on how your going to
do it and the danger involved.
6. I don't allow video cameras to be used. Not saying
the person on the hunt would do anything, but you know
as well as I do that they are going to show it to
every Tom, Dick and Harry they know... and one of
those folks might be an anti.
7. No blood and guts, harvest the hog as quickly as
humanly possible. Use protective gear on your dogs to
show you take them in consideration too..
These are just a few things to consider. Ive done a
few guided hunts, but to tell you the truth, LIABILITY
scares me to death. There are folks out there that
weren't raised like I was, and don't believe in things
like I do.
A friend of mine has been doing hunts like this for
years. Some time back he told me the story of one of
his compadres who had also been doing it for years.
To make a long story short, even tho the client was at
fault and did not listen to the guide, and couldn't
shoot worth a hoot, the guide, the land owner and who
ever else that was on the hunt was sued for hundreds
of thousands of dollars. Hold harmless agreements
had been signed, insurance had been bought, verbal
statements had been made with witnesses, but it didn't
mean a thing in front of 12 people on a jury.
Bottom line is be careful, folks are real suit
happy these days.
Jim