What should I ask about a hunting lodge’s guide relationships before buying?

Begin by asking for a list of each guide, how many seasons they have worked at the lodge and what arrangement binds them. Are they employees, contractors or independent operators who bring their own clients? That answer shapes what you are actually buying.

Next, find out who owns the client relationships. If hunters book because of a particular guide, a departing guide may take them along. Ask the seller how bookings are made and how much of the repeat business is tied to a person instead of the lodge. Ask whether any guide has agreed to non-competition or confidentiality terms, and have your lawyer review whatever exists.

Ask also about how the guides are treated. Housing, equipment, pay timing and the owner’s habits all affect whether they return each season. Request a conversation with the lead guides, with the seller’s consent, and listen for how they describe the lodge and its direction. Finally, ask about the guides’ skills and safety training, and whether a head guide could fill in for the owner when needed. Ask the seller which guide they would worry about losing, and why, and what the lodge has done to keep that person.

Key takeaways

• List each guide, their tenure and whether they are employees or contractors.
• Find out which clients return for the lodge and which return for the guide.
• Speak with the lead guides, with permission, before you commit.