The ideal client

[Leec6.5]

This. Completely.

The thread is going exactly as expected. Big time charlies are a PITA. Clients with ears and no ego are usually fine. I couldn't care less about experience level either way - it is more important to recognise limitations. Those we can work round.

amen

 

[mudman]

One who gives due notice of cancellation but still pays the day rate even though they do not turn up?

Perfect client

 

[Donkey Basher]

No dispute at all.

A question though - which is worse :

A female client with a Creed
A male client with a .270

Chew on that

Male client with a .270 all day long!

Totally agree with @Norfolk Deer Search - have done a fair amount of coaching using shotgun & rifle, the lads are exactly that - they know everything, nod without listening & have a book full of excuses for when it doesn’t go as they want it to! The ladies are polite, keen & show great delight when they get things to come together.

 

[Sheamus]

The ideal client for me is Police officers. They always get charged double

 

[jimmer.13]

The worst by far that ive had out have been "ex military"!
20 yrs in the military, fired more calibres than you can think of, can hit man sized targets at 1000m, know all my drop data out to 500m, thats the kind of pis# that they tell you on the phone and you just know they're going to be hard work!
Too cocky with a know it all attitude.

My experience is exactly the opposite.
All very humble and willing to listen.
Absorb knowledge and experience like sponges.
Worst client was a self professed big game hunter. I could only dream of what he’d shot and allegedly at some extreme ranges.
After the third gut shot on the third outing I stopped answering his calls.
My best clients have been my children and a couple of their friends.
All now competent shots and make me feel humble. No better experience in my book.

 

[ColinBr]

The ideal clientele are female!

Men are nothing but a pain in the arse, they have male ego they have bullheaded pig ignorance, I’m going to do this, I want to do that, I want to do this. I want to do that whereas the women hang off every word and instruction you say they want to learn they want to be good at what they do in a man’s world.

Personally, I wouldn’t give a rats backside if I didn’t guide a man ever again!

That’s why the ladies Artemis stalking group have all my cull day bar 1

Wow just wow.

Talk about tarring folks with a brush.

Normally I see a lot of sense on a lot of your posts, but this 1 is just shocking.

I don't even know where to start with this 1

 

[Leec6.5]

Wow just wow.

Talk about tarring folks with a brush.

Normally I see a lot of sense on a lot of your posts, but this 1 is just shocking.

I don't even know where to start with this 1

I’ve been guiding clients for just over 20 years and I stand by what I say, because it’s the truth, I have 2 very good male friends a father and son who were once clients, I gave them 2000 acres of stalking.

As you can see from the posts above not the only one saying female clients are better the male!

So obviously their mist be some truth in it!

 

[Mungo]

Best clients seem to fall into 2 categories:

(a) those who only stalk once or twice a year, and for whom an outing is a real treat. They’re so thrilled to be out, and love everything to do with it. They may be hopeless at the basics, but make up for it with sheer excitement and enthusiasm. I’m very happy to do everything possible to get them onto a beast, even if them crashing around makes this particularly hard! They’re also usually very aware of their limitations, and will be clear that they’re only comfortable shooting to sensible distances. And the great beaming smile you get when they connect makes everything worth while.

(b) those who do a lot of their own stalking, and are there to try something different or shoot a species they don’t have on their own ground. Experienced enough not to bullsh*t, and at least as competent as you. Largely you’re there to help them find their way around the ground. The stalk is collaborative, with them making many of the decisions, and you learn as much from them as they from you. Almost always do their own gralloch and help with extraction.

The worst are friends of friends who you’re told the night before fancy a go and would you mind taking them out? You were going out anyway, so they can just tag along…

 

[devon deer stalker]

Best clients seem to fall into 2 categories:

(a) those who only stalk once or twice a year, and for whom an outing is a real treat. They’re so thrilled to be out, and love everything to do with it. They may be hopeless at the basics, but make up for it with sheer excitement and enthusiasm. I’m very happy to do everything possible to get them onto a beast, even if them crashing around makes this particularly hard! They’re also usually very aware of their limitations, and will be clear that they’re only comfortable shooting to sensible distances. And the great beaming smile you get when they connect makes everything worth while.

(b) those who do a lot of their own stalking, and are there to try something different or shoot a species they don’t have on their own ground. Experienced enough not to bullsh*t, and at least as competent as you. Largely you’re there to help them find their way around the ground. The stalk is collaborative, with them making many of the decisions, and you learn as much from them as they from you. Almost always do their own gralloch and help with extraction.

The worst are friends of friends who you’re told the night before fancy a go and would you mind taking them out? You were going out anyway, so they can just tag along…

(c) those who do a what3words or similar and contact the landowner later to offer their services, take it from me, it happens, sorry, happened!

 

[Mungo]

(c) those who do a what3words or similar and contact the landowner later to offer their services, take it from me, it happens, sorry, happened!

That’s worst, not best!

And yes, I’ve had it happen several times.

Once, the landowner gave it to them. They proceeded to make an utter balls up, and 3 years later the landowner sheepishly phoned me up to ask if I would consider coming back. I politely declined.

 

[ColinBr]

I’ve been guiding clients for just over 20 years and I stand by what I say, because it’s the truth, I have 2 very good male friends a father and son who were once clients, I gave them 2000 acres of stalking.

As you can see from the posts above not the only one saying female clients are better the male!

So obviously their mist be some truth in it!

And only a tiny percentage of that has now been female.

Bet all that income you gladly took from the guys must have been hard to take too

As said I tend to agree with much of what you say, I just can't take to this 1.

 

[Leec6.5]

And only a tiny percentage of that has now been female.

Bet all that income you gladly took from the guys must have been hard to take too

As said I tend to agree with much of what you say, I just can't take to this 1.

How many clients have you guided?

 

[Keith Edmunds]

The ideal clientele are female!

Men are nothing but a pain in the arse, they have male ego they have bullheaded pig ignorance, I’m going to do this, I want to do that, I want to do this. I want to do that whereas the women hang off every word and instruction you say they want to learn they want to be good at what they do in a man’s world.

Personally, I wouldn’t give a rats backside if I didn’t guide a man ever again!

That’s why the ladies Artemis stalking group have all my cull day bar 1

Sexist!

 

[Leec6.5]

Sexist!

Like I said, it’s the truth

 

[Leec6.5]

And only a tiny percentage of that has now been female.

Bet all that income you gladly took from the guys must have been hard to take too

As said I tend to agree with much of what you say, I just can't take to this 1.

As year have gone by yes male clients were pretty good as a rule but as the years have rolled on DMQ has became one stalk to pass level two you get every bloke and his brother becoming a deer management expert to the point where I have had clients come to me for stalking and advise me on dear management knowing damn well they’ve only had their FAC a year just over!

So forgive me for spouting the truth, but I think the modern man stalker are ****ing useless!

 

[Mungo]

Based on recent experience, the absolute screaming worst are ‘hunting influencers’, with a Utube channel or similar.

Show up with an entourage (camera man, producer, kit sponsor). All branded gear. Spouting a non stop stream of self aggrandising boll*cks.

You know you’re going to need the dog from the moment they step out of the pre-dawn gloom and your head torch reflects from their unnaturally shiny teeth…

 

[Leec6.5]

Based on recent experience, the absolute screaming worst are ‘hunting influencers’, with a Utube channel or similar.

Show up with an entourage (camera man, producer, kit sponsor). All branded gear. Spouting a non stop stream of self aggrandising boll*cks.

You know you’re going to need the dog from the moment they step out of the pre-dawn gloom and your head torch reflects from their unnaturally shiny teeth…

That’s gospel

 

[Ratel]

I must agree with Lee having stalked for many guests over the years. I've had some excellent gents but on the whole the ladies in general take a lot more notice of what you tell them, either as instructions or points of interest. I've had the pleasure of starting two lady stalkers out on their journey, one of which ended up as a wife and both were eager for knowledge and experience in stalking deer. Both became very capable people when either on the hill or in the woods and developed their knowledge of deer and nature to a high degree. My then wife was probably one of the best stalkers I have ever been out with and very quickly seemed to thirst for a knowledge of deer from shooting her first Muntjac onwards.
Providing they listen, shoot reasonably well, are safe and have an interest in deer and general nature, they are the ideal person for me.

 

[Bsmall1521]

I know what I do, but can you tell me what you think a "good" tip amount is? Probably by percentage?

 

[Dunwaters]

I know what I do, but can you tell me what you think a "good" tip amount is? Probably by percentage?

Here’s a good tip, don’t trust someone who quotes “best practice” to do what they’re told and neck a sika at last light.
100% they’ll chest shoot it and you’ll be left crawling around on your own in the pitch dark inside a Sitka plantation.