And the integrity and quality of an out- fitter's operation can change from year to year. Good booking agents will have updated information. It doesn't cost you any more to book with an agent than to book directly with the outfitter. After all, from the outside it looks like the agent has a great life. First, this is not a part-time job.
Good agents work hard, travel extensively and spend a great deal of money advertising their company.
Jack Atcheson and Sons of Butte, Mont. Jack Sr. started the business in 1955, and since then, he and his sons, Jack Jr. and Keith, have booked more than 18,000 clients. It's not uncommon for the firm to spend six figures on advertising annually. Another big requirement is the ability to get along with people. When you consider that an agent is arranging hunting trips for strangers, each of whom has a different interpretation of what constitutes a successful hunt, as well as the unpredictability of the hunt, you can begin to understand the difficulties, especially when people are investing money and trusting the agent's judgment and contacts.