Llama Life

I'll fit in fine as long as the response is truthful. Should stay fish and game departments be using our license fees to pay social media hunting celebrities?

What do you think?
 
... the gall of some people...

The passive-aggressive chicken shit that some people post is ridiculous.

If you have a real concern... email or PM the man. These "questions" are crap.
 
Okhotnik said:
Randy. Curious have you ever been paid by state governments to publicize hunts in those states. If so how much. Just curious
Click to expand...
This is funny that you show up here and ask questions of me like you have an interest in me. This is the first time you've ever referred to me as "Randy." The normal reference is whatever derogatory adjective you can think of to make your criticism.

To my knowledge, we've never met, we've never spoke to each other, but you claim to know my life. You're not curious. You're looking to stir the pot. You don't know shit from apple butter when it comes to me and my beliefs. But, armchair experts are part of the business I operate in and I accept that it comes with the territory. I just move along. I never respond to your BS accusation or comments on other forums. Now, you've come to the forum I own and I will respond.

I will answer this question, though it is truly none of your business. It might enlighten you to how the tourism and advertising business works with advertising and communication agencies representing state tourism and wildlife departments when executing media and communication plans. And, it will help some of the other Hunt Talkers who are interested in how the media space works, albeit this is a very minuscule part of it, it works quite similar with the for-profit companies in the outdoor space. Here goes......

Quick answer to your question - We, and most other large platforms in the outdoor and travel space, have been hired by ad agencies that represent state tourism and wildlife departments for access to our audiences and for production of content they need. The same as for-profit companies who want to use media platforms to reach targeted audiences and execute communication strategies.

Most magazines, TV shows, and other media platforms that have a sizable audiences in the outdoor space (hunting/fishing/adventure/outdoor travel), have been awarded a contract from an ad agency that represents a tourism or wildlife department.

It works like this. Departments, both tourism (who are rolling in money) and wildlife departments (who have very little for media), have adopted business-like practices for their communications work, rather than having the scientists and biologists try to be communications specialists. These state departments use communication firms and advertising agencies who specialize in media placement to help them develop messaging, measure results, and find the media platforms to accomplish the goals outlined in their communication plans. Some Hunt Talkers here might work for communication or advertising agencies and they might give even more detail on how it works.

The mechanics usually work like this. Requests for Proposals (RFPs) are sent out to media outlets that have been interviewed and screened by the advertising/communication agency. Each proposal is returned to the communications/ad agency where it is evaluated and scored, most often based on size of the platforms and the proposed price submitted in the RFP. The ad agency makes recommendations to the tourism or wildlife departments, based on whatever scoring criteria they've used. If selected, the media platform then signs a contract with the ad agency to complete the work.

We did our first work for an ad agency that represented a tourism-wildlife department joint venture in 2009. We've done some off and on since then. Sometimes state laws require a rotation of that vendor every two years. Sometimes preference is given to vendors located in that state, regardless of pricing or qualification. It is inconsistent and unpredictable, usually at low margins due to the bidding process.

This work always has been, and always will be, a very small part of our revenue; small, like less than 5% and in many years 0%. I suspect for the many other media platforms that also submit these RFPs it is also a very small part of their revenue. Just not worth the effort to try be the low bidder for work that usually comes with a lot of extra requests.

If you go to the SHOT Show, you would be floored by the presence of some of the state tourism agencies. The wildlife departments don't have budgets to be at SHOT or to spend on media like tourism agencies. Tourism must be a completely different ball game, in terms of dollars and budgets. There is one state tourism agency that has been the incubator for many TV platforms. I've declined every request from that state, but you don't have to look hard to see them in a lot of TV shows.

When you see those hosted shooting events, pheasant shoots, or fishing contests that have Governors and politicians, I'd bet money that idea was crafted by an advertising/communication agency that represents a state tourism department. I've been asked to be a part of a lot of them. I've decline them all.

Now that I've answered your question and given some insight in how this small part of the media world works, I would suggest you go ask the same question of every other large outdoor media platform, whether a TV show, internet platform, national magazine, well known newsletter, podcast; any media outlet that has a large reach.

Unlike me, I suspect they will tell you to pound sand; that it is none of your business. If they don't tell you to pound sand, they will probably provide a very similar answer to what I've provided here. So, in spite of your colorful know-all descriptions of me and my activities, I was kind enough to answer your question.

Your next likely question is whether or not we apply for film credits and tax rebates from state film tax credit programs. The answer is no. Some other groups do. We don't.

We decline far more invitations for RFPs than we submit. Most often it doesn't fit what we do, what our message is, or the advertising agency is not familiar with the hunting-conservation message we promote and what kind of message our audience wants. As a CPA, I understand that building a business around advertising agencies that represent tourism and wildlife departments is not a sustainable or predictable business model, so I will never let it be more than a small percentage of our revenue, relegated to where it fits what we are doing to fulfill our WHY.

So, there you have it. Our focus is on much different relationships and different content than most ad agencies plan for tourism and wildlife departments. Our content allocation of 25% entertainment, 25% information, 25% education, 25% advocacy usually doesn't fit well with how ad agencies design communication plans, so I focus our efforts elsewhere.

Now that I've been gracious enough to answer your question, you are getting tossed from this platform. You know why you're getting tossed. You know why some of the regulars here have given you a rough ride already in your first few posts. They see your BS in other places on the internet and they know why you are here. They have no use for your BS and neither do I.

I'm not inclined to let someone who I've never met, who blows smoke about who I am and what I stand for, hang out on a forum I own and pretend like they want to be friends, when they have no intent to add anything valuable to the discussions of hunting, public lands, and conservation. Might work in 3rd grade, not here.

Hope that answers your question. Good luck this season.

Bye!
 
Damn I thought this thread might be about llamas... I took a few of mine on a purty trip last few days. Not nearly as much fun as fighting on a keyboard with people you don't know, never will likely know, and would try to get away from if you did know...503ADCCA-C459-4F26-A9C8-4624DE0FD0E3.jpeg60F4F4D9-FBA1-4A6C-AADD-15A1CDB04B38.jpeg
 
Here is my first experience hunting with pack llamas. It couldn't have been easier!!! Video was taken in unit 41 (CO) on the grand mesa. I couldn't believe how easy it was to use them!

 
Taken a few nice trips this year, starting with early June when creeks were nipple deep (and a tad nippy to boot) and last week a trip when the flowers have definitely switched over to fall varieties. I have never seen mushrooms so huge or numerous as this years crop. Boys are getting in shape one group at a time but it is becoming more difficult to cycle them all into enough trips to assure they are all fit in time for the busiest season which is almost here. Next month I need to up my game and start going on two trips/week. Tell the Princess to paint the damn house herself as my "job" is making more demands of me...

50566F2F-D8FF-4B3F-BB84-ECAB3F6F2226.jpeg5CB50999-8481-430F-BB53-546EE42A5264.jpegC8F6758A-DE91-4422-ACCD-14D68B7EB8A6.jpegEB8126FB-64B8-4361-B926-DD89DD7F0ACF.jpegF8CE62FB-B136-4B9D-BDD9-C22F2546E583.jpegE37CE551-B825-497B-9D31-1D2871950805.jpeg72F0CF0C-3C82-45B3-B4D7-1DFA45078C97.jpeg55418D79-886B-4BB3-86C5-9EF1F842FE2F.jpeg5A138E01-91D7-41C5-BB7F-AE1BE08EDCF4.jpegBFEEB072-271E-4B12-8A7E-A5F110C03A9C.jpeg
 
Gerald Martin said:
If he was hired by state game and fish agencies to promote the opportunities in their state and you don’t like it shouldn’t you be asking them those questions?
Click to expand...
Yep. I get promo messages from Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks almost weekly. I'm quite sure they hire some ad agency to do these up. The cost of doing business to benefit tax payers necessarily involves spending their money. I have no idea if tax dollars are used to fund stuff that Randy does, but given his outspoken opinion on some issues, especially a few controversial current policy changes in Montana, I seriously doubt it. But I see what the guy does fighting to preserve the legacy of public land hunting. If he does get tax dollars it is money well spent for my and your advantage ... unless maybe you're not a hunter?
 
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I prefer a pack animal that can also serve as riding stock. I once contracted giardia way up the Middle Fork of the Flathead and would probably still be there if I had to lead a couple of lamas back to the rig. As it was I could barely get back in the saddle for the ride out. It's easy to wear out one horse riding it day after day in rugged country, especially if it's out of shape and/or on a limited diet. Having riding stock in camp also affords the hunter the option of ranging farther to pursue game and not being plum wore out when he finds it. I think the advantages of using riding stock clearly outweigh the unique but limited advantages of using lamas.
 
I recall one and only one experience encountering a lama on the trail with my horses back in the eighties. Almost had a rodeo on my hands. Fortunately, the lama handler was experienced with these encounters and reacted quickly to turn around and get to a spot where he could get his critter well out of the way. Tipped my hat and we went on our way. Gayly encumbered backpackers or furry eared burros produced the same balking nervousness. It's part of using horses on the trail. You expect it and accommodate. I can imagine what the reaction would have been had we run into a herd of goats with brightly colored packs. Yeehaw!
 
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