The Hunting Business: There's No Business Like the Hunting Business By GregSimons, San Angelo, Texas: THB Publications. 2023. pp. 280. $49.00 (hardback). ISBN 979‐8‐9877635‐0‐6

The Hunting Business condenses over 3 decades of passion, practice, and philosophy through the thoughtful advice and storytelling of author Greg Simons. This work is a reflection of a life's pursuit and a practical guide for those looking to build careers in hunting operations, wildlife management, or working land hospitality. Many in the wildlife management sector emerged from college with game and wildlife management proficiency. Still, few emerged from academia exhibiting business planning and administrative acumen. Throughout 21 chapters, Simons provides a comprehensive overview of the practices, processes, and considerations that contributed to his success in managing a hunting enterprise. Simons can be considered a trailblazer because he recognized the rarely addressed need for business planning guidance among those considering entrepreneurship in the outdoor industry. The Hunting Business covers topics such as professionalism, marketing, customer service, and sustainability, and offers critical insights for anyone seeking to operate in these fields. This review will examine how Simon's guidance serves its primary purpose as a tool for professionals developing hunting ventures; however, it will also explore how the book transcends its core focus to serve as a valuable resource for those intending to establish themselves or develop operations in the ecotourism and nature-viewing sector. Simons' chapter on Basic Business Management (Chapter 5) lays the foundation for any successful outdoor venture, from hunting enterprises to wildlife consulting. He stresses proactive business planning, financial acumen, record keeping, and contingency planning, revealing the significant commitments required to move from hobbyist to professional. While this is the book's longest chapter, it concisely introduces fundamental management principles, including entity formation, cash flow, and understanding profit margins. These fundamentals apply universally, making this chapter valuable for any entrepreneur. However, some readers may find this guidance broad, so the chapter could benefit from the development of concrete examples and resource referrals. Simons also addresses the outdoor industry's unique business challenges by focusing on the need for problem-solving and contingency planning in a field where unpredictable variables, such as weather and client conditioning, can affect success. As Simons notes, “Dividends multiply for proprietors who have been diligent with their organization efforts, which also helps cultivate an efficient, effective operation culture” (p. 77). These business strategies are just as crucial for ecotourism and wildlife management consulting, where navigating uncertainty and planning are essential to long-term sustainability and client satisfaction. By laying out these fundamental considerations, Simons sets the stage for deeper discussions around professionalism and risk management, which are crucial for anyone looking to build a sustainable outdoor business. Building upon the fundamentals of business management, Simons emphasizes that professionalism—whether in client interactions or day-to-day operations—is the hallmark of any successful service-oriented venture. Although he mentions the dictionary definition of professionalism, Simons suggests it runs deeper and incorporates integrity through “…behavior that is shaped by discipline and character… exhibit[ed]… when there is no gallery to observe…” (p. 84). Through the chapter on professionalism (Chapter 6), Simons addresses the complexity of mixing business with pleasure, the importance of communication and interaction, optics in appearance and marketing, ethics, and giving back to the sector. Simons argues that all outfitters and professional hunters have a crucial role in upholding the industry's image and that the elements of professionalism are vital to maintaining public support and trust. Drawing on his experiences with the hospitality and skill of African outfitters, Simons sets a gold standard for professionalism that he believes should be aspired to in hunting operations in the United States. While this standard is compelling, it raises the question of whether North American hunting outfits can realistically achieve such service levels given the differences in markets, expectations, and resources between the 2 regions and game management models. Professionalism extends beyond the field and into public perception, especially in today's digital age, where social media plays a pivotal role in shaping the image of hunting and outdoor ventures. In a later chapter, Simons stresses that harvest photography (Chapter 15) offers a chance for the public to witness the respect and reverence hunters and outfitters have for the pursuit and harvest, emphasizing the need for thoughtful curation, free from gratuitous displays of blood and gore. Ultimately, Simons positions professionalism as a set of behaviors and a strategic tool to preserve the public's trust and support in outdoor industries. These principles are critical for maintaining the integrity of the hunting industry and apply equally to the broader ecotourism and wildlife management sectors. As professionalism serves as a proactive measure in reputation management, it naturally transitions into the need for comprehensive risk management strategies in the unpredictable realm of outdoor business. In outdoor enterprises like hunting operations, risk management (Chapter 13) is a proactive effort to control outcomes and limit liability, influencing service quality and operational costs. Simons emphasizes that while all businesses are subject to risks, hunting operations contend with significant dangers that can result in the loss of human life. To illustrate this point, he shares an anecdote about his first failed efforts to secure liability insurance for his fledgling business, underscoring the need for thoughtful and proactive planning. With the abundance of risk exposures associated with outdoor businesses, he stresses the need for written contingency planning and best practices paired with effective client communication. Communication should minimally include mandatory waiver forms and an obligatory orientation talk to set clear expectations and establish an appropriate hunting camp culture. Simons further distinguishes between general and gross negligence, outlining the legal liabilities and insurance considerations that differ between these 2 issues. In addition to establishing the need for clear communication, Simons also discusses the need for staff to “march in step” when implementing risk management strategies, which ensures operations run smoothly. Guides and support staff must be aligned with the management's expectations while serving as the front line of any hunting operation. He stresses the need for business owners to invest in training, regular staff communication, and written policies and procedures. As his father taught him, “Your employees are to you, as ten is to one” (p. 76), a principal Simons uses to emphasize the importance of staff in scaling and sustaining a business. While Simons highlights the critical role guides play in mitigating risks, he briefly touches on his choice not to hire women guides, citing concerns like the need for separate accommodations and narrow-minded client preferences. As the demographics of hunters and guides continue to evolve, and with increasing emphasis on recruiting and diversifying the hunting sector, this issue warrants deeper exploration, especially given the increasing presence of women as hunters and hunting guides. Ultimately, by ensuring guides and staff are well-trained in risk management practices, hunting businesses can safeguard their clients and long-term viability—key elements of sustainability that Simons explores in Sustainability Versus Diminishing Returns (Chapter 17). In his chapter on Sustainability Versus Diminishing Returns, Simons highlights the delicate balance between profit motives and ethical stewardship, emphasizing the importance of managing harvest quotas and habitat health. This sustainable approach is important when considering long-term business viability, particularly in maintaining relationships with landowners who might otherwise decline to renew leases if they perceive overharvest or poor management. Still, the chapter misses an opportunity to address the sustainability of maintaining a professional staff, an issue critical to the success of any business. As Simons acknowledges in his chapter on Guides (Chapter 10), finding and retaining staff is a significant challenge for outfitters and outdoor businesses. A more in-depth exploration of building and sustaining a business culture that fosters loyalty to the mission would have been a valuable addition. Simons also stresses the ethical responsibility that hunting businesses have as stewards of public wildlife resources under the Public Trust Doctrine. This concept underscores that outfitters are not just serving clients but are also responsible for managing and stewarding a resource that belongs to the broader public. Overall, The Hunting Business offers a thorough and practical guide for professionals navigating the complexities of running an outdoor business, whether in hunting, ecotourism, or wildlife consulting. Simons’ insights into professionalism, risk management, and sustainability provide a valuable roadmap for success while also serving as an indispensable resource for anyone looking to balance profitability with ethical stewardship in outdoor ventures.