Guidefitter Journal is a de facto trade publication for the guiding and outfitting industry—and is in desperate need of queries. A list of column descriptions is below.
As the name implies, Guidefitter Journal is aimed at professionals in the guiding and outfitting business. Columns and features should be written to either educate or entertain guides and outfitters in the areas of hunting, fishing, or foraging. Each issue of the journal publishes 5 written features, a photoessay, and about 8 columns. The pay is between $300 and $450, but columns can be 600 (with photo) to 800 words. Features rarely exceed 1500 words.
The journal publishes quarterly and mails to about 11,000 guides and outfitters across the US and Canada. Guidefitter the company is primarily an online store, which features outdoor, hunting, and fishing gear from more than 300 manufacturers who sell their wares at guidefitter.com at reduced prices. Membership is free, but there is a rigorous screening process. In addition to the outfitters and guides, first responders, law enforcement, active and retired military, employees of government wildlife agencies, and members of some wildlife conservation non-profits (the NWTF example) can shop there. Only guides and outfitters, however, receive the journal.
Russ Lumpkin is the second editor of Guidefitter Journal, having succeeded John Geiger. Russ got his start in the late 1990s in the communications department of the NWTF but has most recently been editor of Alaska magazine and Gray’s Sporting Journal.
Please send questions and queries to russ.lumpkin@guidefitter.c
Column Descriptions
Featured Guide – Interview and brief history of guides who are Guidefitter Insiders
Featured Outfitter – Interview and brief history of outfitters who are Guidefitter Insiders
The Front Door – What guides or outfitters do to attract clients. Could be written from the view of a consultant, as in what suggestions can you give for guides and outfitters to attract clients and build their businesses.
The Back Office – How to handle clients once they’re booked, in terms of keeping them up to date and excited and such. Also covering hard business topics, such as taxes, staffing issues, alternate revenue streams, etc. Could be written by a guide or outfitter or by someone’s who’s knowledgeable about running a small business and can offer tips to help guides and outfitters run their businesses more efficiently.
Social Media – Tips to improve social-media presence.
The Client Experience – I’m still trying to nail this one down, but from the few of these I’ve read… It’s about how to approach and handle clients—good and bad—when they’re in your company.
Guiding the Guide – Guides giving guiding tips to other guides. It can be species specific or seasonal.
Law and Liability – Legal issues guides face and histories of landmark wildlife legislation.
Crazy Clients – Experiences with clients who were less than ideal.
Conservation – Guides or outfitters who are making a difference locally or beyond in protecting habitat for game or fish.
Guide Life – The back page column of the journal, which gives guides and outfitters a chance to describe their love for their profession, wildlife, or even a place. I want it to be thoughtful, thought provoking, and/or humorous, and always speaking to the better nature of hunting and angling.
