One of the Outdoor Guides Association's newest members is adamant about improving the image of the hunting industry.
As a retired Army officer, Dale Hedgpeth has been able to hunt throughout the world and has been "stung" by misrepresented hunts and by outfitters who do not or cannot produce what they advertise. As a result, he is adamant about maintaining integrity in his company, Hedgpeth's Adventures in Hunting.
Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Hedgpeth has personally hunted in 20 states and provinces in North America, and in 14 countries on four continents. His 21 years of service as an Infantry and Special Forces Commander and staff planner, his training as a Foreign Area Officer, coupled with his advanced degrees in geography and management, all insure that Dale's research, selection process and program management are done with attention to detail and integrity.
In 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994 (twice), 1998 and in the year 2000, Dale traveled to Africa to observe and qualify his primary safari operators in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Senegal, Tunesia, and South Africa.
While in Africa, Dale videotapes each operation and has since produced 30-minute videos for his clients. This attention to detail and first-hand experience have been greatly appreciated by his valued clients and resulted in 100% satisfaction to date.
Dale's main emphasis is to perform a "marriage" between what the client wants and what he can physically do with an outfitter who can meet the hunter's expectations and capabilities. He provides all necessary information and advice to insure that the client is totally prepared prior to the scheduled departure. This information has been accumulated from first-hand experiences and years of trial and error.
Hedgpeth's Adventures in Hunting is a welcome addition to the industry because hunters get what they pay for. Says Hedgpeth, "This is the only way to insure credibility in the long run."
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