United States Advances Outdoor Adventure Tourism as Mallard Bay Acquires Find A Hunt to Expand AI-Powered Hunting, Fishing and Public Land Booking Experiences: All You Need to Know

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United States’ outdoor recreation industry is entering another phase of digital transformation following Mallard Bay’s acquisition of Find A Hunt, a platform widely recognised for helping sportsmen locate public hunting areas, reserve guided hunting trips and explore land-lease opportunities. The acquisition also includes Find A Fish, expanding Mallard Bay’s presence across both hunting and angling markets while strengthening its ambition to modernise the way outdoor adventures are discovered and booked.

The announcement signals more than a business expansion. It reflects the increasing role of artificial intelligence and digital platforms in connecting outdoor enthusiasts with licensed guides, outfitters and recreational opportunities. As demand grows for convenient online trip planning, Mallard Bay plans to integrate advanced AI capabilities into its growing marketplace, providing users with a more personalised and efficient booking experience.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, millions of Americans participate in hunting, fishing and wildlife-related recreation every year, generating significant economic activity while supporting conservation efforts through licence fees and excise taxes. This growing participation continues to create demand for digital services that simplify access to outdoor experiences.

Expanding One of America’s Largest Outdoor Booking Networks

With the acquisition completed, Mallard Bay is bringing together multiple outdoor recreation platforms under one ecosystem.

Find A Hunt has built its reputation by helping licensed hunters discover opportunities across the United States through connections with professional outfitters, hunting guides and landowners offering hunting access. The platform also enables users to search for lease opportunities and outdoor service providers, making trip planning considerably easier.

Meanwhile, Mallard Bay has already established itself within guided hunting and fishing bookings, providing software and management tools for outfitters while allowing customers to reserve outdoor experiences through an online marketplace.

The combination creates a larger digital network that serves both consumers seeking adventures and businesses providing outdoor services.

Artificial Intelligence Becomes Central to Outdoor Adventure Planning

One of the most significant developments accompanying the acquisition is the expansion of Mallard Bay’s artificial intelligence technology.

The company plans to integrate Susie AI, its proprietary AI assistant, throughout the combined platform.

Instead of manually searching hundreds or thousands of listings, users will be able to receive personalised recommendations based on their preferred outdoor activities, destination choices, available dates and other travel preferences.

The AI system aims to simplify the planning process while helping sportsmen identify suitable guided hunts, fishing trips and outdoor experiences from an extensive network of participating outfitters.

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly common across the global travel industry, its application within hunting and fishing tourism represents another step towards digital personalisation for niche recreational markets.

Supporting Outfitters Through Integrated Technology

Beyond serving travellers, Mallard Bay also focuses heavily on the businesses operating guided outdoor experiences.

Professional outfitters often manage reservations, payment processing, customer communications, calendars and marketing across multiple systems.

Following the acquisition, Find A Hunt partners will gain access to Mallard Bay’s comprehensive Outfitter Management System (OMS).

The integrated platform is designed to centralise booking management, payment processing, customer relationship management, scheduling and lead tracking into a single operational system.

This unified approach reduces administrative complexity while allowing guides and outfitters to devote more attention to delivering high-quality outdoor experiences for their clients.

For smaller operators especially, adopting a comprehensive digital management platform may improve operational efficiency while supporting future business growth.

Find A Hunt Begins Its Next Chapter

The transition also marks a significant milestone for Find A Hunt founder Mark Coleman, who established both Find A Hunt and Find A Fish with the objective of helping outdoor enthusiasts discover memorable hunting and fishing experiences.

With ownership now transferring to Mallard Bay, Coleman believes the platforms are well positioned to continue expanding under new leadership.

According to the company’s announcement, the shared vision remains centred on making outdoor recreation more accessible while improving connections between travellers and professional guides.

The acquisition enables the brands to benefit from greater technological investment, broader marketing reach and enhanced user experiences that may not have been possible independently.

Growing Demand for Outdoor Recreation Across America

Outdoor recreation continues to represent an important component of the American economy.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, outdoor recreation contributes hundreds of billions of dollars annually to the nation’s economy while supporting employment across tourism, hospitality, retail, transportation and conservation sectors.

Hunting and fishing remain among the country’s most popular outdoor pursuits, attracting participants from across the United States and international visitors seeking guided wilderness experiences.

Government agencies including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Land Management oversee millions of acres of public lands that provide opportunities for licensed hunting, fishing and wildlife-related recreation. These publicly managed landscapes form an essential foundation for the country’s outdoor tourism industry and continue to attract visitors interested in experiencing America’s diverse natural environments.

Find A Fish to Strengthen the Outdoor Marketplace

The acquisition also brings Find A Fish into Mallard Bay’s expanding portfolio, broadening the company’s reach beyond hunting to include guided fishing experiences. Fishing remains one of the most popular recreational activities in the United States, drawing millions of participants each year to lakes, rivers, reservoirs and coastal waters.

By integrating Find A Fish alongside Find A Hunt, Mallard Bay intends to create a more comprehensive marketplace where outdoor enthusiasts can discover a wider range of professionally guided adventures through a single digital platform.

Rather than operating as separate services with limited functionality, both brands are expected to evolve into dedicated consumer-focused destinations that simplify the search, comparison and booking process. Whether travellers are planning a waterfowl hunt, a deer expedition, a freshwater fishing trip or a saltwater charter, the combined platform aims to provide a streamlined experience while connecting users with verified outdoor professionals.

A Stronger Digital Ecosystem for Outfitters

While the consumer marketplace continues to expand, Mallard Bay plans to concentrate significant resources on strengthening the technology used by guides and outfitters behind the scenes.

The company’s AI-powered Outfitter Management System (OMS) is designed to help businesses manage nearly every aspect of their operations from one central platform. Reservation management, payment processing, customer communication, calendar scheduling, marketing enquiries and lead management can all be handled within a single integrated system.

For outfitters operating in highly seasonal markets, this digital infrastructure may improve operational efficiency while reducing administrative workloads. Instead of relying on multiple software applications, operators can organise bookings and communicate with customers more effectively throughout the year.

This technological approach also enables businesses to respond more quickly to customer enquiries, improving service quality and helping build long-term client relationships.

Artificial Intelligence Continues to Transform Outdoor Travel

Artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly important tool across the travel and tourism industry, and outdoor recreation is beginning to benefit from the same technological advances.

Mallard Bay’s strategy centres on using AI to make outdoor adventure planning more intuitive. Its proprietary assistant, Susie AI, is expected to help users discover activities that align with their interests, preferred locations, travel dates and recreational goals.

Instead of spending hours searching numerous websites, travellers may receive tailored recommendations based on their individual preferences. This personalised approach has the potential to improve trip planning while helping smaller outfitters gain greater visibility among prospective customers.

As AI technology continues to evolve, digital assistants are expected to play a larger role in simplifying travel planning, enhancing customer engagement and improving operational efficiency throughout the tourism sector.

Supporting Responsible Outdoor Recreation

Beyond technological innovation, responsible access to natural landscapes remains essential to the future of outdoor tourism.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service encourages ethical hunting and fishing practices that contribute to wildlife conservation and habitat protection. Likewise, the Bureau of Land Management manages extensive public lands that provide opportunities for licensed recreation while balancing conservation, biodiversity and sustainable land use.

Digital platforms that improve access to licensed outfitters and authorised hunting or fishing opportunities can help visitors better understand regulations, seasonal requirements and responsible outdoor practices before arriving at their destination.

By improving access to reliable information and professional guides, technology can complement conservation objectives while supporting safe and lawful recreation on public lands.

Creating New Opportunities for Rural Tourism

The continued growth of digital booking platforms also offers potential benefits for rural communities that depend on outdoor recreation.

Many professional outfitters operate in smaller towns and remote regions where hunting and fishing tourism generates important income for local businesses. Visitors travelling for guided experiences often support hotels, restaurants, fuel stations, equipment suppliers and other tourism-related services.

Improved online visibility may help these local businesses attract a broader customer base, including first-time participants and international visitors interested in experiencing America’s diverse outdoor destinations.

As demand for nature-based tourism continues to increase, digital marketplaces can play a valuable role in connecting travellers with authentic local experiences while supporting regional economic development.

Technology and Tradition Come Together

The acquisition demonstrates how modern technology can complement long-established outdoor traditions rather than replace them.

Hunting and fishing remain deeply rooted in American outdoor culture, yet today’s participants increasingly expect convenient digital tools for planning, communication and booking.

By combining established outdoor brands with artificial intelligence and integrated management software, Mallard Bay aims to simplify every stage of the customer journey while preserving the personal relationships that define guided outdoor experiences.

The strategy reflects a broader trend across the travel industry, where technology is enhancing convenience without diminishing the value of expert local knowledge and personalised service.

Looking Ahead

The acquisition of Find A Hunt and Find A Fish marks an important milestone in Mallard Bay’s long-term strategy to modernise outdoor recreation through digital innovation. By bringing together consumer marketplaces, AI-powered trip discovery and comprehensive management tools for outfitters, the company is positioning itself to serve both adventure seekers and the businesses that support them.

As participation in hunting, fishing and nature-based tourism continues to grow across the United States, platforms that simplify planning, improve operational efficiency and encourage responsible outdoor recreation are likely to become increasingly important. Supported by America’s extensive network of public lands and thriving outdoor economy, the integration of advanced technology with traditional recreation has the potential to reshape how future generations discover, book and experience outdoor adventures.

Image: Mallard Bay