Beyond Sundown Outfitters — From Burnout to Booked Solid
Garrett Shackelford
Aug 11th, 2025
Share this article
The Breaking Point
For Dakotah Petersen, owner of Beyond Sundown Outfitters, guiding wasn’t just a side hustle — it was his shot at building a future around what he loved.
But by 2023, that dream was hanging by a thread. He’d poured over $200,000 into leases, gear, and setups. He was giving away trips to Ducks Unlimited just to get exposure. And still, the bookings didn’t come.
“This was my make-or-break year. I told Peyton if I don’t turn this around in 90 days, I’m done.” – Dakotah, Beyond Sundown
The stress wasn’t just financial. It was personal. Every month meant more payments due, more sleepless nights, and more second-guessing if guiding was even worth it.
The Turning Point
Dakotah needed more than ads — he needed a system that would work with his life, not against it.
That’s what caught his attention about Mallard Bay. Unlike the marketing groups he’d looked into before, this wasn’t a generic agency with no clue about hunting. This was built for outfitters.
“Once I saw I could run everything from my phone — calendar, bookings, payments — it was a game changer.”
The Solution
Mallard Bay gave Dakotah the structure he was missing:
- Targeted Paid Ads that brought in qualified leads instead of empty inquiries.
- Booking & Calendar Tools that let him manage trips during breaks at his welding job, instead of chasing calls at night.
- Simple Payment Processing so deposits came in fast, removing the constant fear of covering bills.
- Hands-On Support from a team that actually understood the outfitter business.
The Results
The impact wasn’t just more bookings — it was peace of mind.
- Confidence Restored: Dakotah went from fearing loan payments to knowing deposits were already locked in.
- Stress Down: No more scrambling to find hunters. Now hunters were calling him.
- Family Time: Instead of drowning in worry, Dakotah spent his summer fishing with his son — something he hadn’t been able to do in years.
“My life did a complete 180. I’m not stressing every night. I’ve got time back with my kid, and I’m finally excited about hunting season again.”
Advice to Other Outfitters
“Just give it a shot. You’ll only get as far as you’re willing to work — but with Mallard Bay, that work actually pays off.”
The Takeaway
For Dakotah, Mallard Bay wasn’t just about filling a calendar — it was about saving a dream.
Beyond Sundown Outfitters went from the brink of shutting down to building momentum and thinking bigger.
Want to stop surviving and start growing? Book your free strategy call today.
Recent Blog Posts
Prepared for Anything: Mallard Bay Partners with Uncharted Supply Co. for Outfitter Safety
Oct 1st, 2025
Mallard Bay partners with Uncharted Supply Co. to help outfitters stay safe in the field. Discover s...
Read →Prepared for the Unpredictable: Essential Gear for Guides in the Field
Aug 26th, 2025
Stay Ready, Stay Legendary: Essential Safety Gear for Hunting & Fishing Guides As a hunting or fish...
Read →Plaska Lodge: From Stressful Facebook Ads to Multi-State Expansion
Aug 25th, 2025
Camden transformed stress into 15x growth, turning failed Facebook ads into daily calls and future e...
Read →Buster Cooper & Bust-A-Duck Guide Service: 27 Years of Quality, Backed by a Team That Delivers
Aug 25th, 2025
Buster protected his 27-year legacy with Mallard Bay, finding the right hunters while staying true t...
Read →From Stressed to Fully Booked: How Black Oak Outfitters Turned 243 Leads Into Growth With Mallard Bay
Aug 25th, 2025
Garrett shifted from chasing clients to a steady flow of bookings and growth, thanks to Mallard Bay’...
Read →Crooked Creek Outfitters — From Calendar Chaos to Consistent Growth
Aug 25th, 2025
From messy calendars to smooth growth, Crooked Creek simplified bookings and built consistency with ...
Read →Mallard Bay Featured in Houston.org
Apr 9th, 2025
We’re excited to share that Mallard Bay was recently featured by the Greater Houston Partnership in ...
Read →How Trump’s Renaming of the Gulf Led to a 554% Revenue Spike for a Charter in Venice, LA
Apr 1st, 2025
Discover how Gulf of America Outfitters turned Trump's Gulf renaming into a 554% revenue surge. See ...
Read →Peak Season Success: Essential Strategies for Waterfowl Outfitters to Maximize Business
Oct 17th, 2024
Maximize your waterfowl outfitting business during peak season with essential key strategies to enha...
Read →Client Experience in the Field: Best Practices for Waterfowl Outfitters
Jul 18th, 2024
Learn how waterfowl outfitters can elevate the client experience with best practices in communicatio...
Read →Waterfowl Hunting in Canada: What American Hunters Need to Know
Apr 27th, 2023
Planning a waterfowl hunt in Canada? Discover the latest 2023–2024 regulations, avian flu updates, a...
Read →Four Reasons Why Every Outfitter and Charter Need A Website
Feb 12th, 2023
Discover why a website is essential for outfitters and charters. Learn how SEO, trust-building, and ...
Read →The History of Duck Hunting
Nov 20th, 2022
Hunting - once used as survival has turned into a go-to Recreational Sport with competitive markets....
Read →