HideScout

HideScout is a mobile + web app that helps wildlife photographers and eco-tourists discover ethical, low-impact viewing locations and hides—without turning them into the next overrun Instagram spot. It combines vetted local guide listings, permit/season rules, and a “pressure score” that estimates crowding risk based on recent check-ins, tour capacity, and sensitive breeding calendars. Users can plan shoots with sunrise/sunset, wind direction, and access constraints, then book vetted guides or hides directly. It’s an AI-assisted app: it can suggest species-safe distances, flag risky behavior (baiting, nesting disturbance), and generate a shot plan that prioritizes animal welfare. Realistically, the hardest part is supply: getting enough trustworthy guides/hide operators and keeping rules accurate by region. The MVP should focus on a few high-demand regions first (e.g., Costa Rica, Kenya, Yellowstone) rather than pretending to cover the world.