As some of you know I am still in school and a few years out from a safri, but would you have any reservations about buying your first safari at Reno or Dallas? Please chime in with experiences good or bad about purchasing these hunts.

I have bought a number of hunts at auction, including SCI Reno, my local SCI benefit, and at FNAWS conventions. The trick is to do your homework before you go to the auction, decide which hunt you want to go on and how much you will want to pay, and stick to that. If you know the outfitter or know someone who has gone with that outfit it makes it easier. SCI publishes a list of hunts available at auction, so you can easily do some research on those before you bid. I also like to talk to the outfitter before bidding to see if I would be able to spend a week with him.

Also, don't get too caught up in the deal. I have been on six international affairs that began as SCI auction hunts. Three were great, one was good, and two were just OK.

The three that were great were "all in" hunts with established outfitters. These obviously cost more to purchase.

The OK and good hunts were with new outfits, trying to get their foot in the door at SCI. While the hunts were super cheap, there was alot more to pay / purchase to have a hunt worth flying across the ocean for.

Bottom line, if I'm looking at the auction guide, I want to know what's NOT included. Things I look for are:

1. difference in the length of the hunt and the total days of donated day rates;
2. observers,
3. trophy fees,
4. dip and pack
5. charters or ground transport
6. taxes and gov't fees
7. fees on import of guns and ammo
8. extra days and extra animals
9. specific dates on which the hunt must occur
10. booze
11. before and after hunt accommodations
12. licenses and permits

And be sure there are many other potential add ons.

Remember, price is often an excellent indicator of quality. You can pay too little.