Guys, I have a retirement account that I have been contributing to for a number of years and I turned 59 this summer. At 59 1/2 I can take that money out without a tax penalty and I was planning on using that money for what will probably be my first and only African hunt. However, I want to take my 25 year old son with me. I want to shoot a buff and perhaps some plains game but what I really, really want is to be there when my son takes a buff. I think all the dads out there will understand what I mean.

I often see adds for 1X1 hunts but was wondering, do any of you have experience with a 2X1. Has anyone done a 2X1 with a son or daugter and, if so, how did it work out?

Dave

Dave, I did a 2X1 hunt with my son last year in TZ. We had a great time together. We plan to go back but next time will do two 1X1 hunts out of the same camp. 2X1 hnuts are not discounted very much so you get a much better value for you $ on 1X1 hunts. If you want to discuss this further just PM me.

My experience was the same as studdog's.

I have seen guys book longer (more expensive) hunts and do them 2x1, just so they could share the experience.

In this case it is a good idea.

It is not a good idea on 7 day Buffalo hunts for guys looking to save some money. Sometimes one guy ends up getting the raw end of the deal.

In your situation, just be sure you book enough days. Depending on the area 10-12 days may be plenty. In other areas maybe 14 days would not be a bad idea.

Good advice.

Dave

I did a 2x1 7 day buffalo hunt in the selous with my 15 year old son a month ago.

It was one of the best times of my life.

I don't know if I would do a 2x1 hunt with anybody but a son/daughter/father etc.

7 days was fine although I wish I would have booked more, in fact I wish I was still in the Selous.

Let me tell you watching your boy shoot is much, much, much more thrilling and satisfying then pulling the trigger yourself.

pm me if you have any questions

Chris

Here's the report https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6321043/m/643109017

Since it may be the only time you hunt Africa, definately work for a 14 day hunt. That gives you breathing room for 2 Buffalo (and be selective if needed) and plains game of your liking. I would go to Zimbabwe. There's enough variety of plains game (usually around 15 species on average) and Buffalo to choose from. Prices are very reasonable, especially on a 2x1 hunt. You would most likely see Elephant, Black Rhino and other big game that would enhance your experience. Some areas offer fabulous Bass fishing (largemouth) and wing shooting if you wind up with any spare time. I wish I could have hunted Africa with my Father. Good hunting, David

I did a 3X1 PG hunt with my two sons that was a highlight of our lives. We went for 10 days, I took a back seat to their efforts and thoroughly enjoyed watching them each take 5 trophies. I still managed to take 3 trophies myself. I hope to do it again. There is nothing like hunting with your children. The boys were 20 and 23. It was like findding some new buddies. By all means do it.

TerryR

My son and i just got back from a 10 day plains game hunt that was the time of our lives. We alternated shots, did almost all the stalks together and had a great time.

I hunted 2x1 with my father last year and we had a great time. We actually ended up paying for 2x1, but hunting both 1x1 and 2x1. Hunting togeather was great, but the 1x1 time made great trophies available for both of us and allowed us to scout for each other in different areas. I would advise paying for 1x1 and then hunting some days 2x1 when you are after some game.

I hunted buffalo 2x1 with my son in 2005. I killed a nice 38 incher on day 2 and he wounded and lost a good bull the same day. He was 18 at the time. He knew he had committed the cardinal sin. He had wounded DG and lost it. Full fee and maybe endangered others, no trophy. He was devestated. He didn't speak for 24-36hours. We had a chance for 2 buffalo a piece. I told him I was not going to shoot until he had his down. We went back and tried to find the herd of the wounded bull the next day and didn't see a single buff. The next three days we chased herds that were all cows, chased herds where the only bull stayed in the very middle of piles of cows, and dagga boys that managed to get into tough terrain that we dared not chase them into. It came up to the last day. We got up on a big herd with 1-200 animals. In the last stages of the stalk we got busted by a couple of cows that were stragglers on the herd that we did not know were there. The whole herd stampeeded off. No luck. On our way back to bakkie we ran accross several Dagga boys. My son pulled off a between the eyes shot at 100 yards on a 40 inch bull. It was one of the best days of my life. He was proud and so was I. Tell your kids to take a shoulder shot. Lots more room for error. We hope to do it again some day. I am not sure it will happen but I can dream.

my first safari was with my dad when I was about that age it was the most fantastic adventure ever for a young man and his old man.

hunted14 days 2x1 all plainsgame left me to start a buffalo addiction on my own it was a great time.

We have been to Africa twice. The first time, on the first day my son and I went 1x1 he shot a nice waterbuck and I never saw it except for the pictures. That was the last time we went seperate. The reason you hunt with a child is to experience the thrill that they have and they want to share it with you. For the rest of that safari we were all together my son myself and my nonhunting daughter. we had the time of our lives.
When we returned home we talked about it so much that my wife and younger daughter wanted to come along on the next safari and we better start planning right away. Three years later 5 of us went to Zimbabwe and only two of us were hunters. As it turned out five of us the trackers and the PH were just to many people on a buffalo stalk so we decided that just my son and I went the next day and shot two Buffs out of the same herd both over 40 inches and even though we were succesful and everyone was happy I could tell that they wished they were along. The good part of the story is that my youngest daughter a mere 22 yrs old shot an impala for Leopard bait and has since become a hunter. That also means our next safari will be for three hunters and not just two but it is allworth every penny.
The long and short of it is HUNT WITH YOUR KIDS not to save money but to share the experience.

Our best hunts are 2x1, Dan and son or daughter, Husband and wife, friends hunting with friends. It's not all about killing the biggest buff in the world, its about an African experience with folks that are dear to you..

Some that are record book minded; just wanting to get away and not be bothered by people; or not wanting to share the experience and keep it personal should probably do 1x1 hunts, and that's OK, not a thing wrong with that.

Next year I will take my daughter to Tanzania to hunt with Pierre van Tonder, also along to add to the enjoyment will be Butch Searcy and Bill Morrison and his good wife Bobbi and maybe a couple of others.

Your on the right track, and you will love it.

I took took my son on 2:1 hunt in TZ 2 years ago. On that hunt he was characterized as a "companion", which did not boost the cost as much and we split one 21-day bag. We're scheduled to go again next year but somehow will have 2 bags at our disposal, though we'll still be hunting together at all times.

I have done a few 2x1 hunts and have enjoyed them all.
It also gives you a great opportunity to video each other's hunt.

I did it once, and never again. Maybe with a family member it would be okay. Cuts into your hunting time a lot. Maybe if one is after lion and other plains game it would work, but mine was a 2 full bag one years ago and just wasn't enough time with 21 days. JMO

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:

It's not all about killing the biggest buff in the world, its about an African experience with folks that are dear to you..

Ray, that's exactly what I am talking about

Fellas, would it be possible for a 2x1 to work on a 10 or 14 day buff and plains game hunt? My business partner and I usually hunt and film together...............wapiti7

There would be no problem doing a 2x1 Buff/Plainsgame hunt. Would you both be shooting a Buff? While one is shooting the other is filming and vice versa.

That would be a great hunt to get it all on film.

Mike

Dave, do it! I borrowed against my retirement account three years ago to take my dad on a PG hunt in Namibia. I have memories of that hunt that will last me the rest of my life, as does my father. I'm looking forward to our next hunt, and to those that I'll take with my own kids. Hunting 2X1 was the best thing for us, and I encourage any father/son/wife/daughter team that have hunted together to do the same.

I have done 1x1, 2x2, 4x3 hunts, as well as 2x1 hunts with my son and a 2x1 hunt with my hunting buddy.

All worked out great. The key thing is to book the hunt that most closely matches your hunting goals. If you want to take the best trophies and the biggest selection of animals on your one and only safari, go 1x1.

If you are going to feel cheated when your hunting partner gets a shot at a "trophy of a lifetime" while you just watch, go 1x1.

When 2x1, you will each have less shooting opportunities. Are you willing to take a lesser quality animal or just never get an opportunity to shoot a specific species so you can experience Africa with your son and see him take his game? If so, 2x1 is for you.

No one else can answer these for you. But, I do suggest longer hunts when going 2x1 - 12 to 15 days minimum.

As big as CChunter "The big Viking" is when he had his son here last year and saw him shoot down some animals, I'm sure I saw tears in his eyes.

I think it is one of the best experiences you could ever have with your children in your whole life. Go for it !
But yes, if you would both like to bag some great trophies rather book more days or take back seat and see what happnes.

With your son daughter or wife I say OK. But I did a 2X1 hunt a couple of years ago with a friend and his girl friend was observing.

What a waste of time and money that was! I paid for ten days hunting full fare but in actuality only got to hunt 3 full days.

I will never hunt 2x1 again without it being a special someone in my life.

Surestrike is right, a 2x1 hunt with son/daughter/wife is priceless.

On the pic below if you only had the smiles to look at you wouldn't be able to say who shot the buff. (my son, of course) there is almost nothing as thrilling as watching your boy shoot.

Given that there a lot of people I wouldn't even do a 1x1 hunt with, I think I would reserve the 2x1 only for very special companions, such as a son, a daughter or a spouse.