quote:

Originally posted by shakari:

In a more basic camp, hunting in a massive true wilderness area where the hunt is as much of an adventure as it is a hunt? (for plains and dangerous game)

quote:

Originally posted by mboga biga bwana:
Its a shame to hunt behind fences in africa IMO

Seloushunter

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
A recent thread got me thinking.

Please tell me what kind of hunter you are. Do you want and are you willing and able to hunt Africa:

In a comfortable camp hunting in a large fenced area? (for plains game)

In a comfortable camp in a very large unfenced true wilderness area? (for plains and dangerous game)

In a more basic camp, hunting in a massive true wilderness area where the hunt is as much of an adventure as it is a hunt? (for plains and dangerous game) The camp would have toilets and showers but few roads so a degree of bush bashing would be called for and probably lack a few nicities such as perimiter fences so an occasional visit from lions etc might not be out of the question. Some fly camping might also be expected. Food would be plentiful but fairly basic.

Please be honest though. If you think you're not genuinely capable of a tough hunt for example, please say so.

If you need a budget to work to for your calculations, let's say somewhere in the region of US$30K.

This'll be very interesting!

quote:

In a more basic camp, hunting in a massive true wilderness area where the hunt is as much of an adventure as it is a hunt? (for plains and dangerous game) The camp would have toilets and showers but few roads so a degree of bush bashing would be called for and probably lack a few nicities such as perimiter fences so an occasional visit from lions etc might not be out of the question. Some fly camping might also be expected. Food would be plentiful but fairly basic.

quote:

I have hunted in all the above examples, so I am not sure where I fit in in the scheme of things.

In South Africa we hunted on farms, and lived in proper houses.

In Tanzania we hunted in tented camps, and have had lions watching us while having dinner...

In Zimbabwe we hunted from camps where one finds buffalo droppings by the fire in the morning...

Best of all, though, I have enjoyed all my hunts, no matter where they were.

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
Grenadier,

any guided hunt is that way. That's what you get. They find the game, show it to you, pick one, and shoot it.
No value judgment, just how it is. It was that way half a century for Robert Ruark, it was that way a century ago for Teddy Roosevelt.

Rich

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Grenadier,

Ithink you'd be quite surprised how involved in the hunting you could become. Good PH's and trackers are all too wiling to have an interested client participate. Safari hunting is a team sport and I doubt seriously you'd feel like you were being dragged around by your nose.

Mark

quote:

In a more basic camp, hunting in a massive true wilderness area where the hunt is as much of an adventure as it is a hunt? (for plains and dangerous game) The camp would have toilets and showers but few roads so a degree of bush bashing would be called for and probably lack a few nicities such as perimiter fences so an occasional visit from lions etc might not be out of the question. Some fly camping might also be expected. Food would be plentiful but fairly basic.

quote:

Originally posted by CharlesL:
I can't afford you base price of $30,000, but I will vote anyway. I wouldn't say my preference is a plains game hunt on farms in South Africa, but that is the limit of my budget. Come to think of it on the low fence deer leases in much of Texas the development and man made barriers (such as highways) restrict the animal movement (not that deer really move that far) more than many high fence places.

Ban high fence hunting in South Africa and you will limit African hunting to the wealthy.

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
A recent thread got me thinking.

Please tell me what kind of hunter you are. Do you want and are you willing and able to hunt Africa:

In a comfortable camp hunting in a large fenced area? (for plains game)

In a comfortable camp in a very large unfenced true wilderness area? (for plains and dangerous game)

In a more basic camp, hunting in a massive true wilderness area where the hunt is as much of an adventure as it is a hunt? (for plains and dangerous game) The camp would have toilets and showers but few roads so a degree of bush bashing would be called for and probably lack a few nicities such as perimiter fences so an occasional visit from lions etc might not be out of the question. Some fly camping might also be expected. Food would be plentiful but fairly basic.

Please be honest though. If you think you're not genuinely capable of a tough hunt for example, please say so.

If you need a budget to work to for your calculations, let's say somewhere in the region of US$30K.

This'll be very interesting!

quote:

In a more basic camp, hunting in a massive true wilderness area where the hunt is as much of an adventure as it is a hunt? (for plains and dangerous game) The camp would have toilets and showers but few roads so a degree of bush bashing would be called for and probably lack a few nicities such as perimiter fences so an occasional visit from lions etc might not be out of the question. Some fly camping might also be expected. Food would be plentiful but fairly basic.

quote:

Originally posted by Grenadier:

quote:

Originally posted by RBHunt:

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
Grenadier,

any guided hunt is that way. That's what you get. They find the game, show it to you, pick one, and shoot it.
No value judgment, just how it is. It was that way half a century for Robert Ruark, it was that way a century ago for Teddy Roosevelt.

Rich

Very true! And they had their gin and tonic back then too!

Coincidentally, I am currently reading African Game Trails, the story of TR's famous safari.

"Soon after lunch we drew up at the little station of Kapiti Plains, where our safari was awaiting us; '' safari"
being the term employed throughout East Africa to denote both the caravan with which one makes an expedition and
the expedition itself. Our aim being to cure and send home specimens of all the common big game in addition to as
large a series as possible of the small mammals and birds -it was necessary to carry an elaborate apparatus of
naturalists' supplies; we had brought with us, for instance, four tons of fine salt, as to cure the skins of the big beasts
is a herculean labor under the best conditions; we had hundreds of traps for the small creatures; many boxes
of shot-gun cartridges in addition to the ordinary rifle cartridges which alone would be necessary on a hunting
trip; and, in short, all the many impedimenta needed if scientific work is to be properly done under modern con-
ditions. Few laymen have any idea of the expense and pains which must be undergone in order to provide groups
of mounted big animals from far-off lands, such as we see in museums like the National Museum in Washington
and the American Museum of Natural History in New York. The modern naturalist must realize that in some of
its branches his profession, while more than ever a science, has also become an art. So our preparations were neces-
sarily on a very large scale; and as we drew up at the station the array of porters and of tents looked as if some small
military expedition was about to start. As a compliment, which I much appreciated, a large American flag was float-
ing over my own tent; and in the front line, flanking this tent on either hand, were other big tents for the members
of the party, with a dining tent and skinning tent; while behind were the tents of the two hundred porters, the gun-
bearers, the tent boys, the askaris or native soldiers, and the horse boys or saises. In front of the tents stood the
men in two lines; the first containing the fifteen askaris, the second the porters with their head men. The askaris
were uniformed, each in a red fez, a blue blouse, and white knickerbockers, and each carrying his rifle and belt. The
porters were chosen from several different tribes or races to minimize the danger of combination in the event of
mutiny."

Sorry, not my cup of tea.

quote:

Originally posted by Aaron Neilson:
Steve - Your question is a good one, but something I will say as a North American Hunter/Guide. Just as myself, alot but not all of the guys here on AR are from North America, and I think the majority of them that have spent a fair bit of time hunting throughout this continent too, would struggle to find even a difficult hunt in Africa, that would remotely compare to many of the hunts here. Having hunted most of the Canadian & Alaskan big game animals, including sheep, moose, brown bear and polar bear. Plus spending time during the last 15 years guiding sheep & Mtn Goat hunts here in the lower 48, along with a few elk hunts I've done personally, that were pure hell. I have yet to see a hunt in Africa even remotely close to as difficult physically or mentally, as these hunts. And that includes 8-10 hrs a day of tracking Giant Eland in CAR in 105 degree heat, or hrs of tracking elephant or buffalo! Yes, those hunts are a bit arduous, but for alot of the guys here in N.A., they're really pretty easy. Not to say that Africa doesn't have its difficulties, it certainly does, and I don't mean to down play those at all. But the rigors endured on a 7-14 day, packpack, sheep, brown bear or elk hunt, for example. When dealing with the elements, sleeping in pup tents, carrying a 60-70lb pack for days on end, and then if you are successful, having to pack out the game on YOUR OWN back, are 10 times harder than any African hunt that I have ever seen or heard of. 10 days without a shower, eating freeze dried food, walking/climbing mountains from 4-10 miles per day, with a heavy pack, in high altitude, can be common place on many hunts here in N.A. One African hunt that I DO NOT have personal experience with is Mtn. Nyala, although one of my best friends just shot one 2 days ago, and I am sure to get a full report when he returns, but this does seem to me that it could have its difficult moments.

Honestly for me, that's a big reason why I enjoy hunting Africa so much. I've done a bunch of these really difficult hunts here in N.A. over the past 15 yeas, including guiding for them alot too! Its great to go to Africa, still enjoy the wilds of places like Zambia, Botswana, Tanzania, etc, but yet still have a lot of the comforts of home that make it a really enjoyable time. Often times when I have been on those really difficult N.A. hunts, I would ask myself at the time, why the hell am I doing this to myself. Never once said that in Africa!!!