Is the price of a typical plains game safari getting out of reach?

Over the years I have had a lot of hunters, I’m no Tony De Costa but I have had a lot of success with this. I remember about 10 years ago I would arrange 18-25 hunters a year and out of them 3-4 would ask lots of price questions about every little thing. Much as I would if I were going as a sportsman. The remainder were not too concerned about the little things like tips, dip pack, shipping or sightseeing in addition to the hunting. They just brought enough to make it work.

About 5 years ago or so I would say that half the people started looking into the nickel and dime costs and comparing everything to the penny it seemed. Now we are into the 2006 bookings and I think almost everyone is really looking with a magnifying glass at the price and the “possible†hidden or extra costs as they are called. I was getting more and more surprised by the detail at which the hunters became concerned with the costs. It seems today that the average guy may be getting priced right out of the typical “inexpensive†plains game experience. Maybe because it’s just not that “inexpensive†anymore!

For starters we have a more or less standard 10 day 5 animal hunting package for about 5 grand. That in itself is not a big deal. Still a heck of a bargain compared to the same amount of big game hunted in North America. But now we have to add airfare. Years ago I was flying from Seattle to Joburg for about 1300 bucks, this year it was 1700 bucks and next year I expect it will be 2000 bucks. Now if you’re going that far and bring your wife its 4000 bucks, for economy! Now you have 9000 dollars into a simple plains game hunt. Add three days for the park and it’s another 1000 bucks for the two of you to make it an even 10,000 USD for a ten day plains game hunt. But that’s not all! There is yet another annoying part of this.

This year I shipped home a couple trophies for myself. I don’t usually shoot anything anymore as I have already taken most of what I would like. There are a few I still want to hunt but so far I’m feeling pretty caught up. However this year I saw a monster warthog and I have this swine addiction so I whacked him. Then I bumped into a 30†plus Nyala as well that guy had to come home with me. A friend of mine had a nyala mounted in RSA and it was so bad he begged me to find him a cape and bring it back so he could have his re-mounted in the states. I managed to find a nice cape so I had that in my box as well. So within the pack and dip costs I have one warthog, one Nyala horns and skull and two Nyala capes. Basically 3 animals. Now I work with pack and dip companies and shippers all the time so they know me. I don’t expect special treatment just fair. Fair is usually what I get. After all they won’t bite the hand that feeds them!

So for these three animals the Pack and Dip at Ric Rey taxidermy in Natal was: $391.00 191.00 for the dip and 200 for the crating.

Now I get the freight from Wanda at tracks freight:232.00 for shipping, 107 for transport fees, 164.00 for Agency fees, 86 for handling fees total $589.00 USD

Now we get to the broker fees. I would normally do this myself but I need these capes tanned as soon as possible so I had them sent to the tannery and they use Wesco Shipping Company. So I’m somewhat stuck with this, although it would be the same for the average guy too.
165.00 trophy clearance, 5.00 per trophy(15.00) 28.00 carrier documents, airline service fee 55.00, Warehouse terminal fee 15cents per lb gross weight. ?? swine charge 25.00. for a total of 233.00 bucks or more depending upon this weight charge?

This is all before the trophies get to the tannery and the taxidermist. So the cost from RSA to the USA for three animals is 391 for dip pack, 581 for shipping, and 233 for broker fees. or $1205.00 USD total for only three animals and one has no skull just a cape. That is about 400 bucks per animal! More then the trophy fee to shoot many of them, certainly more then a stinking warthog trophy fee!

By the time a visiting hunter has five animals mounted with the above costs at an average or 400 bucks per animal to arrive in the states it would be 2000 for this plus the taxidermy on average about 700 per shoulder mount, another 3500 bucks. Now we have 5500.00 bucks to bring the animals in and have them mounted. That actually exceeds the cost of the hunt, and brings the total to go with your wife for ten days hunting five simple non-exotic species to well over 15,000 bucks in US dollars. Of course this does not include clothing and other things bought for the trip, nor does it include any shopping while in RSA.

Eliminate your wife from the trip and you would only save about 3500 bucks for the non-hunter fee and the airfare. So you can reduce the price for the ten day five animal trip to 11,500 bucks when its all over. It’s still cheap if you leave the trophies there. That is what so many of my hunters are doing now. They buy a really nice expensive digital camera, and a video camera and leave everything they shoot in Africa. Many don’t have the room to hang these things up in their homes.

I think with the strong Rand and the problems in Zimbabwe South Africa is not likely going to get cheaper anytime soon. If Zimbabwe straightens out it will cause some real competition for RSA and if the rand gets a bit screwy again it could be cheaper. If there was ever a time at which you wanted to hunt in Africa it’s going to be the next couple years. With the ever changing (for the worse) gun laws, and the costs going up faster then the average income. I think the typical inexpensive plains game hunts that were so attractive for so many years may be creeping out of reach for the folks who keep saying

“next year†I’m definitely goin! By the time next year gets here where will the price be then? I’m afraid to book a hunt more then 10 months in advance anymore for fear the costs will change in some way.

Hack: It's simple supply and demand economics. The outfitters here in the US ARE ON DRUGS when it comes to prices to hunt ONE lousy animal.

I've been quoted anywhere from 2500 for a "management" buck to over 8 grand for a trophy. Elk are no better. Sure, if you want to shoot a spindly buck and a couple of hogs, you can go most anywhere in the South and do it for about 600 bucks for a three day hunt. Have you seen what guys like Jim Shockey are getting for black bear? Again you can book with the outfit like the one I'm part owner in Maine and maybe get a 18" 300 plus lb Blackie, but realistically you are talking about a 200 pounder on a good day anywhere in Maine. There are exceptions of course but 200 is the rule.

Let's talk Alaskan Brown. 12-16K for ONE Animal.

Now for Africa. There are many good, reputable places in Namibia for example where you can hunt for 250/day plus trophy fees.

In 01 I paid 330/day plus trophy fees and my shipping for mounted, quality heads six plus one zebra rug) from Zimbabwe to the taxidermist in RSA to Atlanta for pickup was a little over a grand.

RSA? well you know you can still get good plains game there if you don't mind the ranch hunting (and I don't). Yes I paid about 500 more for my ticket to Zim this year than I did in 01, but it was still reasonable.

The dollar issue of course reflects tbe price increased also, but unless price fixing comes into effect (for game management of course as in the case of lion for example) the market will adjust if prices get too high. Bottom line is that unless the left side of the bell curve morons that are running these african nations we all love to hunt in really dick it up, Africa, especially for plains game is still an outstanding value. jorge

JJ ,I agree the post hunting prices are a bit high. Shipping ,clearing ,mounting ,etc. However as Jorge said the US prices are far worse.Also in the US ,I see more (long walks in the woods) unsuccessful high price hunts( or guided camping trips) and I have paid for some of these. My point is that Afrika will always be the best.Zim needs an overhaul Alaska needs it Worse. Ben(rug)

jorge-
In many cases, the prices charged for book class mule deer and elk hunts are caused by the landowners hitting the outfitters pretty hard for lease costs. As a landowner I can tell you that I am contacted many times each year by people wanting to lease hunting rights, and many of them have a LOT of cash to offer. It's not hard to see why some outfits charge as much as they do once you know how much they must pay out. There is no shortage of hunters willing to pay for a quality hunt with a good chance at a big elk, mule deer or whitetail deer. I think your statement about the outfitters being on drugs is humorous, but not true. It is the HUNTERS who are the ones! Just look at what some folks were very willing to pay for a lion tag in Botswana this year. Quality hunting, meaning top areas and guides, has never been cheap...anywhere.

As high as the price in Africa seems to be, just take a look at the $2500.00 to $15,000 charged for a SINGLE animal here in the US. Yes, I am going back to Africa too.

LLS
Mannlicher Collector

while the prices in Africa are increasing, they are still a bargain in terms of animals harvested compared to many if not most of the operators in the USA. A quality South Texas deer hunt will cost at least as much as my recent RSA hunt and you can only harvest one animal. Not that one can compare shooting a whitetail out of a blind with the excitement of stalking a kudu,wildebeest, impala, or warthog on their own turf. I am a special education teacher fixing to retire soon and i will forego all Texas hunting opportunities that I must pay for to save money to return to Africa. Yes shipping and taxidermy costs are increasing, but with videos and European mounts you can cut this cost down. Hunting Africa for me was a dream that I thought would never come true, it did, and I will dedicate myself to returning. The hunt is the experience not so much the trophies.Only the good Lord knows how much I want to return. Jerry Hoover

spend $900 for a good quality digital camera either DVD or still an let the trophies in Africa, quit bitching about SAA economy and think of it as "the price I must pay to go to Africa"$2000, book with a company in Namibia @250/day for 10 days that includes an optional day trip to Etosha National park $2500 (1 on 1), trophy fees for Mt zebra, kudu, opryx, warthog, springbok $2500, dip pack ship $0.00, pocket $ & tips $1500 total $7900 + tips & pocket $$
And for that you still get a great PG hunt in the Loxodanta Conservancy, 5 animals, trip to national park, all transportation, meals,laundry,etc.

elk hunt in Montana around a $1000 (or more) for a guarranteed landowner tag, $5500 for a 6 day hunt (2 on 1), sleep in a wall tent and eat out of a cast iron fry pan or freeze dried food, $700 average cost of air Rnd trip from the east coast,ship antlers and cape possibly some meat home $150, about a 50/50 chance at a bull over 250" and about a 25% chance at a bull over 300", tips are expected at a rate double what you would give on a PG hunt. total $7350 +tips and pocket $$ and if you are lucky enough horses will be found in the morning so you and your hunting partner and guide do not need to fight the other hunters in camp to see which group gets out before dawn as you freeze to death in your dirty long johns that haven't seen a washing in 5 days!!

PG/Africa still a good deal but yes the price is going up an will soon pass what mainstream working class hunters are willing to pay.

Compared to a North American hunt, yes Africa is cheap, but it still ain't "cheap" I think that the prices are getting out of hand, especially with air going up, and the average working man will soon be priced out of an African hunt....and we are not even talking about Tanzania, and Botswanna here!!
Everybody has to make a living, but take it easy!!

quote:

The outfitters here in the US ARE ON DRUGS when it comes to prices to hunt ONE lousy animal

Bullshit! If outfitting is so easy and there is so much money to be made why don't you get in the business. They charge what the market will bear. Why blame them. I don't understand why you need to tear someone else down to justify you going to Africa. If you enjoy going to Africa instead of hunting North America all I can say is more power to you! To each his own. John S hit the nail on the head.

quote:

Not that one can compare shooting a whitetail out of a blind with the excitement of stalking a kudu,wildebeest, impala, or warthog on their own turf.

Then why would you shoot one out of a blind. Are you trying to tell me you can't stalk a whitetail? Perhaps you could hire a PH to hold your hand while stalking a whitetail.

The bottom line is it's you money and you should spend it where you want. If it makes you happy then I am happy for you. Why slam outfitters and landowners who work hard to make an honest dollar.

Oh,hell we are all going to die one day with enough money to go on several safaries. Might as well spend it now. When I am sitting in the nursing home at least I will have memories...

JJ,
I have hunted Africa nine times in the last eleven years and have also noticed the escalating prices. When I first hunted Zim in 1994, you could do a seven day DaCosta Huntpak for $1995, airfare would be another $1300 and tips and "walking around" money of $1000 and you could "do" Africa for under $5000. Dip and Pack and shipping TOTAL maybe $500 to $600.

Oh well, those days are gone forever. Several reasons, inflation, increased wealth from investment portfolios (remember the 90's) and increased demand (alot more hunters on the SAA flights than in the old days) for safaris have driven prices up along with the fluctuations in buying power of the dollar.

Is it a bad thing? Well, no one likes to pay more but like other posts before this one, price escalation in North America is probably worse still making Africa a bargain. I agree the worst part of the hunt is the "unexpected" costs of dip and pack and shipping along with taxidermy! And though it is a great idea to leave trophies behind and bring home only pictures, that is tough to do for the guy in the Midwest or South who has dreamed and saved to shoot a kudu bull and finally has his hands on those coveted horns! So most of them will pay to get their trophies home.

But I know of few places where the hunt is still a grand adventure like it is in Africa, where most hunters see and do things they have only read about. Whether the it is a mock charge of a old elephant cow, the last blood red rays of a dying sun over the dusty , sere landscape, or watching the condensation on your sundowner run down the glass in front of a mopane fire listening to the day's stories of the hunt unfold...there is absolutely nothing in the world that can compare at any price!

That's why I go back whether it's a buff hunt in Masailand, an elephant hunt in the Zambezi Valley or a plainsgame hunt in Namibia, it's always an adventure and it gets in your pores just like the ubiquitous red dust...and you can't wash it off...and you don't want to! Damn the costs!

Every couple of years I have a booking agent send me information on a dall sheep hunt amd every three or four years I book a hunt to africa. When faced with a decision of one sheep or one buffalo the buffalo always wins out. In the future however the trophys will stay in africa.

JJ, I think one reason that hunters seem more 'picky' is that they are simply better informed by sites like this which encourage people to make sure of the details to avoid disappointment later.....I tend to fall into the more 'naive and trusting' category relying on reputation and so far have been alright, but I feel as tho I'm being careless when i read some of the advice around..Charlie.

jorge-
I know you didn't mean it the way it reads, but one "lousy" brown bear? I can't remember ever seeing a brown bear refered to as lousy!
I'm using that as an example for the point I guess I am trying to make...comparing what is arguably No. America's best trophy to a bunch of common, easily hunted and readily available plains game species. Cost wise, why not compare the brown bear hunt or that sheep hunt to a lion hunt...I know some outfitters that bump the daily rate on a lion hunt by $1000 per day just because Leo is on the menu. Price a plains game safari in Zim, then add elephant to the list. And not some damned cow elephant, we're talking trophy bull elephant.
Point is, lots of hunters prefer quality over quantity. In North America we don't have many common, easily available plains game species. Most all of our animals are premier trophy species. The sheep, bears, elk, goat and even the common whitetail are all hard won and very meaningful trophies...not to mention very beautiful ones at that. I can think of very few species in Africa that will present the challenge in hunting and taking that any of the above will. And those very few are very costly and very hard won as well. i think if you make a comparison under this light, N.A. doesn't come out so bad.

JJ

Look at those charges. You got ripped!

$200 for crating three animals?

$191 for dipping?

$232. for shipping, that sees OK.

$107 for transport fees, what?

$164.00 for Agency fees, Huh?

$86 for handling fees, Hows that?

$165.00 trophy clearance, Seems fine.

airline service fee 55.00, Seems OK.

Warehouse terminal fee 15cents per lb gross weight. ?????????????

swine charge 25.00. Why?????????????


$1205.00 USD total for three amimals. Yes you did get ripped! I had the following shipped from Zim: two Buffalo skulls, a Lion skin and skull, Warthog tusks, two Elephant tusks AND the Elephant's skull and jaw. The crate barely fit in my chevy full size truck. Total cost, $1700. But I did clear them myself.

A few years ago you were saying I was full of BS regarding carrying my trophies home from Namibia in my checked baggage. I told you that you should give it a try with a trophy or two so that you could see how easy it was. These three trophies would have been the perfect chance to give it a try, you could have saved $1,200. And, yes, I am wearing a grin.

Jason

John: As usual, you are right. Whatever is the driving factor behind prices here in the US, whether it's the hunter, landowner, etc., the market is obviously bearing it quite well. As far as the "lousy" modifier for the bear, that was a mistake on my part as in poor choice of words. What I meant was "lousy" as in numbers and not quality, as a brown bear is the equal of just about any African trophy and arguably even better.

M-16: It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that not ALL outfitters are painted with the same brush.I obvioulsy overestimated the capacity of some to comprehend that statement.

Anyhow, I don't think I was {sic} "tearing anybody down" with my statement,and the last thing I want to do is come across as some democrat in implying that somehow we are "entitled" to lower prices, but but after being quoted close to ten grand for an elk hunt in New Mexico (I saw a hunt on one of the TV shows where some babe was hunting in what looked like a great area with a magnificent lodge so I gave them a call) SOMEBODY's making money and as John S so succinctly put it, it's probably the landowner.I've seen prices close to that in Texas for whitetail too. It's still outrageous.

I (as are most here) am fully aware that most outfitters are not well-to-do, but the fact that africa is a much better value, especially with THE SUBJECT AT HAND of plains game remains irrefutable.

I know it's a market issue. Accordingly, in *my* opinion and in case you didn't notice that is what these forums are for TO OPINE, one has to be in some kind of mental stupor to pay that much for an elk, regardless of who is laughing all the way to the bank. jorge

JJ,

Many of us on this forum have "desposible income", I actually hate that term, but it seems common enough. We are going to go hunting and spend some of this income and we want to go where we get the most bang for our buck. This can be measured in many ways, beauty of the land, animals to be hunted, accomidations,quality of the hunting experience,etc.

As a person on the east coast, I still personally find plains game hunting to be a better deal then hunting for a guided hunt in our Rocky Mountain areas. A hunt I would truely love to do but cannot justify the overall cost.

With the devaluation of our dollar against the Euro and many other currancies, the actual price has increased for plains game. Overall though, Its still where I'd rather spend my dollar.

BigBullet

To me, and I am one of those that looks at every cost and every amenity (sp? but I mean - nice things that come with the deal), Africa is a the best bargain out there along with Argentina.

I have hunted extensively in Wyoming, Colorado, NM and Texas.

In terms of dollars per animal - Africa/Argentina win hands down.

Comfort on the trip - Africa/Argentina win hands down (no issues with horses, intelligent guides rather than part time guide/cowboy/rig workers)

Food ( absolutely no comparison to Africa/Argentina)

Trackers and skinners (a US guide can follow a blood trail, but has no real clue on real tracking)

Weather - Africa/Argentina - no snow, no rain.

Flavor of the trip - I would say the American West is equal to the task if the hunt is in a wilderness area

Feeling Crowded or seeing other hunters - Africa/Argentina wins completely

In Texas, the cost is about the same as hunting in Africa. However, in Texas you are expected to bait the animal and shoot from a treehouse. There is no hunting involved, just shooting. Now, I know that many Texas hunts are "spot and stalk", but in reality, they are "drive around until you see something, then shoot from the truck or 50 yds from the truck." I have done this and do not plan to do so again.

I fully realize that in the US, guides and outfitters cannot expect to make a full-time living hunting due to season length. That is "hand we are dealt", hence the "exotic" hunts offered in various states that permit hunting all year long.

For me, I desire to spend my money on the "real" experience as much as the animal. For me, Africa fits perfectly and I do not intend to hunt the US again, except for a possible trip to Alaska, assuming I can find the right fit for me.

My 2 cents worth.

JJ: It has got quite a bit pricier, especially in my case where my wife shoots more animals than I do. If it was just me hunting, I could probably afford go every other year; but hell, I don't even have the taxidermy paid up for my 2003 trip yet. I have tried to get her to leave the trophies and just bring back pictures, but no luck so far.

There is room for both Africa and North America in my budget. I really enjoy the "walks in the woods," especially if the woods is in the Rocky Mountains. I pick and choose what I want to hunt, and killing something on the hunt is one possible outcome. In Africa, especially South Africa, it is more like going shooting than it is going hunting. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy my trips to Africa. I also enjoy my trips to British Columbia. It is a different kind of hunting, and vive la difference'. If coming home with a bunch of dead animals is what makes a hunting trip a success for you, and it seems that is what some focus on, you should limit your hunting excursions to Africa. It does not for me.

Hate to say this, but

for non-dangerous game it's FAR cheaper to hunt these animals in Texas than Africa.

But it aint Africa.

What I think is the robbery is the daily rates.. ROBBERY. If the outfitters in Texas can make due with $250 a day, for all the US fees, employees, feeds, electricity, hands, storages, etc etc etc, based on US rates, then the "Daily rates" in africa are a FARCE

Doesn't matter than it's government or owner, it's insane

$500 a day (just for talking) in Africa is more than the equal to $5000.00 a day in the US in terms of staff, camp building, etc.

Sure there's camp hands, camp builders, cooks and crooks... and they make $2/day...



jeffe

I go on 2 or 3 hunts every year not every one is to Alaska, Africa or Argentina but most years one of those destinations is on the slate for me. One issue about travel to hunt in Africa that hasn't been brought up yet is the politics of south Africa. In the USA I tolerate Nonresident tag fees that to me are set unreasonable high but yet I am spending my cash here in the USA it is a game of politics in game management. But in many countries of Africa the politics go against what I endear as an American...land take backs,etc. I am begining to question if I will continue to support a economy that has adopted such politics... I know the safari company has little to do with the internal govt. policies, but the economy does none the less.
Argentina, Brazil on the other hand offer superb hunting, welcome Americans, treating us with all fairness and respect. their economies though not the standar of the USA are Democratic.

quote:

Originally posted by M16:

quote:

The outfitters here in the US ARE ON DRUGS when it comes to prices to hunt ONE lousy animal

Bullshit! If outfitting is so easy and there is so much money to be made why don't you get in the business. They charge what the market will bear. Why blame them. I don't understand why you need to tear someone else down to justify you going to Africa. If you enjoy going to Africa instead of hunting North America all I can say is more power to you! To each his own. John S hit the nail on the head.

quote:

Not that one can compare shooting a whitetail out of a blind with the excitement of stalking a kudu,wildebeest, impala, or warthog on their own turf.

Then why would you shoot one out of a blind. Are you trying to tell me you can't stalk a whitetail? Perhaps you could hire a PH to hold your hand while stalking a whitetail.

The bottom line is it's you money and you should spend it where you want. If it makes you happy then I am happy for you. Why slam outfitters and landowners who work hard to make an honest dollar.

OOOOH. Someone's a little defensive (please read with appropriate sarcastic inflection).
First of all, I think Jorge was stating a simple fact: There's hardly any comparison in what you get - dollar for dollar - between an African and an American hunt. The African camps are better, the food is better, the game is more varied, and even the weather is better. Only the magnificence of the North American mountain ranges exceed the African experience. Of course, this is just my opinion.
Your mileage may vary. Do not attempt. Professional driver. Closed course.
Dave

They key issue is getting to be economics. There are indeed a substantive percentage of folks for whom this is not a problem. They can and will hunt anywhere they want.

At the next tier, the Alaskan hunts have gotten expensive enough that an cost per animal comparison suggests going to Africa is more cost effective.

For a substntial portion of the possible hunters Alaska has already priced itself out of the market altogether. These folks are beginning to get the sense that the reasonably priced African hunts are getting fewer and farther between as Zim and Namibia show signs of unrest.

The sad thing is that economics of the middle class is being affected by a change in the dynamics and ethics of employment and the climate of international competition in which US based or traditionally US companies outsource good jobs requiring good educations to the rest of the world to achieve personpower cost savings. There are many more folks taking this hit than is widely realized. Thus, the pool of those who have a disposable income pad that might be used for hunting is getting smaller.

Some of us will simply not be able to afford these luxuries without being very cautious about our planning. For others of us, the good times are far enough in the past that some dreams will simply not be realized.

quote:

Originally posted by cats:
I go on 2 or 3 hunts every year not every one is to Alaska, Africa or Argentina but most years one of those destinations is on the slate for me.

Sure you do Poser. What with you being an Alaskan Guide and all.

After my last dealings with a car salesman, a doctor who operated on me, a lawyer on a piece of land, having my field planted by a neighbor, I see Africa as a place to hunt....

We charge $150 per day plus trophy fees on one ranch and $250 plus trophy fees on another, I can get you a trophy bull bison in the US for $1500 or a meat bull or heifer for $1250. I can hunt you for Mule Deer for $2200. or antelope for the same..that is cheaper than the same places were 2 years ago..

I do see things going heywire up if the fuel thing keeps going wild...today there are animals that can be shot for less than it costs to fill my pickup...

I suppose we can whine and gripe, and suck our thumbs, about hunting prices on the internet but its not going to change anything, better to contact our gov. reps and give them hell on the economy and/or vote all the Democrats out of office...Those guys block everything Bush tries to do and visa versa, and it has nothing to do with right or wrong, its party politics....then we just toss 250 billion to La. with no controls and that is the most money currupt state in the nation, that can't even account for one penny of the 15 million we gave them two years ago to shore up the dikes, Now guess who is going to foot that bill!

Fix these ills of politics, price gouging and the cost of hunting will drop drastically..but I don't forsee that.

cats, I thought you were dying of some ailment as you posted sometime ago and you had not long to live. Seem to travel alot for someone with one foot in the grave...........JJ

Ray, speaking of dikes, what do you call a dike with fat fingers ?.....well hung...........JJ

JJ two ways to look at my cancer sit here an wait for it to spring up again or get out and do. Which would you opt for?

Wow lots more attention to this then I expected!

My point was not that Africa is still a better bargain then the USA, but rather it's quickly getting further from the mainstream middle class hunter, especially that hunter who wishes to bring his trophies back.

Ray's posted fees are no different then anyone elses if they are serious about setting up a plains game hunt. The whole business is so tight now that we are talking pennys of difference in cost. The real difference is in what you want to hunt where. Whether those animals are actually natural where they are hunted or stocked. whether it's a 5 star luxury lodge or a tent camp, whether you hut 1X1 or 2X1. lots of things can change the price that way. However just looking at my Africa hunts over the last 5 years they have escalated in price much faster then the income of Average Americans. This had me wondering where will it stall?

I was doing 10 day (8 hunting)5 aniaml hunts for 4000 bucks 5 years ago and they need to be 5000 or thereabout today. A 20% increase in 5 years. I know my income has not gone up by 20% in that time. But this does not include the near 50% increase in airfare, or the 100% increas in the dippack and shipping and broker fees.

You see it's not about the hunt cost for people, it's about the total cost. Sure the 5K 5 Animal hunt in RSA for ten days is a better bargain then a single animal in the USA. But what is it really when everything is totaled up? That's the part that is beginning to sink the RSA safari business at least for the short term.

I'm not trying to portray the future as bleak and make safairs sound impossible, heck I'm in this business and am 50% owner of a Safari company. But I have to think about the truth and fairness to the perspective hunters when they ask what it will cost.

What it will cost for the guy bringing his trophies back leaves the actual cost of the safari or payment to me attractive even though the total is very high. The trophy processing situation today is more expensive then the cost of the hunt, in some cases by a large amount.

I had a hunter last season tell me this and I was dumbstruck with his thought process. He shot 11 animals with me. Then he said he did not want to bring home any part of them. He also took limited photos with a film camera that was a $19.99 Kodak instamatic. Without a doubt the cheapest camera I have ever seen on a hunt anyplace in the world.

Then he springs this on me at dinner. I'm just going to bid on Ebay for the shoulder mounts that I want from my trip. It's way cheaper and they will still remeind me of my trip. He went on to say that some might even be better then the ones he could shoot! That he could buy a shoulder mount Kudu for a few hundred bucks, maybe even cheaper looking at local estate sales.

This was a bizzare but clearly unique way of having African trophies in his home to go with his hunt. Not for me......but he has already booked another hunt so I'm not gonna belittle this option. I would rather have him spending his money on a hunt with me then a dip pack, shipping and taxidermy bill!

quote:

However, in Texas you are expected to bait the animal and shoot from a treehouse.

Sounds like leopard hunting to me.

quote:

Now, I know that many Texas hunts are "spot and stalk", but in reality, they are "drive around until you see something, then shoot from the truck or 50 yds from the truck."

Just like a plains game safari?

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I know it's a market issue. Accordingly, in *my* opinion and in case you didn't notice that is what these forums are for TO OPINE, one has to be in some kind of mental stupor to pay that much for an elk, regardless of who is laughing all the way to the bank. jorge

Opine all you want but expect to be corrected. I would suggest you learn how to hunt on your own and not have to hire a guide. Draw a tag and hunt on public land. Quite inexpensive when compared to a plains game hunt.

Corrected for what? you are describing TWO different types of hunts. In africa you cannot hunt without the services of a PH. The choices were GUIDED hunts here and in africa and has nothing to do with hunting on your own. As far as hunting on "your own" how do you know what I have or have not done? Consider yourself corrected; on both counts. jorge

I just went to the Alaska Hunting link titled -
50 bulls in 48 hours

Here is a comment

Well the free-for-all combat hunting in Gustavus ended in a record 2-days. The target of 50 bulls was attained and ADF&G closed it off. Season opened on the 20th and officially ended on midnight of the 21st. 36 bulls shot the first day alone. A coworker registered and went over for the hunt. Some hunters (mostly locals) got the even days (20, 22, 24) and some got the odd days (21, 23, 25, etc.) He said the first few hours of opening ay sounded like a combat zone. I reckon there were bulls being shot at by multiple hunters at the same time. I'm sure folks were running up the the downed bull to place their tag on it first.

How bad to you want it? Not bad enough (from a Don Henley tune.) Not my type of hunting for sure.

MM


That is one of the reasons I have quit hunting in the US and will save to hunt Africa or Argentina.

Goodness gracious!

You left out a little bit. As Paul Harvey would say, and now for the rest of the story.

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It's a local meat hunt, not sport hunting. Nothing wrong with that, and very Alaskan.

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That is one of the reasons I have quit hunting in the US and will save to hunt Africa or Argentina.

Excellent. That leaves more for the rest of us to hunt.

The grand total for my recent Namibia hunt is going to be around $12,000. That's including taxidermy and shipping. Unless there are some "suprise" costs in the shipping.

This from a young, poor, hardbody with zero Africa experience -

Does it ever occur to you that, to a point, given equal-quality trophies, price is inversely proportional to access difficulty? The business I see above about sleeping in a bed at night, eating well, no rain, whatever leads me to believe that plains game hunting in Africa is more like a shopping trip ($$$). Much the same as shooting a better-than-average mule deer or elk off of flat (relatively speaking) land on someone's ranch ($$$) while camping in your RV or wall tent and cot.

Whereas, if you bone up a bit on deer/elk habits, get in shape, and hike in or book a drop hunt in the mountain wilderness, your odds of success may drop a touch, but the experience is vastly less sterile, dirty undies and all. And, you're in the game for 10-20% the cost, or less if you're really ambitious.

Plus, it's better to be clueless and lucky than good. For the princely sum of $600 (license, tag, meat bags, and bigger saw), I will drive home from my summer in Alaska (working) with a 70" bull moose. I packed it out for 2.5 days, by canoe and foot (portaging). It's not the huge-palm monster you see in some photos, but it's wide and heavy. Made everyone at work jealous. I didn't see another soul while hunting, save for scouting planes flying over. I put in some time, researched terraserver, bought a calling video, and waged a 2-weekend war. identified what not to do the first weekend, and scored the second.

To me, shooting something is just the tasty cherry on top. I'd rather locate my own game, put myself in position for a shot via hard work, and pack my own animal out, and eat it - rather than just step off the landcruiser, walk quietly for a mile or two on flat/rolling ground, get a tan, donate some blood to the flies, do some quiet crawling, and cork something someone else saw first. Maybe I'm a snob.

Didn't mean to butt in, but my point is that there are ways around cost, if you think outside the box. Africa is flat-out too risky for me. Guided or dropped in Alaska was too, as was elk in Idaho. I know exactly who I'd call for a $300 consultation if I wanted a crack at a big mule deer in colorado. My expenses would be gas, time, license, and 3 days of hard work packing in and out. Shoot, that sounds like a vacation. Where do I sign?

-Jerry

cats, hell no, I'm staying ahead of mine too.......JJ

JJ: All prior tasteless posts by myself aside, I've been round n round enough with the big C to know it's no joke. I wouldn't wish this on anyone...God Bless you & best of luck...stay one step ahead of that damm toxic waste they keep trying to pump into us telling us it will help. "Cats"

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Originally posted by Vek:
This from a young, poor, hardbody with zero Africa experience -

-Jerry

I hunt the US by myself on Public Land normally because its fun and rewarding when you work your but off for an animal. I went to Africa for the "experience" and to hunt on a different continent. The PH worked his tail and my tail off trying to find a good Kudu. After those days of Kudu hunting I wished I was back in the states hunting elk. Nothing prepares you for the size of acacia thorns!!! Trophy animals or sometimes any animals are tough to get, doesn't matter what country your in. As "Cats" once said to me, if its too risky, "You can always stay at home and watch football"