Another post about "what is your favorite animal to hunt" got me thinking about my plans for my 2nd safari scheduled for 2014 in ZA.

I'm going for all the plains game I didn't hunt this year, and would just love to add a Cape Buffalo to the list, but I just can't justify the cost in my mind.

For the cost of one cape buf, I could hunt for three or four, maybe even five trophy American bison, and I get to eat or sell the meat instead of the PH. Hell, he made over 1000R on my Kudu, what would he make on a Buffalo?

Now don't get me wrong, I am not denying the PH the opportunity to make an extra buck, but when the trophy fee is 10-15K, (80,000 - 120,000R) it just bugs me. The best price I could find for a dried up old cow Buff was 8K.

I'm quite sure I'll flip-flop a hundred times in the next 16 months, but unless I hit the lottery and have money to burn, I'm pretty sure the answer is gonna be NO.

Frank, unless you're hunting on a "farm" in RSA or Namibia, a PH typically can't "sell" the meat obtained during the hunt. It is usually given to the villagers or used in camp for the staff. On a $10,000 Cape Buff hunt, the fee for the actual trophy is usually $3,000-$3,500. The balance pays for lodging, the rigs used, gas, and staff wages, the PH's salary, plus the government fees to obtain the rights to the concession.

Similiar thing that gets me happens on many off-shore fishing charters, you pay well over a grand for 6-7 hours and the capt. & mates sell " your" fish, then they complain that the commercial fisherman are catching all the fish!

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
Frank, unless you're hunting on a "farm" in RSA or Namibia, a PH typically can't "sell" the meat obtained during the hunt. It is usually given to the villagers or used in camp for the staff. On a $10,000 Cape Buff hunt, the fee for the actual trophy is usually $3,000-$3,500. The balance pays for lodging, the rigs used, gas, and staff wages, the PH's salary, plus the government fees to obtain the rights to the concession.

Biebs, Your assumption is correct, my hunt will be in ZA (South Africa) and on a farm. The hunts I mentioned are not the cost of the entire hunt, but just the Trophy fee! Hell a $3,500 trophy fee would be what I would call resonable.

$3,500 or so, that's the trophy fee in most countries. On an RSA game farm, you're paying the owner of the estate for the right to kill a Cape Buffalo he owns, either raised it or bought it on the open market. That's not the place to hunt Cape Buffalo. First, they're way expensive in RSA, and secondly, you'll miss the experience of hunting a free-ranging wild Buffalo on its own turf. Take your antelope etc on a game farm if you wish, but save the Buffalo for a real African hunt.

Frank, take a look at a buff hunt in Zimbabwe, you can get the whole hunt for about $10Gs and just add on the trophy fees for plains game.

quote:

Originally posted by Pa.Frank:
Another post about "what is your favorite animal to hunt" got me thinking about my plans for my 2nd safari scheduled for 2014 in ZA.

I'm going for all the plains game I didn't hunt this year, and would just love to add a Cape Buffalo to the list, but I just can't justify the cost in my mind.

For the cost of one cape buf, I could hunt for three or four, maybe even five trophy American bison, and I get to eat or sell the meat instead of the PH. Hell, he made over 1000R on my Kudu, what would he make on a Buffalo?

Now don't get me wrong, I am not denying the PH the opportunity to make an extra buck, but when the trophy fee is 10-15K, (80,000 - 120,000R) it just bugs me. The best price I could find for a dried up old cow Buff was 8K.

I'm quite sure I'll flip-flop a hundred times in the next 16 months, but unless I hit the lottery and have money to burn, I'm pretty sure the answer is gonna be NO.

those idiotic prices only apply to buffalo on South African game farms, a lot of which are just as tame as bison in South Dakota. for $10,000 all in you can hunt buff in Zim and shoot other stuff if budget allows. anyone who pays $20plus THOUSAND to hunt a south african buffalo is out of touch with reality. please don't confuse the average buffalo cost/ hunting experience on an RSA game farm to ANYWHERE in Africa. apples to oranges AND WAY TOO EXPENSIVE. 8K for an old cow?? surely nobody in their right mind is that stupid.

quote:

Originally posted by joester:
Similiar thing that gets me happens on many off-shore fishing charters, you pay well over a grand for 6-7 hours and the capt. & mates sell " your" fish, then they complain that the commercial fisherman are catching all the fish!

Joe:

It is pretty much standard procedure that the Master of the chartered vessel keeps the fish (when not released) and as much it is also quite common that he will gladly part with a fish or two for the table if requested.

Frnk,
Save your pennies and keep some time available for late season, quota-clearing buff hunts. There are a couple of Zim outfitters that usually have them crop up later in the year. The bad news is the weather is damn hot, the good news is... so is the hunting!

And at a very fair price!

Frank,

If you realistically think that this will be your last hunt in Africa, then take the Cape Buffalo in South Africa while you are there. Some hard bargaining might get that trophy fee down a few dollars, but it will never be $3000 these days.

If you come back again to, say Zimbabwe, next time, at todays prices you will probably be paying $13000 -$14000 for the Buffalo and Daily rate. Combine it with a Hippo or Croc or maybe Eland you may still get out under $20,000. [Combine it with Sable or Leopard you will be on your way to $25,000+] All these not including Airfares, Hotels and meals in transit, and tips.

Sure the SA Cape Buffalo are not "free ranging", but you should be able to determine how much range they do have - and decide if it's enough.

You may also find a year end, leftover quota, somewhere, that may be some cheaper, but all the other costs remain the same.

And I am pretty sure, that if you ask nicely, wherever you hunt, they will let you eat some of your buffalo.

Les

There were several posts last sept/oct for late season buffalo, 7 day hunts WITH REPUTABLE OUTFITS for $6500-7500 all in! I did 10 days buffalo/tuskless for $13,800 and had an amazing time. You just have to watch for (and jump on) last minute opportunities. Good Luck.

quote:

Originally posted by joester:
Similiar thing that gets me happens on many off-shore fishing charters, you pay well over a grand for 6-7 hours and the capt. & mates sell " your" fish, then they complain that the commercial fisherman are catching all the fish!

That happened to me; bought a boat for a grand when I went to the VI over Memorial Day weekend. We got to keep 20 lbs of fish. After I gave the guy his tip he suddenly offered to give us more fish.

Thank god they don't do that in Mexico.