I am surprised at the income levels. Where are all the big money players? The guys in the $100K+ per month income. With $25K+ double barrel rifles and $50-$100K safaris. Either they are not on the net, or don’t want to let people know how much they make. I feel they are ruining are industry. I am 38 and $200K + per year. I can not afford a lot of the guns at convention or some of the prices for some of the hunts around the world. Yet, I see a lot of the guns in out and about, and hear operators talking about all these combo hunts for the big 5. I was 35 on my first safari. It is good to see a lot of s regular guys on the web. I wish some of the prices for hunting around the world for big game would become more affordable.

I went on my first African hunt last May, for plains game in Namibia. I grew up on Jack O'Connor in the old Outdoor Life days, and Robert Ruark's "Use Enough Gun" thanks to the Outdoor Life Book Club (still have a bunch of those books I failed to return soon enough). Didn't take an African hunt seriously until about 10 years ago, when I met the Duckworth in the notorious Mark Sullivan "Black Death" tape at a sportsman's show in Portland, Oregon. I couldn't afford what he was selling, but the scalawag put an old off-the-face .375 Flanged double rifle in my hands and told me to swing it up at a three-quarter Cape buff mount in his booth. God shook his head with a smile and sighed that day, when he saw the fire old Duckworth lit in my little boy's heart.
The money remained a huge mental obstacle to me, but once past 50, and getting to where I could no longer ignore the tick of the clock, the aching lower back and the swelling prostate, I started to see life differently. Tomorrow is never a sure thing, no matter what our ages, but it gets more iffy with each passing day.
When a friend just a wee bit older than I am had a small stroke, I really started questioning my priorities. And I came to the conclusion that I would much prefer to be less financially secure in my later years, but with great memories and some good kudu horns on the wall, than to be more financially secure but sour with regrets.
So I raided my pathetic retirement stash and booked my hunt with Ann at Aspen Hills. I must do it again before long, as I need to hunt Cape buffalo in the very worst sort of way.
I'm 54 and make less than $40K a year as a newspaper copy editor. My F150 is a 2007, but with the small V8 and the cheap trim level.
Guys, and gals, honor your dreams while you can.

quote:

Originally posted by h kittle:
I have told my kids to expect no inheritance, I intend to leave them nice guns and dead animals. My idea of perfect final planning will be if the last check I write just before I die is to my taxidermist and for it to bounce.

That's about the funniest thing I've ever read on these forums! I like your style.

47 years young/200K

A common theme 100k per year,or kids grown and moved away. Its amazing how much money you have when the kids move away!!!!

I was 51 the trip cost about $14,000, that includes airfair for two, but not shipping fees for heads and hides. We shot 15 animals.


I am saving for at least one more time (for buff}


JD

I doubt that AR represents the masses that hunt Africa, rather the younger crowd that are really committed to hunting Africa...The older crowd really consider the internet the anti christ! they may have a point!

I applaud those young men that have made the concessions and/or have worked hard to realize their dream, it just can't get any better than that..

BUT, I will state the average African hunter is at least 50 years plus, recently retired, and spending his kids inheretence!

I was 55 first time. My priorities did not include hunting Africa, or guided hunts for that matter. I had hunted New Mexico, Texas and Colorado since I was about 12. My priorities were starting a family, and getting them through college. After two wives and five children; every one is through college and on with their lives. I've got enough outside revenue beside my day job that I can retire when I decide it's time.

I've got more disposable income, so I dispose of it hunting every other year, and let my wife pick the vacation schedule on the off year. This year it was Rome / Venice; next year it's Zimbabwe; the year after is Buenos Aires. Whether I hunt the year after that is yet to be determined.

I frankly find hunting less appealing as the pastime evolves. As it becomes more of a commercial business/sport, it loses the things that drove me to become a hunter.

I hunted buffalo & PG the first time in 2001 (at 33 yrs old) and again in 2004 (at 36 yrs old). Make a decent amount of money and spend a decent amount of money. I have the cash to do another DG hunt anytime I want, but it is finding the time that I am having trouble with.

Now have two boys (5 & 3 years old) and many other demands on my time. Keep hoping to get back, but it may be another couple of years before I do.

As to the big money makers, I have a 37 yr old friend who started a company and hit it BIG. Now makes approx. $400k per DAY (as in $12m per month). Unfortunately, I have tried to convince him to go to Africa, but he has ZERO interest in it.

Tim

Shumba,
Money like that is wasted on people who don't want to go to Africa.

I'm 38, married (to an amazing woman I might add) and W2'ed $190k last year. Between taxes & 401k, I retain 45% of my check. So only around $90k actually makes it into my pocket.

I haven't done Africa...yet. It will happen in about 4 years. The priorities have been set: the wife and I trade vacations every other year.

1. Australia '08 (her choice, with her parents)
2. Alaska '09 (Prudhoe Bay bound, by motorcycle)
3. Belize '10 (her choice)
4. Africa (NO Choice. It will happen!)

Errr, is it 2010 yet?

I was in my early fourties the first trip. Five total as of now. I got a second job as a janator to pay for the first one. Cleaned a lot of toilets and buffed a lot of floors to be able to save enough money to kill a buffalo. It was worth it.

My first trip was to RSA when I was 21 for a bunch of plains game, the second was this year when I was 24 to RSA, Zim, and Namibia (I only hunted one day and fished a bunch). This time was the honeymoon also.

I am planning my next trip in 09 or 10 for Buf.

Invested money.

I was 45 when I went on my first Safari, and that was 26 yrs ago! On that first safari I took Buffalo, Hippo, zebra, impala, warthog, and a Cookson's wildebeast, in three days of a 7 day safari, in Zambia's Luangwa Valley. I've since hunted Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mosambique, and RSA. At 71 yrs old, and on a fixed income of retirement, I'm hanging up my Passport, and hunting Alaska, and the USA, but I miss Africa, like a lost family memeber, just can't affrod it any longer!

Mac you should hit Namibia one time just to complete the circle.

I went to Africa the first time in Oct 1999.Again in Oct 2001 and Oct 2005 Iwas 52 on the first trip with combined income of about
100,000 and no kids

I probably fit the profile Ray talks about.

Went for the first time to RSA in 2001 at 52 years old while still working. Combined income at the time was 200k plus. Retired the following year and have returned 4 times since. Zimbabwe three times, once for PG and twice for DG, and Namibia for PG.

Retirement income remains virtually the same, but bills and other obligations are almost nil. Cashed out very good money on Southern California real estate.

Blessed with a wife who understands how short life is, as well as what Africa means to me. She is my biggest supporter and encourages me to go as often as I care to. !!!!!!!!!

I freq this site off and on but created a new login to preserve my anonymity.

I am 48; household income is 500-600 per year, not including investment income or long term capital gains from property, etc. The Mrs takes home 200k of that. This year our gains from investments amount to another 300K or so (but 250K of this was from a long term capital gain)

Income is not important; building personal net worth is, and that is what I track. Our personal net worth is a little over 3 million, not including the value of my business, which I estimate to be at least $3 million and growing. Our net worth increases about 30-40K per month. This month it is down 100K due to the stock market. On most days, our stock portfolio increases or decreases enough to buy a buffalo hunt.

When I go on a hunt, I write a check. I have never been on a 21 day hunt, but intend to do so someday. Have been on more than one hunt for buffalo, which I like. I was 35 the first time I hunted Africa.

On the other hand, I do enjoy hunting outside of Africa quite a bit, and I still enjoy DIY hunts. I wonder about someone who nevers hunts North America but has a house full of African stuff. Hell, I enjoy hunting anything - it is the experience that counts.

I could tell more, but then you might guess who I am, so let's just leave it at that.

John,
One thing I can promise you, let me send you once and you will come back. I am like a drug dealer, once you have tasted my dope you are hooked!!

Interesting to see how things change since Nov 2007, Oct 2007 was the top of the stock market. Something tells me incomes, net worth, and investment portfolio earnings have changed a wee bit.

Geoff,
I don't know. Do you think a 50% hit in income is that much? I wish it was 07 again.

It was 07 and I was 31, my wife and I took our first safari to Namibia with the Gras ranch.

I thought it would tide me over for a while but now I have the fever 10 times as bad.

We booked our second safari to SA with Swartkei safaris in May of 2010 and have tentative plans for Tanzania in 2012 or 13.

I've come to face the fact that all of our disposable income goes to safaris

I went on my first safari at 30. I'm 32 now and heading to Zim for buffalo in a few weeks. I own my own business, get by but not wealthy. As said above, it's all priorities.

I am a small town lawyer and my wife is a teacher. We do well, but we have to work hard to play hard. At 35, I've made 8 international hunts and roughly 20 hunts to various States. A ninth international hunt is coming up Oct.

For myself and most hunters, booking hunts is about financial responsibility. Just like you would disregard a Ferarri or a $1M yacht as an unreasonable purchase, so must you disregard some hunting as unreasonable and too costly. Find hunts that interest you that you can afford, book them, and go have the time of your life.

At the same time, be responsbile about your savings programs and retirement planning, but remember that you cannot take it with you when you die. I have pre-defined savings goals that I must meet on an annual basis. After that, excess monies can be used for hunting and other hobbies. I would much rather be 75 y/o with a million dollars and 20 safaris under my belt than have ten million dollars and no safaris to remember.

You can make more money but you can not make more time.
The best money I ever spent was watching my son burn up shotguns in argentina shooting at dove,, 21 cases of shells in 4 days. The shell bill cost more than the hunt. At the time I really couldn't afford the hunt, I now realize I couldn't afford not to take him.[his high school graduation present}. Eyedoc here got me on my first safari years back, he is about to go on his 10th, another elephant and leopard. Listening to his stories got me interested,, going has me hooked for life. I am going to skip africa in 2010,,Eyedoc and I are going to hunt the Aussie buffalo, that will give eyedoc a buf on just about every continent.
My biggest mistake was not going earlier,,, GO,, dang it,, GO!!!!

In my case, in 2003 it was old and poor. It would be no different today, only on a grander scale.

John,

I have followed your trip from the planning stages to the end report and thought you did well working within your budget while getting the most bang for you buck.

The wife and I just returned from our second trip. My original 2009 trip was canceled due to medical reasons (mostly $$$$$$$?) but after a lot of thought I said the hell with it as you cant take it with you. So at the last minute I was looking for a hunt. You will be amazed what you can save if you shop around.

You first to have to realize you can't have champagne on a beer budget, so forget about those seat upgrades.

Next start the SEARCH and I do mean search.. There are tons of outfitters that do a great job as a part time business. They don't travel the world doing expensive shows. Some don't even have a web site and limited email. Or they are just starting up.

The farms I found where low-fence operations (raising cattle) and that's was what I wanted.

They weren't 5 star ranches with prices to match.

While the accommodations was just a private room in the main house we became friends very quickly.

Food was outstanding as was the nightly campfire.

Not trying to knock the bigger outfits but some of these smaller guys can offer a special deal due to less overhead.

The next thing I dropped was any taxidermy except for euro mounts and spend more time talking pictures.

That's how I will go back.

elkfitter

Well, went last year on the "trip of a lifetime", had a ball! Have thought of nothing else, since I got home. I make about $42,000/year, and have things to take care of at home. I'll be 59 next year, and have issues with my feet. To hell with it. I hope to go back in 2011, for my 60th birthday. My boy is all over me to do a DG hunt, and by golly, I'm gonna take him up on it. Ain't sure how it's all gonna work out, but I bet we have fun!

Money only gets you thru the short visit here-it's all about the memories!!!!

Enjoy yourself !!!

Mad Dog

quote:

Originally posted by GeoffM24:
Interesting to see how things change since Nov 2007, Oct 2007 was the top of the stock market. Something tells me incomes, net worth, and investment portfolio earnings have changed a wee bit.

if your portfolio topped out in Oct 2007, i am glad mine was different!. i am 61 and quit "big game" hunting( deer) from 1977 until 1983, when i went to BC for moose and caribou. once i discovered Africa in 1998, the rest is history. never went back to Canada, Alaska, or the Rockies and never regretted it for a second. my only regret is the "lost years" from 1977 to 1998. i am not knocking the US and Canada, but you get a lot more bang for your buck anywhere in Africa and there is something magical about seeing 7-10 species of game every day instead of 1-2. i refuse to pay $10-14,000 for moose hunt or $3,000-4,000 for a 2 day pronghorn hunt. it is just highway robbery for an animal, especially for an animal as common as a pronghorn.

The first time I hunted in Africa was in 1983, and I was 24. I had the very good fortune to be able to book a 24 day hunt with Roy Vincent, and that did it for me. I was back 3 years later for another hunt with him, and then hunted Botswana 3 years after that. When I went to Botswana, I left my wife and 18 month old son home for a month. After that, life intervened. Business, raising two wonderful kids, other hunts, and lots of other reasons (including my mother in law dying a few months before a Zimbabwe trip about 5 years ago) gave us ample reasons to not get back there. Last year, I told my wife we were going back to Africa, even if I went alone. As it turned out, our entire family of 4 went and we had a grand time. The biggest problem was that I spent the entire first week wondering why the hell I'd let so many things prevent me from getting back there for the preceeding 20 years. I vowed to not let that happen again. I may have to give up a lot of other things in life, but I WILL be hunting in africa again within the next 3 years. I decided that I'm going to get back on a 3 year plan no matter what, and our recent trip gave me all the reminders of why it was so important to me. Fortunately, I'm only 50 so if the good lord's willing, I should get to make a lot more trips over there before I leave this planet.

Don't wait, go as soon as you can. If you love it enough, you'll find ways to get back there again and again.

When you sre not average (I am well below) you do what you can get away with. Aim for the stars and you'll make it over the kraal fence! (I've gone three little times.)

quote:

Reply

Just turned 51 last Friday, got to spend it fishing with 5 of my best friends; last year, nine of us went to Alaska happened to fall on the 50th. The wife, 12 years younger ( yeah, I know ) is not just supportive but pushing me to work less and play more. So.... this Oct, me and most of the guys from this last weekend fishing trip, off to Zim for a bunch of buff and PG. The income within our group runs to barely from plenty. You can make more money, but you can't replace the time with friends or family.

Laughing here, my 22 your old son, until a couple years ago, thought all fishing was just like Hackberry or Montana, and all hunting the same. On his own now, he has had a little wakeup as to how it really is, and never forgets the sacrifices we made when he was a young guy to have some of the times we had together. As I won't forget the time and sacrifice my Dad and Grandpa made for me and my brother, to show us the things we got to see around the States. Dad was a master chief and Grandpa was a 40 acre farmer, neither had a 401k.

GO now, and as often as you can.

My first trip was in 2008. It was a S.A. plains game hunt and I was 28 years old. I went with my wife. We had one child at the time and recently added another. The household income at the time was roughly 150k +/- and just one year later its down 25%. Still enjoying life but had to tighten up the household budget. I am trying to plan a buffalo/tuskless hunt for 2011. I am just thankful that I made it once, but hope to go many more times.

Thanks,

Greg

Interesting thread.

I didn't hunt at all, save birds, white tail and coyotes, until my 45th Birthday. Until my 40s I was around 150-250K, which is a good living, but I never thought about hunting or that I could afford Africa. For my birthday I decided to try Africa and got hooked.

I did sell my interest in my business in 2005 and thought I should hunt as much as I could while I had the time and the means to do so. Since 2005 I have hunted Africa 16 times and NZ twice, Hungary and...Ukraine!

I was a real wiz and started a new venture last year- my timing was perfect with the economy (hah!) so although this seems to be the best year ever for bargains, I am stuck trying to make a go of my new business.

If I were doing it again, I would go less, and for a longer time. I think I would only go to Zim or Tanzania, Zambia or Moz. I had the good fortune to jump on a last minute hunt to the Selous this year, and I am hooked.

I think there are many economical ways to hunt. There is nothing wrong with management hunts or buff cow or cow ele hunts. I am convinced that the most important thing is just being in the bush.

Taxidermy....I have more than I have room for, and have two unpacked crates in the garage and two more on the way....euro mounts are the way to go I think, and very few at that. Several guys have written over the years that their money spent on taxidermy could be spent on another hunt or two, and I agree.

The 2007 versus 2009 has pretty much killed me going again anytime soon. Net Worth is off by at least a third and family income down by similar amounts.

I was 24 when I went the first time, on a 1st Lt's salary (and a whole lot of saving and extra jobs). That was to get it out of my system once and for all. I'm 56 now, have lost hope that I will ever get it out of my system. I wouldn't recommend that anyone adopt my priorities, but I'm damned if I regret it.

Well Craig, that is just my words.. - I was 26 when I was in Zim the first time.. I am now 38 and plan to go every other year. No cure for me either

Will go to RSA this august.
In 2011 things get a bit different because I have booked a hunt on the Alaska Peninsula after a big coastal brownie with Phil Shoemaker.. I must admit that I look very much forward to that hunt..

quote:

Originally posted by craig boddington:
I was 24 when I went the first time, on a 1st Lt's salary (and a whole lot of saving and extra jobs). That was to get it out of my system once and for all. I'm 56 now, have lost hope that I will ever get it out of my system. I wouldn't recommend that anyone adopt my priorities, but I'm damned if I regret it.

First time. June this year. Can't wait to go back. I'm 61, my hunting partner is 70. We are hoping to go again in 2011.

I'm 57 and about to take my first safari. I had promised myself one for many years, as a compensation for my eventual redundancy. However, my only skill seems to be to avoid redundancies so I've decided to go now while I'm still fit enough.
- Paul

First trip last year at 63 after a military career, sending 4 kids through college, starting and stabilizing a consulting practice, and feeling that income was steady enough to splurge a bit. Really wish I had started 30 years ago.

Goin' back in 6 weeks for a first buff hunt in Zim to make up for lost time!