This is a really good topic to ask about because there is really no right answer. It comes down to personal preference however being amongst even buffalo with the size and tenacity they can exhibit sure its exciting!

I think often times the excitement factor is directly related to the effort needed to acquire said trophy, heck, even the preparation leading up to the hunt itself builds excitement until the moment of truth. After all not all hunts are created equal and it really all boils down to the animal you most desire and the effort it took to finally get him!

At the end of the day it probably comes down to the individual. To Rodell's coment, I've jumped out of airplanes over 700 times (None of the airplanes were perfectly good although 698 of them were basically serviceable).

I've thoroughly enjoyed hunting dangerous game with the best DG experience being the swamps of Mozambique. After shooting a buffalo we were looking at a phalanx of buffalo looking straight at us for what seemed like an eternity, although realistically it was probably less than a minute before they went on their way. The thought going through everyone's mind at that time was "We're well and truly f****d if they decide to come this way". They didn't and moved off

By the same token when hunting plains game in Namibia (No fences) we spent over four hours stalking a herd of gemsbok which involved crawling on hands and knees over rocks, backing in and out of thorn bushes, sneaking around giraffes, zebra, and other game. That experience was equally adrenaline filled for me as the buffalo hunt.

Hunting is what you make of it. For me, not interested in high fence hunts but no problems with someone who likes it.

Whether plains game or dangerous game enjoy the hunt and the experience!

I get just as excited calling in a big Gobbler as I do baring down on an Elephant. I love it all! Thank God for that!

As someone else eloquently put it early in this thread: "Yes."

Hunting is a little like sex. Some is more exciting the others but it is all good. There is only one first time for hunting, one first time for DG hunting. Hard to equal those hunts but I am going to continue anyway and enjoy each hunt. The older I get the slower I get but I am not quitting.

Tom

No. Not at all. I have done both and could do either, yet I choose "Spiral Horns". My last trip over was for Chobe bushbuck and Livingston eland, and I added an importable bull elephant in case I got my primary animals.

Tough question, but I think elephant is as close to point of no return as anything else. Here in States, Whitey close in second place. Can't beat November rut, plain and simple.
Excellent topic though

It's up to everyone what they like to hunt. Africa was the point of no return for me. Buffalo are addictive and I hope to develop that same addiction with cats and elephant -- I've just put my toe in the water on that score. But, I still love chasing plains game, especially those that have eluded me -- bushbuck, Roan, bushpig, etc. And, those I've not yet hunted. Always try to combine with at least buffalo.

Your question is...Great! It brought out many passionate responses. For me, the answer is " I'm not sure..." I had a great buffalo hunt last August in Zim., this summer I've found an outfitter in RSA w/ huge tracts of unfenced or regular barbed wire cattle fences and a great selection of plainsgame. (I'll save the 8 foot fences for Texas, where I can do a fun, affordable meat hunt and bring it all home.) But I also want an exportable, tusked elephant at some point. I can afford the hunt but find it difficult to justify the expense...I'm an optimist, so I hope that Bots opens back up to give more Supply for the existing Demand, and bring prices down some... Sustainability and renewable resource in action.

I hunted Africa once...10 days of PG, followed by a week for a buffalo. I am extremely thankful that I did it in that order, because if the PG had followed the buff hunt I would have been completely underwhelmed. PG was great, and I don't regret the experience, but I would never return to Africa to hunt PG unless I were taking my granddaughter. When I return it'll be for buff and/or tuskless.

Oddly enough, on the flight home I was planning my deer hunt at home with great anticipation, and enjoyed it every bit as thoroughly as I do each year. Go figure.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Whether we like it or not, practically all plains game only hunts are only available on farms.

Let us see you try to book a plains game only hunt in Tanzania for instance.

There are many options in Mozambique for PG hunts in wild big game areas.

Plains game... Good to fill in spare time between DG.

[/QUOTE]Plains game... Good to fill in spare time between DG.[/QUOTE]

Absolutely correct!

As lavaca said above, it is Africa that spoiled me more than the species hunted. I tired of mule deer hunting in my home area because I went some seasons and never saw one. I tried Alaska via a fly in to a very remote area. I I shot the only really large bull moose I saw on that trip along with a double shovel caribou. The area was loaded with Griz and black bear but never got close to one and I was cold or wet or both a lot of the time.

I gave up hunting for a long time.. and then I found myself in the Luangwa Valley of Zambia hunting buffalo, croc, hippo, and plains game while sometimes running away from bees or cheeky cow elephants. The amount of game I saw, the sounds of lions at night, and just being there made that trip stand out more than any hunting experience I had ever had. It was Africa that was the addiction. Two plains game hunts to Namibia (no game fences) and several more buffalo cause me to say that each hunt was the best hunt in one way or another. In 2013 I killed two nice buffalo bulls with one shot each from my .458 and the second bull was taken on my 70th birthday.

Just to be able to take my rifle on long walks in the beauty and excitement of Africa at my age made me feel blessed and the addiction is not diminished. Each trip to Africa has been special. But, I do admit to a fondness for stalking buffalo and getting down in the middle of them when the wind allows, and I do love the feeling of knowing I am not on the top of the food chain when I find myself walking in lion tracks that are inside the tracks of the buffalo I've been following. It's all good just not always good in the same way.

I say hunt something in Africa as often as you can go and if you have to add more excitement take the optic off your rifle and get in really close or just use a bow. What ever you hunt and where ever you go, enjoy the moment. It's all good.

Not for me , I just love to hunt. It doesn't have to be "dangerous" for me to enjoy hunting and the outdoors. If you get to that point IMHO, you have closed a lot of doors to great hunting and experiences around the world.

quote:

Originally posted by Jerry Huffaker:
Not for me , I just love to hunt. It doesn't have to be "dangerous" for me to enjoy hunting and the outdoors. If you get to that point IMHO, you have closed a lot of doors to great hunting and experiences around the world.

+1

Take mountain hunting for example. Lot's of physical prep, planning, and specialized gear needed. Then all of that pales in comparison to the mental toughness necessary to continue to enjoy the experience after the shot and the work triples.