Since I have never hunted from a truck, boat, jet ski or blimp, I thought we might reflect on the three biggest lessons we have each learned in hunting in Africa. For me, I offer the following three:

1. I should have started when I was younger.
2. I should have been more judicious in having taxidermy work done.
3. I should have learned to pack right from the beginning.

Again, just the top three.

LOL and agree completely...

4.---Find an airline that does not fly thru Jo'burg

Don't shoot a giraffe
Don't shoot a giraffe
Don't shoot a giraffe


I could have returned for another hunting trip for what that ended up costing me (trophy fee, shipping, taxidermy, furniture, bone work, etc...)

But then it was pretty cool and I have some great pieces and fed a hell of a lot of people.

Learn to whisper before you go to Africa.
Take an extra day or two before the hunting starts to acclimatize.
Take a good camera along to hunt with too.

1. I wish I'd learned earlier what "Karibou Africa" means, just accepted it and avoided some of the angst I had on my first few safaris.

2. A P.H. isn't necessarily looking at the same animal that you are.

3. Tuskless, cow, cull, rations, management, etc. hunts can give you great experiences and don't have the added expense of taxidermy and high trophy fees. Corollary: Pictures are trophies, too.

5. There is no such thing as "Going once to get it out of my system."

Apparently the biggest and worst lesson I have learned is darting a Rhino in RSA is now off the table.....and I did not take advantage of it earlier when I had the chance....for some reason I don't even know, I decided to make it my last of the seven.....bad decision....

1. Choose your outfitter with great care (do your research).

2. Choose your PH with even more care (ditto).

3. Hunt as many different African countries with as many different outfitters and PHs as you can afford, and don't wait. African countries tend to open and close hunting completely or by species, rather unexpectedly. See Tom's comment above.

1) Non Trophy hunts provide great experience at a fraction of the costs.

2) It can be REALLY cold in the morning and night in Africa.

3) Time passes at an exponential rate while on Safari.

Tell me about it! After I booked my discounted TANZ hunt, Gerenuk suddenly disappeared from my quota....naturally we saw two that were likely top ten....

My top 3 (actually 3.5)


1. It always costs more than you plan.
2. Add 15% to your budget because of #1.
3. Make arrangements to send another 10-15% above #2 when you get home: see rule #1

3.5 Except in extreme circumstances, everything in lessons 1-3 is all worth it.

Yep on 3.5...never made a trip to Africa that I would not repeat if I could.....welllll, maybe not wound the Lion....

1. Don't EVER shoot unless YOU are 100% sure it's the one YOU are after. No matter how many times your PH tells you to shoot.

2. Ditto on the cull/tuskless hunts!

3. Don't ever do ANYTHING on a hand shake in Africa if it isn't in writing it isn't going to be as promised. Hell even if it is make sure YOU have multiple copies in your possession. It's amazing how the terms of service can change between the time you leave camp for home and the time you get the final bill.

LionHunter: +1.

#1 Work longer instead of retiring so you can go back to Africa!

#2 go earlier so you can go to Africa more

#3 you rarely win a LOTO

#4 old age comes too quickly

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quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:
#1 Work longer instead of retiring so you can go back to Africa!
.........................................

Dang, Mac...you're killin me..

Mac: I agree with all of yours as well! LOL!

1. Go with the idea that you are there to have fun.
2. Have fun
3. Budget for the luxuries first.

1. Go. Just go. You'll never regret those days you did not spend at your place of work.

2. Do it all. When you go to a place, collect every species that you reasonably can afford to take, especially those things that are special to an area and not available in other areas. Who knows when or if you'll ever be back.

3. Write it down. No matter how sure you are that you will remember every detail from your hunt, you won't. So, write it down so you can read it from time to time and refresh your recollection of the grand adventure.

1. Figure out how to make money to pay for trips when you want to go rather than eating tuna helper for three years to go a skimped out hunt (that is like pimp my hunt, only skimp).

2. Don't use cheap bullets

3. Never book a hunt when you can wait and get one at a discount (hard rule to follow).

ditto on the management hunts

Make sure you know what trigger control is.

Bad shots will be costly!

Don't go anywhere without:

1. your rifle
2. extra ammo
3. flashlight

1. More photos less taxidermy
2. elephants are addicting.
3. Don't take any ones advice concerning tips.

1: Become intimately familiar with your rifle(s) before you go.
2: Africans are experts at separating you from your money. Use caution.
3: Adversity is always your companion. Enjoy yourself in spite of it.

1. Make the first shot a good one.
2. Don't let the fact that you have shot dozens of buff that never charged convince you that they never will.
3. It's not for everybody.
And a cheeky fourth:
4. Doing it with a double is special.

1. Should have been born to wealthy parents.
2. Should have married an heiress.
3. Needed to win the Powerball lottery.

Bill Quimby

1. Don't even think about going to Africa the first time if you don't have resources to go back several more times.

2. If someone warns you about #1 ignore them and go anyway.

3. Don't wait until you are in your 60's to do #2.

quote:

Originally posted by billrquimby:
1. Should have been born to wealthy parents.
2. Should have married an heiress.
3. Needed to win the Powerball lottery.

Bill Quimby

Why not make a lot of money yourself Bill? Interesting choice of three things...

quote:

Originally posted by Upton O. Good:
3. 1. Don't wait until you are in your 60's to (go)

2. You can make more money - you can't make more time.

3. Take half as much stuff and twice as much money as you think you will need.

1- forget taxidermy, film the hunts .
2- search out the best PH for the hunt , NOT the one with the rock star image.
3- when leopard hunting take a shotgun just in case. You all will soon know why I say that.

1. The .375 H&H Mag. is an excellent plains game caliber. Nothing smaller is needed on safari.
2. Pack light. Really light. So light that you fear it will be too light (it won't be!).
3. For thick-skinned dangerous game, use the most powerful rifle that you can handle well and shoot straight.

Another good list jetdrvr!

1. Be flexible and let the safari unfold as it will. You'll be much happier in the end if you don't have a rigid agenda.

2. A super high profile company will not necessarily provide the best experience.

3. Do not get star struck by your PH. Remember he is providing a service for money and he provides that service for many people. This may save you some disappointment in the future.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
1. Be flexible and let the safari unfold as it will. You'll be much happier in the end if you don't have a rigid agenda.

2. A super high profile company will not necessarily provide the best experience.

3. Do not get star struck by your PH. Remember he is providing a service for money and he provides that service for many people. This may save you some disappointment in the future.

Mark

MARK -

Too right, as usual!

I especially agree with #2 & #3 as they contain much wisdom. Wisdom missed by even some experienced african hands and certainly most beginners. Sort of re-states my earlier three points.

To expand on your points, if I may:

2. Assume nothing and cover all issues with the company prior to making the deal. (We should make a list for folks to use as a reference)

3. Your PH is most likely NOT your new best friend, but he knows it is good business to leave you with that impression.

Amen to #3!!!

1. Take less crap (e.g. stuff, gear, etc.)for you.
2. Take more crap (cheap sunglasses are a great idea) that you can give away as tips; it will be appreciated.
3. Research everthing you can about the area and camp you are considering and be very wary about communal lands hunting; some are good some are quite bad.

quote:

Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:

quote:

Originally posted by billrquimby:
1. Should have been born to wealthy parents.
2. Should have married an heiress.
3. Needed to win the Powerball lottery.

Bill Quimby

Why not make a lot of money yourself Bill? Interesting choice of three things...

My net worth statement indicates I didn't do too badly in Money-Making 101, and I've done more than my share of hunting on six continents, including seven African countries.

However, in my infinite wisdom, I invested most of my portfolio in real estate (six houses, three commercial acres on a busy Tucson street and 150 acres above a golf course, etc.) in the belief that eventually selling it would allow me to continue a certain standard of living after I was unable to write.

Don't need to tell anyone what has happened these past few years to real estate purchased before 2007, especially in southern Arizona, or to 401-K plans starting at the end of that year.

So far, my real estate investments have brought some monthly rental income, but selling any of them in this market would be insane.

Have I mentioned the property taxes, utilities and insurance we pay on our properties?

Anyone need someone to help with their memoirs?

Bill Quimby

. . . and, wear hearing protection.

1. Be in some semblance of fitness
2. Pictures. Don't be afraid to tell your PH to stop while you take photos
3. A really good sparkly gift for the wife on the return. If you want to go again it better be good.