I love this site although I know Africa is still a distant dream that may or may not ever come to be for me.

I love looking through the hunt reports for Africa & everywhere else, looking at the hunts for sale and although I'm not jealous I would say i'm envious of some of you.

Don't get me wrong I'm still young, have my health, have a good business, great wife, so maybe envious is even too strong of a word but I often sit back and wonder

"what the heck do these people do for a living"

I see some of you have gone on quite a few hunts, some go on one long hunt per year, some have suggested that they live with few "things" so they can go places to make memories instead. I'm sure some have been born into families that have generation(s) of wealth and some of you are self-made.


I'm just curious what some of you do for a living, and i understand some won't be willing to share for personal/professional reasons and that is fine too.

I figured i asked so I will be the first to answer:

i'm a hoof trimmer for cows, I'm not making the $$ that some of my friends in the business do but I make a respectable living, the bills are paid, retirement accounts funded and enough in the bank to be comfortable.

I am a retired monarch.

Actually, I'm a gradually retiring lawyer, retired from a full-time judgeship and still currently a part-time city court judge, a somewhat disabled former Marine pilot, a wastrel when it comes to fine rifles, good liquor, a beautiful wife and trips to Africa...

29 years in landfill sales( non haz industrial waste, c & d, contaminated soils...).

I strip in the evenings/weekends to get my hunting money.....

quote:

Originally posted by 505 gibbs:
I strip in the evenings/weekends to get my hunting money.....

Good to see you have lost some weight brad - I told you the south beach diet is the way to go

Mike

I have been on several hunts that cost less than $10,000 all in, so it can be done. And I didn't start going until most of the major lifetime expenses had been made (house, children's education, etc). Also, I lived within my means: modest house, didn't buy a new car until I was 62 years old, no risky investments and maybe the most important, my wife is not a material girl. And yet, I'm probably more travelled than most, since I don't need fancy hotels and don't mind using local public transportation when I'm a tourist.

And then, all of sudden, I had enough money to go on an African hunting safari. But my hunts in South Africa and Namibia and Burkina Faso were not excessively expensive. Pick the right PH.

I haven't spent $10K on a hunt to Africa yet. I did my first hunt to Africa for my 50th birthday.

General Manager (North America) - for an international airline's gas turbine field service company

Didn't hit Africa until 48 when business started paying off ( hazardous waste) and kids grew up
Just set goal and go
It's only money, Pharaos took money with them, look where it got them...

I have done alot of hunts around the world and am only 53. Sheep hunting included. I have been wise on who and where to hunt with, done alot of research. Got a few great deals on this web site and all have been good hunts.
I am a landscape architect and work in the landscape design install field. Wife has been a nurse now a nurse practioner just recently. No kids is what probably has lead me to being able to travel as much as i have, and frugal living in other areas

quote:

Originally posted by Tim629:I'm just curious what some of you do for a living, and i understand some won't be willing to share for personal/professional reasons and that is fine too.

Pipefitter and welder by trade. Made a few good decisions in life and at 52 have been very fortunate to have hunted Africa, Alaska, and Canada multiple times.

I skipped a new truck and took out a 60 month $15K loan to take my wife on our hunt in 2014

It was our 25th wedding anniversary gift to ourselves

With 29 more payments the new truck just might happen before our 30th wedding anniversary

As to what we do for a living

I work in a plastics factory and my wife works at our local hospital and is also a part time student

....as Ted just demonstrated..it's all about how bad you wanna go!

Work hard...and find a way, before you know it you'll be on your way

quote:

i'm a hoof trimmer for cows

Just a heads-up, there are dairy farms in Saudi Arabia that have over 100 000 head of cattle in small stalls....

I can't afford a safari either... I'm a natural-resource scientist.

Started off as a surveyor, made party chief (foreman) by age 21. Went into construction inspection and worked my way up to Quality Manager on power plant construction. Been to Canada 5 times and Africa twice. I don't choose the "5 star" facilities where they meet you with hot towels at the end of the day, just neat clean facilities with reputable PH's and comfortable facilities and good food. Currently retired and plan to stay that way although my old company keeps offering me new projects to go on.

I like threads like these. I am Teacher at a high school. I also own a small business- Drafting and Design (CAD).

During the oil boom, we did well. However, due to the reduction and many other issues, we went from 17 employees to 3-4. When we were busy, I went to Africa with my wife in 2011. In 2014, I took my wife, 3 son's, and my father. It was a memorable experience and one that I will always cherish.

We are still fine and have been able to save money. I could go again but will probably never go again. Given the cost, the fact that I have already been, I would rather experience something different. Plus, dealing and fighting with the logistics of getting my trophies to the states helps with the decision.

Having said this, I would highly recommend going. I love to hear stories like Ted's, who through hard work and sacrifice, made it happen.

I would say that many who say they can't go, actually could. And, I can understand why priorities come into play as well. If you have the means to make it happen, I say follow your dream and go! There are some great Outfitters on this site.

Im 34, work for myself in a small business. Started travelling alone when I was around 17 and have since then gone 1-3/times year to different countries. Not born rich will never be rich but love to travel! No kids, dogs, wife or VOLVO.

Would like to work and live somewhere in Africa before I get too old.

Anton,

As good as your photos are, I would guess you are a professional photographer.

If not, maybe you should be.

Ha! I'm a retired newspaper editor -- and that's a dinosaur profession that never paid well. Truth is I was able to afford my one hunt in Namibia thanks to a workers compensation check related to surgery on my left elbow -- a result of too much computer work. Hope to go back one more time using retirement account funds.
As others have said here, there are some great hunts out there well under $10,000.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeBurke:
Anton,

As good as your photos are, I would guess you are a professional photographer.

If not, maybe you should be.

Haha i´m in ten pin bowling and construction, but thanks

Electrical contractor. Started as an apprentice and just worked my way up until I had the money and contacts to go into business. First of Six trips started in 2009, next trip in August.

Lived frugally with an understanding wife that goes on every trip.

.

quote:

Lived frugally with an understanding wife that goes on every trip.

That might be the best advice that I have ever read

I am a Tax Man (CPA) in a good area with lots of affluent clients. I have been at the same location for twenty seven years and have had a fair amount of clients die who had lots of money, yet didn't do much because they were always scared of running out of money. I rather die poor. I have been to Africa twenty one times so I am well on my way to reaching that goal.

I started out as a trainee for a large ag corporation six days out of college. I started at the bottom, kept my nose clean, saved and spent responsibly, worked long hours (no OT pay), transferred wife and kids around the country eight times.
Ended up as president of a pretty large part of this ag corporation. I was paid well, but more importantly I received pay for performance compensation basis the performance of my company (not just financial performance). I am retired and can pretty much hunt where ever I want. Been to Africa three times and Alaska once in last five years. May go back to Africa again, and am booked for brown bear in Ak in 2018.

Something to be said about staying single well into your 30's as well. I did my "Big safaris" at age 27, 29 and 33 and got married when I was 35.

I manage IT teams. I am getting ready for Safari #3. No kids so that keeps my expenses down. My truck has 208,000 miles on it and needs to be replaced, but I would rather deal with that and go shoot a hippo instead! Wife is very understanding of my passion for Africa. My dad is going with me in July, and he turns 81 this year and we have done all three of our Safaris together. Those are memories one cannot put a price on.

I had a friend who was diagnosed with ALS when he was 50. by the time he was diagnosed, he was in a walker. No time to execute a bucket list. He was dead in less than 2 years.

Life is too short, have an adventure while you can.

My dad and I with our Buffalo in 2012.

cool pic Rob H,

I am transitioning into the title of International Sportsman. I originally wanted to just be an International Wingshooter when I grow up. I keep looking at this damn site so I will just change it to "Sportsman", that should cover it all.

505, I thought you said once you had a sugar momma, didn't know you had to moonlight to support your addiction

Tim,

I think a lot of folks don't go to Africa because they want to go but they don't want to change any part of their lifestyle to be able to do that. If you really want to go make a plan. Ted probably was the extreme in taking out a loan but he wanted to go and that was his plan. I initially also borrowed money but against my retirement, paid it back and went again. It sounds like your finances are pretty much in order. Take a look at where you can save a few dollars and I bet you'll be able to go if you really want to. Also consider the total payments on a safari to include everything can be spread out over 2-3 years so you don't have to be sitting on airfare, daily rates, trophy fees, dip/pack, trophy shipping and taxidermy before booking the hunt. Also there is no hurry to get everything mounted as most taxidermists are going to let you mount your trophies a little at a time if necessary.

Mark

For those that might be stretching and saving to make a trip to Africa, one thing that I would not let stand in the way of going would be the cost and expense of dip and pack, shipping, taxidermy, etc. I think the experience is so much more than the game mount trophies. If there were ever a question of being able to go but not able to afford the post-hunt trophy expense, or being able to go but cutting back on the experience (for example, hunting fewer days, taking fewer trophies) in order to allow for the post-hunt trophy expense, I would give up the post-hunt trophy expense in a heartbeat. For one thing post-hunting trophy handling and shipment costs have gotten ridiculous. And of course the USFWS is not helping for many animals either. One of my major regrets looking back on my trips to Africa and other places is that I wish I would have saved all the trophy and taxidermy costs and plowed that savings back into another trip or two (or three), extra hunting days, a second buffalo on a trip, etc.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
For those that might be stretching and saving to make a trip to Africa, one thing that I would not let stand in the way of going would be the cost and expense of dip and pack, shipping, taxidermy, etc. I think the experience is so much more than the game mount trophies. If there were ever a question of being able to go but not able to afford the post-hunt trophy expense, or being able to go but cutting back on the experience (for example, hunting fewer days, taking fewer trophies) in order to allow for the post-hunt trophy expense, I would give up the post-hunt trophy expense in a heartbeat. For one thing post-hunting trophy handling and shipment costs have gotten ridiculous. And of course the USFWS is not helping for many animals either. One of my major regrets looking back on my trips to Africa and other places is that I wish I would have saved all the trophy and taxidermy costs and plowed that savings back into another trip or two (or three), extra hunting days, a second buffalo on a trip, etc.

Agree 100% ^^^^^^^^^^ I would do this!!

Yup. I wish I had videoed more and mounted less.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
For those that might be stretching and saving to make a trip to Africa, one thing that I would not let stand in the way of going would be the cost and expense of dip and pack, shipping, taxidermy, etc. I think the experience is so much more than the game mount trophies. If there were ever a question of being able to go but not able to afford the post-hunt trophy expense, or being able to go but cutting back on the experience (for example, hunting fewer days, taking fewer trophies) in order to allow for the post-hunt trophy expense, I would give up the post-hunt trophy expense in a heartbeat. For one thing post-hunting trophy handling and shipment costs have gotten ridiculous. And of course the USFWS is not helping for many animals either. One of my major regrets looking back on my trips to Africa and other places is that I wish I would have saved all the trophy and taxidermy costs and plowed that savings back into another trip or two (or three), extra hunting days, a second buffalo on a trip, etc.

+1 for me- taxidermy is a waste with little resale value. All the ancillary fees with getting back trophies is a waste of money.

I also don't get living a frugal lifestyle so one can hunt Africa. African hunt is a discretionary vacation. I personally see little benefit In driving a beat up car so I can save to hunt Africa. I treat Arrican hunting like a very expensive vacation - when there are betters values else where for the dollars they go there.

I recently booked a Amazon fishing trip for 1/5 the cost of a Cape buffalo hunt. I have been on a few Cape buffalo hunts but not to the Amazon.

Also for my vacations I look for shorter flights. Writing this on a 12 hr flight to Abu dabhi and its sucks flying with guns or sitting in coach to Africa (I am cheap I will never fly business let alone first).

I see less Africa and more america's hunting and fishing.

Mike

I am in oil and gas. I spend my stock option money (when there is a surplus) on Africa and sold a large collection of guns to fund my trips. I only need a couple of guns instead of 25.

We downsized homes as well. Be diligent and save your money - avoid eating out, cut down on cable tv options, drive less, wear clothes longer and a host of other issues result in saving a for Africa trips. Plus, you can go there cheaper than on a guided hunt in Colorado or Alaska and shoot more stuff.

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Tim,

I think a lot of folks don't go to Africa because they want to go but they don't want to change any part of their lifestyle to be able to do that. If you really want to go make a plan. Ted probably was the extreme in taking out a loan but he wanted to go and that was his plan. I initially also borrowed money but against my retirement, paid it back and went again. It sounds like your finances are pretty much in order. Take a look at where you can save a few dollars and I bet you'll be able to go if you really want to. Also consider the total payments on a safari to include everything can be spread out over 2-3 years so you don't have to be sitting on airfare, daily rates, trophy fees, dip/pack, trophy shipping and taxidermy before booking the hunt. Also there is no hurry to get everything mounted as most taxidermists are going to let you mount your trophies a little at a time if necessary.

Mark

my wife & I have enough saved that we could go, would be a bit happier going after oil prices come back since so many sectors of the stock market are tied back to oil price but last I looked the stocks/funds that I own are coming back nicely.

i'm mainly just holding back as we still haven't bought a house, but renting from in-laws for $300/month also makes it hard to look at a house when the deal is that good.


i just always find it interesting in my mind seeing the diverse locations & stories of individuals on here, how some it is a once in a lifetime trip that turns into 20+ trips, others it really is a once in a lifetime (for now), others like myself who could go but are choosing not to at the current time (i was seriously considering putting in for the Bubye Lion Raffle last year before it was canceled, go big or go home was my logic), and some that it is like clockwork they will post 1-2 hunt reports from Africa per year as well as others as the opportunity presents itself. So to me the natural progression was "what the heck do these people do for a living"

i do imagine that within the next 5-10 years I will look harder at Namibia and try to talk my father into joining me as well as my wife & mother since they get along well and would enjoy themselves while my father & I were doing some hunting

quote:

Originally posted by Black Lechwe:

quote:

i'm a hoof trimmer for cows

Just a heads-up, there are dairy farms in Saudi Arabia that have over 100 000 head of cattle in small stalls....

I can't afford a safari either... I'm a natural-resource scientist.

i've been aware of the farms in Saudi Arabia, with all of the sand they actually have less of some health problems since there is no reason to re-use the sand at least within a short time span. I should look up more about the farms over there just out of curiosity to feeding, housing, ect... but I don't think my wife would be up for a move across the ocean even if it meant making more money in a shorter amount of time

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
For those that might be stretching and saving to make a trip to Africa, one thing that I would not let stand in the way of going would be the cost and expense of dip and pack, shipping, taxidermy, etc. I think the experience is so much more than the game mount trophies. If there were ever a question of being able to go but not able to afford the post-hunt trophy expense, or being able to go but cutting back on the experience (for example, hunting fewer days, taking fewer trophies) in order to allow for the post-hunt trophy expense, I would give up the post-hunt trophy expense in a heartbeat. For one thing post-hunting trophy handling and shipment costs have gotten ridiculous. And of course the USFWS is not helping for many animals either. One of my major regrets looking back on my trips to Africa and other places is that I wish I would have saved all the trophy and taxidermy costs and plowed that savings back into another trip or two (or three), extra hunting days, a second buffalo on a trip, etc.

Totally agree Mike - in these days I pay for my last shipment of trophies. From now on it is the hunt and experience - and that be non trophy animals of different kinds. I would rather have another trip than another trophy mounted and shipped home. To bring my family along is a another goal - like I did with my daughter and son in 2012 and my son in 2014. Great time

Morten

quote:

Originally posted by Beretta682E:

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
For those that might be stretching and saving to make a trip to Africa, one thing that I would not let stand in the way of going would be the cost and expense of dip and pack, shipping, taxidermy, etc. I think the experience is so much more than the game mount trophies. If there were ever a question of being able to go but not able to afford the post-hunt trophy expense, or being able to go but cutting back on the experience (for example, hunting fewer days, taking fewer trophies) in order to allow for the post-hunt trophy expense, I would give up the post-hunt trophy expense in a heartbeat. For one thing post-hunting trophy handling and shipment costs have gotten ridiculous. And of course the USFWS is not helping for many animals either. One of my major regrets looking back on my trips to Africa and other places is that I wish I would have saved all the trophy and taxidermy costs and plowed that savings back into another trip or two (or three), extra hunting days, a second buffalo on a trip, etc.

+1 for me- taxidermy is a waste with little resale value. All the ancillary fees with getting back trophies is a waste of money.

I also don't get living a frugal lifestyle so one can hunt Africa. African hunt is a discretionary vacation. I personally see little benefit In driving a beat up car so I can save to hunt Africa. I treat Arrican hunting like a very expensive vacation - when there are betters values else where for the dollars they go there.

I recently booked a Amazon fishing trip for 1/5 the cost of a Cape buffalo hunt. I have been on a few Cape buffalo hunts but not to the Amazon.

Also for my vacations I look for shorter flights. Writing this on a 12 hr flight to Abu dabhi and its sucks flying with guns or sitting in coach to Africa (I am cheap I will never fly business let alone first).

I see less Africa and more america's hunting and fishing.

Mike

Easier to say AFTER you have hunted Africa vs never hunted there.

Still good advise....I wish someone would have told me before I spent a significant amount of coin on shipping and taxidermy from my first 3 safaris. What a waste...coulda had a 21 day hunt for what I blew or close anyway.

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:

Ted probably was the extreme in taking out a loan but he wanted to go and that was his plan. I initially also borrowed money but against my retirement, paid it back and went again.

Mark

Mark

I also pulled my loan from my retirement (401K) and after I finish paying it back I may very well do the exact same thing.

Ted

quote:

Originally posted by Heym 450/400:
Still good advise....I wish someone would have told me before I spent a significant amount of coin on shipping and taxidermy from my first 3 safaris. What a waste...coulda had a 21 day hunt for what I blew or close anyway.

I agree.

I am happy with the amount of taxidermy from my first and only safari.

And with that out of my system, the only things I would even consider bringing back now would be tusks or buff skull.