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.


THIS!!!!! Same here, a lot of my clients are older and often say we were going to....., but then dad got sick, plant shut down, kids moved back in...... I realized today is all I have tomorrow is not guaranteed. So I adopted a do it now while you can attitude in everything. Maybe i have to work longer before I retire, or never retire, but I want to slide into the box in a power slide and not creep up to it and climb in. ONLY ONE LIFE SO LIVE IT WELL!!!!!

Made one trip in 2007. Spent 10 years as a gunsmith/builder, worked for GE as a wind turbine tech for the next 5, and now working as a flight instructor in Arizona. Eventually I'll figure out what I want to do. (Charter pilot out of Windhoek....... My mounts are all on display at an airport in Southern Utah. If I go over again I will likely only have skulls and flat skins done with the exception of a few select animals.

I went on two safaris, to RSA in 1996 and then Zimbabwe in 2002.

On the RSA plains game safari I took two of my three sons, the middle and youngest, and they shot half my license.

I took my youngest son to Zimbabwe as a college graduation present after he was accepted to law school. He wanted to hunt DG, and killed a Cape buffalo. He also took a nice sable.

I retired from the Army in 1991 and was in the real estate business during the boom, so I had money to spend on luxuries.

Then the real estate meltdown of 2008 happened, and my long-haul hunting days were done.

Now I live on military retirement income and Social Security.

I am glad I went when I could, and especially that I took my sons on an adventure they probably will never repeat. And even if I had the money I'd never go on a safari again without one or more of them.

Retired from the USAF in '12 after 28 years enlisted and commissioned service. Now teaching high school kids. Can't do anything but local hunts in the Fall as a high school teacher...so Africa's hunting season is a good fit.

I was part owner of an RV dealership. I sold out and invested in commercial and residential property. Then I started my problem wildlife trapping business which has been my full time job for 7 years now. My wife cleans houses 3 days a week. We have been fortunate to have hunted 5 continents and 14 countries. Best advice I can give you is to develope a plan and stick to it.

Retired military and current Safety Director of a large elevator company. Anything worth doing in life requires some type of sacrifice. If you want to go, make a plan and go. We planned and saved accordingly. We went to Africa for our first safari last year and will return next year. MJines advice on taxidermy is spot on. We have two crates full of taxidermy enroute and have no regrets, but we will definitely be more reserved on our next trips. I would never let taxidermy costs stop me from a hunting trip. Photos are great and take up a lot less space.

My wife and I are both in healthcare. I'm an RN, she's an APRN. While we're comfortable, we also just bought a new house and had a baby. Our vehicles are paid off, we have no student loans, carry no debt other than our mortgage. We lucked out and were able to put a sizable down payment on this house from selling our first (starter) home. I thankfully stopped working a job I enjoyed for deplorable money (flight nurse) and moved into a more lucrative job in a private practice last fall, so the extra income there allowed me to book a trip for next fall (my first).

I wish I'd have gone when I was younger. Now, I'll go every chance I get while I still can. I'll probably die broke, but it will have been a hell of a ride.

The taxidermy is important to me. I go in my trophy room daily and walk around and look at them and remember my hunts. For me it was worth every penny. But I totally get those who would rather just do the hunts and bring home photos.

I like taxidermy too. I do get more selective and do more European mounts on antelope I've already taken and buffalo. Cats and my first eland are getting the full treatment however no matter what.

Skulls only, occasional flat skin
Cheap
Lots of pics
At last, attitude to do it not just once
We all gonna die and then nobody cares so do it

Good post, interesting reading I've wanted to ask this same question myself many times.

Sad story on this end so I won't post much.
In '85 I had a 8y/o truck parts, heavy equipment air filter route sales business just a booming. Got the notion I had the world by the short hairs finally. Same ending as if it of happened in a whore house! On a delivery, ruptured three disks in my back at age 40, no insurance. haven't worked since. Am 72 now and the last four years one health issue after another has nailed me. I'll never make a trip. Hopefully, I can go for elk again here in CO. Very likely my hunting days are done though.

Had plans on a buff cull trip in '15, and again this year in Australia. Even had a $4000 rifle built for it. Depressing to see all these things and dreams go down the tube. At least so far I've been able to partake in all you guys hunts and watch Saeed's vid's. That's great fun these days.

I did fly to Fla. in July '11 for a hog hunt and some gulf coast fishing. Hooked a big tarpon for three jumps and 30 seconds, hell of a thrill as it "flew" from right under us in the boat and nailed my bait about 10' away 8' in the air, soaked us when it hit the water. Caught a 3' ray, and 4' blacktip, couple dozen nice sea trout and had a great time with a newly met IT friend and his guide cousin.

Wife died Oct '13, just me and a little dog now, only the monthly bills to pay, everything else is paid including the house. Frugality isn't quite the word for it. Wish I could find a buyer for a $30,000 diamond taking up space in the bank box. Hell, I'd take just over half price for it and be tickled.

Wish you all well and hope you can continue with these hunts and dreams. Also hope you'll share them with us. No, I don't feel sorry for myself, hell, it's just part of life for some of us.

Ten years ago I came up with a saying: "LIFE: "Is just a test, of our stamina and endurance"
"AGE: "IS just a time span used to judge how long we could handle it all"
George

quote:

Originally posted by Beretta682E:
+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

Completely disagree...Go to Africa and bring back not just the memories but the trophies. There is nothing better than sitting back and seeing those beautiful animals on the wall. New friends are always amazed to see my trophy room (basement) and I love to share those memories. You don't have to go crazy and bring everything back...but you should/must bring back the trophies of that first trip. Life experiences aren't the same as resale value. Life is about experiences and you should enjoy them. Africa can be more affordable than and elk or bear hunt in America. I would suggest that you do your research save your $$ and make it happen. I see nothing wrong with being frugal...not everyone has unlimited resources. Go now while Africa is still available...it's not going to be there much longer. Things are changing on the dark continent!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Duckear:

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.

Yes but is paid for experience.

It's only here for so long is the standard marketing story or it's a once in a lifetime experience. What is the once in lifetime experience - the guy selling a fenced plains game hunt in Africa will say it's is, the guy in the save or by the will say it is and some guy with a 20k charter will say unless you full fly in everything you might as well be hunting in Texas. It's all marketing for discretionary vacations - there is no AR members whose hunting skill is so great it is warranted to travel to Africa to help in any wildlife management. Hunting Africa is a checkbook experience - you have the money you can have the discretionary vacation. There are means to borrow to go and there are means to borrow to go rent a yacht for 10 days.

Mike

I'm a retired Human Resources Director who worked forty years in that field. I also was an Adjunct Professor, teaching HR classes at the undergrad level, and did a good bit of HR consulting work as well.

My Dad, Dr. Ed Meadows, died in 2011 at the age of 91. It was my Dad who got me into hunting at a very early age, and we had a very close relationship. When his estate was settled, I asked myself "What would Dad want me to do with this money"? I took 50% of the money and set up 529 Educational Trust Funds for my four grandchildren. Every year on their birthdays, I put another $1000 into each of their 529 Trusts. The other 50% I've used to fund three trips to Namibia and a fourth scheduled for April 2017. I found a smoking deal here on AR for a plains game hunt with Sebra Hunting Safaris in Kamanjab, Namibia, and booked my first hunt for August 2012, at the age of 65. I immediately got hooked, and rebooked for 2013. I had to lay off in 2014 due to knee surgery, but went back in July 2015 and had another fabulous trip.

Heeding the advice of many of the seasoned veterans here on AR, I went with European mounts for my trophies from the first two trips. Having run out of room for trophies in our condo, my younger son Steve said he'd love to have some European mounts for his condo, which is two blocks from ours. I babysit his five year old son quite frequently, and I get to see the 2015 mounts every time I visit. I'm sure my Dad is looking down favorably on both the mounts and the 529 Trust Funds for his great grandchildren.

quote:

Originally posted by Beretta682E:

Yes but is paid for experience.

It's only here for so long is the standard marketing story or it's a once in a lifetime experience. What is the once in lifetime experience - the guy selling a fenced plains game hunt in Africa will say it's is, the guy in the save or by the will say it is and some guy with a 20k charter will say unless you full fly in everything you might as well be hunting in Texas. It's all marketing for discretionary vacations - there is no AR members whose hunting skill is so great it is warranted to travel to Africa to help in any wildlife management. Hunting Africa is a checkbook experience - you have the money you can have the discretionary vacation. There are means to borrow to go and there are means to borrow to go rent a yacht for 10 days.

Mike

Not gonna disagree, but it is close to impossible to convince someone that has never been to forego any and all taxidermy.

I enjoy my trophies practically daily, and they are always an interesting conversation when folks visit our house. Now, would I miss one or two of them? No. Would I miss all of them? Yes.

I think a few nice PG shoulder mounts and a zebra rug scattered about are plenty for most folks homes unless you have a dedicated trophy room with the requisite space (including height) to tastefully display dozens of mounts. But that isn't the avg guy by a long shot.


And heck yeah, I heartily agree that most of what passes for 'adventure' for middle and upper middle class Americans is having enough depth to your checking account or limit on your credit card. Africa included.

I am a proud science teacher of 33 years. My part time bird taxidermy business pays for my hunting addiction. I have been fortunate in making four trips to Africa and am heading to Darwin, Australia, this summer for a water buffalo hunt. I will die broke, but I will also die happy.

Having traveled all over Sub Saharan Africa for 45 years, I can really say that I have lost nothing in Southern Africa. Now a days we prefer to travel accros Canada, North America and other parts of the world.

I guess it's like everything, Africa today is nothing like it was when I was a youngster - and I really can't say it's better now.

I can appreciate the urge to hunt in the red sands of the Kalahari, braai steaks under a full African moon, and listen to wild Africa through the walls of your canvas tent at night.

Now days all I seem to read about is the 5 star facilities where the hunter does nothing except squeeze of the shot from the dead rest of a bakie after stepping out from the airconditioned interior.

If you really want to hunt Africa's incredible potpourri of fauna, do so quickly, the anti crowd are gaining more and more strength and the cowards in government will sell your hunting rights for a vote.

Trophies are great, expensive but great, I don't chase Rowland Ward entries and hold no grudges to the folks that do, I hunt for the sheer sake of hunting, one or two Biltong carcasses are enough to satisfy our cravings, a nice venison roast or a wild grouse is a treat for us - so if you plan right your trip to SA can be as expensive as a European holiday.

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:
I skipped a new truck and took out a 60 month $15K loan to take my wife on our hunt in 2014

My truck is 12 years old.

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:
I skipped a new truck and took out a 60 month $15K loan to take my wife on our hunt in 2014

My truck is 12 years old.

Yep. When I went in 2004 and 2005 I got rid of a newer truck and its payment, drove a 20-year old clunker for several years, and borrowed against my retirement. It was worth every penny to take my dad on his first (and probably only) African safari.

I may repeat the process in a few years when all the kids are old enough to enjoy a similar trip, assuming they don't need that money to supplement other savings to pay for rapidly inflating college tuition...

My hunting days are over due to the ravages of an advanced age. However, I have hunted and fished on six continents. Each one at least twice, including 17 African safaris. My wonderful wife does not hunt or fish but has accompanied me on 16 of my African trips. I wouldn't want to go without her. My wife worked as a high school teacher and I spent 33 years as a university professor. If you think that university faculty are overwhelmingly anti-gun, anti-hunting liberals you are correct. I was an anomaly with horns and hides hanging in my university office.
The students were far more open minded than the faculty and I was able to introduce several of them to hunting and fishing. I was able to put on several shooting events for the student thanks to the contributions of our local gun club who allowed us to have exclusive use of the facility for an afternoon and our SCI chapter who provided the targets, ammunition and manpower for the activity. When we tried to advertise the event the university would not allow us the words "gun" or "shooting" in our fliers and signs.
As a professor I didn't hold what would be considered a high paying job. But, by being generally frugal and making a few fortunate investment I have been able to do more hunting than I ever thought I could. My first African safari was done at 45. I can't do it anymore but glad that I did it when I could until waiting too late in life.

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:
I skipped a new truck and took out a 60 month $15K loan to take my wife on our hunt in 2014

My truck is 12 years old.

+1, hard to imagine laying on your death bed and reflecting back on how much you regret not having had a new truck . . . on the other hand it is easy for me to imagine looking back and regretting not having made one more buffalo hunt, going to Cameroon, seeing Vic Falls, fishing for marlin, etc.

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:
I skipped a new truck and took out a 60 month $15K loan to take my wife on our hunt in 2014

My truck is 12 years old.

My truck is 20 years old, the tractor 38 years old, and Joyce's wagon is 12 years old. We plan on driving them to our funerals.

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

The experience and memories are more valuable than the trophies you take home.
Take the time to look at everything, listen and smell and most importantly enjoy.
Take pictures. Pick out a couple that you especially like and have them blown up and framed if you want a visual memory.
Make a scrap book with the rest of the pictures from each safari.
I have several displayed on coffee tables, in the library etc.
Its remarkable how often someone comes to the house, see's them, thumbs thru and asks questions.

The big taxidermy mounts get tedious after a while.

My wife's car is 7 years old....paid for
My truck is 13 years old.....paid for
My house is 30.....paid for
My wife is 47......still making payments on her lol

I do need a new truck one day

Spent the majority of my life in the Permian Basin of West Texas, having owned and operated a few service companies here. Got my degree at TTU Lubbock, TX.

I've been debt free since 1998, both personally and business, college funds, etc, and it is the best move I've ever made. God has richly blessed me and my family for sure. Only after funding all of this did I decide to start hunting abroad, heading to Sonora, MX a couple of times, as well as 3 times to Africa.

I love to hunt more than anybody I know, but hunting doesn't define who I am. I get much more gratification from giving to worthy causes. I believe you reap what you sow.

Hang in there George. Wish you the best.

One thing anyone thinking about making the trip needs to keep in mind, it is not going to get any cheaper.

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:
I skipped a new truck and took out a 60 month $15K loan to take my wife on our hunt in 2014

My truck is 12 years old.

My truck is 20 years old, the tractor 38 years old, and Joyce's wagon is 12 years old. We plan on driving them to our funerals.

Now I know why you spent all that money fixing the truck up

Mike

quote:

Originally posted by Full Roar:

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

The experience and memories are more valuable than the trophies you take home.
Take the time to look at everything, listen and smell and most importantly enjoy.
Take pictures. Pick out a couple that you especially like and have them blown up and framed if you want a visual memory.
Make a scrap book with the rest of the pictures from each safari.
I have several displayed on coffee tables, in the library etc.
Its remarkable how often someone comes to the house, see's them, thumbs thru and asks questions.

The big taxidermy mounts get tedious after a while.

+1


Hire a videographer to record the hunt. Far better and cheaper than taxidermy.

Mike

I am a disciplinarian at a prison for bad super models, and NFL cheerleaders. It's tough job but it has paid for a half dozen or so trips to Africa.

I was in Management for a Fortune 500 Company. I worked very hard all my life and lived frugal. I put my daughter through school and I made some very good investments in the Market. I retired at 48. I am not rich but I have a very good retirement income and everything I have is paid for. I have a double buff hunt in Zim in two months. Work hard and it will become a reality!!!

Slider:
I leave for Zim on July 7. From Atlanta on the 8th. What date to you fly?

Gents:
For my career I was a public school teacher for 25 years and retired at 49. Saved and invested for 20 of those years. Live simple, have not paid any interest in 25 years (no loans) and live life in the slow lane in a log home I built and play with a nice selection of double rifles and love my black Lab.

I don't smoke, take drugs, chase wild women, and when I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading. Never regretted dumping all of my taxidermy and now don't take anything from the field. Have a few skull mounts, a couple of skins, and that's all. I guess with no kids or relatives I don't think of leaving stuff to anyone or a legacy. I hope my bank account and blood pressure hit zero on the same day.

AR is a great place.
Cal

quote:

Originally posted by Beretta682E:

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:
I skipped a new truck and took out a 60 month $15K loan to take my wife on our hunt in 2014

My truck is 12 years old.

My truck is 20 years old, the tractor 38 years old, and Joyce's wagon is 12 years old. We plan on driving them to our funerals.

Now I know why you spent all that money fixing the truck up

Mike

About to do some engine and transmission mods to open up that 12 valve a bit. Not sure I have another 500,000 miles in me but that truck does and the body is rust free.

Also agree with Mike Jines on the taxidermy, yet we will pay and have the Leopards sent over and mounted. Otherwise I feel like I haven't completed something.

Having the Elephant hunt video'd has sold me on that idea perhaps as a substitute for the taxidermy. But I've looked at the Lion in our great room more than I've re-watched the Elephant video so it's all a personal call I think.

For the past six year Gov't worker. It pays well enough to pay my mortgage, 2 Mercedes and to travel the world. Best job ever, thank you tax payers.

quote:

Originally posted by surestrike:
I am a disciplinarian at a prison for bad super models, and NFL cheerleaders. It's tough job but it has paid for a half dozen or so trips to Africa.

quote:

Slider:
I leave for Zim on July 7. From Atlanta on the 8th. What date to you fly?

I arrive in Zim on July 18th.

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:
Also agree with Mike Jines on the taxidermy, yet we will pay and have the Leopards sent over and mounted. Otherwise I feel like I haven't completed something.

Having the Elephant hunt video'd has sold me on that idea perhaps as a substitute for the taxidermy. But I've looked at the Lion in our great room more than I've re-watched the Elephant video so it's all a personal call I think.

Hey Jim,

I consider you and many other here to be friends. However, at the risk of receiving an internet beating, I strongly disagree with this new thought process of killing animals simply to take their photograph.

I got into this same "debate" over on 24hour. My position is, if you simply kill these incredible animals for the hunting experience and then only take their photograph, you have, by definition reduced the value of that animals life to a few megapixels of digital information on a camera card.

If the "hunting experience" is what you desire, why not just take pictures? If the hunting experience just isn't complete without the kill (which, I agree with) I feel there is a greater responsibility accepted than just a picture?

What say you?

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:
[

My truck is 20 years old, the tractor 38 years old, and Joyce's wagon is 12 years old. We plan on driving them to our funerals.

A 20 year old truck? I have had younger girlfriends!

Just kidding.