So after looking into cape buffalo hunts in a couple of places that I can almost afford, ;

I notice every year left over quota hunts seem to pop up,mostly Zimbabwe....

What is the downside to a late hunt,other than heat?

Not interested in plainsgame aspect,just the buff...

Are there areas to be avoided....

thanks

Dan

theres no downside , just be prepared to be flexible and wait for a good area , even the good areas have late season deals , in zimbabwe the outfitters pay for their quota ahead of time and they have till the 31st december to take it ...

whats unsold by november is usually sold off close to cost .

its worth waiting and being selective .... the areas to avoid are the same as the areas you would avoid when paying full price.

if an area has a lot available late season ask some questions , it could be that there are few buff there that year ....

PM me if you would like more details

quote:

if an area has a lot available late season ask some questions , it could be that there are few buff there that year ....

True statement, with one exception that I know of.

We hunted late in the season in Chete, Zimbabwe, 5 years in a row.

They always had plenty of buffalo left from the quota. The reason being is that the area is rather difficult to hunt. And one has to walk quite long distances to be able to shoot buffalo.

Apparently, due to the heat and the hard terrain, many people book buffalo hunts and were unable to shoot any.

Worked great for us, as sometimes we had the chance to shoot 12 buffalo.

And we always got whatever was left.

Dan

I have been a late season left over quota guy for many years now and love it. All in Zimbabwe, with Richard Cooke and other fine assorted HHK PH's too.

Hi Ivan, in fact last season 2007 I was there on Matetsi cleaning up end of season buffalo while you were there with Gary making the movie. I cleaned up the last 5 buffalo on quota, big big fun! Little warm but not too bad.

A few years ago I was in the Chete cleaning up quota and it was hot---very very hot! But we did clean up the quota and left nothing to speak of.

Late season hunts are great, hard to go wrong especially hunting with the right guys--HHK.

Michael

1;The HEAT
2; Game is more skittish from being hunted all season.
3; Wet season rain can make it tough to travel, hunting and getting out of some hunting areas.
As told by a few PHs,

Assuming that the late season hunt is a discounted price, how do I recognize it. Is the day rate cut in half, or the trophy fee? What does "close to cost" mean? What is "the cost" of a buffalo on quota?

For me a late season hunt would mean all-in $6500 7 days.Plus airfare/tips."Regular" prices at maybe $9500.

That seems going rates last few years,and the discounts I've seen or heard about....

I'm just trying to get a feel if sucess rate is reasonable,and what areas just do not hold animals later in the year....

Dan

I should also add thanks for the responces....

Dan

I was in Chewore South a few weeks ago, hunting elephants. Chifuti Safaris now holds the concession. Chifuti co-owner Andrew Dawson was there checking up on progress rebuiding or improving the camps and we ran into him. We were pretty sure we'd just shot the last bull ele on quota but asked. He confirmed we'd shot the last bull but told me they had some buff quota remaining if I was interested. I wasn't, since I had more elephant quota waiting in Makuti, including a bull quota.

When I left, there was one tuskless, which we didn't shoot, because of time constraints, and some buff quots. Chewore South uis a great place to hunt buff!!!

I have no idea of what a hunt might cost, but you can contact them through their website: http://www.chifutisafaris.com/index.htm

A late season hunt would be really hot, but if that doesn't bother you I would give it a shot. There are lots of buff there. Chewore South has no problem with access in the event of rain.

JPK

Wait. I've never hunted Zim, but are you telling me that if I hunt late season, and there's quota left, that I can shoot another bull and maybe even have another available? I passed two very shootable bulls (buff) this year in Tanzania saving that last tag looking for something better. If that's the case, I need to look harder at Zim.

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
Wait. I've never hunted Zim, but are you telling me that if I hunt late season, and there's quota left, that I can shoot another bull and maybe even have another available? I passed two very shootable bulls (buff) this year in Tanzania saving that last tag looking for something better. If that's the case, I need to look harder at Zim.

that's pretty much the case throughout Africa. if you are there at the end of the season and the outfitter has left over quota, they will frequently let you shoot it if they paid for ALL the tags up front. as long as they don't feel the quota is too high to begin with, leading to overshooting, why would they not shoot an animal they have already paid for? its just extra money in their pocket( providing, of course you are not trying to get a lion, ele, etc on a 7 day hunt or something equally ridiculous). i have personally had this happen to me twice. just one more reason to brave the heat at season's end.