I received a note last night from a PH friend of mine and he says bookings are really slow, obviously this is attributable to the economy.

I expect safari prices will come down in the next year or so if the economy doesn't turn as operators fight for bookings but I wonder if any of the game departments will see fit to reduce trophy fees?

Socialists just don't get the idea of a supply/demand equation, so likely not.

Nope. Will not budge. In fact I will bet that they will cut trophy fees just as soon as Obama cuts my taxes.

IMHO, if they don't, theyre going to have a rough time selling these hunts. Trophy fees are often the reason I cant afford the particular hunt, elephant being one example. Sometimes half a loaf is better than none...

Just ask Mark Young

Andy and chippo

The answer is of course NO!!! Does anyone think that African game departments give a shit about our dwindling 401 K's or that there might be a long time effect on the safari industry. I think if there ever was a realization that it would come well after the economic down turn was over.

Mark

I'm not voicing an oppinion either way because who the hell knows what any African government will do? I do seem to remember hearing about fees decreasing in Tanzania in the 1980's when the world economy tightened up. I don't see why it couldn't happen again, but that doesn't mean it will.

Brett

Mark,
Andy and I both heard from Alister, he has very few days this year opposed to 187 last year. I will bet you a steak dinner at the restaurant of your choice, in Reno, for me, my better half, you, your better half, and Drook and his better 2/3rds that I can shoot a buff this year in Zambia (10) days for around 5500. These guys will not allow quota to go even if they just keep the camp moving and just pay the bills
Chipolopolo

quote:

Originally posted by chipolopolo:
Mark,
Andy and I both heard from Alister, he has very few days this year opposed to 187 last year. I will bet you a steak dinner at the restaurant of your choice, in Reno, for me, my better half, you, your better half, and Drook and his better 2/3rds that I can shoot a buff this year in Zambia (10) days for around 5500. These guys will not allow quota to go even if they just keep the camp moving and just pay the bills
Chipolopolo

In my case it is my better 9/10s but your point is well taken and we will take you up on the dinner offer.

Drook,
That makes you almost a zero?

Gentlemen, no dog in thia hunt......but IF a Zambian buff hunt becomes available for $5500, I invite any and all booking agents to contact me ASAP, as that would alter my plans considerably.

Bob

I would think that the various socialistic African governments response to decreased bookings due to the economy would be to DOUBLE their trophy fees in order to recoup their losses.

If it gets bad enough they will certainly cut them.

It is in the realm of very likely that we see land values, concession prices, trophy fees, camp and PH pay, and booking agent commissions come down.

Some on here claim that costs are "fixed", nothing is fixed. If people don't go Safari companies go under, Governments lose concession and trophy fees and people go to the country that is the best "value".

In order to compete and win back business Safari companies and countries slash prices.

It will be a rocky road and lots of safari companies will go under as they butt heads with the Government. It will probably take their failure for the government to wake up.

You will also see relocation of those outfitters to the new cheaper countries.

The recent safari boom is most likely coming to an end, it will survive but look very different then it does now in the near future. That is actually the "normal" in Africa if you think about it.

Any outfitters offering $5500 buff hunts should notify me. I might even be able to do a little better At that price I'll take my son even.

Here's a question for you guys with your better 2/3's and 9/10's. Are you saying that because she's that much better than you or that much bigger than you?

Chippo AKA Chippy, Chip or Steve,

Look! Even in the 1% case you are right I really can't afford to take you all to dinner although it might be entertaining.

Guys,

If your waiting for some heavily discounted prices and open schedules I think your fooling yourselves. If you want a good safari book it before you find your options severely limited.

Mark

I side with the people who think the govts in Africa will raise trophy fees initially to cover the dwindling number of people who come to hunt, then see how many PH's shutter their windows. Then ask their "brother obama" for US aid to make up the difference.

adversity strengthens character...
Nietsche

Rich
Buff Killer

PS: don't worry about Mark, he's in Wyoming. He'll probably turn up at one of the oilfields selling prairie dog hunts.

Rich
Buff Killer

Guys,

If your waiting for some heavily discounted prices and open schedules I think your fooling yourselves. If you want a good safari book it before you find your options severely limited.

Mark[/QUOTE]

Mark don't take this the wrong way but your full of shit. You are always saying to book now book now, and then you have the most discount hunt listed on the discount tread.
I don't know if the African gov's are going to reduce their fees but I can tell you EVERY OTHER BOOKING AGENT IS PUSHING DISCOUNT HUNT REAL HARD RIGHT NOW.
It is going to get worse before it gets better.
Guys looking for a discount just wait until July 1st the discount tread will be the be full of hunts. The hunting company in Tan and Zam. have pay the gov. for a % of the trophies fees. They have to have guys to shoot those animals or they are big losers. The question is do they want to lose a little or a lot. I am betting the chose a little.

The Russians will keep the price up, IF they can find any PH's that are still willing to hunt with them "and their tarts".

Jeff,
I don't know if mark is full of shit or not, But he's definitely overly optimistic about hunt prices staying up. He's not taking me up on a steak dinner at the Brick in Reno.
Chipolopolo

jeff h,

I have some ads on AR but only a few are really discounts and those discounts are all from one outfitter. Hey! Ben Bernanke says we are probably going to see a recovery of the economy start this year. Better book now or loose your chance.

Jeff whether you think I'm full of shit or not these are the facts. Only one outfit that we represent has asked us to advertise discounted hunts for them. Does that mean that all these guys some whom have been in business 30 years are also full of shit? Maybe it just means they plan on riding this down turn out as they have in the past.

Mark

Ben Bernanke hasn't a clue what's going to happen. I hope he's right and things turn around but I don't see how it can with this free for all print and spend.

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
The Russians will keep the price up, IF they can find any PH's that are still willing to hunt with them "and their tarts".

with the price of crude below $45/barrel, even the Russians are feeling the pinch(except for the Russian Mafia of course).

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
jeff h,

I have some ads on AR but only a few are really discounts and those discounts are all from one outfitter. Hey! Ben Bernanke says we are probably going to see a recovery of the economy start this year. Better book now or loose your chance.

Jeff whether you think I'm full of shit or not these are the facts. Only one outfit that we represent has asked us to advertise discounted hunts for them. Does that mean that all these guys some whom have been in business 30 years are also full of shit? Maybe it just means they plan on riding this down turn out as they have in the past.

Mark

it is only mid March and the discounts are beginning. watch what happens 3 months from now. as an aside, Ben Bernanke has been Fed chairman for at least 2 years. he didn't have a clue what was coming AND STILL DOESN'T!!

I don't know about the game departments, but Atcheson's outfitters are dealing. I guess they feel they need to move as many as they can now, before the rest of the hold-outs come to terms with their situation.

Example just received:

quote:

CAMEROON – BONGO HUNT – INCLUDES OBSERVER COST
Hunt for Bongo in the Rain Forest of the Cameroon. You would need to arrive in Douala on June 30 and depart on July 16, 2009. These dates are firm. Regular price is $30,000. Will sell this cancelled hunt for $17,500 US! (extras: Government tax of $2,100, and due in Euros would be hunting license, trophy fees, shipping costs)

Received on the 10th:

quote:

TANZANIA – 50% OFF- SELOUS GAME RESERVE
One of our top safari operators in Tanzania is offering some last minute deals for 2009 only for 18 and 21-Day Safaris in the Selous Game Reserve. Normal Daily Rates: $2,000. Book through Atchesons and receive 50% off your daily rates!! $1,000 per day for 18-days and you can hunt for Lion OR Elephant OR Leopard plus all available plains game species. Book for 21-days at $1,000 per day and you can hunt Lion AND Elephant AND Leopard plus all available plains game! (extras: Trophy fees, concession fees, conservation fees, dipping and packing, charter fees, hunting licenses and gun permits)

LOTS of discounts on North American hunts too.

Mark,
I like my steak medium rare and my baker loaded.
Chiparroo

Chippy,

I'm not betting. All my homosexual clients would never book again if they knew I was having dinner with you and the Drookster.

I do have a DISCOUNTED elk hunt that I'm offering. Take a peek.

Mark

So what's a loaded baker when it's at home?

A loaded baker makes some wild ass pastries!!!
Damn, I just might see Asrusha or Dar this year!

Just how many homo clients do you have?

Chipolopolo

Chippy Boy!

Arusha not Asrusha you dumby.

Just how many homo clients do you have?

WELL! Remeber you and Drook are still suspect in my mind but otherwise I just have to guess as sexual preference is not on our client questionaire. There must be several though.

Hugs and kisses,

Mark

Mark I hope you took my comment in the same vain as this one.
If you were a political cartoon you would be sitting behind a table trying to sell air conditioners to eskimos, screaming "Global Warming is coming, better buy these now before they are sold out"

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Chippy,

I'm not betting. All my homosexual clients would never book again if they knew I was having dinner with you and the Drookster.
Mark

Mark,
What can I say I was trembling with excitement at the thought of sub 1000.00 daily rates in Tanz and just butchered it. I dont care if I spelled it Tel a vive.

Why is everybody but Drook and I still posting about pillowbiters?

Chipintanz.

Jeff

I actually lived with the eskimos and aleuts for 22 years. And here it comes..... No I didn't sell them AC units but they did buy them so I could of.

Mark

The much awaited Government areas in Namibia will now be auctioned on the 22nd of April 2009. I am willing to bet that they will get substansially less for it than if they did sell it by auction on the 19th of December 2008, as originally planned. So, indirectly, the government will reduce the trophy fees...

quote:

The much awaited Government areas in Namibia will now be auctioned on the 22nd of April 2009.

Sure they will how many times have we heard that one!

But you are right, I would be willing to bet the auction prices will be down by about 1/3 (just a guess).

Thanks for the news.

Wendell, this time the conditions WILL please the crowd that has been hampering it, so I am pretty sure they will be down. To put it another way, you better have balls buying 10 elephant for the same price I was willing to pay in December, now!

Mark good come back.