Penn. Brown Bear in AK

You say you are looking for something off the beaten path try Ghana for Royal antelope, Maxwell Duiker, Harness bushbuck and other small strange critters. It is totally out of the box.

Interesting how many of us herd up around buffalo hunting. Like whitetail hunters in the US. There is also a strong tendency for some of us to hunt with the same outfitter again and again, which is fine for some and failure for others. I have hunted buffalo in the mountains of Maasailand, Zimbabwe, northern Cameroon and the very Southeast corner of Cameroon, so I have a varied experience base. I can't really recommend them compared to so many other options in Africa. In fact the only buffalo I would ever bother with a second time,if any, would be the forest buffalo in the jungle. They are definitely the farthest along the family tree from domestic cattle. They don't stand stupid and look at you like Cape or western buffalo, the instant they see you they do one of 2 things, run away or run you over. I admire that, but you may not.
That's probably part of the reason Cape buffalo are farm raised in SA and not the little forest demons that scare the pygmies white.

This is a good thread to show how you shouldn't take a hunters recommendation unless you know that hunters idea of a good hunt and how it compares to your idea of a good hunt.

1. Dall Sheep, Yukon or NWT
2. AK Brown Bear, Kodiak
-or-
3. TWO hunts: Landowner tag for a 330"+ Bull Elk, then a late-winter hunt behind hounds chasin' Mtn. Lion

I'd peruse the Hunting Reports section of the forums and see if anything in there strikes your fancy.

Then I'd look at the Hunts Offered by Outfitters section to check out the pricing.

Edit:
For example the following hunt is for buffalo, Hippo, and Croc and is under 20K including trophy fees.
http://forums.accuratereloadin...321056002#7321056002

I have been on 11 safaris, and not as many as a lot of the folks here on AR. But, I have hunted all of the dangerous game, and many of them numerous times. My plains game hunting has also been significant across Southern Africa. With all of that said, I think that if I were in your shoes, I would do a Bucket List Hunt, like the one that I did last year with Infinito Safaris, making sure that it was also all part of a grand tour of nearly all of South Africa. What a fun and beautiful experience that was!

I am going to Argentina in April, I will get to use my big bore, my shotgun and my rifle, will be hunting free range buff, free range stag and birds,10 days, and under the price range you have.
it is a great deal.

Interesting the opinions on buffalo hunting. If someone told me that all I could hunt the rest of my life were elephant and buffalo, I would die a happy man. Nothing matches the thrill of tracking and then trying to get in close . . . to me at least.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
Interesting the opinions on buffalo hunting. If someone told me that all I could hunt the rest of my life were elephant and buffalo, I would die a happy man. Nothing matches the thrill of tracking and then trying to get in close . . . to me at least.

+1


I love hunting plains game with my son and my father. However if I am hunting on my own, elephant and buffalo are all I really want to hunt.

Different strokes for different folks. Hunting Buffalo holds little appeal to me.

quote:

Originally posted by FOsteology:
Different strokes for different folks. Hunting Buffalo holds little appeal to me.

Yep, some folks don't like babies or puppies either ....

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
I would go to Zimbabwe and hunt buffalo. I would hunt a concession area that is open range. I would do a 10-day hunt. I would go in May or July when the temperatures are nice. And I would have the time of my life.

Absolutely! That is a hunt that you will remember for the rest of your life, and is value for money spent!

.................................................................. ........

Poland for Wisent....no question.

quote:

Originally posted by Lexingon:
1. Dall Sheep, Yukon or NWT
2. AK Brown Bear, Kodiak
-or-
3. TWO hunts: Landowner tag for a 330"+ Bull Elk, then a late-winter hunt behind hounds chasin' Mtn. Lion

All very well suited to scratch the North American hunting itch, but none will scratch the AFRICA itch!

I've hunted all the things you list except Dall sheep, but nothing tops Africa IMO!

My bucket list will never be completed, because I started too late, and by the time I found that I could have done it all, I was too old and retired with a fixed income!

My advice is fill that bucket and DO IT ALL while you are young and still have a job that replaces the funds expended!

....................................................................

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:
A DIY Alaskan float trip for Moose and/or Caribou. You won't be waited on, and weather can suck, the hunting can be hard especially after the trigger is pulled, but what an experience.

In North America I agree with the above!

Five friends and I did a float may years ago on the Mulchatna river from Half Cabin Lake to Nick's Langing, about 75 mines the way the river runs. The six of us in three inflatables, and three tents, flown out of Soldotna by High Adventure to half Cabin Lake for 12 days of hunting and fishing. That was a hunt that I will never forget.

It was a great adventure, but it didn't top my first Buffalo and plains game in The Luangwa Valley of Zambia! That was the super BOWL of hunting and though I've hunted Alaska and Canada many times, Africa still calls to me every day! The voice of Africa is not getting weaker but the time, and funds, are long gone. If I were still 40 yrs old, I would hunt Africa every chance I found.

..................................................................... ...........

Not Africa.

quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:
A DIY Alaskan float trip for Moose and/or Caribou. You won't be waited on, and weather can suck, the hunting can be hard especially after the trigger is pulled, but what an experience.

In North America I agree with the above!

Five friends and I did a float may years ago on the Mulchatna river from Half Cabin Lake to Nick's Langing, about 75 mines the way the river runs. The six of us in three inflatables, and three tents, flown out of Soldotna by High Adventure to half Cabin Lake for 12 days of hunting and fishing. That was a hunt that I will never forget.

It was a great adventure, but it didn't top my first Buffalo and plains game in The Luangwa Valley of Zambia! That was the super bowel of hunting and though I've hunted Alaska and Canada many times, Africa still calls to me every day! The voice of Africa is not getting weaker but the time, and funds, are long gone. If I were still 40 yrs old, I would hunt Africa every chance I found.

..................................................................... ...........

Mac,

Wise words but you might want to change 'bowel' to bowl mate.

You be my guest when you want to come back to Zambia.

For $20k you can get quite a bit of hunting.
Have a look at Westafrica (Benin, Burkina).

You could hunt several European countries including all the major big game species with that budget. Stag, boar, chamois, mouflon, fallow deer mixed with some unique hunting traditions and diverse countryside.

If you want mountains you could do an do several trips with that budget. Mid-asien Ibex, Chamois, Tur etc.

For $20k you could do an asien mountain safari, Ibex, Maral, brown bear. Certainly a wonderful experience and an adventure.

New zealand, Free range red stag with Colin baynes at makapua station nzd2500 and a back pack hunt for tahr and chamois and you would have enough left over for an aoudad or possibly a mt goat hunt.

If Africa a hut at mishangashi with pete swanepoel for buff and plains game

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:
A DIY Alaskan float trip for Moose and/or Caribou. You won't be waited on, and weather can suck, the hunting can be hard especially after the trigger is pulled, but what an experience.

In North America I agree with the above!

Five friends and I did a float may years ago on the Mulchatna river from Half Cabin Lake to Nick's Langing, about 75 mines the way the river runs. The six of us in three inflatables, and three tents, flown out of Soldotna by High Adventure to half Cabin Lake for 12 days of hunting and fishing. That was a hunt that I will never forget.

It was a great adventure, but it didn't top my first Buffalo and plains game in The Luangwa Valley of Zambia! That was the super bowel of hunting and though I've hunted Alaska and Canada many times, Africa still calls to me every day! The voice of Africa is not getting weaker but the time, and funds, are long gone. If I were still 40 yrs old, I would hunt Africa every chance I found.

..................................................................... ...........

Mac,

Wise words but you might want to change 'bowel' to bowl mate.

You be my guest when you want to come back to Zambia.

Thanks Andrew! You know I bought a new keyboard, and found it didn't spell any better than the last one I had! You just can't get good products anymore!

.......................................................................

Biddleman,

While we both have $20,000.00 for hunting (and more) I would not spend it on paying someone to hunt.

I have been hunting for over 60 years and have hunted every year and done well.

I ask permission to hunt on land.

Some of the greatest fun I have had has been with my buddies or a landowner helping me get the game out.

I met the landowner on a beautiful farm in VT close to where I have the camp for half a century. He welcomed me and spoke how he wants the land hunted so there will not be too many deer there.

I am an Africa or nothing at all guy and it does not matter to me if I cant go every year or second year...

quote:

Originally posted by tygersman:

quote:

Originally posted by FOsteology:
Different strokes for different folks. Hunting Buffalo holds little appeal to me.

Yep, some folks don't like babies or puppies either ....

I absolutly adore babies, I love puppies, but for whatever reason buffalo hunting does little for me. I have only killed 2 buffalo but I did not find either to be to challenging of very hard to kill.

If I had 15-20k to spend on a hunt I would contact Cam Greig and have him set me up with one of his self guided foot safaris in Cameroon. I would probably go after LDE, roan, harnessed bushbuck and red river hogs in the savana. I don't think there is a better hunt in Africa at any price.

Zim with CMS for buffalo and some plains game. Would just scrape in for $20K.

Or Nothern Territory in Australia for buffalo and pigs. It is the most amazing place. Huge place with no people and beautiful countryside. Would easily do that on your budget and could do some barramundi fishing as well.

Cheers

Daniel

Buffalo...good spots in Zim,and parts of South Africa. I would also say a really nice plains game hunt is hard to beat, you can easily do that for 20k all in with taxidermy.

$1800. Airfare
$10,500 hunt and trophy fees ( usually 4-5 animals) 10 days
$5,000 shipping and taxidermy
$2,000 tips and reserve fund

You will have an excellent time--lots of good places in South Africa and Namibia. If you have never been its a good place to start.

Ed

Skip the taxidermy, just do European mounts.

Without exception there are last minute, and cancellation deals that come up every year.

Make a short list of the top animals you want to hunt, and hold out for a good deal with a reputable outfitter. Whatever you do, don't compromise on the reputable part. Check references carefully, read past and recent hunt reports, ask questions, and be patient for that special hunt.

If your budget is 20k or less, then you need to wait for a cancellation or end of season hunt.

I did a 14 day leopard and buff in Zim for 12.5k plus TFs. Then, buff was $2500 and leopard was $3500, so the hunt and those two animals were less than 20k.

I also did a 8 day double buff in Zim for 12.5k, all in. That was / is one of my favorite hunts of all time. I also shot a giant kudu and some other odds and ends. With airfare and a good tip, it was well less than 20k.

The deals are out there, you just have to know what you want and you have to be willing to pull the trigger and go on short notice.

I'd look hard for a non exportable bull elephant hunt. It won't be a bull with large ivory but the hunt is the same. These hunts are not as common as they were in the past but some still pop up occasionally. Last year Karl Stumpfe advertised a few here on AR and I jumped at the opportunity. Cost was $12K for the hunt. I took a nice management bull.

Search my posts on the "African hunt reports" forum and you'll find a write up on my hunt.

It's a toughie. If I was only going to do one more overseas hunt I would have to look long and hard at elephant. My buff hunt was a great experience but in the end it was a bit anticlimactic. That said, my 4 year old daughter asked me to teach her to shoot and take her to Africa, somewhat to her mother's chagrin. Now that I think about it, I could probably put together $15-$20K by the time she is finished high school or university and take her for the trip of a lifetime. That would make me 51 years old at the time of the hunt. That would probably be the best use of that kind of money.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
Skip the taxidermy, just do European mounts.

Skip the hunt, just do taxidermy

Actually, as others have said, even without taxidermy, 20K to spend on a hunt means you should be looking at a 10k hunt. Double the advertised price of a hunt is a pretty good formula. I would do plains game in a wild area that also has elephant, lion , buff etc...