The Accurate Reloading Forums
Has the current economy altered (crushed, mauled, destroyed, etc.) your safari plans?
30 March 2011, 18:26
GAHUNTERHas the current economy altered (crushed, mauled, destroyed, etc.) your safari plans?
I come on here every day and see folks making their plans and telling about their next African safari, just like they did when things were cooking economy-wise. But things ain't cookin' no mo! Anyone who says things are getting better sure as hell ain't in the residential construction industry.
A couple of years ago, I predicted a huge slump in the safari industry, as I thought potential clients, when faced with a choice, would opt to spend their money on more mundane activities -- like eating! Apparently, that has not happened, as I see that daily rates and trophy fees have continued to rise throughout Africa and most safari operators remain booked up.
It makes me wonder: am I the only one who has taken Africa (reluctantly) off my list of things I can't live without because of the economy?
Am I jealous of those still able to afford to go on safari in spite of the economy? HELL YES, I'M JEALOUS!
"Bitter, party of one? Your table is ready! Bitter?"
30 March 2011, 18:39
GunsCoreI have altered my plans by speeding things up. I do expect a substantial correction for the US economy and I can see my income taking a big hit. I am going sooner rather than later since the later may never happen. I will not like it, but at least I can say I went as often as I did when I could.
STAY IN THE FIGHT!
If by "economy" you mean how much money I make versus how much I need to live, then it has always crushed and altered my ability to go on the safaris I should be going on.
_________________________________
AR, where the hopeless, hysterical hypochondriacs of history become the nattering nabobs of negativisim.
30 March 2011, 19:32
FjoldNope, my income has gone up and safari prices have come down.
Frank
"I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money."
- Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953
NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite
30 March 2011, 20:24
adamhunterIt has for sure put a hurtin on my plans for another safari and other hunting trips. I'm in commercial construction and the economy has really hurt out sales in the last two years. Our business has been down about 60%. This year is looking better as nationwide we have sold over $1B worth of work already. Maybe my bonus check will be nice next year and I can make all the plans a reality.
30+ years experience tells me that perfection hit at .264. Others are adequate but anything before or after is wishful thinking.
30 March 2011, 20:48
ledvmI am an equine orthopedic surgeon...hence...I work on expensive athletic horses mostly. The equine industry has taken a huge hit from the economy since 2008. Actually...it started heading down in 2007.
I am in the same boat as you construction guys...watchin' & pinchin' my pennies. I would like to go to Africa at least every other year...right now...I am on the every 3-4 year plan.
Economy not better here at all! The only thing that makes it better for me at all is the fact that the ones still playing the game have adjusted and the others are gone and we have already written those losses off. Yes...many major players in my industry have gone for good.
I am just hoping we (the American people) have the sense the right our problems in the 2012 election.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
J. Lane Easter, DVM
A born Texan has instilled in his system a mind-set of no retreat or no surrender. I wish everyone the world over had the dominating spirit that motivates Texans.– Billy Clayton, Speaker of the Texas House
No state commands such fierce pride and loyalty. Lesser mortals are pitied for their misfortune in not being born in Texas.— Queen Elizabeth II on her visit to Texas in May, 1991.
30 March 2011, 21:01
MARK H. YOUNGOverall for me safari bookings are up and forward bookings even into '13 are what I'm talking to people about. I must admit that my clients in construction or related occupations are teling me some tales of woe. One poor guy has booked twice and has had to cancel twice. The economy has a long way to go yet.
Mark
MARK H. YOUNG
MARK'S EXCLUSIVE ADVENTURES
7094 Oakleigh Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89110
Office 702-848-1693
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https://www.facebook.com/pages...ures/627027353990716 30 March 2011, 21:07
Matt GrahamBiggest problem with prices going up, IMO, is the poor state of the US$ worldwide. Our dollar hit a 30-year (all-time) high yesterday.
30 March 2011, 21:08
505 gibbsquote:
One poor guy has booked twice and has had to cancel twice.
Damn, with a 50% non-reundable deposit, that means he could have gone once. If he needs any construction supplies, give him my email please.
30 March 2011, 21:13
ledvmThe worst part for me...is that the Equine Industry has taken a permanet hit. At least the construction industry will come back at some point.
Combine the economy with the fact that the U.S. Congress banned horse slaughter a few years back...I can truly say the government has had a heavy hand in my business...no to even mention what Obamacare did to our corpaorate health-care plan that had been doing just fine for the prior 15 years.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
J. Lane Easter, DVM
A born Texan has instilled in his system a mind-set of no retreat or no surrender. I wish everyone the world over had the dominating spirit that motivates Texans.– Billy Clayton, Speaker of the Texas House
No state commands such fierce pride and loyalty. Lesser mortals are pitied for their misfortune in not being born in Texas.— Queen Elizabeth II on her visit to Texas in May, 1991.
30 March 2011, 21:39
PWN375Yes, that and a daughter who will be attending an expensive out-of-state university next year. Plus, I just don't enjoy the air travel as much as a once did. Between TSA and the various incompetents and hucksters at airports in Africa it is hardly worth the effort.
Perry
30 March 2011, 21:53
Mad DogWell, it shoulda, but damn the torpedos, full steam ahead. I shouldn't be going to Zim, this summer, with my son. However I ain't getting any younger, and ya can't take it with you. If I canceled this hunt, probably wouldn't be going ever again.
Mad Dog
30 March 2011, 22:04
375LVRIt did not alter my plans one bit. On the other hand, it put my wife (CFO) thinking "austerity budget". Hence indirectly I guess it did alter my plans. I hate when that happens
Not going to Africa 2011.
Plans are now in the works for 2012.
Martin
Well, working for the airlines is never good. I am saving my pennies, though.
I hunt, not to kill, but in order not to have played golf....
DRSS
30 March 2011, 22:46
MartyI booked my 2009 Zim hunt in early early 2008, when everything looked rosey. After the crash, I had to ask myself if I could still afford to go. The answer came back that I couldn't afford not to. I can make more money.
Fortunately, things have come back a bit for me since I booked the trip I just came back from. I would have to have gotten a little creative otherwise. I'm going back in 2013. Since I can't any longer afford to retire (well), as long as I'm working, I'm going.
30 March 2011, 22:57
Cross LI closed out a partnership business and ended up with some real estate, Land that would have sold in 60 days 3yrs ago is still on the market after a year.
Anyone in the market for a nice 430acs in the hill country? then I could go to Africa--
SSR
30 March 2011, 23:37
Patricio GaudianoAny more info on the 430 acres?
30 March 2011, 23:55
Jeff WemmerYeah, no kidding! About that land!
JW
30 March 2011, 23:56
cable68It's put my plans on indefinite hold. Right before the crash I got back from safari #2, and had just inked the deals on adding on to the house for a trophy room.
Further complicating matters for me, we had a major employer close shop in town (Tyson), and Conoco-Phillips has been moving all it's white collar jobs from here to other locations.
On the bright side, within the next 12 mos, I will have a lot of debt paid off, so my discretionary spending will be going up.
Caleb
31 March 2011, 00:08
Cross Lquote:
Originally posted by Patricio Gaudiano:
Any more info on the 430 acres?
Patricio,
PM sent
SSR
31 March 2011, 00:15
Cross Lquote:
Originally posted by Jeff Wemmer:
Yeah, no kidding! About that land!
JW
PM sent to you also Jeff
SSR
31 March 2011, 01:02
MARK H. YOUNG505
We're not all blood suckers. He actually didn't loose anything.
Mark
MARK H. YOUNG
MARK'S EXCLUSIVE ADVENTURES
7094 Oakleigh Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89110
Office 702-848-1693
Cell, Whats App, Signal 307-250-1156 PREFERRED
E-mail markttc@msn.com
Website: myexclusiveadventures.com
Skype: markhyhunter
Check us out on
https://www.facebook.com/pages...ures/627027353990716 31 March 2011, 01:10
D. Nelsonquote:
Originally posted by Fjold:
Nope, my income has gone up and safari prices have come down.
Frank; Do you work for the government???
Meant to be funny!
Regards, D. Nelson
31 March 2011, 01:12
butchlocactually i'm thinking about booking 3 or 4 more open ended safaris - please send the bill to obama
mark it stimulus package
31 March 2011, 05:21
Wooly ESSI'm 66, and I'm not really into delaying anything. The state of the economy isn't relevant.
31 March 2011, 07:46
OngweBefore 2008, my plan was to go to Africa every two years or so.
Now I plan to go every other year!
So, IOW, no, the economy hasn't altered my plans.
31 March 2011, 07:46
Fjoldquote:
Originally posted by D. Nelson:
quote:
Originally posted by Fjold:
Nope, my income has gone up and safari prices have come down.
Frank; Do you work for the government???
Meant to be funny!
Regards, D. Nelson
Nope, electrical power generation.
Frank
"I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money."
- Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953
NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite
31 March 2011, 07:58
AnotherAZWriterIt has altered my plans somewhat. Real estate in Phoenix is on sale and competing for my dollars. I have dumped a lot of money (by my standards anyway) into rental real estate in Phoenix; the money it throws off will pay for all the hunting I care to do for the rest of my life. Can't beat that.
My business had a record year last year and 2009 was also a record. But it can all go away pretty fast. Just like life. So I am still going hunting. But unlike a lot of you, I get a lot of pleasure out of going to our deer shack in MN or going on a packstring elk hunt.
31 March 2011, 08:32
jorgeTake me with you John! Beat Army!
USN (ret)
DRSS Verney-Carron 450NE
Cogswell & Harrison 375 Fl NE
Sabatti Big Five 375 FL Magnum NE
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31 March 2011, 16:43
Black FlyAltered my plans completely. It's hard to start over in your sixties. Don't know if I'll ever get back to Africa.
For those that can pull it off, do it now. You won't get any younger, and it won't get any cheaper.
Bfly
Work hard and be nice, you never have enough time or friends.
31 March 2011, 21:07
Doglegquote:
Originally posted by Fjold:
Nope, my income has gone up and safari prices have come down.
Same here, our local ecomony has never been better. Couple that with a Canadian dollar that finally got back to where it should be and guided hunting priced in US $ is effectively half price compared to a few years ago.From there, you can start bargain hunting.
Between more money and half price hunting, .375s aren't sitting on store shelves long.
31 March 2011, 21:38
Max TraumaTeh economy is in more trouble than most believe. 1/3 of small business are near bankruptsy in the usa at the same time they are facing increasing costs due to ppaca(obamacare) and an increase in taxes for medicare. fuel cost are taking a toll and with 8 out of 10 americans employeed by small buisness this is very worrysome. My investments in property dropped like a rock and with new finacial regulations banks have to report losses on propery that is currently financed below current market value. Raw land is only allowed to financed at 65% of market value and banks are pushing for huge payments on outstanding loans due to loss in market value. Many property owners who do not have equity in the property will just allow a strategic reposession to occur further decreasing market value for land. I had equity in my properties so I had to pay a huge sum of money to the banks but since this is applied to the principle it will be taxed as income.
I will be staying home for the next 2 years as I restructure my business and assets so I can survive the downturn.
01 April 2011, 00:28
drwesHeaded bsck to Namibia in July for another round with my bow. Not sure if I would be going if it wasn't already mostly paid for.It is a bad time for those in the building industry,, but a good time for anyone who can build so the new house for the wife will be finished before I leave for my hunt. But there have been sacrifices, I sold the house I was living in back in October, instead of renting another , etc., I moved and lived in my barn next to the house I am building. It seemed a better idea when the temp outside was 75 degrees in October than 10 degrees in January! The savings in rent will pay for the hunt. Also I chose not to buy a new truck and drive the old one another 4 years so maybe in 2012 the difference will be another hunt,,, but due to the economy,, it won't be for a big Tusker,,,I will stay optomistic, keep working hard,, and dreaming of another African adventure!
you can make more money, you can not make more time
01 April 2011, 00:37
7kongoniGetting married again inpacted my hunts in Africa a lot more than the world economy!!
01 April 2011, 01:34
larryshoresNo. However, turning 55 did. I am watching things a lot more closely now.
01 April 2011, 08:14
jetdrvrquote:
Originally posted by RAC:
Well, working for the airlines is never good. I am saving my pennies, though.
My buddy who owns airlines cancelled our 2010 Zim trip. Business sucks.
02 April 2011, 08:44
Cane RatYou guys are depressing me.
02 April 2011, 09:22
strapmanIn response to the original question, yes the economy has had a significant effect on my hunting plans, including Africa. I had saved for a trip to Africa last year, but in retrospect it was poorly timed. I went on the trip but the economy most certainly has not rebounded as I hoped. I sell to the construction industry and I feel now that we have a 3-5 year wait before things return to any level of normalcy. I still contend that Africa is a bargain but it would be a much bigger bargain if two primary expenses were reduced. These would be airfares and transfer costs of trophies. If these could be reduced, it would make Africa a bigger and better value. Regardless, most of us middleclass guys have to deal with economic realities everyday.
02 April 2011, 10:27
Mike_DettorreNot really. I have been fortunate enough to go 3 times before all the crap started in Zimbabwe.
Don't really have any desire to go back to Africa.
I am more interested in who I hunt with than where or what I hunt.
MikeLegistine actu quod scripsi?
Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.
What I have learned on AR, since 2001:
1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken.
2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps.
3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges.
4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down.
5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine.
6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle.
7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions.
8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA.
9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not.
10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact.
11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores.
12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence.
13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances.
02 April 2011, 11:38
SevensYou can still die when the economy is bad...
The only thing that has effected my safari plans was watching my grandfather go on hospice and die this year. I was reminded of how short life is and that in your final days you have only your family, friends, and your memories.
I'm going on my first safari this year, so that whenever my day does come (hopefully many many years in the future), I wont have any regrets that I didn't go to Africa.