As there seems to be a trend for AR
get-togethers , so I would like to propose another one.

Are there any AR members that would like to get together and form a group for a SA haunting safari.

I went with 3 mates last year and had a really good time. You can see the results on the the following links
https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6321043/m/773108996

https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6321043/m/415104707

If anyone is interested, then post

What species you would want to hunt

If you would require trophy or management.

How long you would want the holiday to last

What time of year

The price you would be willing to spend.



It would be nice to see the AR European forum on tour.
Lets see if we can make it happen.

A splendid idee puntgunner.
But plans are settled for next years trip to RSA, and tickets booked already.

That's a good idea Puntgunner but like Arild, next year's hunt is settled. We are doing a big cull (around 125 animals, springbok and mountain reedbuck and maybe some kudu) with added individual trophies. If your group does not materialise, drop me a line. We might well be able to take more people with us.

David.

PG

As you well know I am itching to get back to SA, but finances & 'er indoors since the last trip has drastically cut back my ability to wonder the world with gun & mates for a year or two.

If you have to go without me - just make sure you a) have a damn good time, b) bring back loads of photos and c) don't shoot anything bigger that I have already!!

In the mean time we'll just have to make the best of Arran!!

Good luck.

Nige.

Hi all,

The question I am posing is, "what kind of holiday would the English hunter like to go on?"

Would it be part fishing, ( game or sea), part hunting (bird or Plains game), and would a couple of days site seeing also need to go in there.

As we do not have the huge houses, ( well, not all of use) as they have in the states, do we need to have trophies brought back?

Would pictures and video make a suitable alternative.

Tell us of your experiences .I'm sure FB will kick things off if we ask nicely.

And for those that have not been shooting out of this country before, it could provide valuable information.

Hey Puntgunner,

Well you asked....

Personally I want to shoot the biggest hairiest critters arround, interspersed with high volume wing shooting and plenty of quality fly fishing.

Gourmet food, comfy bed and dancing girls are always handy, and red wine helps make the days stresses seeem more bearable.

A location that flies direct from London Gatwick with cheap business class flights, (I really want to have a go on one of those recliner seats one day when I grow up), and did I mention the dancing girls?

I like to bring back trophies, although I like to take lots of photo's. A video that can later be sold through the shooting press to offset all costs and leave enough money spare to cover the shipping costs of the trophies would be a nice touch.

Oh and Cake!!

I think that covers the basics of my ultimate holiday,
Rgds,
FB

My experiences are nothing like this and coach class sucks.

Puntgunner

I am a booking agent in the UK to be more specific from Shropshire. If you guys need any help in choosing which outfitter to go with let me know. Does your hunt have to be in SA?

I have outfitters in SA, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Whether it be Trophy hunts or Management hunts i can arrange something to meet your requirements.

I have a stand at the Midland Game Fair in September.Will any of you be there?

Regards to you all

Mike Taylor
Mike Talyor Sporting

Kiri, How strange our wish lists are so similar.

if I manage to organise or find an outfitter that can fit that bill, I will use him exclusively and charge a fortune to put others on to him!!

I've been away a few times. Mostly to friends with a bit of hunting thrown in. You will find one thing that is typically British . That is the fact we like to go on management ( none trophy) hunts abroad.
I'm not sure if it is price or the fact that two types of gunu , an Oryx and an Eland seen to take up an awful lot of room in a semi.

I would love to have a trophy room, but most of my stuff is either in boxes in the loft, or gracing the walls of friends houses.

Do we have any nice trophy rooms here?
Show us yours and we will show you ours...
Mike. I will be at the Game fair, as long as a trip to the emerald isle does not clash.

See you there.

Puntgunner

Come and see me at the Game Fair. I would like to be able to offer you some prices. I will have some beers on ice.

I will post my stand number and location soon.

Regards

Mike

Puntgunner

My stand number at the Game Fair is D41, Row D.

I can organise Fishing/Plainsgame Safairs and also site seeing trips all in one Safari.

If you guys did not want to bring trophies back i would take 40% off the trophy fees.

I hope to see you at the Game Fair

Mike

Sorry forgot to put that the 40% off the trophy fees applys to my main outfitter in Zimbabwe.

Mike

Mike,

What differencee does the shipping of trophies make to the cost of trophy fees? Surely if they are left behind the saving is on dip pack/taxidermy/shipping or is all that included in the trophy fees?

Also is it possible for hunters in the UK to bring trophies back from Zim? or is it allowed to take rifles to Zim from the UK or do you have to travel via Jo'burg?

Rgds,
FB

Hi Fallow Buck

The shipping,dip/pack and taxidermy are all extra costs on top of the daily rate and trophy fees. If you were not bringing trophies home then these costs would not apply to you therefore you would only pay the trophy fees. My outfitter is giving a discount on the trophy fees for people who do not wish to take their trophies home. Not many outfitters do this.

Hunters from the UK can bring trophies back from Zim. You can not fly direct to Harare from the UK with a rifle you would have to fly to Jo'burg then on to Zim. I have just had a client come back from hunting in Zim he took a rifle with him and he had no problems flying to Jo'burg then on to Zim.

I hope this answers your questions.

Mike

Fallow Buck

The easiest way to get to Zim from the UK is to buy a ticket from UK to J'burg then buy a seperate ticket to go from J'burg to Harare. In other words do not check your rifle through to Harare. Take them of in J'burg and check your rifle back in to go to Harare. Fly South African Airways to J'burg then an Air Zimbabwe flight to Harare.

Regards

Mike

Thanks for the answer Mike. That makes a lot of sense. I have a coupe of freinds that hunt DG in Zim, and they always fly via J'burg too.

I still don't understand the motivation for the discount if the trophies are left behind. I wold have thought they would be worthless to a PH/Camp/outfitter.

Sorry, I'm not trying to stir anything up just that I would think that if they can afford to discount by 40% then the hunters bringing trophies back would also be able to get the reduced rate. Unless he is talking about cull animals allowing him to shoot smaller heads than those shot by hunters wishing to export.

Rgds,
FB

FB
My outfitter would keep the trophies and sell them as and when or use them in camps.

The main reasons for discounting the trophy fees are because some people might want to go out and experiance Africa take some photos and take all the memories away with them. Or they might not have the room in their homes to hang trophies.
It just makes it that much more affordable to hunt in Africa.

Like i said before not many outfitters would offer this. Most would say if you shoot the trophy you pay the full price even though you were not exporting.

I hope that explains everything.

Best regards

Mike

The way I've got it, is that the U.K. government have an arms embargo on Zimbabwe. That means, NO one, British, can take their rifles into that country, does not matter how many stop overs you do......

This is what I was informed by the British consulate in Pretoria, when we wanted to book and Elephant PAC hunt for a client last year.

This situation might have changed, but be carefull and make sure.....

Hi Infinito

There is an arms embargo on Zimbabwe. But British hunters can fly via J'burg with rifles. All that they need to do is NOT check their rifles in all the way to Zim. Have seperate tickets to get them from J'burg to Zim. Check their rifles back in when they get to J'burg.

My last client did this in June this year 2007 with NO problems.

Regards

Mike

Hi Mike,

Thanks for that info.

I might be a bit different, and please do not see this as a P.H. trying to get involved in world politics, BUT hear me out.

I believe there is a reason why the British government installed their sanctions, the Americans theirs and the "black list" of course. This is to put some pressure on that regime........

I have been to Zimbabwe the last time in 1999, the year before the "troubles" started. Before that every year for as long as I can remember. Hunting and Tiger fishing. All of us invloved in this annual adventure decided never to go there again, before Bob is gone. My partner in business, went last year and hunted there for 3 weeks. They had a ball, but on their return decided the same thing.

It is true that the revenue generated by hunting is much needed by those affected, but it is such a "balls up" at the moment, with bribes and general survival, that you do not know where your money is going to end up.

So, in conlcusion, if you have a way to get the rifles into Zim without raising any eyebrows, good. I just think that every £ or $ spend in that country keeps Bob and his cronies in power for longer. There is a bigger picture there.

Rather send your guys to Moz, or Tanz or Zambia, or even Botswana. Same experience, maybe a bit more expensive or cheaper here and there, but you are supporting a growing economy that does not rape a country of everything it has got.

You do know that Zimbabwe's game numbers drop by 70% in the last 7 years?

Sorry to all the other guys that read this, the idea was not to high jack the thread, but I feel very strongly about this.

Regards

Charl

Charl,

It isn't a hijack. It's a valid consideration for anyone going from the UK.

With regards to firearms, UK citizens are not allowed to take guns to Zim by law. Now if you get round that by taking a flight from J'burg paid for seperately then you can get round the restriction but not the legality... I'd be interested to know how hunters that have a problem will fare in the event that they need help from the embassy/consulate etc.

I'm assuning that trophy's come out of a similarly circuitous route too.

For the record, I have no quarrel with people hunting Zim, if that it the way they can make their hard earned cash go furthest , and their concience is clear about where their dollars go. However in the UK it is not "entireley legal" and I think we have to be honest about that aspect of things.

Rgds,
FB