Hunting packages and pressure to shoot more

This is a subject that also worries me a bit . I still plan on 3 weeks hunting in Namibia next year , I want to spend most of the time hunting but I dont want to shoot tons off animals , 8 or 9 would be fine , there will be a lot of hunting without me pulling the trigger . I hope this wont piss the PH off and I get pressure to shoot more ?
 
This is a subject that also worries me a bit . I still plan on 3 weeks hunting in Namibia next year , I want to spend most of the time hunting but I dont want to shoot tons off animals , 8 or 9 would be fine , there will be a lot of hunting without me pulling the trigger . I hope this wont piss the PH off and I get pressure to shoot more ?

you'll be right dory ,let them know from the start that you'll be looking a lot and shooting ,few.
im 100% they'll do you right ,mate .
 
Hello all, I believe buying a package puts unneeded "pressure" on the hunter and PH from the git go. Meaning, you prepaid for animals you NOW need to take. I chose to do a traditional hunt in as I paid the day fees and then paid for the trophy fee for any animal taken. I had my "wish list", but also went out each day with an open mind and by the end, took a couple animals I wasn't planning on, just because when I saw them in the wild and not on the computer screen, I "had" to have em! Some mornings I stayed back at the lodge and enjoyed the morning with my wife and son. Also if I killed something in the morning, I wouldn't hunt the afternoon. I wouldn't of had this luxury if I was trying to fill a package that I had already paid for. This is my opinion only. Kevin
Many outfitters will ask you to make your list and they work up a quote. They give a discount based on what's on the list. I feel sure that if your list is larger, the more discount they give up front.
I notice outfitters charge for that list (may also be their own pre-packaged list) and you pay that amount even if you don't get all those animals. I would not do it this way.
With KMG, If I had not gotten one of the animals on that list, it would have been subtracted off my final bill.
Also, If I changed my mind and wanted something else instead of one that I had chosen, then the one I didn't want was subtracted at the published rate and the one I hunted charged at the published rate.
I think all outfitters ought to do it this way. It takes pressure off and it's fair.

My first trip I decided not to shoot one animal and substituted another in that manner. Looking back I should have just shot both. What's $350 in the whole scheme of things? lol.
This time, we ended up shooting everything we wanted + 3 extras.
Next time? I have about 3 animals that I will definitely want (eland, blue WB, hartebeest) 2 or 3 I would like to get (impala, warthog, common reedbuck) , and a few more that I'd be open to. I think I'd be willing to shoot a good bushbuck on every trip from now on.
It's hard to believe I've been twice and haven't shot an impala or a warthog.
 
This is a subject that also worries me a bit . I still plan on 3 weeks hunting in Namibia next year , I want to spend most of the time hunting but I dont want to shoot tons off animals , 8 or 9 would be fine , there will be a lot of hunting without me pulling the trigger . I hope this wont piss the PH off and I get pressure to shoot more ?
that's a lot of days for 9 animals. If I were you, I would state up front that you're looking for extreme size trophies. After all, you could easily shoot your whole list in less than or about 7 days. If you keep to your plan of 9 animals in 21 days, then you could have all the fun of stalking average or really good trophies, but only shoot if it is extreme.
Consider, though, there are tons of animals that are $300 to $400, you could add every one of those and not increase your trip price much.
Or, you could shoot some culls.
Likely, there are also many species that would be free. Baboons and jackals in south africa are usually free.
 
In 7 hunts to SA and Namibia I have never been pressured to shoot from my PH, But on a 10 day hunt that included a warthog on the package I never saw a mature hog male or female, so just because it is on the package don't mean you'll get it!
 
When the hunters are done with their trophies and they have some more days I just tell them if they are interested in try to hunt another trophy just make me know and no problem to do it......if not they can stay enjoyng and relaxing in the lodge.
Last thing I would do is to put any pressure to somebody shoot anything......simple, if they are interested on it they will tell you for sure.
 
I went on my first trip to South Africa with the idea to concentrate on bird hunting but wanting the option to take an impala and/or a warthog. Eight plains game animals in the salt later I knew I was hooked but never pressured. On that trip same trip it was suggested that I shoot a mountain reedbuck we found. I passed. Stupid thing to do, haven't seen another one in my last two trips. But there was never any pressure from the outfitter or PH, they just let the incredible quality and amount of game work its way with me.
 
If I have my way, I am going to be leaving a lot of money behind in RSA, between trophy fees and tips!

I am not going halfway around the world and skimping because of trophy fees (PG that is...DG is another thing entirely!). If I see a nice specimen and I can work into a good shot...pull out the wallet. Heck, I may shoot some doubles if possible. Two Impala and two Kudu would be sweet. Two Wildebeest would be nice, too.

I've been waiting 50 years for this trip...Katy bar the doors! :)
 
Most "package" deals are structured based on available quotas and how plentiful the species are. If you look carefully at most package deals, the per species trophy fees add up to a lot more, so don't be afraid of a package even if you dont get every animal. I have always asked first if all the animals in the package are actually there, without having to transfer to another property, or "phantom" hunting the last 2 days for animals not even there. Make sure the package fits what you are looking for, or go with the trophy fees.
 
Yes I agree, my package was still a very good deal even though I never had a chance at a warthog, the dollar value was still exceptional! But if I hadn't had a chance or seen the high dollar animal it would have been a bad deal.
 
My trip to Namibia this year I had a Duiker and a Warthog on the package. I didn't get them but got a management Giraffe and a Black Wildebeest. Johann adjusted the price to suit, this is the way it should be.
 
A hunter should never be under any pressure to shoot extra animals. I'm a pretty picky hunter, a lot of a hunt for me is wildlife viewing and exploration.
 
If it were the case when I was hunting I would have shot a Nyala, a Waterbuck and a Gemsbok over and above the animals I took on our hunt.

Our PH's were great and we had no pressure to shoot anything at any time.
 
By no means the Norm if this happens on your safari, you have not contracted a professional and the correct outfitter.

These might seem like hard words but it's just reality.

My best always
 
My father-in law has always told me "When the money is in your pocket, you have the power!" If you say No, then its No. But by all means a PH should be professional in the way he conducts the hunt and is more than entitled to point out a fine specimen or a good opportunity but at the end of the day, that decision lies with you the hunter and by no means should you feel pressured! Besides you on holiday.(y)

Regards
Jono
 
I have not done a package hunt, and probably never will. There are the package deals and the per animal hunts.

I tell you what there are a few package deals on Ah that i would consider if one of the grand sons would want to go along. But i would add something over and above to make it different.

i have always done the per animal style hunting.

i put together a primary trophy list 1 to 5 or 6 and then a secondary list that if they become available i would consider list 1 to 5 or 6. The 2 list I put together is just under 1 animal per day on my 2 lists. My thinking is based on a 10 to 12 day safari.

you as a hunter know what you have money to cover and you may not have the money available to cover all 10 or 12 animals on your 2 lists.

i have read stories where hunter started working on the secondary list prior to getting to the primary list. While the hunting report is a good to great hunting report, This report is sending red flags to me. The hunter is being led astray and is never getting to his top priority animals. Basic reason is that they have never been looking for them. You cannot go after what you never see and you are being shown the secondary animals first, therefore that is what you go after.

If after a few days you have not been looking for any animal on your primary list, you have options. Chat with you PH on what the plan is to go after your primary animals. If this does not work out you do not have to shoot. Or if they pressure you to shoot, shoot to miss. Then you get to spend some time tracking a animal you know that you missed and have your camera ready for some pictures.

As for your priority list, i have never taken the animals in order from 1, then 2 and so on. As we peck away the few lines drop off and that is how i expect it to take place.

Example:
Priority Secondary
1. Eland 1. Reedbuck
2. Kudu 2. Waterbuck
3. Black Wildebeest 3. Blue Wildebeest
4. Impala 4. Warthog
5. Sable 5. Mtn Reedbuck

to take a reedbuck you need a permit so on your list it is secondary on your ph's list it is a primry.
 
It definitely isn't a norm. On my PG in Namibia it was a package deal. But if they have additional animals on quota then they will tell you or you can just ask for whats still on quota and a price list. We were on a 6 animal, 7 day trip. Got all the package animals and two additional in 2 1/2 days. We then traveled to another camp were they had an Eland, got that in 1/2 a day. Then moved to a third camp and got an additional 3 animals. So 12 animals without any pressure to do so. We got really lucky though to get our animals so fast.
 
I agree, not the norm.

When I went to Zim we saw a really nice Eland bull about 70 yards on the wrong side of the road in a non hunting area. My PH got really excited about him. Eland was not on my list for the hunt.

I teased Richie and asked him what he would have done if the Eland crossed the road. He just laughed and said, "I would have set up the sticks. After that it would have been all up to you." I think this is more the norm.

And by the way, I'm not stupid. As excited as Richie got I would have shot that bull! :)
 
both the African adventures ive been on were package deals plus my chosen extras (before the hunt )
ive not encountered any pressure to hunt an animal I didn't all ready want ,
and cant imagine someone letting the p.h push an animal on them , if its so good ,the p.h wants it . lend him your firearm /bow
 
Jaco really says it best. If you are pressured to shoot more then you are not with a professional. Hennie do Toit has been my PH on two hunts. We decided before the hunt what I wanted. I did add that if we saw a good Black Wildebeest I would like to get one. On my last day Hennie spotted one and he turned out to be a very nice one. But NO pressure at anytime. And I must say on both hunts I heard several times...."no that one is not a good trophy, we can do better." That's the way it should be folks.
 

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