Bontebok price jump

[woods1126]

Hello everyone, Has anyone else noticed the trophy fee price for Bontebok, has jumped dramatically in the past year? I have seen it jump from $1350 to $2300 and more with some Eastern Cape outfitters. Many have POR (price on request) on thier websites. I sent an email to one outfitter on the EC. He told me he saw Bontebok rams sell for as much as $5000 at an auction this past Thursday!! What's going on?? Kevin

 

[James.Grage]

I have seen, prices at the auctions going up drastically this past year.

I have heard that some areas are paying up wards of $5,000 at auction for Kudu bulls that is in the 55 to 60 inch range, that will be be put out for a hunter. These are measure bull.

As i have read, areas are starting to charge big time for taking some trophy's. you are going to see more of the pay by the inch format.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Might have a couple coming up at regular price. Keep an eye on the forums. Just helping the owner sort out the permits.

 

[enysse]

When I was in Africa this year, I told my outfitter I had one, he was like...how much? I told him and he said you will never get a deal like that again.

 

[jeff]

Bontebok are beautiful but not enough better than blesbok to make them worth high dollars to me, to each his own.

 

[buchnerl]

Not just Bontebok, that jumped. Most animals have jumped the hammer. Noticed where a Springbuck trophy sells for US $120 000.00 on an auction recently and a white flanked impala ewe for US $920 000.00???

That's where their going to, and that is just the sad beginning.

 

[enysse]

Loodt, who can afford that? I don't understand these auction prices!!!! The supply and demand market can't afford it! I have said it before and I will say it again this is not good for outfitters or hunters!!!!

 

[billc]

This is just another phase that africa hunting is going through.In time it will even out.Some of the more rare animals will have crazy prices or when a put and take place needs some animals you will see crazy prices.

The smart outfitters will stay away from this stuff and come out in the end better.Some places want to make a quick dollar and have no long term plans at all.They go after the guys with big pockets and then move on.
The outfitters who think there animals are now worth more because one sold at some auction will not make it or will be having end of year discount to make there money.

The good thing is we as hunters can make this go away or get even more crazy.WE dont hunt the stuff the prices will come back down.There is a limit to what alot of us will pay to hunt africa.I for one know it is not as much as some of the guys think.Africa is still a good deal now and guys will always go but if the prices get to much more the market will slow and fewer guys will go.
Not everyone is willing to take a 15 to 20 hour flight or will pay that airfare to go.When the hunts gets to you can only hunt 2 or 3 animals for the cost of a hunt in the states guys will stop going.The market can out price itself.

I think sable is the perfect animal to judge by.Two or 3 years ago you could not touch a sable for under 9000.00 Now you see people discount them down to 6000.00.Only so many people will spend that much on one animal and it hit the wall.The biggest still go for over 10,000 but you can get a nice sable for 6000.00.

Just my thoughts but the guys who stay true and dont get caught up in all the side show auctions will come out in the end much better.They appeal to a much bigger market.

 

[James.Grage]

What you are seeing is the super rich are driving the very rich, rich and moderate middle class out of the hunting. The very rich and super rich are looking for record book trophy animals.

The nuts and bolts members on AH, from what i am reading are stretched now.

In chatting by phone and e mail with a few PH the direction hunting is going is not good for the average hunter. The Pay by the inch is starting to stake off.

With over all hunting numbers down by 10% over previous year numbers, the available number of hunters booking a hunt is diminishing.

When you have Rhino and lion hunts that are advertized for near $100,000 or more and they are snapped up almost instantly. Plus Other hunters are taking multiple elephant hunts in a year.

While i do know a few hunters who have booked 3 and 4 different safari packages this year. Plus these safari trips are not back to back and they are considering going again. As i have said the very rich are booking at a record pace. Another friend has decided to do the sheep and goat hunts, he has earned his money and he is living a dream come true. i do believe By the way both he and his wife have the big 5 and continue to be on the go year around.

 

[enysse]

I think that is good way to think billc, the working class will not put up up with the adjustment. And chasing color phases and stuff like it gets silly expensive!!

 

[woods1126]

Ditto, billc and James Grage. I am a construction worker and save my pennies to go on hunts. I have been blessed to be able to hunt in many Canadian Provinces. Also Alaska and a few western states. In 2013, I hunted the Eastern Cape for the first time. I have to say, since that trip I think of Africa EVERY DAY!! I'm booked to return next April. All other trips have gone to the wayside.

I do believe however, there is a cap of which the blue collar worker will pay to hunt "The Dark Continent". We the hunters I believe, can control this to a certain extent. I have started working very close with the outfitter I am returning to in the spring, (Mankazana Safaris). I have learned everything is negotiable and most outfitters will work with you and your budget. Thanks everyone, Kevin

 

[CAustin]

Well the prices will intersect with demand. As mentioned when the price gets too high the number of hunts sold for the animal will drop.

 

[enysse]

If people think kudu prices are jumping to $5000 to $6000 a kudu, they are going to grow old and die...just my 2 cents.

 

[Royal27]

If people think kudu prices are jumping to $5000 to $6000 a kudu, they are going to grow old and die...just my 2 cents.

I'm with ya!!!!

And remember, that at least some of these auction animals are breeders. The buyers don't expect to get full price from a hunter. That being said, it seems to be a gold rush mentality from what I've heard and there is over paying going on. For me personally, there aren't very many non big five animals that I'd pay $2k for. Even something like a Nyala that I really want is borderline to me at the current prices...

 

[sestoppelman]

Not just Bontebok, that jumped. Most animals have jumped the hammer. Noticed where a Springbuck trophy sells for US $120 000.00 on an auction recently and a white flanked impala ewe for US $920 000.00???

That's where their going to, and that is just the sad beginning.

Lot of zeros in there!

 

[Royal27]

And this special animal stuff just doesn't mean anything to me. I will never say never, but I don't have any interest as of today in doing something like a springbuck slam. I don't even think I would do it if the cost was the same on all four. I'd rather put the extra money towards a mountain reedbuck or something. Just me though. The $$$$ sez many disagree with me!

 

[billc]

I think we all have our special animals we would pay so much for.Some it is the big 5 others it could be the tiny ten.The market goes in trends and some by permits.

I get why a elephant may cost so much as only so many can be hunted in a year.I can also get why a true 60" kudu can go for more at some places.If the guy wants to pay for a 60" that was bought at auction god bless him.There is a cost and market for that.I just dont want to see guys prices there animals by auction prices because they think they can get more from hunters.That is were the mistake can be made that will ruin SA for must guys.

The outfitters that stay steady and weather this storm of some landowners getting greedy will do fine.When some of the landowners end up culling animals after they sit on the extra game not hunt they will wake up.It will only take a year or two for that to happen.The landowners will learn just like some of the greedy outfitters there is a top end for must of the market that comes from the states.

Yes you have guys were money is no issue but I would bet 90% of the market has a bottom line price they will spend to go.I know when I started to try and get guys to go they all thought it would cost to much.Then I told them they could hunt 4 or 5 animals for the cost of a good elk hunt.Some went others added the airfare and extra for shipping stuff back plus not getting any meat and decide it was not worth it to go.I know for a fact if the guys who went could have only hunted 2 or 3 animals for the cost of a hunt here in the states that would have stopped them from trying africa

I know we all talk about once you go you want to go back.Bottom line is though not everyone will be able to do that for one reason or other.So the market of US hunters could change at anytime and prices going crazy will be the biggest reason to make that happen sooner.

I just hope that there will always be a few outfitters who understand the market does have limits and keep the prices at the best they can.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I would say the outfitters just like any other businessmen understand the market limits. The limits are dictated by simple supply and demand. If demand is outstripping supply, prices are going to go up. If supply is outstripping the demand, the prices will go down.

Sable prices as mentioned have dropped for the simple reason there are more sable now than there were a few years ago. Ele prices in Zim have dropped because so many clients cancelled their hunts after the stupid USFWS decision, supply went up as demand faltered.

 

[Royal27]

Bill, you nailed it, but Phil is right too.

The outfitters who don't understand that the market has its limits won't be in business regardless as they don't understand business. They will price themselves to high, or to low.

Your premise that "steady wins the race" is correct IMO but goes to so much more than just price. The guts who are steady are also the ones who are willing to go above and beyond in other areas of the business. This isn't a coincidence!

 

[Ridge Top Ranch]

The free market always finds equilibrium. There are always those that will pay anything to hunt what they want from ducks to deer to lions and rhinos. The problem is there is just not enough of them to support the safari industry at it's current level. It is the nature of commerce to test the upper limits of pricing. As many have already said in this post once landowners and outfitters see income drop as their expenses rise they will either drop prices or sell out to those who are willing to work for smaller profit.

I am 60 years old and went to Africa for the first time in 2013 and am going back in 2015. I have always been a working class guy who raised 3 kids and sent them to college and paid for 2 weddings. Finally getting my turn. In the US wages are not rising as fast as costs for health care, housing and education among other things. I do not see my children ever being able to afford hunting in Africa if prices rise at a faster rate than wages.

I count myself lucky to have had the chance to hunt in Africa. I declined to hunt Sable on my next hunt because it seems crazy to pay $7000 trophy fee when I can go back to Zim and shoot a non trophy elephant or a leopard or another buffalo for the same price. I'd rather have exiting than pretty on safari.