any help with becoming a professional hunter?

Hello, I am from the united states and would like to become a professional hunter in Africa but have no idea where to start, i have attended a hunting guide school in Montana but have not seen any in Africa, if someone could please help me and give me an idea of where to get started i would be very grateful, i don't have much money to pay for another guide school in Africa, if i sold most of what i own i could come up with about $8,000 and I am willing to do that but i have no idea where to start, thanks, any help is appreciated

Welcome to AH Deinotherium.

I'll jump in.
This has been discussed here several times.
Go to the search function, click on advanced search and enter "Professional" in "title" only search.
You will find multiple threads on the topic.
After that enter "PH" repeat process.

Here is A source.
PH Schools

Most countries require citizenship. I think you can get RSA citizenship by investing about $250,000.00 USD (?)

It will cost you about $1500 to $2000 for school, $300.00 for books suggested and then the flight cost of $2000.00 and then you'll have to fight with every other local graduate.

Sincere good luck. If its your dream, you'll find a way.

thanks a lot, is the job market very competitive for professional hunters? if i sold some things i could afford the school, but do you know of any other way to get citizenship? i will never have $250,000 to invest, are there any other countries that are easier to get citizenship in or that do not require it?

Originally Posted by Deinotherium

thanks a lot, is the job market very competitive for professional hunters?

Yes.
Look at those threads and you will get lots of answers.
Also, the link.
If you have more questions after you read them please do ask.

thanks for the help, i'm having trouble finding any threads with information in them, but i found one with this book, is this a good book to get?

How to Become A Professional Hunter In Africa

also, would working for free for an outfitter to get experience be a good idea? because right now i have nothing other than experience from the guide school in montana that would make me competitive in the job market

Originally Posted by Deinotherium

thanks for the help, i'm having trouble finding any threads with information in them, but i found one with this book, is this a good book to get?

Any book at this point in your search would probably help you.

I suggest you contact the entire list of PH schools listed on the PHASA link I gave you and ask them all what they think. Several will have reading lists that will be useful.

Ok, you are not passing the first tests of your hunting skills here!

Newest Canadian PH in South Africa

Gaining a Professional Hunter license

Hunting Guide / Professional Hunter requirements?

Hunting - Professional Hunting Schools, Professional Hunter Schools, PH School Hunting Africa

Thanks for the links, i just emailed all the PH schools, by the way, i don't speak Afrikaans, would that be a problem?

Originally Posted by Deinotherium

Thanks for the links, i just emailed all the PH schools, by the way, i don't speak Afrikaans, would that be a problem?

Only when you are trying to speak to a portion of the population.
Some schools offer courses in English.

Many local PH's are Bilingual, Trilingual or more.

You could do yourself no harm by making contact with Nathan here Bullet Safaris - African Hunting Safari Company. He could help answer most of your questions. Good luck.

Thanks for all the help, this forum is really great, i just got in contact with a few of those professional hunting schools and one of them looks like they will be loads of help, now all i have to do is get my passport and the money for the school

Good Luck.

i'm not quite done being a nuisance yet

from what i have read from emailing the PH schools, the South Africa qualification is accepted in Tanzania, Mozambique, and Zambia, does anyone know what the requirements are or where i could find the requirements for being a PH in those countries?

I would suggest that you look up the government contacts or professional hunters associations in each country.
Tell us what you find.

Hunting - Hunting Clubs, Hunting Associations, Hunting Organizations

I've been in contact with several of the schools on the PH association of South Africa website, is it safe to assume all the ones listed are legitimate, because not all of them have websites so i just want to make sure before i decide to spend the money on the one i choose. The one's i am considering are the Sutherland hunting academy and Limpopo wildlife training

If they are on the phasa website, they are legitime.

Originally Posted by Deinotherium

i'm not quite done being a nuisance yet

from what i have read from emailing the PH schools, the South Africa qualification is accepted in Tanzania, Mozambique, and Zambia, does anyone know what the requirements are or where i could find the requirements for being a PH in those countries?

for info on zambia go to the the professional hunters assosciation of zambia website PHAZ ~ The Professional Hunters Association Zambia , email them and they will be able to help you.

Originally Posted by Deinotherium

I've been in contact with several of the schools on the PH association of South Africa website, is it safe to assume all the ones listed are legitimate, because not all of them have websites so i just want to make sure before i decide to spend the money on the one i choose. The one's i am considering are the Sutherland hunting academy and Limpopo wildlife training

Deinotherium, I can tell you that David Sutherland will teach you and you will learn a lot. I enjoyed my time in the school and I worked 14 plus hours per day during the course.
Tell him Wayne sent you.

That is probably who i will go with since the other school i looked at is significantly more expensive, one more question i have is what does a PH usually do in the off season? can they just go hunt in another country that they are licensed in or is there some other related field to work in while not hunting

Originally Posted by Deinotherium

...... one more question i have is what does a PH usually do in the off season? ........

The Off Season for PH's If you look really closely you'll see Jaco, Louis, Marius and Niel all hiding under the palm trees in this photo. Christophe is on the beach with Jacques.