Blasphemous (and Impossible?) Question

As a Limpopo based outfitter, I have to say the EC will give you the most bang for your buck hands down...

On the other hand if you were interested in Limpopo, and possibly something different, feel free to let me know and we can put our heads together to see what we can come up with..

My best always

Well with that kind of money on a plainsgame trip you will have a blast.
Let me know if we can be of assistance

Kind regards

I'll be going in a couple years, God Willing

At times during this thread I'll admit I had fun playing "devil's advocate" at times, but at other times I saw a lot of cash needed for the kind of hunt I'd want.

It's tough. I would like a 2 week hunt, simply because of a physical affliction. I've got chronic sciatica and if I was up and mobile for 7 hours one day chances are I'd be out of commission the next day with crippling pain.

So I'm coming from a different place than a lot of you guys. Consider yourself blessed if you can hunt balls to the wall every day.

But I'm always optimistic that things can change on that front. There are certain animals I know I'd want to hunt and some I know I wouldn't. In the currency of today a hunt like I imagine would probably run 20K and that doesn't include plane fare or mounting or any of the other fees and expenses.

Which brings me to a question: what in God's name is "dip"?

I don't think I'd want any kind of mount except leopard and maybe a European mount of Greater (or lesser) Kudu or any other animal with beautiful horns that shoot into the sky.

There are quite a bit of uncertainties that I'll have to iron out. One thing I do know is that I cannot leave this earth without hunting in Africa. Hopefully that will be in 2015 - 2016.

adam12 said:

At times during this thread I'll admit I had fun playing "devil's advocate" at times, but at other times I saw a lot of cash needed for the kind of hunt I'd want.

It's tough. I would like a 2 week hunt, simply because of a physical affliction. I've got chronic sciatica and if I was up and mobile for 7 hours one day chances are I'd be out of commission the next day with crippling pain.

So I'm coming from a different place than a lot of you guys. Consider yourself blessed if you can hunt balls to the wall every day.

But I'm always optimistic that things can change on that front. There are certain animals I know I'd want to hunt and some I know I wouldn't. In the currency of today a hunt like I imagine would probably run 20K and that doesn't include plane fare or mounting or any of the other fees and expenses.

Which brings me to a question: what in God's name is "dip"?

I don't think I'd want any kind of mount except leopard and maybe a European mount of Greater (or lesser) Kudu or any other animal with beautiful horns that shoot into the sky.

There are quite a bit of uncertainties that I'll have to iron out. One thing I do know is that I cannot leave this earth without hunting in Africa. Hopefully that will be in 2015 - 2016.

Click to expand...

"Dipping" and "Packing" refers to the disenfecting and packing requirments/process that raw horns/hides must go through in order to clear Africa and be legally imported into the USA. It's a chemical process perormed by the dip/pack company usually after your outfitter transfers your trophies to them before they are shipped. This process "usually" runs about $100 per horn/hide combo...more or less I suppose.

Good luck my friend, I hope you make accross the pond one day and experiece what Africa has to offer.

adam12 said:

At times during this thread I'll admit I had fun playing "devil's advocate" at times, but at other times I saw a lot of cash needed for the kind of hunt I'd want.

It's tough. I would like a 2 week hunt, simply because of a physical affliction. I've got chronic sciatica and if I was up and mobile for 7 hours one day chances are I'd be out of commission the next day with crippling pain.

So I'm coming from a different place than a lot of you guys. Consider yourself blessed if you can hunt balls to the wall every day.

But I'm always optimistic that things can change on that front. There are certain animals I know I'd want to hunt and some I know I wouldn't. In the currency of today a hunt like I imagine would probably run 20K and that doesn't include plane fare or mounting or any of the other fees and expenses.

Which brings me to a question: what in God's name is "dip"?

I don't think I'd want any kind of mount except leopard and maybe a European mount of Greater (or lesser) Kudu or any other animal with beautiful horns that shoot into the sky.

There are quite a bit of uncertainties that I'll have to iron out. One thing I do know is that I cannot leave this earth without hunting in Africa. Hopefully that will be in 2015 - 2016.

Click to expand...

So, let's put all the cards on the table. You ask what 10-12000!will get, then say what you want will probly run 20 000. So just for conversation sake, tell us you want.

I would say a budget of $10 000, would get you incredible promises from a fly by night outfitter, and a plains game hunt of a lifetime from a respectable outfit.

For 2 weeks of day rates, plus trophy fees, you can still have a wonderful hunt, bag a kudu, a gemsbok, an impala, and a warthog. (Maybe, just pulling numbers from my head, as I soak in the hot tub)

One thing, I would not book with an outfitter, that did not own their own land. Yes there are many good outfitters that hunt on others farms, but there are also too many excellent land owners like Kwalata, or Hartzview to hunt also. When you hunt with the land owner, you greatly reduce the risk of mid hunt rule changes.

I see no reason to not go on that $10-12,000 budget if you really want to. Be reasonable and realistic and "just do it!" Esspecially if you are a hunter and have most of what you need.

But if you get bogged down in details and "wants" you can easily blow that amount long before you board the plane. We bought new guns, scopes, binos, cases, luggage, clothes, 2 sets of boots each, etc. Add in the extra prescription eye glasses and sunglasses for "just in case", practice ammo and range fees, and odd things like flash light and gun tool... All of which our PH had anyway.... I hate to think about it but to be honest, I think we spent $10-12,000 just on that stuff for the wife and I... And we did not go real high end. However a couple drab green or dark brown shirts, comfortable sneekers or hiking shoes, and a couple pairs of old blue jeans along with an old jacket and hat is about all you need. Good quality binos are nice but if it comes down to shooting an extra animal or new binos, use what you have and take the animal. The PH will be telling you the details you need to know and you want to be looking through your scope anyway... You do want a good scope but nowdays any mid priced brand should do fine.

Go early like April or May when the weather is nice and you don't need much for fancy gear... And if 7 hours per day pushes your body too hard, early in the season when it gets hot mid day everyone and the animals want to take a nap after lunch anyway. Plan to get out early morning, we often had one or two animals on the ground pretty early. Then take them to the skinning shed and relax over lunch and rest up, go back out for the couple hours prime time before sundown and you will be successful.

There are lots of Plains Game priced pretty reasonably. Go for one or two primary animals you really want and fill out a nice bag of the lower cost things. Maybe even ask your PH to call in a Jackal for you, you can sit and jackals are cheap or free.... Shoot a couple, the Ranchers in the area will be gratefull. And for more challenge, go after Baboons. Most will let you shoot some for free if not keeping them. I had no intention of shooting any primate, but I was there for a day and half and decided the Baboons need to die! Esspecially the one waking me up at 4 every morning! Never got one but I did try.

with your budget you can do a lot.

My son and I shot 8 animals 2 years ago with KMG and the grand total for both of us was $7100. That was all plainsgame with 2 bigger animals and 2 smaller animals each. (although I added a Waterbuck that was enormous, look at avatar, which added quite a bit.) We had 6.5 days of hunting.

My wife and I are going in July (again with KMG) and I have bigger plans. All 4 on my list are bigger ticket animals and my wife has 1 big and 3 small planned. Total trip for both us is less than $10K.
We will hunt 8 days.

when I say "small animals", talking about cheaper ones.... like impala, springbok, warthog, etc ....... and larger animals would be like zebra, wilderbeest, nyala, kudu, etc.

I highly recommend Marius of KMG, but I would have no problems about going with Jaco or some of the other guys that post on here.

My advice, pick an outfitter from this site that hunters on here have been with and recommended. Pick you a couple big animals you really like and some of the lesser priced that you like and just go.

another thing, when talking to outfitters, make sure the 10 day hunt is "10 hunting days", some call it a 10 day hunt when 2 days of that is actually travel to and from airport.
Marius quotes his as a 10 day hunt being 10 hunting days, some don't.

Hi Adam,

I am not sure where you live. This is what i would do if i were you.

1. I would check on airline cost first to South Africa and Namibia. Shop around look with Lori (safari gal) on here and maybe another travel agency that specializes in firearms travel for expected costs..
2. Check on taxidermy and importer costs. Euro vs shoulder mounts. or consider leaving your trophy's in Africa. Taking pictures and video's. Or a mix.
3. Looks for travel safari deals or specials. There are entry packages that offer a great opportunity for hunters on a set budget. Send an PM or e-mail to ask for information. Then check references.
4. Book your trip with the best deal you have selected and checked out.

There is a lot of opportunities out there ask and research and I'm sure you will find something that will fit what you are after. One thing that was not mentioned is management hunts where you get a lot of bang for you buck and can still shoot a trophy in between as you please as I see you won't be doing a lot of trophies.

Norwegianwoods said:

Great post!

I am planning for 3-4 more hunts to Africa myself and non of them include a lion.

Click to expand...

Thanks Norweigianwoods.
My plans are the same as yours.
Great minds think alike.