AH MEMBER HUNT - HOST OUTFITTER?

Gee Guys, do you think Marius is in favor of this? LOL

I do think it will need to move around a bit to accommodate guys who have all the species in an area... I for one would get excited about Namibia or Zambia... Or anywhere outside of where I have been already. Starting out with a simple low cost PG hunt and bigger groups might generate some opportunities for smaller groups so inclined to do more extensive hunts, perhaps even DG. This thing could be a life changing thing for some guys to find new hunting buddies with like goals. I can find a lot of excitement in here! Start out modest in RSA and/or Namibia and see where it goes.

Lots of good ideas out there... @Mr. 16 gauge I have to agree with a lot of what you said. Except I never felt that much apprehension. But in my line of work, disasters happen all the time, so as long as no one gets hurt seriously, I no longer see them so much as disasters and more as "challenges" and we just have to remain calm and solve the problem at hand. I also had booked the first time though an agent who was available if needed, but still only that small thread of a phone connection that he could help with (never needed him). So I do think the group thing could be a huge comfort to some new guys and especially if not using a reputable agent.. we have certainly heard of bad agents on here as well. (James is a good one!)

A final thought on your comments, there are lots of bad things reported on this site, and I have certainly not done a survey, but I think there are a whole lot more positive stories! Personally I have more confidence in being satisfied on an African hunt than one in the USA, Europe, or Asia... I'm sure there are good and bad there as well.

Scheduling can be a big deal but there will need to be a group consensus on timing and then it fits or it doesn't.

Agree with Bob, bad news nearly always makes the news, good news does not.

Yeah, but without the bad news, how would we know who to stay clear of or who to research?

What the heck, let's just go big or go home. Why not a group Leopard hunt? I will guarantee everyone a cat.

KMG Hunting Safaris said:

Why not a group Leopard hunt? I will guarantee everyone a cat.

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Deposit sent via PayPal!!! Be looking for it!!!!

So one of the reasons I like May the flights are cheaper, the money saved on a airline ticket could give you that extra animal you wanted. Also the rut is starting for a lot of the game, I shot my Kudu when he was chasing a younger bull. Hunting 1x1 makes it fun when you get back to camp at night to see how everyone did that day, enjoying the stories of the days hunts. I spent time with hunters from Germany, Sweden, and the UK all fine gentlemen, I learned a lot about them and their customs and countries, I consider Kent from Sweden as a good friend mine as we still communicate today.

Hey Tay50, glad to hear of your Trophy Kudu. So how young was the other male he was chasing? Where you just taking a very Politically Correct Kudu Trophy or was it a matter of putting down a serious child molester? (sorry, couldn't help that)

Seriously, when are the best deals on flights? I thought it was pretty cheap even earlier. When is "prime time" or the most expensive? @safari gal ?

And this might be something I should know, but I am unsure so I'll ask... When is the busiest time for outfitters? When is it that your all booked up normally anyway and when is it that you are looking to get more clients into your camps?

KMG Hunting Safaris said:

Yeah, but without the bad news, how would we know who to stay clear of or who to research?

What the heck, let's just go big or go home. Why not a group Leopard hunt? I will guarantee everyone a cat.

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Sign me up!!!!!

Buff-Buster said:

Sign me up!!!!!

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Yeah yeah, cheque's in the mail, right?

Royal27 said:

Deposit sent via PayPal!!! Be looking for it!!!!

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Looking, but can't find it!

Bob, although I usually have long seasons, there are certainly busier times. I start in two weeks. Can't speak for the rest of the guys but, the busiest time for me is usually June/July.
Tay50 made a great comment regarding the rut. May is the time things usually starts chasing, especially if you are after a big pig. Regarding his Kudu, we were actually set up on a Bushbuck ram, literally 3 seconds from the shot, when something caught my eye coming in from the right and at speed. First thought it was Waterbuck that we had seen in that area earlier, but then realized it was a Kudu Bull chasing another one. He messed up the Bushbuck hunt, which most know is very dear to the hearts of us in the Eastern Cape, and he had to pay for it. Had quick look, saw he was good. We were there. He was there. Match made in heaven. Turned out to be a bruiser too...

ActionBob said:

Seriously, when are the best deals on flights? I thought it was pretty cheap even earlier. When is "prime time" or the most expensive? @safari gal ?

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I know we have been having bit of banter and a bit of fun, but this would be some great input on a subject not yet covered. Nice one Bob!
Would be great if Lori could chime in on this one.

ActionBob said:

Gee Guys, do you think Marius is in favor of this? LOL

I

Lots of good ideas out there... @Mr. 16 gauge I have to agree with a lot of what you said. Except I never felt that much apprehension. But in my line of work, disasters happen all the time, so as long as no one gets hurt seriously, I no longer see them so much as disasters and more as "challenges" and we just have to remain calm and solve the problem at hand. I also had booked the first time though an agent who was available if needed, but still only that small thread of a phone connection that he could help with (never needed him). So I do think the group thing could be a huge comfort to some new guys and especially if not using a reputable agent.. we have certainly heard of bad agents on here as well. (James is a good one!)

A final thought on your comments, there are lots of bad things reported on this site, and I have certainly not done a survey, but I think there are a whole lot more positive stories! Personally I have more confidence in being satisfied on an African hunt than one in the USA, Europe, or Asia... I'm sure there are good and bad there as well.

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KMG Hunting Safaris said:

Yeah, but without the bad news, how would we know who to stay clear of or who to research?

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tay50 said:

So one of the reasons I like May the flights are cheaper, the money saved on a airline ticket could give you that extra animal you wanted. Also the rut is starting for a lot of the game, I shot my Kudu when he was chasing a younger bull. Hunting 1x1 makes it fun when you get back to camp at night to see how everyone did that day, enjoying the stories of the days hunts. I spent time with hunters from Germany, Sweden, and the UK all fine gentlemen, I learned a lot about them and their customs and countries, I consider Kent from Sweden as a good friend mine as we still communicate today.

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I guess I should elaborate a bit........it wasn't just this particular site, but other sites that have African forums as well; seems like everyone likes to bitch about bad experiences, but they aren't so ready to talk up the good ones (this site is the first that I've really seen that to not be true; guys here continue to talk about their good experiences LONG after they've happened, which does help quite a bit!). Yes, I agree that there are a lot more positive/good things reported here than negative ones. One other thing folks need to realize with re: to negative reports. One has to dissect carefully why the poster is dissatisfied, and is it justified. To be upset with an outfitter because the flight experience was bad, or the taxidermy was bad, etc, is not a valid beef, IMHO. The fact that you didn't bag a record book trophy animal may or may not be a justifiable beef (after all, it is hunting). .....and some things outfitters just don't have control over: die offs from parasites, diseases, natural disasters, etc, etc,; a decrease in permits due to the govt. acting on said disasters, etc. Crap happens, and as Action bob said, you just have to look at it as a challenge, which can be difficult when you are spending a large sum of money to "live the dream".
I should also add that my last outfitted hunting experience was about 6-7 months prior to my African hunt, and it was a TOTAL disaster!! (deer hunt in North Carolina). I thought I had done my research and homework prior to the trip (started a good two years before I went)......kept searching for bad reviews, write-ups, etc......and couldn't find a one. Then, the week that we were there, it was like I was living just the other side of HELL!! So I guess that experience made me a bit more skittish than usual.
I never even gave a thought to flights being cheaper at one time of year than another.....I have come to recognize the term "cheap flight" as an oxymoron anymore! However, that is a good point....now I just have to weigh the odds of running into a snake earlier in the season to the savings on an airline ticket and see if one is better than the other! Seriously, May is a bit of a bad month for me and vacation time, as that is when a lot of our professional conferences are, and they get presidence over "regular" vacations.
I should say that all the folks that were in camp when I was in Africa last August were great people and while I didn't physically hunt with any of them (other than my P.H.), I enjoyed their company at the fire place in the evening over a glass of spirits.

ActionBob said:

...A final thought on your comments, there are lots of bad things reported on this site, and I have certainly not done a survey, but I think there are a whole lot more positive stories! ...

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Everyone who has had a bad experience wants to scream it to the world, either to warn others or simply to vent, those who have a good experience are far more likely to keep it to themselves. This certainly skews the numbers when it comes to good vs. bad reports.

As far a booking direct or through an agent. There are just as many if not more crooked booking agents than outfitters. Although booking through a good reputable agent can make things much easier, especially for a first timer, it should not be assumed that using an agent keeps you safe from fraud or even improves your odds, only diligent research can do that.

M2C

It appears that there could be more that one group of AH participants.
1. The South Africa Connection
2. The Namibia Connection
3. The Zambia Connection
4. The Zimbabwe Connection
5. Hunting to be conducted on 1 PH to 1 Hunter.

As discussed there could be more than one AH group heading to Africa with more than one (1) hosting PH.

The difficulty is having the proper number of PH's to match up to the hunting participants. Plus having the PH's being knowledgeable of the hunting area for a hunters success.

I also am fond of the idea of going to a place (like country) i have not been to before. Like Namibia, Mozambique, Botswana or Zambia.

Also we have not had any response as to how small or large a potential group would be. Just that the majority would like to go 1X1 while on the group hunt.

I have shared a camps in the past where say fellow hunter would like to stay up late (I'm talking real late or early morning) and go hunting in the afternoon. I am not sure sharing a room or tent with a person like that would be appealing.

As for airline booking, i have traveled to Africa from April to November and the price has been fairly the same for each trip. That factor should not be a game changer in my thinking.

I am working on my 2016 plans as i type this. In fact my wife and i were just discussing, if i would be returning to Africa in 2016 or returning to Alaska. Our 2017 plans have been in the works for a while.

For a springboard this topic is seeing a lot of action.

I would like to see where the group would go and what was available to have a chance at. Before saying yes or no to the proposition.

James.Grage said:

I have shared a camps in the past where say fellow hunter would like to stay up late (I'm talking real late or early morning) and go hunting in the afternoon. I am not sure sharing a room or tent with a person like that would be appealing.

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This is a good catch. There needs to be a rule: If you miss the bus it will be back again at lunch or at the end of the day if plans were to go to another property. No one needs to have their hunt cut short by someone who just wont get out of bed.

KMG Hunting Safaris said:

Yeah, but without the bad news, how would we know who to stay clear of or who to research?

What the heck, let's just go big or go home. Why not a group Leopard hunt? I will guarantee everyone a cat.

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I don't want no house cat! Damn fine print again... "guaranteed cat" hmmmm.

Diamondhitch said:

This is a good catch. There needs to be a rule: If you miss the bus it will be back again at lunch or at the end of the day if plans were to go to another property. No one needs to have their hunt cut short by someone who just wont get out of bed.

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Snooze you lose!

BRICKBURN said:

Snooze you lose!

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But you'll still get a cat!

James.Grage said:

Also we have not had any response as to how small or large a potential group would be.

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I thought I saw a group size of 6 hunters thrown out a couple times?

As for getting up and at 'em... In Vegas, I'm often one of the guys sitting up late having a good time and struggling to get up the next day.

In Africa, I don't have that issue. In RSA we did sleep in to about 6 AM some days, but in Zimbabwe, 4:30 was a late wake up.

Kind of goes back to "when in Rome... " But I don't want to be with that group that sits up partying all night... Well maybe at Spike's place, after the main critters are on the ground!

ActionBob said:

" But I don't want to be with that group that sits up partying all night... Well maybe at Spike's place, after the main critters are on the ground!

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I definitely want to be in on that group hunt!

if marius needs any help with patrolling his bar on this tour i am willing to offer my assistance and expertise..........

spike.t said:

if marius needs any help with patrolling his bar on this tour i am willing to offer my assistance and expertise..........

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Marius has been VERY clear that be believes in self sustaining populations. If he let's you patrol the bar I will question that belief.