Need new Hunting buddies

Reading this has been both interesting - we all seem to have the same problems with buddies who say they're going until it's actually time to put up the money - and humbling. I have been fortunate that the money has been a bit easier to find than the time (until recently). To read what some go through to pursue something they love is truly remarkable and, as I say, more than a bit humbling. Hats off to you guys.

I find myself in the exact same situation. I have asked people who seemed interested but in the end wouldn't go even though they can afford it. I took my son and wife two years ago and we all had a great time. She didn't want to go last year. Now my son is going this year on the elephant hunt but he is just starting out in his career so these things will be difficult at best fir him to do. Got a new member in my deer club who has been a couple of times but he seems like he is done with Africa.
So I think the buddy page could be good!
Jerome what do you think?

CAustin said:

So I think the buddy page could be good!
Jerome what do you think?

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I won't create a section dedicated to that, however anyone looking for someone to hunt with can simply post a thread in the appropriate hunting destination section where they want to hunt.

Hunting and fishing in general but, especially over-seas is more pleasurable for me with friends and family (my son's are excellent hunter/fisher types and my wife loves to fish, salt water or fresh water, either one).

However, when I start asking around if anyone wants to go to Africa with me and narrowing down my dates for same, I do not loose any sleep if the responses are few to none.

So far, there have always been at least one soul and as many as seven I think, that went along or met me over there, themselves arriving before or after my own arrival date.

Conversely, if that did not happen and I ended up going solo, that would not slow me down whatsoever.

PHs usually make excellent conversation around any evening fire so, it is not like being completely all alone on the dark side of the moon.

AfricaHunting.com said:

I won't create a section dedicated to that, however anyone looking for someone to hunt with can simply post a thread in the appropriate hunting destination section where they want to hunt.

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For me personally, this wouldn't help anyway. The challenge is that if I go with someone else I want it to be someone I know I could share a campfire with and really enjoy it. To me that means I'd really have to know the person, not just pick them up. There are definitely folks here that I'd do a joint trip with, but I already know who they are.

Royal27 said:

For me personally, this wouldn't help anyway. The challenge is that if I go with someone else I want it to be someone I know I could share a campfire with and really enjoy it. To me that means I'd really have to know the person, not just pick them up. There are definitely folks here that I'd do a joint trip with, but I already know who they are.

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After "hooking up" with a couple of other people at the local waterfowl managed area, and nearly having my head blown off because someone "just had to shoot a duck", I'm VERY picky about who I share a duck blind, deer blind, or campfire with. I have to agree with Royal on this one.....goals, attitudes, etc. need to be similar for both parties to have a good time.
.....with the exception of canine companions; I can get along with just about any dog (as long as it's not mean).

I agree 16 gauge.

Mr. 16 gauge said:

After "hooking up" with a couple of other people at the local waterfowl managed area

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Maybe you'd like to define what you mean by "hooking up" because I think that we have different understandings of that phrase (or exactly the same one )

Its hard to find people who will really come through when it comes time to put the money down. I did not hunt for years out west because I was always waiting for guys to decide if they want to go or not. I finding just started hunting on my own and said the hell with it. Lucky for me now I have my son to join and enjoy he trips.

Finding a site like this I think will make it easier if a guy really looks for others to go with. I know for 2016 I have a friend to go with but want to add a few more. Pieter is going to put something together and we will open it up for guys who want to go when I go over. Hoping to make some new hunting buddies that way. Planning on making it a group of 6 guys for 7 to 10 days depending on what everyone wants.

Saul said:

Maybe you'd like to define what you mean by "hooking up" because I think that we have different understandings of that phrase (or exactly the same one )

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I thought about that after I reread it after I posted it. So, to get some of your minds out of the gutter, let me elaborate.

In order to hunt the "better" areas of the managed waterfowl area (i.e. the flooded cornfields), you must have a group of 2-4 hunters. A lot of guys show up as individuals, and then pair up with someone else who is alone in order to meet the requirements for the group rule. The guy I partnered up with claimed to have hunted ducks before, but he nearly drowned me when he pulled the front end of the boat up out of the water (submersing the back end!) , and started blasting away at ducks that were over 200 yards away.....they were literally specks in the sky over the refuge! I was calling in some ducks that were coming in from our left (he was to my right) and as they started to come over my head, he raised his shotgun and fired.......about a foot over my head! I'm still hard of hearing in that ear. He proceeded to cripple a few more ducks and finally scratched on down that we recovered. I was never so glad to be done with a hunt in my life! Another time I partnered with a guy who didn't like where we were hunting, so he moved down to the next field.......the hunters who were rightfully there didn't appreciate it, and somehow I got the brunt of it.
Another nightmare was a fellow that I met there and partnered up with; I'd seen him at the check station in the past, knew that he lived on the island, etc. Thought he would be a decent hunting partner so we got our spot and went and set out decoys and started our hunt.......... and then later I saw the SS lightning bolt and 'totenkopf' (death head) insignia tatooed on his forearms (didn't see it in the management station, as he had long sleeves on at that time....only saw it when he took off his sweatshirt was we were picking up decoys). The guy was a neoNazi!!! Was kinda glad to have that particular hunt end as well!!!

I now only hunt with folks that I've known for a while, been to the rifle or skeet range with, and have had a few beers with around a fire pit or camp fire......which narrows down the candidate pool quite a bit. I can't help who I'm thrown together with when I book a hunt with an outfitter, but at least if something goes south in that instance, I have a valid right to complain.

The other "type' of hunting partner I seem to have run-ins with is one that I'll describe as "the mooch"........I think we've all had similar experiences with this one. You don't hear from the guy all year until a couple of weeks before season, he offers no money for gas for the outboard, he doesn't make a move when it comes time to pay for the ferry ride ("I'll get it next time"), sometimes borrows shells from you, doesn't have any money to go out for lunch, so he makes his own (but doesn't bring anything for YOU!), doesn't have money for this & that because he is between jobs, getting a new job, going to school, quit his job, etc, etc, etc, and his kid needs an operation/tennis lessons/cello lessons/new shoes, etc, etc, etc.
I don't even ask a "mooch" if they want to go to Africa or not.......or anywhere else, for that matter!

^^^

And that is again why I prefer to hunt with people I know only. My deer lease is great but almost evert year someone doesn't get invited back for some simple reason. There is enough of a good core group and enough guys who really don't hunt to make it worth keeping though.

I'm putting together a small group to go over and shoot some plains game in Limpopo on the cheap along with some world class wing shooting for July-August. I have negotiated some killer prices. I am 60 and my hunting partner is 28. I have hunted in Africa 17 times (soon to be 18) in the last 5 years, so I know the ropes. The PG package will include a zebra, gemsbok, blue wildebeest, impala and warthog. 10 full hunting days. The wing shoot will be 4 days of waterfowl shooting early and late with upland birds during the day. World class stuff! The prices are ridiculously low, but I have hunted this package twice before and it is a blast. We need two hunters with decent personalities. PM me if you might be interested in joining forces.
Tromb

Tromb said:

I'm putting together a small group to go over and shoot some plains game in Limpopo on the cheap along with some world class wing shooting for July-August. I have negotiated some killer prices. I am 60 and my hunting partner is 28. I have hunted in Africa 17 times (soon to be 18) in the last 5 years, so I know the ropes. The PG package will include a zebra, gemsbok, blue wildebeest, impala and warthog. 10 full hunting days. The wing shoot will be 4 days of waterfowl shooting early and late with upland birds during the day. World class stuff! The prices are ridiculously low, but I have hunted this package twice before and it is a blast. We need two hunters with decent personalities. PM me if you might be interested in joining forces.
Tromb

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man I was ready to sign on until you added this requirement...... We need two hunters with decent personalities. If you could have lowered it to "almost decent" I would stand a chance.
well, maybe next time.
actually, I'm likely a couple years away from my next trip..
But, I have a "working list".... eland, blue wilderbeest, impala, warthog, hartebeest for sure....... wouldn't mind another bushbuck. Wouldn't turn down a hartman's Zebra. my wife wants a giraffe hide. I would like a Buffalo, but that will likely have to wait.

Tromb said:

I'm putting together a small group to go over and shoot some plains game in Limpopo on the cheap along with some world class wing shooting for July-August. I have negotiated some killer prices. I am 60 and my hunting partner is 28. I have hunted in Africa 17 times (soon to be 18) in the last 5 years, so I know the ropes. The PG package will include a zebra, gemsbok, blue wildebeest, impala and warthog. 10 full hunting days. The wing shoot will be 4 days of waterfowl shooting early and late with upland birds during the day. World class stuff! The prices are ridiculously low, but I have hunted this package twice before and it is a blast. We need two hunters with decent personalities. PM me if you might be interested in joining forces.
Tromb

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1. You are awesome.
2. If I wasn't already going to be in Eastern Cape for most of June I would join you.

@16 Gauge, those are certainly some nightmarish hunting stories if I have ever heard them. Some warning signs that someone is an inexperienced hunter that I have noticed over the years are big red dot sights on shotguns, 3.5" magnum shells, or worst of all the Chiappa Triple Crown showing up . Find the guy with the vintage Browning A-5 and stick with him.
Also, I'm sure the Neo-Nazi would have loved to share a blind with me

I hear you all! I have done 7 hunts in Africa and all but one I have went solo.

At 58, I'm living my retirement NOW! Great business, great health, great hunting addiction, every things paid but the 2 year old truck, kids are grown. I can die broke and happy!

I am trying to get back to Namibia in 2016 for a second chance at a Leopard. I only have to pay TF for Leopard if I bring 2 hunters with me. I am the only hunter not to get a Leopard with this outfitter, reason for the good deal. I can not get anyone to even bat an eye for a chance to hunt Africa.

My brother retires in 2017 and wants to go to Africa. Well, finally I cornered him about starting the planning. He said he just had a discussion with his wife about it, Well, his wife won!

In 20 days I am off to New Zealand. Red Stag, Tahr, Wallaby and maybe some duck shootin.

RogerHeintzman said:

In 20 days I am off to New Zealand. Red Stag, Tahr, Wallaby and maybe some duck shootin.

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It's 29 days for me, New Zealand for the same critters, the outfitter emailed me yesterday and said they had the first snow on the mountain. That should make it more interesting. Two of my best hunting buds are going with me, my son and my oldest daughter. I am looking forward to hunting with them again, they always keep things interesting and keep me on my toes.
Good luck Roger and let a few ducks for us.

AfricaHunting.com said:

I won't create a section dedicated to that, however anyone looking for someone to hunt with can simply post a thread in the appropriate hunting destination section where they want to hunt.

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aww come on jerome i was looking forward to reading the lonely hearts adds for buddy hunters in the new AH dating section ............

Royal27 said:

For me personally, this wouldn't help anyway. . To me that means I'd really have to know the person, not just pick them up. .

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@Royal27 and there i was thinking you were an old tart but in reality you have got morals........

spike.t said:

@Royal27 and there i was thinking you were an old tart but in reality you have got morals........

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Can't you be both???