SOUTH AFRICA: KoringKoppie Hunting Safaris *Warning* Stay Away

[LP67]

Just a update for everyone. PHASA will has emailed me that they are having a disciplinary hearing for the Outfitter/PH on July 8th. I have never heard anything from him about the hunt other then in March he emailed me saying he wanted me to drive 5 hours to sign the common reedbuck permit. I emailed back that he could mail it to me and I would mail it back. After 3 emails and a WhatsApp message I got a email a month later with the permit scanned saying to sign and email it back. The permit was for a completely different Providence then we hunted. It also has an expiration of 2020. So I didn't sign it or return it. I feel this was done intentionally so that when my animals hit the USA that the whole crate would be seized for bad paperwork. That's my guess at least.

If you want the reedbuck then take it , sign the permit and be done, you not signing it be for the wrong date/ province/ area will have no effect or legal implications on your side . Let SA Nat conservation / phasa deal with the Outfit.
Many outfits will " burn" a permit in one area to help a client in another, is it legal? No.

 

[Sabre]

Just a update for everyone. PHASA will has emailed me that they are having a disciplinary hearing for the Outfitter/PH on July 8th. I have never heard anything from him about the hunt other then in March he emailed me saying he wanted me to drive 5 hours to sign the common reedbuck permit. I emailed back that he could mail it to me and I would mail it back. After 3 emails and a WhatsApp message I got a email a month later with the permit scanned saying to sign and email it back. The permit was for a completely different Providence then we hunted. It also has an expiration of 2020. So I didn't sign it or return it. I feel this was done intentionally so that when my animals hit the USA that the whole crate would be seized for bad paperwork. That's my guess at least.

Thanks for keeping everyone updated. Quite a fiasco.

 

[Sabre]

If you want the reedbuck then take it , sign the permit and be done, you not signing it be for the wrong date/ province/ area will have no effect or legal implications on your side . Let SA Nat conservation / phasa deal with the Outfit.
Many outfits will " burn" a permit in one area to help a client in another, is it legal? No.

Your advice to someone dealing with a sketchy outfitter who has screwed them over a bunch of times is to sign a document that doesn't match their hunt at all and that you say you know is illegal?

This seems like bad advice.

 

[archer36]

WOW. Never have I seen a review like this. I always brag about the quality and ethics of South African outfitters. You hear lots of horror stories about North American hunts.

 

[leslie hetrick]

their every where, their every where ! rotten eggs in the box.

 

[hoytcanon]

I would not have shot any of those animals under those conditions and would have left the operation by day two...

 

[archer36]

I would not have shot any of those animals under those conditions and would have left the operation by day two...

How? If they pick you up and take you back to the airport, how you going to leave? Call an Uber?

 

[hoytcanon]

How? If they pick you up and take you back to the airport, how you going to leave? Call an Uber?

If you can't figure that out, you better not travel.

 

[autofire]

If you can't figure that out, you better not travel.

I have had the problem of wanting to leave the hunt because of "improper" behavior of the PH-intoxicated while hunting/shooting firearms while intoxicated-plus general a**hole behavior.
I was in a remote part of Namibia, 20 miles from a paved road.
3 hours to nearest town. 9+ hours to Windhoek.
No cell phone access, though I had a satellite phone.
There is no way to leave and get another ride.

Perhaps someone can give a specific example of how they would arrange to leave other than asking the "problem child" PH to take you to where your plane departs?

 

[autofire]

If you can't figure that out, you better not travel.

Perhaps you could enlighten us on a practical way to address this problem.
It's not like you are in a main city with hotel concierge service.

Are you suggesting someone steal the camp vehicle and drive themselves 100's of miles, in a 3rd world country, to get to planned place of departure?

 

[archer36]

That's

If you can't figure that out, you better not travel.

That's not a fair response. We are here to help each other, not criticize.

 

[archer36]

Waiting for the worldly traveller hoytcanon to enlighten us dummies.

 

[hoytcanon]

That's

That's not a fair response. We are here to help each other, not criticize.

"Call an Uber"? You get what you get.

 

[mark-hunter]

Last half of posts have a bit diluted this thread.
I am surprised I missed it when it came out first!

I am not taking sides, but what I have learnt from this thread?

I would say this:
When taking a wife, girl friend or a spouse - do not go on a first hunt with unknown outfitter.
Me, as a hunter, am more flixible about everything, (as longb as hunting is good, I can sleep in hammock, and eat cans), wives generally are not, especially if they are not outdoor or hunting oriented.

Lesson learned for me:
So, to take a non hunting wife, I would take her only to the outfitter and the camp I have visited before, know the owner, PH, logistics, infrastructure, staff, food, and hospitality level.

Follow up shot, comment (with ref to giraffe):
I never had a PH carrying his rifle on a PG hunt. Obviously, follow ups are on me, tracking and recovery on tracker and PH.
On a DG hunt, yes, PH carrying the rifle, of course. Moreover, I told him specifically before the hunt, if the situation dictates, he is free to shoot after me, by all means!

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Last half of posts have a bit diluted this thread.
I am surprised I missed it when it came out first!

I am not taking sides, but what I have learnt from this thread?

I would say this:
When taking a wife, girl friend or a spouse - do not go on a first hunt with unknown outfitter.
Me, as a hunter, am more flixible about everything, (as longb as hunting is good, I can sleep in hammock, and eat cans), wives generally are not, especially if they are not outdoor or hunting oriented.

Lesson learned for me:
So, to take a non hunting wife, I would take her only to the outfitter and the camp I have visited before, know the owner, PH, logistics, infrastructure, staff, food, and hospitality level.

Follow up shot, comment (with ref to giraffe):
I never had a PH carrying his rifle on a PG hunt. Obviously, follow ups are on me, tracking and recovery on tracker and PH.
On a DG hunt, yes, PH carrying the rifle, of course. Moreover, I told him specifically before the hunt, if the situation dictates, he is free to shoot after me, by all means!

My favorite PH always carried his plains game rifle when we were hunting plains game. I never questioned it. There were pests in the area (jackals and baboons) that should be shot on sight and I appreciate that. His rifle was also there in case mine failed ... and it did. Also, his had more reach than mine if I decided to take an animal long range ... and I did twice. Cape leopard were also in the area. Saw tracks twice and one property (my favorite) was picking up several of them on trail cams. But Glen would never finish an animal without asking. He did finish two of them. My first springbuck hit high he dispatched with knife in base of skull rather than me punching another big hole in that pretty little hide. Similar method as finishing off a sheep in distress. And he asked if he should finish my hartbeest with his handgun rather than me waste another round out of my Springfield ... which was very much in distress (loose action screw).

Your advice about vetting outfitter more carefully if ladies and kids are along is very good. I agree.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I have never been in a situation where the outfitter was such a mess that I felt compelled to get out prematurely. But if I did and outfitter was uncooperative, get on the phone or text someone to contact your embassy. Especially if you think you're at risk of harm (e.g. drunk PH). If in RSA I would ask consulate to contact Professional Hunters Association of South Africa (PHASA). They could probably help get you out of there.