Africa Hunting........................Not Really!?

[Jumbo]

Hi,

Is it just me, or has this site now become more about general hunting. especially the last while with hunt offers.

There seem to be more North America hunts offered than African hunts. I for one enjoy this site because of its Africa focus. I sure hope we aren't losing it, because there are plenty of general hunting pages, but very few that focus on Africa.

Am I the only one?

 

[Code4]

It's a commercial site. Sponsors no doubt get to advertise whatever they want. Still the best African forum going.

 

[Red Leg]

To some extent I think you are correct. However, it is a very tricky slope where a "cure" could also wreck what most of us love about the site.

A large majority of the participants are hunters - not outfitters. (Why so many outfitters participate?) Of those hunters, another large percentage either just dream of Africa or only go rarely. That creates the potential for fairly limited grounds for discussion and long term dialogue, and participation. However, almost all are enthusiastic about the sport. The North Americans hunt whitetail, elk, bear, etc and most are rifle cranks with lots of strongly held opinions and experience. I enjoy discussing the relative merits of the .270 and 30-06 as much as I do the .375 and .404. The European members are equally enthusiastic about their traditions while making the occasional forays to the Dark Continent.

Providing content to encourage that more general discussion helps keep the general hunter engaged and returning to the site - returning until he is financially ready to pull the trigger on that African hunt with one of our member outfitters. In the interim, the outfitters who are international generalists (really consultants) rather than safari operation and game farm owners, would be foolish to not serve those other interests.

 

[LivingTheDream]

So that is one of the most amazing aspects of this place. We focus on Africa and share experiences and this website has taught me so much about Africa and helping dreams come true (and honestly I can't say dreams because I thought they would never happen). But anyone who will travel across the world obviously is a dedicated hunter. Which is why I think this is the best sites for dedicated hunters. Members of this sight gave me more information then anywhere or anyone I could talk to for sheep hunting. Wife wants to go to Europe, talk to members here to get a side hunting trip set up. Point being, the members on hunt!

 

[johnnyblues]

I understand your concerns but for me I enjoy all aspects of this site. It's great to see guys hunting ibex or other game besides African animals. But the bottom line is if you need anything related to hunting in Africa this is still THEE place to get it. Members happily share there knowledge with each other, moral support is outstanding, geez when I hunted leopard last year and was giving daily updates I had guys getting up a 3 am to see if I was successful as it was coming down to the wire. You just don't find that everywhere.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Hi,
There seem to be more North America hunts offered than African hunts.

Offers of late have been going around the globe. I noticed as well.
Timing

I for one enjoy this site because of its Africa focus.

There is one sure way to address your concern. POST about Africa!

 

[Royal27]

I'm not sure I can add much that hasn't been said, but I do think that discussion here is still heavily heavily skewed to Africa and hunting in Africa. Besides, I do enjoy hearing about the other hunts and places occasionally. I think it adds a nice contrast.

Agree there have been a lot of NA hunts posted lately. I'm assuming that this is largely due to there now being more than one booking agent here. Competition is always a good thing for the client. I also think a lot of the pricing for NA hunts that has been posted lately shows what a great value Africa is. I bet there will be more people that go to Africa over an elk hunt in the future due the offers we are seeing.

 

[sierraone]

Johnnyblues and LTD both have it right. Most of the people I have come to know on this site have hunted many species in many places. Over a year ago, I had questions about pheasant and quail hunting pertaining to load and shot size. Within a couple of hours or so, I had detailed answers from one of our members, Hank I believe, who has not only hunted Africa several times, but is apparently a highly dedicated bird hunter. Have a question about an English boxlock gun or double rifles, Red Leg and Velo Dog, among others have answers immediately. And they are active hunters. You can always follow up with your own research. THAT is what makes this site so valuable.

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

Hi,

Is it just me, or has this site now become more about general hunting. especially the last while with hunt offers.

There seem to be more North America hunts offered than African hunts. I for one enjoy this site because of its Africa focus. I sure hope we aren't losing it, because there are plenty of general hunting pages, but very few that focus on Africa.

Am I the only one?

A lot of great answers, comments and points made above.

@Jumbo, AfricaHunting.com has not lost it's focus, not sure why it would be a problem to talk about other hunting destinations or all things related to hunting. It is true that more hunting destinations are being offered on AH including wingshooting and fishing trips which the offer section has always been open to since the beginning. As a matter of fact I'm glad to see that there is more variety being offered today as it really reflects the hunters on this site who hunt in Africa and around the globe. AfricaHunting.com has more discussion and more information about hunting in Africa than any other site in the world, with a broader perspective about hunting all over the world as this represents the members and visitors of the site.

 

[Nyati]

I doubt I will ever hunt in Australia, however, on this forum, I have learnt about what they hunt and how they do it down under.

Not to mention Gizmos´s sheep and goat grand slam !

And that is very nice.

 

[Clayton]

I will never make it to Africa. Oh well. That's my fault. But "we" can not isolate ourselves into factions (whether it be Africa, White-tail Deer, Elk or whatever) and expect to see our sport survive against the onslaught of the antis. I'm reminded of the reference elsewhere to "First they came for the Socialists". Others have talked at length about we as hunters need a united front now more than ever before.

I know I have little to offer this community, but I am thankful for it and all the things I can still learn here. Thankful that through the accomplishments of others I am enriched in so many ways.

Thank You AfricaHunting.com

 

[Royal27]

know I have little to offer this community, but I am thankful for it and all the things I can still learn here. Thankful that through the accomplishments of others I am enriched in so many ways.

Don't agree!

You have plenty to offer! Being an active poster and asking questions and sharing whatever your experience is, is what this place is all about. There are plenty of lurkers here and maybe something you say or ask helps them out.

And don't ever give up on the dream. I decided in 1999 that I'd "never hunt Africa. " I've been blessed and my life has changed a lot since then and ive been able to go.

 

[edward]

im sure africa will always be the star of the show here,but its funny how his question is a reality with safari club mag,i use to read many stories about africa but lately the contents are nothing more than a glossy paged field and stream,advertisements,bird shooting,wine glasses and cigars.lucky to get one or two african stories anymore.when they start selling Viagra and trojan lotions etc as tv is doing ill tell them to shove it and ill cancel my membership.

 

[sierraone]

Edward, I agree fully. I subscribed to the magazine 1990-92 or 93. Completely different mag at that time. When I became a member again in 2013, I was very disappointed in the mag. I have never participated in the conventions, due to distance and cost. I now only subscribe to the on-line version. Since the 90s I have been completely sold on DSC. The first two or three of their conventions I attended were in a Hyatt Hotel at DFW. They have done nothing but grow and gotten better IMO. Being in Dallas hasn't hurt their cause either! SCI may have more glitter, but that's where it ends!

 

[sestoppelman]

This is the only hunt forum I frequent and only because its Africa. I don't much care about any other hunting anymore and Africa is the most intriguing place I know of so this is where I go. The things I need to know and read about are here and I like most of the folks who are members admittedly some more than others, which is no doubt true in reverse as well. We cannot all agree all the time, but for me, this is THE place to read about and discuss all things Africa. If I could only be on one forum, this would be the one. Thanks Jerome and thanks also to all the others who moderate and contribute.

 

[edward]

Edward, I agree fully. I subscribed to the magazine 1990-92 or 93. Completely different mag at that time. When I became a member again in 2013, I was very disappointed in the mag. I have never participated in the conventions, due to distance and cost. I now only subscribe to the on-line version. Since the 90s I have been completely sold on DSC. The first two or three of their conventions I attended were in a Hyatt Hotel at DFW. They have done nothing but grow and gotten better IMO. Being in Dallas hasn't hurt their cause either! SCI may have more glitter, but that's where it ends!

i am also a d.s.c.member.

 

[Dinsdale]

I don't mind all the offers being posted.....

But I'm more inclined to pursue a hunt with someone who actually participates in forum discussion, rather than just see how many hunts one can post to try and get my sponsorship monies worth.

 

[Hank2211]

This is where the hunters are. So it follows that this is where the outfitters go. And that's OK with me, because while most will always be about Africa (because that's what the hunters here focus on), we are happy to hunt anywhere, or hear from people who do.

I would hate to have to follow a whole bunch of sites, each narrowly focused and restricted to one thing . . . so much easier to let things sort themselves out here, and focus on those threads that interest me.

And just as an aside, I tend to find that threads I wouldn't have though of, or thought about, tend to interest me once I take a look at them!

 

[enysse]

I like the different possibilities. Plus when people are doing searches on the computer they are drawn to this webpage and sucked in to the dark side of Africa hunting. Once you go to Africa, you never truly never return home, part of you is there in spirit. I only wish AH had been around in the 90's.

 

[Divernhunter]

This is my favorite site.
I like the fact that there is more than just Africa. Maybe because I am as my PH said a "Born Hunter" and not a "Money Made Hunter". I just plain love to hunt and always have. I was only able to go to Africa in 2013 for my one and only hunt due to lack of funds. But I still hunt near home and in a couple of other states when I can get drawn.
I have since came into more money and have a 2nd trip to Africa books at the expense of hunting here in the USA for 2-3 years. I am SO looking forward to the 2nd trip.

All of that said I enjoy hearing about hunting everywhere in the world. I may never make it to those places but enjoy reading about it from those that do and enjoy the photos.

Yes I agree there have been a big bunch of adds for hunting/fishing trips not in Africa from several brokers and such. I do click on some of them to see what they cost and are about. Others I just pass on. It is no big deal and not worth whining about. If you are not interested just pass them up and only read about Africa. Many of the adds I suspect are due to the time of year. Also as more and more people return from Africa trips and get time I think/hope they will post about their hunts.

It is all about choice. You can choose to read the posts or not.

This is still the best site I have found for hunting.