A question for the Professional Hunters - What makes a person a great client?

[GA Hunter]

The fact that you are concerned about this tells me that you will probably be OK. This is something that I also concern myself with and I believe they recognize and appreciate it. At least they say they do........but then again what else would they say.

Relax, be nice, and enjoy the hunt.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

@Ragman , After speaking to you personally, I know that we'll get a long just fine. You have nothing to worry about.

 

[BRICKBURN]

If you would like to see @KMG Hunting Safaris get a little twisted, change your mind about the trophies you want on a daily basis as your arrival date approaches. It really helps him plan ahead.

(The only reason I got to experience this was through a hunting buddy moving his list all over the map before a scheduled hunt. I was about to throttle the guy.)

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

If you would like to see @KMG Hunting Safaris get a little twisted, change your mind about the trophies you want on a daily basis as your arrival date approaches. It really helps him plan ahead.

Why would you go ahead and suggest something like that?

 

[BRICKBURN]

Why would you go ahead and suggest something like that?

See! I told you he would like that.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

See! I told you he would like that.

You know perfectly well how I struggle with the voices in my head. Not cool man....

 

[BRICKBURN]

You know perfectly well how I struggle with the voices in my head. Not cool man....

Sometimes the PH gets to witness some frustration. I believe the expletive was something like a hissed low volume "SOB!!!!" as the hat gently floated to ground at Mach 3.
With true professionalism though, when I arrived back at the meet up point Marius shared his own personal frustration. "If it were anyone else..."
The PH's want you to succeed, nearly or as much as you want to. They are hunters to you know. Give them a break.

@KMG Hunting Safaris edited one of my Photos in a hunt report to mark the experience.

 

[Ragman]

Why would you go ahead and suggest something like that?

Promise I won't! Depending on how my budgeting goes I might add an extra though!

 

[Hank2211]

Lots of posters have mentioned that the hunter needs to be in shape, or in good condition, etc.

I can't disagree with that, but I would like to point out one thing. Many PH's are what I would call "young." If you're under 40, you're young. If you're under 30, you're really young. It's a sad reality of life that many of us don't have the time or the money to hunt Africa until later in life, when we've satisfied other responsibilities, and have a bit more time on our hands and money to spend on ourselves.

I'm gong to be 60 next year, and I can tell you that even though I work out with a trainer (for those who have seen me, it may be hard to believe, but it's true!), I will never be in the shape I was in 30 or more years ago. Age and a lifetime behind a desk will do that to you. And I will never recover from heavy exertion as quickly as I did 30 or more years ago. Nor will I find it as easy to hunt in heat or high altitudes as those who do it all year round.

I'm not complaining. I have enjoyed just about every hunt I've ever been on, even those where I thought it might be my last! But PH's need to have a realistic understanding of what "old folks" can do, even those who are in great shape. And it isn't usually what the PH himself or herself can do. I don't like disappointing a PH, so I've been known to push myself a bit further than was prudent at the time. And regretted it.

And while I'm on the complaining, I note that lots of guys want clients who have put hundreds - I think one even said thousands - of rounds through the rifle leading up to the hunt. Well, even if I had all the time in the world, which I certainly do not, I would balk at putting hundreds, let alone thousands, of rounds through my .416 Rigby. As great and as well balanced a gun as it is, it's not a gun you shoot for the fun of it. And at $10/round, it's not something everyone can do either. That's why I bought a .223. So don't ask me if I've put hundreds of rounds through my .416 when I show up, and then be disappointed when I tell you the truth. Ask instead if I've had practice shooting.

So let's be realistic, please. End of rant (at least for now).

 

[cls]

Totally agree with you @Hank2211, I had my first Safari when I turned 55 and turned I turned 60 on a mountain in the Eastern Cape last year. It's not as easy as it used to be Headed to Zambia for Buffalo before it's too late.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

Totally agree with you @Hank2211, I had my first Safari when I turned 55 and turned I turned 60 on a mountain in the Eastern Cape last year. It's not as easy as it used to be Headed to Zambia for Buffalo before it's too late.

I have been following AH for awhile now. Starting to plan and research my first safari for hopefully 2019, strictly plains game. I am 55 now will be 57 by time my first safari. The more I read about physical condition the more second thoughts I have. I am a Big Guy. 6ft about 350lbs on a good day. No heart problems but have some issues with a leg. I have had correspondence with a few outfitters that I was interested in. One basically said that he thought I could not handle hunting his place. Two others after we had corresponded and I was asked about physical shape have never returned another email. I hunt here at home all the time and know what I can and can't do. But having never been to Africa I have no idea of the terrain and what is expected of me. Can anyone give me any idea of what to expect and a region of Africa to look at?

 

[Mr. 16 gauge]

I have been following AH for awhile now. Starting to plan and research my first safari for hopefully 2019, strictly plains game. I am 55 now will be 57 by time my first safari. The more I read about physical condition the more second thoughts I have. I am a Big Guy. 6ft about 350lbs on a good day. No heart problems but have some issues with a leg. I have had correspondence with a few outfitters that I was interested in. One basically said that he thought I could not handle hunting his place. Two others after we had corresponded and I was asked about physical shape have never returned another email. I hunt here at home all the time and know what I can and can't do. But having never been to Africa I have no idea of the terrain and what is expected of me. Can anyone give me any idea of what to expect and a region of Africa to look at?

Mark;
All I can say is I lost 30lbs prior to my first safari and did a fair lot (3 miles/day, 4-5 days a week) of walking prior to my first safari in 2014......and Im glad I did. While we did do a lot of riding, we also climbed to the top of several mountains looking for kudu, and even though I thought I was in "good shape", I was still lagging behind my PH. I was fortunate that I was not winded when I had to take that long shot across to the other mountain to drop that kudu. According to the CDC, you are in the "class three" obesity range, which is defined as "severe" or "extreme". My advice would be to schedule an appointment with your physician; I'm willing to bet that you will find that there are more issues going on that you are unaware of (such as hypertension, high glucose levels, etc). I can tell you, from personal experience, that you will feel better if you shed weight....even a little bit. Please understand: I'm not saying this to be cruel or mean, but to give you the best chance of success on your African (and other) hunts. Every day I see folks come through the ER that were "just fine" the day before with high blood pressure, blood clot in the lung, heart attacks, etc. They passed it off as "indigestion" or "muscle spasms" or some other minor thing, when in reality it is a long standing disease process that could/will kill them. You have time to get in good shape for a hunt in 2019, but it will take a LOT of work....there is no way to sugar coat it. Anyway, that's my take on what you've posted......good luck and pleas keep us posted on your progress.

 

[K-man]

I must admit I understand the "best shape you can be" aspect of going on a hunt. Some of that of course depends on the terrain, ELEVATION (especially for me) etc. My last hunt was on Kodiak for brown bear, and I worked hard to be in shape before I went. The terrain was brutal, lots of steep slopes and of course that stupid alder to bust through. I ended up getting my bear, and when I went to check it in there was another man there ahead of me checking in his bear. He was probably 65, about 80 to 100 lbs overweight, and was wheezing and struggling to walk in the parking lot. BUT HE GOT HIS ANIMAL. You will never get your animals if you don't go, but do the best you can, and be honest about your abilities to yourself and your P.H. You will enjoy your hunt much more if you are in reasonable shape.

 

[Pheroze]

My father took his animal at the tender age of 80, after two hip replacements. He is fit, like a man ten years younger....71....

@KMG Hunting Safaris

A great PH will work with you to get your animal.

 

[Hank2211]

You will enjoy your hunt much more if you are in reasonable shape.

This is, of course, true. But 'reasonable shape' has to take into account your age, and perhaps what you do for a living. A 60 year old who has an office or factory job in reasonable shape will not be the same reasonable shape as a professional hunter who is 25 and works outdoors year round.

I hunt here at home all the time and know what I can and can't do. But having never been to Africa I have no idea of the terrain and what is expected of me. Can anyone give me any idea of what to expect and a region of Africa to look at?

Mark, you are asking the right questions, and you should make sure you ask them of the outfitters you are considering for your hunt. The topography and terrain of properties in South Africa will vary enormously depending in what part of the country you are in. The North West Province and Northern Cape will be more or less flatfish, while the Eastern Cape and the Karoo can be very hilly. So decide what you can reasonably do, and pick you hunt on that basis.

I would be wary of the advice given by @Mr. 16 gauge, and I say this with the greatest of respect. His advice is entirely accurate, but picking a hunt based on the shape you plan to be in by the time the hunt comes around is dangerous, in my view. A bit like buying a great suit that's just a little small for you, but you intend on losing the weight until it fits. You may, but if you don't, you've got a suit which looks good on a hanger.

So that I'm clear, I don't take issue with PH's who suggest clients should be be in better shape - I think, though, that these PH's should make sure they aren't asking for something unreasonable. In climbing the mountains of Ethiopia, there was no way I was going to be able to keep up with my PH, who was half my age and did that regularly. He shouldn't (and didn't, I think) expect me to. I would have been unhappy if he had expected me to be able to match him, and if I'd heard he was complaining that I wasn't able to keep us with him, I'd have been more than a little pissed. Because that expectation would have been unreasonable.

I am sure there are 60 year olds out there who can match a 30 year old who works outdoors, but they must be the exception. The rest of us should do the best we can, and that's all anyone should ask.

 

[BRICKBURN]

.............Can anyone give me any idea of what to expect and a region of Africa to look at?

Everything from prairie strolls to mountain climbing, literally and everything in between.

What you want to hunt will direct your choice of location, along with the style of hunt you want.

You can sit in a Bakkie (truck) be driven around and do spot and stalk. Minimal fitness required. If that is how you can manage a hunt then do it.

 

[LivingTheDream]

@Mark Biggerstaff that is a shame they turned you down, I figured most would want to work with you. If you are bow hunting you are not going up and down mountains, most of the time you are waiting at a waterhole.

What was it you wanted to hunt?

Do you have time to start to workout, even just going for an hour walk a day would-be helpful and you could tell your PH that hey you are a big guy but you walk miles everyday.

I think you can make it happen!

 

[rinehart0050]

I have been following AH for awhile now. Starting to plan and research my first safari for hopefully 2019, strictly plains game. I am 55 now will be 57 by time my first safari. The more I read about physical condition the more second thoughts I have. I am a Big Guy. 6ft about 350lbs on a good day. No heart problems but have some issues with a leg. I have had correspondence with a few outfitters that I was interested in. One basically said that he thought I could not handle hunting his place. Two others after we had corresponded and I was asked about physical shape have never returned another email. I hunt here at home all the time and know what I can and can't do. But having never been to Africa I have no idea of the terrain and what is expected of me. Can anyone give me any idea of what to expect and a region of Africa to look at?

Mark-

There are definitely outfitters that can accommodate you. If I may, I'd recommend Limpopo over EC. It's flatter. On our hunt with limcroma we had everything from 2 mile long climbs down the side of a mountain to 30m stalks into some thick brush- and this didn't even begin to consider sitting in a blind at a water hole.

Talk to your outfitter, be honest with your current physical ability, and they will cater your hunt to your abilities.

 

[IdaRam]

For anyone out there considering going to africa, but concerned about physical condition, age, disability, etc I would offer this advice...
2 years ago I spent 27 days in the Limpopo and Northwest Provinces with Numzaan Safaris hunting lion, leopard and plains game. During that time I met some really inspirational people. Hunting clients who were FAR from mountain climbers or marathon runners.
When we got to camp at Kamboo there were two older gentlemen just finishing up their safari and I could tell it was a giant check mark on the bucket list for them. They were both in their late 70's and one of them was sort of the chaperone. The other gentleman's health was failing, he had alzheimers, and they had purchased an auction hunt at a friends of NRA banquet. This hunt was something they had talked about all their lives and obviously time got very short. They made it happen amd fulfilled a dream. The outfitter and PH made sure they had a trip of a lifetime, although their age and health issues made it challenging at times. They made a plan and got it done, both the clients and outfitter.
Another gentleman I met, although briefly, was confined to a wheelchair which posed a whole set of challenges for all parties. Numzaan had devised a set up to secure his chair in the truck at the right height for him to be able to shoot from a rest across the top of the cab. He had very limited use of his arms and was unable to run the bolt of the rifle, but could use the scope and pull the trigger. The PH would run the bolt for him and help him get positioned for the shot. He was fulfilling a dream and having the time of his life.
I'm lucky enough to be relatively young, active and fit with no health issues that hamper my physical activity. I've hunted the mountains of the west all my life and get around pretty good. But I see people like this that don't let anything stand in thier way of fulfilling their dreams and I am inspired. What many of us take for granted is a daily battle for others. I wonder if I would have the strength and determination if I were in their shoes?
Bottom line, where there is a will, there's a way! Don't let life pass you by. Grab it by the horns, wrestle it to the ground and slap your brand on it! Don't become your own obstacle to getting everything you want out of life.
Happy Hunting!

 

[Hank2211]

For anyone out there considering going to africa, but concerned about physical condition, age, disability, etc I would offer this advice...
2 years ago I spent 27 days in the Limpopo and Northwest Provinces with Numzaan Safaris hunting lion, leopard and plains game. During that time I met some really inspirational people. Hunting clients who were FAR from mountain climbers or marathon runners.
When we got to camp at Kamboo there were two older gentlemen just finishing up their safari and I could tell it was a giant check mark on the bucket list for them. They were both in their late 70's and one of them was sort of the chaperone. The other gentleman's health was failing, he had alzheimers, and they had purchased an auction hunt at a friends of NRA banquet. This hunt was something they had talked about all their lives and obviously time got very short. They made it happen amd fulfilled a dream. The outfitter and PH made sure they had a trip of a lifetime, although their age and health issues made it challenging at times. They made a plan and got it done, both the clients and outfitter.
Another gentleman I met, although briefly, was confined to a wheelchair which posed a whole set of challenges for all parties. Numzaan had devised a set up to secure his chair in the truck at the right height for him to be able to shoot from a rest across the top of the cab. He had very limited use of his arms and was unable to run the bolt of the rifle, but could use the scope and pull the trigger. The PH would run the bolt for him and help him get positioned for the shot. He was fulfilling a dream and having the time of his life.
I'm lucky enough to be relatively young, active and fit with no health issues that hamper my physical activity. I've hunted the mountains of the west all my life and get around pretty good. But I see people like this that don't let anything stand in thier way of fulfilling their dreams and I am inspired. What many of us take for granted is a daily battle for others. I wonder if I would have the strength and determination if I were in their shoes?
Bottom line, where there is a will, there's a way! Don't let life pass you by. Grab it by the horns, wrestle it to the ground and slap your brand on it! Don't become your own obstacle to getting everything you want out of life.
Happy Hunting!

@Mark Biggerstaff, there are plenty of outfitters who are happy to accommodate hunters who may face greater physical challenges than some. As an example (I have no interest in this one way or the other), I have hunted with Wintershoek Safaris (who are sponsors of this site) on a few occasions. I know that they have provided hunts to the "wounded warriors" program, and that many of their hunting areas are quite flat. Contact Strauss Jordaan or Yvan there.

I am frankly surprised that in this market, two outfitters would have gone radio silent on a hunter who faces a few physical challenges. I understand if - as one said - his property was simply not the best for this situation, but two others who did not respond to emails? And to be frank, if I had a property which did not lend itself to this type of hunt, I am sure I would know someone whose property did. And a referral should result in a factor owed . . . or financial remuneration!