Is this a crazy idea? - Anyone interested in an observer to accompany you on an Elephant or Leopard hunt?

MontanaPat · Feb 3, 2026

OK, so this may be a dumb idea I had recently when reading the thread about why someone would not want to do an elephant hunt. A little background, my wife is wonderful and is happy for me to go to Africa whenever I want to hunt, her only request is that I not shoot an elephant or any of the big cats. She fully understands and agrees with the conservation aspect of hunting them, she just adamantly doesn't want me to be the one hunting them. So I will respect her wishes and go hunt all I want for PG, I love doing eland tracking hunts.

So I had an idea, what if I accompanied someone else on an elephant or leopard hunt as their observer in camp?? I just want to have the experience of tracking ele or hunting leopard or be in camp with someone else and root them on when they are doing the ele or leopard hunt, if I can join them in the field or on a stalk all the better! I would be happy to shoot impala or zebra for bait animals if needed for them. I'm 67 years old and still in great health and shape and can walk all day if needed. I love hunting plains game and have been to Africa 4 times in the last 6 years and hunted one cape buffalo so far myself. I like to think I'm a pretty level headed guy and easy to get along with, I'm a retired former corp exec in the healthcare industry, like to have a good time, I'm not a big drinker sitting around the fire all night getting drunk, so think I can be good company in camp and on the hunt vehicle. I've hunted for over 50 years so I have a lot of experience and a good eye for spotting game.

Anyone out there have an ele or leopard hunt booked or in the planning stages over the next 2-3 years that would be interested in having an experienced hunter join them as an observer? I'll pay my own way for the observer daily rates and can cover bait animals if needed. If you think you might be interested and want to talk, I'm going to be at SCI in Nashville in a couple of weeks and would like to connect and see if our personalities mesh.

As an added bonus, I've been a freelance wildlife and nature photographer for 30 years with numerous publication credits to my name in that time. I would be happy to also serve as your personal photographer on the hunt to try and get you some real quality images as well.

Who knows, maybe this will work out and I can get the ele or leopard hunt rush without ever pulling the trigger!

Ontario Hunter · Feb 3, 2026

Oops. Misread your post. Good luck. Hope you can find someone.

mark-hunter · Feb 3, 2026

Interesting idea.
I wouldnt mind taking you along, but my ele hunt last year was successful, I could use then a friend for back up, and photographic duty.

My leopard hunt, is long way to go, and not yet on the horizon.

I had similar idea for buffalo hunt, to find a partner to hunt with him two buffalos in Tanzania, sometime in the future, and share the costs.

Nobody in my vicinity and circle of friends is interested to hunt Tanzania ($$$$$), and for me solo, it is a bit too much.

I wish you luck, let us know how it goes.

grand veneur · Feb 4, 2026

The idea is not crazy, but it comes with several problems, so everything needs to be absolutely clear beforehand. I can speak from personal experience because I did this once on an elephant hunt. It was an acquaintance of mine, also a hunter, older than me and who had hunted in Africa a few times but newer shot an elephant before. It is understandable that a hunter experiences various emotions during such a hunt, but one must be able to control oneself. Things did not go entirely smoothly because I never needed a second PH on such a hunt and certainly not one to give me repeatedly advices and occasionally even criticize me. An elephant or leopard hunter needs to think about this carefully beforehand. I will never do something like that again.

Scott CWO · Feb 4, 2026

Another thing to consider is splitting a full bag hunt with someone. In Zambia, you can get a companion license for less than $1000 and split the quota. You can get a companion license in Tanzania as well but more expensive. Then, you can come to an agreement as to how to split the daily rate. Obviously the other hunter would pay a bigger percentage due to hunting the lion, leopard, elephant and plains game while you are hunting buffalo and plains game. The animals you would shoot would really be beneficial to the other hunter for bait and help reduce his costs significantly.

In a way, a friend and I did this in 2023 in Tanzania when I got my lion and he got the elephant and leopard. We both shot buffalo and plains game. We are doing the same thing in 2027 when he will hunt lion, buffalo and plains game and my son will hunt leopard, buffalo and plains game.

mark-hunter · Feb 4, 2026

To join the brain storming session:
Does Cameroun has shared hunt option?
I would be happy to hunt class b animals and duikers in rain forest, while partner chases bongo.

grand veneur · Feb 4, 2026

I understood the topic that it is only about to accompany as an observer and not as a hunter. That was the case that I quoted above.

Paul K · Feb 4, 2026

Interesting idea. I have always said that if you want to get to know someone, take them on an extended fishing or hunting trip. You will either come back the best of friends or the worst of enemies and a ruined trip that seemed like it would never end. In my case the later. Risky proposition I would think.
Just my 2 cents worth.

Paul

MontanaPat · Feb 4, 2026

Paul K said:
Interesting idea. I have always said that if you want to get to know someone, take them on an extended fishing or hunting trip. You will either come back the best of friends or the worst of enemies and a ruined trip that seemed like it would never end. In my case the later. Risky proposition I would think.
Just my 2 cents worth.

Paul

That’s why I wouldn't do this with just anyone, I would want to have a very good feeling that our personalities align well. The last thing I want is to be a tag along and ruin the hunt for someone else nor do I want to be in someone else’s camp where I’m miserable and can’t wait to get the hell out of there

mdwest · Feb 4, 2026

I dont think your idea is crazy at all..

Ive got a buddy.. he's been an avid hunter his entire life.. but now in his 60's he'll tell you the "thrill" of hunting is pretty much gone for him... he'll take a deer or two each year to fill the freezer.. but other than that, all he really wants to do is hang out in camp, cook for everyone, be social, have a beer or two, and hang out with the boys for the weekend, etc..

He'd love to see Africa.. and he'd love to experience what being on an African hunt is like.. but.. he is also on a very limited income (not getting social security yet.. and living only on US Army NCO retirement.. and trying to make it to the finish line without ever working again.. so he watches every penny extremely close..

He's asked if he could make the trip over with me at some point and just be an "observer".. he's happy to pay the day rate so that he can stay in the lodge, eat, drink, etc.. and he'd love to see a zebra in the wild, a buffalo in the wild, etc.. and see how hunts in Africa work (as opposed to deer blind hunting in Virginia where he lives).. but doesnt have the money, or the desire to actually bag a kudu for himself, etc.. but he'd love to be my videographer/photographer..

Im sure we'll make this happen sometime in the next couple of years.. he has an open invitation.. we just havent had dates line up yet, etc..

NIGHTHAWK · Feb 4, 2026

I’m currently negotiating an Elephant & Leopeard hunt for this fall. I would consider it, but I’m having a hard time appreciating the upside. I know there can be a lot of complications with accommodating another hunter or guest/observer. Especially on an expensive hunt like either of the aforementioned.

Now if you were going with the specific intent of filming, and that became the priority, I think it would be worth the risk and consideration.

I’m not trying to be negative, just want to give it some thought…

MontanaPat · Feb 4, 2026

Good points, the upside is primarily for me probably unless the hunter wanted someone to join them if they prefer having a friend being in camp with them. I think the excitement of being in camp when there is success or even challenges to overcome is the thrill for me.
As far as serving in a photographer / videographer role that is why I mentioned that possibility, although I wouldn’t classify myself in the same level as a paid professional videographer. I’m great with still photography but don’t have the video editing skills a professional would have.
Thanks for your comments

RLD · Feb 4, 2026

The way I grew up in the hunting world, hunting was almost always a social event.

My father, who was a terribly poor hunter for anything but ducks and geese, would go to every deer, moose or bear hunt he could just to hang out with the guys, and they loved having him around because he enjoyed cooking. It certainly didn't fill the freezer! He just really loved walking in the woods and hanging out with his friends.

So from that context I don't see this idea as odd at all. I have not yet hunted in Africa, but I am taking my wife along and am quite looking forward to spending time and getting to know the trackers and PH.

I am also considering inviting some young friends along on African hunts in the future, and I know their budgets won't stretch to dangerous game but they are great guys and I would be pleased to introduce them to Africa.

Russ16 · Feb 4, 2026

Interesting idea.

I’ve thought of something similar which is finding a friend to join a leopard hunt where they hunt plains game which is used for bait. Takes some of the cost of bait off of me as the one focusing on leopard.

I’d need to get to know someone pretty well before committing to something like this. But if a hunt is scheduled for a couple of years away you could find a way to book some small domestic hunts or spend time together before hand. If just coming as an observer it seems that can often be added or subtracted closer to the actual event.

mark-hunter · Feb 4, 2026

Russ16 said:
I’d need to get to know someone pretty well before committing to something like this.

This is logical.
But the question is how to get to know someone, unless you live in the neighborhood where all neighbors hunt African DG?

BJH65 · Feb 4, 2026

I don’t think this is a crazy idea at all. I think there is some element of the unknown when hunting with someone you don’t know. I have a hunting companion and we’ve shared many hardships especially when things don’t go as planned, however he has zero interest in hunting Africa.

Here’s a story you’ll find interesting perhaps. I was invited on a do it yourself moose and caribou hunt 26 years ago. The hunt took place in Alaska and involved being flown in on a transport bush plane, dropped of with equipment, tents, and inflatable rafts. The first part of the trip was to hunt caribou for 5 days, then inflate the rafts and float downriver 5-6 miles to a moose hunting area. There would be 5 hunters and one I personally knew to be a very experienced hunter, a co-worker who invited me.

I politely declined. This was to much of an adventure to go on with strangers and guys I hadn’t hunted with before. The risk wasn’t acceptable to me. So they went on their hunt with four people. Later on, after their hunt, I ran into Bill and asked him how it went. He gave me a look and just shook his head. Everything went well initially, they were dropped off, set up their tents, could see caribou from camp, perfect! Then it proceeded to rain for 4 straight days, a constant downpour, non stop and grizzlies going into camp at night.

One of the hunters we both know, Dick, who I was told was an experienced hunter but I never hunted with him and knew nothing about his experience, well Dick went crazy! After several days of torrential rain he demanded they use the sat phone and contact the bush plane pilot to come and pick him up. They tried to reason with him nor could the pilot even fly in this weather. Dick began acting irrational and they took his gun and considering using ropes to restrain him.

The weather and rain broke after after 4 days and the bush plane pilot arrived and picked up Dick. Who was almost uncommunicative and somber. The remaining group killed 2 nice caribou and after breaking camp, inflating the rafts and securing the caped out caribou, they proceeded to float downriver to the moose hunting area, except now due to the torrential rain the river had class 3 rapids and one of the hunters had his cheek impaled with a caribou antler while the kayak was getting tossed around!

They fortunately made it to the moose area, and after cleaning the hole in his cheek, they used duct tape to cover it, they did hunt for moose unsuccessfully. This was a tough guy btw, to continue hunting after having his cheek impaled with a caribou antler! Anyhow, I wasn’t sorry I declined!

Anyways, I still think it’s a great idea! I want to hunt elephant again, a tracking hunt in Zimbabwe most likely or Namibia but it’s not something I’ll be booking 1-2 years in advance, more like 2-4 months in advance, taking advantage of cancellation hunts or PAC hunts and this kind of short notice doesn’t work well for most, but would love to have you along!

grand veneur · Feb 4, 2026

mark-hunter said:
This is logical.
But the question is how to get to know someone, unless you live in the neighborhood where all neighbors hunt African DG?

Contact a hunting agent or outfitter of your country. They will know if there are any clients looking for a companion as observers. I know that something like that exist. In the past one could read such advertisements in hunting magazines.

MontanaPat · Feb 4, 2026

BJH65 said:
I don’t think this is a crazy idea at all. I think there is some element of the unknown when hunting with someone you don’t know. I have a hunting companion and we’ve shared many hardships especially when things don’t go as planned, however he has zero interest in hunting Africa.

Here’s a story you’ll find interesting perhaps. I was invited on a do it yourself moose and caribou hunt 26 years ago. The hunt took place in Alaska and involved being flown in on a transport bush plane, dropped of with equipment, tents, and inflatable rafts. The first part of the trip was to hunt caribou for 5 days, then inflate the rafts and float downriver 5-6 miles to a moose hunting area. There would be 5 hunters and one I personally knew to be a very experienced hunter, a co-worker who invited me.

I politely declined. This was to much of an adventure to go on with strangers and guys I hadn’t hunted with before. The risk wasn’t acceptable to me. So they went on their hunt with four people. Later on, after their hunt, I ran into Bill and asked him how it went. He gave me a look and just shook his head. Everything went well initially, they were dropped off, set up their tents, could see caribou from camp, perfect! Then it proceeded to rain for 4 straight days, a constant downpour, non stop and grizzlies going into camp at night.

One of the hunters we both know, Dick, who I was told was an experienced hunter but I never hunted with him and knew nothing about his experience, well Dick went crazy! After several days of torrential rain he demanded they use the sat phone and contact the bush plane pilot to come and pick him up. They tried to reason with him nor could the pilot even fly in this weather. Dick began acting irrational and they took his gun and considering using ropes to restrain him.

The weather and rain broke after after 4 days and the bush plane pilot arrived and picked up Dick. Who was almost uncommunicative and somber. The remaining group killed 2 nice caribou and after breaking camp, inflating the rafts and securing the caped out caribou, they proceeded to float downriver to the moose hunting area, except now due to the torrential rain the river had class 3 rapids and one of the hunters had his cheek impaled with a caribou antler while the kayak was getting tossed around!

They fortunately made it to the moose area, and after cleaning the hole in his cheek, they used duct tape to cover it, they did hunt for moose unsuccessfully. This was a tough guy btw, to continue hunting after having his cheek impaled with a caribou antler! Anyhow, I wasn’t sorry I declined!

Anyways, I still think it’s a great idea! I want to hunt elephant again, a tracking hunt in Zimbabwe most likely or Namibia but it’s not something I’ll be booking 1-2 years in advance, more like 2-4 months in advance, taking advantage of cancellation hunts or PAC hunts and this kind of short notice doesn’t work well for most, but would love to have you along!

Quite a story, makes you thank God I didn’t go on that one! Let me know if you ever get that cancellation hunt booked

grand veneur · Feb 4, 2026

BJH65 said:
I don’t think this is a crazy idea at all. I think there is some element of the unknown when hunting with someone you don’t know. I have a hunting companion and we’ve shared many hardships especially when things don’t go as planned, however he has zero interest in hunting Africa.

Here’s a story you’ll find interesting perhaps. I was invited on a do it yourself moose and caribou hunt 26 years ago. The hunt took place in Alaska and involved being flown in on a transport bush plane, dropped of with equipment, tents, and inflatable rafts. The first part of the trip was to hunt caribou for 5 days, then inflate the rafts and float downriver 5-6 miles to a moose hunting area. There would be 5 hunters and one I personally knew to be a very experienced hunter, a co-worker who invited me.

I politely declined. This was to much of an adventure to go on with strangers and guys I hadn’t hunted with before. The risk wasn’t acceptable to me. So they went on their hunt with four people. Later on, after their hunt, I ran into Bill and asked him how it went. He gave me a look and just shook his head. Everything went well initially, they were dropped off, set up their tents, could see caribou from camp, perfect! Then it proceeded to rain for 4 straight days, a constant downpour, non stop and grizzlies going into camp at night.

One of the hunters we both know, Dick, who I was told was an experienced hunter but I never hunted with him and knew nothing about his experience, well Dick went crazy! After several days of torrential rain he demanded they use the sat phone and contact the bush plane pilot to come and pick him up. They tried to reason with him nor could the pilot even fly in this weather. Dick began acting irrational and they took his gun and considering using ropes to restrain him.

The weather and rain broke after after 4 days and the bush plane pilot arrived and picked up Dick. Who was almost uncommunicative and somber. The remaining group killed 2 nice caribou and after breaking camp, inflating the rafts and securing the caped out caribou, they proceeded to float downriver to the moose hunting area, except now due to the torrential rain the river had class 3 rapids and one of the hunters had his cheek impaled with a caribou antler while the kayak was getting tossed around!

They fortunately made it to the moose area, and after cleaning the hole in his cheek, they used duct tape to cover it, they did hunt for moose unsuccessfully. This was a tough guy btw, to continue hunting after having his cheek impaled with a caribou antler! Anyhow, I wasn’t sorry I declined!

Anyways, I still think it’s a great idea! I want to hunt elephant again, a tracking hunt in Zimbabwe most likely or Namibia but it’s not something I’ll be booking 1-2 years in advance, more like 2-4 months in advance, taking advantage of cancellation hunts or PAC hunts and this kind of short notice doesn’t work well for most, but would love to have you along!

Unfortunately, such things happen, but a hunt in Africa with a stay in a comfortable camp is not comparable to a hunt with an expeditionary character. The problems in Africa tend to arise when someone wants to interfere in hunting.

BJH65 · Feb 4, 2026

MontanaPat said:
Quite a story, makes you thank God I didn’t go on that one! Let me know if you ever get that cancellation hunt booked

Absolutely! I’ll be hunting buffalo in the Greater Kruger again this year and will be looking at 2027 for elephant in either Zim or Nam.

Is this a crazy idea? - Anyone interested in an observer to accompany you on an Elephant or Leopard hunt?

MontanaPat

Ontario Hunter

mark-hunter

grand veneur

Scott CWO

mark-hunter

grand veneur

Paul K

MontanaPat

mdwest

NIGHTHAWK

MontanaPat

RLD

Russ16

mark-hunter

BJH65

grand veneur

MontanaPat

grand veneur

BJH65

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