Feedback wanted

billc said:

1- area to be hunted say. east cape,limpo,northwest,northern cape,natal do you start your search by area is what I am talking about

2- size of areas to be hunted yes all places are fenced for all 3 outfitters

3- quality of lodging be it 3 to 5 star

4 quality of food

5- quality of game.

6- cost of game and day fees.

7- other things to do outside of hunting

If you like just list them by number in the order you think. For me it is
5,6,2,1,4,3,7

Thanks to anyone who helps me out with this.

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Looking at this if i an going by my self 1x1
1. 5
2. 1
3. 2
4. 6
5. 4
6. 3
7. 7

Looking at this going 1x1, with my wife along as an observer.
1. 7
2. 3
3. 4
4. 5
5. 1
6. 2
7. 6

billc said:

Wow thanks for all the feed back already. Hope to see some more guys add to the post.

Phil and royal I did not see your picks. Come on now I know you both can count to ten so making a list of 1 thru 7 will be easy. LoL

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PHOENIX PHIL said:

Easy, look at Brickburn's and count it twice.

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One of the things that I would consider and would be right up at the top of the list is the outfitter/PH. Specifically does he / do they have a good reputation in all aspects to include good hunt reports, registered with PHASA (or if in any of the other countries their respective associations) and whatever else you might find on the web and/or talking to others like here on AH.

PHOENIX PHIL said:

One of the things that I would consider and would be right up at the top of the list is the outfitter/PH. Specifically does he / do they have a good reputation in all aspects to include good hunt reports, registered with PHASA (or if in any of the other countries their respective associations) and whatever else you might find on the web and/or talking to others like here on AH.

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I agree phil that why I said all 3 check out and all are good outfitters to hunt with. I am trying to see what guys look for when deciding on a place with the choices I said. Way more goes into it then what I am asking but I always wondered why some guys pick certain places.

I did figure it would change if guys brought wifes or girlfriends but all this info is very good to know.

Bringing wifes or girlfriends ... BOTH plural ... changes where a guy is buried NOT where he hunts!

2,5,6,4,3,1,7

Ok I see a bunch think 1,2,5 are linked. I am not so sure about that one.

I am sure that a 55" kudu taken on a larger area is the same as the a 55" taken on a smaller place. So quality if the place is picked right by the outfitter has nothing to do with size of place. Were it seems to have a big affect is how guys think or what they want to believe. Different areas can hold different amounts of game based on the forage and terrian. Game farms in the limpo don't carry as many animals as farms in the northwest per acre. Just as the game numbers are more in the east cape per arce then limpo.

I do agree an area can have some say on size for certain animals. Like natal has the biggest nyala and the limpo has the biggest kudu on avg. But I would bet you could find a 30 inch nyala in the limpo and a 60" kudu in natal. Having better odds for a certain quality animal in an area is true.

Now saying you want to hunt a certain size area over another is one thing. But saying if it is not a certain size it could not have quality game on it is not true.

Hey Bill;
I've got a math problem for you.. Mine is a median average of @BRICKBURN 's and @James.Grage 's numbers for both with and without my wife.

ActionBob said:

Hey Bill;
I've got a math problem for you.. Mine is a median average of @BRICKBURN 's and @James.Grage 's numbers for both with and without my wife.

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Okay......where's the abacus?

Bob you got me there you will need to make it simple for this simple mind of mine.

billc said:

Ok I see a bunch think 1,2,5 are linked. I am not so sure about that one.

I am sure that a 55" kudu taken on a larger area is the same as the a 55" taken on a smaller place. So quality if the place is picked right by the outfitter has nothing to do with size of place. Were it seems to have a big affect is how guys think or what they want to believe. Different areas can hold different amounts of game based on the forage and terrian. Game farms in the limpo don't carry as many animals as farms in the northwest per acre. Just as the game numbers are more in the east cape per arce then limpo.

I do agree an area can have some say on size for certain animals. Like natal has the biggest nyala and the limpo has the biggest kudu on avg. But I would bet you could find a 30 inch nyala in the limpo and a 60" kudu in natal. Having better odds for a certain quality animal in an area is true.

Now saying you want to hunt a certain size area over another is one thing. But saying if it is not a certain size it could not have quality game on it is not true.

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Bill;
Might have to put Dakota on the math problem

Regarding the above quote;
Just trying to politely point something out, so take it as offered and I don't want to get into a big discussion on it.. .But if you ask for opinions or do a sort of poll... Maybe think about accepting the input you get rather than trying to point out why people's responses are wrong.

I do understand you feel strongly about this all and only wish to help people out. And I can appreciate that about you and that you have incredible passion and enthusiasm for hunting and helping folks. However some may not know you personally and thus may not understand this and could take it differently. Just food for thought.

Yes Dakota maybe able to get that problem. But I will just wait to see what you have for me.

I do get your point and glad people have said what they said. I just want to make sure people who see this understand those 3 things are not always tied together by facts. I don't think anyone was wrong for there answers I just wanted the best break down I could get with the 7 choices. Any way one puts them is fine as it will give me the info I want.
I hope no one takes my comments wrong with the above post. It is just me plain and simple.

Quality of game (5) is LESS about the inches and MORE about the total experience. Hunting indigenous animals on a single larger property increases the total experience. Some outfitters (and hunters) are happy driving between small concessions for larger put and take animals. I am not.

1,2 &5
6
7
4
3

Scott Slough said:

Quality of game (5) is LESS about the inches and MORE about the total experience. Hunting indigenous animals on a single larger property increases the total experience. Some outfitters (and hunters) are happy driving between small concessions for larger put and take animals. I am not.

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I totally get your point and I should have worded that for what I was meaning quality as in size of game. In the end all 7 can make the total experience good or bad.
All hunters have different ideas on what makes a good hunt or a bad hunt. I now know what is most important for you and a lot of others.

I guess a lot comes down to what guys think is small or large for a piece of land. I was hoping to hit that subject with some other stuff on the next part of my questions on another thread soon.

I think there is just some fiction on all smaller ranches are all put/take. I believe south Africa has changed a lot over the years to more ranches having breeding herds of animals. yes there is put and take places yet but it just might surprise you how more smaller rancher raise there own game with breeding herds.

Again I want to thank everyone for the help and there post on this thread.

-1, Depending what I´m hunting, I´ll choose the best area.
-2, Size, big enough not to feel hemmed in by fences.
-5, Quality of game, but that will be covered by 1.
-4 and 3, these two come together, however, from my experience, the average quality in RSA is rather high.
-6, Cost, in this life, nothing is free, if you want a top quality hunting experience, you have to pay for it.
-7, Well, I´m coming to hunt, if there are other activities, fine, but that is not my primary objective.

For me 1,6,2,5 and the rest don't matter much

I have never hunted Africa. Hopefully I am fortunate enough at some point to do so.

My selection pretty much mirrors everyone else.

Areas
South Africa has such a wonderful diversity of Landscapes, Flora, and Fauna. Choosing a particular area would be a tough choice, because each one has something great to offer. I know the Limpopo is well known for the quality of the Kudu, and a harvesting a big corkscrew horned bull would be awesome. But the east cape has the Cape Kudu, also a great trophy. I would hunt every one of the areas if I could. The Kalahari region that straddles Botswana,, and South Africa is something I would enjoy experiencing.

Acreage

Also a tough question. Since I have never hunted there, I don't know what the properties feel like. I guess 5000 acres and up would be just fine........

Lodging

A good comfortable place is fine with me. Hot showers, a warm campfire, and a comfortable bed. As nice as it is,I don't need five star luxury.

Food

Ahhhhh.......My favorite part. When I hunt here in the west, I hunt hard, and I take pride in my effort, and feel good when I earn the animal I harvest. But at then end of a hard day, I enjoy getting cleaned up, and eating good food, drinking some cold beers, and lounging around a nice campfire. Five star cuisine is not necessary, just good quality food to fill up a hungry man. My sweet tooth loves good desserts.

Quality of game

I can appreciate a trophy animal that scores well as much as the next guy, however, a successful hunt should not be centered around how many inches of horn an animal has. I hunt for the overall experience, and a good time. I would be happy with good representative animals of whatever species I was after. If I had enough trips to Africa under my belt, maybe I would be more selective just to a make it more of a challenge in the future.....

Cost of Day fee's & trophies

I understand that the market for clients in SA is very competitive, and I think that the prices across the board reflect this. Operating costs vary for Safari Operators and each one has a bottom line to think about. I would always choose a quality Safari Outfitter, before choosing a price point Many of the good Operators that advertise here have good reputations, and many offer excellent package deals, or across the board pricing, that certainly help the budget minded sportsman, and everyone can appreciate that. I would choose the best Safari operators and trophy fee's that I could afford.

Things to do outside of hunting

This wouldn't concern me as much if I am hunting by myself. If I had an extra day or two for other activities, I wouldn't mind seeing a Lion or Cheetah breeding project, or maybe an elephant ride, curio shopping etc. If I brought a significant other with me, then I would arrange for her to have the opportunity for fun stuff to experience together.

To me, it's all about the experience. Hunting, learning about the animals and the habitat, meeting new people, and hopefully making friends along the way.

BRICKBURN said:

I have to go with history of my first hunts.
I hunted where the animals were indigenous to the area.

Hunting ALONE
1 and 2 and 5 all equal and are related.
6
3
4
7

Hunting with Spouse Along
1 and 2 and 5 all equal and are related.
3 and 4
7
6

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Pretty well sums it up.

billc
I agree I have been twice and planning on 2016 now
I am blue collar I don't need 5 star
Just a good meal and clean decent bed to sleep. I Look at price of game and daily rate. I know what o am looking for and trust my ph. These are my vacation
To enjoy our selves

2
5
1 (I mean - a new area. I typically like to go somewhere I haven't been yet)
3
6
4
7