Is this common... lose 100 % of your deposit

Sounds odd to me they wouldn't work with you on this especially as it is a plains game hunt. I had to cancel my hunt in 2015 and my outfitter just rolled the deposit over to 2016, no problem.

There was an incident like this a few years back where the outfitter stuck to the letter of the contract on their no refund for cancellation. The hunter had cancer and later died.
Keeping that deposit was very expensive for the outfitter in the end.

I read the policy and would never book with an outfit with such a policy.

I would hope that your outfitter changes his mind. You are giving him a significant notification period. If he fails to do so PLEASE name him. Most here would not want to make the mistake of booking with him.
Bruce

This is just very unfortunate, especially as you are just asking for a delay to regain your health. I hope you can work this out and they reconsider. If not I also think it is appropriate to let the forum know who the outfitter is so other prospective clients will understand the position this outfitter is taking.

If the outfitter has any sense, he would be discussing this with you to find something that works for the two of you.
I'd much rather a client comes for a hunt later on or in the next season than force him to lose his deposit and in the end lose a client.
Don't be scared to put a little pressure on the outfitter. You've essentially got nothing to lose that he isn't asking you to forfeit in any case.

gillettehunter said:

I would hope that your outfitter changes his mind. You are giving him a significant notification period. If he fails to do so PLEASE name him. Most here would not want to make the mistake of booking with him.
Bruce

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And like others have said, don't be afraid to tell him he will be named in your negotiations.

Britt Beck said:

No all plains game. No special permits etc.

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I would not then under any circumstances rebook with him. No way! There are way too many good outfits here.

Britt Beck said:

I just read all the paperwork and there is nothing quoting anything regarding cancelation etc. I am sending them one last text to try and work this out or I guess I will lick my wounds and go on and find someone else. As always you guys are so helpful. Thanks so much.

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High regards for KMG Safaris one of our sponsors. Check them out you wont go wrong.

A friend was all set up to go with me for plains game in 2014. He had a back injury two weeks before departure and couldn't go. The outfitter offered to refund his deposit but was told to keep it for a future hunt. I hunted with the same outfitter this year and my friend's deposit is still good. Aside from that, he had purchased Travel Guard insurance and got back all of his prepaid expenses.

@Britt Beck

If you booked with a larger outfit whom has reviews here, which I believe you did. I would check their site under their pricing and "terms of business" section. There are some policies that may help you there.

Furthermore, as others have said, be gracious at first and let them know where you are inquiring for help (AH), as that may sway them to work more with you.

I never imagined AH as "boogie man" for the naughty guys, but it just might work! The pressure of media and public opinion!

mark-hunter said:

I never imagined AH as "boogie man" for the naughty guys, but it just might work! The pressure of media and public opinion!

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Maybe not so much "boogie man" but may help the outfitter 'extend policies' to assist a client in need...

This site is the "Better Business Bureau" of hunting Africa and beyond, real time reports and feedback from hunters and outfitters alike.
Just wished we could hear the horror stories from the outfitters about hunters lol

BRICKBURN said:

There was an incident like this a few years back where the outfitter stuck to the letter of the contract on their no refund for cancellation. The hunter had cancer and later died.
Keeping that deposit was very expensive for the outfitter in the end.

I read the policy and would never book with an outfit with such a policy.

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That was a sad situation.

Don't hear much of the outfitter or his company any more either.

".....for whatever a man soweth, that shall he also reap,......."

dobber said:

Just wished we could hear the horror stories from the outfitters about hunters lol

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This would be really interesting.
I did ask my ph if he had any such stories to tell, and the answer was that so far, vast majority of clients were experienced hunters of their own home country hunting experience, and generally skilled with rifle. They were not newbies in hunting world.

Bitter situations cloud be seen when two hunters in the camp start "pissing contest" when they are together and then want to claim bigger trophy, and then starting competition for bigger horn, or longer shot, etc...

To support this thesis, I had few hunting friends to which I suggested to try going for African safari, but they told me that they do not feel experienced enough even at their home grounds, to dare to try safari till feeling more confident about it. (budget is not a problem for them)

So if average hunter takes Africa so seriously, then "horror" stories should be exception, not rule.

Also what I see here on AH, vast majority of hunters take it very seriously, research, ammo reloading,other preps, specialized rifles purchasing, taking time to grasp everything, interest in related books, booking on time, together with having good experience back at home as well.

So my overall impression is that average African hunter, in general, is at least: skilled rifleman and good hunter at home.
Also, my impression is that average African hunter evolves in time trough his experience at home country, to get to position to start planning safari and to finally actually get to go on safari, it does not generally happen over night.

I can not imagine opposite: middle aged man, who never hunted anything or shot a rifle in his life, to woke up one day, and book the hunt for dg...

But i might be wrong...

My previous post was posted twice, so I edited this, whic hmay be deleted.

MAdcox said:

My recent experience with an outfitter on this site ( @Kowas Hunting Safaris ) was quite different. I had booked with Kowas for next June. I had an unbelievable turn of luck and won the Wintershoek free hunt on this site. The only time my wife could go was next spring. I was nervous about how Kowas would feel about postponing my hunt so I could hunt with someone else. Granted I’m a year out, but they were extremely helpful and very gracious in moving my Namibia hunt to 2020. They were excited I had won and had the opportunity to take my wife to South Africa and rescheduled my hunt with the the deposit I had already paid.

Hope your outfit can do something for you like this and really hope your surgery goes well. My saddle partner had a similar surgery and had a tremendous amount of relief almost immediately. I pray for the same for you.

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Thank you my friend. I've heard nothing but crickets so far.

cls said:

Sounds odd to me they wouldn't work with you on this especially as it is a plains game hunt. I had to cancel my hunt in 2015 and my outfitter just rolled the deposit over to 2016, no problem.

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CLS. I have read that many times where people had to reschedule, it never seeemed to be a problem. That's one reason I was so shocked.

Most outfitters will work with a client; especially since you were looking to move dates.

But I have seen several instances where they have not refunded anything, and a few others where the hunter got most back less some tag money that was already spent. They seem to be few and far between in general; but you do see discount hunts because of client cancellations.

I'd try again having a discussion, see if you can work something out.

If not, personally I wouldn't hunt with the guy and let others know about it too.

mark-hunter said:

This would be really interesting.
I did ask my ph if he had any such stories to tell, and the answer was that so far, vast majority of clients were experienced hunters of their own home country hunting experience, and generally skilled with rifle. They were not newbies in hunting world.

Bitter situations cloud be seen when two hunters in the camp start "pissing contest" when they are together and then want to claim bigger trophy, and then starting competition for bigger horn, or longer shot, etc...

To support this thesis, I had few hunting friends to which I suggested to try going for African safari, but they told me that they do not feel experienced enough even at their home grounds, to dare to try safari till feeling more confident about it. (budget is not a problem for them)

So if average hunter takes Africa so seriously, then "horror" stories should be exception, not rule.

Also what I see here on AH, vast majority of hunters take it very seriously, research, ammo reloading,other preps, specialized rifles purchasing, taking time to grasp everything, interest in related books, booking on time, together with having good experience back at home as well.

So my overall impression is that average African hunter, in general, is at least: skilled rifleman and good hunter at home.
Also, my impression is that average African hunter evolves in time trough his experience at home country, to get to position to start planning safari and to finally actually get to go on safari, it does not generally happen over night.

I can not imagine opposite: middle aged man, who never hunted anything or shot a rifle in his life, to woke up one day, and book the hunt for dg...

But i might be wrong...

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I have shared camp on last 2 hunts now with 2 guys who have never taken a game animal on a hunt ever.

First was a group of 3 young guys and one of them took a nice Kudu as his first animal ever. As a group I don't think their shooting was all that great or even the level of field experience hunting but took a nice bag of plains game and had a great time. They started a bit slow, but ended up with what they more or less started out seeking. Booked it as part of an trip and think they came away with what they wanted in terms of experience.

Last camp, older fellow who had done some shooting and was a guest of another hunter. They were tracking elephant in some serious heat with long days, so I offered to have him drive around looking for baboons on the tail end of my hunt instead of sitting around camp alone. Took a big male with my rifle and a very nice clean shot. He will tell that story to everyone at the Legion for years now.

These types of forums are a fly spec of who goes on hunts and although its a cross section; most don't look at them. Look how many "I already booked a hunt, what can you tell me about my outfitter" threads there are a month before they leave.

Last trip I got some guys through SAPS and into a hotel room when their PH never showed up, he came the next day; mix up in arrival dates. They had no planning, and not a clue what to expect. They had LOADS of gear, the one guy thought I lost my luggage when I had a carry on and rifle case. They did shoot some stuff but wouldn't go again, didn't care for PH/camp/food, shame what a poor planning can do to a trip.

I'm also curious who the outfitter is . . .