Africa...when will you be priced out??

[Rumrunner]

I think I’m already priced out and just haven’t realized it yet. I have a hunt booked for 2027, Buff, Nyala, Sable and Black Wildebeest. I know the up front costs for daily rates, trophy fees and airline tickets. How much I spend for these are more or less in my control. I can fly economy, change what I hunt and cut back the number of days to meet my budget.
Taxidermy is less known but somewhat predictable with a reputable company. Export/import/transport fees are all over the place and have become a very significant unknown consideration. I have seen where some are being hit with costs in the $10K range that was not expected to be anywhere near that high.
I’m not cheap or a penny pincher but I will have to balance the costs of a safari with other commitments.

 

[Green Chile]

I think I’m already priced out and just haven’t realized it yet. I have a hunt booked for 2027, Buff, Nyala, Sable and Black Wildebeest. I know the up front costs for daily rates, trophy fees and airline tickets. How much I spend for these are more or less in my control. I can fly economy, change what I hunt and cut back the number of days to meet my budget.
Taxidermy is less known but somewhat predictable with a reputable company. Export/import/transport fees are all over the place and have become a very significant unknown consideration. I have seen where some are being hit with costs in the $10K range that was not expected to be anywhere near that high.
I’m not cheap or a penny pincher but I will have to balance the costs of a safari with other commitments.

How do you feel about not doing taxidermy or bringing much back? That’s a huge cost factor as many of us have been saying. It’s going to be impactful. I have had 3 large crates shipped this year and it was eye watering. That’s my fault for combining trips and having it all stack up on me but I can’t ignore that.

 

[Rumrunner]

How do you feel about not doing taxidermy or bringing much back? That’s a huge cost factor as many of us have been saying. It’s going to be impactful. I have had 3 large crates shipped this year and it was eye watering. That’s my fault for combining trips and having it all stack up on me but I can’t ignore that.

Absolutely a consideration. Euro mounts are certainly on the table. Well, except for a Sable or Nyala. If I decide I can’t shoulder/pedestal mount them I won’t take one.

 

[mark-hunter]

Once we are priced out. Safari stops.

In my opinion, in that case prices will be adjusted accordingly, at least for mass safari industry in Namibia and South Africa

 

[Green Chile]

Sable deserve a pedestal if you can swing it BUT a euro sable is still a stunning trophy.

 

[TheGrayRider]

Sheep costs are ridiculous but there are some others. I got a recent email on a cancellation moose hunt and the reduced cost was something like 50k. I read further and the original cost was around 70k. That's insane. I think moose hunts should be priced like cape buff hunts. $15-25k depending on the variables.

We paid $5,900 per hunter to rent gear and DIY Alaska moose hunt in 2019 (only 6 years ago) in Unit 18 outside Bethel and both killed 50+ inch moose in less than 4 days. (See Final Invoice above.)

Are you saying that people are paying $70,000 per hunter to moose hunt now? Seems a little salty…

Good luck and happy hunting to all, TheGrayRider a/k/a Tom.

 

[JPbowhunter]

I would love to do one ibex hunt but the distance and time needed makes me pause. Time is $. Which makes me look at Bezoar in Turkey but their prices are 2x for regular ibex.

Where can one look for a reasonably priced ibex hunt?

 

[Green Chile]

The 70k hunt surprised me. I've been seeing them priced at 30-35k and up in Alaska. There are some 40k plus hunts for moose only and any combo species hits 50k quickly.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

View attachment 764212

We paid $5,900 per hunter to rent gear and DIY Alaska moose hunt in 2019 (only 6 years ago) in Unit 18 outside Bethel and both killed 50+ inch moose in less than 4 days. (See Final Invoice above.)

View attachment 764218

Are you saying that people are paying $70,000 per hunter to moose hunt now? Seems a little salty…

Good luck and happy hunting to all, TheGrayRider a/k/a Tom.

I don't recall that he said where that moose hunting was. I live in Dillingham and would offer up a couple of observations. First, air taxi prices have gone up quite a bit since your DIY hunt, and likely will even more. Also guided moose hunts around here are in the 30-40K range, so while what he said sounds a bit high to me, it doesn't sound completely outlandish.

Congrats on your hunt.

 

[JPbowhunter]

View attachment 764212

We paid $5,900 per hunter to rent gear and DIY Alaska moose hunt in 2019 (only 6 years ago) in Unit 18 outside Bethel and both killed 50+ inch moose in less than 4 days. (See Final Invoice above.)

View attachment 764218

Are you saying that people are paying $70,000 per hunter to moose hunt now? Seems a little salty…

Good luck and happy hunting to all, TheGrayRider a/k/a Tom.

I would have already done that if AK still allowed non US citizens to diy hunt. That would be the dream!

 

[Green Chile]

Where can one look for a reasonably priced ibex hunt?

I'm still seeing ibex in Kyrgyzstan for 10k and up. Alpine ibex are 27k and up into mid-30's. Bezoar ibex in Turkey are mid $20k. Of course, if you take a nice one, the fees can bust 30k quickly.

 

['68boy]

As an example of moose prices look up McMillan river outfitters. $40,000 on the nose not counting travel or taxidermy.

 

[Tanks]

Sable deserve a pedestal if you can swing it BUT a euro sable is still a stunning trophy.

My pedestals just got finished, should be shipping as soon as crated.

 

[DLSJR]

Yep it's crazy but you can do most of the Asian sheep hunts including some of the Mongolian argali's for what a Stone or Bighorn hunt runs these days. Amazing but there are those willing to pay for the limited number of licenses available.

I don't always adhere to my own advice but live loosely by the mantra "just because you could, doesn't mean you should!"

I am starting to feel I resemble the grizzled old veterans I used to chuckle at 20 years ago when they talked about the good ol' days!

@bwanamrm , I had an opportunity to join a couple local hunters who were looking for a 3rd hunter to join them on a grand Mongolian hunt back in the mid-80’s. It was going to be about 30-35 days, hunting from the Gobi Desert to High Altai, taking both Argali’s & both ibex. Cost for the entire hunt was $35,000! I passed on going. One guy shot a 59” Altai ram and 51” Altai ibex, while the other guy got a 61” Altai ram and they both filled all their tags.

Not going on that hunt with them is one of the bigger regrets I have in my hunting career.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I get the reasons it’s just very strange and frustrating.

I didn’t know enough about sheep hunting to start putting in for points 20-30 years ago. Now it’s too late. Wish that wasn’t the case.

It’s a tough situation for everyone across the board but especially those born 20-30 years after you could’ve started building points. 30 years ago you could’ve done a $4500 sheep hunt without worrying about points when some of us were just starting little league or weren’t even born yet but managed just fine. As several like @375Fox and several others have said it’s about priorities, and choices. If you want to do it you’ll find a way.

Personally I lucked out and learned about drawing a permit to hunt as a junior in High School from a friend who was doing a Maine Moose application. I spent so much time in the Library during study halls trying to learn about how to draw permits it became an obsession. I can still recall getting called into the Vice Principal’s office to explain searching hunting and guns in a school computer, and trying to make a long distance phone call to another states fish and game department to ask questions.

Moose research spiraled into Elk in Wyoming/Montanta (Yellowstone 2 decades before the show) and Sheep at that point was a pipe dream, but the holy grail of hunting to me. I learned Wyoming had started the points deal 10 or 11 years prior and max point holders were guaranteed tags. I figured if I wanted to hunt the best area in a few years i might as well get points. I had zero understanding of the system, or what we now know as points creep. Joined the military, met guys from other states who hunted and learned about their processes and slowly expanded. I even to keep up with it and the applications using limited internet time on MWR computers on refit/down days in a sand box half a world away.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Absolutely a consideration. Euro mounts are certainly on the table. Well, except for a Sable or Nyala. If I decide I can’t shoulder/pedestal mount them I won’t take one.

You might also want to chat with your taxidermist about spreading out the work into multiple bills where he/she isn’t trying to do all the animals at once. Maybe you tan all the hides and only do 1 or 2 mounts the first year and the others the following year or 2 years later. For many this is a major perk to doing D&P instead of saving dollars there.

 

[Green Chile]

My pedestals just got finished, should be shipping as soon as crated.

View attachment 764229

Looking good. I have 2 sable
Pedestals arriving. One is 44” and the other is 48”.

 

[Adam Stevens]

My pedestals just got finished, should be shipping as soon as crated.

View attachment 764229

stunning!

love the work and displays

 

[Rare Breed]

As an example of moose prices look up McMillan river outfitters. $40,000 on the nose not counting travel or taxidermy.

Wow when Dave Colman owned then it was $15,000 before air and taxi…how times have changed

 

[Safari Dave]

I don't think the African safari companies will ever rase prices to the point where us "average Joe's" can't afford it.

Intimidation by international travel is the limiting factor.



On the other hand, it is getting to the point of being ridiculous for western and Alaskan guided hunts to be affordable to "working class" guys, like me.

I applied for mountain goat in WY this year, but didn't get drawn. (In a unit where I was required to hire a guide)


Canada seems to be a much better option, but with their stupid firearms restrictions now, you might have to hunt everything with a slingshot.