Kalvinc
New member
Hello everyone,
My name is Kalvin. I’m 34 years old and grew up hunting in Oklahoma and Arkansas. I’ve been bowhunting for as long as I was strong enough to pull a bow back, and hunting in general has always been a big part of my life.
A good buddy of mine, Colby, and I are starting to plan our first African hunting trip, and we’re hoping to do something pretty special. We want to surprise our fathers for Father’s Day with their first African hunting safari.
One important consideration is my dad’s age and mobility. He still very much wants to hunt, but walking long distances is tough for him now. Because of that, we’re interested in a hunt that is more focused on sitting waterholes or blinds rather than spot-and-stalk. There’s also a good chance my dad may need to use a crossbow instead of a vertical bow, so we want to take that into account when choosing an outfitter and country.
We also want to avoid high fence operations. We understand fencing can vary by country and property size, but we are more interested in larger, more open concessions rather than small high fence farms.
I have several beginner questions and would really appreciate advice from those with experience:
Is it too late to realistically plan something for late summer this year, or should we be looking further out?
The SCI convention is coming up next month. Is that show worth attending for first-time African hunters, or would we be better off waiting until we’re more educated and know exactly what we’re looking for?
We don’t have a specific species list in mind. Our goal is simply to hunt a variety of animals, from small to medium game, and possibly one larger animal if the budget allows.
I’m on a fairly tight budget since I’ll be paying for both myself and my father. I’ve read that getting trophies back home can sometimes be nearly as expensive as the hunt itself.
Is it significantly cheaper to ship skull + horns and leave the hide?
If not, would it make more sense to focus on high-quality photos and have those printed and displayed instead?
From a cost and success standpoint, is it generally better to book a package hunt or go with a daily rate and pay per animal?
If we book a 2x1 hunt, are we realistically less likely to harvest as many animals compared to 1x1?
I also wanted to ask about bringing a non-hunting spouse. If I were to bring my wife along, does that typically add significant cost? Are there usually activities or accommodations that keep a non-hunting spouse entertained during the week, or does that vary widely by outfitter?
There is also a chance that Colby’s younger brother may join us. If we end up booking 4–5 hunters total, are group discounts or reduced daily rates commonly offered?
Lastly, as complete first-timers to Africa, what questions am I not asking yet? What are the common mistakes or things people wish they had thought through before booking their first safari?
Taking into consideration our budget, preferred style of hunting, and what we’re hoping to get out of this experience, which countries would be at the top of your list to recommend and why? I’m leaning towards SA or Namibia currently.
We’re trying to approach this the right way and learn as much as possible before committing. Any advice, recommendations, or lessons learned would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Kalvin
My name is Kalvin. I’m 34 years old and grew up hunting in Oklahoma and Arkansas. I’ve been bowhunting for as long as I was strong enough to pull a bow back, and hunting in general has always been a big part of my life.
A good buddy of mine, Colby, and I are starting to plan our first African hunting trip, and we’re hoping to do something pretty special. We want to surprise our fathers for Father’s Day with their first African hunting safari.
One important consideration is my dad’s age and mobility. He still very much wants to hunt, but walking long distances is tough for him now. Because of that, we’re interested in a hunt that is more focused on sitting waterholes or blinds rather than spot-and-stalk. There’s also a good chance my dad may need to use a crossbow instead of a vertical bow, so we want to take that into account when choosing an outfitter and country.
We also want to avoid high fence operations. We understand fencing can vary by country and property size, but we are more interested in larger, more open concessions rather than small high fence farms.
I have several beginner questions and would really appreciate advice from those with experience:
Is it too late to realistically plan something for late summer this year, or should we be looking further out?
The SCI convention is coming up next month. Is that show worth attending for first-time African hunters, or would we be better off waiting until we’re more educated and know exactly what we’re looking for?
We don’t have a specific species list in mind. Our goal is simply to hunt a variety of animals, from small to medium game, and possibly one larger animal if the budget allows.
I’m on a fairly tight budget since I’ll be paying for both myself and my father. I’ve read that getting trophies back home can sometimes be nearly as expensive as the hunt itself.
Is it significantly cheaper to ship skull + horns and leave the hide?
If not, would it make more sense to focus on high-quality photos and have those printed and displayed instead?
From a cost and success standpoint, is it generally better to book a package hunt or go with a daily rate and pay per animal?
If we book a 2x1 hunt, are we realistically less likely to harvest as many animals compared to 1x1?
I also wanted to ask about bringing a non-hunting spouse. If I were to bring my wife along, does that typically add significant cost? Are there usually activities or accommodations that keep a non-hunting spouse entertained during the week, or does that vary widely by outfitter?
There is also a chance that Colby’s younger brother may join us. If we end up booking 4–5 hunters total, are group discounts or reduced daily rates commonly offered?
Lastly, as complete first-timers to Africa, what questions am I not asking yet? What are the common mistakes or things people wish they had thought through before booking their first safari?
Taking into consideration our budget, preferred style of hunting, and what we’re hoping to get out of this experience, which countries would be at the top of your list to recommend and why? I’m leaning towards SA or Namibia currently.
We’re trying to approach this the right way and learn as much as possible before committing. Any advice, recommendations, or lessons learned would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Kalvin
