Hard hunting

[BJH65]

Attitude does solve a lot but it’s not an excuse to be naive. There are a lot of outfitters, hunting, and practices I would avoid in South Africa. You need to search out what you’re looking for and identify who is being honest and who isn’t. There is a much wider range between good and bad in south Africa than elsewhere.

I have no way of knowing if this is accurate but I was told by a SA outfitter/PH and now park official close to my age with 40 plus years of hunting experience in SA that 60% of SA outfitters are not trustworthy. Whether this is true I don’t know and obviously an estimate on his part but it’s food for thought and very important to do one’s research. When one does find an honest reputable outfitter, it makes you want to stick with them only because they are a known and trusted although I would still consider hunting with another outfitter, this site is tremendously helpful in that regard.

 

[375Fox]

Wounding statement was not me??



Well said, a point many ignore. Diligent, detailed, specific verified due diligence and screening on your outfitter will enable the OP a far better chance at the hunt they desire. That honesty statement is huge, if responses have any sniff of "off" move on immediately. I know this from experience.

There are no guarantees when booking a safari, ultimately you are at the whim of the outfitter, time spent on outfitter verification provides the best chance to get the hunt you desire.

MB

Sorry looks like I replied to you @MarkB instead of @mark-hunter post about wounding

 

[Wiley64]

Who cares if it’s hard. Life is hard enough I go hunting to have fun!

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Who cares if it’s hard. Life is hard enough I go hunting to have fun!

I think he means "challenging." Some of us think hunting is about more than just shooting stuff to hang on the wall. Sure, maybe I could shoot a +50" kudu right out of the truck. But would taking a 44" bull after days of fruitless stalking him high in the mountains be a more worthwhile memory? For me, yes. But then I wasn't raised in the age of "bone collector" internet influencers.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

I have no way of knowing if this is accurate but I was told by a SA outfitter/PH and now park official close to my age with 40 plus years of hunting experience in SA that 60% of SA outfitters are not trustworthy. Whether this is true I don’t know and obviously an estimate on his part but it’s food for thought and very important to do one’s research. When one does find an honest reputable outfitter, it makes you want to stick with them only because they are a known and trusted although I would still consider hunting with another outfitter, this site is tremendously helpful in that regard.

That's why this site is so awesome, with being able to seek out the reviews and experiences of others.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

It depends on your notion of what a hard hunt is. There are hard hunts, and then there are HARD hunts. My idea of a truly difficult hunt, thinking in terms of climate, topography and wariness of the quarry, is mountain goat hunting. I walked, hiked, climbed and crawled on all fours for 2 weeks in British Columbia and never pulled a trigger. Busting Alder brush. Traversing shale slides. Sleeping in a pup tent. Eating Mountain House freeze dried “food.” The altitude was crazy. It was a blast.

South Africa offers nothing like this. What it does offer is an experience somewhere between a Texas estate hunt, on the easy end, and a mule deer hunt in Idaho, on the difficult end. You will access the hunting areas by truck. You’ll spot or glass animals for a final stalk. Or you may just jump a Kudu of a lifetime while driving a ranch road and get out and bust him.

If this doesn’t appeal to you, you might want to save up a bit more and book a safari in a truly wild area for Cape buffalo.

Very well stated Doug, as far asSouth Africa.

Sounds like my goat hunt on Kodiak.

 

[375Fox]

I have no way of knowing if this is accurate but I was told by a SA outfitter/PH and now park official close to my age with 40 plus years of hunting experience in SA that 60% of SA outfitters are not trustworthy. Whether this is true I don’t know and obviously an estimate on his part but it’s food for thought and very important to do one’s research. When one does find an honest reputable outfitter, it makes you want to stick with them only because they are a known and trusted although I would still consider hunting with another outfitter, this site is tremendously helpful in that regard.

That is my opinion. Unfortunately the requirements to be a PH and outfitter in South Africa are extremely easy so you need to verify who you are hunting with. I wish they’d make standards to be a PH and outfitter much more strict. I’ve had my photos stolen by an “outfitter” before. Unfortunately you have to verify if PHs are really hunters or doing as a side job. There are a lot of very good PHs and outfitters, but I wish they’d clean up their industry.

 

[Nyati]

@JGH, you have already been gien excellent advice by many of our fellow AH members, and always keep in mind what @BRICKBURN said in his post, SA is large, and very different.

So, make up a list of what you expect, go through it with your Outfitter, in detail , and make your choices.

It may be very easy, or very tough, I have taken a two weeks safari to hunt 5 animals, and it also took me one week to get a single animal.

 

[Nosler guy]

I was lucky, on my first three African hunts, I was able to meet my outfitter in person, and each time was able to spend a considerable amount of time with them before we ever hunted. I was able to assess them, they were able to assess me - we had frank discussions about what they had and what I was hoping for. Two of those hunts were primarily free range or on very large concessions in Namibia - they were great hunts. The third was in Limpopo SA, on quite a variety of properties. Some were huge some were incredibly small. And when all was said and done, the most challenging (and I might add unsuccessful hunt) was on a very small property in the Limpopo. It was the most intense 3 days I've ever hunted - physically demanding, but the mental aspect of it was like no other hunt I've ever experienced - and I've spent half a lifetime playing cat and mouse with mature trophy class whitetails in Northern Saskatchewan.

So keep an open mind, try to be frank and honest with your outfitter, like most guys have already mentioned, chances are a good outfitter/guide will adjust to your abilities and wishes - just go and hunt - have fun

 

[JGH]

OP here ... all good information and really helpful.

I'm excited to have these conversations with PHs as we discuss our hunt. I suspect we'll have a great time, and, if we leave wanting more adventure, well, that's just reason to return.

 

[Badjer]

Attitude does solve a lot but it’s not an excuse to be naive. There are a lot of outfitters, hunting, and practices I would avoid in South Africa. You need to search out what you’re looking for and identify who is being honest and who isn’t. There is a much wider range between good and bad in south Africa than elsewhere.

To be clear: I referenced 3 of the 5 areas I hunted in 8 days. I didn't reread until edit time was up. Another thing that I realized post-trip that your response covers. I worked with a booking agent that had worked with a particular outfitter. Trust in the agent clouded my judgement. (read as I WAS the naive one) Happily I hunted four days in the (1) ONE mountainous, heavily wooded area. The other 4 areas were disappointing to say the least.

 

[375Fox]

To be clear: Those were 3 different areas in 8 days. I didn't reread for clarity until edit time was up. Another thing that I realized post-trip that your response covers. I worked with a booking agent that had worked with a particular outfitter. Trust in the agent clouded my judgement. (read as I WAS the naive one) Happily I hunted four days in the mountainous, heavily wooded area. The other 2 areas were disappointing to say the least.

It’s difficult to know better without a starting point. I’ve never had a bad hunt but I’ve had hunts I’d prefer not to repeat certain parts of. I just use the experience to better refine what I want for the next one.

 

[Badjer]

It’s difficult to know better without a starting point. I’ve never had a bad hunt but I’ve had hunts I’d prefer not to repeat certain parts of. I just use the experience to better refine what I want for the next one.

I could have let the disappointing things ruin my trip if I had dwelled on them. --While it was happening, I knew I would not return to this outfitter. I decided I was going to have a good time anyway.

 

[steve white]

When assessing hunt difficulty, distance and the steepness of terrain play roles that can be identical in both the open wild and the expansive fenced options. Steep angles do not depend on height or altitude and can kick your butt with equal effectiveness. Almost any large property can walk you into the ground if the hunt becomes a foot slog.
No matter where you hunt, the PH is going to assess your physical condition and adjust accordingly. If you are able to hump it, likely he will be able to give you a real stretch of the legs. If not, then he will likely suggest getting closer in the hunting vehicle. Sooner or later, with age, we make appropriate compromises, and no shame in that. I'm grateful that I'm still able to get out and hunt.
But to act like a fenced property can't challenge you or make for a hard hunt....I dare you to pop off to your PH about how "tame" it is--he probably knows just how to make you sweat for it!

 

[Rare Breed]

I presume G4A isn’t put and take for any of their species? as I understand all their animals including buff are from completely self sustaining populations?

Correct!

 

[BRICKBURN]

I've shared this before.
I had two gorgeous Rowland Ward trophies with the rifle and wanted to change it up.
This was one of the toughest hunts I ever did. Chasing Vaal Rhebuck with a bow. Free range stalking in the mountains.

Decide what and how you want to hunt for your enjoyment. Good luck to you all.

 

[coreydb]

I stated what I wanted, based on what I could physically do. The outfitter tailored the hunt to me. Start with the outfitters who sponsor this site and talk to them; you'll be presently surprised.

 

[spike.t]

How satisfied have you been with the intensity of hunting effort in South Africa?

I'm planning a first safari, and I may be giving in to preconceived notions about "ranch hunts." How challenging can an East Cape hunt be? What are some reasonable expectations?

A better question: What is the range of difficulty that an outfitter can work within?

I want to expect challenging hunting, busted stalks, physical effort, and pride in a well-placed, hard-earned shot.

Follow up question: How best to open this topic with prospective outfitters? Will they like this? Or is more challenge just harder work for them?

I'm guessing that raw acreage and indigenous (vs. imported) game species have strong associations with challenge intensity.

Obviously not in SA...but come here...we can walk out the camp area and start hunting on foot....only use a cruiser to be dropped in a different area ...then start walking and see what we find....amazing what you can bump just wandering around away from the "roads"...no hills pretty flat but different types of bush ranging from wide open dambos....woodland to thick bush.....just a suggestion for you

 

[Philip Glass]

How satisfied have you been with the intensity of hunting effort in South Africa?

I'm planning a first safari, and I may be giving in to preconceived notions about "ranch hunts." How challenging can an East Cape hunt be? What are some reasonable expectations?

A better question: What is the range of difficulty that an outfitter can work within?

I want to expect challenging hunting, busted stalks, physical effort, and pride in a well-placed, hard-earned shot.

Follow up question: How best to open this topic with prospective outfitters? Will they like this? Or is more challenge just harder work for them?

I'm guessing that raw acreage and indigenous (vs. imported) game species have strong associations with challenge intensity.

I agree with @375Fox on the EC being some of the most challenging.
To answer your question I recommend asking two primary questions. One being how much contiguous acreage do they own/lease? There is no way around this one. Bigger places will be more challenging for the most part. Second you want to know how much of the game is born and raised there versus added. All game ranches add game for different reasons such as genetic diversity. I would want you to stay away from the put and take places.
As @375Fox states there are some super challenging places in the EC and some I hunt have real mountains and plenty of 300yd shots!

 

[mark-hunter]

plenty of 300yd shots!

Phillip, this reminded me to ask, what type of scope you use for such longer shots?
Any special gadgets, ballistic turrets, etc... Or just using holdover, and crosshair scale if you have it, like on classic scope?