Has Anyone Hunted With John X Safaris? Watched Their Youtube Videos?

[Mtn_Infantry]

I hope you get one. I am also retired military, and 13 years into my 2nd career. But I have kids and wives, and ex-wives in spades.

The only way I am hunting sheep is drawing a tag, and moving back to Alaska. Or drawing a lower 48 tag.

I am most likely moving back to New Mexico in a few months, so the odds aren't zero that I will get a sheep tag. I have already taken a nice free range aoudad. in 2020. I'd be super happy about repeating that hunt a few times. Outfitted in Texas or on my own in New Mexico.

Thank you!
I tried to move to Alaska right before I got out but no dice. Alaska is the best option for someone who wants to hunt sheep. It won’t surprise me if they move entirely to NR Draw in the very near future and potentially a complete draw system even for Residents if their population continues to decline the way it has.

I wish you the best in drawing a tag in the future. I apply in Idaho, New Mexico, and Alaska annually since they’re random draws and participate in 14-25 raffles a year. I’ve got at least a dozen or more points in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Texas and Arizona, and I’m approaching 20 points in several of those states despite not yet being 40. Given my age and where I am points wise, as long as I stay on this side of the ground I believe I have a better than average chance of hunting sheep, but seeing the changes to Non Res tag percentages has me a little nervous. If I ever manage to draw both a RMBH tag and a DBH tag I’m in trouble.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

What I have noticed with John-X videos is the clients with the fancy GunWorks long range rifles etc are the ones who get long range shots. Client is paying for the video and if that's what he wants, that's what they do. I think it would be a stretch to say John-X is promoting long range shooting at animals.

 

[Hunt anything]

What I have noticed with John-X videos is the clients with the fancy GunWorks long range rifles etc are the ones who get long range shots. Client is paying for the video and if that's what he wants, that's what they do. I think it would be a stretch to say John-X is promoting long range shooting at animals.

Big difference between “embracing” and “promoting” long range shooting. I totally understand the business side of it, give the customer what they want as long as it’s legal.
It’s just not for me.

 

[Muskox]

I think 270 KM in a day is a pretty big stretch as well all on one concession?

Thank you!
I tried to move to Alaska right before I got out but no dice. Alaska is the best option for someone who wants to hunt sheep. It won’t surprise me if they move entirely to NR Draw in the very near future and potentially a complete draw system even for Residents if their population continues to decline the way it has.

I wish you the best in drawing a tag in the future. I apply in Idaho, New Mexico, and Alaska annually since they’re random draws and participate in 14-25 raffles a year. I’ve got at least a dozen or more points in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Texas and Arizona, and I’m approaching 20 points in several of those states despite not yet being 40. Given my age and where I am points wise, as long as I stay on this side of the ground I believe I have a better than average chance of hunting sheep, but seeing the changes to Non Res tag percentages has me a little nervous. If I ever manage to draw both a RMBH tag and a DBH tag I’m in trouble.

I am hunting red stags tomorrow and mouflon on Tuesday. Wish me luck!

 

[375Ruger416]

Big difference between “embracing” and “promoting” long range shooting. I totally understand the business side of it, give the customer what they want as long as it’s legal.
It’s just not for me.

Having hunted with Gunwerks and done a few of their courses, I was surprised how much they emphasize 'get closer' and know your limits. They really do a good job of helping shooters understand how your effective range deteriorates severely with inclement conditions, buck fever, etc. Its no question I'm a better marksman supported after doing their courses, but for offhand and improvised shooting positions without a bipod/tripod Mapleseed/Appleseed and practicing with a rimfire is better. It's fun to practice at 1000yds, but the real reason to do it is that it makes a 400 yd shot an absolute chip shot. Get as close as you can, but be the best rifleman you can as well. The big difference its made for me, is that I know when I can (and can't) make a shot. I'm also much better and getting into a quality shooting position and decreasing my wobble zone. Pro tip - if your wobble zone is bigger than the animals vitals you cannot make the shot - whether off-hand at 50 yds or prone at 600!

As far as John X goes, I expect they are the same. It is awful to wound an animal and leads to a bad experience for everyone and an unhappy client (even more so if the animal is not recovered). I'm sure they do more than two shots to confirm zero and assess the clients shooting ability to see what their abilities are. Surprisingly, this seems to be common in Africa. I spent much more time at the range than my PH felt necessary in Namibia, but I didn't miss a shot on an animal. Seems every video I see in Africa, clients take 1 or 2 shots and call it good. I would recommend everyone dryfire, practice getting on and off the sticks, shoot from a knee etc. I realize 99%+ of shots in Africa are taken off sticks, but I'd spend a reasonable amount of time getting familiar with your equipment and stretching out after a long trip.

I'm interested in hunting with John X someday perhaps (more interested in hunting buffalo somewhere wild at this point), but not interested in LR sniping. I took a pronghorn in New Mexico at further than I'll admit, but have no intentions of repeating it. It was the closest we could possibly get and I was confident I could make a clean kill (and did), but too much can go wrong at distance. Every hunter should spend enough time with their rifle to know what their ethical maximum is and be able to adjust that based on conditions. The real bugger is, this limit changes constantly which is why limiting your shots to MPBR or 250-300 yds is always a good idea. Doesn't make for compelling video though.

 

[Hunt anything]

Well stated @375Ruger416, I agree with you, I practice WAY farther than I would ever shoot at an unwounded animal.
I have absolutely no qualms with John X, their guys are great on video and I do watch them when I can.

 

[hoytcanon]

I think 270 KM in a day is a pretty big stretch as well all on one concession?

What is with you people??? Did I stutter? We did 270 km, covering "some" of the consecutive concession blocks... never fired a shot on that particular day, but saw alot of game. I did not say that the route was straight as an arrow... of course we wound around through the hills, but we never looked at the same terrain twice.

 

[hoytcanon]

Having hunted with Gunwerks and done a few of their courses, I was surprised how much they emphasize 'get closer' and know your limits. They really do a good job of helping shooters understand how your effective range deteriorates severely with inclement conditions, buck fever, etc. Its no question I'm a better marksman supported after doing their courses, but for offhand and improvised shooting positions without a bipod/tripod Mapleseed/Appleseed and practicing with a rimfire is better. It's fun to practice at 1000yds, but the real reason to do it is that it makes a 400 yd shot an absolute chip shot. Get as close as you can, but be the best rifleman you can as well. The big difference its made for me, is that I know when I can (and can't) make a shot. I'm also much better and getting into a quality shooting position and decreasing my wobble zone. Pro tip - if your wobble zone is bigger than the animals vitals you cannot make the shot - whether off-hand at 50 yds or prone at 600!

As far as John X goes, I expect they are the same. It is awful to wound an animal and leads to a bad experience for everyone and an unhappy client (even more so if the animal is not recovered). I'm sure they do more than two shots to confirm zero and assess the clients shooting ability to see what their abilities are. Surprisingly, this seems to be common in Africa. I spent much more time at the range than my PH felt necessary in Namibia, but I didn't miss a shot on an animal. Seems every video I see in Africa, clients take 1 or 2 shots and call it good. I would recommend everyone dryfire, practice getting on and off the sticks, shoot from a knee etc. I realize 99%+ of shots in Africa are taken off sticks, but I'd spend a reasonable amount of time getting familiar with your equipment and stretching out after a long trip.

I'm interested in hunting with John X someday perhaps (more interested in hunting buffalo somewhere wild at this point), but not interested in LR sniping. I took a pronghorn in New Mexico at further than I'll admit, but have no intentions of repeating it. It was the closest we could possibly get and I was confident I could make a clean kill (and did), but too much can go wrong at distance. Every hunter should spend enough time with their rifle to know what their ethical maximum is and be able to adjust that based on conditions. The real bugger is, this limit changes constantly which is why limiting your shots to MPBR or 250-300 yds is always a good idea. Doesn't make for compelling video though.

I'm not a fan of the ultra long range shooting either. As you say, too.much can go wrong, and does regularly. I have watched them.take 1000+ yard shots on John-X videos and gut punch the animals requiring follows, bad wind call or quarry movement or shaky shooter, doesn't really matter... I don't like squeezing and "hoping" that it will be ok. I also sometimes wonder how many of those long shot scenarios do not make it to video for public viewing? Not just from John-X, but all of the long range videos being circulated these days... just encourages unskilled viewers to push their personal limits too far, JMO.

 

[375Fox]

What is with you people??? Did I stutter? We did 270 km, covering "some" of the consecutive concession blocks... never fired a shot on that particular day, but saw alot of game. I did not say that the route was straight as an arrow... of course we wound around through the hills, but we never looked at the same terrain twice.

What is it with you? You write unbelievable claims and wonder why someone questions it? Assuming a 12 hour day. 23 km/hr 14 mph average on farm and mountain roads. That is pretty fast. No farm gates to open? No stopping for lunch? No stopping to look at game? No washed out roads? I see a couple options 1.) you remember wrong 2.) odometer off 3.) a lot of highway miles at night getting back to camp are included. I also don’t know why someone would do 270 km in a day hunting unless they were hanging initial leopard baits and even that would be a stretch. I’ve done over 100 miles in a day on first hunt of year in area. It’s a taxing day. 270 km/170 miles seems extremely unrealistic especially on mountain roads. So No, you didn’t stutter. Just made an unbelievable claim to exaggerate your point.

 

[hoytcanon]

What is it with you? You write unbelievable claims and wonder why someone questions it? Assuming a 12 hour day. 23 km/hr 14 mph average on farm and mountain roads. That is pretty fast. No farm gates to open? No stopping for lunch? No stopping to look at game? No washed out roads? I see a couple options 1.) you remember wrong 2.) odometer off 3.) a lot of highway miles at night getting back to camp are included. I also don’t know why someone would do 270 km in a day hunting unless they were hanging initial leopard baits and even that would be a stretch. I’ve done over 100 miles in a day on first hunt of year in area. It’s a taxing day. 270 km/170 miles seems extremely unrealistic especially on mountain roads. So No, you didn’t stutter. Just made an unbelievable claim to exaggerate your point.

Not an exaggeration, not a lie, not a mistake... but there is a great way to solve this... I'm going to hit that button now.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Big difference between “embracing” and “promoting” long range shooting. I totally understand the business side of it, give the customer what they want as long as it’s legal.
It’s just not for me.

A bit of pointless semantics I guess, but I don't think the difference between "embracing" and "promoting" is that "big." And I don't recall any John-X videos that blatantly "embraced" long range shooting. But it's been quite a while since I viewed any of their videos and my memory is typical old man stuff. However, usually that sort of thing throws up a huge unforgettable red flag for me.

 

[Hunt anything]

A bit of pointless semantics I guess, but I don't think the difference between "embracing" and "promoting" is that "big." And I don't recall any John-X videos that blatantly "embraced" long range shooting. But it's been quite a while since I viewed any of their videos and my memory is typical old man stuff. However, usually that sort of thing throws up a huge unforgettable red flag for me.

Fair enough, I’ve seen their videos showing shots at kudu at 700+ yards. But as I’ve said this wouldn’t stop me from hunting with them. I would just insist on getting closer and if we bust the stalk so be it.
I don’t believe it was a podcast or anything like that that they put out but a TV show.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Fair enough, I’ve seen their videos showing shots at kudu at 700+ yards. But as I’ve said this wouldn’t stop me from hunting with them. I would just insist on getting closer and if we bust the stalk so be it.
I don’t believe it was a podcast or anything like that that they put out but a TV show.

I think I saw that kudu video. Was it the one with the bull walking along the fence? Hardly gold medal video stuff but obviously promoting the client and his rifle product. I'm sure they tailor hunts to fit the client's request/needs. My PH has loaned me his long range rifle for a couple of animals that would have been iffy for my 30-06. He said the gun would do it and he had confidence in my ability. What can I say? There was no way to get closer to the black wildebeest ... or any others. Not that day. We drove a long ways to hunt that property and weather was horrible. Just as well take him and call it a day. Dropped in his tracks at 370 yards.

 

[3chunter]

It can be done with several safari operators, do the research. I have no beef with John-X or their pricing... from everything I have seen they offer a great experience... it is just simply out of the budget for some people (myself included) If money is no object, why are we having this discussion?

Agreed. I went to Namibia for under $10 k. 8 animals. All trophy class.
A few years ago I knew of 6-7 great outfits in east cape which had pricing at half what John X charges. Now I have never been to John X and I am sure they are top level experience.

 

[375Fox]

Agreed. I went to Namibia for under $10 k. 8 animals. All trophy class.
A few years ago I knew of 6-7 great outfits in east cape which had pricing at half what John X charges. Now I have never been to John X and I am sure they are top level experience.

I’m not saying you can’t have a good hunt in Namibia with $10k. You absolutely can. The claim was 2 weeks, 10 trophy animals, no fences, under $10k. That’s a stretch at most current pricing if any significant animals like kudu or eland are included. Eastern cape has better pricing but a different experience. Eastern cape I think you could find that deal relatively easily.

 

[Dinsdale]

What is it with you? You write unbelievable claims and wonder why someone questions it? Assuming a 12 hour day. 23 km/hr 14 mph average on farm and mountain roads. That is pretty fast. No farm gates to open? No stopping for lunch? No stopping to look at game? No washed out roads? I see a couple options 1.) you remember wrong 2.) odometer off 3.) a lot of highway miles at night getting back to camp are included. I also don’t know why someone would do 270 km in a day hunting unless they were hanging initial leopard baits and even that would be a stretch. I’ve done over 100 miles in a day on first hunt of year in area. It’s a taxing day. 270 km/170 miles seems extremely unrealistic especially on mountain roads. So No, you didn’t stutter. Just made an unbelievable claim to exaggerate your point.

After taking elephant on a hunt, I was able to add on a buffalo as there were a few extra tags at end of season.

One day we seen a few right out of camp and went after on foot, but they were in some stupid thick stuff and when we could just see glimpses they'd run again.

After a couple hours we drove the rest of the day, like 8hrs looking for fresh tracks on roads crossing into another block. Covered like 50 miles.

It's the only time Ive pulled a ph aside after dinner and told him I'd rather sit at camp if that was whats instore for the next few days.It was mind numbing.

After that we walked a few blocks and were on buffalo just about every morning and afternoon. Never found a great bull, but on the sticks several times trying to sort one out.A few inside 20yds.

170miles......just take me back to the airport, I'll find my own way home.

 

[hoytcanon]

170miles......just take me back to the airport, I'll find my own way home.

To each their own... I asked to see some country and they accommodated admirably... I thoroughly enjoyed the day and saw very pretty country... but, hey... if you would rather sit in camp or fly home... knock yourself out... talk about mind numbing.