I currently live in Waco. I'm going to take a 280AI semi custom. Here is kicker, I haven't hunted any big game in the last decade and a half or so, other than pigs if they count. The previous decades were every year. species; multiple-whitetail, four- mule, one bull one cow elk, one moose and a pronghorn. some coyotes wood chucks squirrels when I was a kid. The most hunting I have done as of the last decade has been birds. Pheasant quail sharp tail grouse. I pretty much thought the big game days were over because of the price of an elk these days seamed kind of out of reach for what you get. I'm not complaining, its just pricey these days. I have always wanted to hunt any of the sheep but just cant get there, still holing out for an Auodad at some point but the rest are just too out of reach. Me and my brother was talking and looking up prices and I certainly can warrant several animals in Africa we did the quick math and I was surprised at the price. Expensive but way better than I thought. I have always wanted to hunt the cape buffalo but this trip I will pass just to keep everything reasonable. I figure I'll get the bug and then it might be a"requirement" to go back. Bighorn sheep although I think is americas most beautiful mount I can get 6-7 beauties in Africa same basic cost. My big game hunting has been revived. We are looking for a 15k budget out the door, or less of course but with mounts and everything15K seams realistic, at least so far. I think that is dooable. of course if I can do it way cheaper I would like to. I'm not a 5star type client, just a decent place to stay and some food now and again and I'm happy. hell if I can get it done for 10K which I think is pushing it that leaves a little for the return budget.
Wow that's somewhat similar to my story when I first went to Africa in 2014. I was a few years younger and more of a time budget issue. But I had been busy building my businesses and hadn't hunted big game in about 30 years.
One piece of advice, you probably won't take it but... Get great pictures, even consider a professional video. But don't do taxidermy. If you do want taxidermy, consider if you want to enter anything in a record book. If not, how about putting all trophies under one name? One shipping crate. One bill for permits, one clearing bill, etc.
Now I do recommend you and your brother in law hunt separately with seperate PH's. Especially if you want the same critters. However you will likely average 1.5 to 2 critters per day. You'll have a day with 3, and a day with nothing
So do some math on days and animals. If you are booking more days than you want trophies to pay for.... And you want the most experience per dollar, consider hunting together with one PH. You get to participate woth your buddies excitement. But for sure agree ahead of time as per which critters you will each shoot. At all cost don't set up a situation where bad feelings develop.
There is only one first time. Very easy to go a bit nuts
Especially if you make it back many times. (I've been on 10 Africa Hunts so far, hopefully many more to go). You will inevitably have critters mounted that in the future you may wish you hadn't... Unless you are someone who really holds Taxidermy in high esteem. If you forgo doing Taxidermy, or even do a limited number of critters and ship with someone else's, you can hunt almost double. Even if you were to do European Mounts, think about rather just have skulls cleaned and bleached. Get them home and mount to a piece of wood yourself. Or buy some Skullhooker products. You can do this for about half cost of European mounts.
And ask yourself and your wife where you will put Taxidermy.
