How would you run it?

[Kalahari Ferrari]

This will be a more unconventional post but figured given the wealth of knowledge present on this forum it’d be worth a shot.

Family of mine has a farm in the Northern Cape of South Africa in the Kalahari that primarily engages in farming but also has wild game which currently they allow a few groups of hunters to hunt on an annual basis.

No formal PH/guide exists, instead each group is generally self sufficient in that they bring their own food, supplies, etc. and know the property well enough to navigate and find game. A handful of hunter camps exist around the property to sleep and cook at but these are more bush type camps that one would expect in the Kalahari.

The animals primarily targeted by the hunters are Springbok, Gemsbok and Wildebeest. Other game does exist on the property but these species are the primary targets. They charge hunters a flat rate per species regardless of sex/maturity of the animal harvested. Price/estimated quantity of game species on farm are as follows:

- Springbok -$90 / 500 - 600
-Gemsbok - $400 / 200 - 300
-Wildebeest - $400 / 30 - 60

While the hunter income is a nice more “passive” form of income, it has the following issues:

- Game has often been wounded/dead that the hunter group never claimed to have shot and therefore didn’t pay
- Game is driven into fences and damages other infrastructure (primarily the gemsbok)
- Hunters drink around the property and litter there bottles and other trash
- Lastly the largest and most pressing issue in my mind is that hunters often hunt on the property without signing any liability waivers. They have a liability waiver drafted but it’s not really enforced. I’m no expert in SA law and the ramifications of what would happen if someone got injured there but I certainly know the consequences here in the US.

So with these issues, I arrive at more the point of this post. How would you handle this operation?

There are a few options that I personally see.

- One option they have mentioned is have a group that pays you upfront to capture live game and then sell at an auction
- Second option work with an actual hunting outfit that essentially leases the land for a right to hunt
- Third option continue the status quo
- Last option drop all the hunting operations and focus only on the farming

I really appreciate any feedback on what could be done better and potential options. Please let me know if I can provide any further details on this situation.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Work with a hunting outfit.

 

[BryceM]

Team up with a good PH who can conduct guided hunts there. You'll have no issues with littering or destroying fences, and you won't have people wounding and not paying for animals. If the game is there, people will come....... for meat hunting or trophy hunting. If possible, pair up with someone who can bring clients for a day. That way, no ritzy lodging facilities are required. A PH can also regulate which animals are getting shot. Trophy animals should be worth multiples of meat animals.

Fourth option..... Do the work, become a PH, and enjoy an exciting lifestyle.

 

[wesheltonj]

If I recall correctly, from hunting there. You need a licensed outfitter and a licensed PH and both sign the game record. Might be just cheaper to farm.

 

[Philip Glass]

This will be a more unconventional post but figured given the wealth of knowledge present on this forum it’d be worth a shot.

Family of mine has a farm in the Northern Cape of South Africa in the Kalahari that primarily engages in farming but also has wild game which currently they allow a few groups of hunters to hunt on an annual basis.

No formal PH/guide exists, instead each group is generally self sufficient in that they bring their own food, supplies, etc. and know the property well enough to navigate and find game. A handful of hunter camps exist around the property to sleep and cook at but these are more bush type camps that one would expect in the Kalahari.

The animals primarily targeted by the hunters are Springbok, Gemsbok and Wildebeest. Other game does exist on the property but these species are the primary targets. They charge hunters a flat rate per species regardless of sex/maturity of the animal harvested. Price/estimated quantity of game species on farm are as follows:

- Springbok -$90 / 500 - 600
-Gemsbok - $400 / 200 - 300
-Wildebeest - $400 / 30 - 60

While the hunter income is a nice more “passive” form of income, it has the following issues:

- Game has often been wounded/dead that the hunter group never claimed to have shot and therefore didn’t pay
- Game is driven into fences and damages other infrastructure (primarily the gemsbok)
- Hunters drink around the property and litter there bottles and other trash
- Lastly the largest and most pressing issue in my mind is that hunters often hunt on the property without signing any liability waivers. They have a liability waiver drafted but it’s not really enforced. I’m no expert in SA law and the ramifications of what would happen if someone got injured there but I certainly know the consequences here in the US.

So with these issues, I arrive at more the point of this post. How would you handle this operation?

There are a few options that I personally see.

- One option they have mentioned is have a group that pays you upfront to capture live game and then sell at an auction
- Second option work with an actual hunting outfit that essentially leases the land for a right to hunt
- Third option continue the status quo
- Last option drop all the hunting operations and focus only on the farming

I really appreciate any feedback on what could be done better and potential options. Please let me know if I can provide any further details on this situation.

I understand very well your situation as mine can be similar. It's all about the economics.

1. Could you hire a PH and do a couple safari groups and make more than the DIY local guys? I would think in your situation I'd set up a nice tented camp and try to make it a different experience.
2. Farming and an annual game capture. This is what I do for the most part with a few big trophy hunts mixed in. I am not set up to guide and entertain for long periods of time. I know over there the live prices may not be very high after capture costs. Again the economics.
3. I have ranches that are leased for Hunting for the season. They have a cabin and RV hookups so they are not roughing it. This works well for me because the demand for Hu ting leases is so high the group minds their manners because I can replace them with one phone call. For average trophies along with the typical culling this is the most money I can make. They are paying for access as much as the hunt. Maybe regular, annual, hunting groups in your case can provide accountability? Worth a try.

I wish you well.
Philip

 

[dogcat1]

It seems you need help from people/companies that do what you want to do.
I suggest you call Sean Kelley at Garry Kelley Safaris or Tollie Jourdann at Tollies African Safaris. They both run a hunting business on family ranches.

 

[Firebird]

I’ve hunted on “farms” where the owner allowed specific ph’s to hunt on the property with clients. The hunting was good, and I liked seeing the operation. The prices were the same as the ph’s price list but the ph may have given them some sort of kick back I am not aware of.
This type situation would be my recommendation.

 

[analog_peninsula]

You need “one throat to choke” to control the problems. When there’s accountability, the problems you describe go away.

 

[Josh P]

Another option with its own issues is to agree on a quota for an established group of hunters, much like a hunting lease is done many places in the US. The expectation is that they police themselves and the areas they hunt/camp. They may pay less to police themselves, or more for exclusive access, but it’s “one throat” and eliminates the variables from constant hunter turnover.

 

[Miletic]

This will be a more unconventional post but figured given the wealth of knowledge present on this forum it’d be worth a shot.

Family of mine has a farm in the Northern Cape of South Africa in the Kalahari that primarily engages in farming but also has wild game which currently they allow a few groups of hunters to hunt on an annual basis.

No formal PH/guide exists, instead each group is generally self sufficient in that they bring their own food, supplies, etc. and know the property well enough to navigate and find game. A handful of hunter camps exist around the property to sleep and cook at but these are more bush type camps that one would expect in the Kalahari.

The animals primarily targeted by the hunters are Springbok, Gemsbok and Wildebeest. Other game does exist on the property but these species are the primary targets. They charge hunters a flat rate per species regardless of sex/maturity of the animal harvested. Price/estimated quantity of game species on farm are as follows:

- Springbok -$90 / 500 - 600
-Gemsbok - $400 / 200 - 300
-Wildebeest - $400 / 30 - 60

While the hunter income is a nice more “passive” form of income, it has the following issues:

- Game has often been wounded/dead that the hunter group never claimed to have shot and therefore didn’t pay
- Game is driven into fences and damages other infrastructure (primarily the gemsbok)
- Hunters drink around the property and litter there bottles and other trash
- Lastly the largest and most pressing issue in my mind is that hunters often hunt on the property without signing any liability waivers. They have a liability waiver drafted but it’s not really enforced. I’m no expert in SA law and the ramifications of what would happen if someone got injured there but I certainly know the consequences here in the US.

So with these issues, I arrive at more the point of this post. How would you handle this operation?

There are a few options that I personally see.

- One option they have mentioned is have a group that pays you upfront to capture live game and then sell at an auction
- Second option work with an actual hunting outfit that essentially leases the land for a right to hunt
- Third option continue the status quo
- Last option drop all the hunting operations and focus only on the farming

I really appreciate any feedback on what could be done better and potential options. Please let me know if I can provide any further details on this situation.

Greetings Cal Fer.
You can issue a hunting license to another person who is interested. Let's say for 10 years. You should only know how many game animals can be shot and the size of the hunting grounds

 

[deewayne2003]

Make a deal with a Safari company and work an AHF group cull hunt event.

 

[Rare Breed]

This will be a more unconventional post but figured given the wealth of knowledge present on this forum it’d be worth a shot.

Family of mine has a farm in the Northern Cape of South Africa in the Kalahari that primarily engages in farming but also has wild game which currently they allow a few groups of hunters to hunt on an annual basis.

No formal PH/guide exists, instead each group is generally self sufficient in that they bring their own food, supplies, etc. and know the property well enough to navigate and find game. A handful of hunter camps exist around the property to sleep and cook at but these are more bush type camps that one would expect in the Kalahari.

The animals primarily targeted by the hunters are Springbok, Gemsbok and Wildebeest. Other game does exist on the property but these species are the primary targets. They charge hunters a flat rate per species regardless of sex/maturity of the animal harvested. Price/estimated quantity of game species on farm are as follows:

- Springbok -$90 / 500 - 600
-Gemsbok - $400 / 200 - 300
-Wildebeest - $400 / 30 - 60

While the hunter income is a nice more “passive” form of income, it has the following issues:

- Game has often been wounded/dead that the hunter group never claimed to have shot and therefore didn’t pay
- Game is driven into fences and damages other infrastructure (primarily the gemsbok)
- Hunters drink around the property and litter there bottles and other trash
- Lastly the largest and most pressing issue in my mind is that hunters often hunt on the property without signing any liability waivers. They have a liability waiver drafted but it’s not really enforced. I’m no expert in SA law and the ramifications of what would happen if someone got injured there but I certainly know the consequences here in the US.

So with these issues, I arrive at more the point of this post. How would you handle this operation?

There are a few options that I personally see.

- One option they have mentioned is have a group that pays you upfront to capture live game and then sell at an auction
- Second option work with an actual hunting outfit that essentially leases the land for a right to hunt
- Third option continue the status quo
- Last option drop all the hunting operations and focus only on the farming

I really appreciate any feedback on what could be done better and potential options. Please let me know if I can provide any further details on this situation.

Go with option 2. They will police all your problems mentioned completely

 

[Kalahari Ferrari]

Thank you everyone for the input, it appears the general consensus here is to work with a hunting outfit/PH. If any Kalahari outfitter is interested in this sort of arrangement, please feel free to direct message me.

 

[Safari Dave]

In my "non-profit" flyfishing operation, we work with several private landowners. (We are "non-profit" because we hardly ever make a profit, but do about 20% of the time - we don't have official "non-profit" status)



Each situation is different.

Typically, we split access 50/50.

If we have to feed/police/repair, etc., we get a larger percentage.


Our guides get paid a daily fee, plus tips which is not shared with the landowner.

However, we name the landowner as a "co-insured" on our insurance policy, in case something goes wrong.

Fishermen are never allowed to fish without a guide on the properties we fish.

Since "access," in your situation, would not be something you would probably charge for, a 50/50 spilt on trophy fees might be more appropriate. You would probably need to go up on the trophy fee to make it worth the safari company's time and effort.

Find a reputable safari company, with a good reputation for being honest and hard-working, and it can be a "win-win" situation.