Hunting Trophies and Meat

[JoeSoap]

I know in many safaris the meat goes to the local community, but can you also try a steak of whatever you shoot?

Also if you hunt one of the big five, can you bring the trophy back into the US? (I thought there were restrictions on ivory or elephant or crocodile hide…? …but perhaps not….)

 

[375Fox]

I know in many safaris the meat goes to the local community, but can you also try a steak of whatever you shoot?

Also if you hunt one of the big five, can you bring the trophy back into the US? (I thought there were restrictions on ivory or elephant or crocodile hide…? …but perhaps not….)

On private land in South Africa and Namibia the meat generally goes to commercial sale. In other countries or on community land the meat goes to community or camp staff depending how much there is to distribute. You’ll eat game meat in South Africa and Namibia but not necessarily yours. You should always be able to make a plan to try some of your own game meat if it’s important to you. In other areas a portion of the meat will always be reserved for camp before it goes to community. You typically harvest a lot less animals in these areas.
There are restrictions on certain animals. It depends on the country/region and the species. You’ll get your ivory back from certain countries but not others to the US. For example Zimbabwe yes, Mozambique no. All of the big 5/dangerous 7 are currently importable, but not necessarily from all areas.

 

[Mountainshadows]

As far as the meat goes, on the 2 hunts I've been on we have eaten/and or tasted every animal that was taken. The rest of the meat either goes to a local school or a local charity. I have a letter from the superintendent of the school, thanking me for my donation of meat.
I guess it depends on where you are. I am limited on my experience there.

 

[BFaucett]

I know in many safaris the meat goes to the local community, but can you also try a steak of whatever you shoot?

... <snip> ...

These are in South Africa. All the meat was from animals we (myself and a friend) took.

A curious visitor watching the proceedings around the fire:

Impala (if I remember correctly):

Gemsbok:

Bushpig for breakfast:

Cheers! Bob F.

 

[Firebird]

Yes yu can keep enough meat for you and the camp staff to eat. Then the meat can be distributed to local communities or the camp staff might take it home as dried meat at the end of the Safari. It depends heavily on where you are hunting.
Similarly every country has regulations on trophy export. Also some animals are taken specifically for local consumption. For example a “non trophy” elephant gives a hunter opportunity to hunt an elephant but cannot have the tusks. The meat stays with the community and the population remains in check. In the same community there may be trophy permits allowed at much greater expense and the products of the hunt may be exportable. Again every area has significant regulations.
One thing I love about afric, no part of an animal goes to waste, even the bones are often used as a food source.

 

[mark-hunter]

I know in many safaris the meat goes to the local community, but can you also try a steak of whatever you shoot?

Also if you hunt one of the big five, can you bring the trophy back into the US? (I thought there were restrictions on ivory or elephant or crocodile hide…? …but perhaps not….)

I have tried every animal I have shot (on 5 safaris in two countries, 25 species), except monkey and jackals. Moreover, sometimes you will hunt meat for camp use.

The meat belongs to owner, or to community but that depends on where you hunt. There are private areas, communal areas, conservancies and goverment safari areas, etc. But the camp always gets their share. Trust me they dont buy frozen chicken and sardine cans for their meals.

Big 5, generally are exportable, or US importable, but it will depend from which countries.
If you have funds, you can get all of them home.
There are some restrictions, like captive bread lions from south africa are not importable to USA, or ivory from some countries is not importable to USA, but it will be importable from other countries. Do the research.

Besides big 5, there is DG 7 - this means, big 5 + hyppo, plus croc. All exportable.
One animal that stands out is Cape Buffalo, and it is not under cites, so import should be most easy.

Restrictions are regulated by CITES, and it is part of this business.

Now, go, get them! Bring them home!
.

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

we always feed our clients some of their own meat
and all the meat from safaries gets used by staff, their families and for resale

 

[skydiver386]

My PH love kes to dry age the meat for a week to two weeks before serving it, just like a premium steak in a good steak house.

Many will tell you Eland is absolutely fantastic table fare.

 

[mark-hunter]

Many will tell you Eland is absolutely fantastic table fare.

The best time to come to camp is:

- after eland hunter goes home - you will eat steaks
- before leopard hunter comes in camp - you will shoot for bait, and if outfitter is courteous, it will be for free.

 

[mark-hunter]

@JoeSoap
I forgot one more thing to mention.

Regerding big 5, or other species.
There are options for exportable trophies, and there are options for nonexportable trophies.
Non exportable are much cheaper.
And if you want trophies, then you have these options:
- photographs, albums, video clips.
- you can hire a professional camera man to document your hunt
- you can make replica trophy and send home.

For rhino and elephant, for example, there are replica tusks and horns (looking like true horn / tusk)
And for furred game there are replica furs.

Once I was calculating what would be the cheapest big 5 collection.
My calculation is it is doable for blue collar with proper planning, like this:
Buffalo cow, captive bread lion(ess), rhino dart hunt (or dehorned rhino hunt), tuskless elephant, and finally a leopard as most difficult, but still can be planned within some budget.
This would be the cheapest, but not all importable - however a fantastic experience.
You start from there.

One of the questions is: what your family will do with your trophies when you are no longer around?
The trophies do not value much after a hunter, on market , and at homes collect dust.
So, non trophy hunts, is serious option.
on the other hand, grand-grand children will gladly take a look at old mans photo journal in Africa.

 

[cwickgo9]

@JoeSoap
I forgot one more thing to mention.

Regerding big 5, or other species.
There are options for exportable trophies, and there are options for nonexportable trophies.
Non exportable are much cheaper.
And if you want trophies, then you have these options:
- photographs, albums, video clips.
- you can hire a professional camera man to document your hunt
- you can make replica trophy and send home.

For rhino and elephant, for example, there are replica tusks and horns (looking like true horn / tusk)
And for furred game there are replica furs.

Once I was calculating what would be the cheapest big 5 collection.
My calculation is it is doable for blue collar with proper planning, like this:
Buffalo cow, captive bread lion(ess), rhino dart hunt (or dehorned rhino hunt), tuskless elephant, and finally a leopard as most difficult, but still can be planned within some budget.
This would be the cheapest, but not all importable - however a fantastic experience.
You start from there.

One of the questions is: what your family will do with your trophies when you are no longer around?
The trophies do not value much after a hunter, on market , and at homes collect dust.
So, non trophy hunts, is serious option.
on the other hand, grand-grand children will gladly take a look at old mans photo journal in Africa.

Totally agree, doable with the right saving/planning.
As a leather worker, I'm more interested in the skins myself to make things - useful or sellable.
I've never really had the room or desire for many "trophy" mounts - partially due to my "personal interior decorator" input.
While we were not able to eat much from what we took while we were there, the PH's did have some from previous hunters for a mid-safari "BBQ"/grille out that was very nice.

 

[Africa1]

Slightly off topic. As of my last hunt in New Zealand in 2019, as a citizen of the USA, you could bring home to the USA 50 pounds of meat from your game animals PER PERSON of a family from NZ. , My wife came with me on my first hunt, Two people married as a family brought home 100 pounds of delicious game meat! The outfitter argued stridently on the way from the airport that I was incorrect about legally bringing the game meat home! We stopped on the way to his lodge to verify legality and he walked out of the govt office with his head down in submission. New Zealand game farms rarely tell you you can bring home meat legally to the USA as a US citizen! It's a hassle for them and takes up more of their time. NZ has very strict health standards. This is why meat export for hunters is allowed. This is the only country I know of that allows export of their game meat.