Please stay away from DU auction hunts! The list of disaster stories is a mile long. You might consider a package hunt that would be far cheaper than what you are looking at now. For an example Frontier has a 10day/12 animal safari for $9500 that includes Kudu etc. Just FYI to compare as it's always been cheaper than the bait and switch auction hunts in the end.
Yup, I know of reputable outfitters that have 8 day, 7 trophy animal hunts, including Kudu for $5500... the auction hunts RARELY end up being a good deal.
I hunted last year on a DU auction hunt with same outfitter that you are going with probably. I was able to get the price for the Kudu when we bought the hunt. $3500. They had the Kudu priced at $4500 last year when we hunted. Never hurts to ask about pricing and negotiate. That being said, it was a great hunt to get my feet wet, but I will be going other places now. Lots to see and do in Africa!
That’s a really exceptional cape kudu. I’m glad they are smaller (on average) than southern greater kudu. They are a great trophy and great hunt at reasonable pricing. Limpopo pricing on greater kudu is insane to me.Smaller yes, relatively, from what I understand. My first was 50". Zero complaints from me.
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Southen Greater Kudu are more money than Cape Kudu. Can't compare those prices.
I'm Learning That. Haha
I just looked at my outfitters website and they do have a different price list than what I was provided with the Auction paperwork. However, the prices on the Auction list aren't all higher. The day rate is a bit higher, as well as some animals, but other animals are Cheaper. Their "packages" offer much better pricing than individual trophies from either list.
The pricing I posted was Southern Greater Kudu....$1800 and $2400. You can take Roan and Sable in many places for less than $5800.
Yeah, I'm seeing $7,500 to $8,500 hundred for 58"+ and "POR" for 60"+, which makes me concerned that the bull would be Put and Take. I have no interest in shooting a farm animal.
Yup, I hunted with someone last year that gave us a price list when we were looking at a hunt. A different price list when we won their auction, and a different price list when we showed up due to "increases that year" . Then to top it off the PH would quote another higher price only when we were at full draw and ready to shoot, as it was always a "special" animal we were about to shoot. We tell everyone to read the fine print and see if the contracts say "prices subject to change".
I think pretty much all the Kudu in South Africa are stocked at one time or another.
Yeah, I watched a Video linked in another thread where the president of PHASA was blowing hot air for about 30 minutes, pretty much stating that ALL PG in SA is bought at auctions and stocked. Because it HAS to be that way for Outfitters to make money. I'm sure its not like that on every property with every outfitter but I would hate for an anti hunting lobby to catch wind of that video. His statements make the whole "conservation" argument pretty hard to win.
That is correct though. All game at the ranches are treated as livestock, that is not something new. Not much different than elk and deer high fence ranches here in the States.
Not all SA operations are "solely" put & take... perhaps the original breeding stock was trans-located, but in many larger concessions, the game was born and raised right on the property. Truly wild free roaming game is more likely to be found outside of SA however, and ironically those prices are likely to be lower.
