Kudu Pricing?

[dchum]

While I have never bought or participated in an auction hunt, I have read a fair amount about them with interest. I went thru the SCI and DSC hunt lists out of curiosity. One thing I noticed is that quite a few of the offers had the condition that it could not be combined with any other hunt. I am assuming they mean with a different outfitter (please correct me if I am wrong). How can they do that? Seems like quite a stretch.

They can’t control your life once they drop you off, that is hilarious language.

I hope you read it wrong, I really do.

Maybe one outfitter has multiple different hunts on the auction block. And they mean you can combine both of the auction hunts at once. That could make some sense. Maybe…

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

While I have never bought or participated in an auction hunt, I have read a fair amount about them with interest. I went thru the SCI and DSC hunt lists out of curiosity. One thing I noticed is that quite a few of the offers had the condition that it could not be combined with any other hunt. I am assuming they mean with a different outfitter (please correct me if I am wrong). How can they do that? Seems like quite a stretch.

This is a common clause in many donations.

I’ve seen it state this with reference to other hunts they’ve donated. Typically something like “winners of multiple donated hunts can’t use them in the same year”.

I’ve also seen it referenced to “cannot be combined before or after with any other hunt in South Africa or Namibia”. I know of one donation where they expanded saying a violation of this hunt or trip wise would result in being invoiced the full “value” of the donation

 

[Rare Breed]

Frontier's trophy list is starting to get pretty out of hand. They do still have good packages. But in the last few years their trophy price list has started to look very similar to places that offer free auction hunts and then have silly priced add on lists.

$1,000 for a baboon
$1,000 for a Jackal
$1,000 for a blesbok
$1,000 for an impala
I really could go on and on.

There are a ton on their list that are out of sorts with market prices.

to be clear, I actually really like Frontier. And their packages offer a great value. However, their price list lately is making it hard to recommend it to friends.

I agree…I always looked at their packages never their individual animals. To your point I am not paying $1,000 each for the animals you are showing!

 

[Tbitty]

Frontier's trophy list is starting to get pretty out of hand. They do still have good packages. But in the last few years their trophy price list has started to look very similar to places that offer free auction hunts and then have silly priced add on lists.

$1,000 for a baboon
$1,000 for a Jackal
$1,000 for a blesbok
$1,000 for an impala
I really could go on and on.

There are a ton on their list that are out of sorts with market prices.

to be clear, I actually really like Frontier. And their packages offer a great value. However, their price list lately is making it hard to recommend it to friends.

Wow, I had to go check their website myself after seeing this post. I was very close to booking with them a few years ago after meeting them at DSC. Their plains game package price was very competitive then and I thought I reviewed their add-on price list to see it was in line with others. I ultimately went a different direction then, but if Id have seen prices like this, it would have been a short conversation.

 

[Sabre]

These kind of prices really pisses me off. Hunting in Africa shouldn’t be comparable to shopping for a used car. I immediately move on to next outfitter when I see this kind of thing.

What bothers me is it is massively discounted as part of a package. I wish outfitters would just write a 7 day 5+ species minimum and write realistic price lists. It shouldn’t be a used car negotiation.

This is my issue as well. My interest gets burnt out when things are priced 2X, 3X, or in the case of varmints, 10X market value, and then some people get them for free, some pay market value, and some get absolutely robbed. Make one price list that is fair to everyone. No part of me wants a safari to feel like a 10 day used car negotiation. That feels bad and gross.

It will feel especially bad for the guy standing there at the end of safari finding out he paid 2X the price for a Kudu as the guy next to him who shot a better Kudu than he did.

 

[Adipose]

I hope you told him to F### off !

Yes we ended up calling around and had another outfitter come and pick us up. we ended our hunt there early.

 

[Sabre]

While I have never bought or participated in an auction hunt, I have read a fair amount about them with interest. I went thru the SCI and DSC hunt lists out of curiosity. One thing I noticed is that quite a few of the offers had the condition that it could not be combined with any other hunt. I am assuming they mean with a different outfitter (please correct me if I am wrong). How can they do that? Seems like quite a stretch.

I would imagine that wording means that you can't combine it with any other hunt with that outfitter. I really can't see how they could legally stop you from hunting with another outfitter before or after hunting with them.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I would imagine that wording means that you can't combine it with any other hunt with that outfitter. I really can't see how they could legally stop you from hunting with another outfitter before or after hunting with them.

While I do agree it would be hard to legally stop or enforce they do mean with other outfitters. Below is a screen shot from one of the more "well known" DU Banquet Donors that expressly states "another outfitter in South-Africa or Namibia". This is one of many such clauses I've seen at different banquets and auctions.

Anyone interested in bidding on any auction hunt REALLY needs to have done their homework a month or two before. I'd suggest talking to the outfitter, his/her references, scope the website, confirm the area, and check trophy fees/pricing. Not all auction hunts/donated hunts are created equal. There are some great ones out there, but be very cautious because for every good one there are 50 not so good ones.

 

[Sabre]

While I do agree it would be hard to legally stop or enforce they do mean with other outfitters. Below is a screen shot from one of the more "well known" DU Banquet Donors that expressly states "another outfitter in South-Africa or Namibia". This is one of many such clauses I've seen at different banquets and auctions.

View attachment 753387

Anyone interested in bidding on any auction hunt REALLY needs to have done their homework a month or two before. I'd suggest talking to the outfitter, his/her references, scope the website, confirm the area, and check trophy fees/pricing. Not all auction hunts/donated hunts are created equal. There are some great ones out there, but be very cautious because for every good one there are 50 not so good ones.

Really trying to wrap my mind around this. I get from a very skeezy standpoint why they would try and say this. They want you to shoot extra animals with them at a high markup.

But, at the same time, I can't imagine dealing with someone that tells me what I can do with my time before and after a hunt with them.

I've never seen that before, and I've never even thought to ask a prospective outfitter if they ban me from hunting with someone else before or after them.

Those two sentences from their contract/listing, should be enough for almost every client to walk away from them instantly.

 

[Adipose]

Just this morning there is an ad on a couple Africa Facebook pages I follow for an outfit in RSA that has a package for 1 Kudu, 1 Nyala and 1 Bushbuck for 5800 all inclusive. I do not know anything about the outfitter, but that certainly looks like a very fair price for those three.

 

[Tbitty]

Really trying to wrap my mind around this. I get from a very skeezy standpoint why they would try and say this. They want you to shoot extra animals with them at a high markup.

But, at the same time, I can't imagine dealing with someone that tells me what I can do with my time before and after a hunt with them.

I've never seen that before, and I've never even thought to ask a prospective outfitter if they ban me from hunting with someone else before or after them.

Those two sentences from their contract/listing, should be enough for almost every client to walk away from them instantly.

I personally wouldn't let their "cannot be combined" language deter me from doing whatever I wanted to. My end of hunt would ve saying "drop me off at the Afton, we are going to spend a couple days in JoBerg before flying home." Then next outfitter pick me up. ... but I also wouldn't likely take that first hunt to begin with if I felt i had to book a 2nd outfitter.

 

[375Fox]

Really trying to wrap my mind around this. I get from a very skeezy standpoint why they would try and say this. They want you to shoot extra animals with them at a high markup.

But, at the same time, I can't imagine dealing with someone that tells me what I can do with my time before and after a hunt with them.

I've never seen that before, and I've never even thought to ask a prospective outfitter if they ban me from hunting with someone else before or after them.

Those two sentences from their contract/listing, should be enough for almost every client to walk away from them instantly.

It might not look good on the outfitter saying an auction hunt can’t be combined with other hunts, but it doesn’t look good on a client trying to be cheap as possible combining two auction hunts either. I don’t think auctions are a win for anyone.

 

[Adipose]

It might not look good on the outfitter saying an auction hunt can’t be combined with other hunts, but it doesn’t look good on a client trying to be cheap as possible combining two auction hunts either. I don’t think auctions are a win for anyone.

We have found the Airline tickets have increased so much, that we prefer going over for an extended trip as opposed to going over twice in one year. It is a lot to ask an outfitter to take care of you everyday for 3 or 4 weeks without a break and we actually enjoy going to different places. It has nothing to do with the quality of the outfitter or trying to be cheap, it is just seeing more area and different species. This year we charted a flight to take us to a different area and our PH is actually coming with us. That was their choice. With the flights around 25K each trip for the two of us, going once adds 25K to the trophy fee pot instead of a second trip.

 

[375Fox]

We have found the Airline tickets have increased so much, that we prefer going over for an extended trip as opposed to going over twice in one year. It is a lot to ask an outfitter to take care of you everyday for 3 or 4 weeks without a break and we actually enjoy going to different places. It has nothing to do with the quality of the outfitter or trying to be cheap, it is just seeing more area and different species. This year we charted a flight to take us to a different area and our PH is actually coming with us. That was their choice. With the flights around 25K each trip for the two of us, going once adds 25K to the trophy fee pot instead of a second trip.

Combining two paid hunts isn’t a problem. It’s your money and the outfitter’s business. Combining two auction hunts is being cheap or combining a cheap 7 day auction with a cheap 5 day buffalo somewhere else. There are hunters that try to do it for just that reason. I can see why an outfitter would write it on an auction hunt donation. The cheap auctions bring in some of worst clients from the stories I’ve heard.

If someone pays for their hunts, I don’t care how they plan their hunts, but 21 days isn’t an unusual hunt in other countries. The most I’ve done has been 16 full hunting days though. I’ve hunted up to three distinct areas in different parts of countries before. Most hunts I see two. It’s easily arranged with one outfitter in a lot of cases. If PH gets tired, it’s very easy to bring in a relief PH for a few days or part of hunt too. Some hunts I’d think a different outfitter would be a better choice to see a different part of country though.

 

[Adipose]

Combining two paid hunts isn’t a problem. It’s your money and the outfitter’s business. Combining two auction hunts is being cheap or combining a cheap 7 day auction with a cheap 5 day buffalo somewhere else. There are hunters that try to do it for just that reason. I can see why an outfitter would write it on an auction hunt donation. The cheap auctions bring in some of worst clients from the stories I’ve heard.

If someone pays for their hunts, I don’t care how they plan their hunts, but 21 days isn’t an unusual hunt in other countries. The most I’ve done has been 16 full hunting days though. I’ve hunted up to three distinct areas in different parts of countries before. Most hunts I see two. It’s easily arranged with one outfitter in a lot of cases. If PH gets tired, it’s very easy to bring in a relief PH for a few days or part of hunt too. Some hunts I’d think a different outfitter would be a better choice to see a different part of country though.

Honestly after going on only 1 auction hunt in all my years, I cannot believe people still buy them, but would agree trying to combine them is bad form.

 

[fourfive8]

There is marketing. There is the loss leader. And there is bait and switch. No wonder some combinations can lead to misunderstandings, buyers remorse and bad experiences. I’ve always been suspicious of promotions, package deals and special deals of any kind and have universally avoided them. Ask yourself, “Why would an outfitter provide top service for any kind for a discounted trip?” …. no matter how it’s presented- auction, charity, benefit, short time promotion discount, etc. Also, not hard to imagine how a low service - low cost loss leader “package deal” could be offset by a stupid high trophy fee for a big kudu (or name the species) that just happens along

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Really trying to wrap my mind around this. I get from a very skeezy standpoint why they would try and say this. They want you to shoot extra animals with them at a high markup.

But, at the same time, I can't imagine dealing with someone that tells me what I can do with my time before and after a hunt with them.

I've never seen that before, and I've never even thought to ask a prospective outfitter if they ban me from hunting with someone else before or after them.

Those two sentences from their contract/listing, should be enough for almost every client to walk away from them instantly.

I think it’s only their donation hunts that say that, I haven’t “inquired” about their regular contract for a hunt booking since it’s just be a waste of my time and theirs.

There are Outfitters in Africa that make their PH’s sign non-competes, agree to never hunt with a client they’ve hunted with through that outfitter, that make their PH’s sign something saying they won’t contact past clients except through or about that outfitter, etc. Based on the number of hunts Kuche does, and number of PH’s they must have to support them, I can assure you they have or had at one time, a clause like this in their employment contracts.

@375Fox it’s says “can’t be combined with a hunt from another outfitter”, not “can’t be combined with another donated hunt”. I personally have done an Auction hunt then combined it with a paid hunt/trip in another area or country. Like you, I’m typically hunting a specific area, or for a specific animal or two.

 

[samson7x]

I think it’s only their donation hunts that say that, I haven’t “inquired” about their regular contract for a hunt booking since it’s just be a waste of my time and theirs.

There are Outfitters in Africa that make their PH’s sign non-competes, agree to never hunt with a client they’ve hunted with through that outfitter, that make their PH’s sign something saying they won’t contact past clients except through or about that outfitter, etc. Based on the number of hunts Kuche does, and number of PH’s they must have to support them, I can assure you they have or had at one time, a clause like this in their employment contracts.

@375Fox it’s says “can’t be combined with a hunt from another outfitter”, not “can’t be combined with another donated hunt”. I personally have done an Auction hunt then combined it with a paid hunt/trip in another area or country. Like you, I’m typically hunting a specific area, or for a specific animal or two.

Not to turn this into another Kuche thread, but I know someone who went on a DU hunt with them and his PH was not allowed to exchange contact info with them so I'm sure his contract had such a clause as you describe.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

There is marketing. There is the loss leader. And there is bait and switch. No wonder some combinations can lead to misunderstandings, buyers remorse and bad experiences. I’ve always been suspicious of promotions, package deals and special deals of any kind and have universally avoided them. Ask yourself, “Why would an outfitter provide top service for any kind for a discounted trip?” …. no matter how it’s presented- auction, charity, benefit, short time promotion discount, etc. Also, not hard to imagine how a low service - low cost loss leader “package deal” could be offset by a stupid high trophy fee for a big kudu (or name the species) that just happens along

This is exactly right. It’s a loss leader to get the customer in the door. In reality these hunts are not a true loss leader because all the meat is getting sold for profit instead of given to trackers, villages, or orphanages. Thats the only way/reason the packages change based on the number of hunters. Thats their break even point, but still gives enough time for add-one because they can knock down the package animals quick and “now what” ensures.

I personally feel it’s also a predatory marketing tactic. They’re specifically targeting hunters/banquet attendees who haven’t hunted in Africa before. They’re maybe a little liquored up, always thought Africa was too expensive, see an “deal” with an inflated value, and don’t know better. It’s why we continue to see a lot of posts. I personally was one of these people on my first trip. Good news is it got me bit by the African bug, so I’m a little conflicted on them. 12 safaris later (14 by the end of 2026), across South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique I’ve learned a few things. I’ll still bid on/buy and auction hunt but only after a lot of prior due diligence, and normally only after talking to them in person.

 

[SETH RINGER]

AN INCH OR TWO SHOUDNT MATTER UNLESS ITS A CONVERSATION BETWEEN WIVES AND GIRLFRIENDS. IF YOUR HUNTING WITH A TAPE MEASURE IN YOUR PACK, OPEN YOUR WALLET AND QUIT CRYING.