Outfitters and PH: How do you decide?

[NIGHTHAWK]

I’m a creature of habit. I like hunting with the same Outfitter and PH. I’ve had great experiences with the same PH, who also owns is own outfit in South Africa. He and I have hunted together on 4 Different Safaris. We will travel to 2 other countries for Ele, Buff, Tiny Ten, Small cats, and other PG this October. He also hunts leopards in other countries very successfully. Leopard being next on my list.

That said, how do you decide when to use, or go with, a new outfitter for species outside of your PH’s range. I ask because I see great deals on Leopards and Ele, including cancellation hunts.

I’ve gotten several solicitations from other outfitters lately for Leopard hunts, to include cancellation hunts.

Also, is your preference to try new outfitters for the experience; both their professional experience and the actual new experience? Or just based on opportunity?

 

[Flipper Dude]

I’m not opposed to hunting with the same PH multiple times. I AM opposed to hunting the same place multiple times. Doesn’t make sense to me. But that’s just me. I would think with the wealth of experiences on this forum that a fellow should be able to find out anything you need to know about reputable outfitters for the area or species you are interested in. And if you can’t, well that tells me something as well.

Not sure if that tells you anything you didn’t already know.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

I’m also fairly superstitious. Likely the fisherman in me…

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

I’m not opposed to hunting with the same PH multiple times. I AM opposed to hunting the same place multiple times. Doesn’t make sense to me. But that’s just me. I would think with the wealth of experiences on this forum that a fellow should be able to find out anything you need to know about reputable outfitters for the area or species you are interested in. And if you can’t, well that tells me something as well.

Not sure if that tells you anything you didn’t already know.

Well, I certainly get to hunt with other PH’s at other concessions but it is under the tutelage of my trusted PH. For me this eliminates the risk and effort involved with becoming acquainted with a new outfitter and/or their PH. Also may come at a premium…

 

[3chunter]

I think a few different experiences will sometimes allow a person to evaluate what they prefer, etc. I have hunted east cape and Namibia. Both places were jam up. I liked the feel of Namibia better though. Have had 4 different PH’s and although I prefer 1 more so out of the 4. I would hunt with any of them again.
That 1 would also be who I would trust for DG if I ever went for DG.

 

[Andrew62]

I really like hunting in different areas, seeing new sights, seeing new camps, and meeting new PH's. For those who go back with the same outfitter at the same place time after time, I think that is great for them, just not my thing. Having hunted Africa 20+ times I have only hunted with the same PH on 2 occasions.

I did hunt with a guide on a recent hunt that I very much enjoyed his company, I am sure he could sort it out to hunt me in a different area, but I would prefer to hunt with someone who has knowledge of the area I will be hunting in.

 

[mdwest]

In South Africa I hunt with only one outfitter, but have hunted with every PH in the camp.. I have visited there enough (7x safaris) that I know all of them well, trust them all, like them all, etc..

That said, we (wife and I) hunted with different outfitters and PH's prior to finding the crew we decided we really liked.. there was nothing wrong with the other outfitters or PH's per se.. the team at Bos en Dal, the property, the lodge, etc were just a better fit..

I doubt we'll ever hunt with anyone else in South Africa ever again... If we want to go see a different part of the country (we have dont this a little bit already) we'll just get Bos en Dal to arrange a Kalahari hunt for us or an Eastern Cape hunt, etc.. and we'll still hunt with the PH's we know and trust (one of the Bos en Dal PH's for example spends a lot of time in the Kalahari every year... I think he'd be great to hunt with there)...

Outside of South Africa, its more of a process.. we've been fortuneate in that we've never had a bad guided hunt anywhere... South America, Europe, North America, New Zealand, etc have all gone well.. Some hunts could have definitely been better... but none have been truly bad or problematic..

I think a lot of that is because Im a planner and a researcher.. Even when we're bidding on auction hunts (several of our international hunts have been auction hunts), I go out of my way long before the auction starts to find out who the outfitter is, what their reputation is, check out their website, check out references, look at pics of the game, the lodge, the food, etc.. and try to learn as much as I can before we ever start talking money or placing bids.. I want to know what Im getting into.. how steep is the terrain, how long are the shots, if Im going to use a camp rifle what rifle and optic and ammo combo does the lodge provide, etc.. etc..

I can remove a good bit of the risk by taking the time on the front end to know as much as possible about the outfit I'm thinking about hunting with..

I also go out of my way to get to know other outfitters long before I even think about hunting with them.. over the years I've gotten to know a handful here for example pretty well.. I check in with them at the big shows, I exchange periodic whatsapps with them.. not really about hunting.. more just about sharing information, bullshitting, etc.. and get to know them pretty well beforehand rather than just hoping there will be something that clicks once Ive already spent $5K on plane tickets and arrive in camp..

 

[Landlock91]

After four solid safaris with the same PH (a guy who owns his own outfit in the Limpopo area of South Africa), I built real trust. We clicked on everything: how he reads the wind and the animals, the way he handles pressure on dangerous game, even the camp vibe and how the trackers work. We've done buffalo, a couple of nice elephants in Zimbabwe when the timing lined up, plenty of PG, and some cat work. That kind of rapport is gold, especially when you're sitting in a blind at 2 a.m. waiting on a leopard or following up a buff in thick stuff. You don't want to wonder if the new guy has your back the same way.

 

[Philip Glass]

I’m a creature of habit. I like hunting with the same Outfitter and PH. I’ve had great experiences with the same PH, who also owns is own outfit in South Africa. He and I have hunted together on 4 Different Safaris. We will travel to 2 other countries for Ele, Buff, Tiny Ten, Small cats, and other PG this October. He also hunts leopards in other countries very successfully. Leopard being next on my list.

That said, how do you decide when to use, or go with, a new outfitter for species outside of your PH’s range. I ask because I see great deals on Leopards and Ele, including cancellation hunts.

I’ve gotten several solicitations from other outfitters lately for Leopard hunts, to include cancellation hunts.

Also, is your preference to try new outfitters for the experience; both their professional experience and the actual new experience? Or just based on opportunity?

I actually relish the opportunity to hunt with someone new. I am getting to do so in two weeks on the ele cancellation hunt. To better answer your question I would want to go with the guy who is the best at hunting X. I wouldn't want to drag my favorite PH to some far away country and hunt something he's not used to hunting. People do it all the time but I can't understand why.