Package based on $ spent in lieu of specific animals?

[Rare Breed]

Sorry! I did not explain my question well enough. I have a quote for a 7-day hunting trip in Namibia, for my daughter and me.

The hunt includes 1 giraffe, 2 kudu, 1 eland, 2 impala, 1 warthog & 1 dik-dik.

The package total is$14K with the trophy fee cost being$10K for those 8 animals. The other $4K is day fees and airport transfer. The Dik Dik is the only thing not available on his 23K acre property.

Our main animals are an Eland and a Kudu for me, and a Giraffe and a Dik Dik for my daughter. The other animals are just to fill the budget.

He is also offering a discount on his published day fees as part of the package. My guess is that this is due to the number of animals on our list. If I pay the day fees and trophy fees straight up, the package is about a $4K savings.

I am just asking if anyone has based their package on the Dollar amount in lieu of the specific animal list. It is only a minor difference in the end, but since he is offering a 20% discount upfront, but only a 15% discount in the field to switch animals, it could allow for an extra small animal to be taken.

Hopefully this makes more sense.

I was going to ask the PH, but figured I would pose my question here first.

I have done both...in SA I have always done packages and in Zim and Moz always day rates with trophy fees. Here is a great example when I went with Safari4Africa in SA.
1 Kudu, 1 Impala, 1 Springbok, 1 Black Wildebeest and 1 zebra all for $5,300 for a 7-day hunt. With a discussion quickly with my PH, I could have done trade outs if we came upon what Africa sometimes provides or if for some reason, we did not get one of the animals and only came up with 4, the hunt would have been discounted. The key is talk to your PH/owner in advance not waiting until you get there...they come upon situations like this often and can quickly put your mind at ease so you can enjoy your experience.

 

[Rare Breed]

Sorry...Game4Africa

 

[Tundra Tiger]

I've hunted SA and have hunted set packages. Luckily, those packages had the animals I wanted to hunt, and the package was better priced. However, I've always added additional animals beyond what the package offered. Next time I go, I'll be hunting animals I have not hunted before. Oh, and every time I hunt Africa, I will always hunt a Kudu.

... and a warthog (for me)...

 

[kpoynter]

Sorry! I did not explain my question well enough. I have a quote for a 7-day hunting trip in Namibia, for my daughter and me.

The hunt includes 1 giraffe, 2 kudu, 1 eland, 2 impala, 1 warthog & 1 dik-dik.

The package total is$14K with the trophy fee cost being$10K for those 8 animals. The other $4K is day fees and airport transfer. The Dik Dik is the only thing not available on his 23K acre property.

Our main animals are an Eland and a Kudu for me, and a Giraffe and a Dik Dik for my daughter. The other animals are just to fill the budget.

He is also offering a discount on his published day fees as part of the package. My guess is that this is due to the number of animals on our list. If I pay the day fees and trophy fees straight up, the package is about a $4K savings.

I am just asking if anyone has based their package on the Dollar amount in lieu of the specific animal list. It is only a minor difference in the end, but since he is offering a 20% discount upfront, but only a 15% discount in the field to switch animals, it could allow for an extra small animal to be taken.

Hopefully this makes more sense.

I was going to ask the PH, but figured I would pose my question here first.

I wouldn’t focus on this…especially not for a 5% difference…
But.. just name the ones you want…lock in 20% if you want
You don’t shoot them…you don’t pay…
Simple
Don’t get wrapped around the axle over a couple hundred dollars

 

[Rhoyland4]

Thanks for all the responses! I have reached out to the PH and will report back on how he responds.

 

[Rhoyland4]

Just reporting back. I signed a contract with my PH for daily fees and 20% off list price for trophies taken on his property ($25K acres) and $10% off trophies taken on other properties. That is based on a trophy package of approximately $10K. The only things on our list not on his property are a Dik-Dik and maybe a Hartmann's Zebra.

Our main list will be Kudu, Eland, Giraffe and Dik-Dik. We will be able to take an additional 3-5 animals, depending on what we see, and stay in our $10K trophy fee budget.

Daily fees for my daughter and me, including airport transfer, are $2,520 for 7 hunting days and 2 transfer days.

 

[dchum]

Just reporting back. I signed a contract with my PH for daily fees and 20% off list price for trophies taken on his property ($25K acres) and $10% off trophies taken on other properties. That is based on a trophy package of approximately $10K. The only things on our list not on his property are a Dik-Dik and maybe a Hartmann's Zebra.

Our main list will be Kudu, Eland, Giraffe and Dik-Dik. We will be able to take an additional 3-5 animals, depending on what we see, and stay in our $10K trophy fee budget.

Daily fees for my daughter and me, including airport transfer, are $2,520 for 7 hunting days and 2 transfer days.

Who are you hunting with?

Definitely sign up for a Hartmanns. Since he doesn’t have any I assume the area is not very mountainous or that you’re hunting eastern Namibia. You should definitely take a 2 or 1 day trip to hunt a free range Hartmanns in the mountains. You will love the hunt and the terrain.

 

[Rhoyland4]

Eldoret Safaris - Nico Badenhorst.

It's the NE corner of Namibia.

 

[K-man]

your trigger finger and your wallet are absolutely tied together.

I almost spit out my drink reading that one! Best response i’ve seen in a long time!! Love it!!

 

[Rafiki]

This all sounds like going to the grocery store.

I have been researching my first trip for the last 6 months or so and it looks like everyone prices packages based on a specific list of animals and provides some discount based on that particular list. One of the Outfitters I am mainly talking to is offering a 20% discount off their list price for my list of animals. However, if you change animals while on the hunt, you only receive a 15% discount on the new animal. Still a good deal as his prices are very reasonable.

My question is, does anyone do a package based on you saying your planned budget is $10K for trophy fees and just have a couple of main target animals, then everything else will be what the bush provides?

Thanks in advance!

This sounds like going to the grocery store, not unlike many of these posts. I do understand the economics and that of course is important, after all this kind of endeavor is costly no matter how you cut it.

When I thought a bit of your question it really isn't much different than what I do. My "list of animals" as you put it is very short, just one, and the "package" does not include anything but the camp and services of the team I hunt with. If I happen to be successful then great, I pay a trophy fee, if not that is just fine also because the hunt is what is important and the memories priceless.

 

[Rhoyland4]

This all sounds like going to the grocery store.

This sounds like going to the grocery store, not unlike many of these posts. I do understand the economics and that of course is important, after all this kind of endeavor is costly no matter how you cut it.

When I thought a bit of your question it really isn't much different than what I do. My "list of animals" as you put it is very short, just one, and the "package" does not include anything but the camp and services of the team I hunt with. If I happen to be successful then great, I pay a trophy fee, if not that is just fine also because the hunt is what is important and the memories priceless.

My main objective was to see if I could get him to offer me the same discount on any of the trophies on his ranch. Initially, he quoted 20% off my set list, but was only doing 15% off when I switched animals while on the hunt. Not a significant savings, but every little bit helps. May shoot a baboon or something with the extra savings. I still intend to spend the same money if opportunities are available.

 

[Rhoyland4]

your trigger finger and your wallet are absolutely tied together.

I almost spit out my drink reading that one! Best response i’ve seen in a long time!! Love it!!


I thought that was great too! Thankfully, I know that well and have been able to restrain myself when presented with the opportunity to shoot some nice whitetail. I have cull/management hunted on several high-end trophy whitetail ranches here in TX. I always had the option of a trophy if I wanted to write the check. So far, I have not found one that made me want to write the check.

 

[Sabre]

This all sounds like going to the grocery store.

This sounds like going to the grocery store, not unlike many of these posts. I do understand the economics and that of course is important, after all this kind of endeavor is costly no matter how you cut it.

When I thought a bit of your question it really isn't much different than what I do. My "list of animals" as you put it is very short, just one, and the "package" does not include anything but the camp and services of the team I hunt with. If I happen to be successful then great, I pay a trophy fee, if not that is just fine also because the hunt is what is important and the memories priceless.

What about how you do it is different? Because it sounds like you are doing essentially the same thing.

 

[Rafiki]

What about how you do it is different? Because it sounds like you are doing essentially the same thing.

If you read what I said ...eh....that's what I said. The difference may be that the OP apparently is paying upfront for a list of stuff to kill, I think, not sure; I don't pay anything for that so if I don't get anything then I don't pay anything except for camp & services. But frankly, I don't know and don't really care. My "grocery list" consists of one item which is different from OP.

 

[Ridge Runner]

I have been researching my first trip for the last 6 months or so and it looks like everyone prices packages based on a specific list of animals and provides some discount based on that particular list. One of the Outfitters I am mainly talking to is offering a 20% discount off their list price for my list of animals. However, if you change animals while on the hunt, you only receive a 15% discount on the new animal. Still a good deal as his prices are very reasonable.

My question is, does anyone do a package based on you saying your planned budget is $10K for trophy fees and just have a couple of main target animals, then everything else will be what the bush provides?

Thanks in advance!

I can only give my experience and what I have encountered when packaging a hunt with an outfitter.

An Eample only:

Let's say I planned:
10 hunting day, 12 day total trip
hunt 7 trophy animals
Package cost is $3600.00

I don't acknowledge my budget at anytime to the PH or Outfitter. My budget is my own business.

My Budget Plan is:
10,000.00USD total trip
- 3600.00USD Package
-----------------------
6400.00USD for tips, other trip expenses
- 1500.00USD tips (100/day for PH, 50/ day for tracker)(omitt tips if you don't wish to tip, as tipping is strictly optional)
-------------------------
4900.00USD
- 400.00USD exchanged for Rand for concession/farm employee tips and other expenses and souvenir shopping
--------------------------
4500.00USD extra animals or other than hunting day trip(s)
- 150.00USD side trip (ADDO, SUBUYI, Fishing, etc, etc,)
--------------------------
4300.00USD

________________________________________________

Let's say:

I get my 7 packaged animals in 6 days and did a day trip and I have 3 days remaining then I look at the trophy fee list and choose 3 additional animals. I then discuss with my PH to the possibility of successfully hunting these 3 animals within my budget.

If hunting these 3 additional animals is doable then I add them to my list. If not doable the PH and I discuss what animals are doable to hunt within the trophy fee amount of the 3 additional animals I enquired about adding.

Because these 3 additional animals are equivalent to 50% to 60% of my remaining budget this affords me "wiggle room" to increase or decrease the trophy fee of adding additional animals that will allow me to stay within my trip budget.
________________________________________________

Let's say:

One of my package animals is "not cooperating" in wanting to " being hunted". And let's say a warthog that is on my list has a trophy fee equal to a common impala that is not in my package hunt then I discuss with the outfitter and/or PH (which is a common practice and aceptable) to substitute a common impala for the warthog.

My Budget doesn't change.

On the other hand I choose to add a more expensive animal, say a blue wildebeest to replace the warthog on my list this does affect my budget. However, I have pre-planned for such and I adjust my figures above as such.
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Since this is your first trip be advise that it has been my and perhaps many other AH members experience that regardless of your choosing to do a custom package that on the last night of your trip is the time you settle your outfitter portion of your trip costs.

This does vary by outfitter so you need to discuss this before deciding on an outfitter and purchasing your package. There are 2 ways this happens.

One Way:
Your day fees are set X amount $ per day.
Your trophy fees are based on animals successfully hunted and/or wounded not recovered.

Any trophy animals unsuccessfully are deducted from your package.

Any additional trophy animals successfully hunted are added to your package.

Any additional side trips are added to your package.

Another Way: (I personally avoid this type of outfitter)

You package is paid for and the outfitter regardless of your success or failure on hunting all the animals in your package that's it.

Any additional animal trophy fee(s) are added to the costs of your trip.

Any side trips are added to your trip.
________________________________________________

Lengthy explanation but I hope this helps.

 

[Ridge Runner]

It sounds like a situation where you're looking to negotiate a lower day rate for a guaranteed spend on trophy fees, but variable trophies up to that limit based upon what you want/see at that time? I'd say that's a gamble for an outfitter, based upon their profit margin per animal, which I'm assuming varies species to species (property to property?).

My experience by looking over various outfitters' packets and discussions with outfitters is that groups of 2 or more, each member receives a discount rate compared to a single client for the same number of days. aka "Bulk Sales"

Example:

Daily Rates:

A solo client maybe charged a daily rate of 350.00/ day for X number of days.

2 clients may get a discount of say 325.00/ day for the same X number of days.

4 clients may get a discount of say 300.00/ day for the same X number of days.

Trophy Fees:

Generally the Trophy Fee list is standard for solo and multiple clients.

However, a multiple client party may get a trophy fee discount due the number of animals the outfitter(s)(') will be harvesting. Thus the "buy in bulk" discount.

As for "....varies species to species (property to property)." It's business! Contrary to where animals are hunted. Clients are paying farmers to slaughter farmers' animals vs farmers paying a slaughterhouse to slaughter their animals.

Let that sink in!! It is what it is!

So it comes down to which farmer offers the best profit for the outfitter to host multiple "hunters" to slaughter the farmer's animals.

Let's say:

Repeat client Smith has hunted with outfitter W. Smith is known to hunt with a tape measure and tips very well for record book animals and farmer A provides the best in record book trophy class animals.

New client or mediocre tipping client Jones, who has also hunted with outfitter W, doesn’t hunt with a tape measure and isn't really interested in killing a record book animal. Outfitter W will most likely have hunter Jones hunt on farmer Y's property that has a less likely chance of client Jones shooting a quality record book animal.

This is where the controversy starts:

Outfitters charging per inch (foot) vs outfitters that charge regardless of inches (or length).

Client Smith gets their record book species, but client Jones gets also gets a record book species (by chance) "bigger" than client Smith for the same trophy fee.

The outfitter paid farmer W more than farmer Y because farmer W has better quality animals than farmer Y for "tape measure" clients.

Everybody talks!! when farmer Y finds out he has been compensated less than farmer W by the same outfitter for a record book species. This could develop into a variety of potential problems for the outfitter. One reason why outfitters are purchasing land to avoid such conflicts, develop larger herds, and to increase their respective profit margin.

Outfitters, more so on the PHs, in RSA, as most PHs are "independent contractors", to gain a variety of properties/concessions to host clients wanting to hunt certain species.

 

[Rare Breed]

Sorry! I did not explain my question well enough. I have a quote for a 7-day hunting trip in Namibia, for my daughter and me.

The hunt includes 1 giraffe, 2 kudu, 1 eland, 2 impala, 1 warthog & 1 dik-dik.

The package total is$14K with the trophy fee cost being$10K for those 8 animals. The other $4K is day fees and airport transfer. The Dik Dik is the only thing not available on his 23K acre property.

Our main animals are an Eland and a Kudu for me, and a Giraffe and a Dik Dik for my daughter. The other animals are just to fill the budget.

He is also offering a discount on his published day fees as part of the package. My guess is that this is due to the number of animals on our list. If I pay the day fees and trophy fees straight up, the package is about a $4K savings.

I am just asking if anyone has based their package on the Dollar amount in lieu of the specific animal list. It is only a minor difference in the end, but since he is offering a 20% discount upfront, but only a 15% discount in the field to switch animals, it could allow for an extra small animal to be taken.

Hopefully this makes more sense.

I was going to ask the PH, but figured I would pose my question here first.

wow still expensive. You each could take 5 animals each. Each of you could take a kudu, impala, black or blue wildebeest, zebra and a springbok for $5200 each with either Game4Africa or Fronteer with great accommodations in Eastern Cape SA. Much better value and experience for you and your daughter

 

[375Fox]

wow still expensive. You each could take 5 animals each. Each of you could take a kudu, impala, black or blue wildebeest, zebra and a springbok for $5200 each with either Game4Africa or Fronteer with great accommodations in Eastern Cape SA. Much better value and experience for you and your daughter

When the eastern cape has damara dik dik maybe that would be a fair comparison, until then it’s 2 countries and 2 very different regions with different pricing. Namibia is a very good value for the experience you get.

 

[Rhoyland4]

wow still expensive. You each could take 5 animals each. Each of you could take a kudu, impala, black or blue wildebeest, zebra and a springbok for $5200 each with either Game4Africa or Fronteer with great accommodations in Eastern Cape SA. Much better value and experience for you and your daughter

They don't have Dik-Dik in the East Cape. That is the reason we are going to Namibia.

 

[Rhoyland4]

If you read what I said ...eh....that's what I said. The difference may be that the OP apparently is paying upfront for a list of stuff to kill, I think, not sure; I don't pay anything for that so if I don't get anything then I don't pay anything except for camp & services. But frankly, I don't know and don't really care. My "grocery list" consists of one item which is different from OP.

I'm not paying anything up front, but am informing him of my intended budget of $10K for trophy fees. He is basing the discount on that. If we don't harvest enough trophies to be close to that, then I will pay his list price with no discount. Being our first trip, I don't think we will have an issue pulling the trigger.