Who booked at a show this year

[billc]

I was wondering who booked at the shows this year or who is still waiting to make plans for this year or next.

I know there was some great show specials around to take advantage of this year. Post up what you found either way.

 

[Waterguy631]

I didn't but couldn't beleive the amount of African outfitters at our local hunting show I think there was 3 times as many as last year.

 

[dobber]

booking at shows scare the heck out of me, you really don't know who you are dealing with vs a site like this where you can get a feel for an outfitter and there is less pressure for them to make the sale.
If there was money to be gained or at least a break even point, this website should be represented at shows to help people ask the right questions.
One downfall of the shows where there is a US or Can rep is that the trust factor isn't there, am sure people remember the days of old (in this case a caribou hunt in Quebec) a "rep" books 10 people for a hunt and the "rep's" hunt was free. Not saying this is the case anymore, but its still in the back of my mind.
Having an actual outfitter at a show in my mind is key, for the most part we can judge a person within a few minutes of talking, i know a few people who portray themselves great on tv hunting shows but i wanted to reach out and punch them in the throat after 2 minutes of talking to them lol

 

[CAustin]

The Kansas City show had very few outfitters to attend. Sad really. The first one I went too three years ago had 50% more outfitters. Pieter should have been at this one with the Northwest Plains game hunt as top billing!
I think he would have sold a bunch!

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

booking at shows scare the heck out of me, you really don't know who you are dealing with vs a site like this where you can get a feel for an outfitter and there is less pressure for them to make the sale.
If there was money to be gained or at least a break even point, this website should be represented at shows to help people ask the right questions.
One downfall of the shows where there is a US or Can rep is that the trust factor isn't there, am sure people remember the days of old (in this case a caribou hunt in Quebec) a "rep" books 10 people for a hunt and the "rep's" hunt was free. Not saying this is the case anymore, but its still in the back of my mind.
Having an actual outfitter at a show in my mind is key, for the most part we can judge a person within a few minutes of talking, i know a few people who portray themselves great on tv hunting shows but i wanted to reach out and punch them in the throat after 2 minutes of talking to them lol

Some good points there. For the U.S. folks on this forum, I think a combination of this forum and the internet in general to do your initial research and then attend either SCI or DSC to visit your prospects is the best way to go.

You never know how that face to face may go. Someone you thought or hoped you'd get along well with you find out just isn't someone you could see yourself hunting with. And still others that may be towards the bottom of your list, turns out you get along with great.

 

[billc]

The Kansas City show had very few outfitters to attend. Sad really. The first one I went too three years ago had 50% more outfitters. Pieter should have been at this one with the Northwest Plains game hunt as top billing!
I think he would have sold a bunch!

It may happen next year charlie. Only doing my local sci chapter with pieter this year but hope to do more shows next year. We will more then likely go after the smaller shows and not the big dsc and sci shows. Pieter and I are bigger fans of that type of show.

Dobber I totally get what you are saying but there is a lot of good outfitters who do no shows at all. You really limit yourself by doing just one show with choices but some people like the one on one they get meeting there for sure.

 

[JimP]

I don't think that meeting a outfitter at a show is much better than doing it all on line other than you get to meet him face to face. You still need to do your homework by checking references and if you don't you may get surprised when you show up at his front door with your rifle in hand.

 

[Albertaguy]

We booked our 2017 hunt with Jan Oelofse at the African Hunting Events Show in Calgary last month. We had it narrowed down to a couple of outfitters that we had spent extensive time researching. What sealed the deal for us was the great show special they were offering so we booked on the spot.

 

[enysse]

I didn't but couldn't beleive the amount of African outfitters at our local hunting show I think there was 3 times as many as last year

I had a friend buy me a SCI auction hunt in Green Bay and I booked a hunt for next year already. Paid deposit up front, secured good prices with the Rand to Dollar exchange. So a lot of animals are in danger in Africa.
And I just keep signing up for more hours to work!

 

[billc]

We booked our 2017 hunt with Jan Oelofse at the African Hunting Events Show in Calgary last month. We had it narrowed down to a couple of outfitters that we had spent extensive time researching. What sealed the deal for us was the great show special they were offering so we booked on the spot.

They are top 5 in my search if I ever pull the trigger on going to namibia. Looking forward to your report after your trip with them.

That is good to hear enysse. Hope you have some great trips.

 

[enysse]

Billc, I will let you know my plan more in details when I have some dates selected. I'm still in the planning phase. But the list of animals is very long. The animals though I'm looking for are not easy to hunt down either.

 

[Divernhunter]

I booked a return hunt with Iliwa Safaris at the Sportsmans Expo here in California for May 2017. I have my list and I am sure I will add to it once there. I plan to spend a week or 2 sightseeing also.
Also booked and went on a local hunt at the same show for a Barbados ram. I think it will make a nice mount.

 

[jeff]

We booked a Namibia package at a show last Feb. for 2016 and paid the rest of our fees at this years show. Will be at one outfit 7 days and another that I booked through a booking agent for 5. Were also hunting in SA with Tsala Safaris for 7 days and Henry Griffiths Safaris for 6. I prefer to talk face to face and get a feel for the outfit. I want to talk to the outfitter/PH and not a rep. or booking agent. I talked to this Namibia outfit three years at the show and by that time got to know him some, also did the reference check and research between shows. Just because its advertised on AH doesn't mean you will have a great hunt, have purchased two marginal hunts and one very poor one from AH so do your home work, I thought I did! The other Namibia hunt will be the first I've ever booked through a agent and wasn't a good experience until I started to deal directly with the outfitter and then things smoothed out and I have a good feeling about the hunt.

 

[JGRaider]

Gotta agree with you Jeff on all accounts, as my experience mirrors yours. I "firmed up" my August '16 Namibia hunt while at DSC this past January. Nothing like face to face interaction IMO. Plus, if you need to juggle dates, details, etc it is much easier that way. I'll not use agents or US reps again I don't think.

 

[thi9elsp]

Threw in a low ball offer on an Auction hunt at DSC. I was remote and did it online. 20 seconds later was the high bidder. So, we're off to Mozambique in September with Manuel Corona / Jose Appleton of Majune Safaris - near Niassa. Lad Shunneson and Ken Wilson are their U.S. booking agents. I like being able to coordinate with the local guys. But, the time on the phone with Manuel really makes me comfortable hunting with him. 6 months from today we leave.

 

[billc]

Just remember ever time you talk to a reference it is about the same as any rep or agent. You think outfitters give you the guys who did not have good hunts with them. Reps are just another tool and I cant say were are all the same but I do my best to tell it straight and still help guys even if it is not a paw print hunt.

You can do all the homework you want but hunts can good bad for many reason. Weather,bad shooting and the problem must have really. That is thinking that spending money can make them in to a hunter when they are not. It happens all the time and I have seen it a bunch in elk camps.

I think africa has really start a trend towards bad hunting being if you dont get your target animal the hunt must be bad. Guys forget it is still hunting as so many things can still make it good or bad.

It is nice to see some guys taking return trips.

 

[jeff]

You are right Bill, and this wasn't aimed at you or anyone else. I don't dislike agents, most are nice guys, I just prefer to talk directly to the outfitter, one less link in the chain. And one can't fault the PH if they do everything they can to put you in range of game, but it's their job, not to make excuses for lack of planning and effort and then say the old :Well That's Hunting: story

 

[billc]

For sure jeff and I did not take it aimed at me. Just letting others who read all the bad about a rep that we do good also. I dont blame anyone who wants to talk direct as that is always best. Me myself I am just one guy who likes to hunt and help others if and when I can. Just as I do my best to help pieter make it better for us guys coming over.

My help to pieter goes beyond helping just booking hunts. He wants to grow in certain areas and I help there also. A good rep is just another tool clients can use if they want to learn about a place.

 

[thi9elsp]

@billc

"I think africa has really start a trend towards bad hunting being if you dont get your target animal the hunt must be bad."

I feel as though the marketing over the years has tended towards giving the impression to the hunter that it's easy to get all of the animals on your list. 5 animals in 5 days or 7 animals in 10 days.

When in Zimbabwe in 2011, one of the guys I was with said "Sure, it's easy to kill an impala. You have to work at it to get a good one." Took me to day 8. Day 10 for my kudu. On that 10 day safari I took 4 animals: buffalo, bushbuck, impala and kudu. 2 1/2 days per animal. That's a lot of great hunting. I was told it was tough hunting from some people - because I didn't get more animals or because we had to work at what we got, I didn't clarify the person's meaning.

I'll target and focus on buffalo and sable in Mozambique. Hopefully, I can get an additional couple of animals. But, in 12 days or hard hunting, if I can get good trophies of those two, it will be a great hunt. Oh, and I will be practicing at the range over the next 6 months.

John

 

[JGRaider]

I think the best reference are the number of repeat hunters year in and year out. The Namibian outfit (Kowas Safaris) I have hunted with twice, and will again this August, has a 65% rebook rate, is sold out for 2016, and was 80% sold out for 2017 by the time they left DSC. That speaks volumes.