Would you hunt in an area in Africa that used a sliding scale for fees?

[dogcat1]

Assume you are hunting in Africa, free range area. The operator charges trophy fees on a sliding scale. Something similar to the gold-silver-bronze medal size seen on many European hunts.
Would you automatically not hunt with that outfit?

What if the scale only applied to animals that were not in large numbers but had some good trophy quality "out there"?

 

[375Fox]

It would depend, probably not, however the only situation I know of this is elephant. I don’t know of any free range area that charges by the size for other species. I have seen a fixed surcharge for really exceptional buffalo and croc from certain areas over a certain already very large size, but that isn’t a sliding scale.

 

[Flbt]

Assume you are hunting in Africa, free range area. The operator charges trophy fees on a sliding scale. Something similar to the gold-silver-bronze medal size seen on many European hunts.
Would you automatically not hunt with that outfit?

What if the scale only applied to animals that were not in large numbers but had some good trophy quality "out there"?

I don’t think I would.
The post about if the ph ever told someone to shoot the wrong animal. On here.

I would think could get really interesting really quickly and not in a good way.
If they told you to shoot the wrong animal and it was a few points higher on the price scale than you had the budget for.

 

[BnC 04]

I'm assuming when you say "free range" its a unfenced area such as in Zim, Moz, Tanzania ect?
If thats indeed your reference then I absolutely would not entertain a hunt like that.
Im not a fan of the sliding scale in RSA but understand certain bred animals of certain sizes do indeed command a higher price/value.

 

[Aaron.F]

Some places already do this. I would not prefer to hunt there, but keep in mind this is somewhat how cull priced hunts work. You are paying less for a different sized trophy.

 

[Grandpa Moose]

Not the place I would book a HUNT seems like a place to choose your animal and SHOOT it so it meets someone elses need$

 

[318AE]

I’m generally not a fan of that model.

I will concede that it is in some ways congruent with the “if it pays it stays” economic model of conservation. It does put in place an economic incentive to develop or maintain exceptional trophy quality.

I like to think my skill, effort or luck play some part in what ends up in the salt. I much prefer the simplicity of you and your PH both focused on finding the best representative your skill, effort, ability, time and luck allow. Prices by the inch just erode that for me.

 

[Rare Breed]

Assume you are hunting in Africa, free range area. The operator charges trophy fees on a sliding scale. Something similar to the gold-silver-bronze medal size seen on many European hunts.
Would you automatically not hunt with that outfit?

What if the scale only applied to animals that were not in large numbers but had some good trophy quality "out there"?

Personally, I would not. You said free range area which to me implies Zim, Moz versus SA where you typically hunt on a package. In SA, while I do not like it at least I know that is typical. In Zim and Moz, no, just for me.

 

[BryceM]

No.

Part of the fun of hunting is that you buy your ticket and ride the ride. If there are negative consequences to finding a dream animal, that’s a huge turnoff. More and more seems to be going this way. It sucks.

 

[mdwest]

Definitely not a fan of that model…

If that’s the way an outfitter wants to work and the way a client wants to pay.. cool…

But absolutely not for me…

I’m one of those guys that’s really not a horn hunter though… I value the experience more than the actual animal if that makes any sense… my priorities when “trophy” hunting are to find something as old as we can.. and if it’s beat up and battle scarred, that’s all the better… I truly don’t care if my next buffalo is a 36” broken tipped bull or a 44”… just make sure he’s old as dirt, has hard bosses, and looks like he’s been fighting every day for the last 10 years and I’ll be happy…

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

I would not personally, I want to know what the exact trophy fees are before I book a hunt. I dont like sliding scale depending on size, I want a fixed price for each animal and budget for such.

 

[Flbt]

No.

Part of the fun of hunting is that you buy your ticket and ride the ride. If there are negative consequences to finding a dream animal, that’s a huge turnoff. More and more seems to be going this way. It sucks.

I understand your point. But the only reason it’s going that way is the hunter allowing it.
If no one would book a sliding scale pay hunt.
There would be none for sale.

 

[Doug3006]

The top-end prices for my target species would matter. If the highest price, for the largest specimen would fit my budget, then yes…probably.

 

[wesheltonj]

If the scale is Medal v Non-Medal, yes.. If it's Bronze, Silver, Gold or X over Gold, the answer is no.

 

[Cme1983]

If the scale is Medal v Non-Medal, yes.. If it's Bronze, Silver, Gold or X over Gold, the answer is no.

Let’s say the question he is asking would be something akin to would you pay 5k for a 34-36 inch buff, 6.5 for 36-39.5, and 7500 for 40+? All in a free range area.

It could work in the hunters favor or against the hunter depending on budget and how well the ph is at judging the size of the buff.

 

[K-man]

I have hunted in Spain, New Zealand and Argentina on ranches (free range) that did charge gold silver bronze. I would not do that in Africa. I don't trust the guy holding the tape. I did take elephant that was under/ over 40 lbs, I prefer to simply hunt for the best/ oldest animal and leave the tape at home. I was well treated in Argentina, New Zealand and Spain when it came to scoring the animals.

 

[wesheltonj]

Let’s say the question he is asking would be something akin to would you pay 5k for a 34-36 inch buff, 6.5 for 36-39.5, and 7500 for 40+? All in a free range area.

It could work in the hunters favor or against the hunter depending on budget and how well the ph is at judging the size of the buff.

Still no, I don’t want to turn Africa into Europe or North America.

 

[BryceM]

I should add…… if the PH gets me in a situation where I shoot a near-record animal, the tip will reflect that. That should be good enough.

 

[318AE]

Let’s say the question he is asking would be something akin to would you pay 5k for a 34-36 inch buff, 6.5 for 36-39.5, and 7500 for 40+? All in a free range area.

It could work in the hunters favor or against the hunter depending on budget and how well the ph is at judging the size of the buff.

It’s often priced with quite a premium hike when it surpasses the inches required for some book such as Rowland Ward. This quickly can turn into the specific animal conversation. I much prefer to book an area, experience and opportunity than specific animal.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Nope.