Booking on a short notice?

[mark-hunter]

I know, in most of the cases the hunt is booked a year or 6 months in advance.
But is there an outfitter who is willing to book on a 3 or two months notice?

Having a busy working schedule and with my leave hard to predict a year in advance, I am just investigating options and scouting, maybe for the year 2026 or 2027. South Africa or Namibia.

 

[Rumrunner]

Keep your eye out for cancellation hunts. They are typically fairly short notice, although finding that caters to your targeted game may be difficult. Most that I have seen are for dangerous game, I’m sure there are others.
You could also talk with your preferred outfitters and let them know you are willing to travel on short notice if they have schedule changes.
Good luck.

 

[JimP]

I agree on watching those cancellation hunts.

There was one this spring that if I hadn't committed to a roof replacement I would of been all over with very short notice. It was also very heavily discounted, about half of what it should of cost.

 

[grand veneur]

Many outfitters are willing to do something like this, because with the habit from some hunters of booking many years in advance, there are many hunts that ultimately get canceled. Who knows how you will be in years, let alone whether you will still be alive. I booked the last buffalo hunt six weeks in advance. The outfitters had 3 canceled hunts. The only problem was the rifle, I had to use a borrowed one.

 

[Hogpatrol]

May not work with most and dependent on targeted game, but the two RSA outfitters I've hunted with told me just give them a couple weeks notice and they'd work me in the schedule. The gotcha on that is air fare cost.

 

[grand veneur]

With my connections to Burkina Faso it was even shorter, 2 weeks before was enough, just the time you need to get a visa and a flight ticket.

 

[Dinsdale]

I think it’s dependent on time of year and popularity of outfitters. I tend to book shorter than most, the last few hunts I have done in Zimbabwe has been as short as 6 weeks as much as 12 with a popular outfit. All late season for what I wanted for primary animal and plenty of plains game quota left if done early.

High season will need a more flexibility of outfitter to find an opening and quota, although SA or Namibia PG would have more availability and theres always an opening somewhere.

I was first hunter of the year for an outfit in Namibia, that was booked 3 weeks out, basically worked out to be at the front of the line when we looked at openings for the year. PH was actually kinda surprised, as he thought I would want to book the next year not be there in a few weeks.

Airfare and booking hasn’t been a problem. I have lots of flexibility with employer as to taking several weeks off for vacation on short notice; they want me back and I tend not to take time off through the rest of the year.

 

[Throwback]

I have done short notice before in Namibia when I travel for business in Africa. Just talk to them. In my experience every outfitter is very accommodating, as much as their schedule allows them to.

It would be easiest if you are just hunting PG and ask to go on dayrate and then pay trophy prices for whatever you get (verse targeting a specific animal, etc). That is maximum flexibility.

Namib and SA are full of outfitters so I think you can find one that can accommodate. It helps if you have met them at least once at a show (DSC, etc) but certainly not essential.

Once they know you are serious in that you will shoot some animals (meaning spend some money) every one I have talked to responds with "come on" and they mean it. Outfitters have told me they have clients who show up for like 2-3 days or even for one day during layovers if close enough to airport, which many in Limpopo area or in Namibia are 1-3 hours from airport.

Go for it brother. Rent rifles too for max flexibility. Cheers

 

[Doubleplay]

The only problem with the shorter bookings is the expensive airfares.
However in most cases shorter booking are an extra, unplanned income for outfitters and you can generally find better prices if there's an opening.

 

[Mekaniks]

There are always last minute cancellations deals before the season starts (Jan / Feb) when people cancel and reschedule hunts that were booked the previous year or at the shows.
Regardless, most outfitters will be happy to fit you in if they have room.

 

[375Fox]

Nearly every outfitter will if they have the openings and quota. A lot more flexibility early season before April May and late season after September. That said you may need to be flexible with your species list as well. I’ve changed flights and took two hunts on short notice. The airfare might be a problem but it hasn’t been for me.

 

[grand veneur]

But you have also to be somewhat flexible and adaptive. My last buffalo hunt was supposed to take place in Zimbabwe, but at the last moment the outfitter sent me to Mozambique.

 

[grand veneur]

After three years without buffalo hunting, the first signs of deficiency appeared, so that it no longer mattered where the hunt took place, Zimbabwe or Mozambique.

 

[EXECUTIVE HUNT AFRICA]

I know, in most of the cases the hunt is booked a year or 6 months in advance.
But is there an outfitter who is willing to book on a 3 or two months notice?

Having a busy working schedule and with my leave hard to predict a year in advance, I am just investigating options and scouting, maybe for the year 2026 or 2027. South Africa or Namibia.

Yes! If we have an opening, we would definitely help!