Adventure Wanted

[WAB]

who is pete? Can you pm me the info?

He’s already responded to this thread @PeteG. He and @SpikeT should be able to help you sort out ideas in Zambia.

 

[ar15meister]

Zambia would be a good option for you.

You'd need to look into some of the safari operators and see who has some last minute quota or cancellations.

I tried to PM you but I cant for some reason.

 

[Jerycmeach]

If money was not a primary concern, I would be remiss if I didn't suggest anything in the Zambezi valley. Finding lion or leopard prints next to your tent at night, an elephant coming by during dinner, and trying to fish around the hippos and crocs make it a heck of a great adventure. It's a lovely place for a hunting safari.

Thanks for mentioning that. I have read about that location! I think I am getting very close to booking a bongo hunt in camaroon. The Congo option has not come thru for me and the C.A.R. Also seems to be a “no go”! I’ll keep all of you fellow AH buddies informed! Thanks for all the help!

 

[flatwater bill]

@ar15meister The adventures you have taken, before the relatively tender age of 39, imply that risk aversion is not your problem. Kudos on that. Lots of options out there for you that will fit your time frame. Hope you can include hunting or fishing in there somewhere. I currently have two adventures planned for the year, and I know well the challenge of getting anyone to come along. Best of luck deciding.......FWB

 

[PeteG]

I tried to PM you but I cant for some reason.

Sorry, no idea why.
I will try pm you a bit later on. Hunting at the moment and signal is a bit iffy

 

[spike.t]

hi @ar15meister will send you a pm on zambia...

 

[fourfive8]

For adventure, I would suggest a DIY hunt, bipedal backpack somewhere remote.

 

[Doubleplay]

39, healthy budget but not unlimited, no fear.
I am in talks on a couple trips right now. I have a dall Sheep/Grizzly booked for next August in Yukon.

Combined Himalayan Ibex hunt with a trek to K2 basecamp combined.
Mexico Desert Bighorn (this would stretch the budget but is required for my grand slam, which is my main hunting "goal"...if there is such a thing)
Another bighorn in Canada (still haven't killed one)
Another mountain goat in BC. been twice and killed one.


I did a Blue sheep in Nepal last October and then walked to Everest solo from Lukla. It was an awesome 3 week trip.
Been to Kyrgyzstan, Cape Buff in SA, Azerbaijan and hunted 5 times in the mountains of Canada for stone and bighorn sheep as well as mountain goats/caribou.

I would for sure go to Africa again. Somewhere really wild this time. Don't really care what I hunt just no elephants, rhino's or lions. Nothing against hunting them; just not interested at this time.

You're doing awesome so far. Keep going.
I've been to Everest base camp, climbed Kilimanjaro but would like to hunt blue sheep there,
Can you PM me contact info for Nepal hunt?

 

[TexanZach]

I can get you into a great area in Tanzania?
Or Uganda?

Where in Uganda

 

[fourfive8]

Two most adventuresome hunts I've had have been DIY. One fly out on a DIY spring bear Kodiak Island. 14 days in a tent with occasional bear by camp. Rain everyday. Nothing stays dry. Snowshow up into snow zone then glass. Then stalk though steep, alder choked slopes mixed with rotten snow banks. The other DIY true adventure was 155 river miles up the Nushagak from Dillingham to highlands above Big Bend of Nushagak for caribou. Fly out Super Cub on tundra tires- 10 days. Two straight days stuck in tent on nearly barren, exposed tundra ridge with rain and 70 mph+ winds that broke two tent poles. My nephew slept in water in downhill side of tent floor tub until weather calmed down to allow for tent drainage and pole repair. Dipped water out of moose track in bottom of steep gulley with no flowing water. Treated with iodine and vitamin C. Blazo stove to keep warm and cook. Have done many DIY fly out hunts. Those are the two most adventuresome. The pilot couldn't get to us on Kodiak for a couple of days past pick up date. Not an issue- had enough supplies. The Super Cub pick up on the caribou hunt was on time. In both cases if something happened...no cell contact and no sat phone and no walking out.

I suppose you can have a "sense of adventure" on guided/outfitted trips, but part of the cost is for safety and security of the paying customer. The closest to a true adventure story about a guided hunt I have ever heard was for polar bear in a native controlled area of Canada. Hunter actually was a guide himself. Nothing coordinated on schedule and no one on time, half broke down snow machines used to access hunt area, poor equipment, poor food, several crammed into a makeshift tin shack, too much booze amongst the "guides", flailing pistols around inside the shack after an altercation amongst them. Now that was an adventure lucky to survive but having nothing to do with surviving a polar bear

 

[PeteG]

I tried to PM you but I cant for some reason.

Back in town after my hunt, unfortunately I’m not permitted to help out or give any advice per the rules.
Sorry about that.
I hope you have some lucking finding what you are looking for.

 

[LivingTheDream]

39, healthy budget but not unlimited, no fear.
I am in talks on a couple trips right now. I have a dall Sheep/Grizzly booked for next August in Yukon.

Combined Himalayan Ibex hunt with a trek to K2 basecamp combined.
Mexico Desert Bighorn (this would stretch the budget but is required for my grand slam, which is my main hunting "goal"...if there is such a thing)
Another bighorn in Canada (still haven't killed one)
Another mountain goat in BC. been twice and killed one.


I did a Blue sheep in Nepal last October and then walked to Everest solo from Lukla. It was an awesome 3 week trip.
Been to Kyrgyzstan, Cape Buff in SA, Azerbaijan and hunted 5 times in the mountains of Canada for stone and bighorn sheep as well as mountain goats/caribou.

I would for sure go to Africa again. Somewhere really wild this time. Don't really care what I hunt just no elephants, rhino's or lions. Nothing against hunting them; just not interested at this time.

Who are you hunting the Yukon with?

Can you PM who did you your Blue Sheep hunt with? Kind of thinking I might want to try that.

Also do you know who you are doing your Himalayan Ibex hunt with?

Grand Slam is my main goal as well. followed by the Big 5 and I only need a leopard to pull that off, so thinking I want to get most of the Ibexes next.

 

[ar15meister]

Just wanted to update this thread. I did end up going December 2024 to Mexico for a Desert Bighorn and shot a great 176" book ram on the mainland. It was not an adventure hunt per se but I had fun. The nightlife and local talent in Hermosillo was likely the most dangerous part of the hunt. LOL.

I also just got back from the Yukon where I was able to hunt a gorgeous Dall sheep in the famed Devils Hole area. Great hunt, great horses and a great ram (didn't put a tape on him but he is very good but not a book ram. Saw lots of bears but nothing big enough to justify the trophy fee on harvesting one. Bears arent my thing. I dont like them, would prefer not to see them or hunt them. Had some trouble with 2 on the hunt (one at night for a few hours) and it wasn't pleasant.

I am back to being a free agent with nothing booked. I am sitting back and patiently waiting on an opportunity for a Rocky Mountain bighorn hunt to complete my grand slam but also starting to look for a new adventure. As many here likely know, Rocky's can be very tricky and give hunters problems especially if you dont draw an area or have resident access like Albertans or BC guys.

What would one expect to pay to hunt for bongo or sitatunga in Cameroon/Congo/CAR and when do these hunts take place generally? Is this considered the most difficult hunt in Africa with respect to toughness and comfort?

I am already pumped for the next big adventure.

 

[375Fox]

Just wanted to update this thread. I did end up going December 2024 to Mexico for a Desert Bighorn and shot a great 176" book ram on the mainland. It was not an adventure hunt per se but I had fun. The nightlife and local talent in Hermosillo was likely the most dangerous part of the hunt. LOL.

I also just got back from the Yukon where I was able to hunt a gorgeous Dall sheep in the famed Devils Hole area. Great hunt, great horses and a great ram (didn't put a tape on him but he is very good but not a book ram. Saw lots of bears but nothing big enough to justify the trophy fee on harvesting one. Bears arent my thing. I dont like them, would prefer not to see them or hunt them. Had some trouble with 2 on the hunt (one at night for a few hours) and it wasn't pleasant.

I am back to being a free agent with nothing booked. I am sitting back and patiently waiting on an opportunity for a Rocky Mountain bighorn hunt to complete my grand slam but also starting to look for a new adventure. As many here likely know, Rocky's can be very tricky and give hunters problems especially if you dont draw an area or have resident access like Albertans or BC guys.

What would one expect to pay to hunt for bongo or sitatunga in Cameroon/Congo/CAR and when do these hunts take place generally? Is this considered the most difficult hunt in Africa with respect to toughness and comfort?

I am already pumped for the next big adventure.

For a bongo hunt, I’d expect to pay no less than $35,000 all in, more realistically $40k+ for the best areas. The charter alone is a huge expense. They take place I believe around April-July.

 

[Jerycmeach]

I

For a bongo hunt, I’d expect to pay no less than $35,000 all in, more realistically $40k+ for the best areas. The charter alone is a huge expense. They take place I believe around April-July.

I went in July for a month with Mayo Oldiri. The Bongo hunt was great and I think you should do this while the animals are still available and the remnants of the once vast and unspoiled rainforest still remain to be viewed with awe! Surprisingly; I found the forest elephant tracking experience in the jungle be the most challenging and rewarding hunt my life! That is surprising because I would have never thought that would be the case! I will explain more in my follow up posts on my hunt report. I am so busy getting ready for my own hunters in Kansas that I am swamped. I love AH! The information I have learned and the friends I have made via this site is priceless! The adventures that I have had were only embarked upon because of fires that were lit in my belly from reading about others experiences here on AH! Carry on my friends!
PS don’t price shop the forest hunt! Don’t go with the first South African PH that says he has a friend that knows somebody in Camaroon or the Congo. My opinion but don’t go with a booking agent just because, “everything always goes alright when I use so and so”! My opinion and my research revealed it is not uncommon to have to go to the forest Twice to get your animals! I am very passionate about what I am saying! If I had not gone with who I did I would have been unsuccessful! Choose wisely my friend and don’t worry about the cost in this one! I could tell you horror stories about what has happened to others I won’t!