I have just paid my final installment for my June hunt in Namibia. I have made a rough animal list but am wondering if my list is to ambitious. My hunt is only five days and I have allotted funds for fourteen animals. There will be two of us hunting as my son will be hunting with me.
I'm not sure how many animals would be realistic for a five day hunt.
My list is as follows. Giraffe , Blue wildebeest , Black wildebeest , Gemsbok , Kudu , Red hartebeest , Eland , Steenbok , Blesbok , Springbok , Impala , Burchells zebra, Mountain zebra , and last but not least Waterbuck.
These animals are in my order of preference , but I'm afraid it might be to ambitious. Can anyone answer this and hopefully point me in the right direction. If this is within reality, there will be an outbreak of Nosler disease in June.
A big list but it will all come down to good planning on your part. Can it be done yes. Will your outfitter do his best to get it done for you yes if he is like must outfitters. Would must people call it more a shoot then a hunt yes but who cares it is your money and your hunt.
If you have 5 days make the most out if it and if that to you is shooting your list and not smelling the flowers go for it. Africa is just a different place with the amount of game one can hunt in a time period compared to hunting in the states. You could take 2,3 or more animals a day if you want if the hunting is good the week your there. You could also take nothing if anything goes wrong.
On your list the typical animals that are harder to hunt and take more time with out some great luck is kudu,eland and the mtn zebra. Some is because of lower numbers or the areas they live in. If you want top class size trophy you will need more then luck. If your willing to take the first legal animal you see then not as much luck needed but you may regret it later after seeing you took what must would say are below avg trophy's size wise.
Now I will stop rambling and tell you the must important part and how I would go about your list. First is tell your outfitter your list and your goal to take them all if you can. Next tell him you want to hunt all day eat in the field leave earlier then normal and come back after the last minute of time is up to be able to shoot. That is not standard practice with hunting in africa as they make it more a non pressure no rush hunt. They need to know your wants to make the changes to your wishes.
Next if it is possible to have another crew pick up any animal you may take so you can keep hunting.This may cost more because it is another crew of guys and truck or they may do it no charge just because of how many animals you want to take. You could be hours away so they may want them following you right away so they are there when you take something and know right were the animal is. You will miss out on parts of the hunt doing this but after the pictures some guys dont care if they are there to do or see the rest. Again your choice what each part means to you.
For sure have your must have animals first but with your goal of animals if you see the blesbuck before the giraffe you must take them as you see them. The first 3 animals you picked are not what I would say are the hard ones to get. You could have all 3 of those down by lunch your first day doing it how I talked about above.
My last hunt I had my giraffe and a blue wildebeest down by noon but we did get lucky finding the giraffe with in 10 minutes of leaving camp. Then got lucky again as when the tracker was taking the giraffe back to the skinning shed they saw 3 good blues and called pieter for us to come there to look at them. I did get really lucky as the giraffe was a giant dark bull and huge, To then come across a better then avg blue to that was 28 1/2 with heavy bosses is good luck.
It comes down to making the best plan you can going in. You can always change your mind and slow down and lower the number you want to take. but you can not take your time in the start of the hunt if your sticking with the plan your asking about. Cant pass and pass to find out later you needed to take something earlier and then be mad in anyway towards the outfitter.
The PLAN going in will be what makes or breaks your hunt with your goals.
Good luck on how ever you decide to go.