Buffalo cow hunts how many actually book them?

[mark-hunter]

Ive seen many buff hunts in SA advertised for $8k - $10k but these hunts simply do not compare to the higher priced safaris.

Jaco,
What can be expected in less quality in general, with less valued hunts when compared to higher priced hunts?

 

[Frederik]

Jaco, well summarized I would love to hunt a big bad daggaboy in Niassa with you but that means I need to win the lottery.
I suppose I need to play lottery first
I do research when hunting here in South Africa when it comes to specific species and areas and try to get a good deal but sometimes asking the right question you quickly figure out paying a bit more will give you much more.

That was recently experienced with my lion hunt at De Klerk Safaris I phoned and chatted to 5 different operators before deciding on De Klerk Safaris.

What I'm trying to say there is still good deals to be had in South Africa if you shop around and do homework. But most of them be prepared to pack and go and not book for next year.

For now my DG fix is done on buffalo cows and not ones that are raised in a pen or small enclosure being fed. It fits my budget and my buffalo addiction.

 

[KWALATA SAFARIS]

Jaco,
What can be expected in less quality in general, with less valued hunts when compared to higher priced hunts?

Hi Mark-Hunter good question, with the question in mind I need to be honest in saying that I can only comment on personal experiences.
Having during my earlier years hunted and guided for various companies I filtered if you will through what I deemed to be undesirable experiences for me personally whilst also heavily relying on hunters feedback i.e. those I had been guiding.

A few of those and I quote. “I did not come to Africa to shoot an animal that was bought last week for me to kill”
A clients words not my own.
In those days we use to stalk onto fence lines to look for animals that were obviously not use to the area due to the short period after release and by no means knew their way around the property they had been released on…

NOTE: I am not saying or insinuating that this is the case with all but it can be… and often is.

Another thing that bothered me quite a bit was the habituation almost domestication of wildlife out of breeding projects. Now, we need to keep an open mind with regards to this as several species I have encountered on foot in true wilderness areas almost (note almost) displayed the same nonchalant type of behavior but only too a point.

Animals that are hunted especially buffalo over a bale of Lucern (green feed) also got to me. Often a buff hunter could and in some operations still are placed in blinds to smoke a bull coming into feed… this bothered me immensely and left me with the feeling that surely as a professional hunter in the true sense of the word, there should be more to it. (This was quite often even rifle hunters)
I felt that I needed to apply myself, my tracker and our skills more to hunt such a great animal (truly all animals) it left me wanting something better.

In some instances I was forced to pass up truly good bulls to hunt a lesser younger bull due to the bottom line/price tag my client had paid.
The same happened on Kudu when the sliding scales just started and it irked me tremendously not do be able to give my client the best/mature “trophy” possible.



With all this said the greatest issue I had was that with substantially lower costs, I’m not referring to a $1000 this way or that way, but with substantially lower costs came the fact that we/operators/outfitters were chasing volume.
The one thing that stood out when chasing volume was that you the hunter quite often became a number.
In my opinion it is very easy to feel like a small fish in a big pond when a hunter is in a camp full of clients shot a nice and cost effective 34” bull and the high roller in camp rocks up with a smoker of a bull that same evening.
Attention in my experience simply can not be spread evenly in a fully loaded camp/lodge.

With all this said, there are some good hunts in SA to be had but more often than not the cheapest Buffalo or any hunt available is most likely not one of those.

As far as a cow hunt goes I think it is a great opportunity for those who never had buff on the radar to try it. Who knows it might just lead to your next great adventure.

My best always.
Jaco.

 

[mark-hunter]

Jaco
Much appreciated your time to answer in such great details!

 

[mdwest]

My wife is planning on taking a cow this year…I may end up taking one as well if the opportunity presents itself…

@Bos en Dal SAFARIS has posted a special on cow hunts this year.. I’ll see if I can find the thread and will post a link.

Bos en Dal SAFARIS Buffalo Hunting 2023

Good day to all members We would like to offer the following buffalo hunting special to all AH members. As part of our management program of our herds we need to harvest a bunch of buffalo cows. Hunt will take place on our main concession a comfortable 2hr drive from OR thambo. Hunting area...

www.africahunting.com