Change of plans anyone?

[Chukar]

Hope everyone is staying safe and holding up well during this lousy period. I know lots of folks here have safaris planned, what’s everyone doing about their plans? I was booked to hunt with Marius next April but like millions of others my portfolio has taken a big hit. Gonna wait till 2022 to get back to the Cape. Meanwhile I’ve taken advantage of the bad economy to book a desert mule deer hunt in Sonora which due to the economy I couldn’t pass up the price. Hopefully long before December all is back to normal. Going to add a Coues deer also if the opportunity arises.

I hope that you have a great trip down to Sonora. My friend hunted down there a few months ago and took very nice animals of both species. The food looked pretty darn good also....

For my travel plans, the earliest trip I have is up to BC on a fishing excursion in early July. After that it is August for the AH group hunt at KMG.

It's all up in the air (aerosol or droplet) at this point in time.

 

[Tra3]

I’m in the same holding pattern as @Mark Biggerstaff I have a June 11th departure date that seems less and less likely.

Alternatives needed! Turkey hunting starts in just over two weeks.

 

[Timbo]

Change of plans anyone?

No, I'm just staying at home.

I need a change of scenery. So this evening I took out the map (house plans) to decide where I'm going for a day trip tomorrow - the laundry's looking good!!

Also, my nerf gun's broken ..........

So I can't even stalk the cat around the house to get in some DG practice!!

Bloody virus!!

 

[cagkt3]

Was supposed to be in Zim in about 2 weeks for leopard and buff....will be rescheduling for next year I hope...

 

[NMelkhunter]

We have a trip booked with four of us going to Limpopo in early July. Haven’t discussed any rescheduling yet but I don’t see things getting much better by then. Even if the flights start again and they open the borders there is no telling what kind of quarantine restrictions will be on place for people that travel. Kind of hard to justify burning more vacation for quarantine when you are already burning two weeks for the trip. Time will tell.

 

[Newboomer]

Scheduled for East Cape in April 2021 with Huntershill. Hopefully this mess will be cleared up by then.

 

[CAustin]

Have Namibia hunt planned for early June but like others will wait until early to mid May to call it.

 

[Beretta391]

Ducks the end of may in Argentina, buffalo and sable, Kruger, tiger fish fishing and birds end of August in the Limpopo and Ireland in November. All on hold as of now. Really doubting the duck hunt. All outfitters have already said we can move everything to next year if we have too!!

 

[NMelkhunter]

Let’s hear some opinions on this because I am probably not the only person wondering this and this is my first guided hunt ever. How soon is too early to be talking to your outfitter about rescheduling? I don’t want to offend him by making him think I am giving up to early but how long do you really wait to start the discussion if your trip is June/July timeframe? I suppose a lot may also depend on the airlines. I don’t know that they are cancelling that far out yet?

 

[mdwest]

Let’s hear some opinions on this because I am probably not the only person wondering this and this is my first guided hunt ever. How soon is too early to be talking to your outfitter about rescheduling? I don’t want to offend him by making him think I am giving up to early but how long do you really wait to start the discussion if your trip is June/July timeframe? I suppose a lot may also depend on the airlines. I don’t know that they are cancelling that far out yet?

I dont think its ever too soon to start talking..

I just wouldnt recommend making a hard decision just yet.. unless your hunt is scheduled for sometime in April or May..

My hunt in South Africa is scheduled for July.. I have already been in touch with Bos en Dal a couple of times just to check in on how things are looking, get some better perspective on whats going on in South Africa, and to keep Gerrit better informed on whats going on over on this side of the atlantic..

This helps him better plan and prepare.. and helps me better plan and prepare...

Of course my situation is a little different in that Gerrit and I keep in touch routinely anyway.. half the time just to share hunting pictures, gun porn, or check in on each others families...

But if I were nothing more than a first time client pending a hunt with Bos en Dal, and didnt already have a personal relationship built.. I would still think its in everyones interest to check in early, and often.. before you make a final decision..

Right now.. if I were a betting man.. I'd say its iffy that US Citizens are going to be able to travel to South Africa before mid June.. We already have governors mandating close downs as far out as June 10th (Virginia did this yesterday), and states starting to secure their borders with national guard troops (Rhode Island has set up NG checkpoints and are turning out of state visitors back).. We have states refusing to sell out of state hunting licenses for the 2020 season already..

But...

What if come May 1 this is largely over.. and youve already cancelled your trip?

Personally, I think its worth holding out a little longer

 

[Areaonereal]

Just my opinion....if anyone is thinking a June, July hunt in Africa is going to happen, you are living in a different world than me. This virus situation is not going away in two months...has not apexed yet anywhere in the US and not expected to for at least 14 to 30 days....but a different note...sit down, give some thought to any economic recovery...or the long term effect that a possible 30% unemployment means going forward, then throw inflation into the mix, I see the worst ahead and pray that I am wrong. Never in any fictional scenario did we ever believe it could come to us, well we were wrong...it is here and just getting started..expect the worst, but pray for the best outcome...

 

[Bill DeHaan]

Areo',
If you lived close and we weren't on a state wide lock down (Michigan), I'd offer to meet up for some therapeutic beverages, on me. It troubles me that you chose the words "expect the worse, but pray for the best..." Kinda dark. I prefer to live by "expect (And shoot for) the best but be prepared for the worst."

I have a hunt booked in early June with KMG. I'm committed to be flexible, will make a decision later, and have already discussed this with Marius. There are still winning strategies on the table. Ready for one? Imagine infection test kits AND immunity test kits get rolled out by the millions in the next few weeks. (come on American free market capitalism!) Then add to it that international travel is approved for anyone testing positive for the antibodies. (cant catch it or transmit it) More and more folks are testing positive for infection without serious or even any symptoms - I had a 3-4 day bout of what I thought was the flu after a business trip in February.

So I'm staying informed on my options, but will make my discussion in May. If necessary, I'll reschedule for something yet in 2020, or 2021 as opportunities present themselves. To cover my bet, or maybe double down, I'm exploring options for a trophy pronghorn hunt this fall.

Hang in there brother!

 

[enysse]

Just my opinion....if anyone is thinking a June, July hunt in Africa is going to happen, you are living in a different world than me. This virus situation is not going away in two months...has not apexed yet anywhere in the US and not expected to for at least 14 to 30 days....but a different note...sit down, give some thought to any economic recovery...or the long term effect that a possible 30% unemployment means going forward, then throw inflation into the mix, I see the worst ahead and pray that I am wrong. Never in any fictional scenario did we ever believe it could come to us, well we were wrong...it is here and just getting started..expect the worst, but pray for the best outcome...[/QUOTE/]

I’m not getting a good vibe going forward either.... There was the housing boom and people spending more than they could afford. With businesses closing, people laid off and an uncertain future ahead . We are in for some financial ramifications.

 

[Areaonereal]

Bill. Am in Illinois, we are sheltering in place....would gladly buy those refreshments, or bring a bottle. Planning for the worst is not a disappointment if it happens, be prepared, but I really see no quick fix for this... your being in Michigan and Detroit being hammered, my being in Illinois, NOT Chicago but 200 miles South we are lucky so far. My trip to Namibia is off, and at my age I do not many more left. I returned from Namibia last July, and 10 days later came down with sore throat, high fever, aching and no appetite..lasted 6 days...who knows what it was....certainly not like any flu I had ever had. I know we will beat this, just not sure when, but the ramifications will be with us for quite some time.

 

[jduckhunter]

Was supposed to leave for a safari with KMG on Easter morning, that's not going to happen so I guess I'll hunker down and see what the near future brings. Probably looking at trying again for next spring, this fall is going to be a little busy. Just heard from Lori, looks like Delta is giving us full refunds so at least there's that.

 

[MMAL]

I have caprivi for elephant, buffalo, hippo and pg in sept. I opened my pool early so I can start swimming and get in shape because I am going even if I have to swim to Africa!

 

[Newboomer]

I would say reschedule to next year. This thing has not peaked yet and will be with us through most of the year. With all the young kids coming home from spring break, who knows how many are infected or carriers. Then you have travelers who don't have sense enough to stay home. They cross borders and either spread it or bring it home. Even with lockdowns residents still have to get out and about for shopping, doctor visits and the like with the possibility of contracting or spreading the virus.

It's going to be several months before any kind of vaccine can be developed, tested and disseminated. Warm weather may slow it down temporarily but it may very well flare with colder weather and the advent of the annual flu season. This is a virus and viruses can't usually be treated with antibiotics, etc. They have to run their course. How long the course for this will be, no one can predict. It may be one of the things we can control but never totally eradicate, just deal with the occasional flare up.

 

[johnnyblues]

Well at least my hunt can go thru to January if need be.

 

[everett]

Booked to be in Namibia mid May. Already made back up plan with outfitter for first week of August. Haven’t rescheduled flights yet. Was waiting til April. Guess I’ll pull the trigger tomorrow.

 

[BnC 04]

Our buffalo and PG hunt is scheduled for the beginning of May, I'm still holding on to a straw of hope BUT will shift to Aug or Sept if need be. Moving out to next year or further becomes an issue as other plans/trips in place become affected so just have to wait and see how this all plays out.