Does Africa ruin you for North American game?

[flatwater bill]

Billc...............you are quite right...............calling any mature bull elk into bow range is a thrill and a challenge. And there are over the counter hunting opportunities every year. But the best hunts are controlled..........they require some lucky drawing. And the clock is running on us all. I now have 16 straight years of applying for a Book Cliffs deer tag in Utah. The point is..............Africa is now, and the opportunities close to home are dwindling. I advise every hunter not to wait too long. The pressure on public land in the West is overwhelming, and it has become a young man's game (to hike and pack further) or a rich man's game ($265000 auctioned mule deer tag, Utah). It's not that Africa spoils us so much, but that great alternatives are getting hard to find. A lot of PA hunters still dream of coming out west to hunt............most would do better to spend the same money in RSA...........anyway.............Africa, Australia, NZ and South America did ruin me. I would never again be content to only hunt in the USA.................................best of luck on that NM bull...................................................FWB

 

[enysse]

I've been caught in the trance before many of times, you are a dead man walking

 

[jeff]

Africa has spoiled me some, 38 years of public land bowhunting elk and only drawing one premium tag in that time. Have seen the hunting in Or. and Id. go steadily downhill on over the counter tags.

 

[lwaters]

I live in Kansas so I have hunted Colorado and Wyoming for elk several times. I consider it a success to get the meat. The best I have done is a four point bull but he was good eating.

 

[sestoppelman]

In a word..yes. I guess I am no longer a true hunter as I only have hunted Africa for the last 15 or so years. Hunted deer and elk a lot growing up but hunting in my home state was never good to me for either and after many years of frustration I gave it up. The only thing I still hope to do someday is hunt American bison.

 

[lwaters]

I would like to shoot a meat bull bison myself someday. Although I don't think my wife and I could eat it all fast enough.

 

[AB2506]

I'm not a bow hunter, but my one trip to Africa was like nothing experienced in Alberta. I had a list, but deviated from it as conditions changed. It was awesome to see black wildebeest, crawl through the grass and make the kill. I never wanted a warthog, but after a long, hot, windy day, a nice boar ran in front of me. Neither of these animals were on my list. In Alberta, I would be investigated for shooting something without a tag. In Africa, a lot of places, the game is a-la-carte. You can hunt what tickles your fancy and fits the pocketbook.

I hunted in 2014 in Alberta. It was fun, but mainly it was because I took my girls and to put meat in the freezer. I could have just hunted coyotes and had fun.

I dream of going back to hunt Africa again.

 

[jbeach]

I have to admit. My first trip to Africa spoiled me pretty bad. When I got home it was deer season, and after a few days I was bored. It was probably even worst for my wife. She was not a hunter before our first Africa trip. She started hunting over there, now unless she has something very important already planned I can't go hunting without her. So, she got a little bummed when we got back and began hunting at home. But she got over it, as did I. It is just a different game. If we all had that kind of opportunity at home, then I guess we would not spend the time and the money to get over there and go hunting. Something special to look forward to is always a good thing...

 

[BWH]

In short..... Yes! I have hunted for 30 years. Mostly in Texas. However, animals ranging from rabbits to elk, everything in between... Dozens of whitetails.... With scores in the 140's & 150's. Pronghorn- 80", mule deer - 170", etc. Nothing got me as fired up as Africa.... And I have never looked more forward toward my next hunt, as Africa! Btw.... I did not measure one of the nine animals, I took there. Just awesome!

 

[BnC 04]

Has Africa ruined my view of hunting N. America? Not at all.
What she did do, was open a door to a whole new experience and a WHOPPER list of new animals to give a go at....

 

[BWH]

Haha.... Tru dat!!!! Good point.... I guess it just put the rest of N.A. on hold for a while!!!

 

[Ado]

I try to get excited about hunting in Australia - and fail...

After four years of annual safaris in Africa there is just nothing to beat it...

I am an addict. Not sure if there is a support group I am meant to join, but even if there was we would all just talk about the wonderful memories... And then go home and book the next safari!

Addicted and ruined... And loving it!

Ado

 

[BigSteve57]

We went to Africa because we love to hunt and we were looking for an adventure totally different than those we have had in the past.
So, now having been, hunting Africa hasn't really spoiled me for hunting in NA as I have barely scratched the surface here.
What I can say is that after 30 years I am thoroughly bored with hunting NA whitetail deer.
At this point, I would just as soon go to the grocery market and buy it.

We would like to see & hunt Alaska, Northwest & Western USA and Canada for Antelope, Elk, Moose & Caribou.
Lately, we're been doing a lot of goose hunting on the Maryland Eastern shore (Chestertown area).

 

[Divernhunter]

I was pretty tired of the deer hunting in Calif before I went to Africa. I enjoyed hunting pronghorns in Wy and still do. My Calif deer tag never left the house last year. The hunting is poor and the crowds large.

Yes I miss Africa.

 

[lwaters]

Africa spoiled me but there are still reasonable priced hunts in North America. Black bear, Pronghorn, Whitetail and Mule deer. Can still be hunted for a fair price in alot of states. I hunted free range Barbary Sheep in Texas for $3500 not a bad price for a sheep hunt. Where they charge the bucks is you trophy Elk, Moose, Sheep, Caribou and Grizzly-Brown bear hunts. Africa can beat these in price and comfort. Also check Texas for feral hog, Nilgai and the Oryx. Considering you get the meat these are fairly priced.

 

[Bert the Turtle]

Africa doesn't ruin American hunting. It does however significantly raise the bar with regards to level of service. If I want to hunt, I can shoot a deer at home. But if I want a hunting vacation, Africa looks better than most (not all) domestic offerings.

 

[jeff]

I try to get excited about hunting in Australia - and fail...

After four years of annual safaris in Africa there is just nothing to beat it...

I am an addict. Not sure if there is a support group I am meant to join, but even if there was we would all just talk about the wonderful memories... And then go home and book the next safari!

Addicted and ruined... And loving it!

Ado

Yes there is a support group for people with our addiction and you have found it right here!! AH

 

[smp005]

I admit I definitely prefer Africa but I also enjoy hunting in NA as well.. Part of it is the adventure but the big part is less hassle and complication - private v.s public, season dates, tag draws, etc... Have one rancher get in your face yelling that you are trespassing when you are on public ground that his family has leased the grazing right to for a 100 years and he thinks he owns it..

So many of the "Guides" I have had in the lower 48 are either young boys or out of work cowboys. Doing your home work on NA Outfitters is extremely critical and the best ones are charging the same as a 10 day PG/Buff hunt for a chance at ONE Bull Elk..

Besides - I LIKE hunting in shorts

 

[kal]

Smp005 that's what my biggest problem is, for the the cost of a guided hunt in na I can get a lot in Africa.

 

[Big5]

@Velo Dog, brilliant piece of prose! A short story that explains it all. I must however point out one aspect that you missed concerning the Alaskan hunt. Somewhere around day 3 or so, there's just nothing quite like waking up and finding your hunting buddy who has woke just slightly ahead of you and is standing close by scratching his under carriage and cutting a loud particularly foul fart generated by the fine camp faire you've been enjoying.

Boy, that sure does tell it like it is. That same morning stage show is the very reason I make sure I'm the first one up and out . . . okay, okay, maybe I have been the one who will occasionally blow reveille on my 'butt trumpet' while leaving the tent.