Fast / First Responders

[Second Wind]

As a true novice in the art of hunting in Africa I become a bit perplexed the more I read.

My point essentially is this, I see two things, Africa Hunting's guid to Safari Planning which starts a year before the trip and then Great Hunting Deals that are at best 3 to 6 months out.

So, from all the gentle readers I would like to learn this:

If I man controls his own schedule, keeps his rifles clean and his bags packed, maintains his gear and shooting proficiency, has his vaccination card all good to go and his passport handy

Then why isn't more print dedicated to those of us that could, in order to take advantage of a really great price on a hunt, feed the dog, kiss the wife and hit the road on rather short notice.

There has to be a How To on this subject somewhere

 

[sestoppelman]

There really isnt any reason why not. The only fly in the ointment may be the getting of permits and documents from some countries that require them ahead of time. And dont forget airline flight schedules! You wont get good ticket prices on short notice usually.

To just drop everything in your home life and bug off to Africa may not sit well with ones spouse either unless they are prepared for the possibility.
But assuming all the pre-hunt planning is always in flux and the details few, then it should be do-able. Realistically though, even the quick-come-hunt-with-me offers usually allow for enough time to get it all together if one is as you suggest more or less ready to hit the road.

For a first timer it would be best to plan way ahead with the help of a good booking agent who gets his pay from the outfitter end, to help with all the details which are many and varied. Much of the fun is in the planning!

BTW, I am off tomorrow for trip number 6 which has been planned for about a year.

 

[Second Wind]

Thanks for the response and yes, I am assuming more or less that the outfitter or PH is going to offer these "deals" if there is enough time to secure permits etc.

As far as the home front, I traded up on the spouse thing for two labs and a house keeper, the Belgian concubine is still a work in progress however, so the goodbyes are brief.

It just seems to me that all the planning and such is pretty rote once you get in the groove. I am thinking that with 60 days notice a man should be able to get it done.

Further comments or advice are welcome.

 

[enysse]

I planned my first trip in 2008, with no passport at all and booked a trip and was on a plane in 60 days. It worked out fine. Still wish this website was there then!

It can be done and if you are a experienced rifle shooter and very organized handling paperwork.

 

[TOM]

Have you been before? If so, I think your idea is the same as mine! I booked a cape buff hunt and went within 45 days. I can pass along some last minute deals if you would like.

 

[BRICKBURN]

....., feed the dog, kiss the wife and hit the road.

You have written it all.
(Have your shots (vacs) up to date; feel comfortable travelling quick and paying the price for it; have your gun permits in hand from your own country (or just rent one its easier).
Pick your deal and go.

Typically it is not the rookie that will feel comfortable enough to do this though.


Good Luck.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

As a true novice in the art of hunting in Africa I become a bit perplexed the more I read.

My point essentially is this, I see two things, Africa Hunting's guid to Safari Planning which starts a year before the trip and then Great Hunting Deals that are at best 3 to 6 months out.

So, from all the gentle readers I would like to learn this:

If I man controls his own schedule, keeps his rifles clean and his bags packed, maintains his gear and shooting proficiency, has his vaccination card all good to go and his passport handy

Then why isn't more print dedicated to those of us that could, in order to take advantage of a really great price on a hunt, feed the dog, kiss the wife and hit the road on rather short notice.

There has to be a How To on this subject somewhere

I'm not sure what you mean by "more print dedicated" to the subject. But I think you may be coming to the game about 2-3 months late. Here at AH and in other places, cancellation hunts (and some that were truly outstanding values) as well as calendar fillers were being advertised pretty regularly. I don't remember the exact time frame, but it seemed like March and April and probably into May was when you'd see these.

At this point what I think you're going to be looking for if you intend to hunt in 2011 are cancellation hunts. Every so often someone cancels at last minute and suddenly an outfitter is willing to sell the hunt for typically the priced reduced by the deposit the previous client had to forfeit. You just have to check in here regularly to see if any have popped up, specifically go here: GREAT DEALS on Hunts Worldwide or in any other websites where African hunts are advertised. Obviously the greater the deal, the faster it will be scooped up.

Otherwise you'll need to be looking at next March or thereabouts which coincides with the end of show season and before the African hunting season begins. This will be when you see the calendar fillers start to pop up again. Good luck.

 

[vgruan]

SecondiWind,

As a outfitter I wish more clients would do that.. I mean if you talk to them at the show and in 60x days you are hunting! That would just take away the anticipation of hearing back from a potential client. ;-)

60x Days are far more than enough time to get everyhting ready for a hunt.

Enjoy planning your trip and dont hesitate to contact me if you have any questions...

Best regards,

Jacques

 

[fhm3006]

...the Belgian concubine is still a work in progress however, so the goodbyes are brief.

Shame on you....!:shakehead:

 

[BRICKBURN]

60x Days are far more than enough time to get everyhting ready for a hunt.

Jacques, 60 days, I am sure it can be done. If you rent Jacques rifle.

But, if you want your own rifle you need to tell this timeline to the Canadian Foreign Affairs (8 to 12 weeks) for export permit for rifle, scope, ammunition; the Dutch Police (4 weeks for a transit permit for same) or whatever other country you are transiting; PHASA pre arranged gun permits (4 weeks).
Oh yeah, they all want everyone elses permit in hand before they will issue theirs to you.

All of this assuming that you have not made any errors in your paper work or Canada Post does not go on strike in the middle of your application process. Oh yeah, the airline going on strike too.

You need to talk to them all for me Jacques and get them all to "toe the line".

 

[Nyati]

Second Wind, that s just what I do.

However, I have a few advantages,

My booking agent is a good friend of mine, so he knows what I am looking for, and if anything interesting arises, I am the first to know. And some nice offers do come up at the end of the season.

My wife loves hunting and Africa, so she tags along, if possible. If not she encourages me to go.

I have a direct flight from Madrid to Johannesburg, and don t need any paperwork done in advance for my guns.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Hi Second Wind,
Welcome to the forum!

Best Regards
Marius Goosen

 

[Second Wind]

Context

Okay Men,

#1, the "Belgian concubine" reference was a poor excuse at humor, I apologize to all Belgians and concubines who might be reading.

And, after a few off-line e-mails I think a little context may be in order. Although specific, I think you may find a little of everyone contained therein.

First, I have worked like a small sweaty mammal since I was 15. I have survived marriage, divorce, raised 2 daughters alone and built a very successful business.

Call it late onset mid-life crisis or just your standard epiphany but a short time ago the question came up "is this all there is?"

I love to hunt and have all my life, but now I can't even afford to hunt the family ranch in South Texas. We get more for a whitetail buck than an African outfitters asks for a buff and after 57 years I just am not that mad at 'em any more anyway.

So I looked around and had been most places in North America and was struck by something that all of us should take to heart.

I am 57 and by the time I tip for the last time, Africa may be gone and I have decided that I am not going to be one sitting there saying "I wished I had"

Think it can't happen?

S. Texas deer hunting is now priced far outside of the common man's reach.

White wing Hunting in Mexico? here's news, favorite bird gun South of the border now is a Kalashnikov.

Bringing guns into or out of Canada is no longer a task but rather a freaking career

So it may all be slipping off the edge and until and unless SCI gets in the regime change business that maybe how it ends.

But I am going to see it first!

I figure I have 12 -15 years before the wheels go and 2X a year sounds about right.So, my plan is not to spend an inordinate amount of time planning, conniving and thinking on it. I have a great secretary who is going to learn the process and the paper trail and I am just gonna go!

What turned it for me?
I met a bunch in Austin who vowed to fight with their last breath to save habitat for the spotted owl, a bird I am not even sure anyone has ever seen, and when asked, they did not have one clue what the Serengeti Highway Project was. I am thinking that they are not going to be much help in saving Africa.

So that's my plan and rational for it. Wasn't designed to bore or offend. I am working on a 90 day plan right now and by year's end hope to trim that to 60.

I always welcome any tip, bit of advice or comment from anyone who reads this. I have found nothing but true gentlemen on this site and I hope someday to meet at least one or 2 of you at SCI or in the bush.

Thanks

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Gotcha SW. Along the lines of what nyati posted, I think I'd spend some time getting to know who the operators are in the country(s) you are wanting to hunt in. I'd then find out who their booking agents are and contact them. Let them know what you're interested in and that you can go on short notice. I can't imagine a booking agent not putting you on their short list of potential clients to call when a cancellation comes up.

 

[BRICKBURN]

+ONE

Gotcha SW. Along the lines of what nyati posted, I think I'd spend some time getting to know who the operators are in the country(s) you are wanting to hunt in. I'd then find out who their booking agents are and contact them. Let them know what you're interested in and that you can go on short notice. I can't imagine a booking agent not putting you on their short list of potential clients to call when a cancellation comes up.

 

[Nyati]

Second Wind, no explanations needed, you just owe it to yourself to hunt Africa :thumb:

You don t even need a booking agent, just visit the forum regularly and you ll see very good offers from reputable outfitters coming up now and then.

 

[davidarizpe]

White wing Hunting in Mexico? here's news, favorite bird gun South of the border now is a Kalashnikov.

Sad, but true. it is imposible to go hunting this times.

 

[TOM]

I think I could get along with Second Wind pretty well.

 

[Rastaman]

I like to plan a trip every two years. It gives me a year to get trophies in and for everyone around me to get tired of the stories and then to plan the next one. In my mind I am always just getting back or just about to go. However, twice now I have seen a late season offer on elephant and an offer (may have been PAC) on lion that were last minute deals. I spent a few days wondering if I could really pull it off. Second Wind, your list is key. Guns tuned, ammo in stock, clothes are easy, shots and plane tickets. it is a lot to do from scratch.
Im thinking next year I will try a hybrid...I am planning to go between July and September...pack everything and be sitting on ready. When a cancellation or under quota deal comes out I am going to grab it.

 

[Second Wind]

Rastaman,

Really, I have studied on this and it seems pretty straight forward.

The clothes and gear, with a few exceptions, are going to be pretty much the same where ever and whenever you go, just stay packed;

The guns are going to be "light" a .300 win & .375 Holland or "heavy" .375 Holland and .416 Rigby, maintain an acceptable level of proficiency with regular practice;

Go ahead and get your vaccination card complete and have the malaria meds. on hand;

Collect the goody bag for the team, knives, sharpeners, t-shirts, caps etc. and have it ready to throw in your bag;

Couple of tricks I have learned about so far:

South African bank account with US correspondent, make a deposit down the street and it shows in your SA account that you can withdraw or use with your ATM/debit/check card;

Have any and all forms that may be required reduced to MS Word doc. fill them out, print it off and e-mail a copy to yourself for access anywhere you can get on the internet;

The same COM systems that you would use on any business trip, fax to e-mail, locally programed majic jack or net talk, etc
are going to work in most of Southern Africa,

So all the above is set up, in place and good to go

Then, an opportunity comes up, book it. airplane tickets - 2 weeks, permits - 45 days

No, you might miss a few details and you may have to wing it through some bumps,

But where is the adventure in smooth sailing?

More to the point, If I had a dime for every time in the last 20 - 30 years when the call came in that said, "you have to be in
New York, LA, London, Atlanta or Frankfurt with a presentation that at that moment didn't even exist, on Thursday or the World will end I wouldn't be hunting Africa I would own Africa!

My theory now is this, " You just make the leap and build your wings on the way down" I know this is antithetical to the more methodical and organized amongst us and I appreciate their position, but for me, right now, it just seems like the way.

Besides.... What could possibly go wrong?