First hunt planning

[dailordasailor]

Dale - Welcome to SC. We moved here in 2012 and love the state. We're near Greenville if you'd like to drop by, have a drink (coffee or other...), talk hunting in South Africa, look at some trophies, etc... shoot me a PM. If timing works out, you could bring your rifles for some practice "off the sticks" and shoot at longer ranges. I've only done one hunt (2013) but am planning my return. It was AMAZING!!!

1. I needed nothing I didn't already have, but many of my military vaccinations were still current. I didn't need Malaria prophylaxis.
2. No issues with your choice of weapons/calibers. I took my 338 Win Mag, but am confident a 30-06 would've done the job for me on Zebra, Impala, and Blue Wildebeest I took with the 338. I was happy with the Nosler Partition.
3. Yep, I used the Pelican 1750 and it worked just fine. I did choose the one with wheels and recommend it.
4. You'll eat some and the rest will be sold. Our chef was phenomenal and I looked forward to dinner every night. I know some go just for the hunting, but the food was beyond my wildest expectations. My father asked for liver and she cooked impala liver for breakfast the next day. I wanted "Rocky Mountain Oysters" from my buffalo...and they tasted way better than they had any right to.
5. My PH's brother is a taxidermist so we dropped off the trophies on our way to the airport. Prices were reasonable and quality acceptable.
6. Potentially you'll "overnight" in Jo'berg. We stayed at a very cool and historic B&B and the price was embarrassingly low. We also stopped by Zimbi Books/Guns for some post-hunt shopping.
7. I used an importer to clear my shipment through customs/USDA and forward it from Atlanta to Greenville. Money well spent.
8. You can do it for $10K. I had a nice experience with Louis Van Bergen of Spiral Horn Safaris and notice he now offers hunt/taxidermy all-inclusive hunts. One thing I would ask is what refund is expected if a particular animal isn't taken. Some places offer a percentage of the trophy fee as a refund.

The direct flight from Atlanta to Jo'berg made things easy. We paid a little extra for Economy Comfort (extra leg-room) and will do so again next time. I also looked for an outfit that would pick me up at the airport so I wouldn't lose time/baggage on another in-country flight. My PH also took care of expediting my firearms through SAP; nice touch.

Best Regards,

Matt

My parents retired in Belton so I'm out there every few months. Would love to take a look at your mounts and hear some stories! Would only help make mine and my fiances desires to go to Africa more intense

 

[jbeach]

Dale, welcome to South Carolina and to the AH forum. You have already received a lot of good answers so I will not rehash any but will add a couple of things. In addition to some of the fine outfitters that are members of this site, another option you may look at is local auctions. I bought my first African hunt at a local SCWA auction, and got it at a great price. Sometimes these smaller auctions don't generate the prices for Africa hunts like the big ones do because a lot of folks are just looking at local stuff. I don't know what part of SC you are in, but SEWE, South East Wildlife Exposition , is at Charleston next weekend, the weekend of the 14th. SCWA and Lowcountry chapter of DU usually have a benefit/auction oyster roast that weekend. The outfitter that I hunted with and am going back with this year usually has a plains game hunt up for auction, and he is an exhibitor at the show. I can highly recommend him. If you are in the are or come down for the event let me know. Maybe we can get together for a drink and I can probably wet your appetite for Africa even more than it already is.

 

[dailordasailor]

I live in north myrtle beach. Looking at schedule for that show and don't see any auction except for decoy. When would safari auctions be?

 

[billc]

I would tell you to be careful with any auction hunts. It can be a good way but can also end up costing you more. If you don't have a good plan you can get to basic of a package and till you add days and animals you will be paying more then booking with someone else.

Most packages are basic and never cover all you want. You will then find most outfitters plan on making there money on the extra day fees you may add which they will not discount and animal fees at top prices.

You can find some good ones just know what the hunt is really worth not what they say the value is and make sure you know what the other cost will be to get the hunt you want in the end

 

[jbeach]

Dale, the Ducks Unlimited Oyster Roast is on Friday night at 6PM, I think you can find tickets on the SEWE web site. The
South Carolina Waterfowl Association Annual Duck Shuck Oyster Roast is on Saturday night at 6 PM. Both have auctions and I would think at least one African hunt would be offered. Let me know if you need some help finding things, etc. .

 

[jbeach]

Bill is right to be careful, always buyer beware, and I am not trying to undercut him, you need to investigate all options. However, I have dealt with the one I am recommending and am going back, so it takes some of the guess work out of it. I am sure Paw Print Safaris would be great and may even prove less expensive, I don't know. Just trying to let you know what worked for me.

 

[billc]

Jbeach don't worry about me not everything I say is meant to get business for paw print. I have seen the auction hunts go both ways and that's why I brought it up. Can work if you do your homework but the trend has been guys way over valuing what they say the hunt is worth. then you end up with high day fees and animals that cost way more then you may have paid else were.

 

[Royal27]

Jbeach don't worry about me not everything I say is meant to get business for paw print. I have seen the auction hunts go both ways and that's why I brought it up. Can work if you do your homework but the trend has been guys way over valuing what they say the hunt is worth. then you end up with high day fees and animals that cost way more then you may have paid else were.

Bill is right. Auctions can be a great deal, but just because you get one for "half price" doesn't mean you are getting a deal. I would argue that you really need to know what you are doing before buying a hunt, or anything else, on auction.

It is easy to overpay, and you won't necessarily know anything about the outfitter....

You can also get a really good deal. It just pays to be cautious!

 

[jbeach]

Bill, I agree with you. I was just letting him know what worked for me. There are good and bad, and I would not have even mentioned it if I had not had personal experience with it. You are correct and we are both just trying to help.

 

[dailordasailor]

I'm not prepared to purchase anyhow, just thought would be good to see what they offer.

Jbeach, who did you use?

 

[jbeach]

Shi-aweila, Ken and Jo Ball. They are family owned and operated. There are a lot of good folks out there, just was letting you know of one good experience. There are many many options. Good luck.

 

[Spear Safaris]

Unfortunately I bought and sold my first home in 2014 and moved from NY to SC for an opportunity for a promotion and a loss on my house. Due to this I'm looking at 2017 hunt. This will be my first guided hunt, and definitely my first time in Africa. I hunt whitetail/wild boar as much as possible but of course Africa has always been a pipe dream. Im in a financial/career position to finally make my first trip in a couple years when recover from my loss on my home.

The questions are many and hoping for some guidance for myself and my fiance to help us plan for our first trip of many I'm sure.

1. What do we need to do for the sake of health/vaccination for the trip?

2. I have my grandfathers Model 99 300 Savage and my "go to" remington 700 in 30-06. I am going for a budget hunt of plains game. Only requirement being i want at to hunt 5 animals, and at least one of my desired 3 must be part of the 5. (Gemsbuck, kudu, warthog). I want to take at least one animal with the 300 savage if not more as a momento to my late grandfather who hunted with it for 30+ years. Should those two rounds be an issue? Suggested loads/weight for each?

3. Whats the suggested gun case for traveling? I've looked at pelican cases. The ones in the $200 range suffice or whats the go-to for a two-gun case?

4. From all my readings i havnt seen what actually happens with the meat from the game taken? Is it given to locals? Sold? Etc? I assume it cant be sent back to the US safely.

5. This is going to be 100% a budget hunt. Just an opportunity to get my feet wet until i am able to spend higher amounts. I am planning purely to go for European mounts and tanned hides. Is it cheaper for the tanning/shipping to have that done in south africa or is it still better to have salt/packed there and shipped to US? Plan to do the Europeans myself as most of the work is done when they prepare it to ship over.

6. I know there are many costs to factor in, and unfortunately this first one needs to be at the minimum cost possible. Aside from the hunt package, adding an observer, tips, two flights, taxi/salt/packing, what other hidden costs do i need to factor into budget?

7. Once i get quote on taxi/salt, is there costs when recieved in US or in other ways? Can it come directly to my home?

8. A very loaded question but a big one, is there a suggested PH/Service for beginner package at budget price? I know from reading that people say you can have full budget hunt for $10,000, is that feasible?

Thank you for any help, reading the forum has already helped greatly!

Dale Perry

 

[Spear Safaris]

Hello Dale. We can assist you for a 7 days plains game hunt well within your budget. We have been members of PHASA and SCI for over 2 decades and pride ourselves in sustainable ethical hunting practices. Send us an email so that we can discuss your options. Have a great day.

 

[owenowen]

Hello Dale,

Feel free to private message me ill send you references and a quote ( your budget and weapons are fine ).