First trip to Africa and 1st International Hunt

[JimP]

One suggestion is to have two 4457's, one in your name and one in your wife's. List her rifle and shotgun on hers and your rifles and shotguns on yours. Get two SAP's 520 import permits, one in her name and one in yours. Have your wife carry the ammo for her rifle in her suitcase and likewise your ammo in yours. With only allowed 11 lbs of ammo per person yours is going to add up real quick with those two rifles, if you try to combine them you will be over the maximum before you know it.

 

[Hunt anything]

This could be a whole new thread, @Justin D. has me fired up about shooting waterfowl in Limpopo next August, I have 2 days scheduled for bird hunting but all of the information I can get on seasons is conflicting. It looks like each province has different seasons as expected but it looks like ducks/geese go out on July 31. But dove pigeon is all year and upland goes out at the end of September. My original plan was just guinee and frankolin, but Justin got me thinking which is dangerous for me.

My outfitter is out of pocket for a while and don’t want to bother him on vacation. But he did say last time we talked that August was near the end of the season.

 

[Justin D.]

This could be a whole new thread, @Justin D. has me fired up about shooting waterfowl in Limpopo next August, I have 2 days scheduled for bird hunting but all of the information I can get on seasons is conflicting. It looks like each province has different seasons as expected but it looks like ducks/geese go out on July 31. But dove pigeon is all year and upland goes out at the end of September. My original plan was just guinee and frankolin, but Justin got me thinking which is dangerous for me.

My outfitter is out of pocket for a while and don’t want to bother him on vacation. But he did say last time we talked that August was near the end of the season.

The reason I wanted August is I viewed it like here in the states. If you want prime specimens for the wall, you want to shoot them at the end of the season. That's why I chose August for the best opportunities for prime birds for the wall without pin feathers and slippage while at the taxidermist. It at least made sense in my mind. LOL

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

Understand the rules. Weights of luggage to include ammo, carry copies of your permits, rules for rifles permitted to be used only by the permit holder - these need to be observed. It’s not just getting your rifles there, it’s getting them back.

AirTags with all you gear cases and luggage.

Depending on the airline, there could be a declaration form. Check with the airline. I’ve flown multiple airlines and my Sept trip with Emirates required a form to be filled out, which was simple and made the process really easy. At every check in the agent had my information and my rifles checked all the way through to my final destination. Much better than a recheck in Atlanta... Or delay risks with Delta! Yes, significant PIA with Delta -2 separate trips! Plenty of people will confirm and even recently.

 

[gillettehunter]

My concern was shotgun shells. @LivingTheDream and I hunted in Zambia. Used camp guns and local ammo. The shotgun shells were renamed shitshells by us after watching pellets bounce off of Guinea hens. So my suggestion is don't overload on rifle ammo and take as many shotgun shells as you can fit within the 11 lb limit for both you and your wife. Hopefully your outfitter can find some good quality shells for you to buy from him.
Your .300 will do fine on the eland. Leave the .375 and it's hefty ammo home. Then use that weight savings in shotgun shells.
Good luck and be sure to post a report on your return.
Bruce

 

[Hunt anything]

The reason I wanted August is I viewed it like here in the states. If you want prime specimens for the wall, you want to shoot them at the end of the season. That's why I chose August for the best opportunities for prime birds for the wall without pin feathers and slippage while at the taxidermist. It at least made sense in my mind. LOL

That’s how I look at my waterfowling trips also, I did the Canada thing a couple of times and got a little tired of shooting “ugly” ducks. That’s a great thing about waterfowling in the south end of the flyway. Beautiful birds on the strap, prime on the table and on the wall. Even though the birds can get pretty spooky in the last days of January.

Sounds like you may have a pretty good collection in the making! Who are you going to get to mount your birds from Africa?

 

[Justin D.]

That’s how I look at my waterfowling trips also, I did the Canada thing a couple of times and got a little tired of shooting “ugly” ducks. That’s a great thing about waterfowling in the south end of the flyway. Beautiful birds on the strap, prime on the table and on the wall. Even though the birds can get pretty spooky in the last days of January.

Sounds like you may have a pretty good collection in the making! Who are you going to get to mount your birds from Africa?

I'm hoping Shane Smith will have some room for new clients. I've contacted him but just waiting to hear back from him.

I'll most likely have the big game done in country and then shipped home already complete and ready to hang on the wall.

 

[Hunt anything]

I’ve tried to find a bird taxidermist in South Africa that meets my picky standards but haven’t been able to, I have heard it’s a royal PITA to import birds.

 

[Nyati]

 

[Justin D.]

I’ve tried to find a bird taxidermist in South Africa that meets my picky standards but haven’t been able to, I have heard it’s a royal PITA to import birds.

I'm the same way. I'm SUPER picky about my waterfowl mounts. I do a lot of one of a kind mounts when it comes to habitat and I'm very particular about how I want the birds to look and I will pick out a lot of nit picky things that most people won't. That's just me and my personality unfortunately or fortunately, however you want to look at it. That said, I'm like you, the quality of bird mounts over there just isn't what I'm looking for.

 

[Hunt anything]

does Shane do your birds here? I’ve seen Shane’s work and it is exceptional!

 

[Justin D.]

does Shane do your birds here? I’ve seen Shane’s work and it is exceptional!

No, I had a guy in NC that did all of my birds here and I was really happy with him until he f**ked up my Alaskan King Eiders. By that I mean he skinned them and then they sat in the freezer for almost 3 years. So they were freezer burned beyond repair. For what he offered me to "compensate" for it was basically a slap in the face in my mind for the amount of money I had spent there over the past 8 or 9 years.

 

[Hunt anything]

That sucks, I haven’t mounted any waterfowl in 10 years or so, the last 20 or so I had a guy in Iowa do them. He is fantastic but over worked now. I shot a Western Canada goose in New Mexico last year and I called him, he has a two year wait and large Canada’s were $1500. This would have been my 5th goose of the Canada clan. But I passed and I’m putting that money into my trip next year instead.

 

[jimbo1972]

Hey everyone, just wanted to introduce myself.

I'm headed to South Africa in August 2025 with Reinier Linde of Legelela Safaris. I've never been to Africa and it will be my first hunt. The main thing we're targeting is waterfowl as I'm attempting to complete the Ultimate Waterfowlers International Challenge which requires a minimum of 3 different species from the 6 different continents (15 available in Africa and hoping to get one of each). Africa will be our first of many trips. That said, we'll also be hunting for some plains game while we're there should they present themselves. My wife and I are hoping to get a Kudu, Sable, Eland, Gemsbok, and Nyala. If the opportunity presents itself, we'll take a red hartebeest and Black Impala as well. Rifles we'll be taking are a 30-06, .300 Win Mag, and .375 H&H.

I can't wait for our first hunt. That said, any advice anyone can give to the "wish I knew now what I didn't know then" for your first trip?

Just have fun. May want to consider filming the hunt. Had mine filmed for $200 a day. Did a outstanding job.

 

[Justin D.]

Just have fun. May want to consider filming the hunt. Had mine filmed for $200 a day. Did a outstanding job.

That's crazy! I actually just watched your video today on YouTube. I've been binging hunting Africa shows since May when we found out we were going on this trip. Lol

 

[Global Rescue]

Welcome to the best forum! Enjoy!

 

[TRAVEL EXPRESS]

Welcome to AH, you have picked a great place to begin your journey to Africa. Let us know if you need help.