Good Deal or Bad Form?

[BLJC30]

I won an auction for my Safari that I will be taking in 2023 and I got it really cheap. I have locked in my dates and plan to take the whole family. There will be another auction between now and the trip next year.

My question is, would it be bad form for me to try to win the next auction to help pay for one of my family members? I know they donate these hunts knowing people that win will spend more money when they get there. However, I got this trip cheaper than the weekly observer fee will be for one member of my family and it included 2 animals.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

Be careful or you may get exactly what you pay for...

 

[thi9elsp]

If its with the same outfit I wouldn't do it. Most of those who offer the donated hunts are on the up and up. Part of the business model is that you bring others or hunt additional animals. Frankly, if you bought a second one 'cheap' to cover some of those traveling with you, I would tell you no you can't use it. But, that's just me. I guess the question is, "Would you ask the outfitter up front how they would feel if you did it?" If your answer is "No, you wouldn't ask." Then you know your answer. If you would ask them, then ask.

BTW: I've bought two auction hunts from DSC. Shoot additional animals and paid for my wife as observer to join me. I also purchased advertisements in the convention magazine the next year thanking the outfit for their donation and including photos of my success.

 

[TucsonFX4]

I don’t think I would try to win a second cheap auction if it’s the same outfitter.

 

[Safari Dave]

I would not recommend trying to go on the cheap by buying two donation deals with the same outfitter.

These guys are giving away "loss leaders", to try to get long term, profitable clients/hunts.

 

[BLJC30]

Thank you! That’s what I figured and the way that I was leaning. Just thought I would get the opinions of more experienced guys on here.

 

[fourfive8]

Good deal or bad form?- neither actually. Re-think the perspective.... it may be just the oppposite of what you are thinking. I wouldn't worry about the outfitter viewing it as bad form. He would be perfectly happy selling all the auction hunts to one person or several- makes little difference to him. Also think about the whole process like this: would an outfitter feel greater or lesser obligation toward a deeply discounted hunt? Hope it works well for you.

 

[Scott CWO]

Good deal or bad form?- neither actually. Re-think the perspective.... it may be just the oppposite of what you are thinking. I wouldn't worry about the outfitter viewing it as bad form. He would be perfectly happy selling all the auction hunts to one person or several- makes little difference to him. Also think about the whole process like this: would an outfitter feel greater or lesser obligation toward a deeply discounted hunt? Hope it works well for you.

I won an auction for my Safari that I will be taking in 2023 and I got it really cheap. I have locked in my dates and plan to take the whole family. There will be another auction between now and the trip next year.

My question is, would it be bad form for me to try to win the next auction to help pay for one of my family members? I know they donate these hunts knowing people that win will spend more money when they get there. However, I got this trip cheaper than the weekly observer fee will be for one member of my family and it included 2 animals.

Yes, bad form. Your family members are already booked on the trip. The outfitter is looking for other new customers and may not allow the substitution and if he does, it might be a negative feeling for him.

 

[Hunt anything]

I wouldn’t do it, I took an auction hunt in 2021. We had a great experience, while talking to the outfitter he told stories about past winners only shooting the auction animals and refusing to shoot extra animals, the way they recoup some of the money. Mine was a roan hunt and I added a couple of extra days and 5 more animals. He also said he would think twice about accepting a third party Hunter as he had 2nd hand stories about some of nightmares with that as well.

 

[BLJC30]

. He also said he would think twice about accepting a third party Hunter as he had 2nd hand stories about some of nightmares with that as well.

Forgive my ignorance, but what is a 3rd Party Hunter?

 

[BLJC30]

I appreciate the opinions and will not be trying to win another auction. Also, as an FYI... we are hunting more animals than the package includes and are also taking one of their 2 day Safaris through Kruger.

 

[Hunt anything]

3rd party hunter; example is I buy an auction hunt and sell it to another hunter for more than I paid for it.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Yes, bad form. Your family members are already booked on the trip. The outfitter is looking for other new customers and may not allow the substitution and if he does, it might be a negative feeling for him.

I agree. Be fair.

 

[Berettaco]

I’d just ask the outfitter for pricing for additional hunters.
I won an auction safari from an NRA banquet - all that was included was the day fees - no animals included. Granted the day fees are usually around $100 per person x 4 so that does add up quickly.

 

[BLJC30]

Granted the day fees are usually around $100 per person x 4 so that does add up quickly.

The daily observer fees for this hunt is $200 per person and $400 for the hunter. However, they did tell me that if my kids wanted to hunt then they could just pay the daily observer fee and trophy fees for any animals harvested.

Other than my additional trophies, my hunt is paid for. So, I will be paying an additional $600 per day for my wife and both kids plus the kids trophy fees.

 

[Milo]

Bad form, and it may actually not even be allowed. Check the terms and conditions - many auctions state that the purchased hunt cannot be combined with any other hunt.

Everybody wants a good deal, but the deal has to work for everybody to be good.