How many here have successfully hunted the Big 5?

[Green Chile]

Sloth bear and gaur...you don't see that every day.

 

[Green Chile]

Bit of a pattern here on the missing one being Spots. Doesn't surprise me. I'm thinking of starting a support group for our sad lot. Think about it...billions of people that haven't taken a leopard.

 

[Philip Glass]

I know many here have several safaris under their belt and have taken multiple dangerous game, but how many have taken the Big 5?

I’m guessing this is an increasingly exclusive club today as hunting costs continue to rise and rhino hunts become more elusive.

If you’re currently at 4, which animal do you need to complete the 5?

Cheers,

I have taken the Big 5. All are still relatively affordable with the exception of a wild lion. That one is expensive. Rhino, especially dehorned, are easily available. Tuskless elephant in Zim is the most affordable ele.

 

[Philip Glass]

I have four of the five, lacking only a rhino. I just can’t wrap my head around shooting a fenced white rhino, so it’s very unlikely I’ll ever have all five, unless Black Rhinos miraculously become huntable someday. Not sure I could afford a Black Rhino if they ever become huntable, but I’d definitely want to hunt one. I’ve seen five in the wild, all in Zimbabwe in the 1980’s. They’re very neat animals.

All told I’ve shot 10 buffalo, 3 leopards, 2 elephant bulls and a lion. Also dry land hippo and a croc if you consider all the dangerous game.

Why does everyone think rhino are not hunt able? Where does this come from? Black rhino are hunted annually. With a price tag of $400k you don't hear much about it. White rhino are plentiful. Everything will be fenced one day especially in Africa. Go hunt!

 

[Philip Glass]

Are white Rhino only found in South Africa? Only Huntable on fenced ranches?

RSA and Namibia. Most of the hunts are fenced properties but there are exceptions.

 

[Rare Breed]

RSA and Namibia. Most of the hunts are fenced properties but there are exceptions.

In my search for white rhino i found RSA had dehorned at $15,000 and horned at $24,000. These were the lowest prices I found. I just got lucky and won a dart hunt which turned out to be incredible

 

[LivingTheDream]

I have 4, need Spots but hopefully with a bit of luck, I will complete it this July.

 

[ActionBob]

I lack the rhino but I am darting a white rhino in June. I would love to hunt a black rhino but cannot justify the cost.

You can dart a black rhino as well. And a kill hunt for a white rhino is certainly doable. It can be an ok hunt without 100% success. Many people hunt fenced lion, buffalo, and even elephant with similar likelihood of getting one.

 

[ActionBob]

I know many here have several safaris under their belt and have taken multiple dangerous game, but how many have taken the Big 5?

I’m guessing this is an increasingly exclusive club today as hunting costs continue to rise and rhino hunts become more elusive.

If you’re currently at 4, which animal do you need to complete the 5?

Cheers,

I disagree. With some prudent shopping and being prepared to take opportunities when they present themselves, I would argue costs of these hunts are less than they were even 12 years ago.

White rhino is easily done. Even on large thick properties where it can be challenging. Elephant deals can be found, certainly buffalo. Whatch for deals on leopard and canned lion hunts are very cheap. Granted a wild lion hunt can be expensive but check around and it does not have to be out of reach. Especially if you save up a bit longer and add it onto for example a buffalo hunt.

You need the bait so need buffalo, zebra, eland. Etc. Day fees may be higher for a lion hunt than buffalo, but if you pay the lion fees the only expense to add buffalo is the trophy fee and in wild areas once you have the day fees and license paid, buffalo trophy fee add ons are cheap. Give or take $4000.

If someone goes on a $20,000 plains game hunt every year or two and does taxidermy, it wouldn't take all that long to save up for the Big 5. And add on stuff for example definitely do buffalo with lion unless doing a South Africa tracking hunt. When you do rhino, it is typically a 5 day hunt at most so that's potentially a lot of travel expense for a short hunt. For example there is a deal a South African Outfitter is brokering to hunt elephant in Southern Botswana and can add on a rhino dart for a really good price. And no extra travel cost.