Not considering Africa anymore

[Deleted member 104187]

I ran the numbers its outside of my budget. I’ll keep reading the posts here I like reading. I like learning. Good luck to all that are going I’m jealous.

 

[revturbo9967]

The cost can be very much a problem for many. Do you pay for hunts here in the states?

 

[JimP]

Just keep crunching those numbers.

I did my first hunt at 62 and my second at 69, so there's hope

 

[autofire]

I ran the numbers its outside of my budget. I’ll keep reading the posts here I like reading. I like learning. Good luck to all that are going I’m jealous.

Check prices for culling hunts. I find culling prices extremely reasonable and often PH will give you the hide or skull for no additional charge.

 

[uplander01]

Don't forget to go to your local SCI dinners, heard stories about guys getting plains game deals for very little. Don't give up,....it is an expensive activity, but very worth it. I can say as a working man, it's a choice between safari and other things. There is a vast difference in costs of hunts depending on where you go and what you hunt. If you go by yourself you could have a hoot of a time shooting a few plains game animals on a 5-7 day deal with airfare would cost you around 10ish all in....just stay away from importing a bunch of stuff and taxidermy. You really can't even do a bull elk hunt for 10k anymore.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Good that you know your financial limitations. I find it shocking the extent of credit card debt in North America, especially among younger people. Money problems break up ten times more families than adultery. You only live once but how you live affects your loved ones. We should never forget we are being watched ... by our kids.

 

[Daniel Cary]

I ran the numbers its outside of my budget. I’ll keep reading the posts here I like reading. I like learning. Good luck to all that are going I’m jealous.

LIkewise .. I read reports, tips from members & they're battery, respectively.

 

[grand veneur]

Hunting in Africa is not the ultimate hunt. It is certain that there is a very rich animal world and therefore many different game on this continent, but it remains a hunting that does not require too much physical effort and therefore always has a tourist side. Hunting in subarctic areas or in high mountains requires more effort from a hunter and often has an expeditionary and adventurous character that hunts in Africa no longer have. I was above all interested in hunting in Africa because of the big game and everything that came with it. So far I have only booked big game hunts in Africa and rather than hunting PG, I always preferred hunting Deers or Ibex on other continents. Unfortunately, big game hunting is very expensive and requires that you give up other things, but as always in life, it is all a question of choice.

 

[WAB]

Hunting in Africa is not the ultimate hunt. It is certain that there is a very rich animal world and therefore many different game on this continent, but it remains a hunting that does not require too much physical effort and therefore always has a tourist side. Hunting in subarctic areas or in high mountains requires more effort from a hunter and often has an expeditionary and adventurous character that hunts in Africa no longer have. I was above all interested in hunting in Africa because of the big game and everything that came with it. So far I have only booked big game hunts in Africa and rather than hunting PG, I always preferred hunting Deers or Ibex on other continents. Unfortunately, big game hunting is very expensive and requires that you give up other things, but as always in life, it is all a question of choice.

Generally I agree, however hunting elephant in the Kalahari properly, with boot leather, is one of the most challenging hunts I have done. Different hunts offer different challenges. I lived in Alaska for years. All of my hunting there was DIY. Conditions can make a remote hunt there a daunting adventure in a hurry!

 

[mdwest]

I ran the numbers its outside of my budget. I’ll keep reading the posts here I like reading. I like learning. Good luck to all that are going I’m jealous.

It might take a while.. but don't give up hope.. there are ways to make it happen...

consider bidding on some auction hunts (you don't have to be present to win/bid) at DSC and SCI each year.. set the bar super low.. if you get outbid, there's always next year... don't allow yourself to get sucked into a bid war...

Ive done several international hunts for a pittance (Argentina twice for less than $1200 for 2x hunters.. Peru for about the same.. Ireland for less than $2K for 2 hunters.. etc.. and there are always WAY more Africa auction hunts than there are other locations like South America, Europe, etc)..

And set a savings goal.. even if its just $1K a year, you'll sooner or later get there.. I can show you how you can easily do a basic plains game hunt in SA for example for less than $7K all in, including airfare, tips, travel costs, etc... you're not going to be hunting elephant or rhino for that kind of money... but for $7K all in, you can experience the continent, have a great time for a week, and take a few of the most iconic PG..

or consider alternatives to hunts..

for example, @Bos en Dal SAFARIS is sponsoring a PH course this year in September (there's actually still a seat available if you want it).. for less than $2K you get 10x days of accommodation in South Africa, meals, pick up/drop off from OR Tambo, all of the training materials, the training, etc.. and at the end of the course all of the "new PH" will participate in an Impala or a Blesbok hunt.. that's an incredible deal... and you get so see the continent, experience a legitimate safari camp, spend 10 days with a bunch of like minded people, enjoy the campfire, and also do a bit of hunting..

 

[Deleted member 104187]

The cost can be very much a problem for many. Do you pay for hunts here in the states?

Yes, only locally in New England because I live in the city so I need a turn key hunt. I base the hunt solely on the cost, not quality of the trophy. I’ve been waffling quitting hunting completely lately because I don’t find the value in it anymore or any thrill. To add to that budgetary constraint I’m now facing not receiving my Social Security benefit or sharing a 30% share with Elon Musk so I’m not too happy right now worrying about my enjoyable hobbies. I’m more worried about survival.

 

[Deleted member 104187]

Just keep crunching those numbers.

I did my first hunt at 62 and my second at 69, so there's hope

There’s a lot more to it for me than meets the surface I didn’t include everything in my last explanation because as people who contribute to Internet social media, I don’t really have an actual friendship with people here or any other social media format so why give too much information. I find that to be the better part of wisdom in this context.

 

[grand veneur]

Talking about other people's financial opportunities is difficult, especially if you don't know their source of income. Sure, a few thousand USD or Euros is not very much, but you must to have it and not need that for anything else, which cannot be that easy for many people. I am not from a rich family and know what money is worth when you have little of it. Hunting worldwide and especially in Africa is a luxury that unfortunately not everyone can afford, even if it is offered cheaply.

 

[Deleted member 104187]

Don't forget to go to your local SCI dinners, heard stories about guys getting plains game deals for very little. Don't give up,....it is an expensive activity, but very worth it. I can say as a working man, it's a choice between safari and other things. There is a vast difference in costs of hunts depending on where you go and what you hunt. If you go by yourself you could have a hoot of a time shooting a few plains game animals on a 5-7 day deal with airfare would cost you around 10ish all in....just stay away from importing a bunch of stuff and taxidermy. You really can't even do a bull elk hunt for 10k anymore.

Thank you for your reply. The 10 in my case after my calculations, depending on what the bag would be comes out to more like 15 K and all the preparation work, which if you put a dollar amount on it and last time from work or what you would charge at your profession, it comes out to quite a lot more so yes 10 K on the surface but there’s only other extras getting the shots at the doctor the Taxidermy on the US side and whether or not you have enough wall space which I would never buy a whole new house just to put Taxidermy in so you see how those numbers are geometrically increasing. I left sailing to start hunting. My love. Life has taken a hit because of that , one thing you can say about sailing that you can’t say about Hunting, there were always babes on a sailboat. It’s hard to find one who is OK with Hunting. Like Clint Eastwood‘s character said in Dirty Harry “A man’s got to know his limitations”.

 

[Deleted member 104187]

Talking about other people's financial opportunities is difficult, especially if you don't know their source of income. Sure, a few thousand USD or Euros is not very much, but you must to have it and not need that for anything else, which cannot be that easy for many people. I am not from a rich family and know what money is worth when you have little of it. Hunting worldwide and especially in Africa is a luxury that unfortunately not everyone can afford, even if it is offered cheaply.

Thank you for your understanding. There is a lot more to this for me than just the cost however that requires actual friendship and the trust within that bond this is just a social media format and nobody really knows each other here on the surface so TMI rule is in effect

 

[DieJager]

Depends on what you hunt and if you want taxidermy. If no taxidermy you can have a great hunt, with all expenses including flights for 5 k.

Would love to help you calculate the expenses and give you advice if needed to help fulfill your dream.

 

[Muskox]

I ran the numbers its outside of my budget. I’ll keep reading the posts here I like reading. I like learning. Good luck to all that are going I’m jealous.

Don't jump off the cliff yet doomsday. Plenty of Africa at cheap prices.

You could do a flight for $1500 if you booked it 14-18 months out. Find a package for a 3-5 days for a 2-3 cheap animals for $2500-3000 in Namibia and then self drive up to Etosha Pan for a couple days.

 

[Muskox]

Depends on what you hunt and if you want taxidermy. If no taxidermy you can have a great hunt, with all expenses including flights for 5 k.

Would love to help you calculate the expenses and give you advice if needed to help fulfill your dream.

No taxidermy and just do a cull hunt.

Then a few years down the road come back and do the same thing.

 

[PARA45]

You can do it. My first hunt I saved for 2 1/2 years and made it happened. My wife accompanied me, and we had two wonderful weeks. My second trip (two different hunts) took me a little longer for other reason (10 years), and finally did with some dangerous game in it. I'm going again this year. Oh, and I'm not rich.

 

[pilar]

Don’t give up, do a plains game hunt , adding buffalo bumps the cost $10,000 +/-
And pick a budget friendly country like RSA & Namibia, and not Tanzania or Uganda