Out of Curiosity and purily hypothetical. How long is too long? A question for outfitters

[Ridge Runner]

Just to satisfy my curiosity and purily hypothetically speaking.

I would like to here especially from outfitters their perspective on clients, and from clients who have or are contemplating having an extended hunt with one outfitter for 30 days to 40 days. A PG hunter only.

From an outfitter's perspective;

What would you consider as being the optimum length of time for a client to stay at your facility and not be a hendernce to your normal operation?

To take the question a step further the client is fixated on just wanting to primarily hunt 1, 2, or 3 species like common impala, common springbok, and wart, say 10 of a single primary specy, 7 of each of 2 primary species, 6 of each 3 primary species. The client only wants 1 of each species: gemsbok or eland or kudu, wildebeest or hartebeest, and a jackal or baboon.

The client is fairly respectful, meaning not a royal PITA you want to send packing after Day 1 or Day 2 knowing he will be there another 30+ days.

 

[Tokoloshe Safaris]

Question for you is the PH supposed to get any time off during the hunt for himself & vehicle maintenance.

Is the visiting hunter going to be alone. Or have will he have a very bored wife sitting at the lodge.

Lon

 

[IvW]

1 client same ph.....the longer the hunt the more the dynamics change.....more ups and downs.....a lot will depend on the personalities.....for me 18 to 21 days is pushing the limit.....for same ph same client....and that is dg included....only pg the dynamics may get worse....

The personalities, how long you have known each other etc. Will be the main factor....

I could not imagine 21 days with an unknown person and you have a personality clash......

 

[JimP]

While not African related a number of years ago my brother in law and myself ventured onto a 30 day hunting trip for a couple different animals across two states.

After being together for 20 or so days we just needed time apart even after being apart for a few hours each day. And we get along fantastic with each other.

People just get on each other's nerves when they are together 24//7 for that long.

Now on both of my African hunts I couldn't of picked better PH's but the hunts were only 10 days.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

I have done a couple of 21-22 days with same outfitter. I understood the need for PH to take a break and take care of personal matters etc. I had no issue with rotating PHs and hunting not with the same PH all the time for 21 days. I knew and had hunted with the other PHs before.
We were concentrating on specific PG animals and a few DG. Looking for only super mature and or a specific animal.

I have a hunt booked for 2027 with 21 days and have said to PH I will be hunting with. You need a break during the hunt no problem to have another come in for a few days while you attend to personal matters.

21 days or more is a long time for PH not to see family or attend to certain things.

 

[VertigoBE]

Very interesting question. I have done 16 and 20 day safari's, and always considered longer = better. Perhaps a next time I should approach 2 different PH's then...

 

[Ridge Runner]

Question for you is the PH supposed to get any time off during the hunt for himself & vehicle maintenance.

Is the visiting hunter going to be alone. Or have will he have a very bored wife sitting at the lodge.

Lon

Hi Lon,

Hope you are on a full recovery. Can you, or have I missed your latest, update on hopefully when, not if, you'll be back to hunting elephant(?), Or was it a buff(?) that got you.

I started to include more variables, but shied away so I could perhaps get more variables in responses as not all outfitters have the same opportunity to offer nearby/ at lodge fishing.

How about 3 responses:

1) the client is solo
2) husband and wife both hunting
3) husband and wife want 5 days romantic time over the course of their stay.

Outfitter/PH or PH can coordinate with the solo client or couple time off for personal business and vehicle maintenance.

I'll add:
1) both parties have scheduled an add on 3 day beach excursion.
2) time-frame of client's trip mid May through June.

Oh Yeah....WIFI use is minimal....neither will be burning up the outfitter's WIFI watching porn nor will either party will be staying well intoxicated over the stay.

 

[Ridge Runner]

While not African related a number of years ago my brother in law and myself ventured onto a 30 day hunting trip for a couple different animals across two states.

After being together for 20 or so days we just needed time apart even after being apart for a few hours each day. And we get along fantastic with each other.

People just get on each other's nerves when they are together 24//7 for that long.

Now on both of my African hunts I couldn't of picked better PH's but the hunts were only 10 days.

I have done a couple of 21-22 days with same outfitter. I understood the need for PH to take a break and take care of personal matters etc. I had no issue with rotating PHs and hunting not with the same PH all the time for 21 days. I knew and had hunted with the other PHs before.
We were concentrating on specific PG animals and a few DG. Looking for only super mature and or a specific animal.

I have a hunt booked for 2027 with 21 days and have said to PH I will be hunting with. You need a break during the hunt no problem to have another come in for a few days while you attend to personal matters.

21 days or more is a long time for PH not to see family or attend to certain things.

Very interesting question. I have done 16 and 20 day safari's, and always considered longer = better. Perhaps a next time I should approach 2 different PH's then...

Ok I'm going to try not to spoiler alert.

As @JimP and @Mark Biggerstaff have pointed out and why my question is PG only. It's common for clients to spend 14 to 21 days with an outfitter and/or PH on DG only and DG+PG hunts.

@Mark Biggerstaff @VertigoBE

Allow me to ask; hypothetically:

Mutually pre-planned and coordinated:

Your primary PH has turned you over to a relief PH for 2 days during that time you had an ultra fantastic hunt killing a world class record book animal.

Your primary PH has provided memorable hunts, but nothing like your relief PH.

How would you tip your relief PH compared to your primary PH who has been with you most of the time and has provided you some very good trophy animals?

 

[Ridge Runner]

1 client same ph.....the longer the hunt the more the dynamics change.....more ups and downs.....a lot will depend on the personalities.....for me 18 to 21 days is pushing the limit.....for same ph same client....and that is dg included....only pg the dynamics may get worse....

The personalities, how long you have known each other etc. Will be the main factor....

I could not imagine 21 days with an unknown person and you have a personality clash......

Oh so too close on the baiting.....but I'm not biting.......Yet.

Avoiding a spoiler alert.

 

[sureshot375]

No way I could do 30 days with a client who would come up with hypotheticals like this. I’d be ready to ship them back after week 1. Lol.

 

[Ridge Runner]

No way I could do 30 days with a client who would come up with hypotheticals like this. I’d be ready to ship them back after week 1. Lol.

Believe It or Not there is a purpose for this madness.......but not Yeeeetttt.....wait for it.