Price Negotiations In Field?

[BLJC30]

How often do prices get negotiated while out in the field on animals that you aren't hunting? Does anyone have any experience on that?
I was just thinking that some people are on a budget and typically can't afford a lot of full priced animals outside of their package. Do they try to upsell you and give you deals on other animals when you are out and about?

 

[Hunt anything]

Most negotiations I’ve been a part of have taken place in camp, your PH may not have the power to cut prices unless he is the owner. I have gotten a couple of really good deals towards the end of 2 out of 4 hunts.

 

[BRICKBURN]

You need to understand that an Outfitter is responsible for pricing, not the PH.
There are plenty of individuals playing both roles.
There may be occasions when a PH has authority and knows the pricing.
Ensure you know with whom you are hunting.

You have to pull the trigger to be "up sold". Your decision.

 

[Puddle]

I use the "know before you go" approach. I know what'd be a nice addition, know what makes a nice, representative trophy, the list price, and know the $ %'s discounts that I can afford.

Then, if it happens in the field, it becomes a matter of squeezing the trigger....

 

[Fixfire]

I asked (in camp) and received a 25% discount on a Sable.

 

[Hank2211]

I have asked in the field and in camp, but always for a specific reason.

I was looking for a beautiful nyala skin and saw one on a nyala with a broken horn. I asked my PH to see what he could do on the price, and he actually made a call then and there - got a number I liked, and ended up with a nice rug. Same with a sable skin - in camp, I asked the owner what it would cost to take a sable with broken horns for the skin. We agreed on a price and I went looking for one the next day.

I have also done the same when I've seen animals which for one reason or another looked with either half dead or about to expire . . . in every case, the owner or outfitter made a deal.

I haven't asked, nor would I, on 'real' trophy animals . . .

 

[everett]

Always budget some extra.
I’m pretty good at sticking to my budget. For me, extra money spent on this trip, takes away form the next. On 2 of my last 3 hunts, I was hunting with PHs that were also owners. They offered me super deals on “more expensive” animals that were older or not their biggest when we came across them in the field. Both were good trophies that I wouldn’t have even thought about taking otherwise.
Back to your question, from my limited experience, when hunting with a PH who can negotiate a price, it can happen fairly regularly.

 

[Bert the Turtle]

I was offered a second buffalo at a steep discount while in the field. End of season, nobody else coming so it was sell it or lose it. I took the offer!

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

I have asked in the field and in camp, but always for a specific reason.

I was looking for a beautiful nyala skin and saw one on a nyala with a broken horn. I asked my PH to see what he could do on the price, and he actually made a call then and there - got a number I liked, and ended up with a nice rug. Same with a sable skin - in camp, I asked the owner what it would cost to take a sable with broken horns for the skin. We agreed on a price and I went looking for one the next day.

I have also done the same when I've seen animals which for one reason or another looked with either half dead or about to expire . . . in every case, the owner or outfitter made a deal.

I haven't asked, nor would I, on 'real' trophy animals . . .

Agreed. In my business I am always being asked for discount for no reason other than paying less. I find it distasteful and uncomfortable and always say no.
On a recent hunt where we unexpectedly came across a waterbuck I asked the PH/Owner for a price before I shot, it wasn't even on his listing because they were rare there. He gave me a price, it was fair, so I shot it.

 

[Philip Glass]

How often do prices get negotiated while out in the field on animals that you aren't hunting? Does anyone have any experience on that?
I was just thinking that some people are on a budget and typically can't afford a lot of full priced animals outside of their package. Do they try to upsell you and give you deals on other animals when you are out and about?

Sure it can happen but it will most likely be on higher priced animals.

 

[SLG]

This is not hunting-specific, but I don't think there is anything wrong with asking for a discount. It's your money, not theirs. If they don't want to oblige, no big deal. They either lose the sale, or you are willing to pay what they ask. No reason to be upset or act unkindly either way. Every business has a profit margin and many people are willing to cut their profit somewhat to make another sale, especially when the alternative is no sale. OTOH, some are unwilling regardless. Their business, their choice. It's practically the definition of capitalism.

 

[Hunt anything]

Come to think of it the 2 times I was offered a deal it was just that an offer, I didn’t ask. The first was a Lichtenstein hartebeest for just the Mozambique license fee no trophy fee and the second was if I wanted to shoot a gemsbok that my wife wanted they would throw in an impala or blesbok for free, missed an impala and killed the blesbok.

 

[Berettaco]

I went with a larger outfitter on the first safari and nothing was negotiable “in the moment” as the PHs weren’t allowed to change anything and it would require numerous calls to get it done. My second safari was with a small outfit where the PH was the outfitter and had agreements with large land owners. As we would come across something I was interested in, or something wounded/old/etc he could quickly give me a price - usually at a deep discount or free. I never asked for a lower price but merely inquire about the price and it was always lower than the initial advertised price. I understand that this is a business for them and I’m not there to squeeze them out of their profit margin, but I feel if they offer a cheaper price and it’s something I’m interested in I’ll take it. These discounts aren’t forgotten on my end and will reflect come tip time

 

[Fixfire]

I asked (in camp) and received a 25% discount on a Sable.

To clarify - I asked, after the outfitter stated he was willing to negotiate the price on Sable.

 

[Buffalo1]

Deals can be cut in camp and the field. Some of the variables that I have learned are:

1. Abundance of particular species
2. Condition of the species
3. Number of days left in a hunt
4. Number of days left in a season
5. Number of remaining hunters in a season.

 

[TXhunter65]

I've never asked for a discount on an animal while on safari. There have been a few times the PH who was able to determine price asked if I'd like an animal we'd come across that wasn't on my original wish list, he quoted a price, which was usually below list price, and I shot. I've also had similar experience where I've passed not becuase I wasn't happy with the price I just didn't want to shoot the animal. One of these times was one of my biggest regrets on safari as it was a very nice kudu, lesson learned. Most outfitters provide a price list of animals prior to hunts, I would familiarize myself with prices. It never hurts to ask for prices of animals but I would never expect a discount or try to negotiate one. Especially given the level of service most hunters receive on safari.
I have heard of outfitters offering deals on animals for specific reasons, a buddy was on safari and an outfitter told him he had waaayyyyy too many impalas and the drought had been very bad and he would let him shoot all he wanted for $100 each.....He shot 52 and had an increadable chandelier made from the horns.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

How often do prices get negotiated while out in the field on animals that you aren't hunting? Does anyone have any experience on that?
I was just thinking that some people are on a budget and typically can't afford a lot of full priced animals outside of their package. Do they try to upsell you and give you deals on other animals when you are out and about?

@BLJC30
My son was very fortunate when we hunted Namibia. He was out hunting with the PH/owner when they came across an old cow oryx. My son was told to shoot it but said it's not on his list and dad couldn't afford 2. The owner told him it was a cull because it was old and had a wonky horn and he could shoot it for free. My son didn't need to be told twice. Up came his Howa 308 and down went the oryx. He was able to keep the head and horns that later measured ove 39 inches. He also got to shoot warthog for free as they were needed for the next client for his leopard hunt. One very lucky young man.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I was offered a second buffalo at a steep discount while in the field. End of season, nobody else coming so it was sell it or lose it. I took the offer!

@Bert the Turtle
While not as fortunate as you our group wanted a nice zebra each apart from me. My son wanted one and the going price was more than fair compared to other people's prices. The offer he gave us was that the first zebra was full price any there after could be had for half price. I asked if I could count one as my son's 2nd and was told yes. I got the zebra I always wanted so did my son. The other hunters took 2 each as well
That's what I call a great deal.
Bob

 

[WAB]

I once bought an elephant while on a buffalo hunt in Botswana. It was 2013, hunting was about to close, and there was a tag left. They sold it to me for about 10% of what a Botswana elephant is going for today. To be fair, I didn’t negotiate, I simply accepted the offer.

An interesting aside, the buffalo I took on that trip was the last buffalo taken before the closure.

 

[dailordasailor]

We negotiated in camp on some culls. In the field the PH/Outfitter saw a kudu that didn’t develop how he wanted. He offered half price and when my wife was debating he cut another $50 off. Was only convo we had like that but was also only suprise cull we saw.