Questions regarding Hunt Size

[revturbo9967]

Many have already answered your questions, so ill only add this little advice. I was in a similar position as you when thinking about booking a hunt. I found that searching for the lowest possible price so you can possibly tackle as many animals as possible is not the best route to go (not that you're doing this). I wanted to make the most out of my trip but found how I wanted to hunt (quality and flavor of hunt) did not line up with my budget and amount of animals I wanted to hunt. You do get what you pay for, even with hunting; you may find super cheap deals which look great on the outside turn up to be forgettable experience.

 

[Tanks]

As others have said when going for DG there is nothing wrong with concentrating on that hunt and not going for quantity. of animals. Again, let me emphasize Zimbabwe for a free range buffalo hunt seeing that it does fit your budget.

You are not going to get the SCI award for X number of species after one hunt.

 

[fourfive8]

Mostly good advice so far. You can estimate cost for transportation, daily rate and tips for DG which are more or less set. PG taken will simply add trophy fee, ship and taxidermy per each- so not hard to figure the add-ons to stay in budget. Take and carry a DG rifle that you can shoot well- it will also work fine for PG. The 375 HH and 416 Rem come to mind. A scope in the 1.5-6x range is plenty for either DG or PG.

Not that long ago, I would have included destinations like Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique about equally in your possibilities for an affordable buff hunt in large to free range areas with varieties of PG. Right now I would look at a place like BVC in Zimbabwe. So large that for all intents and purposes, it's a free range environment.

I've done exactly what you are thinking of. Go for buff then see what PG shows up. No need in shooting a buff of any variety then get caught up in a feeding frenzy for PG. Chances are you will see a lot of the PG along the way... which sounds like budget eating ka-ching, ka-ching! If you enjoy this trip, you will be planning your trip back to Africa before leaving- guaranteed. No reason not to start a budget piggy bank while there if it works that way.

My advice is simple- learn to shoot that 375 straight and it will do very well on any PG. Use the right heavy tough bullet with proper bullet placement and it will be fine for buff. KISS! Use same bullet for all. Plan enough time for a relaxed hunt for an old, hard-bossed bull with heavy, worn/broomed, possibly uneven horns- forget spread. Your PH will know exactly what that buff looks like and that description will probably make him smile Along the way if a really good kudu or eland shows up... bonus! with known costs associated. Do not pass up a tracking attempt for a good eland! A good eland bull is, IMO, as impressive as a buff. Take time to relax while there and enjoy Africa. There are any number of places to do a lot of shooting. There's only one Africa. Read Hemingway, Ruark, Capstick, Bell, Selous, etc. Enjoy the planning and anticipation.

 

[Bigugly]

Great advice FourFive8, thank you for that.

 

[Scott CWO]

With a $15k animal budget, I agree with others here that a free range Zim and possibly even Moz safari should be researched. You can find buffalo with plains game safaris in that price range if you look around. You’ve gotten some good recommendations on here. I will be at SCI next week and can ask some of the operators I have hunted with if they can help you if you would like me to do so.

 

[MRBlack]

I don’t dare dabble in debate about dangerous game in South Africa as I have no experience there or anywhere else for that matter. However, I have hunted the Limpopo twice and can recommend 2 outfitters- Philip Bronkhorst Safaris and Mof at Adansonia Safaris. Both run top notch camps and have dangerous game experience.

 

[Hunt anything]

With a $15k animal budget, I agree with others here that a free range Zim and possibly even Moz safari should be researched. You can find buffalo with plains game safaris in that price range if you look around. You’ve gotten some good recommendations on here. I will be at SCI next week and can ask some of the operators I have hunted with if they can help you if you would like me to do so.
You may run into a problem wit a 15,000$ budget in Mozambique, the area that I have hunted required a minimum 4 plains game to be booked on a 10 day package and back then you had to buy the license if available on quota before hunting any extra animals.

 

[wesheltonj]

Go for the Black Death, Black Beauty combo and if you have anything left shoot an Impala or Springbok. I am sure you can find lots of outfitters to accommodate your choice. I would agree find a large continuous property. And who controls the property, so you trophies are not held up over fee disputes

 

[Bigugly]

Go for the Black Death, Black Beauty combo and if you have anything left shoot an Impala or Springbok. I am sure you can find lots of outfitters to accommodate your choice. I would agree find a large continuous property. And who controls the property, so you trophies are not held up over fee disputes

I like this idea .............im thinking if i have a small hit list, those would be two of the best animals to have. AND in the likely event i have a few hundred extra bucks, i can get an impala of a warthog or similar.

 

[Scott CWO]

With a $15k animal budget, I agree with others here that a free range Zim and possibly even Moz safari should be researched. You can find buffalo with plains game safaris in that price range if you look around. You’ve gotten some good recommendations on here. I will be at SCI next week and can ask some of the operators I have hunted with if they can help you if you would like me to do so.

You may run into a problem wit a 15,000$ budget in Mozambique, the area that I have hunted required a minimum 4 plains game to be booked on a 10 day package and back then you had to buy the license if available on quota before hunting any extra animals.

I have hunted PG in C9 at $750 per day plus trophy fees. Buffalo would be more per day. I’ve also hunted R3 in the Niassa Reserve and on the south side of Lake Cahora Bassa. Every area and operator offers different rates and packages.

 

[Nomadx2]

Go for the Black Death, Black Beauty combo and if you have anything left shoot an Impala or Springbok. I am sure you can find lots of outfitters to accommodate your choice. I would agree find a large continuous property. And who controls the property, so you trophies are not held up over fee disputes

Pardon my ignorance, but what is a black beauty?

 

[Hunt anything]

Sable antelope I would guess, they truly are beautiful!

 

[Hunt anything]

Sa

With a $15k animal budget, I agree with others here that a free range Zim and possibly even Moz safari should be researched. You can find buffalo with plains game safaris in that price range if you look around. You’ve gotten some good recommendations on here. I will be at SCI next week and can ask some of the operators I have hunted with if they can help you if you would like me to do so.

I have hunted PG in C9 at $750 per day plus trophy fees. Buffalo would be more per day. I’ve also hunted R3 in the Niassa Reserve and on the south side of Lake Cahora Bassa. Every area and operator offers different rates and packages.

apologies, my previous post left out this was a 10 day Buffalo pkg with hunting license, rifle permit and buff trophy fee included in coutada 10

With a $15k animal budget, I agree with others here that a free range Zim and possibly even Moz safari should be researched. You can find buffalo with plains game safaris in that price range if you look around. You’ve gotten some good recommendations on here. I will be at SCI next week and can ask some of the operators I have hunted with if they can help you if you would like me to do so.

I have hunted PG in C9 at $750 per day plus trophy fees. Buffalo would be more per day. I’ve also hunted R3 in the Niassa Reserve and on the south side of Lake Cahora Bassa. Every area and operator offers different rates and packages.

 

[channelkat]

Thanks for starting this thread (and to all of those sharing their experiences)! I am pretty much in the same boat as you Bigugly. Making my first trip happen this year (spring Hopefully) and buffalo is pretty much my only concern. There is so much data to take in, it feels daunting at times. Going through these old threads now, to come up with a list of questions/ to educate myself before the SCI convention. Hopefully I'll have something inked in by next week! I am glad I found this forum of likeminded hunters

 

[WAB]

Thanks for starting this thread (and to all of those sharing their experiences)! I am pretty much in the same boat as you Bigugly. Making my first trip happen this year (spring Hopefully) and buffalo is pretty much my only concern. There is so much data to take in, it feels daunting at times. Going through these old threads now, to come up with a list of questions/ to educate myself before the SCI convention. Hopefully I'll have something inked in by next week! I am glad I found this forum of likeminded hunters

If buffalo is your primary target and your budget will allow it, I strongly recommend a remote hunt. My first Safari in Africa was in the Upper Luangwa Valley, Zambia. It was an epic trip and remains one of the wildest places I have been in Africa.

I don’t agree with the advice often given, to conduct a plains game hunt first if your true interest is buffalo, as mine was. If you are an experienced hunter, I can’t imagine what you are going to learn on a South African plains game hunt that will make you a better buffalo hunter.

 

[channelkat]

Personally, I'm leaning toward a Masailand hunt (just trying to wrap my head around the price differences), possibly Zim. Seems a big spread on outfitters prices, and I just don't yet exactly know what to ask or how to compare them. I have only ever been on one guided hunt (Chesapeake bay waterfowl) and I felt burned, though it was my fault for not asking enough questions.

 

[Bigugly]

So the reason i am leaning towards the outfitter that I am is I had a very good friend that i trust hunt with them 2 years ago.

I also floated the name of the outfit and the PH and i got good positive responses from here on the forum.

 

[channelkat]

So the reason i am leaning towards the outfitter that I am is I had a very good friend that i trust hunt with them 2 years ago.

I also floated the name of the outfit and the PH and i got good positive responses from here on the forum.

That is exactly the way I would prefer to do it. Have someone I trust give me the seal of approval and inside details. Unfortunately, I don't really have friends willing to put in that kind of time or the money for any serious hunts.

I can't even get friends to shell out for an out of state pronghorn hunt, let alone something like a moose float hunt or cape buffalo hunt that costs thousands and takes months of planning. That is why I am so grateful to find you all and this forum!

 

[Bigugly]

My advice is you look at outfitters/PH's that are sponsors/contributors with this website. They wouldn't be on here if they routinely screwed people over. Good reputation is everything in my book. right up and just as important as price. I could shave $1k-$2k going with someone different but i have nobody that has hunted with them.

 

[channelkat]

Will do! I hope to see some of them in persons at SCI.
I only recently discovered this site. Not sure how I hadn't come across this forum earlier.