We never should have went hunting in Africa

[Tra3]

I told someone just the other day. Once you've been to Africa and Australia, sitting in a deer stand kind of loses it's appeal!

But we continue hunting in a deer stand. And hiking mountains. And waiting in the rain. We do it because we love to hunt, to be outside, to know where we sit on the food chain when the familiar weight of a rifle fills our hands.

@BeeMaa you are right, Africa makes the low-opportunity hunts back home less enticing. But the adventure is still there. The gambler’s hope of a big score lurks behind that next copse of trees or over the next hillside.

I am thankful that I got to hunt a lot before going to Africa so I could have an accurate measure of just how great the experience is.

@Red Leg I’m taking the wife and kids to caprivi with Jamy Traut Safaris (Louw Lotter PH) in late June. It will be my non-hunter wife’s first Africa trip....

 

[slam8031]

I have also been diagnosed with the illness...
I hunt in South Carolina and we have a long season for deer--we eat what we hunt--25 years of not ever buying ground beef...four children--many here know the drill.
However, first day on the ground in April 2012 in the Limpopo, I realized one time would not be enough! No. 4 is in the works!
Spent five days in Colorado chasing after elk in November--and saw two shooters in 5 full days hunting--fantastic adventure with no elk coming home, and yet Africa screams out ...
my wife would never venture in the rain of Alaska or up and down mountains after elk, but she has had three fantastic trips to RSA (and the kiddos were there too!).

 

[TNDave]

Have been to RSA twice, once working a long project and finally made first safari in 2018. Will be leaving in June for second safari, 2021 is already in planning stages! Don’t have a lot of disposable income so most are PG animals, however, in 2024 will be turning 65 Lord willing and am wanting to go for my 2 top list animals, Sable and Cape Buffalo! By this time my grandson will be 8 years old and would love to take him with me, we got his TN lifetime sportsman license for his 2nd birthday!
@BeeMaa I couldn’t have said it better. Spent many long hours in the stand the last 3 months with not a lot of success but I feel so blessed just to be able to get out and enjoy God’s beautiful creation!

 

[TNDave]

I have also been diagnosed with the illness...
I hunt in South Carolina and we have a long season for deer--we eat what we hunt--.

@slam8031, What part of SC? We lived in Aiken area 30 years ago and the deer, turkey and quail hunting was great. Lost all my hunting contacts in SC and would love to find some good hunting grounds there again.

 

[meigsbucks]

You are now one of us, addicted to Africa. It is truly a special place. It just isn’t the game and hunting. It is exposing yourself to different cultures, food, traditions and people.
When I was going on my first safari, a friend sent me a note: “You aren’t going on a vacation. You aren’t going on a hunt... you’re going on a SAFARI!”
Africa has certainly spoiled me. I’m of the age and condition where chasing elk up mountains isn’t going to happen. I still want to collect a moose and maybe a black bear with a handgun and archery. And I still love to sit in a tree stand not only in hope of taking a monster buck, but to enjoy nature.
I’ve been to Africa twice and hope to get back for safari three... and four sometime.

 

[BeeMaa]

Hunting adventures abound no matter where I have hunted.
The stories of getting soaked and skunked or the good times of getting them on opening day in the sun.

The hunt is not so much about the harvesting of the game, but the hunt before the hunt.
The prep work, getting the gear right, practicing with the rifles...
The stalk, reading the wind and the animals behavior...

Seeing so many more animals on just one safari has taught me so much more than I have learned in decades of Deer seasons.
OK, maybe not the 40+ years I've been hunting Deer, but you get the point.
Learning the different animals and the terrain is just some of what is drawing me back.
There is just something about that red dust.

I will continue to hunt here in the US and other countries as well...but they will all be compared to Africa.

 

[Pheroze]

I really want to hunt my home country of Canada in areas other than my own camp. I want to see and hunt in those amazing places Canada offers. But, it's hard to justify, and that genuinely makes me sad. For the price of a bear hunt (2 tags) with a very reputable outfitter in BC, I can hunt a week and many different species in RSA or Namibia. The plus for Canada is the flight time and no international travel. The additional plus for many African countries are the incredibly professional and knowledgeable PHs. I don't believe North America has the equivalent professionalism. Sigh.

 

[WAB]

BeeMaa I have it as well. I went for a once in a lifetime buffalo hunt in Zambia. I have now been on nine safaris in seven countries. It just seems to keep getting worse. I see no hope of a cure!

 

[BobT]

I know the feeling! I will probably always hunt locally but I lack the enthusiasm that I once had. Last year I only hunted 4 days of firearms deer season and 3 days of the alternative weapons season. I had archery tags also but haven't gone once and doubt I will. Since going to Africa, hunting at home just hasn't been the same. I would still like to do a black bear hunt and continue to look at North Carolina, Idaho or British Columbia for that but overall not much interest for other north american hunts.

 

[leslie hetrick]

MAJOR KHAN, I love the way you call the assholes that run India today. they are a waste of spit. as far as hunting Africa, I went first in 2013 and on my sixth hunting trip in 2019. and have found it like a hunters heaven.

 

[grand veneur]

I hunted very often in Africa but also in many other places in the world , without one hunt influencing the other. I always adapt very well in the right moment to the local conditions.

I can easily hunt in Africa with all the comfort that comes with it and then continue hunting in Central Asia , in the mountains , in the cold , on the horseback , sleeping in a tent on the hard ground at night , wear the same clothes and not washing myself for a few weeks.

 

[slam8031]

@slam8031, What part of SC? We lived in Aiken area 30 years ago and the deer, turkey and quail hunting was great. Lost all my hunting contacts in SC and would love to find some good hunting grounds there again.

Mostly Orangeburg County! Deer and turkey populations are pretty good here!

 

[Ridgewalker]

Personally I consider Africa (at least RSA) an old man’s hunt. I started at 69 going to Africa with friends and will be on #5 this summer with my granddaughter.

I’m glad I have lived 45 years in Colorado with lots of public land to hunt. It has allowed me to scout many weekends before I actually hunted increasing my opportunities for success. I plan to keep hunting, but maybe not so much killing because then the work really starts. That’s when I miss being young again.

I have taken several younger guys hunting with me only to have them never go again. Reason, it was too hard the way I hunted. To much walking up and down mountains and climbing over deadfall. No longer can I do it as well. But I still enjoy just being out there.

If I die out there alone, then my family won’t have to deal with me and they will know I went happy doing what I love!

Live your passion wherever it takes you! JMO

 

[mikecatt13]

Just sold my racecar I thought I'd never sell yesterday...for the Africa fund. Im quite good at selling things but awful and deciding to sell them if that makes sense lol. Was easier knowing it was for a dream I once thought might not happen for many years.

I've hunted Texas for 10 years now, lucky enough to have become very close with landowners so what started as a 4 day hunt is now "enjoy my vacation until I get my deer" which has been up to 2 weeks.

I imagine adding Africa to that Texas arrangement I'll be even more hesitant to book other US hunts. The experience and adventure is a huge part, but I'll probably start doing some DIY hunts here in the US so I can get the experience and adventure for cheap and save the budget for Africa

 

[Terry Blauwkamp]

The "biggest" lie I ever told my ex-wife in 1985 was that "this was a
once in a lifetime opportunity"..

ya right..... since then I have only missed 3 years in returning.

 

[leslie hetrick]

old hunters are like old trappers, they don,t die they just smell that way.

 

[Wade J VanGinkel]

Personally I consider Africa (at least RSA) an old man’s hunt. I started at 69 going to Africa with friends and will be on #5 this summer with my granddaughter.

I’m glad I have lived 45 years in Colorado with lots of public land to hunt. It has allowed me to scout many weekends before I actually hunted increasing my opportunities for success. I plan to keep hunting, but maybe not so much killing because then the work really starts. That’s when I miss being young again.

I have taken several younger guys hunting with me only to have them never go again. Reason, it was too hard the way I hunted. To much walking up and down mountains and climbing over deadfall. No longer can I do it as well. But I still enjoy just being out there.

If I die out there alone, then my family won’t have to deal with me and they will know I went happy doing what I love!

Live your passion wherever it takes you! JMO

Personally I consider Africa (at least RSA) an old man’s hunt. I started at 69 going to Africa with friends and will be on #5 this summer with my granddaughter.

I’m glad I have lived 45 years in Colorado with lots of public land to hunt. It has allowed me to scout many weekends before I actually hunted increasing my opportunities for success. I plan to keep hunting, but maybe not so much killing because then the work really starts. That’s when I miss being young again.

I have taken several younger guys hunting with me only to have them never go again. Reason, it was too hard the way I hunted. To much walking up and down mountains and climbing over deadfall. No longer can I do it as well. But I still enjoy just being out there.

If I die out there alone, then my family won’t have to deal with me and they will know I went happy doing what I love!

Live your passion wherever it takes you! JMO

I've told my children that if by chance I do die out hunting, perhaps wait a few days to bring me back. They might be able to use me as bait and pick off a few coyotes in my memory. Lol

 

[Rum Runner]

Yep, I have the same problem. Not only did I make it to Africa last year, I went to Tanzania! Eight animals in eight days, including taking two buffalo within 30 seconds. Include the year before year here in Nevada, I scored a Desert Bighorn! Now what? What compares to that? I'm forever spoiled...

 

[mdwest]

v

 

[cpr0312]

Went in 2011 for my "one time deal", 2020 will mark trip number 7

I like many others know exactly what you are talking about!