Where to next?

[Scott CWO]

Trying to decide on my next hunting trip (probably 2025). South Africa- 3 trips (going to SA in August 2023 for night hunting) & New Zealand 2 Trips.

I am thinking about Alaska for Moose/Brown Bear. But it is really expensive compared to other hunts.

I would love to hunt Zambia but again pricey compared to other hunts.

I have been considering Spain, Canada, Argentina (shot most everything offered), and Africa (Namibia, Zambia, etc.)

On my wish list: Bongo, Lechwe, Ibex, Brown Bear, Moose, Elephant, Roan. All these are out of my price range for now. I am wanting a $10,000 trophy fees. What are some options that will fit my price restrictions?

As you know, you would need to add another $10k to your budget for either brown bear or bongo and could have charter flight costs. You could book well in advance to spread out the cost.

You could watch for a discounted cancellation moose hunt in Alaska or the Yukon for about $20k. I see those come across my desk occasionally. Same for Dall’s sheep.

I’m of no help for goats/ibex. With only so much room for taxidermy, I’ve skipped those species and don’t have the desire for them anyway. I didn’t even hunt ibex when in Tajikistan on my Marco Polo hunt. Sheep are more important to me. I still hope to hunt blue sheep in Nepal.

You could add a side trip to Zambia for Kafue lechwe for under $10k. I know some good PHs, if interested. No charter required from Lusaka.

As others have mentioned, a tuskless cow or nonimportable bull in Zim could work.

 

[DAVE FREEBURN SAFARIS]

Yes, I talked to you about a ranch hunt and choose to do a night hunt in South Africa. Will consider doing a hunt with you in 2025. I priced a black Lechwe and sitatunga but both are on the pricey side but two of the top of my list.

Spanish Roe deer excite me but the Spanish Ibex are low on my list. Alpine, Bezoar, Anatolian Ibex are the ones I would be interested in but the Black Lechwe and Sitatunga is a little higher on the list.

Dave, if I could do Black Lechwe or Sitatunga on my budget it would certainly be one of my top choices!

Yes, both are magnificent animals. Unfortunately Sitatunga are pretty expensive and quite a bit over the $10k trophy fee. If any thing comes up / cancellation etc I will contact you asap.

 

[wesheltonj]

Ibex in the "stan" could be had around the 10k mark.

 

[Justbryan]

Would also consider Australia. Too many choices and too little money.

 

[Green Chile]

With a bit of luck we can hunt brown bears in Romania. After 7 years of banning, our ministry of environment, convinced by problems caused by bears ( 18 peoples killed in the last 7 years and hundreds of peoples mauled) he is ready to open the bear hunting.
I will come back with news.

Brown bear in Romania is something that could really be interesting. I hope it opens for you again. I would be interested if it does.

 

[Trophyhunter01]

I heard at SCI Becitie ibex have a mange outbreak really hurting the population. If Becitie are reduced pricing for Gredos will be going up baesd on supply And demand.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Alaska rates are borderline crazy IMO.

For nonresidents, yes. If blows my mind what people pay to come up here and hunt. My hunt to RSA was less than half a moose hunt here in SW AK that I basically get to do for free.

 

[Green Chile]

Alaska hunting has REALLY changed in the last 5-10 years. I should have done more when I lived there but it's not like you can just drive to the hunt in most cases. People don't have a good understanding of the scale of Alaska and how to get around in it.

 

[WAB]

For nonresidents, yes. If blows my mind what people pay to come up here and hunt. My hunt to RSA was less than half a moose hunt here in SW AK that I basically get to do for free.

Yep, I paid $25 for my grizzly tags. Everything else was free. I absolutely would not pay the fees the outfitters are charging. I simply limit my Alaska hunting to tags that don’t require a guide now that I’m not a resident. I am fortunate to still have access to boats and planes so DIY is the cost of a plane ticket, hunting license and fuel.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

@WAB A few years back, in our area, they did away with the 25 dollar tag and up the limit to 2 per year. So all that is needed, as a resident, is your hunting license.

I was a public school elementary teacher when I moved to Alaska. It was rewarding in many ways, but not so much so financially. Moving to Alaska was one of the smartest things I have done as an adult.

 

[Green Chile]

It's tough when you look at someone who wants a big bear for example and doesn't have residency. A good friend is in Kamchatka right now...and the weather has not been helpful...they are having trouble finding bears and just moved 500km overnight to change their luck. This is after the hunt was rescheduled 3x for Covid, etc, etc. He also went to Kodiak 2x and didn't get one. He says he's cursed on bears. None of this is cheap. He did get a LDE in Cameroon this year in his first effort so I still say he's way ahead!

 

[375Fox]

I heard at SCI Becitie ibex have a mange outbreak really hurting the population. If Becitie are reduced pricing for Gredos will be going up baesd on supply And demand.

It was visible in some ibex when I hunted beceite ibex in 2022. Wolves have unfortunately moved into gredos and can’t be hunted, so they will have an effect on gredos ibex population now too. Ronda and SE ibex apparently have the manage too unfortunately.

 

[Sourdough]

@Justbryan

Congrats on some great hunts so far.

Treat life as if there is a giant asteroid headed for Earth. An extinction event asteroid. The government hasn't warned us because what's the point.

So screw what it costs, do the one first that speaks strongest to your heart and soul. We all have an expiration date and we have no idea when that is. Live your life as if there is no tomorrow.

 

[Philip Glass]

Most of your wish list is out of your price range sadly. Namibia for more PG or Zim for tuskless or non-exportable bull May be all that fits

 

[Green Chile]

True but there's nothing wrong with tuskless. It's a unique experience and one of the best bangs for the buck in all of Africa.

 

[DLSJR]

Given your cost restrictions, Bongo and Brown Bear/Moose will be at the bottom as they’re both very expensive, each costing well over $30,000 before any trophy fees get added on. All in, expect either hunt to cost $45,000-50,000.

As some have mentioned, there are elephant options that could work (as long as that $10,000 figure is just trophy fees, like you said and not an all-in cost). Zim or Namibia will be your best bets. Own use elephant bull hunts in Caprivi can be had for around $20,000 +/-, all in.

One hunt you may wish to consider would be plains game, No LDE, in Cameroon. I’ve seen some interesting offers that included Roan and Savannah buffalo plus a few other animals for a surprisingly affordable cost.

Spain is on my own list for one of these days. When I do it I’ll probably combine Gredos Ibex with Roe Deer, hunting with Fran Cortina. He’s excellent.

 

[fourfive8]

Good question! . I have no idea. I just shake my head when I see the current numbers for some of the AK hunts. A good friend guides seasonally there in a premium area. The glamour trophies like brown/grizzly, sheep and moose all demand a price tag starting at 20-25k each and go up depending on area. They have a pretty good record for finding 9 1/2 ft bears, 60” plus moose and 8-10 yo sheep. Super premium areas for bears like Kodiak and the Peninsula are higher. I remember not too long ago in an area I did a lot of DIY caribou hunting in SW Alaska, a local pilot/guide was getting about 9k for brown bear. Any serious hunter would have had little trouble finding numbers of 9-9 1/2 footers there. I’m certain that opportunity no longer exists at that price. Sooo for many the reality forces other options for affordability.

Fishing and bird hunting are things I enjoy as much as big game and could easily do a bird hunting, fresh and saltwater fishing combo trip to Africa. For big game I’d go right back to Botswana and follow San trackers in the Kalahari sand for eland.

 

[ET1775]

With a bit of luck we can hunt brown bears in Romania. After 7 years of banning, our ministry of environment, convinced by problems caused by bears ( 18 peoples killed in the last 7 years and hundreds of peoples mauled) he is ready to open the bear hunting.
I will come back with news.

That sounds like an amazing opportunity. I would love to spend time in Romania.

 

[Justbryan]

Most of your wish list is out of your price range sadly. Namibia for more PG or Zim for tuskless or non-exportable bull May be all that fits

Sadly, I agree. I spent my big budget on New Zealand Tahr, Chamois, and 2 Rusa plus Helicopter cost for multiple days in different areas. So, there is a limited budget for a few years to catch back up. There are very few Plains Game I still want but working on tiny ten. This trip will include Sharpes, Klipspringer, Common Duiker.

 

[Green Chile]

Tiny 10 is always a worthy goal.