Off to South Africa in the morning

[C-Money]

Very nice! Looks like a great time. What Cal rifle did your son use on the hunts?

[rtspring]

Amazing!  Bob, care to share the cost? Outfitter you used?

[Gringo31]

 

[Buckblaster]

Very, very cool!  That's what kids dreams are made of.  Thanks for sharing.

[Machias]

Awesome, congrats!!!

[ribka]

great pics

looks like your son took some nice anmals

[Bob33]

I’ve been asked a few questions about the outfitter I hunted with, and suggestions for first time visitors to Africa.

I hunted with Kuvhima. http://www.kuvhima.co.za/

I had a very favorable experience with them, would hunt with them again, and would recommend them. I will add that there are literally hundreds of outfitters in South Africa, and most have good reputations. It’s harder to find a poor outfitter than a good one. I’ve hunted with three, and would not recommend one of them because of the pressure they put on me to shoot more animals.

My hunt was purchased at a Safari Club banquet during a live auction. Most of the wildlife conservation organizations (Safari Club, RMEF, Ducks Unlimited, Wild Sheep, etc.) have fund raising banquets annually and some great bargains on foreign hunts can be found. Beware of the fine print with some such as “must bring one full paying partner”.

Here are some of my recommendations for first time hunters to Africa, with emphasis on making it more economical.

1. Set a realistic budget. The largest expense is usually trophy fees. In most places, and for most species you can shoot as many as you want to pay for. For a North American hunter used to having one tag per year, it’s like a kid in a candy shot who hasn’t eaten in a week. You'll probably see more animals in the first morning than you will in a year of hunting in North America.

2. Plan to return. When you start thinking “this is the one and only trip I’ll ever take to Africa” you tend to start shooting and mounting everything you can. You can easily end up spending $10,000 more than you planned because “it’s my only chance”.

3. Plan alternate activities in addition to hunting. Go visit a local village, and see if you can visit a school. Take a camera and spend a few days photographing rather than shooting animals. Go bird hunting or fishing one day.

4. Communicate early, often, and clearly with your outfitter. Talk to your outfitter and be candid. Tell him what your budget is. If he is wise and wants your repeat business and references, he will respect that and not try to talk you into shooting more than you are comfortable. But leave yourself a little wiggle room, because you most likely will shoot more animals than you planned. Be honest about your physical condition and limitations. Be honest about your shooting abilities. Ask for his input. Treat him and his staff with respect, and you will have a better experience.

5. Go easy on the taxidermy. Getting your “once in a lifetime” animals mounted and shipped back can run into thousands of dollars, very easily. Bring a few back, but think about putting together a photo album instead. Remember, you’re going back!

[Rob]

Great advice Bob!  All valid points.

[jackmaster]

this may be a dumb question but why shoot something if you cant bring it back? just curious.. is it true that they let you shoot all the baboons you want for free? i would love to someday make a trip there. is it ever not stupid hot there?

[Bob33]

this may be a dumb question but why shoot something if you cant bring it back? just curious.. is it true that they let you shoot all the baboons you want for free? i would love to someday make a trip there. is it ever not stupid hot there?

You can bring back heads, capes, etc. You cannot bring back meat, but I'm not sure you'd want to try. The costs of transporting it would be prohibitive, plus customs/immigration would never allow it. Eat it there while it is fresh, and donate the surplus to the locals who really appreciate it.

I don't know of any outfitter that offers unlimited free baboon shooting.

In the May/June timeframe, temperatures in South Africa typically run between 45-50 at night and 75-80 during the day.

[jackmaster]

this may be a dumb question but why shoot something if you cant bring it back? just curious.. is it true that they let you shoot all the baboons you want for free? i would love to someday make a trip there. is it ever not stupid hot there?

You can bring back heads, capes, etc. You cannot bring back meat, but I'm not sure you'd want to try. The costs of transporting it would be prohibitive, plus customs/immigration would never allow it. Eat it there while it is fresh, and donate the surplus to the locals who really appreciate it.

I don't know of any outfitter that offers unlimited free baboon shooting.

In the May/June timeframe, temperatures in South Africa typically run between 45-50 at night and 75-80 during the day.

thanks for the info, did you guys shoot any birds while you were there, it might be argentina that i am thinking of but they have dove shoots that are epic.. did you guys see any baboons? i heard those things are just down right nasty violent, like steal kids from their village violent

[Bob33]

I did shoot some birds, although that was not our primary focus. If (when) I go back, I will plan to do more bird hunting.

There are lots of baboons. They are nasty little critters, and can be vicious and downright mean. I didn't hunt them, but if I had more time I'd like to. They will great into houses and steal things, and have been known to attack humans.

[Smoke]

looks like your son really enjoyed himself.. and got some great trophies to boot ... I've got a trip planned for next June, bow hunting in the Zululand area, and was wondering about mounting/shipping costs.  Cant seem to find info anywhere that talks cost...  Allowed 4 animals with my package, and just plan on mounting the best one, and shipping horns with skull plate back for the others... in your experience, how much do you think I should plan on spending?

[h2ofowlr]

Great pictures.  Thanks for sharing.

[JJB11B]

I was looking for pictures of a lion... Then I looked all the way back to the beginning. That looks like a great time. Congrats