BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

[alaska6.5hunter]

I'm new. I live and hunt in Alaska.

I was wondering if a blue-collar guy can afford an african hunt for plains game(deer family). A friend wanted me to join him and he says around $3000 plus airfare, this includes 7 days Kudu, impala, wildebeast? . Can that really be done or is there large $$$ trophy fees? thanks.

[CVC]

I don't think so. Yes, there are hunts for $3,000 but if you plan on bringing any of your trophies back it will cost more than the $3,000. To get the trophies back you have to pay shipping, dip and pack charges.

Plus there are gratuities for the staff and PH.

There might be charter costs depending on where you hunt.

So I don't believe you can hunt Africa for $3,000.

[alaska6.5hunter]

So what are "Thophy Fees"? I know there would be some shipping. I planned on European mounts.

[kevin davis]

welcome to this forum. an african hunt has 4 sets of costs:

1) daily rates-- this is the cost for each day which includes vehicles/trackers/meals/etc. this will run from about $200/day to $400/day, depending on where you hunt. namibia is one of the cheapest places to hunt africa. you will stay either in a guest room with meals in the main hose or go on up to a guest chalet, which will be at the upper end of the rates. a 5 day plains game hunt will thus run about $1,000 -2,000.

2) travel costs--airfare including tickets, any hotels if needed, taxis, etc. plan for around $3,000.

3) trophy fees--this depends totally on what you shoot and where you are. the following are average fees:
kudu--$800
blue wildebeest--$1,000
black wildebeest--$1,000
springbok--$400
blesbok--$500
impala--$400
warthog--$500
eland--$1500
duiker--$800
zebra--$750
waterbuck--$1,800
gemsbok--$700

so, if you shot a kudu, a gemsbok, a springbok, a warthog, and a zebra your costs would be $3,150 only for the trophy fees.

4) taxidermy fees-- this includes dipping/packing (the cost of making a crate)/ shipping, veterinary certificates, brokering fees upon arrival (handling, usfws,etc). this will vary depending on if you keep any hides for tanning and where you have them tanned. if you have someone do your european mounts, you will pay about $150-300 each. if you do it yourself, it is much cheaper. you can expect the shipping charges alone to be from$2,000-3,000. these costs are so high because air freight is paid for by volume and weight. it is possible to ship by boat at a leeser fare, but it takes a lot longer and you are limited to a few ports that can import foreign hunted trophies, compared to airports that can do so.

you have now spent:
$1,000
$3,000
$3,150
$3,000
total: $10,150

there are still tips, souvenirs, and other incidentals (that new pair of boots you just have to buy, try out that premium ammo, etc), so throw in another $1,000.

you are now about $11,000 poorer/richer.

you will probably find some hunt packages out of south africa that are cheaper, but these have a specific list of animals and would not reflect the all large animals above. you can save some money here and there, but not all that much. the daily rates are set, the trophy prices are set, and airfare can not be gotten through the hot wire like places to these destinations (and if you can then they take three or four days to get you there and route you around the world), and do not take into account that you will have a rifle. i do not recommend using the PH's rifle as they charge up to $30/day and ammo is about $4/shot. you can go to walmart and get a .300 mag for that kind of money with a scope.

check out the namibia hunts, just type in namibia hunts as a search. the majority of hunt providers will provide a list of trophy fees, daily rates, fees to go to and from the airport, most do not need a charter. all animals are not available in all areas, so if a move is needed, add some more money. gas is expensive there.

i hope this helps and does not discourage you. it is definitely worth it. :thumbsup1:

[alaska6.5hunter]

Thanks for the useful information. Who are the trophy fees paid to?

Guess I never realized how lucky I am to hunt in Alaska for a $35 hunt/fish combo license.

[CVC]

Here is a link to an outiftter that has a budget hunt under $2,000 that you might be able to stay under the $3,000.

http://www.daretobowhunt.co.za/

[kevin davis]

trophy fees are paid to the PH at the end of the hunt. he then provides a list of animals killed so that the trophies exported equals the number taken for government purposes.

[Single Malt]

you have several options. one of which is a cull hunt where you and a partner share the total bag of animals and USUALLY a trophy quality animal is included in each species...or the difference in trophy fee can be paid. I've do 2 of these hunts myself and have been pleased..lots of shooting and you still get to bring home a trophy .
another option is to look in Namibia for a PG hunt and there are several companies there that will book you 2x1 for $200/day each plus trophy fees (which are USUALLY less per animal of the same quality in RSA)
I recently paid $500/kudu bull, $450 / bull Blue wildebeast and did a warthog @ $300 rather than an imapla cause they didn't have any other than the black faced impala and they were expensive and can't be brought back to the USA.

Get your Euro mounts done in Africa and it will eliminate ALOT of grief #1 it's cheaper #2 if you have them put them on a panel they are vconsidered finished taxidermy and you won't have issues of D&P or clearing swine on USA import.

I'd say with air you could make a decent PG hunt for $5000 USD for 7 days of hunting if you shop around.

[ironmike]

Round trip airfare from Juneau to Windhoek Namibia is about $3700. If you bow hunt then you can get a cheaper hunt. If you went and hunted springbuck warthog and impala it would be cheaper but why fly halfway around the world and only hunt a couple common animals. That's like me traveling to Alaska and only going rabbit hunting. It is usually cheaper to get a package deal. Cabelas has a few (look under outdoors adventures). Dallas safari club has some as well (look under "shop").
The trophy fee is collected by the Professional Hunter (guide in U.S. parlance) and then split between the landowner and the government. That is why trophy fees vary so much, it depends a lot on how much the landowner charges to let you take an animal on his property. This system encourages landowners to "farm" wildlife and not chase them all off so that there is more forage and water for cattle. BML land works in a roughly analogous way in the western US, only they use tax incentives and not trophy fees.

[dtlwheels]

i don`t know about $3000, but try this site,


http://www.blaauwkrantz.com/?page=safari_packages

[Africanhunter1]

Hi Everyone,

I am planning to go to Namibia during August or September 2008 on a hunting trip. I have spoken to the people I know there and they put together a price. If anyone is interested, please let me know.

The following is all included:
-Transport to and from Windhoek International Airport.
-Full board accomodation(meals and drinks).
-Guiding and transport during the hunt.
-Prelimary preparation of trophies and delivery to local taxidermy
-All fees for hunting permit
-Legally required insurance

The rate per hunter for a 10 day trip is $5000 per person sharing, which coveres all of the above. For an addisional $1000 per person sharing we can increase the trip with 4 days for sightseeing and/or fishing.
The rates to shoot trophies are as follows:
$1,750 Cape Eland
$1,000 Greather Kudu
$700 Oryx
$1,000 Mountain Zebra(Hartman)
$1,125 Blue Wildebeest(Knu)
$1,250 Black Wildebeest
$700 Red Hartbeest
$700 Common Impala
$1,375 Damara Dik-Dik
$500 Springbok
$450 Warthog
$1,100 Klipspriner
$345 Steenbok
$378 Duiker
$378 Lynx
$80 Baboon
On Request Leopard

Airfares are obviously not included due to the fact that we will most probably be coming from different places.

They said that if we are a group of 4 or more we can get a further discount of $1000 per person.

Let me know if anyone is interested.

[Single Malt]

wow! :o those day rates are steep even if you're talking 1x1 and unless those are superb specimens the TFs are on the uphill side too!

[Africanhunter1]

I don't think so. I have looked at various african outfitters and this one looked the best to me. Take in mind it is for 10 days, we can go as a group of 4 and stay only for 5 days, then it is $2000 per person. Flights and throphy fees excluded. We will each have our own guide daily, all meals, drinks, transfers, insurance, etc, are included.
The place is absolutely beautifull, great chalets, swiming pool, etc.

Where can you find it cheaper? I don't really mind where I go, as long as I get what I pay for, which is the case with these guys.

I will see if they can send me some pics of the throphies roaming the area as well as picture of the lodge.

[Single Malt]

I've been to Africa to hunt PG & DG many times. Most the PG hunting was done in Namibia's north west section 4-6 hours north of WDH international, depending on whom I hunted with at the time. A quick reference of one of those places' website shows daily fees for 1x1 in 5 star lodging and 5 star food @ $280/day. all the extras like laundry, reasonable amts of beer,etc included
A typical PG pkg there with refundable TF(no blood drawn of course) 1 kudu 50"+, 1 oryx bull 36"+ ,1 Hartman's zebra, 1 warthog, 8 full hunting days 1x1 additional days @$280/day, pickup/return WDH and a 1 day side trip to Etosha Park with shopping excursion enroute back to WDH runs $4200 total ..you supply air to/from home to WDH.
You could pay $280/day 1x1 and shop off the TF rate pg an example is a kudu bull 50"+ $750, red hartebeast $650, warthog $ 375,leopard $3500 all USD.
I've been there several times and have sent many of my family memebers and friends there as well. Top notch PH, owners,camp staff,etc.

[Africanhunter1]

Well, I am glad I posted this. Getting all this info help plenty!
What is the name of these outfitters so I can check them out