re: Spin off Thread - How much did 2013 Hunting cost you?

quote:

---

smoke4life

---

quote:

---

That kudu is awesome

---

Thanks.

We spent several days hiking, stalking,crawling only to come up empty (they call the Kudu "Grey Ghost"), then on the last day of hunting I shot him from the back of the truck after 10 minutes of driving around. Right before I shot, I said it felt kinda wrong shooting from the truck. After the look I got from my PH and tracker, who were covered the previous days with thorns and ticks, I immediately shot him.

They always say " You take what the bush gives you"

How much total $ was the Africa trip, if you dont mind my asking

I've been trying to pull the trigger on one for years. I get gun shy of the hidden costs/fees. Can't get a good read on a bottom line total cost

quote:

---

How much total $ was the Africa trip, if you dont mind my asking

---

Flight:
The best option we found for a direct flight was Delta out of Atlanta and into Joburg. Same route returning. I believe the cost was $1600.00 per person.

Hunting:
Don't try to cut corners with a "cheap" safari service. In the end you will end up paying more by being nickeled and dimed and not enjoy the hunt. We used Numzaan Safari's and loved them, I believe they are now South Africa largest outfitter by volume. They were recommended to us from other family and friends and although they are the largest outfitter, we were treated with detailed first class service (most dinners the owner dined with us). I can't recommend them enough.

Attached is their website with their rates:
LINK

Before you go your outfitter should provide you with a line by line cost estimate. Other than guide rates and trophy fee, you will need to pay Dip/Pack/Crate fee per animal (We used Swift Dip around $150 per) and shipping cost (all my animals from SA to Houston was right at 1k). If you keep your Trophy options open you may have a good chance at getting a discount on an animal you didn't expect. Example: while we were there two bull cape buffalo's had been fighting so intensely that one needed to go. The land owner contacted our outfitter and asked if anyone wanted one. They knocked off something like 40% and a guy staying with us jumped on it. Another land owner called and said there was an old Kudu that needed to be taken and a similar deal was offered.

Gratuity

For professional hunter (% of final bill):
6% for an average tip
7% for a better than average tip
8% for a very good tip
9% plus for a very generous tip

Tracker: from $5 to $10 per person/day
Driver: from $5 to $10 per day
Skinner: from $5 to $10 per person/day
Lodge/camp staff: $3 to $5 per person/day


Taxidermy
Not sure yet, getting them done by a gentleman out of Conroe, TX. I'm guessing around 3k for all the shoulder mounts and rugs.

So maybe all in for 19-22k.

Also right now the dollar is very strong against the South African Rand. My wife and I took advantage and stayed an extra 8 days in Capetown. Everything there is sooo cheap. We dined at some incredible first class restaurants with several courses and bottles of wonderful SA wine and the tab would come out to $35 US with tip.
We did alot of hiking (table top mountain is unreal), wine tasting tours, Cape of Good Hope, and got in a cage with great whites all for cheap.

If you are serious about going try to attend a Safari Club International convention and meet the actual outfitters selling hunts. You can (1) meet and feel out the company, (2) find specials that might be auctioned or sold on site (3) get recommendations from other patrons (4) understand what you are really getting into.
LINK /

Hope this helps and happy hunting. Even you don't want to hunt, I would highly recommend South Africa, specifically Capetown, as a vacation destination. There is something very special about being in Africa...

quote:

---

2400 high fence trophy fee

---

What is this?

-$20k Ranger Banshee
-$500 in rods n reels
-$500 in boat accessories
-$600 Stoeger M3000
-$200 in shells
-$1000+ on my dog (if you count that, training her but she hasn't been on a hunt)
-$80 in licenses

Killed 3 ducks, 4 doves, 0 deer, and let almost all redfish I catch go . And I used to think I was a tight-wad until this thread made me think about it. I really need to make more outdoor trios if i'm going to dump this much money into it.

Whats funny, if we pooled all our tdob hunting money, we could buy a nice arse piece of property for the tdob hunting ranch.
After 5 yrswe would have a couple thousand acres haha

im probably around the 2k mark, and i only duck hunted twice and deer hunted once. FML

new scope was largest expense, around $700 i think.
new misc everything for hunting (clothes, binocs, boots, waders, bullets, etc etc)

It accumulates over the years. The longer I do it the more stuff I have.

Regardless. It never gets cheaper.