Africa...it does not have to be expensive!

[Mint]

I have atrip planned, in fact since i am getting married in July I've told my wife to be I have the next 20 year trips planned. LOL For the last 5 years I've only been on yearly hog hunting tripsto Florida so i am due for a good one and Africa seems to be the ticket.

[Ed Frye]

Everything you all have said is true If you really want to go on ahunt trip any hunt trip you can do it life is to short to not enjoy what you love to do I have done this to much already I am going to Africa in August and I have heard the same thing from other people how it must be great to be able to have money to just go to hunt it's not that I am rich because I am not but I want to go there and hunt so I am going to Point is as you all have stated is that if you want it bad enough you will find a way I can't wait till august

[saltwatertom]

Hey, you guys are getting me more interested in Africa. Have a couple of friends up here who have gone and love.
My question today is- Is the rumor true that you must leave some of the meat when you shot something, I have heard that and havent had it confirmed. I know Africa , like Alaska is a big place and maybe things are different from area to area.

Thanks  :confused:    

[Joseph]

You don't get to bring any meat back with you as that is against both African laws to export it and US lawsto import it but I can assure you that none of it will go to waste.  While in camp you will eat what is harvested and anything that the hunters don't eat is usually taken care of by the rest of the camp staff.  They don't even gut animals out in the field, everything comes back whole and even the insides are eaten by the Africans.  Joseph

[doctorbrady]

Tom,
Like Joseph said, nothing gets wasted there.  Some folks think that as much as they spend on shooting something over there that they ought to be able to bring the meat back with them, but when you do the math it would cost you a few hundred bucks a pound to get it back home.  It's good stuff, but not that good   .  Eat up while  you are there, then let the locals enjoy the fruits of your harvest.  It's part of the reason they work so hard for you while you are there.

[saltwatertom]

Very interesting! I didn't know all this. I do love to eat fresh meat in camp.  What are the hoops to jump thru to bring the trohpies home?

Thanks  

[Jack Shanks]

Tom,

To answer your question about getting trophies home.

They must first be taken to a facility where the hides and capes are dipped and then they are packaged along with the horns for shipment to the states. The outfitting company you book your hunt with takes care of this and there is a per animal charge. Your trophies are then sent to an exporter who then sends them to a customs broker in the US. From the customs broker they are shipped to your taxidermist which you normally have pre-arranged before your hunt.

 I only took four animals when I was there in 04. The outfitter I booked my hunt with owned his own dipping and crating company and included that in my hunt price. The cost to ship my crate with my trophies from Africa to the Chicago customs broker company my taxidermist uses $746.94. The cost of shipping and handling fees along with customs fees to ship to my Michigan taxidermist $512. My hunt took place in August my taxidermist received my trophies in June and amazingly had them completed in early August.

[saltwatertom]

Thanks for the info

[snag]

Is getting the heads back into the states in good condition a problem? I talked with a taxidermist that was working on a warthog. He said it was in real poor condition when he got it...hair falling out, etc.

[robtattoo]

Snag, from what I can gather that is 100% dependant on the taxidermist handling the dipping & shipping. I've seen some world-class mounts done in Africa or dipped & shipped from Africa, but I've seen a fair few bald animals. The guys saving the skin don't always pay attention to what they're doing and can scrape out the folicles. Unfortunately, it's a risk you take. I was advised that I'd be less likely to be dissappointed if I had the stuff shipped to England & then mounted here. It's always going to be a gamble.

[Ian johnson]

I got invited to go bowhunting with guys who are locals and hunt the Limpopo regoin, I'm going there next summer for my senior trip, the only things I have to pay for are flights and trophy fees, and when I come home, I'm getting skull mounts, accept for the gemsbok, gonna save up later on and have him mounted

[wenselkid]

Skull mounts are the way to go if you are hunting on a budget. I just got back from Visser's and had to really reduce the number of animals that I had planned on taking due to some financial situations arising before I left. There are plenty of excellent (and challenging) animals that can be taken at reasonable prices. I opted to ship only the skulls and horns back to the States and plan to mount them European. If you change your mind in the future you can always purchase a hide for taxidermy purposes.
I should say that the trip is definately worth the money spent. It can be done on a restricted budget, but you just have to stay firm on what you want to spend your money on. The flight and the hunt itself are the most expensive. Trophy expenses are determined by you. Work hard, save a little each month, and you will be sitting in a blind in no time. Best of Luck.

[Mid-Night-Sun]

It is amazing how much you can save if you make a few sacrifices.  I have been saving for 3 years to go to Namibia this August.  The biggest part of the savings came from cancelling my cell phone and believe it or not, quitting smoking!!!!!
 I had tried quitting smoking for years.  The thought of hunting Africa made me quit.

[Jason Hansen]

Jon and Joseph, you've inspired me in many ways from reading your posts.  Your comments are so true...thanks for the inspiration and eye opener!

[Joseph]

You are welcome.  There will be setbacks as you save but if you come up with a plan and stick to it you can get there.

[Jason Hansen]

Originally posted by Joseph:
You are welcome.  There will be setbacks as you save but if you come up with a plan and stick to it you can get there.

It's all in what you want and where your priorities are just like what was stated.  I would love to go to Africa, but my true desire is to get to Alaska.  I've always wanted to hunt there for Dall sheep since I was young.  If I do things right, I can acheive my dream of hunting both though!

[jonsimoneau]

Yep, just do it.  You will never regret going on trips

[ozy clint]

i've come to canada for a hunting experience of a lifetime. but not being able to find a job anywhere has thrown that out the window. at the end of the day you still need the money to do it. when you've run out of money and now living off the house deposit savings i've worked hard to put away, it's hard to justify having any leisure time. it's hard to see something you've worked hard for slip away because of something you have no control over. such is life.    vented

[Joseph]

I feel for you mate.  You had a good plan but unfortunately the rest of the world didn't want to cooperate.  The thing to do is know when to cut your losses, the plan may have slipped away for now but it doesn't have to be for forever.

[ozy clint]

yeah i've got a job in the spring as a bear guide, so i just need to hold out till then. then comes the fun.... i hope!