Africa vs. Texas Plains/Exotic Game Hunt

[Lomadelray]

My son is a freshman in high school and we are planning a special hunt for his graduation present, so that gives us about 3 1/2 years to plan and execute said adventure.

Here is the question, in terms of price, convenience, and total hunting experience, which and why, would you recommend for a 14 day plains/exotic game hunting trip, Texas or Africa?

Would love to hear a compare and contrast from those of you who have hunted both.

Thx!

 

[James.Grage]

Hi

You make the comparison:

Lets look at the trophy fees for some different animals:

Animal ........ Texas Prices............. Namibia/South African Prices
Bongo ..............30,000
Eland ............... 6.000..................2,000 +
Nyala..............11,500...................2,000
Black WB ........11,500....................1,000
Gemsbok...........7,000....................1,000 +
Kudu................18,500....................2,000
Lechew...........6,250......................
Sable..............18,500....................8,000+
WB Wildebeest.6,500 .....................
Waterbuck ......7,000....................2,000
Zebra..............6,000....................1,000

PH cost for 10 Days.........................4,500 each ... this is plus or minus depending on who you book with.

I would estimate your airline tickets would cost you about 2,500 (each) for a round trip.

The African experience would be a added plus, i would scale your hunt back to 10 days and both of you would hunt 1 hunter to 1 PH.

As i mention to new or persons planning a trip build your self a spread sheet and compare prices and total expenses.

I would look to book a 10 day experience and go after the following animals.
1. Nyala
2. Kudu
3. Black Wildebeest
4. Blesbuck
5, Impala
6. Warthog
7. Reedbuck
8. Cape / Red Hartbeest

This would be about $8,000 trophy fees, 4,500 PH fees and 2,500 airfare.
additional costs include dip and pack, 800. Shipping and receiving about 1,500.
Taxidermy expense you would need to check with your local person.

 

[Lomadelray]

That was a fantastic reply to my question, thank you for taking the time! I had no idea Texas trophy fees were that much higher. Other than the length of travel and firearms importing hassle I'm not sure why anyone would choose to hunt Texas...or am I missing something?

 

[Divernhunter]

Africa hands down.
We went and hunted most on the above list plus some others for less than the prices posted. Daily rate was $300 for myself and less for my daughter. The quality of the hunt, the game, service was great. Brought back a large % of gold/silver scored SCI animals. All spot and stalk. Our airfare from California to SA Joberg/Capetown/Port Elizabeth and Joberg to California was $2080. We did a week of sightseeing before our hunt. Our hunt was 10 days and we brought home 15 animals. We shot a number more for fun that we did not bring home.

You can always go to Texas and hunt.

The good thing about Texas is you can usually have the meat. The USA will not allow you to bring any meat home from Africa.
Texas is better if you only want one or possibly 2 animals. Otherwise go to Africa you will not be disappointed.

Check out Iliwa Safaris. I did 3 years of research before picking them. Best bang for the buck and hunting the way I like(spot and stalk) not sitting in blinds over water/food

We went to Africa in 2013 for a "once-in-a-lifetime" trip and I am planning on going back in 2017. Plan to hunt Texas in 2016 for Blackbuck if I get the money.

 

[Lomadelray]

Africa hands down.
We went and hunted most on the above list plus some others for less than the prices posted. Daily rate was $300 for myself and less for my daughter. The quality of the hunt, the game, service was great. Brought back a large % of gold/silver scored SCI animals. All spot and stalk. Our airfare from California to SA Joberg/Capetown/Port Elizabeth and Joberg to California was $2080. We did a week of sightseeing before our hunt. Our hunt was 10 days and we brought home 15 animals. We shot a number more for fun that we did not bring home.

You can always go to Texas and hunt.

The good thing about Texas is you can usually have the meat. The USA will not allow you to bring any meat home from Africa.

We went to Africa in 2013 for a "once-in-a-lifetime" trip and I am planning on going back in 2017. Plan to hunt Texas in 2016 for Blackbuck if I get the money.

Did you use a booking agent or contact the outfitter directly?

 

[Divernhunter]

Directly. They own the large property, are the outfitters and PH. They have owned the land for 5 generations. PM me for my phone number or any other info. You can google their website I believe. If you contact them tell them Doug Thomas and Kelli said Hi. They are booked up about 2 years in advance....many return customers or I should say friends.
I used Lori(on this site) for flights and she was good.
I did my own rifle imports but next time I will use Henry as suggested by Lori. Worth the $100 or so.
Send me your email and I will send you some info, things to take, things to not take etc and photos.

 

[AB2506]

North American hunting, using a guide or outfitter is over priced in many instances. Much better value heading to southern Africa IMO. Used Patrick Fletcher at Hotfire Hunting and Fishing Safaris. He is perfectly geared to take a father/son on a hunt of a lifetime.

 

[kathy]

Hands down go to Africa.
it is cheaper in the long run if you shoot more than a couple animals.
To see Africa ,the life style, the animals, sounds of wildlife is awesome. BE advised if you go once you will return. Forrest

 

[buck wild]

I'd recommend Africa for sure-
but unless you only want Africa animals there are other more reasonable Texas exotics. You could do Axis ($2,000-$2,500) fallow ($2,500) blackbuck ($1,800-$2,000) aoudad ($2,500), sheep ($500-$1,000) ibex ($1,500-2,500) oryx ($2,500) hogs ($200-$500), javelina ($200) and the list goes on elk, red stag, pierre david, barasinga, sika.

 

[James.Grage]

That was a fantastic reply to my question, thank you for taking the time! I had no idea Texas trophy fees were that much higher. Other than the length of travel and firearms importing hassle I'm not sure why anyone would choose to hunt Texas...or am I missing something?

With 3 1/2 years to plan your adventure, that will give you some time to check sportsman shows out and pick up some information... use it and do some research. Check references.

Have your son start comparing the different locations to see which he thinks is better. Build a trophy list together and then match the PH/Outfitter to your trophy list. As mentioned above, always look for quality experiences for the 2 of you.

I plan and book about 1 to 2 years out to select the better dates for my priority animal, so consider this point. also, if you book your airline flights out they become reasonable.

Also, the Prices in Texas will migrate lower as more animals are available to hunt.

You did not indicate if you were looking at African animals only or a mixed bag.

I did not go into some of the detail that others have brought up, concerning differences in daily fees, because when you check, you will find that prices vary for PH fees and Trophy fees. That is why I always suggest you build a spread sheet to do your comparison. It is usually the bottom line that tells the difference. When you talk native animals vs stocked animals or transplanted animals. Try to stay away from the stock and shoot operations that are out there.

We all have some PH or Outfitters that we could recommend, however that is part of the planning process for you. If in 2 years you are still wondering who to go with, AH members will chime in and provide a list an arm long for you to check out or go with.

 

[Scott Slough]

Hands-down hunt Africa for African animals. The only reason to hunt in Texas would be if you cannot get a Passport or have a physical limitation that did not allow the long flights ... which is out because you have to fly from Alaska to Texas !

I did a 6-day hunt with two cape kudu, a nyala, and a cape bushbuck, 8 days of sightseeing in Africa, flights for myself and my daughter, full shoulder mounts in Africa, and shipping back to Houston Texas for ~$16K ... that is $2K less than diamondhitch listed for a Texas kudu!!!!!!! And my daughter and I talk about Africa constantly. If you decide to hunt Texas, take buck wild's advice and do the more "traditional" exotics and leave Africa to Africa!!!!

Welcome to the site .... and your son is one lucky kid!!!! I am available for late adoption!

 

[Bruce]

For me it is a NO BRAINER!!!!
AFRICA AWAITS!!!!

 

[cpr0312]

If you want to hunt African animals only, like described in some posts above, then HANDS DOWN GO TO AFRICA, it will be cheaper. If mixed bag, to include things like axis, aoudad, mouflon, blackbuck, etc, then Texas is a nice option. Just do lots of research on outfitter in both places, costs are pretty easy to find.

Best of luck

 

[ActionBob]

For a fun weekend or half week hunt, go to TX. For a 14 day hunt, Africa hands down. Will you be hunting 14 days or be gone from home 14 days? You will eat up almost 4 days in travel just getting there and back. But if you can depart the US Friday evening, and arrive home the Third Sunday after you leave, being gone two complete work weeks.. That makes a nice trip well worth the miserable long flights.

If you book with an outfitter who follows the African tradition of NOT charging arrival and departure days, you should end up buying a 12 day hunt with 13 nights plus arrival and departure partial days. Our first African hunt was a 9 day with Crusader Safaris, Andrew Pringle in the East Cape. I can highly recommend his outfit... Our PH was Mark, there was another PH in camp I really liked as well, Tyson. I specifically asked for a short PH thinking I would have a better chance at keeping up This outfit specializes in all free range hunting and operates on several huge concessions with varying terrain and species. Depending upon your desired PG species, with a longer hunt, I would highly recommend an outfitter with similar options and to be able to move around freely and see lots of different country and species.

If your budget allows, you might start out in the Kwazulu Natal area for Nyala, Greater Kudu, Common Reedbuck... Then the Karroo should not be missed for Springbok and Gemsbok with good kudu as well. And I highly recommend adding steenbuck. Watch for opportunity on jackal and even Caracal. Try to get into the mountains for klipspringer and Vaal Rheebok, then move down towards the Coastal side of the mountains to experience the real jungle where there is more rainfall.... Great for bushbuck and lots of others. Finish up in a Baavians at the home base.

Andrew (and many others) will likely give you a deal if you want to hunt 2x1 with your son and share the full experience with one PH... This is what my wife and I did and still took 16 critters in 9 days. If you do this, be sure the PH has a double cab truck... Alternatively if you both want to hunt to the max, book two PH's and have at it.

Depending again on budget and how hard you want to both hunt, with that amount of time, you could get into some more remote country and hunt some DG in a place like Zimbabwe or Mozambique! Make it an adventure to remember... Well it will be either way!

 

[CAustin]

Been to Africa three times now! Worth every cent I've put into those hunts! I used African Sky Safaris my first two trips and this year Paw Print Safaris.

Wouldn't you rather stay in a traditional African dwelling vs the local motel six or somebody's barn?
Go for Africa and it will not be your only trip.

 

[Desert Dog]

Just my opinion, but those Texas hunts for Exotics are WAYYY too much of a canned hunt for me. Mostly for lazy people who have thousands of dollars to burn. The hunting concessions in Africa, even the fenced ones, contain true wild animals in their native habitat that are challenging to hunt. Most of those Texas hunts are no different than shooting raised livestock, not a very gratifying experience if you ask me and borderline ethical.

The only exotic hunt in Texas that will be a real hunt, is for aoudad, but even some of those might be raised in fenced-in pastures. A wild Aoudad hunt in Texas is a very challenging, demanding, and rewarding hunt. Save those other African trophies for Africa, where the hunt and animal quality will be better (and cheaper).

 

[Red Leg]

Just my opinion, but those Texas hunts for Exotics are WAYYY too much of a canned hunt for me. Mostly for lazy people who have thousands of dollars to burn. The hunting concessions in Africa, even the fenced ones, contain true wild animals in their native habitat that are challenging to hunt. Most of those Texas hunts are no different than shooting raised livestock, not a very gratifying experience if you ask me and borderline ethical.

The only exotic hunt in Texas that will be a real hunt, is for aoudad, but even some of those might be raised in fenced-in pastures. A wild Aoudad hunt in Texas is a very challenging, demanding, and rewarding hunt. Save those other African trophies for Africa, where the hunt and animal quality will be better (and cheaper).

Totally agree. If you are the kind of dad that wants to write a big check for that young grad to simply shoot some things for the wall - then do the exotics in Texas. If you want him to have the experience of a lifetime, then for God's sake take him to Africa. The only big game that I hunt here in Texas are Whitetail, Axis, Aoudad, and Nilgai - all of which can be found free ranging within the state. I did not include pigs, because along the San Gabriel at least, we tend to put them in the same category as roaches (we also have big roaches). And twenty years from now he won't have to explain how that Kudu came from somewhere outside San Antonio rather than Windhoek.

I STRONGLY recommend an established consultant. Now days, anyone can build a slick website. Particularly for that first safari. I have used Jack Atcheson Jr. http://www.atcheson.com/ for a decade and he has been superb. There are others. His expertise costs you nothing, and his reputation is built upon getting you the hunt of a lifetime within your budget. He knows through personal experience whom to recommend and home to avoid. All of us here have had great experiences but those of a consultant will be far broader and more current.

 

[Lomadelray]

Totally agree. If you are the kind of dad that wants to write a big check for that young grad to simply shoot some things for the wall - then do the exotics in Texas. If you want him to have the experience of a lifetime, then for God's sake take him to Africa. The only big game that I hunt here in Texas are Whitetail, Axis, Aoudad, and Nilgai - all of which can be found free ranging within the state. I did not include pigs, because along the San Gabriel at least, we tend to put them in the same category as roaches (we also have big roaches). And twenty years from now he won't have to explain how that Kudu came from somewhere outside San Antonio rather than Windhoek.

I STRONGLY recommend an established consultant. Now days, anyone can build a slick website. Particularly for that first safari. I have used Jack Atcheson Jr. http://www.atcheson.com/ for a decade and he has been superb. There are others. His expertise costs you nothing, and his reputation is built upon getting you the hunt of a lifetime within your budget. He knows through personal experience whom to recommend and home to avoid. All of us here have had great experiences but those of a consultant will be far broader and more current.

We are from Alaska, we like to hunt hard and get good value for our money, all of the hunts we personally do up here are unguided. I have several friends that are professional hunting guides and I know what it costs people from outside to hunt the same animals I hunt at a fraction of the price. I don't have a problem spending the dough for a great experience, but I sure don't want to overspend for a bad one. So far the overwhelming response has been for Africa ( of course this is Africahunting.com!)
I appreciate hearing from guys that have done both, seems like the prevailing opinion is that Texas is ok for shorter hunts for specific animals, but the total experience and best bang for the buck is Africa all the way. I am all about the total experience this post gives you the idea of what we like to do http://www.africahunting.com/threads/kodiak-deer-hunt-first-post.24577/

Thank you for your thoughtful reply.

 

[thriller]

If those prices in Texas look agreeable to you you can spent the same amount of dough in Tanzania and shoot like 20-30 animals.

 

[Red Leg]

And welcome to the forum. Some great folks on this site and unlike many of the others, we are rarely churlish.