Experiences or the people you are with?

[Dreamhunter]

I’ve seen the thread about possessions and thought I’d add a different spin. Which makes it more memorable?

 

[wipartimer]

I think it's often the people, especially the ones that can take an everyday situation memorable. Sometimes things go wrong. Some folks will feel down and maybe complain about the circumstances, my favorite people are the ones that will look at it as an unexpected adventure!

 

[BnC 04]

In my opinion they both go hand and hand. Great company will lead to a great experience and vice versa. My best experiences have come via great company.

 

[cpr0312]

Agree with @BnC 04 !

Also, its so important also to pick an outfitter that you can gel with. As much research you can do in advance, talking the them and references. And if possible meeting them. I've had so many more enjoyable experiences with great outfitters that were personable. Also, if you can have some friends share a hunt with you it can make it that much more e enjoyable .

 

[YancyW]

Agree with @BnC 04 !

Also, its so important also to pick an outfitter that you can gel with. As much research you can do in advance, talking the them and references. And if possible meeting them. I've had so many more enjoyable experiences with great outfitters that were personable. Also, if you can have some friends share a hunt with you it can make it that much more e enjoyable .

100% agree, if I don't like an outfitter, nothing about their operation is going to outweigh me not enjoying my time with them .

 

[Red Leg]

I normally hunt alone with my PH/guide. As a rule I avoid group experiences like the plague. My son is a notable exception. Therefore, my rapport with my guide/PH is very important. I have very rarely been disappointed.

 

[Newboomer]

I've always been shy and kind of a loner and even now I avoid crowds as much as possible. Kind of a strange attitude for a career military man who served in several leadership billets and instructor slots. I usually hunt 1x1 with my PH and even then don't get too chummy. I'm not one for the evening gab and booze sessions. I'll join a group around a fire but am more content to listen than participate.

 

[mark-hunter]

For me hunting is solitary, individual sport, just like target shooting. I have only one friend that sometimes join me in a hunt.
I do go sometimes in driven hunts, but they are not my favorite. Stalking is what I prefer. That is about hunting.
Hunting is one thing, socializing after the hunt is another thing. But it does not mean that anybody with hunting gun, and hunting license is good companion. It is easy to make crowd in hunting camp. I avoid crowd.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

I think it is like a balance. I really enjoy the company of my like minded friends, our little club Carruthers is very select, not for snootiness sake, but we have to all get along really well. The six of us can sit around a fire and say little, but it is a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Then the ambiance has to be right too, if the lodgings dont look great, we elect to set up our own tented camp.

 

[Dreamhunter]

I think it is like a balance. I really enjoy the company of my like minded friends, our little club Carruthers is very select, not for snootiness sake, but we have to all get along really well. The six of us can sit around a fire and say little, but it is a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Then the ambiance has to be right too, if the lodgings dont look great, we elect to set up our own tented camp.

Silly question but I thought the lodgings only mattered to us women?

 

[mark-hunter]

I think lodging matters more to women, then to men.

Personally, in hunting, it is the last of my priority.
In Namibia we even had a swimming pool in the camp, I did not even think about using it.

The only convenience that I migh find actually nice, is a bar, in a hunting camp. But if not available, fine. I can live with that.
Cooler boxes for beer and water, is quite ok, as well.

If I need to hunt on water for 10 days, also fine, for me.
I am there to hunt, not to experience luxury in wilderness.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Silly question but I thought the lodgings only mattered to us women?

It is not the comforts and appointments so much as the ambiance. There is nothing so off-putting in the bush as glass and chrome tables and plastic chairs. One place I stayed, but only for a night had plastic table cloths and bright cold white lights, like a dental surgery!

 

[CBH Australia]

Silly question but I thought the lodgings only mattered to us women?

No, it's nice to be in a nice place.
It would be nice to be in a nice tented camp for the experience.
I have only done one safari or paid hunt. It was nice to be in nice lodging and I'm sure women would like some comforts. Many will make it work when they are not available.
I have hunted alone, with others. Any paid hunt I think I would want 1on1 , my wife was an observer but I couldn't leave her home since she was happy to travel to Africa for our 25th wedding anniversary, to her/us it was our first international trip and she was happy for me to Hunt.
Hunting alone I've done a lot , I've camped under the stars in a swag on the flat many times too, in the ute rarely a tent. Being there is what matters.
But nothing wrong with comfort.
Bad company would make for a bad experience.
Camping in the bush, on the river or anywhere a campfire is mesmerising and many Australian stockman and campers would agree.
Our Blackfellas knew this for 40,000 years before we got here.
Enjoy

 

[Happy Myles]

I prefer the experience, the hunt and the ambiance. I do not need company, my PH and staff are plenty. I make plans and stick to them, I pay my bills promptly and tip well. I can enjoy the ups and downs. If my son cannot go I go alone. My first African safari, fifty years ago i went with an elk hunting companion. He was a different person in Africa among other quirks I found he was selfish, glory seeking, even filling my permits. Another backed out at the last minute leaving me holding the bag. Since then, I have made countless trips and enjoyed them all, alone. Recent years my wife, to my delight, has gone with me. she is a non hunter, and enjoys her own things in campi. she has her own first class PH and does as she pleases.

 

[Tra3]

The people you are with can ruin the experience much faster than the experience can ruin the people. A good friend can make a hunt much more enjoyable, and you can re-live the experience later with that person. An exceptional friend will make the worst experience into a joint adventure to be laughed about for years to come.

i also discovered that when the heavy alcohol use of youth left hunting camp, what was lost in the evening revelry was more than made up for in the clear headed mornings and jovial nature of the group.

 

[Cervus elaphus]

I think lodging matters more to women, then to men.

Personally, in hunting, it is the last of my priority.
In Namibia we even had a swimming pool in the camp, I did not even think about using it.

The only convenience that I migh find actually nice, is a bar, in a hunting camp. But if not available, fine. I can live with that.
Cooler boxes for beer and water, is quite ok, as well.

If I need to hunt on water for 10 days, also fine, for me.
I am there to hunt, not to experience luxury in wilderness.

I think you would like some of the Northern Territory hunting camps up in the Australian bush. Basic, comfortable, informal, perfectly adequate. You are there to hunt I presume, not to dress up for dinner. The local swimming hole will probably be full of crocs.

 

[Philip Glass]

For me it’s the experience. I’ve hunted with all kinds of people all over the world. I’ve enjoyed 90% of them. The hunt and the experience are the most important factor to me. Of course I’ve had hunts where the people really made the hunt as well.
Regards,
Philip

 

[fourfive8]

It is not the comforts and appointments so much as the ambiance. There is nothing so off-putting in the bush as glass and chrome tables and plastic chairs. One place I stayed, but only for a night had plastic table cloths and bright cold white lights, like a dental surgery!

I really enjoy one small single malt on ice or good coffee around the fire in the evenings.

Yes ambiance. Hard to pin down but one of those things you'll know it when you feel it. I get along with most everyone- no problem. I'm not particularly gabby but do enjoy obscure or philosophical discussions once in a while. Or equally enjoy just visiting about the local people or bush or wildlife or hunting or guns or politics. Politics in the US seems to be a favorite topic in Africa and most are very curious about it. Also interesting to find out what the local news spin or word on the street has been about US politics.

That is an interesting observation about the lights and I totally agree. There is something really off-putting about those cold white or fluorescent lights. I think it is in a wavelength that is too narrow and near the UV to be anything but aggravating to human senses. I believe there have been quite a few physiological studies done on the subject and they tend to support that view.

 

[mark-hunter]

@Cervus elaphus
Your description of Northern Territory camp, is like 5 star hotel to me!