Gemsbok hunting question

[Firebird]

Watch in the “deals” section on this site. There are always good plains game packages appearing and most outfits will Let you add a gems if it isn’t already part of the pkg. if you can go in the less prime months such as October, you will likely get a better rate. Flights are the worst of it cost wise. Also, day rates might be included in a pkg or might not and vary widely. Look at
All the sponsors on this site. Go to their respective Websites and look at what they offer! You may have to request price lists just the same as you will from taxidermists as you explore their websites
Don’t go just for one animal, hunt three or four while you are there!

 

[Dewald]

Go hunt the red dunes of the Kalahari. That could be SA, Namibia or Botswana. That is their natural habitat, despite being reintroduced everywhere. Don’t look at cost alone, 6-7 days under the camelthorns are worth $3000 more than a Free State Gemsbuck.

 

[375Fox]

Have to agree with you off all the places I traveled when working in Africa as an overland driver NW Nam had the some of the best Oryx. Looks like you had a tough hot hunt over that ground @375Fox
Did you make it as far up as Epupa falls? Awesome up that way.
Anything north of Etosha nat park and you really see some wick scnery, land scapes and people.

That would have been somewhere west of etosha and north of the veterinary fence. I have no idea how to spell correctly, but oma-ten-deca conservancy. I took a 34” bull there same trip as well. I never expected to get either bull. Both hunts were very similar, spot bull then run to top of hill and shoot quick off sticks before they moved off. We also hunted a-hero-vee-puka conservancy that bordered etosha but few gemsbok there at the time. Unfortunately there are no gemsbok on quota in those areas anymore. I’m discussing returning next year. If the views north of etosha are more impressive than what I saw that’s a place I need to see someday.

 

[375Fox]

If you are some time till going,start putting in for New Mexico.Tough draw but if you’re lucky 3-4 k. Shorter flight too!

I’d hate to dissuade anyone from going to Africa, but if only one gemsbok and maintaining control of all costs is priority, this might be best option for someone. An African safari really needs to be at least 5 animals in my opinion, but costs outside the quoted hunt costs are unfortunately always a variable.

 

[Sideshow]

@375Fox its awesome up there but you will need this map

To get around on all the D C roads. The Himba tribal area is north of Opuwo which is well worth a visit we would stop in Opuwo to pick up tobacco and salt to pay the head dude, dudies of the village that we visited. The further north the better as the less westernised the villages, would get.

 

[mark-hunter]

@Towman1992

Price and budgeting.
Oryx or gemsbok, most probably will be cheaper in Namibia then in South Africa (sometimes half price).
But considering overall safari price, this is insignificant.

Moreover, I dont think that anybody goes to Africa to hunt one single plains game animal (with exception of premium PG game such as sable or roan)
Average plains game safari is about five animals, in one week arrangement.

So, you need to establish acceptable budget for at least 3 to 5 plains game animals, that include gemsbok.
(for example: gemsbok, springbok, warthog, I took it as example of very affordable game in average trophy fees). I could say "best bang for the buck?"

Price and budget philosophy:
If hunting one animal with average acceptable price, and pay for flights, spend days in Africa, pay for trophy shipping, additional costs, souvenirs, tips, etc or you hunt two animals with similar trophy fee with same additional logistics costs, then the final average total price per head will be almost half in average cost per head, etc...
So, probably average safari with 5 heads of game in one week is most economical, per animal.

So, once this matter of price is out of equation, following to be considered.

Game management types.

Namibia:
Hunting areas in Namibia will be high fence, low cattle fence, or no fence. In most cases you will hunt central Namibia ranch land that manage cattle and wildlife hunting.

South Africa
In South Africa most PG safaris are done in high fence, and the size of hunting area may vary.

I hunted oryx in Namibia in non fenced area.

Final decision
So, next is to consider the country, based on above and hunting management model that you prefer.

Then, choose the outfitter, and go to safari.

 

[uplander01]

Namibia, save up around $7500, do a nice 7 day hunt and shoot a few other things as well.

 

[jpr9954]

@375Fox its awesome up there but you will need this mapView attachment 558855
View attachment 558856
View attachment 558857View attachment 558858To get around on all the D C roads. The Himba tribal area is north of Opuwo which is well worth a visit we would stop in Opuwo to pick up tobacco and salt to pay the head dude, dudies of the village that we visited. The further north the better as the less westernised the villages, would get.

Where you you get those maps?

 

[Sideshow]

Where you you get those maps?

Think I picked that one up In Sawkopmund at the old book shop there.
Think this looks like the closest you will get.

https://www.stanfords.co.uk/Namibia-Reise-Know-How-Road-Map_9783831773138

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Hey guys new to the forum so hope I’m doing this right. Wanting to save up for a gemsbok hunt within the next 1-2 years. Needing some advice on where to go, how much (roughly) it would cost to do this with me being in the USA, how much (roughly) to do a shoulder mount. Been wanting to do this since I was a teenager and really wanna do it now! Any firsthand experiences would be greatly appreciated.

@Towman1992
There's some brilliant gemsbok/Oryx on Namibia and price was reasonable when we hunted
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

So is $5000 a safe bet it would cost to do the whole hunt,mount,flying over there etc.? Is there an outfitter you would recommend contacting?

@Towman1992
The way air fares,are now you will probably need 4,000 for the airfare alone.
Than There's the cost of getting your trophies home. That's gone thru the roof since covid.
Have you considered a cull hunt with one or 2 trophy thrown in. That will give you more bang for your dollar. Then if you don't take your own rifle you have to hire one. Taking your own also cost money.
I'm not trying to put you off but $10,000 for a 5 to 7 day hunt is more realistic.
Bob

 

[PARA45]

Since your budget is limited, I would suggest looking at a package deal, where you have 4-6 animals you could hunt. If you can only afford one now, I'd suggest saving some more to get the full experience of hunting other species, not just one. Or you could apply for an Orix tag in New Mexico.

 

[Deepfork]

@Towman1992
The way air fares,are now you will probably need 4,000 for the airfare alone.
Than There's the cost of getting your trophies home. That's gone thru the roof since covid.
Have you considered a cull hunt with one or 2 trophy thrown in. That will give you more bang for your dollar. Then if you don't take your own rifle you have to hire one. Taking your own also cost money.
I'm not trying to put you off but $10,000 for a 5 to 7 day hunt is more realistic.
Bob

From Oklahoma I can still fly for under $2,000 round trip for the cheap seats a right time of year. I agree on the budget, I went planning to spend 5-6k ended up a little over 10k. Gemsbok was $1,200.

 

[Charles de Ribeau]

So is $5000 a safe bet it would cost to do the whole hunt,mount,flying over there etc.? Is there an outfitter you would recommend contacting?

If you figure $2,500 for trophy fee and taxidermy, plus $1,500 - $2,000 for your flight, even if you doin't have to pay a daily fee, that's a pretty skinny budget.

 

[BourbonTrail]

So is $5000 a safe bet it would cost to do the whole hunt,mount,flying over there etc.? Is there an outfitter you would recommend contacting?

Cost breakdown of my trip:
Airfare: $2500
Before/After Hotel: $300
Hunt Cost (5days, 4x trophy fees): ~ $6000 including tips
Getting tropies to Taxidermist: $2400
Taxidermy bill (planned): $1900

All of this paid over 3 years.

I could’ve hunted more animals/days for the same price with a package, but I like a la carte.

There’s a laundry list of Outfitters, honestly. You need to look at price lists, locations and typical hunting experiences offered and then narrow down from there. Experience, value and compatibility (between you, PH, and Outfitter) are what you need to keep in mind.