Hunting in the USA

[Robmill70]

Why is it so expensive to hunt in the US??? I was looking at hunting an African exotic in Texas and couldn't believe the trophy fees! It is cheaper for me to take my family of 4 to SA and hunt several animals over 12 days (including airfare) than to hunt 1 animal (example Gemsbok) for 3 days in Texas. Has the breeding program not been around long enough there to make it cost effective or are there enough rich people willing to pay the price? Love to hear your thoughts

 

[JimP]

Because people are paying those prices to hunt those animals.

If nobody paid those inflated prices the prices would come down. Look at the price to go on a guided elk hunt in Colorado, Wyoming, or Montana. You could go on a real nice safari in Africa for what you pay just for the outfitter. .

But it comes down to supply and demand.

 

[Robmill70]

Because people are paying those prices to hunt those animals.

If nobody paid those inflated prices the prices would come down. Look at the price to go on a guided elk hunt in Colorado, Wyoming, or Montana. You could go on a real nice safari in Africa for what you pay just for the outfitter. .

But it comes down to supply and demand.

I agree, I looked at an elk hunt and it was $13k+! I can take the whole family to SA, my son and I both hunt for less money. Still poking around on the internet and came across this very cheap hunt (LOL) in Texas for a Kudu $24k trophy fee!! But you do get access to their runway, so......

 

[Hunt anything]

Why is it so expensive to hunt in the US??? I was looking at hunting an African exotic in Texas and couldn't believe the trophy fees! It is cheaper for me to take my family of 4 to SA and hunt several animals over 12 days (including airfare) than to hunt 1 animal (example Gemsbok) for 3 days in Texas. Has the breeding program not been around long enough there to make it cost effective or are there enough rich people willing to pay the price? Love to hear your thoughts

Check out Wildlife Systems, I toured a couple of their ranches and shot a Javalina while I was there. They had a lot of African game at for the US seemed reasonable. Sable and kudu were extremely expensive but some things like gemsbok, lechwe and a couple of others for around $4000 and about $300 a day. I even think they had “meat” eland for less than 5 grand and you will have a couple of freezers full of some of the best meat on the planet.

 

[baxterb]

When you hunt African Exotics in Texas you aren’t exactly hunting in the USA. I can hunt big game, small game, and birds for about $150-&175 as a resident in Idaho.

 

[JimP]

I wonder how much it would cost to hunt a Rocky Mountain elk or mule deer in South Africa?????

 

[Nomadx2]

@Robmill70 Because you always pay a premium for convenience.

 

[Labman]

The price of hunting Elk and Deer in the US is why I've been to Africa 14 times but have never shot an Elk

 

[R.M.C.]

The price of hunting "out west" is exactly why I'm going to Africa in July. Nothing gets me real excited in the western united states as far as game animals but a wart hog sure does. I'm not paying ten grand to chase an elk up a mountain lol
Africa is by far the best bang for the buck.

 

[CoElkHunter]

I wonder how much it would cost to hunt a Rocky Mountain elk or mule deer in South Africa?????

Wonder how many preference points you would need?

 

[Tommy_Fontaine]

From my experience a lot of folks are afraid or at least uncomfortable to leave the USA. I've traveled all over and lived overseas with ease yet when I mention this to folks it surprises them. 7 out of 10 people I speak to haven't been to Canada and I live in Buffalo it's literally across the river.

I agree guided hunting in the US is crazy expensive, so I too go to Africa your bang for buck is phenomenal.

Tommy

 

[C.W. Richter]

I myself would LOVE to pay the labor (and commodity-foods, etc.) rates of that enjoyed in Africa (where on avg. one of our $ is worth 10.) Many get paid $5/day or even month. Go to Africa. It's what this website (and it's members) are promoting! I would love to have a maid, cook, mechanic, landscaper, tracker and gunbearer around my place for $300/mo. Biden & Co. have driven up the price of animals in TX!

 

[Tundra Tiger]

This is why I moved to Alaska early in my adult years. Easily one of the best decisions I ever made.

I can find elephant hunts for far less than it cost you lower 48 folks to come to my corner of the world to hunt moose and bear. I find that simply staggering.

In an issue of Bowhunter over 20 years ago M.R. James predicted this. It's not going to get better.

 

[meigsbucks]

The price of hunting "out west" is exactly why I'm going to Africa in July. Nothing gets me real excited in the western united states as far as game animals but a wart hog sure does. I'm not paying ten grand to chase an elk up a mountain lol
Africa is by far the best bang for the buck.

Another warthog lover!

 

[Tbitty]

Convenience and opportunity, mostly.

It is much easier to do a weekend hunt in TX (or any lower 48) with maybe 1 or 2 days of vacation spent for a long weekend. Fly in Friday night, hunt Saturday and Sunday, fly out Sunday night. Or drive if convenient.

You then get the bonus of being able to keep the meat, no dip & pack or overseas shipping/customs, and turnaround time is much faster.

For those who have deep pockets, they'd much rather pay for convenience in many situations. Many or most on this site likely appreciate the chase and hunt value more than just the shooting, so it seems more far-fetched to spend such "outrageous" prices on what can be had for less.

 

[JimP]

But still it is hard to find a moose, brown bear, dall sheep, stone sheep, or a lot other animals in Africa.

If you want to hunt a North American animal you are pretty much restricted to hunting in North America. The same can be said for African animals. It is always cheaper to go to a third world country to do just about anything including hunting. But if that country had the economics
of the US I doubt that those deals would be as good.

 

[WAB]

I’ve hunted all over the US and Canada and paid for a guided big game hunt once. The 13 year old dall ram on my wall cost $120 in fuel for the super cub. No need to spend big bucks to have great hunts in NA.

 

[C.W. Richter]

This is why I moved to Alaska early in my adult years. Easily one of the best decisions I ever made.

I can find elephant hunts for far less than it cost you lower 48 folks to come to my corner of the world to hunt moose and bear. I find that simply staggering.

In an issue of Bowhunter over 20 years ago M.R. James predicted this. It's not going to get better.

Son is likely going to accept a dental job on the outskirts of Anchorage when he graduates this summer (for the very same reasons!)

 

[C.W. Richter]

Perhaps what's best is that TX game ranching (esp. the Y.O. and the schools the Shreiner fam sponsored) has actually saved certain African (and other) species from extinction, when those animals were declared extinct in their native habitats. It has a place (and wonderful weather in the US Winter,) but for African species (excepting the Aoudad, and several Indian species) the pricing just begs of booking a (real) Safari!

 

[C.W. Richter]

The price of hunting Elk and Deer in the US is why I've been to Africa 14 times but have never shot an Elk

You can, without too much trouble, hunt elk, mule deer, antelope (and small black bear) etc. out west (even buy B. Sheep tags over the counter for archery in some places.) I got a decent 5x6 elk and saw many, many nice muleys, whitetails, and antelope on a public land hunt, and returned. You could even fly or drive out to scout prior to the hunt. Many ranches have a public hunting program (but you must walk in,) but there is much great public access land situated adjacent to private big ag. If you don't wish to pay $5K, $10K, $15K+, put in $1K worth of your time for the savings! You can do a budget or cull hunt in Africa for <$5K featuring several (or many) animals!