Is it even possible to become a PH under my criteria?

[A. Austin]

A good day to you all here at AH! This is my first post, and although many others have posted the exact same thread, I believe that most of the OP's have, at least, experiences hunting in Africa, or lots of experience with the outdoors, and by that I mean living on a property such as a ranch, etc. such as in North America. However, the reason why I made this thread is because I believe that I am "different" to the other posters due to me:


- having no real hunting experience: I have hunted before, but definitely not in the typical safari way. I live in the Caribbean and thus a typical hunt for game goes like this: we get our hunting permits for the season, firearms permit as well, and on a given night we set out to a particular hunting location in the forest, let the dogs loose, and let them sniff out any game. Whenever they do sniff 'em out we usually shoot them and bag them, then head back to camp, and rinse and repeat until sunrise. A hunt usually lasts a night, with some good cooked "wild meat" the day after Obviously this is quite different from a safari hunt, which is why i consider this as no "real" hunting experience.

- having no affiliations with hunting outfitters: and I do not know anyone who goes abroad to Africa to hunt, and I believe that trophies are illegal to bring in here anyway, hence safari clients are nonexistent in my country.

- living in the Caribbean: I believe this qualifies because, well, I've never heard of anyone becoming a PH who hails from the Caribbean. Not in my country at least, from my knowledge.

- being Asian: I have read about "Bali" Mauladad being perhaps the first "non white" hunter and I have read about black PH's being present "in the game." However, they all have something in common: growing up in Africa. I am also of Chinese descent, so I don't know if that would affect my chances or not. I would also add, as a pointer, that I was born and bred in the Caribbean, as well as my grandparents, so I'm fluid in English. I do not mind learning Afrikaans and Swahili, as I would like to be a PH in East Africa specifically. If Capstick can learn all these languages so late in his life, what's stopping me?

- not being rich: I'm not poor, rather in-the-middle middle class, not upper middle class nor lower. I'm also going to university next year, and the courses that I intend to take (haven't signed up yet) deals with the outdoors as well as farming i.e. agribusiness and agriculture. I don't intend to have a family, a woman now and again is all I need , at least for the moment. I did not know whether to include that last bit of info, but why not? No family would (probably) mean a little extra money, in general...

Anyways, sorry for my long post, but I know that a poster here once said that "becoming a PH is more than simply coming over to Africa and making a choice - there are foundations to be laid before becoming one," or something to that extent. And I agree totally. However, growing up "in the bush," watching movies such as "King Solomon's Mines" and then reading books such as those from Ruark, Hemingway, and Capstick, as well as others, has made me kind of determined to become a PH in Africa, even if the life is quite difficult and grueling, as others here have said. I know it ain't no comfy life, but men still sign up to be policemen and truckers...

 

[sestoppelman]

Being young is a big plus for you. Everyone has to start somewhere. About all I can suggest is start sending letters and emails to some of the outfitters here and elsewhere and offer yourself as a person interested in learning the trade. It wont likely happen immediately, but if you stay with it, in time someone might take you up on it. Good luck!

 

[Jeffrey]

I am writing as someone who has been in your boat. My information is based on actual, real, experience in the actual, real world.

YOU are going to have to come to the mainland USA and walk around at SCI in Reno and DSC in Dallas to have a snowball's chance in hell. I recommend SCI in Reno because attendance has been down and there and outfitters have plenty of time to talk. This is what I did and I was an apprentice PH during this past (2019) season in Zimbabwe, against multiple odds.

You really need to focus on a country or a couple of countries to get into. Find the relevant PH organization for the jurisdiction and contact them for help. I.E. if RSA is on your list, contact someone from PHASA or Custodians. If Tanzania is on the list, then contact the TPHA (https://ophaa.org/member-associations/tanzania-professional-hunters-association/). You are of Chinese ancestry, do you speak Mandarin or Cantonese? Can you learn either of these languages? If so you are a MAJOR asset. So much so that I'd literally make a sign to hang on my back while walking around SCI and DSC that you speak a Chinese language. That would make you an asset to many companies out there.

Don't rule out volunteering at the Kruger in SA or any of the major natl parks in southern Africa. Search engines are your friend.

Type into a good search engine: "Shakari Connection Modern Professional Hunter Books" for a good start.

 

[A. Austin]

Being young is a big plus for you. Everyone has to start somewhere. About all I can suggest is start sending letters and emails to some of the outfitters here and elsewhere and offer yourself as a person interested in learning the trade. It wont likely happen immediately, but if you stay with it, in time someone might take you up on it. Good luck!

Thank you for the advice, I would take that into consideration. Tanzania's where I would like to work as a PH, if all goes well I hope to see you there sometime in the future!

 

[A. Austin]

I am writing as someone who has been in your boat. My information is based on actual, real, experience in the actual, real world.

YOU are going to have to come to the mainland USA and walk around at SCI in Reno and DSC in Dallas to have a snowball's chance in hell. I recommend SCI in Reno because attendance has been down and there and outfitters have plenty of time to talk. This is what I did and I was an apprentice PH during this past (2019) season in Zimbabwe, against multiple odds.

You really need to focus on a country or a couple of countries to get into. Find the relevant PH organization for the jurisdiction and contact them for help. I.E. if RSA is on your list, contact someone from PHASA or Custodians. If Tanzania is on the list, then contact the TPHA (https://ophaa.org/member-associations/tanzania-professional-hunters-association/). You are of Chinese ancestry, do you speak Mandarin or Cantonese? Can you learn either of these languages? If so you are a MAJOR asset. So much so that I'd literally make a sign to hang on my back while walking around SCI and DSC that you speak a Chinese language. That would make you an asset to many companies out there.

Don't rule out volunteering at the Kruger in SA or any of the major natl parks in southern Africa. Search engines are your friend.

Type into a good search engine: "Shakari Connection Modern Professional Hunter Books" for a good start.

Thank you for the heads up, all of what you said is true so I'm jutting down all of your advice for sure. I would like to hunt in Tanzania specifically - and would like to know what languages I should learn should I go there. Lastly I do not speak either Mandarin or Cantonese, English is my first and only language at the moment so unless I learn either one I'm not really an asset at the moment. :/ I'll try, though.

 

[Bushpig4Ever]

If you want to work as a ph in South Africa, you must be a citizen or permanent resident.

 

[A. Austin]

If you want to work as a ph in South Africa, you must be a citizen or permanent resident.

I have read that already, thanks for the help anyways I do not mind working as a PH in South Africa. However, how hard would becoming a PH in Tanzania be?