Little tips that can make a big difference?

[typilotguy]

Chapstick! The air in SA was so dry compared to what I'm used to here in the southeast US. I didn't have any chapstick and resorted to using hand lotion. So chapstick is definitely one thing I'd recommend bringing if you're used to a relatively humid environment.

YES INDEED! Same boat here. Zambuk cannot be beat to purchase while in country, but you definitely need to take some chapstick/lip balm along.

 

[Russ16]

Somewhat jealous of guys who can sit in coach. I’m 6’3 with very broad shoulders. My shoulders are wider than a coach seat. I’ve flown over 100,000 miles a year for work for two decades. I just can’t handle an overseas flight in coach.

I drive to SD and Montana from the east coast every year. Would rather make that 30 hour drive than a 4 hour flight in coach.

I’m far from rich but I’ll spend the money on business class and save the money elsewhere. The saving don’t have to come directly out of the trip I can save in other parts of my life.

 

[Hunt anything]

I will second all of this. I will add, when I book my own flights (which I always do) I always leave plenty of room between flights to accommodate delays and other contingencies. I also consider higher fare classes that allow me a choice of seat and the option to rebook for free/low cost if I misconnect. Unless you are dying to hunt with your own rifle, renting the PHs is probably less expensive and definitely a lot less trouble. Flying over the pond, even in business class, isn't that fun and so I usually have other destinations besides the hunt and bringing a rifle along in many cases is impossible. The rifles I've rented have been good quality with noise suppressors and are probably better than rifles I would have brought.
I'm sure plenty of the lower caste readers here such as myself don't fall into the "rich" category. It's easy to avoid doubling the cost of your trip with minor sacrifices in comfort and doing some of your own legwork.
I suspect many hunters bring more crap then they need to. I'm able to take everything I need in one carry on suitcase. Besides some camo clothing, underwear, toothpaste and other bare necessities, I take some binoculars and a range finder. I don't take knives or other crap, I would just be getting in the way if I tried to help skin or gut. The camera on my phone with a clean lens has always been plenty adequate for good pictures. For flights, I feel noise canceling headphones or ear buds are a must. Noise adds a lot to fatigue and discomfort.

This is pretty good advice but we take a good digital camera with a 300mm lens. Camera phones are great for grip & grin pictures but are somewhat lacking when taking quality photos of game that’s never close enough, the 300mm is good for them and if I could afford a 400mm I would upgrade.

 

[Pilgrim]

Somewhat jealous of guys who can sit in coach. I’m 6’3 with very broad shoulders. My shoulders are wider than a coach seat. I’ve flown over 100,000 miles a year for work for two decades. I just can’t handle an overseas flight in coach.

I drive to SD and Montana from the east coast every year. Would rather make that 30 hour drive than a 4 hour flight in coach.

I’m far from rich but I’ll spend the money on business class and save the money elsewhere. The saving don’t have to come directly out of the trip I can save in other parts of my life.

I'm 6'2, not a "walking walrus" but not small either. I travel a lot also. I recently did a 26,000 mile trip litterally around the world in a little over a week and most of it was with the peasants in coach. Fun? Comfortable? Not really, but doable with the right attitude and an aisle seat. To each their own.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

My little tip is if you want to have a great hunt
NEVER BUY A 243.
HA HA HA HA HA
Bob

 

[dogcat1]

1. How do I know if I can trust someone I don't really know? Last safari my new to me PH said shoot. Twice I asked him "You mean the one on the left." Yes. Didn't look right to me (blue wildebeest that was way too dark in color) but I shot it as per instructed. "Good shot!" Walking up to it he says "You shot the wrong one." Wait ... what happened to "Good shot"? He says it's just a young bull. Turns out it's a yearling cow! Then at payup time he tried to put the screwup on me!

2. I've flown all four safaris steerage class with the unwashed barbarians. Saved more than $2K each trip! That can buy several more trophy animals and a veritable pile of culls. I have met some nice folks in the next seat. I'm not a walking walrus so usually fit in those seats okay. I'm not going to sleep on a plane anyway so no point in paying extra for sleeping legroom. Driving 24-30 hrs every fall to hunt Montana is no problem so I can live with economy to Africa.

3. Never used a travel agent and so far no problems. Even managed to bring guns every trip. It's doable but takes patience to wade through the info and instructions. Also saved me enough to buy an extra animal each trip, at least one.

4. Have never bought trip insurance but probably should. I'll have to price it.

5. I used to bring $1500 in money belt but always had more than a thousand left over. It can be applied to final bill for hunt but looking after the cash, especially enroute, is a hassle. I always forget I have the money belt on and it gets picked up on xray during security check. Then I'm officially flagged and get heavy duty screened (rightfully so). At least no finger up the butt ... not yet anyway.

On your wildebeast, I am thinking you were hunting in South Africa? If so, then you may not have had the benefit of a truly highly trained PH. Zimbabwe has the best trained PH's out there. I have hunted 10 countries and find the Zim guys to be extraordinary. Never had an issue with them.

As to trusting the PH, if you are in dangerous game country, you probably should be sure you can trust your PH - he is there to guide and protect you. If I had one I could not trust, I would not hunt with him.

 

[lockingblock]

If you require prescription meds, carry 3 smaller bottles of it rather than 1 large bottle. If one gets lost or damaged, you are still ok.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

On your wildebeast, I am thinking you were hunting in South Africa? If so, then you may not have had the benefit of a truly highly trained PH. Zimbabwe has the best trained PH's out there. I have hunted 10 countries and find the Zim guys to be extraordinary. Never had an issue with them.

As to trusting the PH, if you are in dangerous game country, you probably should be sure you can trust your PH - he is there to guide and protect you. If I had one I could not trust, I would not hunt with him.

There's losers in every country. One of the fellas at the trap club hunted Zimbabwe for his Cape buffalo. He arrived at camp to find there was no food and staff were getting ugly. His PH was an arrogant douche bag and didn't care. Wes on his own initiative shot a couple of impala to quell the riot. The third day of hunting they found the bachelor herd. He finally got a shot ... just one though. For whatever reason Wes had decided to take his buff with a Ruger #1 ... in 45-70 (he's a big time bow hunter which explains his proclivity for rolling the dice). Needless to say buff didn't go down. It came for them and Wes turned to find his PH running for the next zipcode. Fortunately, Wes was able to play cat and mouse in the heavy cover long enough for the bull to run out of gas and tip over.

 

[CoElkHunter]

My little tip is if you want to have a great hunt
NEVER BUY A 243.
HA HA HA HA HA
Bob

BORROW one? LOL

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I will second all of this. I will add, when I book my own flights (which I always do) I always leave plenty of room between flights to accommodate delays and other contingencies. I also consider higher fare classes that allow me a choice of seat and the option to rebook for free/low cost if I misconnect. Unless you are dying to hunt with your own rifle, renting the PHs is probably less expensive and definitely a lot less trouble. Flying over the pond, even in business class, isn't that fun and so I usually have other destinations besides the hunt and bringing a rifle along in many cases is impossible. The rifles I've rented have been good quality with noise suppressors and are probably better than rifles I would have brought.
I'm sure plenty of the lower caste readers here such as myself don't fall into the "rich" category. It's easy to avoid doubling the cost of your trip with minor sacrifices in comfort and doing some of your own legwork.
I suspect many hunters bring more crap then they need to. I'm able to take everything I need in one carry on suitcase. Besides some camo clothing, underwear, toothpaste and other bare necessities, I take some binoculars and a range finder. I don't take knives or other crap, I would just be getting in the way if I tried to help skin or gut. The camera on my phone with a clean lens has always been plenty adequate for good pictures. For flights, I feel noise canceling headphones or ear buds are a must. Noise adds a lot to fatigue and discomfort.

Headphones on the plane can be a godsend, especially if the seat is towards the rear of the cabin. The ear buds they hand out are pretty much useless. I bought a cheap pair of foldable earphones at the dollar store the day before leaving for my second safari. Meh, for a couple of bucks figured I'd give them a try. Actually worked very well and they are easily stowed in my computer bag. I have heard the noise canceling ones are the bees knees.

 

[Newboomer]

I'm a big fan of bag balm and I like your recommendation! More uses than I've ever thought of....great stuff.

I like O'Keefe's Working Hands. I've tried many and this one works. I put a few bandaids and gauze pads with a little tape in a sandwich bag. Fits in a pocket and great for scratches and cuts. I had a run in with a thorn tree and tore off a hunk of hide half the size of a dollar bill. My trusty first aid kit saved a lot of hassle.

 

[Creigh]

Headphones on the plane can be a godsend, especially if the seat is towards the rear of the cabin. The ear buds they hand out are pretty much useless. I bought a cheap pair of foldable earphones at the dollar store the day before leaving for my second safari. Meh, for a couple of bucks figured I'd give them a try. Actually worked very well and they are easily stowed in my computer bag. I have heard the noise canceling ones are the bees knees.

Noise cancelling headphones set of my tinnitus like no ones business. I'm a long time drummer, no getting away from that.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

BORROW one? LOL

@CoElkHunter
What the hell for. Ive seen first hand how useless they are
Bob

 

[ftrovato]

I like O'Keefe's Working Hands. I've tried many and this one works. I put a few bandaids and gauze pads with a little tape in a sandwich bag. Fits in a pocket and great for scratches and cuts. I had a run in with a thorn tree and tore off a hunk of hide half the size of a dollar bill. My trusty first aid kit saved a lot of hassle.

Smart! Thanks for the tip!!!

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I like O'Keefe's Working Hands. I've tried many and this one works. I put a few bandaids and gauze pads with a little tape in a sandwich bag. Fits in a pocket and great for scratches and cuts. I had a run in with a thorn tree and tore off a hunk of hide half the size of a dollar bill. My trusty first aid kit saved a lot of hassle.

Add some steristrips to that kit. Very small and can literally be a life saver.