South African Hunt won.

[19_A_CPT]

Thought I'd be slick and run the price up on a South African hunt at the Bowling Green, KY RMEF banquet and ended up they had two of them to sale, so i guess we are headed to South Africa next Summer for at least Blesbuck and Impala. Looking at rates, I will probably go ahead and try for a Warthog and possibly Wildebeest. Just not sure how accurate i will be with my spear. Fear of my loin cloth falling off may impair my accuracy. 

Has anybody on here been on one of these hunts? What to expect? Will be myself, my wife, best friend and his wife going. 

Edited August 16, 2021 by 19_A_CPT
because im retarded and cant spell

[gregintenn]

That sounds awesome!

[Luckyforward]

I've been to South Africa but never to hunt.  I hope you have as much fun anticipating the trip over the next year as you actually have on the hunt!

 

[19_A_CPT]

32 minutes ago, Luckyforward said:

I've been to South Africa but never to hunt.  I hope you have as much fun anticipating the trip over the next year as you actually have on the hunt!

 

My wife is already sick and tired of watching that area's hunting videos and we only started talking about it on Sunday lol. 

[RED333]

8 hours ago, 19_A_CPT said:

Fear of my loin cloth falling off may impair my accuracy. 

I will chip in five dollars for you to post pics of this!

[KahrMan]

8 hours ago, 19_A_CPT said:

 Fear of my loin cloth falling off may impair my accuracy. 

 

 

34 minutes ago, RED333 said:

I will chip in five dollars for you to post pics of this!

I will chip in $10 for NOT to post pics of this!

[Ronald_55]

Now the real question..

 

So what gun(s) are you using?

[19_A_CPT]

1 hour ago, Ronald_55 said:

Now the real question..

 

So what gun(s) are you using?

Im not planning to hunt any Dangerous Game and my wife said i cant kill a giraffe so I'm planning to take my 30-06 with some 180's. It has opened up the bigbore search (hence my H&H on 1917 listing find). Buddy is planning to take his bow so i may get to gig a few guineas. Was disheartened to learn I could not take my 450 Bushmaster AR

As of right now, I am planning on an Impala, Warthog and Wildebeest. A zebra may not be out of the equation and if he throws #### at me, a damn baboon is going to meet his demise. 

[KahrMan]

1 hour ago, 19_A_CPT said:

Im not planning to hunt any Dangerous Game and my wife said i cant kill a giraffe so I'm planning to take my 30-06 with some 180's. It has opened up the bigbore search (hence my H&H on 1917 listing find). Buddy is planning to take his bow so i may get to gig a few guineas. Was disheartened to learn I could not take my 450 Bushmaster AR

As of right now, I am planning on an Impala, Warthog and Wildebeest. A zebra may not be out of the equation and if he throws #### at me, a damn baboon is going to meet his demise. 

I have a Winchester 70 in 375 H&H you are welcome to borrow. 

[hipower]

10 hours ago, KahrMan said:

I have a Winchester 70 in 375 H&H you are welcome to borrow. 

And that's why we love the TGO family!

[19_A_CPT]

14 hours ago, KahrMan said:

I have a Winchester 70 in 375 H&H you are welcome to borrow. 

I am hesitant to take even my guns out of country with all the potential red tape involved with customs. May end up taking the bows and using the guide's guns

[Ronald_55]

Curious why the .450 is not allowed?

[19_A_CPT]

47 minutes ago, Ronald_55 said:

Curious why the .450 is not allowed?

The caliber is allowed, but it's on an AR platform and you cannot take semi or automatic weapons into that area. May be the entire country.

[Alleycat72]

58 minutes ago, Ronald_55 said:

Curious why the .450 is not allowed?

There was a law that said no calibers that were ever military. When the F-Class teams shot there, the FTR guy shot a round called the 308 match.  It was definitely not a 308 or a 7.62x51. I don't know if that law still exists. When I was planning my trip to Africa someone decided to fly airplanes into some buildings. 

[Quavodus]

35 minutes ago, alleycat72 said:

There was a law that said no calibers that were ever military. When the F-Class teams shot there, the FTR guy shot a round called the 308 match.  It was definitely not a 308 or a 7.62x51. I don't know if that law still exists. When I was planning my trip to Africa someone decided to fly airplanes into some buildings. 

I hope not because, the .30-06 would fall into that category too. Is it the whole Continent or just certain Countries?

[19_A_CPT]

41 minutes ago, Quavodus said:

I hope not because, the .30-06 would fall into that category too. Is it the whole Continent or just certain Countries?

Their recommendations say 30-06 or larger with 180 grain bullets so I assume that is not still used in LinPoPo province

[Alleycat72]

6 hours ago, Quavodus said:

I hope not because, the .30-06 would fall into that category too. Is it the whole Continent or just certain Countries?

At that time, it was South Africa. A lot has changed since then. The outfitter should tell you anything you need to know. They also like to take you to the diamond market at some point. 

[Johnny reb]

On 8/17/2021 at 2:21 PM, 19_A_CPT said:

I am hesitant to take even my guns out of country with all the potential red tape involved with customs. May end up taking the bows and using the guide's guns

Taking your own firearm isn’t hard at all with very little red tape.

You need to get a form 4457 ( registration of personal effects) fill it out with your firearm information ( serial number make and model)  get it signed and you are good to go. These forms technically never expire but a few years ago there was some issues due to the form actually having a date on them.  So just make sure the one you fill out “ doesn’t expire “ before you leave. Pack rifle in a good case and DO NOT USE TSA LOCKS ON GUN CASE.  Have extra copy’s of information.  You can list multiple firearms or any equipment on 4457. I would fill out a 4457 for each item. Have fun enjoy the trip. Who are you hunting with? Atlanta has a non stop flight to Johannesburg it’s a long flight so plan accordingly ( books, iPad ,headphones a good neck pillow.) 

[19_A_CPT]

41 minutes ago, Johnny reb said:

Taking your own firearm isn’t hard at all with very little red tape.

You need to get a form 4457 ( registration of personal effects) fill it out with your firearm information ( serial number make and model)  get it signed and you are good to go. These forms technically never expire but a few years ago there was some issues due to the form actually having a date on them.  So just make sure the one you fill out “ doesn’t expire “ before you leave. Pack rifle in a good case and DO NOT USE TSA LOCKS ON GUN CASE.  Have extra copy’s of information.  You can list multiple firearms or any equipment on 4457. I would fill out a 4457 for each item. Have fun enjoy the trip. Who are you hunting with? Atlanta has a non stop flight to Johannesburg it’s a long flight so plan accordingly ( books, iPad ,headphones a good neck pillow.) 

Hunting with Johan Grobler at LinPoPoAfricaSafaris. I have a fully aluminum Cabelas double case courtesy of Goodwill (SCORE!) that I am planning to take. It has room for 4 locks. I bought my wife and I a set of neck pillows for her birthday and hopefully the plane will have a nice TV screen in the headrest. 

[Handsome Rob]

I've only been to Africa once & that was bowhunting in Namibia, so I have no gun advice to offer. But one thing I know is common & relevant, is the upsell.

Set yourself a budget. I'm sure you're 'package' includes the common species (warthog & Impala or springbok, occasionally blue wildebeest) but you're going to see a BUNCH of other stuff & your PH is GOING to tell you what a trophy it is & you'd be simply mad to pass it up! Red Hartebeest, Zebra, Waterbuck, Blesbok..... it's all there for the selling. 

Find out trophy fees in advance & set a limit. It might be one exceptional critter or a good mixed bag. Up to you. But you HAVE to stick to your budget. Think of it like setting a limit in a casino. Don't forget to tip your skinners. Cheap pocket knives are always welcome. If you want to be super nice, leave a big bottle of ibuprofen in your room, along with a bunch of AA batteries when you leave. The cleaners will share them out with the cooks, skinners & their families & their are incredibly appreciated. 

Also, you'll need to check on trophy shipping costs. The 2 trophies I had shipped to England (Black Wildebeest - $1200 trophy fee & Springbok - $300 trophy fee) consists of 2 skulls, a skin & a cape & the shipping alone cost more than the hunt. I want to say the shipping & import fee was around $2800. They shipped in a wooden crate that weighed about 30lb by itself! 

Edited August 23, 2021 by Handsome Rob

[Handsome Rob]

Addendum: A lot of, probably most, outfitters, guides & concessions will let you whack a baboon or two for free. They think of them the way we think of coyotes. DO NOT post them on Facebook! You wanna find out how irrational & well connected anti hunters are? Post a grip-and-grin with something that looks like a person. 

It cost a good friend of mine his entire career. As a freaking game warden of all things. 

Edited August 23, 2021 by Handsome Rob

[patrick0685]

i went to SA for a hunt back in 2015 it was amazing! Handsome Rob is correct, they will try and upsell you on everything so go with a budget. I ended up with a kudu, zebra, blesbuk and a free monkey. We were suppose to go back this spring but covid messed that up. One of my buddies that I went with has been back like 6 times since then. We bow hunted over water and oranges. Ended up renting a gun from the outfitter to get my zebra which was my number 1 thing. I didnt feel like the taxidermy and shipping back to the states was that bad, I even had my kudu made into an ottoman. Its a long ass flight down there but worth it, after our hunt we flew down to Cape Town for 4 or 5 days which was also amazing. If you have any questions let me know

[Darrell]

On 8/16/2021 at 4:42 PM, RED333 said:

I will chip in five dollars for you to post pics of this!

Ten if you don't!

I've always wanted to hunt Africa, but alas, too dear for me. I'd really like to hunt lion or leopard, but in the unlikely event I ever go it will probably be for Cape Buffalo.  S Africa has some amazing fossil fields, too, I understand. Wouldn't it be great to stumble across one!