Some thoughts on Safari priorities and values
Usually when people select an outfitter, PH, or country to hunt, there are some things that must get prioritized. It’s very much like buying a product, or service. There are three notable things a consumer must consider. Price, quality, and speed, or delivery. With those three things in mind which one is the highest priority to the consumer. Clearly something gets sacrificed in the mix when you have to make the decision on the purchase.
If you decide that the speed of the delivery is a priority then you usually sacrifice something in the quality. If quality is the priority then speed is usually sacrificed to make that quality happen. Price may fall someplace between the time and the quality.
This can be stated very much for a safari as well. Let’s look at a couple examples.
Lets say that hunter #1 has the priority of a upper 50’s Kudu bull. Everything else is secondary. He then should consider that it may be a sacrifice that he cannot hunt by spot and stalk in early April, and may need to sacrifice several other top trophies he may come across to collect that one animal. He may also have to accept that hunting in June and July over water will get him the best odds of this huge Kudu bull priority.
Maybe hunter #2 has the priority of the most game in the shortest time he has available. He then has to sacrifice quality, and maybe even give up on natural wild game. He may have to accept that he will hunt a put and take operation and shoot the first mature animal of each species he sees.
Hunter #3 is coming with his wife, she had a recent hip replacement and they are Late 60’s. They have a priority of hunting from blinds or safari style from the truck because they just don’t care to walk themselves to death and the wife hates the thought of the bugs snakes and thorns. They are willing to prioritize the adventure with the least physical effort as the priority, and the most luxury accommodations they can get.
Then of course the “normal” or Average hunter wants all super high scoring trophies for dirt cheap and to make every one of the hunts an epic stalking event with a spectacular shot. Oh well I think everyone eventually accepts that’s not likely gonna happen but it’s where the dreams are at anyway.
The first time plains game safari hunter is without a doubt my favorite hunter in camp. Not that the others are not fun or no good to have around. Just that all the first time guys in Africa are like kids waking up on Christmas morning every day they are there. Of course they all have that dream of the perfect stalk, great shot and a Roland Ward level trophy. But most of them are happy with good quality trophies and memorable trip. On almost all mixed bag plains game hunts of say 6 animals or so, some species will be spectacular, some will have involved a spectacular stalking event. But some will have been targets of opportunity spotted while driving, or while not really involved with a serious moment of deliberate hunting. Some may involve longer then normal shots, pushing your limits.
On the other hand some shots may not go as planned. Either from excitement, or your nerves. Maybe an animal that moves at the shot, or the bullet gets deflected by an unseen branch. Closing light or poor visibility. Something like this may deflate your hopes for a day until we find the game……,or not. Again priorities need to be established to be sure you squeeze the trigger when you feel happy with the shot, not when the PH is pushing you to hurry up and shoot already. (For the record if any of my PH’s ever do that, they are down the road!) Remember that passing a questionable shot which could take a day to track down the animal due to poor placement is not as productive as passing on that animal and using that next day for another opportunity. However it may be that huge Kudu you had as a priority and the difficult shot may be worth it to you. Again priorities should be known in your mind when you arrive on the hunt, and more important when you book the hunt.
Any outfitter worth a crap should tell you that a mixed bag multiple species hunt will not involve all SCI or RW level trophies for natural wild game on a 6-10 day hunt. Many will be very good, some will be average or a bit better. It’s just all you can hope for on a week or two safari for multiple plains game species. Communication is vital in setting the priorities of the trip. It’s awfully nice to have these conversations with somebody who will be there with you on site and know your life long dreams of the Africa hunt you want. Your priorities also need to become that PH’s or Outfitters Priority as well for the duration of your stay with them.
I’m not pulling this out of my A$$ for nothing better to do here. I hunt for a living but I fish for fun. I also have to search for a perfect fishing guide when I go to Florida for my annual fishing trips there. I know I need to discuss my priorities with him/her. I want to fish a specific way with my equipment only. I don’t want to arrive and find the boat stocked with their gear and then hear suggestions that we use his gear, and use his “style” It would be like planning a back country Elk hunt in Idaho and arriving to find some corn or alfalfa in a pasture only to wait for the elk coming in to eat each evening.
I’m in the same boat as every hunter I arrange a hunting trip for. Only I do it with my Florida fishing addiction. Some time before you decide to do this African Adventure when you have a little time to spare sit and think about the species that you really like the most. Then maybe write down the ways you would enjoy hunting them. Maybe list the ways that are out of the question. As in not hunting over bait or with hounds, or by walking and tracking all day in the roasting sun, etc. You may also accept that the means are not as important as the quality of the game. You can always remain open minded and use the advice of the PH and outfitter for the specific species you're after and the conditions at the time of the hunt.
These are just some thoughts here as I just returned from my annual fishing trip and used the Guides I have fished with in the past who know what I want and Fish the way I like. It was not easy to find these guys on the first try, but once you find one that listens and really works to make your trip all about you, you tend to keep using them. I think that’s the important part of the trip. It should be all about you, not what’s easy for the PH ( fishing guide) or outfitter. It needs to be done the way you desire it and with the priorities you set forth. I would suggest you leave some margin for learning or trying new things too. Especially with time running out and an expert opinion right there for you to tap into for other options.
