Edmonton get-together with our RSA Outfitter...

[A-zone]

If you've ever wanted to speak face to face with a terrific South African outfitter, Pierre Moolman (Sun-Africa Hunting Safaris) will be visiting Edmonton again on Saturday, February 7th, 2009.

For those who haven't seen our African plains game hunt threads from the summer of 2007, they're here:
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=174934
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=174930

We're planning an open house Saturday evening (similar to the get-together we put on last year).

Two of our group of seven (Neo and I) travelled from Canada to South Africa with our firearms, so we can share our experience with the various agencies that we dealt with. Also, the details of how the hunts are conducted are bound to be discussed and so on.

If anyone would like to be in on the "meet and greet" let me know and I'll pm you the details.

With it being after Christmas and New Years, it should be fun (and informative). )


A-zone

 

[mackillan]

Can either of you buys help me to get a better estimate on costs. Tickets plus package plus ? What are the extras eg how much to you tip exactly whom etc? Can any of you boys inform me, if only going for nondangerous game, would a .375 be required. I only have 7mm and am looking at the .375 Ruger African.

If you've ever wanted to speak face to face with a terrific South African outfitter, Pierre Moolman (Sun-Africa Hunting Safaris) will be visiting Edmonton again on Saturday, February 7th, 2009.

For those who haven't seen our African plains game hunt threads from the summer of 2007, they're here:
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=174934
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=174930

We're planning an open house Saturday evening (similar to the get-together we put on last year).

Two of our group of seven (Neo and I) travelled from Canada to South Africa with our firearms, so we can share our experience with the various agencies that we dealt with. Also, the details of how the hunts are conducted are bound to be discussed and so on.

If anyone would like to be in on the "meet and greet" let me know and I'll pm you the details.

With it being after Christmas and New Years, it should be fun (and informative). )


A-zone

 

[Neo]

Can either of you buys help me to get a better estimate on costs. Tickets plus package plus ? What are the extras eg how much to you tip exactly whom etc? Can any of you boys inform me, if only going for nondangerous game, would a .375 be required. I only have 7mm and am looking at the .375 Ruger African.

We both flew on points, but if paying I would budget $2000-$2500 for airfare. If taking your own firearm, you'll want to fly via Frankfurt, NOT the US. A-zone and I both tried like the dickens, but we never were able to work out the requirements for transiting through the US with a firearm (no, a BATF Form 6 does not apply in this case -- the best we were able to figure out is that a DSP-61 was required, but the process of securing one seemed neither straightforward nor easy). Fortunately, no paperwork is required for Germany so long as you're not leaving the international transit area of the airport.

Costs depend on what you want to hunt and for how long. Pierre has packages starting at around $4,000 for 7 days of hunting and 5 or 6 animals. I spent a good deal more than that, but I also managed to fill my trophy room .

Your 7mm should be plenty. I shot 33 animals with my .270 and it did just fine. The only other rifle I used was my .30/06 on eland, and while that was a bit dicey, the truth is that it probably would have been just fine had I used a bullet offering a bit more penetration than the Hornady spire points I had loaded for it.

My very strong suggestion would be to use your 7mm on everything. The only animal for which your .375 would be more appropriate would be eland, but your 7mm will work with careful shot placement. And in all probability, assuming an eland is on your wish list, it will probably show up while you're hunting something else. Just load a good bullet (partition, TSX, or just about anything with a bonded core) and enjoy the hunting!

 

[mackillan]

Thanks Neo. How much would be budgeted for items beyong airfare(I have airmiles) and the outfitter package eg tips etc?

We both flew on points, but if paying I would budget $2000-$2500 for airfare. If taking your own firearm, you'll want to fly via Frankfurt, NOT the US. A-zone and I both tried like the dickens, but we never were able to work out the requirements for transiting through the US with a firearm (no, a BATF Form 6 does not apply in this case -- the best we were able to figure out is that a DSP-61 was required, but the process of securing one seemed neither straightforward nor easy). Fortunately, no paperwork is required for Germany so long as you're not leaving the international transit area of the airport.

Costs depend on what you want to hunt and for how long. Pierre has packages starting at around $4,000 for 7 days of hunting and 5 or 6 animals. I spent a good deal more than that, but I also managed to fill my trophy room .

Your 7mm should be plenty. I shot 33 animals with my .270 and it did just fine. The only other rifle I used was my .30/06 on eland, and while that was a bit dicey, the truth is that it probably would have been just fine had I used a bullet offering a bit more penetration than the Hornady spire points I had loaded for it.

My very strong suggestion would be to use your 7mm on everything. The only animal for which your .375 would be more appropriate would be eland, but your 7mm will work with careful shot placement. And in all probability, assuming an eland is on your wish list, it will probably show up while you're hunting something else. Just load a good bullet (partition, TSX, or just about anything with a bonded core) and enjoy the hunting!

 

[Neo]

Thanks Neo. How much would be budgeted for items beyong airfare(I have airmiles) and the outfitter package eg tips etc?

Unless you're planning on some sight-seeing before or after the hunt, you probably won't have any need for additional accomodation costs. Depending on your flight times, you might have an overnight hotel stay in Port Elizabeth (I'd say budget $100 max for that), but in all probability it won't be needed -- Pierre will meet you at the airport and drop you off there when the hunt's over.

The only two additional expenses are tipping, as well as any souvenir shopping you want to do. If time permits when on your way to fly back home, its worth stopping at one of the local curio shops -- $200-$300 goes a long way in terms of picking up some very interesting gifts for friends and family.

As for the tipping, I think most guys give something around 10% of the hunt cost. Personally, if find the value of the hunt remarkable, so my personal recommendation would be 8-10% of the hunt cost to your PH, and then another 2-3% to your tracker/skinner, and another 1-2% reserved for camp staff and any incidental help (trackers, packers) who are brought in on a day-to-day rate. So a total of about 10-15% -- assuming, of course, that you felt the service was excellent.

Do remember to bring some of your cash in small US$ bills ($5 and $10 denominations). They're handy for tipping the casual help that sometimes is only with you for a day or two.

 

[Neo]

One last thing -- taxidermy!

I would recommend using Karoo Taxidermy in Graaf-Reinet. Pierre knows the owner well, and the work was very, very, VERY good. Amazing in fact (and this comes from a guy who's very picky when it comes to mount quality). Even factoring in air freight, it's considerably cheaper than having the work done in Canada. And to be honest, Karoo sets a very high bar with respect to beating their finished product.

For 5-6 animals getting done as shoulder mounts (including two large ones -- kudu and gemsbuck), I'd budget about US$3,500 including air freight.