Yo Archers-, really for the Dark Continent?

[Deleted member 33033]

Putting a small group together to visit either Nambia or SA in late May/early June 2017 Ought run about 10K depending on whatcha wanna hunt. Includes travel. Likely 7-8 days of hunting and a few days of travel. Bow hunters only...mostly spot & stalk, perhaps some ground blind action late in the day when tired. Group size 4-8 people, 3 are already in. One CO bowhunter and his wife and I.

 

[Deleted member 33033]

I just got some info forwarded by a buddy about one PH operation. This provides a "general idea" of what's what in Nambia.

Bruce,

June is a great time, nice and cool. I talked to the operator that I am hunting with this month and he has a property in Namibia that sounds interesting.

He says:
Bow hunt on a location bordering Etosha and it has great trophy quality. There are excellent Elevated blinds. Walk and stalk also possible. I have one set of dates open for the season in Namibia, June 2nd- June 17th.

Has excellent Hartmanns Zebra, Kudu, Eland, Waterbuck, Steenbuck, Klip Springer, Dik-Dik, Gemsbuck, Red Hartebeest on the property. Property is 7000 hectare (20,000 acres) With wild Lion and Hyena on the same property on an export or non-export basis.
If you are not targeting lions then day rates will be $350/hunter/day and $100/observer
Accommodations will be 3 Star lodge or Tented Camp. They are comfortable but not luxurious.
If the hunter is looking for luxury can offer a 5 Star experience for USD 550/hunter and $250/observer
Trophy fees are:
Kudu $1 200 (Expect 50” and up)
Impala $450
Eland $1700 (some very old blue bulls there)
Hartebeest $800
Oryx (Gemsbok) $800
Waterbuck - $1500 (expect a heavy old bull with big bases)
Duiker $300
Damara Dik-Dik $2300
Klipspringer $1800
Steenbok $500
Hartmann Zebra $1650 (over 200 on the property)
Burchell Zebra $1200
Ostrich $800
Giraffe $2600 (expect a very old black bull – free range herd there on communal land)
Caracal $800
Jackal Free
Hyena $2500
Leopard POR
Cheetah POR (not importable to the US)
Warthog $500
Baboon $200
The property shares a fence with Etosha National Park and there are Lion, Hyena and Elephant roaming there. The Etosha fence is in the worst condition though and game moves in and out freely.

If the client should decide to take a Lion as a target of opportunity we have both export and non- export options.
Export – Male USD 15000+, Female USD 5000
Non Export- Male $5000, Female $2500
If targeting a lion then day rate will go up to USD $650/hunter/day in our tented lion camp
By law it is not permitted to hunt lion with a bow in Namibia, so he would need a rifle with him.
Unfenced areas are available but he should expect much lower game density and species variety though as they get hammered hard by poachers. If he is looking for a specific free range hunt then let me know what species he wants in order of importance and I can see what option is best suited.
Ian Blakeway
Owner
Venture South Outfitting
South Africa, Namibia and Canada
+27 83 414 2446
ian@venturesouthoutfitting.com
www.venturesouthoutfitting.com
https://www.facebook.com/venturesouth

 

[Bubblehide]

... and his wife ...

Got a pic of her???:lol bashing sign:

 

[Deleted member 33033]

No I don't.

 

[Wild1]

Well there are certainly hunters that know more about African hunting than myself, but I have been there four times (five different countries), including bowhunting Namibia. Here's a few of my initial thoughts (for whatever it's worth):

1. If I was going to hunt Namibia in June of 2017, there is no way I would do it on those dates mentioned. If you're gonna spend all that time and money, might as well do it right (most people only have the opportunity to do it once). I would only hunt after June 25, which will be during a dark moon phase - which is the best time to hunt Namibia (or SA).

2. No disrespect to the outfitter mentioned, but if he didn't mention the full moon/dark moon issue, I'd think twice. You can still kill animals, but it's just not the best time. I would only go with Venture South if I had my heart set on a bush pig, and then I might go with them - but to South Africa, which is where this outfitter does it best.

3. Namibia spot n stalk is going to be very difficult, not impossible (I did it), but very, very tough. Namibia is a desert country (very arid) and vegetation is thin - imagine spot n stalking with no cover! Now imagine spot n stalking with no cover and whatever vegetation there was, is now on the ground as dry and noisy as a potato chip....that's Namibia. It can still be done, but it's not the way most bow hunting is done in that country - at least, successful bow hunting! You'll end up sitting over water holes, because that's where the animals will be - period.

4. Again, no disrespect intended toward this particular outfitter, but if I was going, I'd pick a dedicated bow hunting only outfit!! There a few well-established, and well-renowned outfitters that have it down to a well-oiled, world-class bow hunting operation - at totally comparable prices and costs - this outfit is not one of those. They still might deliver a great experience, but the outfitters I know (and know of) deliver exceptional bow hunting experiences consistently, without exception!!

5. I hope you make it happen, it truly is an incredible experience! Good luck!