So I'll try and keep this story as short as possible but I happened across an interesting opportunity over the last few days. In planning a plains game hunt in RSA, I came upon an outfitter's website who had Roan listed - POA. I e-mailed an inquiry and got a response telling me he had access to a "PAC" Roan bull for $7000. This would be on a ranch setting ( ~ 3000 ha.) and the rancher really wants this specific animal removed. Apparently, it is causing major head-aches - injuring and killing other animals on the property and, generally, being a big PITA. He forwarded some photos to me and this bull is not a trophy animal - horns pretty worn but is very big-bodied and fully mature. My question is: Is this worth it, or at least exploring further? Hunting Roan in RSA is incredibly expensive with trophy fees pushing $15,000 for an SCI/Rowland Ward level specimen. Even representative animals run close to $10,000. On the other hand, while Roan can be hunted in other countries for a lot lower trophy fee, you have to shell out an arm and a leg just to be allowed to hunt them.

To me, the best place for a Roan is western Africa - Burkina Faso, Benin, etc. I plan on getting there someday but that's a ways off and RSA is much more accessible to me right now. I had some other animals factored in for my original hunt but that $7K would pretty much eliminate most of those. (I may have enough money budgeted for a couple of others as this outfitter has very reasonable trophy fees otherwise.)

Anyway, I'd like to respond to this guy fairly soon but thought I'd run this scenario by the membership to see what other people's opinions are first.