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Hunting >> Hunting in Africa & hunting dangerous game
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James_of_SW_MO
.224 member


Reged: 06/10/03
Posts: 8
Loc: Springfield Missouri USA
Need Help, Guidance, and Advice.
      #4322 - 06/10/03 02:03 PM

My name is James I am 19 almost 20 and have grown up in southwest Missouri. I started shooting at age 8 with a BB/Pellet Gun and moved up to my first 10/22 at age 10. I grew up in the woods of southern Missouri and northern Arkansas, with out sounding as if I have an ego, (well no more then most 20 year old young men, or am I still a boy by most of your standers… whatever), I would say I have well developed field craft, a good respect of mother nature, and a more than hearty sense of adventure.
So that brings me to this web page. I need info on big game hunting in Africa. I have a lot to learn. I (along with my best friend and hunting partner) have the short term goal of maybe getting some sort of work with a guide company, get in someplace were we can learn a lot from those who know best. What got me here tonight is I need to get a true Big Bore something a lot bigger than my 8mm Mauser K98K, (don’t laugh I can shoot 8.6” 3 rnd. groups out at 600m with iron no optics)
So what should I be thinking about? I mean both what rifles should I be thinking and what should I be reading, who do I talk to, how do I get in to this field of hunting. I need to know everything; it’s ok to treat me as if I don’t know anything because when it comes to Big Game and Big Bore I feel as if I don’t know anything.
THINGS I THINK I KNOW AND WANT.
I like bolt-action rifles more than anything I have ever shot, there for I think I want my big bore in a bolt-action.
I think I want something bigger than a .375 H&H. I think I can train with something in the .400’s and not develop bad shooting.
We (my friend and I) would like to start working for a company as an assistant or drivers or camp workers of some sort this summer anytime after May, however if something opened up right now we could leave after January 15. But because of classes that’s not likely. So anytime after May 11th.

Feel free to e-mail me jheatherly_editor@hotmail.com anytime. Please take us seriously we are goal motivated young men, I bet most of you would have killed for this at 20. I don’t see any point in waiting till I am 50 or 60 to live out my dreams. We will work hard, and learn well, we won’t waste anyone’s time.

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AspenHill
Sponsor


Reged: 08/01/03
Posts: 1528
Loc: Vermont, USA
Re: Need Help, Guidance, and Advice. [Re: James_of_SW_MO]
      #4325 - 06/10/03 11:33 PM

Hi James,

Welcome to the NE Forums. I like your enthusiasm and see no reason why you would not acheive your goals. You will learn a lot by becoming active in hunting forums like this one, read and ask questions. The experienced will come along and help you. As far as your ambitions, stick with them, making a plan is the way to go. You have some good ideas so I think you should go with them on your rifle choices. Go with what feels right for you.

I cannot help you on the employment part but keep working on it, someone may take you up on your idea.





--------------------
~Ann

Everyday spent outdoors is the best day of my life.

Aspen Hill Adventures

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mikeh416Rigby
.450 member


Reged: 24/02/03
Posts: 6051
Loc: The beautiful Oley Valley, PA....
Re: Need Help, Guidance, and Advice. [Re: James_of_SW_MO]
      #4328 - 07/10/03 01:31 AM

James, welcome to the forum. As Ann said, you'll receive a lot of valuable information here. Your post reminds me a lot of myself when I was your age a long, long time ago.

Now comes a reality check. Unfortunately, your chances of being taken on by a Safari company in Africa are quite slim. You see, the unemployment rate in every country in Africa is very high, and with their governments affirmative action programs in place your chances of being hired are virtually nil, unless you bring to them some skills or talents that aren't available locally. Don't, however, give up your dream. There are several Americans who have been successful in finding their dreams fulfilled in Africa. Some who come to mind are Tink Nathan, Mark Sullivan, and of course, the late Peter Hathaway Capstick. Good luck, and never lose sight of the prize. Perhaps you could contact some booking agents and make an inquiery with them.

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NitroXAdministrator
.700 member


Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39885
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
Re: Need Help, Guidance, and Advice. [Re: James_of_SW_MO]
      #4346 - 08/10/03 01:00 AM

James

Welcome to NitroExpress.com. I hope you enjoy your visits here and join in.

Not to beat about the bush I believe it will be difficult to get work in the African safari field but not impossible. South Africa has almost as many registered PHs as international clients per annum. So there is a LOT of competition.

I wouldn't be worrying too much about the right rifle and calibre especially a big-bore. The animals that justify a big-bore are usually out of the financial reach of a PH for sport hunting. If you did get a season's work and got paid nothing, you would hope to at least get a warthog and/or impala out of it. Maybe if you were lucky cull hunting.

I would consider the following courses of action if I wanted to pursue a career in African Professional Hunting or at least joining a camp for a period of time.

The best course of action would be to investigate any personal connections you may have, your family, business associates, your father's friends or associates, neighbours etc.

Perhaps an acquaintance visits Africa for safaris a lot and is a valued client and may be able to provide a reference. A shared name always opens a lot of doors.

Write to a lot of Outfitters and offer your services, labour, skills etc. For free! Professional Hunters get paid very little anyway so until you are established I would not expect much in the way of remuneration. You would be paying your own transport/air fare costs as well.

Remember you will also be competing with black Africans who seem to often work for not much more than tips, some meat occasionally, rough accomodation and maize meal. While on accomodation sometimes it is worth taking note of the accomodation the staff, including guides and PHs sometimes have to put up with. It is NOT the same comfortable standard as the clients in most cases.

Skills - medical, first-aid, mechanical, cooking, language translation, taxidermy etc would all be things to mention if you have them. Perhaps consider paying for and attending a PH course in South Africa or a similar course. Shakari, a member of NitroExpress.com, offers such a course and also some very competitive hunting to accompany the course. Attendance and passing one of these shows a lot of committment.

I hunted in South Africa last year and the camp manager was a PH. He was a excellent 5 star trained chef and a good camp manager. He left the hotel business as he wanted to be a PH and hoped to get an "in" as a camp manager.

Learning enough of the local native langunages is probably very important.

Health - excellent, fit and strong would be good.

Personality and social skills is extremely important. All good PHs I have met are friendly and socialable. Getting on with people and especially clients is essential.

Another way some people get into the industry is via the tour side. They start off as tour guides and workers. Learning the ropes, animals, languages and if they are lucky get noticed and given a chance. There are a number of tour companies from Europe and the USA who employ their nationals - eg overland tour companies, white water rafting companies etc.

Just some ideas for you to consider. One other way to get ahead in any field is to make sales. If you can bring a sufficient amount of sales revenues with you, you will no doubt be seriously considered.

Don't be daunted if this is your ambition. Americans, Europeans and Australians have got into the field working from the bottom. Some get there by buying into companies or concessions. Others have done it the lucky and hard way. So if you want it give it a good try and keep at it, picking up as many skills as you can as you go.

Good luck and have fun getting there.


--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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James_of_SW_MO
.224 member


Reged: 06/10/03
Posts: 8
Loc: Springfield Missouri USA
UP DATE – From The Author [Re: James_of_SW_MO]
      #4348 - 08/10/03 07:15 AM

UP DATE – From The Author

First let me say thank you. I am very happy that you all have answered my questions respectfully and professionally. I feel as if I might not have provided all the necessary information about who I am and what I want to do, in order to get the information I originally came here for however I did learn a lot. So again thank-you. Below I will do two things. I will outline what I would like to do this coming hunting season and I will provide a bit more info about my self. Hopeful this will not only help you answer my questions, but it will also allow you to evaluate who I am and therefore provide me with realistic information on what I might do this summer.

I am NOT looking for a job as a Professional Hunter. I do not feel that I have the hunting experience need to advise paying clients. HOWEVER I have more than sufficient experience in outdoor travel, basic hunting, backpacking, map reading and navigation, 4 wheel Driving, cooking, photography, videography, editing, computers, AND WORK ETHIC. I have my father to thank for most of this. I AM LOOKING FOR a job working in camp, driving, any and all manual labor. As far as pay goes, well I would love to be paid, anything, however I understand that that my not be possible, It would be nice to make or be reimbursed for the cost of travel. If the people I work for could get me there and feed me that would be fine.

As for living conditions, I was a Boy Scout, the real deal, I have slept in some of the most beautiful place on earth and most of them were on top of sharp rocks. If I have dry feet, food, water, and a goal for the day I am happy.

As for getting a job IN Africa… I was planning on trying US based Safari companies thinking I would have a better chance. Is this correct?

It would be great if I could hunt anything but I was planning on working, enjoying the experience of Africa, and meeting people. Yes I had planed on a bit of hunting on the side but more in the “it will be 3 days till the next client arrives me and some of the guys are going out to hunt xyz James would you like to come” not in the “I want to hunt can I have the next 3 days off” sort of way. So dose this mean my 8mm Mauser K98K will be fine. Do I still need to get a Big Bore? I plan on getting one if I can but should I not worry about it.

ABOUT ME>>>

I am…
19 years old 20 this coming January 21

Firearms enthusiast, I am very good at repairing firearms.

Very mechanical, I work well with my hands…(I can work on engines, camp stoves, firearms, electronics of all types, and I can work with wood, metal, fiberglass, plastics)

An Eagle Scout of the Boy Scouts of America; after I turned 18 I became an assistant Scout Master.

An outdoorsmen, I have grown up in the woods of Missouri and Arkansas but some notable trips of mine, all lasting between one and three weeks would be the southern Rock Mountains in northern New Mexico, the Tetons, Alaska primarily Denali State region, and The Colorado Rocks.

A marksman, I started shooting at the age of 8, as I grew older my rifles got bigger. When I started collage I started competing in 3 position small bore (the same shooting they do in the Olympics) but the team had a unsafe leader and a lot of people were making safety violations so I left before I got shot. BUMMER

A world traveler, I love travel, I also study history and follow current event, and therefore I have a worldview on things. I am VERY accepting of other people and different ways of living, which is part of why I want to do this. I would never be an embarrassment to any one or group of people I am working for.

I have worked with high-end clients. I worked for a video production company for the past 4.5 year. Most clients made more money in a year then I will in my life, again I wont be an embarrassment to any one I work for.

I am a hard worker. I am a self driven, hard worker, I will do every job to the best of my abilities, even if I don’t like the job, because it reflects who I am, and I know we all have to pay our dues.

Thank-you for all your time, I know it takes time to just read all this. So I will stop here, feel free to e-mail me with any and all questions jheatherly_editor@hotmail.com


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