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


Reged: 03/01/07
Posts: 18
Loc: Made in USA
Job as a Professional Hunter
      #68700 - 04/01/07 12:10 AM

Hello, I have some question's about becomeing a professional Hunter in Africa. First of all, I have no experiance in hunting Africa .

My Question's:

Where would I start? I have looked all over the WEB, and come up with just about nothing valuable about employement as a PH.

I am medically trained. What other kind of training is involved?

Is there alot of competion for these position's?

How is everyday life in Africa?

Can a PH make a decent living?



Any information would be greatly appreciated, as I am seriously considering this as a new carrer.


Thank's

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shakari
.400 member


Reged: 09/02/03
Posts: 1107
Loc: South Africa
Re: Job as a Professional Hunter [Re: Speedswing]
      #68714 - 04/01/07 02:28 AM

First you'll need to get some experience and knowledge of Africa and it's animals etc...... then you'll need to get yourself equipped, then be prepared to work for nothing for the first year or two at least.... then you'll need to qualify, after which you can begin acquiring experience as a PH. - It's a shed load of fun but don't ever expect it to make you rich........ it's difficult - but it's not impossible.

You might like to do a search on some of the forums as the subject comes up from time to time and a lot of your questions have probably been answered elsewhere already.

Getting the initial experience is one of the biggest hurdles.

Hope that helps!

--------------------
Steve "Shakari" Robinson
Kuduland Safaris (Africa) Ltd
info@kuduland.com
www.kuduland.com



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shakari
.400 member


Reged: 09/02/03
Posts: 1107
Loc: South Africa
Re: Job as a Professional Hunter [Re: shakari]
      #68719 - 04/01/07 04:06 AM

I'll add to my previous comments by saying that we get e-mails every month of the year from newly qualified PHs mostly from RSA who offer to work for nothing just to gain experience (esp DG experience) and hopefully to get a paid job either with us or someone else at a later date.

We never take these guys on as they'd be no help to us at all - more of a hinderance in fact. - I do feel sorry for them though and always try to give advice where I can.

--------------------
Steve "Shakari" Robinson
Kuduland Safaris (Africa) Ltd
info@kuduland.com
www.kuduland.com



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AspenHill
Sponsor


Reged: 08/01/03
Posts: 1528
Loc: Vermont, USA
Re: Job as a Professional Hunter [Re: shakari]
      #68720 - 04/01/07 04:22 AM

I don't know why anyone (in their right mind!) would want to be a PH. You don't get to shoot much.

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

Everyday spent outdoors is the best day of my life.

Aspen Hill Adventures

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shakari
.400 member


Reged: 09/02/03
Posts: 1107
Loc: South Africa
Re: Job as a Professional Hunter [Re: AspenHill]
      #68723 - 04/01/07 04:54 AM

I just replied to this and it disappeared up it's own ass.... so here goes again.

For me it's a severe dislike of civilisation and a love of the wilderness - it's certainly not the money or the glamour! - BUT it does mean I don't have to 'work in the hives of hollow men' anymore.

I earn a living, pay the bills and even manage a small amount of fun money - but It'll never make me rich..... the secret about that is not to care..... The other advantage is getting to meet so many interesting people. In 27 years of hunting in Africa (17 professionally) I've met no more 8 or so hunters I don't like and of them, only 3 or 4 I'd refuse to accept as clients.

--------------------
Steve "Shakari" Robinson
Kuduland Safaris (Africa) Ltd
info@kuduland.com
www.kuduland.com



Edited by shakari (04/01/07 04:55 AM)

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Double_Trouble
.375 member


Reged: 27/04/06
Posts: 577
Loc: Canada
Re: Job as a Professional Hunter [Re: shakari]
      #68731 - 04/01/07 06:00 AM

Shakari

will you be at the SCI show in Reno later this month?


DT

--------------------
Double Trouble,
Speak not of what you do not know.
Listen up when it's time to.

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shakari
.400 member


Reged: 09/02/03
Posts: 1107
Loc: South Africa
Re: Job as a Professional Hunter [Re: Double_Trouble]
      #68733 - 04/01/07 06:10 AM

DT,

No, I'm afriad not....... business wise it's not worth our while as we pretty much sell out with website sales, repeat bookings and recommendations etc..... That said, I did look into going just so that I could meet up with all my old (and new) friends and hunting buddies etc - but the only flights I could get would have meant my hanging around for about a week after the shows and we're just too busy for me to do that. -

If anyone ever needs to discuss something, I can always be contacted by e-mail, phone or skype though.

--------------------
Steve "Shakari" Robinson
Kuduland Safaris (Africa) Ltd
info@kuduland.com
www.kuduland.com



Edited by shakari (04/01/07 04:53 PM)

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Double_Trouble
.375 member


Reged: 27/04/06
Posts: 577
Loc: Canada
Re: Job as a Professional Hunter [Re: shakari]
      #68738 - 04/01/07 07:35 AM

Well thats too bad that you wont be there but it's certainly a good sign that you neednt be there to sell your hunts.

in speaking to several PH's at the show, it seems that a great deal of them do go to the show to meet old clients and to just get away for a while.

I can see not wanting to hang around Reno for an additional week unless you have the inclination to go up to Tahoe and ski for a few days.... other than that, there isnt much to do in Reno except gamble.

DT

--------------------
Double Trouble,
Speak not of what you do not know.
Listen up when it's time to.

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shakari
.400 member


Reged: 09/02/03
Posts: 1107
Loc: South Africa
Re: Job as a Professional Hunter [Re: Double_Trouble]
      #68759 - 04/01/07 03:21 PM

Yup it's nice that we don't have the worry of active marketing. Not only do we not visit the conventions we hardly advertise at all other than here (thanks John!) and our website. It's taken many years of hard work to build up a reputation that put us in that position. - It's been a lot of fun doing it, but it wasn't easy.

I'm sure I'd have a ball if I went to Dallas and Reno and I've had a lot of very kind invitations to stay with friends in both areas - but I just can't afford to spend the time there when I need to be in the office. - One of the big differences between the way we do business and other safari companies do business is that we rarely use agents. - The downside of that is it makes for a lot more work for the office....... I sometimes get fed up with that and every time I do Mama Shakari reminds me it's worth the effort. - I guess she's right.

--------------------
Steve "Shakari" Robinson
Kuduland Safaris (Africa) Ltd
info@kuduland.com
www.kuduland.com



Edited by shakari (04/01/07 05:02 PM)

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NitroXAdministrator
.700 member


Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39897
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
Re: Job as a Professional Hunter [Re: Speedswing]
      #68768 - 04/01/07 08:18 PM

Try some of these threads from the past:

Becoming a PH
How does one become a PH
Need list of PHs and Outfitters
Need help guidance and advice
African Masters Hunters Training Course

--------------------
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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Savuti_One_Shot
.300 member


Reged: 24/01/07
Posts: 139
Loc: Florida
Re: Job as a Professional Hunter [Re: NitroX]
      #70450 - 30/01/07 04:02 AM

There are any number of disciplines which come in handy for a PH. Zooligy, auto mechanics, linguistics, ballistics, meteorology, along with all the skills normally attributed to boy scouts: camp building, fire starting, latrine building, tracking, etc. Then there's the essential aspects of
trophy care, skinning, and meat preservation.

But, the single most important skill of the successful PH is that he be (dare I use the cliche) people person. He must be friendly, gregarious, a gracious host, a patient teacher, as well as having the ability to size up the personality and shooting skills of a total stranger within an hour or 2 meeting him.

If what I described above fits you to a T, great. But, since you're an American, the hardest parts are yet to come.
First is the language barrier. I don't know too many fellow Americans who have even a slight knowledge of Swahili, Setswana, Shona, Ndebele, mine language, kitchen caffer, or whatever the local dialect may be. True, these can be learned, but it takes a while to be proficient.

Second is the fact that, as far as I know, there is only one African country which allows non-citizens to hold a PH license, Tanzania. (This was true in '95, though they may have tightened things since). And some, like Zimbabwe, allow only the native born.

If I haven't discouraged you yet, you might try talking to the only US native I can think of who's done it (in Tanz.), Ross Seyfried. r1313s at eoni.com.

Good luck. You're on a pursuit that I dreamed of for most of my life.

SOS

--------------------
"I've this damned cannon." - Robert Wilson

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