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Hello,

I have recently found this site in my search for information on an up coming safari. I have read over this site as well as others and found them to be good sources of information for an admited novice in the field of DG hunting in Africa.

My questions are, I would assume standard for one interested in this undertaking though I found no mention of them in the pages of previous post I have scanned through.

My interest is in a nice bull buff and plains game on this trip and I would like to pose the question I am sure has no true "right" answer as to what exactly should I plan to spend on a good hunt?
I have looked over a smattering of PH sites and found a huge array of prices and the hidden cost seam to be almost as unclear as the disclosed ones.

So If I might inquire on some of the first hand experiences of those who have recently been there it would be of a great help to my planning.

My requirements would be a good fair chase hunt I am leaning in the direction of central africa as I have no interested in placed game nor hunting in small areas of fenced compounds to simply walk out and take game. I would prefer a moving tent safari with nice accomedations if this is a reality in modern days. I would be willing to devote the large portion of the safari to a trophy cape though a elan, bush buck, warthog etc would make for some nice plains game as well. The number not being the motive as much as quality of game and the overall African experience.

It seams the basics such as customary tips, trophy fees, day rates etc... are common knowlage but the travel expense, CITES fees, licence fees for hunters and rifles, government levies, dipping/packing and if this is event need for trophies not wished to return etc etc... leaves a lot of speculation and "grey" areas for lack of a better term.

I am sure once I find the PH and outfit I plan to secure for the hunt a fair amount of this would be cleared up but I am simply the sort that likes to know the answers before I ask the questions to those I intend to hire and believe it will help me sort out in the end the outfit I decide upon.

I also would like some help on were to procure a double of vintage for the hunt. I have recently purchased a Dakota Arms "Classic 76" in 7MM and placed a Swarovski 2.5-10 Habibicht on for optics, for my plains game.
I had settled on a Merkel double in 470NE but have recently read some posters saying you could for the same funds or a pinch more procure one of the british doubles of vintage. I for the shear romance of the piece would love one of the 450 or 470 NE doubles of british heritage though the Merkle at ten thousand US seams priced well blow any of the doubles I have found so far on the open market of vintage or heritage.

Thanks in advance for any help you could shed on my inquiries as I have a bit shy of a year to gather information until I hope to be recanting the days events over a sundowner.

James F Nixon III

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