EP 48 South African Hunters out-priced ? 

We had this same conversation Saturday night. The animal hunt is one aspect but the processing afterwards is what kills it

Hi guy's as a South African hunter who has hunted for 40 plus years I've seen the changes in the hunting industry. I have never been able to afford a full on trophy hunt in my life up to now . I've seen prices escalate as the trophy hunting industry has grown in SA. I can remember when you were invited by a farmer to come on a hunt for kudu, bushbuck or wharever animals were on the farm as these animals competed with the livestock or agricultural activities on the farm . Now game has a value so prices have increased exponentially from an invite to hunt to paying for the privilege to hunt on a farm . I understand that the farmer has to make ends meet and don't expect a free meal ticket. There are non trophy animals on farms and animal numbers that need to be controlled. It's all good in years of plenty where the grazing is good and the farm can carry the larger numbers of game. Please let the local hunters hunt these animals at better rates than overseas hunters as we can also generate an income for the farmers and farmers at a cheaper rate than your trophy hunters. Accommodation doesn't need to be 5 star as we want to experience the outdoors. Simple self catering accommodation with a bed, shower and an outside braai area is sufficient for most local meat hunters. That is my 2 cents worth on the topic. Have a wonderful hunting season all hunters.

Really Good Podcast. It's crazy how there are so many parallel's between what you're going through in SA vs. what lots of hunters in the US are going through. Well thought out and executed Sir.

Thanks for the insight into the pricing of hunting. I would have thought that blue wildebeest is your best bang for buck and most hunted. I have hunted 2022 & 2023 a blue wildebeest for home consumption. Paid R4500 for the animal and R2000 for the 90kg carcass meat to be worked into, wors, mince and patties. R6500 for a freezer full for the year was a good deal. But the farm was sold and had to find a new place to hunt for 2024. Pricing for a blue wildebeest starts at R5500 for a female. With all expenses of live getting higher and higher, hunting becomes a luxury. Unfortunately hunting prices will never go down just as all other cost go up and never goes down.

I do feel for South African Hunters. In Australia wages are much higher and some laborer's or semi skilled people get $25 American equivalent an hour. So it is not so hard for overseas hunters to access some countries based on prices. Perhaps priorities should not be money driven; but meeting the needs of fellow South Africans first. Just my thoughts as an overseas hunter.

It's a strange situation for sure in SA. Just the fact that every animal has a $ value kind of sucks in a way, because it detracts from our desire and instinct to hunt animals for meat. I guess in a way we are lucky in NZ and Australia, where our deer are considered feral animals ( by the Govt) so essentially we are free to hunt on public land. We have our other issues though, like zero management, poaching and just indiscriminate unethical shooting.

Well said 😊