Never hunted outside of North America, recommendations for first international hunt?

[elkguide]

I loved New Zealand.
Hunted Fallow deer, wild sheep, goats, turkeys and Red Deer.
Great first out of country hunt.

 

[Northern Safari]

I loved New Zealand.
Hunted Fallow deer, wild sheep, goats, turkeys and Red Deer.
Great first out of country hunt.

How was the import process bringing trophies back home?

Did you borrow a rifle or bring your own?

 

[elkguide]

Brought a bow. I used an importer and while the process was slow, everything made it.

 

[jpr9954]

I did two trips to South Africa for plains game this year. The first was to the Eastern Cape and the second from which I returned this past week was in Limpopo. While you can often find the same game in both locations, there terrain and hunting are very different.

My trip to the Eastern Cape was split between the Karoo (think Wyoming or west Texas) and the coastal region near Grahamstown (Makhanda). The "farm" we hunted in the Karoo was "high fenced" - all 75,000 acres of it. I took a springbok and a red hartebeest there. You'd see hundred of springbok running at a time. The coastal region was more like California with rolling hills and valleys. Unlike the Karoo, it was heavily vegetated. I took a nyala and a bushbuck there. It was tough hunting. Cost for that trip was $2500 airfare, $125 for a night in Jo'burg, $5200 for the package and extras, and about $2000 for taxidermy. I still have to pay for shipping of the trophies home.

The Limpopo trip was an auction I won for $2250 which was a mix of cull and trophy animals. I flew on a Delta buddy pass for $800, had to pay another $650 to the outfitter for pick up and gun rental, and am waiting on an estimate for taxidermy. We got bumped from our first flight home so had to add in the cost of another night in a hotel.

You could do two trips to South Africa for plains game for $20K.

 

[Reburn]

A few international options that I've been looking at that other first-timers may also want to consider (all prices in Canadian):

Spain - Beceite Ibex & South Eastern Ibex - $11,500

Spain - Beceite Ibex & Mouflon - $14,900

Austria - Alpine Chamois - $10,700

Hungary - Red Stag & Mouflon - $8,900

Romania - Chamois - $4,000

Turkey - Bezoar Ibex - $15,800

Kyrgyzstan - Mid Asian Ibex - $9,500

Tajikistan - Mid Asian Ibex - $10,800

New Zealand - Tahr & Chamois - $5,700

Australia - Water Buffalo - $15,500

South Africa - Plains Game X6 - $10,200

South Africa - Cape Buffalo - $14,500

For what its worth our hunts got 10 times better when we stopped using booking agents and went direct with the farm / owner / outfitter.

IMO / IME booking agents are used as a last resort and this reflects in the quality of the hunts / animals.

If you serious DSC and SCI yearly shows are a must to attend to interview potential outfitters.

 

[SCHUNTER73]

About a month ago, I went to S Africa for my first “out of the country” hunt. If you shop around different outfitters for a plains game package, you could do it very easily for your budget. Some of them may negotiate a package with you based on the animals you want. Sometimes they will also offer a discount on other animals to add once you are there. Airfare can be expensive, so if you don’t already do it, get a credit card that builds miles for the airline you are likely to use. My ticket on delta for Atlanta to Joburg was about $1500.

 

[Northern Safari]

The more I look into it, the more I am drawn to the various ibex species around the world. They seem to present the greatest combination of adventure and affordability.

And those horns, forget the sheep.

 

[Sevens]

I’d say figure out what you want to hunt then focus on finding a hunt that fits the description.

Sounds like the mountains are calling, so start there.

 

[snowboardguy234]

Find a local auction and get a great deal. SCI auctions almost always have something.

 

[jpr9954]

Find a local auction and get a great deal. SCI auctions almost always have something.

This is not a bad idea. I bought a mix of a trophy and cull hunt at the 2024 SCI convention for $2250. It was for 2 hunters and 2 observers in Limpopo, South Africa. That combined with a Delta buddy pass made my out of pocket cost just a bit over $3000.

Of course, this doesn't include tips, taxidermy, or rifle rental. My brother in law joined me and we brought my nephew as an observer.

 

[Northern Safari]

Has anything changed for 2025? Where are the best value destinations now for guided hunts? Still looking at a $20,000 CAD budget (roughly $14,000 USD).

Recently looking into interior grizzly prices but they are all higher than expected (~$35,000 USD).

I'm guessing New Zealand, South Africa and Mid-Asia are still the best bang for the buck? Maybe a single species European hunt.

 

[Bluumoon]

Has anything changed for 2025? Where are the best value destinations now for guided hunts? Still looking at a $20,000 CAD budget (roughly $14,000 USD).

Recently looking into interior grizzly prices but they are all higher than expected (~$35,000 USD).

I'm guessing New Zealand, South Africa and Mid-Asia are still the best bang for the buck? Maybe a single species European hunt.

Kamchatka brown bear?

 

[Northern Safari]

Kamchatka brown bear?

I wouldn't personally travel to Russia right now but I am looking into brown bear hunts in Romania. They seem to be within my budget.

 

[Upstatepe]

South Africa

 

[WCB]

My vote would be NZ Tahr and Chamois done right...free range and not assisted during the hunt by a helicopter. Either do a foot hunt or get dropped off by helicopter and hunt. Then top the hunt off with shooting some wallabies. Way better band for your buck vs. Europe.

Africa is an insane place as far as amount and variety for game but if you do go skip South Africa. Go hunt unfenced animals in another country but your cost will probably go up.

 

[Mammoth Steppe]

My vote would be NZ Tahr and Chamois done right...free range and not assisted during the hunt by a helicopter. Either do a foot hunt or get dropped off by helicopter and hunt. Then top the hunt off with shooting some wallabies. Way better band for your buck vs. Europe.

Africa is an insane place as far as amount and variety for game but if you do go skip South Africa. Go hunt unfenced animals in another country but your cost will probably go up.

I have been following NZ as well for an affordable mountain hunt. What are the approximate costs for a free range Tahr/Chamois hunt on the South Island?

 

[WCB]

I have been following NZ as well for an affordable mountain hunt. What are the approximate costs for a free range Tahr/Chamois hunt on the South Island?

Hunt alone no travel or trophy shipping...$7000+. You can probably find a couple cheaper. But two animals for around $3500 each, guided and including helicopter air time all gear except personal gear etc. is pretty darn good. NZ also, if you plan it right you can bring your trophies back with you and not have to use an importer.

Big thing is making sure you know if the Helicopter flights are included if you will be using them to access the area. That is running like $2000+ per hour I believe. I haven't looked real seriously since we don't plan on going back soon even though we want to.