The short version: figure roughly a day and a half of hunting per animal. Seven days takes three to five plains game animals, ten days takes five to seven, fourteen days gets you into specialist species and a genuinely unhurried trip. Add two travel days each way. If you can only do one, ten days […]
The short version: figure roughly a day and a half of hunting per animal. Seven days takes three to five plains game animals, ten days takes five to seven, fourteen days gets you into specialist species and a genuinely unhurried trip. Add two travel days each way. If you can only do one, ten days […]
The short version: a plains game safari is quoted as a daily rate — roughly 400 to 500 US dollars per hunter per day at market — plus a trophy fee for each animal taken, from the low hundreds for impala up to the low thousands for kudu and eland. A realistic all-in figure for […]
The short version: the Eastern Cape contains six of South Africa’s seven ecological biomes. In one province you can hunt mountain country for kudu and eland, open grassland for gemsbok and blesbok, dense riverine bush for bushbuck, and arid Karoo thornveld where the wind and the distance make you earn every animal. That variety is […]
The short version: the difference is rarely the website and almost never the trophy photos. It is the quality and variety of the ground they can put you on, how many hunters share a professional hunter, what happens when an animal is hit and not recovered, and how fast the skinning shed works. Those four […]
The short version: to bring your own rifle into South Africa you need a SAPS 520 temporary import permit. It is free, it is not complicated, and the requirements are specific: certified copies of your passport and proof of lawful possession, written export authorisation from your home country, and a letter of invitation from your […]
The short version: go to South Africa in the southern winter — roughly May through September. Plan seven to ten days and expect to take four to six plains game animals. Most plains game country is malaria-free. You do not have to bring a rifle. And it will cost less than most hunters assume, though […]
The short version: booking direct with a South African outfitter is cheaper and gives you a direct relationship. Booking through a US-based outfitter who hosts the hunt costs a little more and gives you recourse, vetting, and someone in your own time zone when something goes wrong. Both are legitimate. Which is right depends almost […]
The short version: verify that the outfitter is licensed in the province they hunt, that the professional hunter guiding you is separately registered, and that both are who they say they are. Then call two references from the last twelve months. Then read the deposit and cancellation terms before you send anything. Most of the […]
The short version: if you want the most exciting hunt, come for axis in June or July. If you want the hardest stalk, hunt blackbuck. If you want the most physical hunt, hunt aoudad. If you want the most impressive animal on the wall for the money, hunt scimitar-horned oryx. If you want a European-style […]
The short version: if you want the most exciting hunt, come for axis in June or July. If you want the hardest stalk, hunt blackbuck. If you want the most physical hunt, hunt aoudad. If you want the most impressive animal on the wall for the money, hunt scimitar-horned oryx. If you want a European-style […]
The short version: a Texas exotic hunt is quoted in two parts — a daily rate covering lodging, meals and guiding, and a trophy fee charged per animal taken. Ours are $350 per hunter per night and $250 per non-hunting guest per night, with trophy fees from $5,000 to $50,000 depending on species. A typical […]
The short version: axis deer can be hunted in Texas every day of the year, because they are exotics and have no closed season. The best window for a mature, hard-antlered, actively rutting buck is roughly mid-May through August, peaking in June and July. But axis do not run a synchronized rut, so hard-antlered bucks […]
The short version: the things that predict a good exotic hunt are acreage, terrain, herd management, guide ratio and what the price actually includes. The things most hunters ask about first — fence status and trophy photos on a website — predict almost nothing. There are a lot of places in the Hill Country that […]
The short version: in Texas, exotic game is legally private property, not state wildlife. That means no closed season, no bag limit and no state tag. You need a valid Texas hunting license and the landowner’s permission — and that is essentially the whole regulatory story. It is why a hunter can shoot a hard-antlered […]
Great hunts often begin long before you arrive at the ranch or safari camp. Preparation plays a major role in your overall experience, helping you stay comfortable, confident, and ready when opportunities arise. The first step is understanding the species you’ll be hunting. Research their behavior, habitat preferences, and movement patterns. The more familiar you […]
Elk hunting in West Texas has quickly become one of the most sought-after big-game experiences in the region. The rugged, canyon-cut terrain and high desert elevations create a landscape that feels more like New Mexico or Colorado than the stereotypical Texas brush country. For hunters searching for a challenge, big country, and hard-earned trophy bulls, […]
West Texas hunting is as rugged as it gets, especially when chasing aoudad or other exotics in steep terrain and arid environments. Fall conditions pose unique challenges – and opportunities – for spot-and-stalk hunters. This article delves into how wind, temperature shifts, and terrain evolve this time of year and how you can optimize your […]
There are hunts you enjoy and there are hunts that test every ounce of grit you’ve got. Chasing aoudad in West Texas is the latter. Known as Barbary sheep, these rugged animals thrive in some of the harshest country the state has to offer. High ridges, jagged rocks, blinding sun, and wind that cuts like […]
Any hunter knows timing matters. In Texas, where seasons for exotics run year-round, it’s easy to assume you can hunt whenever you feel like it. The truth is, certain months give you the best odds for specific species. If you want to line up hunts for the year and stack success, here’s when to chase […]
West Texas Aoudad vs. Nilgai: A Hunter’s Showdown Hunters looking for a challenge in Texas eventually come face to face with two heavy hitters – West Texas aoudad and South Texas nilgai. Both are exotics, both will test you, and both deliver trophies that stand out in any room. But the similarities stop there. Here’s […]
Aoudad Sheep—also known as Barbary Sheep—are the ultimate free-range challenge in West Texas. With their heavy horns, rugged build, and unmatched wariness, Aoudad hunts are not for the faint of heart. These mountain dwellers thrive in the harsh, rocky terrain of the Trans-Pecos region, offering a truly Western-style hunting experience. Why Hunt Aoudad in West […]
The short version: figure roughly a day and a half of hunting per animal. Seven days takes three to five plains game animals, ten days takes five to seven, fourteen days gets you into specialist species and a genuinely unhurried trip. Add two travel days each way. If you can only do one, ten days […]
The short version: a plains game safari is quoted as a daily rate — roughly 400 to 500 US dollars per hunter per day at market — plus a trophy fee for each animal taken, from the low hundreds for impala up to the low thousands for kudu and eland. A realistic all-in figure for […]
The short version: the Eastern Cape contains six of South Africa’s seven ecological biomes. In one province you can hunt mountain country for kudu and eland, open grassland for gemsbok and blesbok, dense riverine bush for bushbuck, and arid Karoo thornveld where the wind and the distance make you earn every animal. That variety is […]
The short version: the difference is rarely the website and almost never the trophy photos. It is the quality and variety of the ground they can put you on, how many hunters share a professional hunter, what happens when an animal is hit and not recovered, and how fast the skinning shed works. Those four […]
The short version: to bring your own rifle into South Africa you need a SAPS 520 temporary import permit. It is free, it is not complicated, and the requirements are specific: certified copies of your passport and proof of lawful possession, written export authorisation from your home country, and a letter of invitation from your […]
The short version: go to South Africa in the southern winter — roughly May through September. Plan seven to ten days and expect to take four to six plains game animals. Most plains game country is malaria-free. You do not have to bring a rifle. And it will cost less than most hunters assume, though […]
