Pablo wrote:SFCRMSA wrote:RadioSquatch wrote:How much was the bill for shipping that game meat home? Or did it have to stay in country?
Cannot ship meat back to the USA that is not FDA approved. Safari hunting is not about bringing meat home. You have the opportunity to have some while in country.
That would be very cool. Added to bucket list! I must assume even in today's most stupid gun climate, shipping/luggage check rifle international both ways is not a giant hassle(?)
To be clearly honest, traveling is a hassle. Security, passport checks, crowded airports, getting here, to and from, connections, the food while traveling, pain in the ass.
I will say this without reservation, taking a rifle to Africa and bringing it home was easy. It is all about the paperwork, not only in Africa, but here in the USA. Once you check in at the Airport (say SeaTac) you do not see your rifle again until you land in Africa, your guns are held at security. There they review your paperwork, check your serial number, then release your rifle to you. There is a local representative form the outfitter that knows the system, has a copy already of your paperwork, and meets you after you get off the plane. You are escorted through the whole process. Then you are driven and escorted everywhere you need to go, this is all included in the price of the hunt. People have guns in South Africa, it is just regulated for the locals. It is jacked up and I think they have to pay for license to own a gun, another reason some of the average people do not own a gun, they cannot afford it. It is their version of gun control.
As far as the hunter from the USA, lets be honest, they want you there because you are helping their economy.
Return trip, wherever you get check in by customs, re-entering the USA, they inspect your rifle, basically just confirming the serial number and that's it. The paperwork is no big deal, you fill the forms out online and forward them to the Outfitter, he takes care of it on that end. Here in the USA, you have to take your rifle down to the Customs office in Tacoma, they inspect it and issue the form you need to take with you and then bring back in the USA. Seems like a lot but you do it all over a period of time, so you are not rushed or meet a deadline.
When I was there, there was a guy form Moses lake who was a Bow Hunter. Bow Hunting in Africa is increasingly becoming more and more popular not only because of the newer bow technology, but a Bow is not considered a deadly weapon in the category like a rifle so you do not need all the paper work hassle. Outfitters are now more set up for bow hunting more than ever. They have blinds and tree stands now set up just for that. Then if you do not take a rifle, you can rent a rifle and buy ammo from the outfitter, but is additional expense. Adds flexibility though.
Some return hunters do this so they do not have the whole rifle hassle through customs. It is a matter of what you want to do.
This is not like those Canada, Alaska or even Lower 48 hunts where you pay these high dollar hunts and you do not even get a complimentary bottle of water. You are treated like a guest. It is hard to believe that it is more than a Hunt, you learn about the animals, you see so many animals in the hunting areas, different species, you learn about the culture, they all speak English, they want to talk and interact with you, you try different foods, you learn about the politics, the languages, then you go hunting.
Good luck if you consider an African hunt. I got interested and got hooked up with this outfitter by going to the Puyallup Sportsman show. If you have ever been , you know they have many outfitters from all over. Good place to start to check things out.