Guys you really don't understand or appreciating the size...

Guys you really don't understand or appreciating the size. Lets say you are "free range" hunt SE of Frederickburg on a 1000 acre ranch. But is that really "free range"? There is HWY 290 the north about 7 miles away. And there is HWY281 to the east around 10 miles, and I-10 to the south 15 miles. These three highways completely enclose a triangle area and the area next to the roadways in this area are virtually fenced in. There are walls, chain link, office building, and even a few game fences.

So, thinking the way you are, ANYONE hunting in the area is not free range hunting. The experience is bogus because the animals are "trapped" behind the "fence"!! See how ridiculous that is? That - hopefully - will give y'all an appreciation if the size/scale of the HF in Africa.

Secondly, the HF places DO NOT supplemental feed. That is a big deal over there. The area are kept like preserves, kept completely natural. No water, feed, etc. They are very proud and serious about that.

Third, it is NOT put-and-take hunting. While there may be some small hobby ranches of a few thousand acres that do that, no respectable PH is going to be involved in that. In fact, I THINK that PHASA rules prohibit it.

Fourth, while some outfitters over there are beginning to hunt from "hides" (blinds) and even some are doing the unthinkable of hunting water holes - most stay true to what they refer to as a "proper hunt".

Fifth, most land owners have strict rules and ethics and refuse to have animals on their property that are not natural to the area. It only makes sense, since they don't feed, water, or manage (in the Texas) sense - if the species is not natural to the area, it probably won't survive or flourish.

Sure, there are some outfitters over there with "small" hobby ranches of 3000 acres who stock put-and-take, hunt from blinds, feed and water, etc. and offer cheap hunts. Just like there are "marginal" outfitters like Thompson Temple or the Wildlife Ranch here in Texas.

But when you discount ALL of Africa hunting because you hear "high fence" and prejudge all the PHs, low fence ranches, gigantic preserves - its akin to equating Thompson Temple to the Chittam Ranch. Or saying most of Texas hill country is high-fenced (which is true) and saying anyone hunting the hill country is unethical because the animals are trapped by fences, cities, towns, highways, etc.

It makes me really upset and angry to hear folks - who have NEVER been - sit atop their high moral horse and discount Africa hunting with smug satisfaction all because the words "high fence".

I GARANTEE you, if you ever did a proper hunt in Africa - even on a 100,000 acre preserve - you will realize that hunting on your little puny 500 acre section/part of your "free range" lease in Texas, from a stand or tripod, over a food plot or corn feeder that the animals have learn to pattern - is the lazy unethical hunting - not HF hunting in Africa.

I get sick when I watch a TV hunting show and they show some Africa hunt and the dude are sitting in blind, hunting over a water hole, with clearly hay thrown out, and you see all sorts if animals show up. I SCREAM at the TV "That's NOT Africa!!!" What a huge misconception, fraud, and disservice they putting on the public. It's not what the Africa experience is all about.

To give you another perspective on size. Lets say you put a fence up on the south side of I-10 all the way from Katy to San Antonio. On the south border, you fence from Katy to Halletsville, then west up through Gonzales, swinging south of Seguin, and join up with the north fence at San Antonio.

That fences in about 8000 sq miles. Takes you about 3 hours to drive the north border at 60mph.

That is the size of one of the preserves in Africa.

Get the idea of scale now?

OK, that is one of the largest. Too large to comprehend? Try this one.

Fence north side of I-10 from Kerrville to Comfort. Then up 87 on the west side to FredericksBurg. Then down 16 to Kerrville. That is about the size of one of the "HF Ranch" we hunted on. At 60mph, it'll ONLY take you about 30 minutes to travel one side of the ranch. OK, now drive halfway on 87 between Comfort and Fredericksburg. Get out of the truck, and WALK back SW to Kerrville looking for animals, and when you run across the tracks of specific animal, follow those tracks until you find the animal. That will give you a fair approximation of a typical proper hunt we did in Africa. Repeat for 10 days.

In that 10 days, your goal is to stalk and shoot : (1) a Whitetail 150" or better, (2) an Axis at least 30", and (3) a boar hog with cutters of at least 6".

THAT would be a good approximation of a African safari. No problem? Animals don't have a chance! You are "going to get your animal". Not free range so it is easy and no challenge, right? Just like shooting fish in a barrel. And of course, it doesn't come near to the challenge and difficulty of sitting in your heated box blind and popping a good whitetail that comes to your feeder 80 yards away, does it?

Wade, I was trying to make a point.

Kruger, with the new annex, is roughly 8000 sq miles, up from 7600
(Sabi Sands addition - no fence anymore) and a lot of the bordering fences to preserves bordering Kurger have been removed to incorporate them in Kruger.

Yes, there are more and more "small" areas under fence, and a lot of them are indeed put-and-take. But talk to the big outfitters over there and you will get an earful on what the prevailing opinions are on doing that.

I'm sure I will never convince some people - and my responses were not aimed at the previous posters. Of course they are entitled to their opinion and be guided on what is in their hearts. I respect that.

Rather, I was trying to point out counter opinions to the thousands that read these posts. I am sad to think some will never experience Africa because of ignorance and prejudice anytime the word "high fence" is used. I would find it a great tragedy if someone read these posts - by folks who have never been there - and decide not to go because they think the hunting is easy, unfair, unethical, and the animals are trapped.

There are many who have notions and opinions like the previous poster. Ideas fostered by a lack of appreciation having never been there.

You see, I have heard MANY people who of that opinion who go to Africa and come back with a complete 180 on their position. Most really. I only say "most" because I have NEVER heard of ANYONE going there feeling that way and come back feeling the same. NEVER - but maybe there is somebody.

Most folks who make the trip come back in such awe of the wide open spaces, the wild and wooly nature, and the beauty of the country that they vow to return as soon and as much as possible. Africa gets under your skin, and you have to BE there to understand.

Many come back and say "Gee, I really never noticed a fence once we entered. Very common statement.

Trying to convince people with the "high fence" judgements based upon their limited experience in Texas is like trying to explain rainbows to earthworms. I should stop trying I guess and be happy that I have had the experience.

Sure, there less than optimal ranches over there that offer "canned" hunts. But that doesn't mean they are ALL that way, nor even the majority. You can book a safari and never hunt anything but LF properties - especially for certain species. You can make the hunt as wild and tough as you want. Most of the well known outfitters have concessions on MANY concessions across the entire country. If you wanted a totally free range hunt for 60" kudu, you can book it!! Heck, I'll refer you to my PH!! We did!!

The point being is that anyone who is turned off of Africa because they have preconceived notions if HF everywhere and garanteed hunts on easy, trapped animals is missing the hunting experience of a lifetime. And I hate to see some assmaster convince people due to these misinformed prejudices.

I am actually trying to decide between Azerbaijan Dagestan Tur hunt this year or Namibia plains game... the cost is a wash, just depends on what you are looking for. I keep saying I should do Tur because its a good motivator to work out and it will be very hard when I am older, but Africa is calling.... hmmmmmmmmmmmm

Fun with numbers....

If there are 9000 private game ranches with an average size of 7500 acres, that means:

(a) More than 4500 ranches are LARGER than 7500 acres

(b) If 500 stock non-indigious game, that is less than 6% - meaning over 94% do not - more than 8400 ranches do not.

Haha....not really. The occasional 50,000 acre and 100,000 acre properties skew the numbers a lot. I'd be willing to bet that 90% of the ranches in South Africa are under 10,000-15,000 acres (which is still very large compared to most ranches in Texas).

Also, I believe there are WAAAAAAY more than 500 of them that stock non-indigenous species.

What's the full list of non Indigenous game in South Africa?

Oryx safaris has:

Mouflon, Nubian Ibex, Tahr, Arabian Oryx, Scimitar Horned Oryx, hog deer, axis deer and a few others.

They even have some bison and cape buffalo in the Kalahari.

Kind of like having bison in the Mojave desert.

"Arabian Oryx, Scimitar horned Oryx"

Great way to pollute the Native gemsbok herds..

Great,

This is what makes Africa exciting.