The cost of boar shooting abroad

[CBH Australia]

I've seen Razorback the film! What else do you shoot?

That was made in my local area. Quite a few films have been made in the area

In several states there are Deer. People can't agree if it's 6 or 7 species.
I've only shot Fallow but Red and Sambar can be found on public land.
Rusa and Chital are less common and Hog deer can be hunted by a ballot.
One problem is that visiting hunters need to book with an outfitter to import firearms. I'm not all that familiar with those rules.
As @John Gryphon said there are Buffalo, Banteng, Scrub Bulls and good numbers of Pigs in the Northern and Tropical parts of Australia.
A lot of the deer are in the southern states with foxes, rabbits and a pigs fairly widespread.

 

[John Gryphon]

People can't agree if it's 6 or 7 species.

That is because they dont know. I have posted photos on here of number seven.

 

[CBH Australia]

So I know of Fallow, Chital, Sambar, Hog, Rusa and Red.
What is the 7th?
I've only hunted Fallow and have to travel for that.
One say that there are still Wild populations of Blackbuck Antelope while the Qld government say they were eradicated.

 

[John Gryphon]

Sika also there are many many hybrid Wapiti x Red`s in many parts.

 

[CBH Australia]

Sika also there are many many hybrid Wapiti x Red`s in many parts.

Actually that's interesting. My mate said something about Elk, which I think are called Wapiti in New Zealand.

 

[John Gryphon]

wapiti is the original and correct name for the deer species that in the US is called elk. Original Swedish settlers termed them Elg/Alg which was bastardised to Elk.

 

[Dalua]

and one thing is obvious that shouldn't surprise me, that is: you get what you pay for!

It seems to me that the thread might have been started to explore whether that is indeed the case - but one problem is that costs which seem high to some may seem modest to others.

 

[Jagare]

It seems to me that the thread might have been started to explore whether that is indeed the case - but one problem is that costs which seem high to some may seem modest to others.

Like all things in life the cost is relative to each individual. I'm not so sure you do always get what you pay for. There seems to be excuses thrown around as why the bag was poor. Wolves, ASF, the dreaded lurgy, etc. If numbers are down why are these trips being sold? I looked at Hungarian Hunters ad on here. I've met George and a sound chap he is. He prints his yearly boar numbers shot and the odd low day is just the luck of hunting. I' ve been with Vlad and a well run trip at a reasonable price,for boar hunting with a good bag, it was a memorable trip.. I've also arranged trips direct through agents abroad and not been disappointed by the cost, organisation or the hunting.
But there are still boar trips advertised that for the money charged I personally think are poor value for money and there are better hunting experience to be had for the same money.

 

[TonyC]

Is it a case of demand and supply - deliberately written that way - when i started going many years ago it was roughly £300 per day + flights, now it is greatly more than that perhaps driven by demand and sellers seeing an opportunity to hike prices. But almost everything has increased in cost e.g. I do a fair bit of river cruising in Europe, ten years ago the cost averaged out at just above £120 per night, now they are charging between £350 and £500 a night for pretty much the same package - nothing much has changed except increased demand.

 

[NickJ]

Some bloke above paid plenty and got sfa.

As it should be if one networks.

As long as you discount disreputable operators getting 'sfa' is, I'm afraid something we all need to accept if you want to hunt truly wild, unfenced areas

 

[NickJ]

Like all things in life the cost is relative to each individual. I'm not so sure you do always get what you pay for. There seems to be excuses thrown around as why the bag was poor. Wolves, ASF, the dreaded lurgy, etc. If numbers are down why are these trips being sold? I looked at Hungarian Hunters ad on here. I've met George and a sound chap he is. He prints his yearly boar numbers shot and the odd low day is just the luck of hunting. I' ve been with Vlad and a well run trip at a reasonable price,for boar hunting with a good bag, it was a memorable trip.. I've also arranged trips direct through agents abroad and not been disappointed by the cost, organisation or the hunting.
But there are still boar trips advertised that for the money charged I personally think are poor value for money and there are better hunting experience to be had for the same money.

As I said I have limited knowledge and I can only based it on the research I did, some guys I spoke to paid less than me, there was more guns, they went for longer but they shot less boar.

That average worked out at around £1,000+ per animal all in (hunting, licenses, flights, tips etc). Obviously, with any wild hunting luck plays a big part.

I consider our Highland stag stalking good value at around £700 per stag. A foreign client visiting our shores is going to be paying more like double that all in.

I think they are both some of the finest hunting in the world and thus good value. Just my opinion.

 

[John Gryphon]

I'm afraid something we all need to accept if you want to hunt truly wild, unfenced areas

For myself and many others, hunting doesn't include the word fence (as in high fence.)

I think they are both some of the finest hunting in the world and thus good value. Just my opinion

£1,000+ per animal

Some of the finest hunting in the world? In ya dreams, not for a driven boar.

I am very thankful that I/we have always had that for no costs other than the fuel to get there among them.

£700 per stag

Of course I understand that with the large population and small land mass that opp`s are limited but at the same time it makes me shudder especially if there is a 'carcase cost' add on after nailing ones stag under some hunt deals.
Hunting/stalking a wild stag in Scottish mountain country is hunting. (unfenced/fed)

 

[jthyttin]

Some of the finest hunting in the world? In ya dreams, not for a driven boar.

I am very thankful that I/we have always had that for no costs other than the fuel to get there among them.

Like pointed out before, I'm kind of sceptical that this could be compared to (more or less) traditional European driven hunt of real wild boar. Not that I think the formal driven hunts are the epitome. Much prefer more "feet on the ground" style approach where peg / shooting lane preparation is minimal etc.

 

[CBH Australia]

Like pointed out before, I'm kind of sceptical that this could be compared to (more or less) traditional European driven hunt of real wild boar. Not that I think the formal driven hunts are the epitome. Much prefer more "feet on the ground" style approach where peg / shooting lane preparation is minimal etc.

Hunting pigs in Australia can vary a lot.

They are a true Wild Boar but maybe not from the same line as those you mention.

The Pigs we do have come under the scientific name of Sus Scrofa. I know there is some difference between pigs found in different parts of the country.

Typically the Boars found in the tropics of Australia are bigger in general from what I have seen in Australian publications. I have not hunted pigs in the tropics. Mountain pigs in the Eastern seaboard are also bigger if you can find those old solitary boars.

I have hunted pigs on foot and successfully shot them from 3 feet out to maybe 200 yards. There's only been one at around 3 feet and it's a small sow coming at me.

Pigs in my area are not huge but there are free range and wild. 100kg and up would be considered big in my area with only the odd one getting much bigger.

When you do come across a small sounder of hogs on foot and it's all offhand shooting it is fast and fun with hogs going always. I don't know John Gryphon but I imagine he has done similar from his posts.

I'm not saying it compares to a driven hunt but hunting is hunting and I'm sure not every hunt is fast paced or successful.

I would like to try driven boar hunting but getting there is costly so I would want some assurance it's going to be good numbers and plenty of opportunity.

 

[Greener Jim]

I love driven boar, like planning the trip , the company, all though you need a good sence of humour and thick skin if you go with a team from England, especially those that come from above the Watford Gap.

Costs of shooting debate aside, this made me chuckle

 

[jthyttin]

I was just commenting on the topic whether driven boar is "some of the finest hunting in the world".

I think that for many (like NickJ) the technical / performance (how challenging shots are, how many opportunities you get, how well you use them etc.) is only a small part of what makes hunting "finest". Other parts are atmosphere, sense of tradition, sense of "lubricated machine" in the organization, being part of the group rather than individual etc. And in this regard traditional European driven hunt delivers.

Btw based on this there are no evidence of wild boar being introduced to Aus:

Pig history (Aus)

An interesting old file. https://museumsvictoria.com.au/media/5667/jmmv19531801.pdf

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

 

[NickJ]

For myself and many others, hunting doesn't include the word fence (as in high fence.)


Some of the finest hunting in the world? In ya dreams, not for a driven boar.

I am very thankful that I/we have always had that for no costs other than the fuel to get there among them.

Of course I understand that with the large population and small land mass that opp`s are limited but at the same time it makes me shudder especially if there is a 'carcase cost' add on after nailing ones stag under some hunt deals.
Hunting/stalking a wild stag in Scottish mountain country is hunting. (unfenced/fed)

Have you done it?

 

[John Gryphon]

Have you done it?

Yes but not in Europe, have shot/knifed more boar than your dreams could conjure up.. stared them down, shot them at my feet blah blah blah as another few 100 thousand other Aussies have. It isnt a big deal as it comes with a 1000 or two trips of hunting them.

Some of the finest hunting in the world?

Sitting in a seat shooting at animals running/sneaking past isn't what my own personal idea of 'finest hunting' is about.
I did shoot a lovely Swedish bull moose from a seat, I would much rather to have walked him up.

 

[NickJ]

Yes but not in Europe, have shot/knifed more boar than your dreams could conjure up.. stared them down, shot them at my feet blah blah blah as another few 100 thousand other Aussies have. It isnt a big deal as it comes with a 1000 or two trips of hunting them.

Some of the finest hunting in the world?

Sitting in a seat shooting at animals running/sneaking past isn't what my own personal idea of 'finest hunting' is about.
I did shoot a lovely Swedish bull moose from a seat, I would much rather to have walked him up.

Well, it’s hard to judge if you have never done it isn’t?

I did say ‘in my opinion’ - we are all different, thank God

 

[John Gryphon]

I did say ‘in my opinion’ - we are all different, thank God

And I did say " isn't what my own personal idea"

Well, it’s hard to judge if you have never done it isn’t?

I differ, I have never stood at the bottom of the Great Pyramids yet through my books i know as much as most do.
I may have seen 50,maybe a 100 videos plus of driven hunts...man in seat shooting at game being driven to or past him doesn't constitute "finest hunting" imo maybe fantastic shooting and herein lays the difference.