We sometimes hear hunters say Africa doesn’t interest them, but they must not know everything Africa has to offer. How many hunters know about the free-range herds of antlered fallow deer on vast unfenced tracts? Or about aoudad (Barbary sheep) running wild at 6,000 ft elevation? High-volume predator hunting? Upland bird? Waterfowl? You can do all of that at cheaper prices than our domestic counterparts.

Fallow deer in the Eastern Cape is South Africa’s answer to public land hunting. The hunts might be conducted on private land, but the fallow are as honest, wild, and naturally reproducing as you can find anywhere in the world. You won’t find any breeding/capture programs, protein regimens, high fences, or sliding scale fees here. So if you have a bad impression of Africa, let this hunt be your introduction. We bet you’ll change your mind on the rest.

Standard Camp

Fallow is not exactly a big money-maker for the outfitters, so we’ve arranged a camp that makes the hunt more economical for all involved. Our Standard Camp hosts up to 8 hunters for 4 hunting days with 2x1 guiding. We host at least two successive camps in the peak rut, lowering the cost through economies of scale. All meals will be made with the best venison from fallow and other local game.

The price also reflects pre-paid trophy fees for 2 fallow bucks. You’re free to shoot just one, but you’ll only receive a trophy fee refund if we don’t present you with a shot opportunity on at least two different representative animals. This allows the landowner to count on a fixed income from the camp. It also insulates you from the pressure to add additional animals as is often encountered in Africa. We do recommend taking some plains game while you’re there, but if you give us a strict budget, we promise to enforce it for you.

The rough sizing guide for the local fallow is Representative (2-2.5 kg), Stud (2.5-3 kg), and Monster (bronze medal 3 kg+). Our game plan is to get you a solid representative buck quickly and then spend the remainder of the time looking for the big one. Hunting is all done spot-and-stalk after either glassing a herd or hearing a croaking buck.

One additional trophy buck per hunter may be added at $750 trophy fee; out of fairness to the group it must be larger than your prior bucks OR all hunters must have taken both their included bucks. So if your first buck is a representative, and your second buck is a stud, then you’ll be holding out for a monster until the others have caught up. We’ve heard of silver medal bucks (3.5 kg+) taken on high fenced tracts, so the genetics are there if they can get the age they need. Fallow need about 2-3 years more than whitetail to reach maturity, so our target age class is 6-9 years instead of 4-6 years. That’s why we won’t shoot any younger bucks in camp.

All coat colors are present, but common (rust or menil) are the largest on average, followed by black and white. Most hides will be suitable for a shoulder mount. We can also cut, boil, and sanitize the antlers so you can bring them home as checked luggage without a veterinary certificate (confirmed with USDA / USFWS). This saves you big money on trophy shipping! For hunters who want their hides, simply come back the following year when they’ll be fully taxidermy finished and importable in your personal baggage. You can do the same with a shoulder mount by choosing detachable antlers. We’ll box it up and bubble wrap as best as we can, but you assume full responsibility for any damage done by baggage handlers.

Hunters will be targeting fallow deer exclusively unless both hunters agree to pursue another species. You’ll be able to take plains game opportunistically during your respective hunt session, but we won’t abandon a fallow stalk to go out of our way for plains game. Most of the native game on the concessions are also free-range, and they can lead you around for miles before getting a clean shot.

Custom & Bow Camps

If you want a longer hunt with all the bells and whistles associated with Africa, we recommend the Custom Camp. This camp is fully customizable with 1x1 guiding, extra hunting days and other free-range species per the outfitter’s price list. It’s also the better option for observers and family groups.

We also have a Bow Camp option for archery purists. While we can likely put you in bow range of a shooter buck in our standard camp, eventually we’re gonna slap a rifle in your hands. Our Bow Camp outfitter is a die-hard bowhunter and you’ll be refunded the trophy fee if he can’t get you within 75 yards in a spot-and-stalk scenario - no need to wait at a watering hole!

Custom and Bow Camp options are run by our partners where your group will be the only fallow hunters in camp and getting the pampered treatment Africa is famous for. We don’t join you in these camps, but we’ll be there to meet you at the airport on arrival, will process your antlers for baggage, and will be in-country for the Standard Camp only an hour or two away for logistical support.

** If you prefer to stay within driving distance of Johannesburg (JNB), we have contacts in Mpumalanga and Free State with great fallow. Trophy fees are more expensive there, so only one fallow would be included in the respective packages below. Most of it is high fence, although the fallow have a well-established reputation for passing through/over them at will.

Starting at $2,750 per hunter for Standard Camp
4-day hunt; 2x1 guiding; 2 fallow EACH

… $3,750 per hunter for Custom Camp
6-day hunt; 1x1 guiding; 2 fallow EACH

… $4,250 per hunter for Bow Camp
5-day hunt; 1x1 guiding; 1 fallow
[March-April]

Add-ons:

$450/day spearfishing
$500/night predator hunt (unlimited jackal, porcupine; MAX 1 genet, springhare, and caracal)

Est airfare: $1,000-1,500
Est tip: $300 - $650