The .375 Holland & Holland Part II

Very good read on both parts. I am in the plain ing stage of going to Africa and some have told me for plains game that my 338 should be enough. This will make me research more. Thanks alot.
 
Your .338 will be plenty sub-Buffalo, if you're shooting anything heavy like Eland or Giraffe the 285gr Barnes is actually probably a smidge better than the .375 with a 300gr. The SD is better in the .338 for the heavy end of that spectrum, just load heavy for caliber bullets and have fun, the .338 is enormously popular in Africa and very versatile.
 
Wonderful read ardent... Having been in the military I have felt blessed to have hunted all over canada... I feel truly humbled by reading your experiences and can only aspire to hunt the dark continent in the future...
 
thepitchedlink said:
That's some good readin' there Ardent.....your a lucky bugger to get to do those trips and have these experiences....i think part III is definatly inorder!!
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You just hunted New Zealand! :D I'd love to do that hunt. Anything neat up in the NWT running around to look at? Some top shelf Moose here in NE BC, see a pair of bulls every second week lately one of which would be magazine worthy.
 
:D Hehehe, just pulling your chain man!! Ya, I got to hunt NZ...but that isn't the Dark Continent....I don't remember my Thar trying to kill me. Although one slip in that terrain and your still dead. I'm not in the NWT this winter, doing some skiing in central BC....but I know where I'm gonna put in for a tag!! This place is crawling with 'em!! Oh, and thanks to this post and your excellent writing, I just made an offer on a 375H&H:p Dont know what the hells wrong with me..I've already got one!!
 
Ha 'pitched I remember you saying you were going to do skiing, very neat. I'm err, almost doing the same thing... if you count moving methanol skids into frozen swamps, there's still snow in your gig and mine being the reasoning. Thanks for the kind words to all.

As an aside, that first pic of the sunrise was taken from the front flap of my tent, I've traveled quite a bit and had become a bit jaded as everything seemed the same in the world; a rainforest in Colombia looked a lot like one on the BC coast, not different enough to be breathtaking. Certain backwaters of Africa changed that, it is a world apart, the animals and scenery are like nowhere else. Heaven to me looks a lot like that first photo, unfortunately it's not the most stable place or I'd be working there as fast as we could our things. I imagine NZ is similar, and can't wait to go...
 
Be very careful in new zealand... The people and the atmosphere are intoxicating... By the way ardent... I never did ask but did you ever get a chance to paarticipate in one of those local celebrations in africa?
 
Another good read,I was just wondering what outfit you went with ardent?Has anyone tried Luccasafaris,a S.A. dr. that works in whitecourt in the off season?
 
Superbrad said:
Be very careful in new zealand... The people and the atmosphere are intoxicating... By the way ardent... I never did ask but did you ever get a chance to paarticipate in one of those local celebrations in africa?
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I've come to know a good few Kiwis in my line of work and look forward to the trip. Tahr like pitched will be high on the menu!

Yep, sure did, too many times... With the Afrikaners and my Zimbo friends, always resulting in headaches and malaise the next morning. Never with the natives, not welcome and frankly would be out of place, the celebration that Wildebeest went to had political underpinnings. Africa's not always the most cohesive and friendly place, and outside of touristy celebrations and ceremonies for show there's not a lot of gatherings that are a good idea to frequent. Namibia and Botswana are different, I'm told (never been closer than a couple hundred kms to the former however, speak in generalities), but in general cultures in Africa keep to themselves. Just the way it is and not racial, my friend Jon from the article's best friend is a true-blue Shona tracker who's never seen the ocean or a city, and Jon's likely never met his family.
 
Awesome... You have developed a knowledge of their local culture through your hunting and learned the limitations.. I am truly envious that you had the opportunity to partake in their rituals... Even if limited to locales where you are "welcome"... New zealand on the other hand is like the newfoundland of countries... Lol... Don't be surprised to find yourself in a kitchen party atmosphere... I never hunted there as i was participating in ceremonial military activity... But they sure made a great effort to ensure I would have problems being bright eyed and bushy tailed in the morning!
 
Superbrad said:
Awesome... You have developed a knowledge of their local culture through your hunting and learned the limitations.. I am truly envious that you had the opportunity to partake in their rituals... Even if limited to locales where you are "welcome"... New zealand on the other hand is like the newfoundland of countries... Lol... Don't be surprised to find yourself in a kitchen party atmosphere... I never hunted there as i was participating in ceremonial military activity... But they sure made a great effort to ensure I would have problems being bright eyed and bushy tailed in the morning!
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'Rituals' are just like ours, sitting around the fire with good beer, fresh meat, and looking at stars and talking about 'things. Hunt camp in the backwaters of Africa is a lot like hunt camp in the backwaters of Canada, nothing special, hunting and camp anywhere is in itself special.

hamhock, will PM you.
 
Ardent said:
'Rituals' are just like ours, sitting around the fire with good beer, fresh meat, and looking at stars and talking about 'things. Hunt camp in the backwaters of Africa is a lot like hunt camp in the backwaters of Canada, nothing special, hunting and camp anywhere is in itself special.

hamhock, will PM you.
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With all due respect, and without wanting to cause disturbance in an awesome thread, I have been pointed at and ridiculed as a "southern ontario" hunter... I think you hit it on the head here ardent... Good beer and fresh meat is important... As well as good game stories... I worry for my two boys... Because, while we have good game here... The respect for the act of harvest is lacking... And the rituals are slowly being lost...

I only hope I can pass on my enthusiasm for the hunt and that they realise the true value of the game they chase and the act of doing so..
 
campfires

You make me cry, I am sitting here in the frozen arctic ,wishing for the smell of a mopane fire with a scotch and a good cuban cigar (which I took) and the lies of those who are becoming better friends by the day. You keep this s##t up and I'll be on the phone booking another elephant hunt, cut it out !!
Hey Ardent you going to the show in Calgary later this month?
I can tell you the celebrations are the same everywhere in the sub equitorial areas, it's not segregation it's just Africa, Botswana, Namibia, SA, Mosambique, Zambia, Zim all the same. Hangovers are the norm after an Ele. lion, leopard, whatever. Seems to me hangovers were the norm whether we took something special or not, every day is special in Africa.

Douglas
 
I'm itching to hunt Lions and Leopards. Mopane fires indeed, and awkwardly sweet dark Lager if I'm lucky enough. Geographic location and my wife's temporary hiatus on foreign hunts (I'd be too tempted...). I'll be 1,200kms due north, closer than you it sounds like, but too far with our young son for a show.

Superbrad, such things are indeed important, I admire the Germans in some ways for their reverence and appreciation of the hunt and game. I do not wish to see such hunting culture catch on here, I love our western customs of a simple, backwoods hunt with friends or family, or even going it alone and the challenges entailed, mountain hunting for sheep etc I also have a great respect for. I think as long as you're enjoying and appreciating the hunt, taking the time, and not trying to rush it, it always turns out well.
 
show

Well here's to hoping renters go afoul about the 26th.
You get much time in the winter on sling wings, I'd have thought you'd be pretty slow about now?
Yes there is the WIFE issue as always, but there is no harm in looking, checking the current prices. With the economy in the US in the toilet I suspect there are going to be some sweet deals in Africa next couple years. I did some serious negotiating on my last 28 day hunt to SA and knocked about 30% off asking because of lack of American bookings.
Anyway if you make it I look forward to meeting you.

Douglas
 
I edited out the personal bits quickly on a second thought but glad you caught it, yep busy through winter on this gig. I too think it'll be a good few years for hunters looking to go over, I saw some prices that dropped my jaw late 2011 for 2012 bookings.

I'm sure we'll meet, it's a small crowd in the end. :)
 
German PH

Ardent; Superbrad said:
I hunted with a German in Namibia and they are absolutely obsessed with ritual and propriety, I agree they take hunting to another level but they lack the fun, and the ability to miss and laugh at ones self. Everybody screws up from time to time and I gave a big ol' yank on my trigger and missed a mountain zebra clean, my PH was absolutely beside himself. I explained that occasionally I do that sort of thing and it falls under "s##t happens", not the end of the world, but to him it certainly was. That was after planting 2 for 2 on a running Gemsbok at 280 mtrs, this also pi##ed him off. If I never hunt with another TRADITIONAL German PH I'll be a happier man.

Douglas
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