Where ya headed next? For real?

You know a guy is working too many hours when it takes me this long to spot a good thread! There are some damn fine hunts planned it seems!

Just to add one more log to the fire, the next big 'un for me is a 26-day booking in in Zim in September/October of 2013, going after elephant, lioness and cape buffalo. And just for good measure, I'll have 37 plainsgame animals and smaller predators on licence as well. Some guys just never know when to stop... :rolleyes:

Please, nobody pinch me, as I'm half convinced I must be dreaming!
 
Neo said:
You know a guy is working too many hours when it takes me this long to spot a good thread! There are some damn fine hunts planned it seems!

Just to add one more log to the fire, the next big 'un for me is a 26-day booking in in Zim in September/October of 2013, going after elephant, lioness and cape buffalo. And just for good measure, I'll have 37 plainsgame animals and smaller predators on licence as well. Some guys just never know when to stop... :rolleyes:

Please, nobody pinch me, as I'm half convinced I must be dreaming!
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Truth be told the 37 plains game animals are as appealing to me as the dangerous game. When I make it to africa I aim to collect the Tiny 10.

Sounds like a hell of a hunt.
 
Dogleg said:
I believe that Argentina has the only huntable free range black-buck. Spooky little buggers, but they calm down around 300 yards.

Argentina may have the highest concentration of good looking women. Mujer caliente, trophio.
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Yes, that's my understanding is well about the blackbuck. I've seen lots of blackbucks in Texas but the opportunity to hunt them freerange is really appealing. I think the 7mm should be up to the 300 yard challenge :D
 
Oops! I'm not much of a Gunnut if I forgot to speak to the shootin' irons that will be coming along...

The big stuff (elephant, buff, 2 eland, and up to 4 giraffe) will be getting introduced to the business end of a Merkel double rifle in .450/400 Nitro Express shooting 400 grain Hornady DGX & DGS pills.

Everything else will be getting re-acquainted with my Rem 700 in .30-06 wearing the usual Leupy 3.5-10x scope. Not sure just yet what I'll do for bullets, but most likely will stick to the 168 grain TSX pills that were batting 100% on the last trip.


Neo said:
You know a guy is working too many hours when it takes me this long to spot a good thread! There are some damn fine hunts planned it seems! Just to add one more log to the fire, the next big 'un for me is a 26-day booking in in Zim in September/October of 2013, going after elephant, lioness and cape buffalo. And just for good measure, I'll have 37 plainsgame animals and smaller predators on licence as well. Some guys just never know when to stop... :rolleyes: Please, nobody pinch me, as I'm half convinced I must be dreaming!
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sheephunter said:
Yes, that's my understanding is well about the blackbuck. I've seen lots of blackbucks in Texas but the opportunity to hunt them freerange is really appealing. I think the 7mm should be up to the 300 yard challenge :D
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You'd think so, wouldn't you? I shot mine with a .300 Win, 330 yards. They must weigh all of 50 pounds.
 
Turkeyslayer 1300 said:
When I make it to africa I aim to collect the Tiny 10.


Good luck on that one, plan to spend 90 days and do lots of travelling. They will end up costing you more than the big five, in the end.
I've got 7, I think, but every 10 or 15 years someone changes the list or so it seems. They are a lot more elusive and scattered than the big five and a lot harder to hunt. I hunted blue duiker for 3 solid days and saw one darting across behind me. Weather has to be just right for grysbok or they don't venture out of the real thick stuff. Klipspringer never stand still and you have to wander around all day in the kopees only to see them bound over the next one 1/2 mile ahead.
Lots of fun!!!!
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Turkeyslayer 1300 said:
Truth be told the 37 plains game animals are as appealing to me as the dangerous game. When I make it to africa I aim to collect the Tiny 10.

Sounds like a hell of a hunt.
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I quite agree that plainsgame animals can be as much fun to hunt as anything else. And while many guys don't quite get it, the Tiny Ten make for one heck of a challenge taken as a whole. Getting good representatives of them all is no easy feat. I've been working on this one and still have a long ways to go, having only managed steinbuck, bush duiker, klipspringer and blue duiker -- although thanks to excellent PHs and some lucky shooting, 3 of those made the Rowland Ward book. My last trip to RSA was supposed to include a grysbuck, but they just wouldn't show in the unseasonable winds we experienced throughout the hunt.

Honestly, I think it's much easier to score the Big Five than it is to take the Tiny Ten. The former you can solve with the liberal application of disposable income, but the latter demands a surprising amount of dedication and patience. But no matter, 'cos they sure are fun to hunt!
 
c-fbmi said:
Turkeyslayer 1300 said:
When I make it to africa I aim to collect the Tiny 10.


Good luck on that one, plan to spend 90 days and do lots of travelling. They will end up costing you more than the big five, in the end.
I've got 7, I think, but every 10 or 15 years someone changes the list or so it seems. They are a lot more elusive and scattered than the big five and a lot harder to hunt. I hunted blue duiker for 3 solid days and saw one darting across behind me. Weather has to be just right for grysbok or they don't venture out of the real thick stuff. Klipspringer never stand still and you have to wander around all day in the kopees only to see them bound over the next one 1/2 mile ahead.
Lots of fun!!!!
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I doubt I will do it all at once, or ever get all 10. There was talk of a "Small 5" over on AfricaHunting might try for it. I like to aim high whenever I can.

I don't really care for scoring animals especially in places with such variety like africa, but the little guys are where you can put yourself at or near the top of the list most easily.
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everything in my books is a maby right now. elk and moose are LEH and deer bear and grouse are waiting for my knee. tore my ACL and some cartalige waiting for surgey. this is as good a time as any to get into reloading i guess. my girlfirend even sets my targets.
if it happens soo ill only miss spring bear
 
Dogleg said:
44Fordy,
40 is as good a time to get the ball rolling as any.:)
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It's been a bit of an eye opener really. I'm starting to go to more funerals than weddings, and some close friends have gotten sick or passed at a reasonably young age.

It's really made me realize the fragility of life.

All said, it's time to start knocking off some of these dream hunts!
 
44fordy said:
It's been a bit of an eye opener really. I'm starting to go to more funerals than weddings, and some close friends have gotten sick or passed at a reasonably young age.

It's really made me realize the fragility of life.

All said, it's time to start knocking off some of these dream hunts!
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It's funny how that all seems to happen around the time one crosses the "40" line. Prior to that point, it seemed like live just went on and on -- and there seemed to be plenty of time to keep saying "I'll do that hunt eventually."

Then 40 came. And as you say, you find yourself going to more funerals than weddings. For me at least, that was enough to pick myself up by the seat of my pants and get on a plane to Africa. Then a couple years later, to Alaska. And a couple years after that, to Africa again.

Now, there's no looking back. ;)
 
Its funny how that all seems to happen around the time one crosses the "40" line. Prior to that point, it seemed like live just went on and on -- and there seemed to be plenty of time to keep saying "I'll do that hunt eventually."
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Hence, my signature line.:D
 
My rude awakening came in my young 30's. After slugging it out through some rough years, I was at the stage where my dream hunts were possible. Maybe not easy, but possible.

About that time I got hurt so bad that the doctors thought I'd never work again. Haveing your dreams in your hand just to have them torn away is beyond painful.

Fortunately, those cadaver mechanics don't know ####.:)
 
c-fbmi said:
:agree: Excellent advice, every word !!

Above all "take 1/2 the clothes and twice the money"

If you plan to take your own firearms, reb, contact a company named Air 2000, they will take care of all your firearm lisencing needs for about $150.00.
Importing firearms into SA isn't difficult but it is daunting if you've never done it before and there is quite a bit of "red tape" and I highly recommend (as do most of the PH's and operators) that you go through Air 2000. They then meet you at the airport of entry (Jo'burg) with all your necessary documentation and walk you through Customs. It's woth every penny!!!

It is a no-brainer for Canadians! You get the aplication form beforehand, fill everything except the date and signature. Air France and KLM are good at flying hunters and shooters to Europe and South Africa. Best time to arrive is at night at Tambo! Best flights are Montreal-Schipol Amsterdam (don't forget your Dutch firearms permit, NC but it can take two weeks!) via KLM. Leave Schipol 2 to 3 hours later (not my last trip 1.5 hr and no gun at Tambo!) and arrive Tambo at 10PM or such. You don't get the greedy baggage handlers looking for a tip! Get your luggage and go to the police stations where your firearm will be. You should have scanned copies of your firearm registration (I put my PAL when I scan the reg), your PAL, Passport and a new twist this year, a copy of your airline bookings which would include your return flight number and date! Your multi page permit is valid for 6 months! Nothing stays the same and depeding on who is there, there are different requirements. BTW, they have increased the number of officers at the police station so, the $5 bribe to speed things up is no longer working as there are eyes and ears! BTW, don't forget to KEEP your PAL or PL as one Regina fellow left it there for me to mail to the RCMP!

Anyone going for a Cape Buffalo needs to have very deep pockets, $13,000 plus. They are very expensive! Since I have many friends in RSA, I pay RSA pricing which is about 7 times less. Most of the outfitters will charge you US $ at an equivalent Rand price. That is 7 Rands to the Canadian$! Plus, PH fees plus, plus, plus! Try NOT dealing with any American operator but directly with the RSA operation, as you can negotiate if you know the local pricing! A trophy waterbuck or eland is 10,000R, as an example. A local PH does not cost $750US a week! A regular waterbuck costs $2250CDN. I paid for a trophy, under $14K.

My trophy waterbuck in an Euro mount on a very nice piece of wood, done by Van Roween is all of $198 plus shipping which will be around $200CDN. The trophy Blessbuck shoulder mount is a bit more.

I met some Zimbawians that have offered very good pricing, this last trip. next year, I might do a side trip to Zimbawe.

BTW a good outfit is Mathieu Greiff. He is reasonable, an excellent PH, you can hunt with a handgun and is located near the Kruger Park. You can also hook up with www.tsomosafaris.com and www.mafigeni.com .She is West of the Kruger near the Limpopo river.

Henry;)
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For hunting RSA, I've cleared my own firearms twice (three times really, as I left RSA one hunt as well and returned) and to be honest I can't imagine the process being a whole lot easier with a service. If you have your SAPs forms done (520 if I remember correctly) it's a free rubber stamp process with a serial number check. Just DON'T pay off the baggage staff for 'special handling'- they'll try and ding ya with it. Lost twenty bucks to that first time through. :redface:
 
With my upcoming move I think my next hunt will be for muskox, if everything works out. Probably no traveling for me, even though I'd like to bear hunt in BC with Gatehouse. Just not in the cards right now.
 
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