Bad news from the Congo !!!
- Thread starter c-fbmi
- Start date
- Location
- Just West of the GTA
This apparent misfortune is obviously a sign from the hunting gods. You must return, it is your destiny.
Sucks alright. Sorry to hear about it.
I would say thanks for the offer on the "free" hunt but please refund part of the day rate and the full trophy fee. I'd take that money to a new place, one that has a better chance of getting your trophies home. Imagine going there again and having a repeat? What are your chances of killing another big shumba? And getting him home? Only you can answer this.
Learn from what happened here. Hunting is hunting. Business is business. You fully performed your end but the business end of the deal wasn't held up.
Just my opinion. Good luck on whatever you decide to do. It will be the right choice.
I would say thanks for the offer on the "free" hunt but please refund part of the day rate and the full trophy fee. I'd take that money to a new place, one that has a better chance of getting your trophies home. Imagine going there again and having a repeat? What are your chances of killing another big shumba? And getting him home? Only you can answer this.
Learn from what happened here. Hunting is hunting. Business is business. You fully performed your end but the business end of the deal wasn't held up.
Just my opinion. Good luck on whatever you decide to do. It will be the right choice.
What's stopping you?
That luck, its some good stuff. Some people like it so much that they make their own.
I see where you are coming from Buckmastr.......however asking an African outfitter for money back is like standing in the Sahara calling for rain. I think if you go back and read post #29, the last paragraph, you will get a greater understanding of my motives and why I'll go back in a New York minute, even if the chances are slim of getting the redo capes back. Too much emphasis is placed on the trophies these days, by too many hunters, IMHO, and the true reasons why I hunt where I do, is being lost or becoming secondary.
This is not a business to me, it's a passion. The need to see and hunt different parts of the world, different cultures, different people, how they live, to see parts of the world and animals that we learned about in grade school geography and only ever dreamed of being able to see them one day. There is just so much more to it than the trophies, really it's about the excitement and adventure and no two trips to Africa are the same, even in the same country. I could go on adnauseum, but I think you probably see what I'm saying.
I don't need the bongo hanging on my wall to remember looking at him through the mists just at sunrise that morning, to feel that same excitement at the absolute beauty of him peeking out of the foliage. Carefully placing the crosshair on the upper neck and shoulder junction, expecting him to disappear at any moment, praying he doesn't, squeezing off the shot and hearing the bullet strike, seeing him disappear into the forest greenery. Making our way carefully to where he stood seconds earlier and then finding him laying exactly where he stood, the shot being true and taking out his spine..........that feeling of seeing him laying there, me almost in tears, quietly thanking the Lord for my life and my luck...........I don't need him hanging on the wall to remember that, anytime I choose. But I certainly would like him there!!!
drum_boy101
CGN Regular
- Location
- Highland Valley, BC
c-fbmi, from reading your posts in this thread, I think an awesome trip would be to travel up to Whitehorse to simply sit by a campfire with you and listen to your stories and worldly wisdom. Ever think about writing a book?
I wouldn't say it's all I expect, but if it turns out that it's all I end up with, I won't consider it a complete bust and still worth the money. I think this situation is a perfect application of "The Serenity Prayer"
The only thing that I would be a little torn about is harvesting double the animals just for the sake of a few capes. I'd imagine as part of an outfitter that they have the conservation thing well thought out but I'd personally have a little trouble with that. As far as being bitter about it, that's life. We're all people. No matter how awesome those trophies are, they could be in the dump or a thrift store in a few generations. It's all perspective. The trophies are a great reminder of the experience and hopefully something to pass on to someone who will appreciate them, but nothing to get hung up on.
gixxstar..........I'm sorry but I have no understanding of what point you're trying to make about doubling the harvest...........If I wanted and could afford it I could go back every year for the next 10 years and harvest the same critters..........being torn up about going back to redo the hunt, is totally lost on me...........I consider it a great opportunity, not a hardship at all.
With respect, the trophy is not the reason people hunt - it is simply a memento of the experience.
As there is a serious outlay of funds required to hunt Africa, and you cannot bring home the meat, only the trophy, the outfitter is simply doing what is required to ensure a happy client. I would return in a instant to do it again (and take lots of pictures, just in case lol).
I think I'm realating to hunting here too much. Lets say that I put out the money for a guided sheep or grizzly hunt and I get back to find out cape was ruined. They call and offer to go and shoot me another animal to send me a cape? It just doesn't sound like the right thing to do. Now if they have a certain number of animals that they can harvest according to a purposeful conservation program and they're forgoing selling that opportunity to another client to make up for your misfortune, I think that's great. Very few people get the opportunity to go once, never mind twice. I was more thinking about conservation than anything and I totally get the experience thing. Either way, two hunts in Africa, add me to the list of people that are feeling a little envious.
What you describe is exactly what is happening, they were unable to sell their full quota this year, so they have be gracious enough the make this offer. And that was my 7th trip this will be my 8th to Africa. Just in case you weren't envious enough already............LOL
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
Every hunting area in Africa has a set quota. Douglas' hunt will be within that quota so there is no conservation issue. The added bonus is that a good number of people will get a great amount of meat which is normally lacking or absent in their diet. This is a classic example of win-win.
Well, I've heard back now with much more info regarding all matters concerned. Previous owner of operation just plain dropped the ball and didn't take care of my capes. Hostile take over by partners now has him out and them trying to salvage the reputation under a new name and management. It seems that I am better known throughout the African outfitters and serious hunters there, than I would have thought, and therefore in a position to improve or negatively impact this operations reputation. Hence the gracious offer.
Be that as it may, it looks like all is a go for October again and the new operators have convinced the Congolese Gov't to issue rifle permits (not like we're going to overthrow the Gov't with 1 .375 and 100 rounds of ammo) so entry with one's own rifle is now legal and doesn't require any Ben Franklin permits at the airport. Adding a buff or sitatunga just isn't feasible as they want full daily rate and trophy fees, meaning that I would be paying full shot for another 14 day hunt for those 2 animals and my replacement capes would be free but secondary. C'est la vie !! I'll talk to the PH when I get there (he's also a partner) over a bottle of Johnnie Blue and I'll bet we can work something out..........maybe.
Be that as it may, it looks like all is a go for October again and the new operators have convinced the Congolese Gov't to issue rifle permits (not like we're going to overthrow the Gov't with 1 .375 and 100 rounds of ammo) so entry with one's own rifle is now legal and doesn't require any Ben Franklin permits at the airport. Adding a buff or sitatunga just isn't feasible as they want full daily rate and trophy fees, meaning that I would be paying full shot for another 14 day hunt for those 2 animals and my replacement capes would be free but secondary. C'est la vie !! I'll talk to the PH when I get there (he's also a partner) over a bottle of Johnnie Blue and I'll bet we can work something out..........maybe.
Well, I think I'm going to opt for the replacement capes. Given the fact that additional animals would be outlandishly pricey and I have other priorities for that amount of disposable income (new trophy room addition to house) and some other dynamics this year, it would seem to be the best course of action. I'm sure you all know the "Happy wife...Happy life"........Unhappy wife...well you know..........She initially said she was ok with it but I'm getting different vibes..........
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