Elephant

i just love th idea every time i read my books by peter capstick on africa hunting i feel like i am there with you guys one day i will make it i have a dream to hunt a cat and a kudo for starters keep on dreaming one day it will happen DUTCH
 
daedra83 said:
Does it taste good? Is it complicated to bring back the meat in Canada?
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Last I checked, you can't bring the meat back to canada, but it goes to feed the local villages and you get to eat whilst you are in africa , but a definite no go to bring it back , which really sucks but hey if it feed the masses I can live with that :) I have a friend that works at wally world here in selkirk and he says I can do a hunt in namibia for the 7 plains game for under 10 k plus airfare , so it's really not that expensive, plus euro mounts would only run me around 300 $ for the lot. How accurate that is i have no clue , but this is what he told me , so i'm game to go soon , got my cz550 458 win mag and ruger 416 rigby , and am working on going in the next couple of years or so when time permits :)
 
I have just posted our standard price (Hunt Africa Safari Inc) list for 2009 and yes it is possible to have a good Plains Game hunt for under $10,000. We are also working on some package deals which we will be anouncing ASAP. If anyone is intrested please contact me.

Hunting in Africa is unbelievable, WARNING it can become extreemly addictive, trust me, I know!
 
There are only 5 countries in Africa from which you can import ivory to the US - South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Tanzania. Elephant can also be hunted in Mozambique but trophies cannot be imported to the US (US Fish and Wildlife Service rules, not CITES). All of the above countries (including Moz) have CITES elephant quotas. I'm not sure about the importation of ivory to Canada. I know it's possible but not sure what countries they allow or disallow.

And John is right - Africa is horribly addicting. I went 2 years ago as was hoping to go this spring but that went in the can. Next summer is the new plan. I want to hunt the Caprivi Strip - all the benefits of Botswana genetics in the buffalo but the political stability of Namibia. But nothing in stone yet.
 
Mr Wolverine said:
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Can you please explain to me how the 3rd fastener on your rifle engages and what it is called. I can see it fits in on an angle and must prevent forward movement of the bbls off the action face????.. but I do not understand how... or if.... it prevents the action from opening.

Also, I really enjoyed reading about your hunt.
 
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Can you please explain to me how the 3rd fastener on your rifle engages and what it is called. I can see it fits in on an angle and must prevent forward movement of the bbls off the action face????.. but I do not understand how... or if.... it prevents the action from opening.

Thank you for your comments and a very good question! The third fastener is called a “Dolls Head” it is designed to strengthen the lock up, just how effective that maybe is debatable. Some “Dolls Head” have a locking cross slot in them, which certainly would prevent opening, this example does not. I will leave any debate on this locking system to better engineers than myself.

Lock up is extremely tight on this rifle. I always check all my ammo, both factory and reloads in the barrels before leaving for a hunt. With the barrels off the action and the extractors down there is a very satisfying clunk clunk as two rds are dropped in the chamber. I tilt the rifle up and they slide out, occasionally they may hesitate, if they do they go in the practice bin. When this rifle is closed with two live rds in the chamber, it closes like a vault door! I have absolute faith in the reliability and performance of this rifle, if I did not I would not use her to hunt dangerous game. This year I hunt Cape Buffalo and I think this rifle will be in my hands when I do.
 
"Dolls head" Thank you. The other doll's heads I have seen had the locking slot you mention. I had originally thought the reason they were called dolls heads was because when viewed from the *side* the locking slot makes it look like a head. Perhaps it is supposed to look like a head from the *top*.... so much for my imagination.


Here is another one for you but this time about your Merkel. What are "side clips" and where are they. I know a "clam shell" surrounds the sides of the bbls, but these are obviously not side clips, the only extra thing I see on the Merkel is the Greener cross bolt.
 
Very well said. Your a great spokesman.

Mr Wolverine said:
“I don't get it. I feel bad for those elephants. At $25,000.00 per? WTF!!!”

I assume you don’t agree with hunting Elephant or maybe even hunting in general? I respect your opinion, but I will try to explain a little.

The elephant population in Africa is increasing, in some small areas it may be declining but the total is increasing, so is the human population and the usable land base is decreasing. The result is that the elephant population needs to be controlled, if not an over population will cause needless habitat destruction which has an escalating detrimental effect on other species. Elephant birth control has been tried and many do not see culling in a favourable light so this leaves “sport hunting”. This is very strictly controlled (A Botswana game warden accompanied me the whole time I was hunting), sport hunting brings money into the local community.

There is a saying in Africa regarding the wild game “If it pays, it stays” The large increase in wild animal populations is due to the favourable economics of hunting. For example: Public auctions are held where captured wild game is sold; this enables landowners to purchase breeding stock and improve the quantity and quality (improved genetics) of the animals on their property.

I have seen Rhino on property being fed and nurtured, one day some of them will be hunted, but the trade off is that their population is increasing, this has to be good, whether you believe in hunting or not.

As for feeling bad for the Elephant, they are very capable of looking after them selves.
Elephant always manage to kill a PH or hunter or two every year, apart from several unwary locals. Not for nothing are they a member of the “big five” I feel very privileged in being able to hunt them, after I shot my bull I carried the video camera, I stood unarmed and “shot” film instead, it was great. They are very noble beasts, the thrill of hunting them ranks as one of the best experiences of my life. I can’t begin to describe the feeling of aw when the first big bull (15 ft to the top of his head) trotted up to 20 yds from me, to check me out, he had four young bulls backing him up. I was so pleased that he had one tusk broken off, he wasn’t the trophy I wanted so I did not have to shoot him. I will carry that memory with me forever, that and the huge grins on the faces of the trackers and PH when I looked round and said, “So that is an Elephant, they are real after all!”

To me Africa is magical, the animals and the country have me enchanted, it matters not if you carry a rifle or camera, the experience of a trip there is unbelievable.
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Juanvaldez, thank you for your comments, I find it easy to be a "great spokesman" (your words not mine) when you have a passion for something and I have found a passion for Africa she is unbelievable.

Side clips: These are the small extensions found on both sides of the standing breach face that extend forwards and mate with a bevel on the barrels, they stop any sideways movement, often found on European and German rifles. They are on the Merkel I use, I can post a picture if required.
 
Mr Wolverine said:
Side clips: These are the small extensions found on both sides of the standing breach face that extend forwards and mate with a bevel on the barrels, they stop any sideways movement, often found on European and German rifles. They are on the Merkel I use, I can post a picture if required.
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A picture would be appreciated.
 
One of the best threads I've read. Your pictures are incredible. Can we get you to post some more? I'll start saving my pennies now, give me 10 years and hopefully these animals will still be available to hunt.
 
jjackman said:
One of the best threads I've read. Your pictures are incredible. Can we get you to post some more? I'll start saving my pennies now, give me 10 years and hopefully these animals will still be available to hunt.
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With the rate trophy elephant costs are increasing, I wonder if it wouldn't be cheaper for you to just borrow the money and go now? Saving 10% of the trip costs per year, you may not keep up with inflation.:(

A more practical method is to spend the next 10 years increasing your earning power to the point where it it isn't very much money to you. That isn't easy, but people seem to do it all the time.
 
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Thanks for all the favorable comments, I am surprised and very pleased with the amount of interest that this thread has received. Time permitting I will try and look up some more pictures.

Sadly I can not tell you about the “mad *** charge” and the video that I took, this resulted in the most exhilarating afternoons hunting of my life, I traded a 12 lb rifle for a 2 lb camera and I was on a real high. The details have to remain secret so as not to embarrass a “Great white hunter” which also means the very commendable actions of the others involved remains untold. My lips are sealed, If we were sitting around a camp fire in Africa they might be loosened with liberal amounts of scotch, but until then?

I will be posting our “Plains Game Specials” we have some great offers, please check them out. They start at 7 days hunting in the African Bush Veldt for five great animals for $4,750.00. Please contact me to discuss your requirements. Not an Ellie hunt but still a lot of fun. More details to follow.
 
Just awsome, I'm gonna start saving. Not sure about the elephants, but the Kudu's & Gemsbok etc... Sound a little more up my allley, maybe Cape Buffalo, but first I need a firearm that can take one down!!!!!
 
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