Bloody hell!

Why is it AR’s fault that he did not find buffalo?

I actually thought for a while you changed to decent person.

But your old, stupid, very childish personality of old.

When you posted like a know it all petulant 10 year old child, got warned, didn’t listen, and got banned.

You were rude and treated everyone with your selfish superiority.

Grow up!

I know you don’t AR.

You don’t like hunting.

Why don’t you go somewhere else and enjoy mixing with people who are more like yourself?

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Bloody hell!

Why is it AR’s fault that he did not find buffalo?

I actually thought for a while you changed to decent person.

But your old, stupid, very childish personality of old.

When you posted like a know it all petulant 10 year old child, got warned, didn’t listen, and got banned.

You were rude and treated everyone with your selfish superiority.

Grow up!

I know you don’t AR.

You don’t like hunting.

Why don’t you go somewhere else and enjoy mixing with people who are more like yourself?

Saeed, which part of my post is untrue?

Are all of the best outfitters and all the Premium areas on AR?

Aren’t there forum favorites here?

If you don’t want me to post on your forum, just tell me. It’s your Forum and I’ll respect your wishes.

The point to the OP, was and is, don’t limit your search to only AR.

Saeed, nganga’s/Steve’s post didn’t strike me as being particularly nasty or mean- just to not take a hunting site on its own as an absolute source.

You can’t police all operators that post here.

Even good operators occasionally have a mishap.

Not everyone gets along with everyone.

Heck, at one time Martin Pieters and Mark Sullivan were respected members here!

quote:

Originally posted by crbutler:
Saeed, nganga’s/Steve’s post didn’t strike me as being particularly nasty or mean- just to not take a hunting site on its own as an absolute source.

You can’t police all operators that post here.

Even good operators occasionally have a mishap.

Not everyone gets along with everyone.

Heck, at one time Martin Pieters and Mark Sullivan were respected members here!

That’s exactly my point.

quote:

I have 30 some-odd trips behind me and have had only one bad one. I found it here on AR. Federico Gellini.

Steve,

Maybe you didn't apply sufficient due diligence prior to booking the hunt and it might be worth noting that he too, among other "top class" outfitters, was awarded Hunter or Outfitter of the Year by SCI so I think it is somewhat unfair to blame AR for the fiasco.

I didn’t read Steve’s comments as blaming AR.

I read it as all good outfitters are not on AR and not all outfitters on AR are good.

Others may read it differently.

Yep….

quote:

Originally posted by fulvio:

quote:

I have 30 some-odd trips behind me and have had only one bad one. I found it here on AR. Federico Gellini.

Steve,

Maybe you didn't apply sufficient due diligence prior to booking the hunt and it might be worth noting that he too, among other "top class" outfitters, was awarded Hunter or Outfitter of the Year by SCI so I think it is somewhat unfair to blame AR for the fiasco.

I didn’t do enough due diligence. He flat out lied to me, to my face.

And I wasn’t blaming AR, I was using it as an example of just because it’s on AR, it’s a good hunt/outfit.

My whole point here to the OP was missed.

I’ll leave this one alone. My apologies to all.

Steve, I didn't sense any malice in your post either.

English is Saeed's second language, so maybe he interpreted it differently.

English is my wife's second language, and even after 31 years of marriage we fight over miscommunicated things

Fulvio,

Good to know. I need a lion, Lord knows I've hunted for one enough and had a number of almost opportunities, but as soon as I'm done with that, there's nothing I like hunting more than buffalo and very few plains game I have any more interest in unless they are incredible. Still need an East African kudu, a roan, a grysbok and a Chobe bushbuck, and I'll always hunt an eland. Other than that, I go for the buffalo. But would shoot another leopard as well.

Maybe I’m dense, Steve, but I didn’t follow your golden boys and fanboys stuff.

What I have always loved about AR is that it’s the unique place in the hunting and shooting internet where content is uncensored and where truth can be told and lies can be and often are exposed.

Some people don’t like that, and some others don’t get it, but it’s a good thing, and I am grateful for it.

AR is no substitute for thorough due diligence, but it’s sure as hell part of it.

Believe me, BTW, you’re not the only one who’s failed at due diligence.

I meant every word I said.

I did not misunderstand what he said.

Frankly, I was never impressed with his atrocious behavior in his past persona NGANGA.

He never like me exposing Mark Sullivan and Cal Papas for what they were.

Point is, there are many websites and thousands of outfitters out there who probably have even heard of AR.

This particular gentleman asked a question here, and members are answering him.

I don't think I will ever see eye to eye with Steve, as I mentioned above, a normal person never gets into a different personality on the Internet and uses a different name to be very childish.

That is what happened in the past, and I remember it very clearly.

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Folks,

I'm sorry to hear stories like Sunshine's. His $25,000 thrown away could have been put toward (1) great hunt in a myriad of places that have great buffalo and plains game. When you book something that is way below the norm in price you probably are going to get screwed. If you pay an average price, go at the best time of year for the area the only excuse for a failure would poor shooting, incredibly bad health or something catastrophic.

Mark

There is more to the story on the second Sunshine hunt than has seen the light of day. He really should not blame others publicly for his mistakes or lack of effort. Also he is a professional guide and knows better than anyone else how to hunt Buffalo.

The second hunt was in an excellent area and while the bush was thick success is expected, not the exception.

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Ahrenberg:

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Bloody hell!

Why is it AR’s fault that he did not find buffalo?

I actually thought for a while you changed to decent person.

But your old, stupid, very childish personality of old.

When you posted like a know it all petulant 10 year old child, got warned, didn’t listen, and got banned.

You were rude and treated everyone with your selfish superiority.

Grow up!

I know you don’t AR.

You don’t like hunting.

Why don’t you go somewhere else and enjoy mixing with people who are more like yourself?

Saeed, which part of my post is untrue?

Are all of the best outfitters and all the Premium areas on AR?

Aren’t there forum favorites here?

If you don’t want me to post on your forum, just tell me. It’s your Forum and I’ll respect your wishes.

The point to the OP, was and is, don’t limit your search to only AR.

The difference on this site is there is favorites but they earned it by having happy clients just not paying to be a sponsor of a website. Plus people can come on here and tell the truth good or bad with out being threaten or banned.

There is not one outfit who if they have been in business long enough who has not had an unhappy client. Unhappy does not mean the outfit did not do his job either. Can be many things that can go wrong with any hunt. I for one after being on here for years now is glad the way it works here.

Every person here, in business or a client, has exactly the same standing.

The majority are unknown personally to many.

Members form their opinions of what each member posts.

They can believe what he says, or not.

They can take him on it if they wish.

And those in business have to stand on their reputation, not be protected by the site owners.

And going on a hunting site, with an assumed name, and belittling everyone, is most certainly NOT a sign of a good character!

My own experience in hunting is a lot different to Steve’s.

He has mentioned, on several occasions, that he doesn’t like to hunting with the same outfitter again.

He has been very vocal that a PH is after your money, and never your friend!

That has been total bullshit as far as I am concerned.

I have made lifelong friends I met while hunting.

He wants you to stop going to Africa because he says the count your ammo in Tanzania!

Not sure what other excuse he will come with next.

Everyone is different. Personally , I can go to the same place with the same PH over and over provided that I was treated fairly and had a good time . I have been over 30 times. . If I shoot nothing else but buff, elephants, warthogs and kudu, I’d be fine. I have taken pile of all of these . I am a creature of habit.

Other people may not be the same way. That is fine . Nothing wrong with that . I have plenty of friends who want to go to many different places and hunt many different species. I get it . I am not that way myself .

I think there is an element of truth to what Steve says about PHs and money . I believe some but not all are that way . I have certainly made some life long friends among PHs and cameramen. On the other hand, I can think of one PH. Met him in Dallas . Liked him a lot . Ended up hunting with him by total chance over 5 years ago. I e mailed him a few times over the years. Basically just seeing how he was doing . Not once did he respond. I got an e mail from him last week. He wants to come to Orlando, stay at my house so I can introduce him to my friends and hopefully book some hunts . I had two words for him and they weren’t happy birthday. He is exactly what Steve describes.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
Everyone is different. Personally , I can go to the same place with the same PH over and over provided that I was treated fairly and had a good time . I have been over 30 times. . If I shoot nothing else but buff, elephants, warthogs and kudu, I’d be fine. I have taken pile of all of these . I am a creature of habit.

Other people may not be the same way. That is fine . Nothing wrong with that . I have plenty of friends who want to go to many different places and hunt many different species. I get it . I am not that way myself .

I think there is an element of truth to what Steve says about PHs and money . I believe some but not all are that way . I have certainly made some life long friends among PHs and cameramen. On the other hand, I can think of one PH. Met him in Dallas . Liked him a lot . Ended up hunting with him by total chance over 5 years ago. I e mailed him a few times over the years. Basically just seeing how he was doing . Not once did he respond. I got an e mail from him last week. He wants to come to Orlando, stay at my house so I can introduce him to my friends and hopefully book some hunts . I had two words for him and they weren’t happy birthday. He is exactly what Steve describes.

Are his initials WG? Sounds familiar

quote:

Other people may not be the same way. That is fine . Nothing wrong with that . I have plenty of friends who want to go to many different places and hunt many different species. I get it . I am not that way myself .

I think there is an element of truth to what Steve says about PHs and money . I believe some but not all are that way . I have certainly made some life long friends among PHs and cameramen. On the other hand, I can think of one PH. Met him in Dallas . Liked him a lot . Ended up hunting with him by total chance over 5 years ago. I e mailed him a few times over the years. Basically just seeing how he was doing . Not once did he respond. I got an e mail from him last week. He wants to come to Orlando, stay at my house so I can introduce him to my friends and hopefully book some hunts . I had two words for him and they weren’t happy birthday. He is exactly what Steve describes.

Are his initials WG? Sounds familiar [/QUOTE]

Hah! Sounds very familiar to me!

quote:

Originally posted by K Evans:

quote:

Other people may not be the same way. That is fine . Nothing wrong with that . I have plenty of friends who want to go to many different places and hunt many different species. I get it . I am not that way myself .

I think there is an element of truth to what Steve says about PHs and money . I believe some but not all are that way . I have certainly made some life long friends among PHs and cameramen. On the other hand, I can think of one PH. Met him in Dallas . Liked him a lot . Ended up hunting with him by total chance over 5 years ago. I e mailed him a few times over the years. Basically just seeing how he was doing . Not once did he respond. I got an e mail from him last week. He wants to come to Orlando, stay at my house so I can introduce him to my friends and hopefully book some hunts . I had two words for him and they weren’t happy birthday. He is exactly what Steve describes.

Are his initials WG? Sounds familiar

Hah! Sounds very familiar to me![/QUOTE]

I guess I’m not the only one then!

Why are you all hiding his name?

Sounds like he should be known to others to avoid!

If I read of a member asking about this specific PH as a recommendation I would PM them my own personal advice, otherwise I don’t like to smear people for the hell of it

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
I didn’t read Steve’s comments as blaming AR.

I read it as all good outfitters are not on AR and not all outfitters on AR are good.

Others may read it differently.

I read it the same as Larry.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
Everyone is different. Personally , I can go to the same place with the same PH over and over provided that I was treated fairly and had a good time . I have been over 30 times. . If I shoot nothing else but buff, elephants, warthogs and kudu, I’d be fine. I have taken pile of all of these . I am a creature of habit.

Other people may not be the same way. That is fine . Nothing wrong with that . I have plenty of friends who want to go to many different places and hunt many different species. I get it . I am not that way myself .

I think there is an element of truth to what Steve says about PHs and money . I believe some but not all are that way . I have certainly made some life long friends among PHs and cameramen. On the other hand, I can think of one PH. Met him in Dallas . Liked him a lot . Ended up hunting with him by total chance over 5 years ago. I e mailed him a few times over the years. Basically just seeing how he was doing . Not once did he respond. I got an e mail from him last week. He wants to come to Orlando, stay at my house so I can introduce him to my friends and hopefully book some hunts . I had two words for him and they weren’t happy birthday. He is exactly what Steve describes.

OK, Larry gets the award for funniest post with that last comment!

Wow, did this post take a left turn since I checked in last. Hope we haven't totally discouraged a first time buffalo hunter.

There's a lot of great, honest outfitters and PH's out there. I've made a lot of great friends hunting and folks I would welcome into my home anytime.

Almost all I've hunted with, I would hunt with again, but even with the best hunters, there are personality issues and as in any industry there are a few folks out there who are scoundrels. But this post emphasizes the negative, which I think is a distinct minority.

I hope you enjoy your first buffalo hunt as much as I did and that it addicts you to going back as much as mine did for me. Focus on the positive, as there is a lot more of that than negative. Do your homework and have a great time on your first hunt and hopefully many more.

The only Ph I would not even consider hunting with was a South African PH who was one of the individuals Peter Harris employed to be with us.

Peter was a perfect gentleman, and I went straight to him after having hunted with him before when I wanted to go to hunt South Africa again.

This poor sod told me I should book with him next time, as he was going to give me a cheaper price.

That was it.

He showed his character, basically trying to bite the hands that feeds him.

Other than that, never met a single PH I would not hunt with again.

My opinion of an individual is formed the first time you meet, and I have been a very good judge of character.

quote:

Originally posted by TNJohn:

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Folks,

I'm sorry to hear stories like Sunshine's. His $25,000 thrown away could have been put toward (1) great hunt in a myriad of places that have great buffalo and plains game. When you book something that is way below the norm in price you probably are going to get screwed. If you pay an average price, go at the best time of year for the area the only excuse for a failure would poor shooting, incredibly bad health or something catastrophic.

Mark

There is more to the story on the second Sunshine hunt than has seen the light of day. He really should not blame others publicly for his mistakes or lack of effort. Also he is a professional guide and knows better than anyone else how to hunt Buffalo.

The second hunt was in an excellent area and while the bush was thick success is expected, not the exception.

In a good Buffalo area, you should be able to choose your trophy, not snapshot at the only buffalo you come across.

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
Wow, did this post take a left turn since I checked in last. Hope we haven't totally discouraged a first time buffalo hunter.

There's a lot of great, honest outfitters and PH's out there. I've made a lot of great friends hunting and folks I would welcome into my home anytime.

Almost all I've hunted with, I would hunt with again, but even with the best hunters, there are personality issues and as in any industry there are a few folks out there who are scoundrels. But this post emphasizes the negative, which I think is a distinct minority.

I hope you enjoy your first buffalo hunt as much as I did and that it addicts you to going back as much as mine did for me. Focus on the positive, as there is a lot more of that than negative. Do your homework and have a great time on your first hunt and hopefully many more.

Good post

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

In a good Buffalo area, you should be able to choose your trophy, not snapshot at the only buffalo you come across.

Well, in my case was nothing to choose from…

I have been on 30 safaris. Out of those , I have come home twice without a buffalo . One was due to a drought . The other was a matter of timing . A month later would have been a different story. The buff was an add on to a tuskless hunt .

It is not that hard to go an area where buff are plentiful. Ask the right questions and you will be fine .

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

In a good Buffalo area, you should be able to choose your trophy, not snapshot at the only buffalo you come across.

Speaking from recent personal experience in a purportedly excellent buffalo area that clearly and unmistakably is not, I could not agree more.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
I have been on 30 safaris. Out of those , I have come home twice without a buffalo . One was due to a drought . The other was a matter of timing . A month later would have been a different story. The buff was an add on to a tuskless hunt .

It is not that hard to go an area where buff are plentiful. Ask the right questions and you will be fine .

I haven’t been on 30 Buffalo hunts, yet, but I’ve been on over a dozen and only once was getting a Buffalo in doubt, that was in Chirissa and saw exactly one Buffalo, a bull which I shot on day 8 of a 10 day hunt. Funny thing is, we could sit on a hilltop and see herds of them in a riverbed and on the next door confession.
I’ve seen Dande East mentioned a couple of times and all I can say about it is from my one hunt there early last year. It was very wet and very thick but we saw hundreds of Buffalo, could’ve shot mine an hour into the first day. Not easy hunting due to wetness and thickness but we saw lots of Buffalo, easily hundreds over the hunt. Shot mine on day four.
Like Larry says, a month earlier or later can make a big difference.

I am very happy for you Karl, and I mean that sincerely.

Hundreds of buffalo, indeed.

We did not see a single buffalo in Dande East, just unshootable bits and pieces of a handful of them.

They were hunkered down in the bush, skittish from being hammered by poachers, during a time of year that was touted as being excellent.

That does not happen in a truly excellent buffalo area.

I know this because we have hunted many truly excellent buffalo areas in three different African nations at every time of year.

We have seen more buffalo than I can recall - entire animals, by the way - and been able to choose the bulls we wanted to stalk and especially shoot.

As I have said, I would rather hunt Satan in Hell than anything in Dande East.

As I have also said, to the OP, twice above, be careful.

Do not do anything based on trusting a stranger to you.

Do your due diligence, and then do it again.

quote:

As I have also said, to the OP, twice above, be careful.

Do not do anything based on trusting a stranger to you.

Do your due diligence, and then do it again.

Thanks Michael, you give very good advice and I hope first time Buffalo hunters will take heed. The hunt I mentioned in Charissa was much like your hunt, my hunting partner saw a total of 4 Buffalo in 10 days (but he did kill an absolute monster eland that was considerate enough to run to a road before expiring), he got his Buffalo, too. Our hunt in Dande east was wet, muddy, hot and thick but we saw lots of Buffalo. One day during lunch at a pan, a herd of 15-20 came up and started splashing around, my wife got good video and photos from about 40 yards, that was crazy but no shootable bull in them .

Karl,

Truly nice of the eland to die on a road. I sat on my last eland for a couple of hours or more while the guys did a force march back to the car and then cut a road to where we caught up with him. They didn't get there until well after dark.

Glad to see this is back on a more positive note.

quote:

Originally posted by Sunshine:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by fairgame:

In a good Buffalo area, you should be able to choose your trophy, not snapshot at the only buffalo you come across.

Well, in my case was nothing to choose from…[/QUOTE

You know that is a false statement. Your lack of success was of your own making.

quote:

Originally posted by K Evans:

quote:

As I have also said, to the OP, twice above, be careful.

Do not do anything based on trusting a stranger to you.

Do your due diligence, and then do it again.

Our hunt in Dande east was wet, muddy, hot and thick but we saw lots of Buffalo. One day during lunch at a pan, a herd of 15-20 came up and started splashing around, my wife got good video and photos from about 40 yards, that was crazy but no shootable bull in them .

Karl, it could be that we have identified a large part of the problem.

With all due respect, I will not shoot Cape buffalo over water holes.

I have been given the opportunity to do so, but have not felt right about it, and so have decided I would not do it.

Not cricket in my book.

Others may differ, and it is their right to do so.

But it is not my style.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:

With all due respect, I will not shoot Cape buffalo over water holes.

While your characterization of Karl’s comments is certainly in keeping with your extremely transparent agenda, it is a misrepresentation of what Karl said. He never said he would have shot a bull at the waterhole. And never implied that the outfitter would have condoned that either. He said there were no shooter bulls in the group at the waterhole. Tracking bulls either seen at a waterhole or from tracks found at a waterhole is done all the time. Totally cricket.

Fascinating all these stories of not finding a buffalo on a whole safari!

In all my hunts, for so many years, I have never failed to fill my quota, which can be over a dozen on each safari!!

In Chete, Zimbabwe, where I basically cleaned up all the buffalo left on quota because the area is rather difficult to hunt, and many clients never managed to get one.

We actually went into difficult areas to shoot old bulls hiding in there.

One year, we were getting to the end of our hunt, and we still had one on quota.

There were old bulls close to the camp, which we avoided shooting.

Roy was saying we might have to get one of them.

Off we went to the far end of the concession.

And as we got there we could see a bunch of old bulls feeding at the grass by the Luzi River, across the water.

This meant that if we shot one, we would have to drive back to camp, and get the boat and come back to get it.

Anyway, I fired at one bull and he took off, then stopped by some trees about 300 yards away.

Another shot and he was down.

Off we went back to camp, got our boat and got our buffalo.

No need to shoot one of the camp bulls.

Chete was a classic example of one needs to be in good shape, or he won't get a buffalo.

One client I was told about, said walking "sucks"!

Of course, he did not get a buffalo.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

In all my hunts, for so many years, I have never failed to fill my quota, which can be over a dozen on each safari!!

Did you always hunt until the last minute of the last day or did you ever throw in the towel early?

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

In all my hunts, for so many years, I have never failed to fill my quota, which can be over a dozen on each safari!!

Did you always hunt until the last minute of the last day or did you ever throw in the towel early?

Funny you mention this.

Many years ago, I had ammo left, and decided to do a shooting contest between the trackers.

They loved it so much - and get get monetary prizes - we have been doing that ever since.

It has developed into a whole camp crew event, and again, they actually look forward to it.

So what we have been doing is the last day of our hunt, we only hunt the morning.

The afternoon we do the shooting contest.

This year, we decided to take a day off hunting, and use the last day, morning, for the shooting contest.

But, when it comes to buffalo, I have always got all those on my license.

This yea was just like last year, 11 buffalo.

And this year has really taken the cake.

2 lions and a leopard, without setting foot in a blind!

I would have taken a week off for this!