Do you keep a file where you collect info on your next "dream hunt"? How do you organize it and what do have in it?

I have a file for Tanzania (buff and lion) and Zimbabwe (Save Conservancy), Nambia (leopard with dogs, Caprivi and Etosha) RSA for vaal rhebok, Zambia for mixed bag, UK for stag and roe deer, New Zealand for tahr and chamois, Turkey for ibex, Cameroon for bongo.

I call these my dream hunts and hope to make one or all of them someday.

My dream hunts will never happen because of India's ban on hunting. Few hunters realize India has all the big five plus tiger and bear.

Oh well

Rhodesia for a mixed bag Mugabe/Mbeki hunt. Game officers have said it seems unlikely for me to get a visa for that purpose.

I'd also like to hunt Angola which is why I'm trying to find a job there.

NZ but I don't like their funny anti-handgun law.

I was 54 before my first trip to Africa. It took 41 years for my leopard hunt to take place. I remember reading my first Jim Corbett stories of man-eaters when I was sixteen. Hope to add several more before I pass on.

"I have walked the forests and trails, and hunted the great beasts. I go onward a happy and satisfied man."

where do I start

Kamchatka for the Big Browns
Sonora for Mule Deer
White Mtn Apache reservation for Elk
Stag, Chamois, Tahr in New Zealand
Cape Buffalo - Save
Mtn Nyala

Unfortunately, I don't think I will ever be able to make all of these happen.

My dream hunt file is located between my ears! It's got a LOT of stuff in there...

the file for my dream hunt is right here. Reading the hunt reports, recommendations, stories and accessing the various links provide plenty of fodder for dreams.
At the moment it's elephant, but where?

Sure. I have some stuff I keep on hand like web bookmarks, some printed material, etc. I love the research part of a hunt. I have checked off several dream hunts and I'm actively planning ahead for the next one. The difference between dreams and reality is often "action". Of course, your dreams have to be realistic and legal. It doesn't do you much good to dream about tigers in India for example. It's fun to read Corbett but not realistic to try and duplicate it.

Ross,

I dream of a bongo right now but then there is mountain nyala and if you go to Ethiopia you need to visit the Omo and other great areas and ..... I guess it will just never end and I hope it doesn't. I think it would be a sad feeling to think you had done it all.

Of course a short plains game hunt can turn out to be a dream hunt particularly if all the stars align. My recent 7 days in Mozambique just blew my mind.

Mark

I try to stay at least a year ahead on my hunts, and try to make something happen every year.

Keep an eye on this site; on the SCI mag & newspaper; and Google African Hunting. I'll print out info & put into a binder by country. I am at the point now where I look particularly for animals I have not taken & want.

Once I am committed, I prepare a complete file with contract, ticket info, animals, Perfect Shot extracts for the animals we might encounter & hunt; emergency info including life flight; passport info; rifle info & inport forms, 4457 etc.; and maps. When I leave, this gets punched and put into a tabbed, looseleaf binder.

After the hunt, I print out my hunt report and add that leaving me w/ a fully documented trip! Kudude

I've got a couple of files.

There's a internet favorites folder of "Africa" and many subfolders divided by country. I've also got a few files in my desk of computer printouts and info I've received about various operators and booking agents.

I like Kudude's systematic approach. I'm not able to check something off every year but good for you.