Well in six more days I'll get to do something I've been waiting 12 years for. It started with a 22. Rutledge Bore, then next a Ruger .22 LR, which lead to a Mossberg .410 pump shotgun, then a Beretta 391-20 gauge. When he started beating me at sporting clays I knew I was in trouble.

If it wasn't for his love for baseball, I'm guessing he would have already joined me on a couple previous safaris. But now at 12, with his spring/summer season coming to an end, he's finally coming with me. This time it's not just his picture in my wallet.

I don't know what I'm gonna do when I see him shoot and kill his first African animal. But I know it will be a fun problem on my hands. I hope he doesn't want to shoot everything I've shot on that continent, at least till he gets his own job.

You may recall a couple years ago the father/son hunt we auctioned off at SCI. Well, it's finally here. Hunters Namibia Safari will be serving as our host. Thank you Ivan for helping me put it altogether.

Funny, my boy just wants to watch you and Craig on DVD now, doesn't care much about dad's videos. "When you come out with a new one Dad, I'll watch that one", he says.

He shoots his .270 way better than when I first started shooting one. And Ryan has the eyes and reflexes, that I can only wish I had. Glad we still have open acreage at the ranch because he says he wants to build his trophy room right next to mine, but bigger.

Oh boy, the joys of safari hunting. "I promise Dad, I'll never shoot anything like you did, over 500 yards." Look what I got myself into. Now passing it on.

Enjoy every minutes of it, you'll never have a better hunting partner.

Bwana Moja: This will be your best safari. And your best hunting partner.
Bwana Mingi Risasi

quote:

Funny, my boy just wants to watch you and Craig on DVD now, doesn't care much about dad's videos. "When you come out with a new one Dad, I'll watch that one", he says.

Too funny!!!

Sounds like you both are going to have the time of your lives. Enjoy!!!

Brett

Marc,

You are in for a truely great experience.

When my daughter was 20 I asked her if she wanted to celebrate her 21st birthday with her Mother and I on my sixth African safari. She was between her Junior and Senior year at Santa Clara University and I really wasn't sure if she would want to go. She was an athlete and grew up among guns and hunting but had declined to learn to shoot when I offered to teach her and I never forced the issue.

Her response was an immediate yes. She then said she would like me to teach her to shoot, although she wasn't sure if she wanted to kill an animal. She was a natural with a rifle and progressed from a .22LR directly to my .300WM (at her request). She was a hit with all the regulars at the range as her skill with a rifle was immediately evident and she was soon invited to try their muzzle loaders and varmint rifles, all of which she shot with accuracy.

On the first day of safari we were crawling through the grass on a Waterbuck stalk. We weren't able to get up on him but my daughter was elated and excited with the thrill of the hunt when we returned to the truck. On her birthday our PH gave her an Impala trophy which she took with a single shot. That night in camp we sang happy birthday to her in English, a group of Spanish hunters then sang it to her in Spanish and that prompted all the PHs and staff to sing it to her in Afrikaans. She went on to take other animals, including one given to her by the landowner.

She is now 32 and will provide me with my first grandchild, a boy, in September. She has never forgotten her first African safari and her 21st birthday. I hope to live long enough to introduce my grandson to safari someday.

Congratulations all! Brings a wonderufl tear to my eyes to read these stories!

Marc,

I wish your son the best of luck and hope he has the time of his life.

Mark,

just six weeks ago I had my daughter, 16, and my son, 10, join me for the first time. Simply amazing. BOTS was rainy and windy and very sloopy during our time, yet they both toughes it out better than most adults would have-- hunting every day, all day. Daughter ended up with an amazing gemsbok, son a bruiser kudu-- both from her 270.

I should know better, but a word of caution. Take way more photos than you think you'll ever need. Then double that number. I didn't double it and am now a bit perturbed with myself.

bon chance,

dan

Starting at 12 . . . what a dream.

I was 23 with a year of law school under my belt when I first "went over". How life might have turned out different if I'd made a trip in my teenage years. I might not be sitting at this desk right now.

Have the time of your lives.

I took my three sons along with my wife to South Africa last summer. The ages of the boys at the time were 16, 12, and 4. I knew that the timing would never be right finding a perfect age for each so off we all went and had the times of our lifes. It was another first safari for me. I took time to do things on this safari I would probably never had done had they not been onboard and made it that much better. We looked for rocks, found old 303 cases in the dirt and the boys made some outstanding shots. I always get a bit sad when I leave Africa but this trip was especially hard after the experience I had with my family. I tear up just thinking about it now. The last night night we ended up in Stellenbosch at a wonderful place called Moja and had dinner. The 4 year old got up on stage and played his little drum he purchased earlier in the day with the performers also playing drums. Priceless.

My new wife and I leave in two hours with her 15year old daughter. The young lady is very excited and I am very happy to be a witness to her adventure.

Originally posted by txed:

quote:

I took my three sons along with my wife to South Africa last summer. The ages of the boys at the time were 16, 12, and 4. I knew that the timing would never be right finding a perfect age for each so off we all went and had the times of our lifes.

Txed makes a great point. I put off going on safari for many years for a variety of reasons. Most often, the reasons revolved around our kids being too young, or there were conflicts with school or their other activities, sports, finances, things like that. Finally, after not being over there since 1989 (I went 3 times in the 80s), I told my wife that I was taking the family this summer (we were there from late May to early June for 2 weeks) and if nobody wanted to go, that I was going by myself, but there were not going to be any reasons, short of death, that I was staying home.

We went and had the time of our lives. I'd say it was one of our best family vacations ever and I can only regret that I let my kids grow up to 21 and 18 years old to finally take them over there. The only negative was that for the first week, I couldn't get the thought out of my head that kept asking me why the hell I'd let things stop me from getting back there for so long. Now, I plan on going back in a few years and will not let anything deter me. Most likely, I'll be taking my son buffalo hunting on the next trip, and perhaps the girls will come along again, but if not we're going anyway.

As the Nike slogan says "Just do it."

In 2001 I took my two sons( then 19 and 23)and it remains one of the high points of our lives. Congratulations and have a wonderful trip.

I HOPE TO DO THE SAME SOMEDAY. MY SON IS 32 AND HASN'T SHOWN THE INSTREST YET.

HAVE A GREAT TRIP.

Congratulations Marc
I know this will be one of your best safaris ever.

Marc: You lucky man! And Ryan is an even luckier young man! Mother Africa is set, once again, to cast her magical spell over another willing soul! Can you imagine having the unquenchable desire to return to her again and again, starting at the tender age of 12? Best wishes on a very successful safari! Don't forget: a story and some pics upon your return!

Mark, life cannot get any sweeter... A father and son...A hunt to Africa..

Mike

Amen!

quote:

Originally posted by SableTrail:
Well in six more days I'll get to do something I've been waiting 12 years for. It started with a 22. Rutledge Bore, then next a Ruger .22 LR, which lead to a Mossberg .410 pump shotgun, then a Beretta 391-20 gauge. When he started beating me at sporting clays I knew I was in trouble.

If it wasn't for his love for baseball, I'm guessing he would have already joined me on a couple previous safaris. But now at 12, with his spring/summer season coming to an end, he's finally coming with me. This time it's not just his picture in my wallet.

I don't know what I'm gonna do when I see him shoot and kill his first African animal. But I know it will be a fun problem on my hands. I hope he doesn't want to shoot everything I've shot on that continent, at least till he gets his own job.

You may recall a couple years ago the father/son hunt we auctioned off at SCI. Well, it's finally here. Hunters Namibia Safari will be serving as our host. Thank you Ivan for helping me put it altogether.

Funny, my boy just wants to watch you and Craig on DVD now, doesn't care much about dad's videos. "When you come out with a new one Dad, I'll watch that one", he says.

He shoots his .270 way better than when I first started shooting one. And Ryan has the eyes and reflexes, that I can only wish I had. Glad we still have open acreage at the ranch because he says he wants to build his trophy room right next to mine, but bigger.

Oh boy, the joys of safari hunting. "I promise Dad, I'll never shoot anything like you did, over 500 yards." Look what I got myself into. Now passing it on.

Congrats! I'm still a few years away - my son is nine. But he is already a fine deer hunter - maybe better than I am. His wing shooting is coming on, thankfully I've got him there for a few years...

Its a great thing, eh?

I'm jelous!

JPK

ya just can't beat this experience!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by craig boddington:
Bwana Moja: This will be your best safari. And your best hunting partner.
Bwana Mingi Risasi

Craig knows! His daughter loves Africa, too.

I had the surprise of my life when my youngest asked me to take her on safari for her high school graduation present and the subsequent joy of taking her last year (and her older sister demanded tag along).

There is nothing like sharing the joys of Africa with your children!

Take a zillion pictures and you'll find them priceless.

Best success to Ryan, what's his wish list? Perhaps your next video should star the young man as a primer to get more young people hunting!!!

Great to hear Marc...now the real fun begins! I am envious!

My son's were 11 and 14 when I first took them solo. Now at 18 and 20 we talk about our trips all the time. They were active in FB/BB/Tennis/Vball/etc and I was there on the sidelines or bleachers for most every game/match. But, NOTHING compares to our shared adventures to far off exotic lands. People have said how lucky they are…but the fact is that I consider myself the fortunate one!

I look forward to hearing more of you and Ryan's exploits in the years that follow.

Congratulations Marc

I took my family on my first trip to Africa exactly a year ago. My hunt report is still on here. The smile on my sons face when he took his Kudu Bull with one clean shot is forever burned in to the happiest parts of my memory.

I only hope I will bleased with a few more of these trips with my kids. My daughter was not ready to shoot on our last trip but she wants to go to Africa and hunt in a couple more years. Oddly enough she really wants to hunt a Cheetah, even though it is her favorite animal.

Best of luck

Best of hunting to you both Marc. As mentioned, pictures, pictures, pictures. I'm still reeling from your King Mt.Nyala pics...stunning trophy of a lifetime. But your about to take some more, or should I say photograph some of your Sons.....
Cheers,
David

marc,congratulation on ur monstor mountain nyala,man itis huge i just got safari magazine july/august issue and belive me couldnt sleep all night,GODBLESS u,regards

Thanks Ann and all you guys for the well wishes. For sure the cameras will be rolling on this safari. Mckenzie Sims, another 12-year old from Wyoming, is the youngster who will be joining us. His dad Jack, of course, is coming too. Some of you guys may know him. Jack is the hunter who took the massive lion from Timbavati last season that was posted on this board.

The bidding climbed up to $95,000 that night before Jack prevailed with a $100,000 bid, so he really deserves all my thanks. We're probably gonna just sit back in the landcruiser and watch our sons have all the fun.

Thanks Markhor and David for the Mt. Nyala compliments. Gonna maybe try and go for the third one, the Bongo, when the time is right.

I could never imagine myself going to Africa, not firing a single shot and having so much fun---but I think that time has come. So in the next two weeks if you hear any reports of two kids having the times of their lives in Namibia, you know who it is---or maybe it's gonna be a report of two dads having the times of their lives.

Best of luck on your trip!!

When I was a youngin, there was an article in Petersen's Hunting about "Homegrown Hunting Partners", and them being the very best kind. My Pa and I never forgot that article (although I don't remember who the author was), and 20 years later he still refers to me as his Homegrown Hunting Buddy from time to time.

I hope you and your homegrown partner have a great and very memorable time together.

Cheers
Canuck