quote:

Originally posted by jjs:

quote:

Originally posted by Aaron Neilson:
jjs - No, I see no conflict at all. I gave an opinion, based on my personal experiences - just as others have done, period!

I made no inference to my business, nor did I suggest to the OP that he contact me about a hunt with Phil, and lastly - I have not sent him a PM trying to get his business regarding this particular hunt. I simply suggested Phil and his camp, over HHK and their's (BASED ON PERSONAL EXPERIENCE) The OP can clearly see Phil posted here too, and can contact Phil directly if he wishes, either way - that has nothing to do with me giving an opinion to a fellow hunter, based on what I observed. Hoping to save him from what I think would be a less than desired experience.

Just because my signature line says I'm in the hunting biz, does not require me to qualify/clarify my representations of others, everytime I give my opinion regarding a hunting area/PH. That's part of what this forum is all about, asking for/giving opinions all of the time. Despite what you might think/believe, I was not trying to indirectly promote my biz, if I was, I would come right out and say "hey man, call me - I can book you with Phil". But, that's just me - I am usually straight forward like that. I never really believed in beating around the bush much, nor have I ever really believed in insinuating others are doing A,B,C, or D, without knowing exactly what I am talking about. Especially when it pertains to their livelihood! But again, that's just me!

Aaron,

I think you are missing the point but whatever you are comfortable with is up to you...I just have a difference of opinion.

jjs - I'm not missing your point at all, I just don't agree with you or your opinion!

Just as I don't agree with some on this thread that think Charisa is not a good hunting area, but it is their opinion - likely based on what they experienced during the course of their hunt. Who I am to tell them they are wrong, or dispute their claims, without personal knowledge of their experience?

I know this, my hunt in Charisa (Sept 2011) was very good, as was the game numbers, and Phil's camp. Just as my experience with HHK and their camps was VERY POOR! I have booked several clients into Charisa with Phil so far, and they too have had very good hunts. For example, "Shootaway" above, mentions there were no Zebra to be seen - and I am sure that's what he experienced. I however saw plenty of Zebra, and shot 2 of them. As I recall, Miko - who hunted Charisa just last month with Phil shot 3-4 Zebra! I saw plenty of other plains game as well, many of them right from the camp lookout.

Shootaway mentions another hunter was after Lion, and never even saw lion tracks. Well, I saw numerous sets of lions tracks, heard lions almost every night from camp, and below are the 2 males that decided to make a meal out of one of our leopard baits (date on Phil's camera is in-correct). Simply a difference of opinion, from two fellow hunters, based on their personal experiences - nothing more. I was simply offering mine, in hopes of helping a fellow hunter - not drumming for business. But maybe you're just, "missing the point"?

Aaron,

I got it now...You are just fine making derogatory comments about your competitors while promoting your own interest, directly or indirectly, in the same post...at the least you are leaving that impression, intentional or not...At best this is just poor form on your part.....just my opinion.

We agree on the opinion thing...could care less about your opinions as well...

I bet we can also agree that there is nothing either of us is selling that the other wishes to buy....

jjs,

Aaron is a good friend of mine. We talk a lot over e-mail, the phone, and face-to-face about hunting, lion, etc.

We disagree from time to time as well.

But...he is one of the most honest forthright people I know and truly cares about wildlife and the hunting industry.

I would stake my reputation on his integrity. I really can't see what your ragging on him about...but that is just my opinion.

The gentleman on a 21 day lion hunt was from Florida.He and his PH abandoned the hunt because of the lack of tracks and went to hunt and do some fishing elsewhere.The other hunter was from Minnessota.He waited in the blind for 15 days without ever seeing a track.If you do a search on this site you will find that others had similar experiences regarding seeing any sign of lions.I am wondering why are there no recent pictures on their gallery,in their website.Aside from the picture of a leopard posted here lately,there is no other recent picture evidence of this place producing quality trophies or any trophies.There are barely any hunt reports on AR coming from Chirisa.

jjs - I just find it rediculous that somehow you feel my opinion in the matter is un-just or needs clarification, simply because my signature line says I'm in the Biz. Somehow you think that dis-qualifies me from ever giving an opinion, simply as just a fellow hunter trying to help another. I've made over 2,000 posts here on AR, I'm certain the vast majority of them have been just like yours, and most everyone here, a hunter who's interested in conversing with other hunters, nothing more. Yet, you seem to think I'm not entitled to the same opinions as the rest of the AR guys? I too am a hunter, and I care about fellow hunters, and the experiences they have on safari. As I know full-well what its like to spend LOTS of money/time and not get what you bargained for. Obviously I can't book every hunter on planet earth, nor do I try to, but if I can help - I am happy to do so. Just as I too appreciate it when others on here relay their experiences to places/outfitters I've not been myself.

Besides, I'm not sure what gives you the impression that HHK is my competitor - just more insinuations I guess? I'm an agent, they are the outfitter - we are NOT competitors. I spoke with HHK just about 18 months ago regarding booking hunts for them, and they were happy to do it. But, my personal experience and a few guys I know, have led me in another direction. I'm fairly certain if I called/e-mailed them today with a request to book a few hunts, they would gladly do it. I choose not to, based on my personal experience, nothing more.

I'm not really sure why you have decided to "shoot the messenger" on this one? As you can see, I'm not the only one who had the exact same thing to say about HHK's camp/staff in Charisa. I'm sure you'll never buy a hunt from me, but maybe some will find my experience of 17 yrs and 29 DG safaris in Africa, valuable? Just as I find the hunt reports/opinions on here, valuable as well. Good luck on your hunt!


Shootaway - Obviously I cannot comment about the lion hunt you mention, except to state that my experience in Charisa last September was completely different. So has my recent client's experiences been different as well. Lions were out and about frequently when I was there last Sept, I wished we were hunting lion! Leopard sign was EXCELLENT, buffalo were plentiful, as was the plains game. I also took a nice elephant bull on my 7 day hunt. Keep in mind, alot can change in an area in 3-4 yrs, time of year can make a big difference, your PH/his experience in the area matters alot, etc. Lots of variables can play out on one safari to another. I don't dispute anyone's account of their hunt, I can only give my experience, and the experiences that have been relayed to me, by my clients who have recently hunted Charisa. I only hope that helps someone make a good decision, that's all.

Are you saying the lion client sat in the blind for 15 straight days/evenings, and they never had a cat on bait? No PH in the world, with 1 ounce of sense would do that - something sounds goofy to me?

Aaron,

I see no problem with your discussing the amount of game in Charisa. I also think that it is poor form on your part to trash another safari operator that you are in competition with. Whether you like it or not Phil is competing to some extent with HHK for clients. I would hope that you would take a higher road.

465H&H

quote:

Originally posted by 465H&H:
Aaron,

I see no problem with your discussing the amount of game in Charisa. I also think that it is poor form on your part to trash another safari operator that you are in competition with. Whether you like it or not Phil is competing to some extent with HHK for clients. I would hope that you would take a higher road.

465H&H

That time of the month jjs & 465?

I see nothing wrong with stating an opinion from first hand experience. Did you see Aaron offer to sell anyone a hunt, or make a recommendation via open forum or PM to an operator he represents? No. There is an agent(s) here who would jump like a dog on a pork chop to sell hunts via posts ~Aaron is not one of them.

Best

jjs & 465 - Guys, sorry if you seem to think I am trashing HHK. Frankly, I think I've done more here to help them than not, and I do not consider them competition. Fixing the camps a bit, is alot easier than trying to sell a hunt to a place with no game as some seem to think/indicate is the case with charisa. My experience in Charisa is just the opposite, I think HHK and Phillip have done a good job with the game - I saw plenty of DG & Plains game alike. The rest of it is a simple fix, IMO. So, I'll leave it at that, and move on.

If HHK has unkempt camps...I would be dissappointed in Aaron if he did not point it out to those who asked. Like I have said before...I have known Aaron for a while and he usually just calls a spade a spade...as I would expect him to do. I will guarantee if Phil's camps were not up to par...he would point it out.

Aaron,the guy was hunting leopard, and as I understood it then, he was waking up in the dark and going to a blind not far from camp,night after night for 15 days.It could have been more than one blind as It did not really interest me.He gave up hunting the leopard and shot a bull elephant with smallish tusks as I recommended to him that he should do. I will not go back to Chirisa because of what I think is a lack of game there.It is not the only place I would not go.There are very few places that I would go to that also fall into my budget.That would be somewhere that I can follow the success of the clients from year to year and predict what my hunt will be like or the quality and quantity of game I can expect.

On my hunt in 2010, I was booked for a management Ele..cow without calf, broken-tusk bull, etc. When we arrived, those permits were not available, only a tuskless cow. If you've hunted Africa early in the season, you know that with the heavy foliage, you can be 25 feet from an Ele and still not be able to determine if it's a cow or bull, let alone, a tuskless, and then without a dependent calf. Pretty much a waste of a trip.

A booking agent I know well has stopped arranging hunts with HHK, due to similar switches in expected versus received hunts.

Never hunted there and don't know the people. However, there is at least a possible explanation for the differences in game noted. This is timing.

For example, in 09 I hunted ARDA and Hammond in the Save. In 09, I saw more eland than I have ever seen anywhere. Yet in 10, at approximately the same time of year, I saw very few in the same area with the same PH. Why? Who knows. I suspect this is the case here.

This quota BS on the other hand is hard to explain without coming up with something bad.

What Biebs experienced is totally unacceptable!

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
On my hunt in 2010, I was booked for a management Ele..cow without calf, broken-tusk bull, etc. When we arrived, those permits were not available, only a tuskless cow. If you've hunted Africa early in the season, you know that with the heavy foliage, you can be 25 feet from an Ele and still not be able to determine if it's a cow or bull, let alone, a tuskless, and then without a dependent calf. Pretty much a waste of a trip.

And Charisa is hard for Tuskless at the best of times.

quote:

Originally posted by ozhunter:

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
On my hunt in 2010, I was booked for a management Ele..cow without calf, broken-tusk bull, etc. When we arrived, those permits were not available, only a tuskless cow. If you've hunted Africa early in the season, you know that with the heavy foliage, you can be 25 feet from an Ele and still not be able to determine if it's a cow or bull, let alone, a tuskless, and then without a dependent calf. Pretty much a waste of a trip.

And Charisa is hard for Tuskless at the best of times.

In the early season it can be tough. In November, I have twice taken two in seven days.

465H&H

quote:

Originally posted by 465H&H:

And Charisa is hard for Tuskless at the best of times.[/QUOTE]

In the early season it can be tough. In November, I have twice taken two in seven days.

465H&H[/QUOTE]
So it was you that shot my Tuskless!

quote:

Originally posted by ozhunter:

quote:

Originally posted by 465H&H:

And Charisa is hard for Tuskless at the best of times.

In the early season it can be tough. In November, I have twice taken two in seven days.

465H&H[/QUOTE]
So it was you that shot my Tuskless! [/QUOTE]



465H&H

Does it make our group lucky or does it mean that we had excellent Professional Hunters, hunted hard and of the three they had on quota we shot two tuskless cows after walking near 80 kilometers. We would have easily shot the third but the man was charged and decided the tuskless was not his cuo of tea.

The are was nearly dead of all oother game, we saw in all the walking only 1 lion track and that was three hunters out every day. Poachers were everywhere and this was less than two weeks ago.

If you plan on going to Charisa with HHK they when we left one a few days ago there was 1 that is one tuskless cow on quota and I know there is at least one there if you hunt hard and have a good PH.

Sorry the reply is a bit messed up but I am dyslexic, did not have glasses at hand so if the nice people want to make fun, have at it but the point remains. They indeed did have the tuskless cows available. We had each true professional hunters who knew as someone said is imoportant the area very well and we all walked tracked, walked some more, padssed lots of tuskless with little ones. Found many i the thick bush and had to exit quickley. The cow which I managed was in excess of 50 years of age which is good innings for an elephant. It's fingers were taken off in a snare, well healed and it certainly was not straving.

Guys,

Let me provide some insight on game in Chirisa - here are some trophies we have taken so far this year.























Here are some trophies we have taken previous years. Please note, I have included a lot of plainsgame (or the apparent lack there of in Chirisa)































My hunts have been GREAT this year and am currently in camp on a buffalo hunt at the moment. We shot ours on Day 2 - I will post the pictures hopefully tomorrow for you as well.




I thoroughly enjoy hunting Chirisa and will do for many years to come.

Leopards - I cannot think of a better place - here are some pictures from this year on my May hunt. Unfortunately we wounded our cat but these cats are the others we had on bait by day 6.

One from last year as well.










Lions - Everyones experience with lions differs, but let me say this - Chirisa has some FANTASTIC lions! These were from a trail cam with Aaron Neilson, they stole my Leopard bait -





This one is opposite camp at 1000 in the morning -




Knowledge is power - everyone knows that. So I hope this helps.


May I add in this - Chirisa STILL sports great game, I can bear witness to this. Yes there is some poaching, thats logical in an area of 350 000 acres, but if this area is concidered a 'poached out area' - I would hunt in a 'poached area' any day of the week! Matt our Anti poaching manager does an AWESOME job WITH Parks and Wildlife Authority.




Happy hunting.

Phil



Enjoy guys!

[URL= ]Tuskless Cow Charisa, with HHK Late June 2012. [/URL]

[IMG:top] [/IMG]

This is the Quota board at Charisa for HHK, late June 2012, we took two of the three tuskless cows which were on quota. I do not know if this is for all of Charisa or just HHK??

This was at their skinning shead.

quote:

May I add in this - Chirisa STILL sports great game, I can bear witness to this

Phillip, you're killing me here with all the pics...5 weeks can't get here soon enough! Look forward to disproving the no game nay sayers.

Hello,

Sounds great, hopefully you shall have a great time. What are you after and how long shall you be gone. What rifleareyou taking?

I fell in a covered elephant track, sprained my ankle and broke the stock on my 470. Fortunately I had a .416 Ruger with me.

Are you flying into camp or are you driving?

Go Well

10 days doing a tuskless and buffalo hunt with Phillip. Secondaries will be things like bushbuck, eland, and other plains game as we come across good specimens. Taking my Sabatti 450\400 as my primary with a Browning Safari in 458 Win Mag as a backup.
Can relate to the sprained ankle - just had knee sugery 3 weeks ago and am working hard to get the kinks out and back in shape for this hunt.

Really sounds great,you will have a super time,the key is a good PH and you have one. You have a super DR and good back-up. Are you going alone and flying into camp. We are excited for you and to hear all about your trip.

Keep in touch.

Going alone - decided to leave the wife home on this one. Phil will be picking me up in Harare and we'll be truckin into camp.

Glenn,
looking back over your responses, I never did see where you commented on the condition of the camps? Curious to see what your impression of them was and how it relates to Aaron's and others' comments?

Hello Again,

Please send your phone number to us. bland@epix.net and I will give you a call. You will have a good time.

Cheers,

Glenn

See you soon Steve -
cheers

quote:

Originally posted by hunteratheart:
10 days doing a tuskless and buffalo hunt with Phillip. Secondaries will be things like bushbuck, eland, and other plains game as we come across good specimens. Taking my Sabatti 450\400 as my primary with a Browning Safari in 458 Win Mag as a backup.

You will have a GREAT time! I took the same hunt last November with my Ruger 416 and Sabatti 450NE (pictured in above tuskless photo and photo with the buff/ele skulls). There is lots of game. I really want to go back, anybody need a good kidney?

I have spent a total of seven weeks over three hunts at Charisa. All of these hunts were with HHK. One hunt of 21 days was in April the other two in November and early December. Tuskless elephant were my objective on all hunts. So other than a PH, I have probably spent as much or more time there than any one on here.

What I have found is that like any of the Zambesi Valley or escarpment areas, they are primarily dangerous game areas. While all have plains game, the amount there is less than you will see in other areas such as the Save or Matetsi areas. A lot of elephant and good numbers of buffalo but less than I have seen in the Dande. Trophy quality is as good though. Compared to areas such as Omay or Chete the % of tuskless in the population is much lower. You will have to look over many more elephants to find a tuskless in Charisa. The positive of that is you get to approach many more herds and in the early season to a much closer range.

If you hunt early say March or April you will see less plains game than later in the season. In the early season there are small pans of water scattered throughout the bush and consequently, the PG is widely scattered. The thick green vegetation also hampers visibility. Later in the season these pans dry up as does the Sengwa river and the game is then more concentrated along the remaining water holes in the river and much more visible.

It has always surprised me how little PG we see when tracking elephants, either going or coming. I don't know why it is but it has been my experience. Others in camp at the same time have had little trouble collecting PG. I suspect they hang out in a little different habitats and the PH usually knows where to take the client for PG.
in the early season, I can assure you that the PG is still there. As an example, my PH and I walked into the cathedral mopani area that JudgeG mentions in another thread about 45 minutes before dark to look over a herd of elephants we had seen from the road. It got dark as we videoed the herd. On the way back to the vehicle we had to wind our way back to the Cruiser through a herd of thirty buffalo, 10 or 15 zebra, a dozen impala and five water buck. That was more PG then we had seen in the first two weeks of the early season hunt. The PG is there but you will have to hunt harder than in places like the Save or Matetsi.

Aaron doesn't describe in what way HHK camps are in very poor condition and I'm not sure what his standards are. I have noted that the furniture in the eating area is showing its age. But considering that HHK is usually a little less costly then other outfitters maybe we can look past that. The food has been excellent, sleeping areas have always been very clean and the staff friendly and accommodating. Not sure what more one needs.

One thing that I have done is to be very careful on which PH that I get. In some ways that may be more important to the success of the hunt than who the safari operator is. If you don't have one in mind, tell the operator what you want in a PH. If you have trouble if he drinks, ask for one that doesn't. Some pHs are more successful than others on certain species. If one species is top on your list try to find a PH that is known to produce that species. This is one area that I don't compromise on. I make the final decision on the PH.

I also suggest that you contract for the species you want to hunt and get it included in the contract what happens if the contracted animals are not available for you when you get there.

Finally, send the safari operator a run down of your hunt, what you liked, didn't like and how the PH did. All of this pertains to any safari you book whether with HHK or another operator.

465H&H

quote:

Originally posted by JCS271:
There is lots of game. I really want to go back, anybody need a good kidney?

I suppose I could use a third one!

quote:

Originally posted by JCS271:
[QUOTE]I really want to go back, anybody need a good kidney?

PM Sent

quote:

Originally posted by Phillip Smythe:

quote:

Originally posted by JCS271:
There is lots of game. I really want to go back, anybody need a good kidney?

I suppose I could use a third one!

Phil, If you want, I can just come over now and live in camp with you until you actually need it! That way we can be sure it is still good. Let me know!

HAHAHAHA JCS271 - Actually makes sense if you really think about it!!

Has anybody Infos about the Charisa Area esp. for Elephant and Buffalo. Which Outfitter runs the Show there now ?

quote:

Originally posted by mboga biga bwana:
Has anybody Infos about the Charisa Area esp. for Elephant and Buffalo. Which Outfitter runs the Show there now ?

Mbogo - Chirisa is being looked after by Sitatunga Zimbabwe
Contact Floyd Ambrose on ambrosefj@gmail.com