The Accurate Reloading Forums
ken howell never made it to africa...
14 February 2006, 08:45
boom stickken howell never made it to africa...
i spoke with ken howell today and it broke my heart...if you dont know he is the inventor of the 375,416 and 450 howell from the 1970s(a shortened 404 case) well he never made it to africa. he is 75 now and partialy paralized and his dream of going to africa has never come even though it was his dream and he invented these wildcats for africa. he said he could never end up saving enough money it aleays needed to go somewhere else. i guess having 2 daughters will do that but i just wanted to say if you have gone on a safari in africa you are blessed and for every one there is a thousand who have dreamed even those like ken howell a real nice guy and wonderful to talk to. i learned a lot today...about dreams and how precious life is and how it seems to always slip away. i would love for ken to have his dream come true and go to africa and use his rifles that he made for africa. i would donate $200 for it but it would take a lot of others...if you have dreams of africa GO! and dont let it slip away.
14 February 2006, 08:54
AnotherAZWriterI have met Ken. He is a really nice guy. He has had some bad breaks, but if anyone really wants to go to Africa, they can find a way.
Look at D99 - serving in the Navy. He is enlisted, so he doesn't make a ton of money. But he found a way.
A lot of folks think writing is a ticket to free hunts. The writers I know either made money in other ventures, are good marketers and hard workers, or they just plain don't make a lot of money period. Ken isn't the only writer who never made it to Africa.
14 February 2006, 09:05
Michael RobinsonKen's dreams led him elsewhere and when his time comes, he will have left a pretty damned good legacy.
Mike
Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer.
14 February 2006, 09:06
boom stickits a damn shame no matter how you look at it. yes it is on him but everyone has to make sacrafices of dreams to everyday life. its a shame someone like him has not gone.
14 February 2006, 12:12
500grainsANYONE who makes hunting in Africa a priority can do it. For example:
1. Refinance your house and take out some of the equity to spend on hunting. (No, I have not done that.
)
2. Sell the Lexus, buy a Toyota, and use the difference to hunt Africa.
3. Sell the Toyota, ride the bus and go hunting in Africa.
4. Sell all your guns except the 2 that you are going to take to Africa. If you still do not have enough money, sell your 4 wheelers and boat and go to Africa.
5. Find ways to save money, such as:
a. Take your lunch to work. $5/day x 22 days/mo. x 50 months = $5,500.
b. Stop renting videos. $3 each x 2/week x 50 months = $3,600.
c. Stop going to sporting events. $50 x 2 tickets x 6x/year x 4 years = $2,400
d. Skip the family vacation one year (average cost $2,000).
e. Sell all your old crap on ebay. $1,000
TOTAL (from #5 only) $14,500
14 February 2006, 12:59
boom stickafrica has become much cheaper today...and that is good. my point is go! do it or you might find yourself too old or too poor or life can just get in the way. i want to go on my 40th but maybe i should shoot for 35 and see what happens
14 February 2006, 15:28
catsHere's another way to save a few bucks.Quit paying for Internet service and save $20/mth in 41 yrs you will have saved a total of $10,000
14 February 2006, 16:13
NitroXquote:
Originally posted by 500grains:
ANYONE who makes hunting in Africa a priority can do it.
14 February 2006, 17:13
JOEYBONESUnless my youngest skips college , the closest thing to an African safari will be the Bronx zoo.
14 February 2006, 17:25
catswhy not choke on some food then sue the chef and both you and your lawyer can go together?
14 February 2006, 18:58
Die Ou JagterI was on a goat hunt in New Mexico about 10yrs ago and the other group in camp was made up of a Lawyer, Chriopractor (bone cracker) and a contractor and they bragged about how the lawyer referred "injured clients" to the bone cracker and then they both built large homes with the contactor.
14 February 2006, 19:08
dbltapquote:
Unless my youngest skips college
It's called a 4 year ROTC Scholarship, you will both be better off.
14 February 2006, 19:09
PeglegI have a good friend that had a saying that really hits home. Whenever we would talk about things and places we wanted to go and do he would always say "You can do anything you want, you just can't do everything you want". Pick and choose. Set priorities. Plan your work and work your plan.
The only easy day is yesterday!
14 February 2006, 19:51
catsone of my employees makes $41,500/yr has two kids and a mortage and he goes on a buff hunt everyother year.
Now if a guy making that income can do it anyone can do it. It is solely a matter of how much you wish to go.
15 February 2006, 01:59
BigFiveJackCats,
Are you
HIRING!?!?!? 
Jack
OH GOD! {Seriously, we need the help.}
15 February 2006, 02:34
Rich Elliottquote:
Originally posted by dbltap:
quote:
Unless my youngest skips college
It's called a 4 year ROTC Scholarship, you will both be better off.
My youngest son did that. Trouble is I'd already given him his college money.
Rich Elliott
Rich Elliott
Ethiopian Rift Valley Safaris
15 February 2006, 12:38
Jarrodquote:
Originally posted by cats:
one of my employees makes $41,500/yr has two kids and a mortage and he goes on a buff hunt everyother year.
Now if a guy making that income can do it anyone can do it. It is solely a matter of how much you wish to go.
The average combined household income is somewhere around that for combined.
"Science only goes so far then God takes over."
15 February 2006, 15:41
catsBFJ: How are you living in NYC on under $41K ?
15 February 2006, 18:55
ForrestBquote:
Originally posted by cats:
one of my employees makes $41,500/yr has two kids and a mortage and he goes on a buff hunt everyother year.
Now if a guy making that income can do it anyone can do it. It is solely a matter of how much you wish to go.
Does this guy post here?
______________________________
"Truth is the daughter of time."
Francis Bacon
15 February 2006, 19:31
375hnhI will shed some light (maybe). I have been watching and posting here for some time. I am 47 years old, I am toolmaker for a plastics company, and I make a little over 50k a year. I have five kids, two are in college. I don't and won't pay for their college, I feel that is up to them. However ee help all we can with expenses that come up. Two of my daughters are married, one has two kids of her own, and another has just informed us of one on the way. My wife works full time and makes abour 30k a year. We have recently been talking about this very subject. I hunt in several states, and extensivly here at home, but I want more than anything to get to Africa, before I am too old to enjoy it. we have recently decided to sell our house so we can do the traveling we want to do. I, and several of my co-workers watch this board regularly and marvel at the the amount of money some of you guys spend on hunting trips. If you are able to do this on a regular basis, you are truly blessed. Unfortunatly some people can't set this sort of thing as a priority, at least not at certain points in time.
shoot staight
DGK
Let us speak courteously, deal fairly, and keep ourselves armed and ready
Theodore Roosevelt
15 February 2006, 19:43
Hunt4LifeI think the key to someone hunting Buff on $40,000 a year salary is, inheritance. Otherwise, they can't have any quality of life.
15 February 2006, 20:15
catsforestB I haven't the slightest idea he works for me. I'm not his keeper.
hunt4 I doubt he has any "new" money, though IMHO he has his priorities in order.
15 February 2006, 20:15
Jarrodquote:
Originally posted by 375hnh:
I will shed some light (maybe). I have been watching and posting here for some time. I am 47 years old, I am toolmaker for a plastics company, and I make a little over 50k a year. I have five kids, two are in college. I don't and won't pay for their college, I feel that is up to them. However ee help all we can with expenses that come up. Two of my daughters are married, one has two kids of her own, and another has just informed us of one on the way. My wife works full time and makes abour 30k a year. We have recently been talking about this very subject. I hunt in several states, and extensivly here at home, but I want more than anything to get to Africa, before I am too old to enjoy it. we have recently decided to sell our house so we can do the traveling we want to do. I, and several of my co-workers watch this board regularly and marvel at the the amount of money some of you guys spend on hunting trips. If you are able to do this on a regular basis, you are truly blessed. Unfortunatly some people can't set this sort of thing as a priority, at least not at certain points in time.
shoot staight
DGK
375 H&H let me first say that I've never been to Africa. You say you hunt in several states and extensively at home. Then you say you want to go to Africa. Well I do know that out of state license are not cheap not to mention the travel and other expenses etc. etc. involved in hunting away from home.
Then you say you cant set this sort of thing as a priority. Well it sounds to me like your priorities as far as huntings goes are hunting other states. Just an observatiion from your above post.
"Science only goes so far then God takes over."
15 February 2006, 20:19
catsChrist! you can book a 7 day buff hunt add air from the USA an still be well under $10K. Split that up over 2 or 3 years and you couldn't hunt as a NR in Mt for mule deer with a guide and outfitter sponsored tag for that money.
15 February 2006, 20:23
NitroXI once had a discussion with a guy who said he could never afford an African safari. He was a police officer on an average salary.
He had a hobby of collecting military rifles. I believe he had 300 (or so) rifles. Yes 3001
I said to him, why not sell half. You can afford a very good safari.
He said he couldn't part with them.
Priorities.
I would prefer to have 3 - 5 good firearms and use them a lot, than several dozen collecting dust in gun safes to be "fondled".
15 February 2006, 20:24
Jarrodquote:
Originally posted by Hunt4Life:
I think the key to someone hunting Buff on $40,000 a year salary is, inheritance. Otherwise, they can't have any quality of life.
If they did this yearly or every couple years then no they wouldnt have a lot else for sure.
There are several people on this forum that it is obvious that they are doing a lot of hunts on inherited money. Not saying there is anything wrong with that. I know if I would of inherited a large sum of money I would be going to Africa as much as possible.
Please dont get me wrong because there are several people on this board that I wouldnt mind meeting someday, and some I probably wouldnt even mind sharing a hunting camp with sometime.
"Science only goes so far then God takes over."
15 February 2006, 20:29
Jarrodquote:
Originally posted by cats:
Christ! you can book a 7 day buff hunt add air from the USA an still be well under $10K. Split that up over 2 or 3 years and you couldn't hunt as a NR in Mt for mule deer with a guide and outfitter sponsored tag for that money.
So is this including everything?
So I can just put back a couple hundred a month for about 4 years and save tax returns and make a buff hunt?
"Science only goes so far then God takes over."
15 February 2006, 20:48
catsthat will pay for a buff hunt (7 days) trophy fee, daily fees and air from the USA with $ leftover. what else you want to do such as leave your PH a $1000 tip as some here on AR suggest is up to you.
I've seen show special prices on buff for $6800 with air to Jo'burg from Atlanta. No secret in that
15 February 2006, 21:52
ForrestBquote:
Originally posted by cats:
forestB I haven't the slightest idea he works for me. I'm not his keeper.
Tell him about AR. Anyone who is willing to sacrifice that much to buff hunt ought to be posting here. I'd love to hear his take on things.
______________________________
"Truth is the daughter of time."
Francis Bacon
15 February 2006, 21:57
HunterJimI met Ken for the first time last week at the SHOT Show; hea had sent me a photo to recognize him, and I knew he was partially paralyzed and using a wheel chair.
He he now editing an Internet magazine for Rick Bin at 24 Hr Campfire. You could help his efforts by checking it out (see Smokepole on the site). He also posts frequently on the Campfire.
jim
if you're too busy to hunt,you're too busy.
16 February 2006, 00:43
AtticusI have hunted in Africa twice now and each time I have financed some of it with selling my gun collection. I can always find another shotgun or rifle. I now hunt with 2 old shotguns and a Remington 30-06, but they work fine. I also have a 5 gallon jug I use to save money. It is called the “Dangerous Game fund†and when its full It’ll go towards the trophy fee on a Leopard or a Cape Buffalo. That change adds up.
I still find it interesting that people think Africa is prohibitively expensive, when it can be cheaper than hunting Elk out west.
"I speak of Africa and golden joys; the joy of wandering through lonely lands; the joy of hunting the mighty and terrible lords of the wilderness, the cunning, the wary and the grim."
Theodore Roosevelt, Khartoum, March 15, 1910
16 February 2006, 11:06
billrquimbyAs several have said: anyone who makes hunting in Africa a priority can do it.
BillQ
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