I just booked a safari through my friend Don Crane of "Safari Outfitters" in Cody, WY. This will be 14-day safari in 2006 with Roger Whittall of Zimbabwe, hunting his Humani area.

I've heard only the best things about Roger Whittall for many years, but what makes this safari a special dream hunt is the fact that I'll be making it with two friends who I've hunted with for many, many years here in the U.S. We'll share the same camp, but we'll each have our own PH, which is, I think, how it should be.

One of these gentlemen has really been my hunting and fine rifle mentor, and also my second-father in many ways. I owe this man just about everything, and he has taught me so many valuable things about life and about the value of education and hard work that it would take me a book to write it all down. He's a true veteran hunter and an experienced African hand, and we started hunting mule deer and chuckers together back in 1979.

The other fellow is one of the finest elk and mule deer hunters and best riflemen that I've ever known and a true friend as well who I've hunted with for over 23 years. He's cool in the presence of game, he's incredibly observant, and he has incredible endurence as well. He's never been to African before, so as you can imagine, he's living, eating, sleeping, and breathing this safari, and I can't think of anyone who deserves to enjoy it more than he does.

Over twenty years ago, the three of us sat around a hot wood stove in an elk camp in Oregon's Wenaha Unit and swore that someday we'd share an African safari together, and this declaration came at a time when two of us could barely afford to hunt at all, let alone embark on an African safari. All we could afford to do is dream.

And now that long-standing pledge and dream is going to come true...........

AD

Congratulations on a dream coming true ... and my greatest respects for sharing the prize with folks who really matter! Enjoy the anticipation and have a grand hunt.

Congratulations on booking what indeed sounds like a dream safari, but even more importantly on enjoying the trip with close friends who have the means and desire as do you... I haven't yet hunted Africa, but I'm only 37, one of these days...

Best of luck,
Craig Nolan

Allen- How do you know Don? He's a neighbor of mine and I'm just curious.

You're gonna have a great time, congratulations!!

John

AD
I hope the trip exceeds your greatest expectations.Are you going to get after that
sable?

Jeff

Allen,

This really sounds like a great safari. I know a couple of people I'd like to have a similiar experience with. Additionally the hunting on the Save should be nothing but spectacular.

Regards,

Mark

Sounds great. What all will you be hunting?

John, I know Don simply because I wanted to book a safari last year, so on a hunch I called 'Safari Outfitters' and was directed to Don Crane. I had ever heard of him before, had never spoken with him before, nor had I ever done business with 'Safari Outfitters' before. Don proved to be such a fantastic guy to work with and everything was handled so thoroughly and so well by Don and the 'Safari Outfitters' staff that it was very easy for me to refer my friends to him as we planned this safari.

Once again, Don came through, and both of my friends are really pleased to be working with him. He's just a fantastic guy, and really good at his job.

Jeff, I'm not going to hunt sable this time. I've taken one before, and I really have another trip in mind for getting another one.

Personally, I plan to hunt just plainsgame, with all plainsgame species that Roger offers being on my list except for sable. I especially hope for exceptional nyala, kudu, eland, limpopo bushbuck, plus croc and hyena. I've taken 56" and a 57" kudu before, so I'm going to hold out for a real buster. Likewise, I've taken really big common waterbuck before, but I understand that some real whoppers roam Humani, so if the right opportunity comes up, I'll go for it. I'll hunt big warthog, of course, anytime, anywhere.........

AD

Allen: Good for you. My safari this year is with one of my best friends and we both are bringing our wives. Also, I have a very good friend that like you, gave me lots of valuable insights into this business and he hunts with Roger Whittall. When I booked my hunt with John, Roger was a close second. I think you will be very pleased.jorge

Allen,

I got the Africa fever too originally from reading John Hunter's Hunter in the seventh grade. I promised myself I would go hunt Africa on my50th birthday. I was a few years off, but it was great (as you know from your own expereinces).

Hunting with friends in camp each going their way 1X1 with the PH and coparing notes at the end of the day is a real blast.

Good hunting in Zim...

jim

Allen,
I am doing basically the same hunt this June with Charlton/McCallum Safaris in the Humani. Like you, I am foregoing dangerous game to hunt plainsgame with two first-timers who are good buddies of mine. One buddy is just coming off a brush with cancer and this is the trip he has always wanted to do but it wasn't until his "scare" that he was pushed over the edge and made the commitment to live his lifelong dream. Funny how life will throw you a curve every now and then. But it will be a great trip to shoot eland, kudu and bushbuck, etc. And since I've been there and done that, I can take my time and revel in my friends discovery of the "Dark Continent" and selectively hunt for myself with no pressure on the size of my bag! Good luck on your hunt and remember to live for today!

Awsome!

Chuck

Allen,
Dream hunt???? Going to Africa... NO elephants on quota..... No double rifles...... Sounds like a Nightmare to me....



Just kidding. There is no better hunt than to hunt with good friends. Being in camp with good friends... it does not get any better than that.
Unless you are hunting with good friends with double rifles and shooting elephants.

450, one of these days you and I will have to do a DG safari together. I think we'd have a great time, and we could always argue about bolt-guns versus doubles if we feel like it!

I hope to finally get to Dallas for the DSC convention next year, so we'll have to get together

AD

Allen,

Good for you! I have no doubt that you'll have a GREAT time! Those are the kind of trips that you'll cherish.

-Steve

quote:

Originally posted by HunterJim:
Allen,

I promised myself I would go hunt Africa on my50th birthday.

I made a similar promise to myself when I a was a young LT serving in Ft. Riley, KS. I had just read a story by Chuck Adams on hunting caribou in AK, and I sat on the small porch of my apartment, stared out a 1000 miles, and promised myself that I would hunt Alaska before 30 and Africa before 40. I was 24 when I first hunted AK and 35 when I first went to Africa.

I wrote about those hunts in a story I did for Petersen's HUNTING called "My Life with Petersen's HUNTING." It was a story in their November, 1998 25th anniversary issue.

After my first hunt in Africa I took the money I had been saving ($300 a month, which was a lot to me back then) and started investing it in what I called the "Hunt Fund." My goal was to grow it to 100k and hunt off the earnings.

I have long since not needed the "Hunt Fund" to go hunting, but it was a valuable lesson for me in that good things come to those who are patient, yet take deliberate action.

I can't decide to go back to Africa in 05 or 06. I know of one guy who had a sable quota left over, but I have been so damn busy I don't have time to check the references.

It sounds like you are going to have a wonderful hunt Allen. Half the fun is just the anticipation; at least for me.

Some people think spending a lot of money on a hunt is dumb. If I would have bought a car instead of that first Africa hunt, all I would have today is nothing to show for my money.

Allen
Sounds good to me. Lets get together at the next DSC and make some plans. Maybe with MS.