And it's your fault. I am inventoring all personal items to determine what I must sell to get back. Boats, guns knives,wife, my retriever nothing is safe.Maybe the dog is safe. I had a great time. I shot a Silver Medal Kudu that was 4 cm shy of gold it was a 53" with 10 1/2 base, a Gold Medal Gemsbuck cow 36" with 7 3/4 " bases, a Silver Medal Gemsbuck Ram 33" with 8" bases. A bronze Medal Eland, A Gold Medal Blue and Black Wildebeest,Hartebeest,and Blesbuck, A very old Bronze medal Spring buck. and two nice Zebra. Hunting prep was to lose 35 lbs my goal was two hunderd lbs but weighed in at 205. Weight traing and 10 mile walks carrying a 12 lb bar with rifle sling got me and my boots in shape.4 hr stalks with a 10.5 lb rifle was a piece of cake. I fired at least 300 rounds of 375 H&H and 416 Rem to learn the big guns. !!!
WHAT I LEARNED.>>> Uncle Mike rubber slings are worth there weight in gold, Get the strongest ranger finder you can, if it won't range a deer size animal pass 300 its of little use no matter how light it is. Make sure you Ph knows how to use it. 350 gr .416 TSX shot flatter than 270 gr .375 TSX pass 250. Next time I will stay with 300 grs .375.THINGS NOT TO DO>>>> Do not encourage your wife to shoot her first trophy. A: it will cut down on your bag, B: She will use your PH'S 40 year old Bruno the 06, and all her trophy will drop to the shot with out a step. ( You will hear about this over and over because your Animals shot through the heart with the ele gun all run off before dying.) With out this forun and its fine members I don't know if I would have under taken this my first Safari.I there for hold you all at fault, some one needs to tell my daughter there will be no inheiratance. Thank you all so much!!! I wonder if can I get more if I let the wife and dog go as set.

JD

I've no NEED for any of what you are selling, but if you list your stuff in the classifieds section.....

I know there is no cure for your infection, but the upside it is treatable you must quickly book another trip to offset the disease taking over your life.

African sunsets and trophy animals will surely have a mervelous affect on your malady.

Hahahaha you've got it as bad as i do.

One of my mates is as bad, he has worn through a DVD of the hunt and needs a new copy. I'm just as badly off, i've been tossing up the chance at PH school in sept, another hunt or a new rifle i won't hunt with til 06 easter.....aaarrrrgh choices i cannot afford all ...

#@$**&^%!!!!! frustated and hunt hungry!

tm.

Just my opine here, but I'd keep the wife and the dog.

Africa is at it's best as a shared adventure. My wife doesn't hunt, but she's there in the bush with me and it's great fun.

Congrats on a wonderful hunt. As for the illness, there is no cure, only the balm of Africa can sooth the pain.

Just my two cents worth, but a dog is the one being on earth that will take you as you are and love you all the same. I would replace friends before I would replace or get rid of any of my dogs. Wives are a different matter entirely, but if you have a wife that lets you go to Africa, I might consider her a keeper. If she likes the place and wants to go along, all the better. Sell the boat. If you turn boats upside down, they all look the same. Huh. Doesn't that apply to something else?

Rusty always gives good advice.I guess I have to keep her,with 30 years of wear and tear behind us, I could not get much for her any way. Besides those newer younger sporty replacements are such high maintance. I better
watch my P&Qs one she decide to Shoot her first big game animal she did so post haste!!!

JD

Yes you do have a bad infection!

Yes it will never go away!

Yes it will spread if you don't treat it!

Sell the wife and retriever?

I'm divorced, so don't talk to me about that one!

The retriever? No! don't sell the retriever!

It is a hopeless case that will never really get cured. You can treat the symptoms though but the meds are a little expensive.

Yes, my wife just shot her first animals in Africa last month. I too have created a monster. If I have to listen to how she shot the Wildebeest one more time....

JD:

Glad you guys had a great trip!

If you think you are an addict now ...try Cape Buffalo on your next trip...I am totally addicted and awaiting my next fix in July!

This might be an excellent subject for a new 12-step program. It won't cure you of your addiction but at least you'll be able to live a normal life in between safaris!

Dave

almostacowboy:

I am a candidate for that 12 step program...not a day goes by that I do not think about chasing after those Black Bulls!!!

Jim,
this guy is in the early stages of addiction, wait until he shoots his first Buffalo, then its all over for him, he'll be just like you!!
Sometimes I feel like a drug dealer, I got you, Allen, Ernest and Dale turned plum out, and all of you will certainly OD on Buffalo before its all said and done...I, personally am in my last stages, its all over for me except the sad singing and one more bull of course!

Bad news JD, the fever gets worse the longer that you are away from the source. I caught mine last year and thought that I would be OK because I planned a return trip for 2006. Wrong. I'm going crazy reading the hunt reports this sunmmer. I should have booked for 2005.

That is funny! Welcome to Sick Bay!

You and me both. I just got back from South Africa and I can't wait to go back. Unfortunately, my wife shot an impala and now she wants to go on her own plains game hunt.

What the hell 12 step BS, cured, I'd rather try to shove a wet noodle up a crocs ass in a phone booth than be cured. Keep the dog bid the wife out, go back..............JJ

J D - congratulations on your first trip to Africa! I went hunting with my husband in 2002 and I still have the same "infection" that you have. Good on you for taking your wife - it's great when you have the same addiction.