In the current issue of Sports Afield, they have an article on the various "slams", such as the "Super Slam" (12 varieties of sheep in the world), the "North American 27" (evething in NA with 4 legs), and "The Big 5" in Africa. The article goes on to discuss the "Spiral-horned Antelope Slam" (Derby eland, common eland, mountain nyala, common nyala, lesser kudu, greater kudu, bongo, bushbuck, and sitatunga). It says that "fewer than 50 big-game hunters worldwide are thought to have a slam of the spiral-horned antelope." My question is, why is that slam so elusive and does anyone here count themselves among this select group?

I don't think it is; they are probably just basing that assumption on the number of SCI Members who have that distinction.

George

George I don't know where they got the animials but it doesn't mesh with any SCI awards. The SCI has nine major catagories for the SH. Giant Eland, 3 other Eland, 2 Bongos, 2 Greater Kudu, 3 Greater Kudu, Nyala, Sitatunga, L Kudu and Bushbuck. In total they have 26 different SH species. The diamond level requires 17 different animals from all 9 animal groups. In the 2004 awards issue there were 72 receipents of the Diamond award in the history of SCI. There are less diamond level awardees for the Pygmy Antelopes. There also other Diamons levels with less entries. The slams all have many more includung the world sheep slam.

Thanks, DOJ. I was guessing that it might have come from the SCI database. Perhaps in keeping with journalistic methods now in use (e.g., CBS, CNN, NY Times (Jayson Blair)et al.), they may have just made those numbers up.



George

Slams are nebulous things. I am sure that the successful multi species hunters far out number the listings kept in anyones book. Collecting every animal from a certain genus is a neat accomplishment. Now if every animal on the list is bonafide trophy quality that usually makes it into the books (but not always)

For example I am quite sure more individuals have bagged all four US species of turkeys than the NWTF has record of.

Right you are. Did you see on Fox news the investigation into the Oil monies for food deversion may show hugh amounts were and are being diverted to terorist groups and one of them may have been AlQueda. Hum. All with the blessing of Sadam - no connection to teror under his regime.