Hopefully, I will go with Cchunter to RSA in 2005 to hunt plains game. I would like some good reading on plains game, so I know something about the critters I am going to hunt. It would not be any fun unless I know something about their habits and behaviour in advance, and I want to read up on them before I select the species I am interested in. I have studied http://www.ultimateungulate.com/, but I want a book to read in my chair, with a pipe and a cup of tea, and to keep on my shelf. What do you recommend?

Regards,
Martin

Just to start with I'd get "The Perfect Shot" and "National Audubon Society Field Guide to African Wildlife".

-Steve

Marterius,

"The Perfect Shot" by Kevin Robertson. This is an excellent book that you will reference many times. He is a veterinarian and PH and provides excellent photos, anatomy overlays, and professional comments on most of the African plains and dangerous game. Technical discussions on hunting, bullets and loads, rifles, etc. as well.

Most major book retailers can get it for you. Safari Press, Rowland Ward, Cabelas, etc. carry it as well.

Enjoy,

RCG

Hunting Africa by Swan, Botes and Smit. Very comprehensive and practical. If you can't find it, you can get it from Safari Taxidermy in Pietersburg RSA, one of the authors owns that shop.<p>

Then for some historical perspective, read Jock of the Bushveld.

Don't know that I've seen or read any books on ONLY plainsgame. That being said, if you don't mind reading about the big 5 and some of the more expensive animals (bongo, derby, mt nyala, etc..) I have read and would recommend any of the following:

1) I've found that both of Peter Flack's books had good sections on plains game. Tales of a Trophy Hunter in Africa probably had more chapters on that type of game, including chapters dedicated to bushbuck, gnu, hartebeest, reedbuck, waterbuck, gemsbok, zebra, dik-dik, "tiny ten", kudu, etc.. Heart of an African Hunter had chapters on kudu, eland, bushbuck, suni, springbok, and gemsbok.

2) Anything by Boddington. African Experience had chapters on sprial horns and "common" game.

3) African Hunter should be read and re-read as it is an information packed book.

All the above should be available thru Safari Press. Then pour an Amarula, light the fire, put your feet up and enjoy!

Martin

If you can�t wait until you get your own copies, you are more than welcome to borrow, I got a lot of them.....

I also got that book from Safari Taxidermy and its great. I can pick it up for you in september Martin.

To buy from www.safaripress.com works great also from Sweden.

Thanks everyone! I have orderd the field-guide that Steve talked about from Amazon - that seems like a gook starting point and then I can have it at hand when reading the moore hunting-related books. I understand that The Perfect Shot is a must...

Christer, thanks, I will gladly browse your shelfs!

My African reading so far has mostly been Hemingway, Bror Blixen and Roosevelt. Not bad for a start but (unfortunately) not up to date in every respect either...

Regards,
Martin

Martin,

I second the recommendation of the "National Audubon Society Field Guide to African Wildlife". It's a good choice. I think you will like it. Also, it's a convenient size to take along on safari. It makes a handy guide to have in camp. It doesn't cover every animal in Africa (some of the most obscure ones are left out; it states this in the book) but it covers most everything you're likely to see. It has a nice section on birds and a section on reptiles too. Just in case you need help in identifying the Puff Adder that slithers into the hide with you!!

-Bob F.

Black Mambas sound like just the thing to keep the Puff Adders in check!!







On our trip to South Africa in 2000, this Puff Adder did crawl into the hide that a friend of mine was sitting in. And SHE didn't like it one bit! The snake was about 1 foot (about 30 cm) from her feet! After telling her to raise her feet VERY slowly, her PH shot its head off with a .22 Mag rifle. She had wondered why her PH had taken a .22 Mag rifle along that day. AFTER the snake incident, he told her it was in case of snakes in the hide!! I took the photo of the snake later that evening in camp. She now has the snake skin displayed alongside her trophies at her home.



-Bob F.

Post deleted by Marterius

Since "Black Mamba" is a brand of contraceptive in Sweden, I actually hope that Christer refers to the snake...



Regards,

Martin

Yes Martin, I am talking about the snake, not protection against the snake

Otherwise, the camp would not have been what I would have expected...

Regards,
Martin

CC,

Wouldn't that be protection FOR the snake..?

-Steve

Steve

That depends on what angle of wiev you got, but of course for us men you are right

1) perfect shot is great, i even have the miniedition that i keep in the land rover.

2) Any good reference book on african wild life will do at first, but i like the field guides with spoor, behavour and dung pictures, that help tracking, and stalking.

cheers, tm.

Martin i think that christer is more skerd of snanks than wat you kan be trust me i have hunted with him a lot

Thanks Russ! I'm glad you got a chuckle from it.

-Bob F.

Bob, I liked it as well, but I got my chuckle from thinking what your lady friend should say to you if she saw it!



Regards,

Martin

Aah the truth is about to come out.

Welcome Jasper.

PS Those snakes sometimes sit in the thatch of the rondavels and drop down at night I hear.

Martin



I was offerd a (Ophiophagus hannah) King Cobra not to long ago and they also had a few nice (Lachesis muta) Bushmasters. Perhaps you and Christer wanted to get some experience before the next trip



Strange that there are no rattle snakes in Sweden? The northern sub speices could handle the climate quite well An extra touch to the hunting at home



Cheers

/ JOHAN