Mrlexma,
After watching a tur hunt in Dagestan on TV, I would have to say that in those mountains, that would be a dangerous hunt game (not a dangerous game hunt).

I watched Flack's DVD on his forest elephant hunt along with a friends bongo hunt - now that struck me as exciting and dangerous. I would like to do that someday as well as LDE.

I do not want anything to do with mountains or sheep again. Twice is all I need in this life.

Africa is were it is at for me.

quote:

Originally posted by mrlexma:
I have never hunted Africa without dangerous game on license.

Even the one time I went with no intention of hunting DG I ended up killing a problem lion in the north of Namibia.

Now, after a fair bit of experience, including the big four in multiples (except only one leopard) and a boatload of plains game, I am wondering if I should try for the exotics.

Lord Derby eland. Bongo. Mountain Nyala. Sitatunga. I absolutely would love to hunt these animals.

But time is not our friend in life. And time spent on these species would be time taken away from DG.

And there is no spice, in a life of risky adventure, that can compare to hunting DG. Nothing else even comes close, IMHO.

Especially elephant and lion.

I just can't imagine hunting in Africa unless I am after dangerous game.

Asia - who cares?

North America - only grizzly and brown bear.

South America - without jaguar, just the deer - no DG.

Australia - maybe the buff.

It's Africa and DG for me, as long as strength and funds hold out.

Opinions?

I do not have your experience but have lived vicariously through BillC, Adam Clements and others on this board. I agree with you on the assessment and your reasoning appeals to me.

I would think bongo, LDE, sitatunga and possibly mountain nyala (however, it is cold and lots of high hills from I can tell) would be a great challenge.

I take a cue from Boddington and Saeed. They hunt a lot and always seem to come back to buffalo. When I was in Dande North, the hunter after me was a German guy that had come for his 114th buffalo. That is all he hunted or wanted to hunt.

Do what you like and like what you do!!

BTW - you going to any Harvard games this fall?

I think once you hunt the DG it is hard to go back. I could see where the hunt conditions could make for a dangerous hunt i e. mountains cold and what not. I could also see hunting with a special family member would be great as well.
I do think it takes a bit of nerve to follow elephants all day or follow up on wounded DG.

For me another elephant and I would love to hunt another leopard with Alister in Zambia

Bongo, LD would be a dream come true for me if money was no object, but it is...

I like hunting most everything that I've hunted. But elephant hunting has more appeal than almost anything in life. I first went elephant hunting in my early forties, which is lucky, I already had a (young) family, home and had already made a stash of $'s. If I had elephant hunted in my early thirties or before, I would have foregone much to hunt more elephants.

Aside from an Alaska or Canada trip for grizzly or brown bear, I won't be making a major trip or major hunting related financial commitment since that would interfere with elephant hunting.

Time and serious dollars for expensive hunts are both limited, mostly time, which seems to become scarcer as my children, now nine and twelve, grow. That scarce time availble to travel to distant places for a couple of weeks or a month at a time not spent elephant hunting is lost forever. So I'll reserve it for hunts where eles are the focus.

JPK

Bowhunters - Not my cup of tea. Maybe some day, but I have always been and will always be first and foremost a rifleman.

Asia Lovers - I probably sold it short. Mountains and sheep and goats have never appealed to me. I don't even like the taste of most mutton dishes! Now, if only the tiger would make a comeback . . . !!

JPK - Yes, time (and money) are the issues.

I'd hunt everything everywhere if time and funds permitted!

But if you have only a month per year to vacation, as I do, then even if you spend all of it on international hunting, it doesn't go far.

And DG hunting has been the most enjoyable for me.

Kathi - As you say, I just can't see flying halfway around the world and not hunting DG!

dogcat - Probably only THE GAME.

All - Again, many thanks for the input and ideas.

What about forest elephant in Cameroun? That should be a really demanding and exiting hunt.

We all ahve to sort out our priorities in life. All of the hunts you mention have their good points. Also we have to consider what we can afford either in dollars or time. Ninety-nine percent of us don't have enough money to be able to hunt it all. I surely don't and probably never will unless I can talk Saeed into adopting me. But the last thing he would want is another son named Walter!

My last 6 hunts in Africa have been elephant hunts although on two occasions I stopped in SA for some plains game hunting either going or coming. I also have enjoyed deer hunts in Alberta, Mexico and Alaska just for a change.

But my favorite hunt next to elephant hunting is following my little pointing dog into a covert after upland birds. That is shear pleasure.

465H&H

Mrlexma,
At THE GAME, watch #29 on the defense for the Crimson. He is a stopper for sure, but I am bit biased.

quote:

Originally posted by 465H&H:
We all ahve to sort out our priorities in life. All of the hunts you mention have their good points. Also we have to consider what we can afford either in dollars or time. Ninety-nine percent of us don't have enough money to be able to hunt it all. I surely don't and probably never will unless I can talk Saeed into adopting me. But the last thing he would want is another son named Walter!

My last 6 hunts in Africa have been elephant hunts although on two occasions I stopped in SA for some plains game hunting either going or coming. I also have enjoyed deer hunts in Alberta, Mexico and Alaska just for a change.

But my favorite hunt next to elephant hunting is following my little pointing dog into a covert after upland birds. That is shear pleasure.

465H&H

Yes, indeed. I agree. That's why Tanzania is the best. Everything from duiker to elephant (not to mention guinea fowl and sand grouse!) is on the menu.

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:
Mrlexma,
At THE GAME, watch #29 on the defense for the Crimson. He is a stopper for sure, but I am bit biased.

Hah! Biased? As well you should be, dogcat! I will definitely keep an eye out for your big boy on D.

quote:

Originally posted by Caracal:
What about forest elephant in Cameroun? That should be a really demanding and exiting hunt.

I would if I could import the ivory.

The USF&WS is a real problem for Amercians. Too damned much government. But don't get me started . . . .

quote:

Originally posted by mrlexma:

quote:

Originally posted by Caracal:
What about forest elephant in Cameroun? That should be a really demanding and exiting hunt.

I would if I could import the ivory.

The USF&WS is a real problem for Amercians. Too damned much government. But don't get me started . . . .

I would hunt for forest elephants in a heartbeat if the ivory could be imported as well.

(Not that I don't hunt eles who's ivory cannot be imported, or eles that don't have ivory, I do, but paying the price of a trophy bull hunt and then not being able to import the ivory is something I won't do.)

Mozambique is a similar problem, I would hunt there tomorrow if I could import the ivory.

JPK

Mrlexma,


Ever thought about going pig sticking? It can be pretty crazy. Tried it for the first time yesterday. Can see a few pics here: http://www.uplandjournal.com/c...i?act=ST;f=2;t=49566

I hear the weather is nice in the states now, maybe you can get out on the ocean and try a little Marlin fishing, kiwi style, of course.:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUQ0crI5byA
Best,
Alex

Dangerous game is cool, and I generally feel the same way as you MR, but its not everything to me.

Most important to me, is the "adventure" aspect of a hunt.

A two week backpack hunt for northern sheep (or combo with caribou, moose, goat, g-bear, etc) and testing my fitness (and potentially survival skills) is just as appealling to me.

Similarily, getting the right Argali or Marco Polo hunt, on foot and enduring altitude sickness and frigid temperatures is still well up there on my list of life's to-dos.

Hardcore Mt Goat hunting is pretty cool too. To find the real big billies there is often a fair bit of danger involved!

And the bongo hunt...that can have an aspect of danger and adventure that wouldn't require including a forest buffalo add-on for me. Chopping your way through the jungle and bumping forest elephant, and God knows what else would be pretty cool in its own right.

Otherwise, we pretty much agree. In many cases, once you've "been there done that" a few times, the "adventure" can start to wane so the enhanced excitement of DG becomes the main (and maybe only) attraction. I know I would still enjoy an RSA-style PG hunt if I had all kinds of time and resources and it was part of the "mix", but given that both time and resources are very limited, and because there is so much of Africa I have not seen, I would rather focus on dangerous game and new locales.

Cheers
Canuck

Canuck, I didn't mean to give the impression that I don't enjoy all hunting in all of its aspects. Generally - I do.

As you say, in many respects, it's a test of one's mettle, if it's done right.

DG hunting just ups the ante. This is my mantra:

There is no hunting like African hunting; there is no African hunting like dangerous game hunting; and there is no dangerous game hunting like tracking and stalking elephant and lion in heavy cover.

StormsGSP, pig sticking is the sport of kings. Maybe some day . . .

We all have our hot buttons, and that's as it should be. I think the Lord Derby eland is the most spectacular animal in Africa--also one of the greatest hunts. Lots of hard work, but the animal is worth it and most hunts today are successful. There is also quite a lot of other game, including buffalo and some other good antelope (roan, harnessed bushbuck, etc.). In my view these combine to make it a really great safari. Bongo is not as hard physically, but not as fun a hunt, with little other game seen. Mountain nyala is even more specialized, more like a sheep hunt with little other game in the area. But, like somebody said, I keep coming back for buffalo . . .

Buffalo are so plentiful that I think they can be too easily taken for granted. But they shouldn't be. They are a difficult adversary, and great fun to hunt.

I love to hunt buffalo. They are definitely third on my list, behind elephant and lion. Or maybe tied for third, with leopard!