I have not been seeing very many folks writing about going to Zim this year. What's up? Are you going- where - when?

Quite a few of us that post here have already been and returned from Zim this year.

4565H&H

If I had the funds this year, I'd be over there right now!

I called my PH in Zim a few days ago, he's finished 3 Safari's already, has taken a 50 pound plus Elephant, 2 Buffalo, a "Jaws" leopard and lots of plainsgame. He's words were, "Huntings been great!"

We are leaving for Zim in a couple of weeks.

Regards,

Terry

I am going. I will be hunting from Sept 14 til Oct 10. First will be with Roger Whittall Safaris for fifteen days split between Chewore South and the Save Conservancy. Then ten days with Buzz Charlton in Chete.

JPK

I'll be there next month. Not much to talk about until you actually go.

I'm booked for next June with Buzz. I talked to Keith Atcheson a couple of weeks ago. He just got back from Zim and said it was the best he had seen it in the last 5 years.

I will be hunting there for 14 days starting Sept. 1. Just got an e-mail letting me know that I will have a non-trophy elephant on my tag.

Doug

I had a great elephant hunt in Zimbabwe this year.

Click here to read about it:

P.A.C. Elephant

It was a joy from start to finish. I've already booked for next year and hope to have a couple of AR guys with me next time!

I hunted Zim this marcj for 30 days. I am returning this Oct with my wife for 35 days.

August to the Omay.

I'm going next year - only a shortage of funds prevents me from going this year.

For the first time ever there was almost no one from Zimbabwe at the Dortmund Hunting Show. Just a couple of booths. None of the regulars like Rob Style. Very noticable difference.

I heard the same was true at SCI but I wasn't there.

VBR,


Ted Gorsline

Ted,

Thats interesting. I've recently spoken to two taxidermists here who have both said they're getting far less taxidermy from Zim this year..... But of course, that could very well just be that more hunters are sending their taxidermy home to the US or elsewhere this year due to other factors such as exchange rate fluctuations.........

Taking a break from Zim (hunted there the last two years) and headed to Zambia's famed Luangwa Valley this August. Will be hunting in the Zambezi Valley next year for leopard and tuskless with Chifuti.

Not shy...just other opportunities in a land of plenty!

As very few people hunt before June and seeing it is still May, maybe that is the reason for a lack of stories and reports so far this year.

All the decent operators with good concessions are already sold out - for 2007!

Leaving June 9th for the Gokwe North area for ele, buff and leopard.

im booked for sep 2007 in omay

Alright, that answers a few questions for me. I was hoping that people were just quiet and not abandoning Zim totally for other destinations.

quote:

Originally posted by Ted Gorsline:
For the first time ever there was almost no one from Zimbabwe at the Dortmund Hunting Show. Just a couple of booths. None of the regulars like Rob Style. Very noticable difference.

I heard the same was true at SCI but I wasn't there.

VBR,


Ted Gorsline

SCI was crawling with guys from Zim. Maybe because Americans give better tips?

Ross,

As Ganyana said good operators like Barrie Duckworth are sold out through '07. I have clients booked into '07 and I'm personally booked in 2 areas of Zim with Barrie for '07.

Mark

Dear 500 grains. Americans do give better tips. But I also heard a rumour that some outfitters have made a deal with the devil, the people on the State Departments list, and so wanted to avoid having to leave the SCI convention in handcuffs.

VBR,

Ted Gorsline

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
Ted,

Thats interesting. I've recently spoken to two taxidermists here who have both said they're getting far less taxidermy from Zim this year..... But of course, that could very well just be that more hunters are sending their taxidermy home to the US or elsewhere this year due to other factors such as exchange rate fluctuations.........

Steve, you know that could be the PAC ele hunts everyone is going on now in Zim. They turn down all kinds of plains game to shoot another PAC elephant. Since no parts of the PAC ele's can be exported, and the clients shooting less plains game, seems this would empact the taxidermy busines! What ch think?

Terry: Where are you going in Zim and what's on the "menu" for you? Unfortunately, I won't be going back until 08. jorge

Jorge,

Headed back with Swainson's/Chifuti again in Dande North for 12 days. Going after buffalo and sable (let's hope I don't miss the shot on the sable again ). Hopefully we will have time for a bushbuck as well. Also have kudu and zebra on quota, but they will be taken as targets of opportunity, as we will concentrate on bufflo and sable. Will be hunting with Kevin du Boil again and even out of the same camp, Mukanga.

Carol will come home after the safari in Zim and I'm headed on to Moz for 4 weeks. Going to roam around Moz and try to get a feel for the safari business there (maybe a little hunting).

Regards,

Terry

Heading to the Zambezi Valley in August for two weeks. Dont expect to ship trophys home therefore no taxidermy. Its really just may so most hunters up until now are doing pac hunts.

Mac,

I reckon you could well be right.... There seems to be an increasing number of guys going over for PAC/non exportable Elephants. Add on the fact that trophy export seems to be getting more complicated over there etc and it could all mean hunters are increasingly not bothering with taxidermy - As I said, the other factor could be that the weak dollar makes it cheaper for the guys to ship any taxidermy they do want done home to the US.
I don't think it's very likely to be a deciding factor on trophy export, but I guess that fear of trophy confiscation due to the Lacy Act could also be a factor......

- Do we have any American taxidermists out there that could comment?.........

Thanks for the update Terry. We saw quite a few sable when we were there last June. I'll be very interested in your impressions of Mozambique. I believe it holds great potential. Hey, if you stop by Mururu, take a picture for us! Our cottage was the one adjacent to the dining area jorge

Jorge,

I have photos of the second cottage at Mururu. There was an appy staying in the first cottge. He was running supplies to a backpacking safari.

Regards,

Terry

Terry: I think either you or another member posted photos of the camp a while back. Also you related a story of a father & son and a baboon & lioness? Reason being, my wife had a tendency to "wander" around that riverbed until we all chastised her for doing so. Africa bites! jorge

Booked two Zim hunts in 05 for July, 06. One in the Chewore with Buzz and then followed by another 10 days in Dande with Swainsons/Chifuti, again with Buzz. Non are trophy hunts and I am just a about through collecting.
Noticed at the DSC in Jan, almost everyone was booked in 06 and some of 07. Bussiness is good. One outfitter in Australia told me he is booked solid for two years, but still feels he must make a presence at the shows. So there is more big game hunting than ever.

Dak