quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:
It seems PG hunting in RSA is the wipping boy here of late.....throw in PH's and it's about coveed

I took my fist ever trip to the Eastern Cape this past June with my wife.

A combination vacation/25th wedding aniverserary/PG hunt.....loved every second of it btw

Only one day after I posted my hunting report I recieved a PM

In short I was congratulated on a successful trip but was informed that if I ever want to "do it right" I need to "leave the lodge"

First and foremost.....I brought my wife on a 2 week vacation so "the lodge" was nice

Second.....I had fun.....even if I "did it right" or not

Let's talk....shall we?

No "proper" RSA English terms or talk required......I'm more than a bit redneck/hillbilly then most here

haha... who cares!

Longs you enjoyed yourself is what matters...and you did!!!
Cheers

See my post about US dollar inflation rate in Zimbabwe and then look at how strong the dollar is in the RSA. It has broke 11 rand per 1 dollar again. RSA has it draw backs, but you can't beat the ease and affordability of going there.

I think I am going to take up Victor Watson's offer of going to the Eastern Cape in 2015. I already know I am going to have a great time.

I've hunted the RSA twice and had a truly wonderful experience and hunts. I'd didn't research the hunts prior to departure, I relied on a friend's referral and his hunting report. My outfitter, Mike Birch, asked me what I wanted to experience on my hunts and he far exceeded my expectations. The quality of the hunting in terms of sport and difficulty was sufficient that I was tested physically every day. Was it 'fenced" hunting? Yes it was, but as Mike said prior to me booking with him "Our animals do not commit suicide." He also mentioned that the areas we hunted were so large the animals spent their lives without ever seeing the fence. And, believe me, when they saw a hunter on foot, it was "Adios!".

I also hunted Zimbabwe once and the concession owner reneged on permits I had already paid to hunt in a "free range" area. My PH, Scott Guthrie, saved the day and diverted me to the Bubeye Conservancy and it was a truly grand experience. Again, I worked my old butt off and had more great experiences.

Now, I don't have the resources to do a 21 day Tanzania full bag hunt, I wish I did, but I don't. And I can't afford a dangerous game hunt in the Caprivi of Namibia, either. But for my financial status, the RSA is just fine.

I do want to hunt SA again, I haven't taken a klipspringer or greysbok, or any of the small duikers yet. I also want to visit with the friends I've make in that country, they are truly wonderful folks and I miss seeing them. I also enjoy learning about the history and process that brings SA where it is today.

Just my .02USD.

That is all well and fine but where is the reference to people bashing PG hunts in RSA?

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
That is all well and fine but where is the reference to people bashing PG hunts in RSA?

Andrew,

The website is littered with people bashing PG hunts and PHs from RSA. You know that. PG in RSA was my introduction to African hunting. Yes, I bought them at an SCI auction (that'll bring more shit). I wouldn't trade that experience for anything. I hunted with my father.

I can't wait for a DG hunt, but I'll have to wait.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Ted,

Your quote - 'It seems PG hunting in RSA is the whipping boy here of late' is a reference to what?

Some examples would be beneficial.

Mate, you are not serious? When has it NOT been the whipping boy on the African Forum?

Any case, I love the support for our industry from the forum, and thanks!

I just came back from an unsuccessful weeklong Bushpig hunt. The missus got one, but I never saw one. We stayed in very very nice accommodations.....we ate oysters for breakfast and hunted hard at night. In woods....no fences....on South Africa's Garden Route.

An old hunter from Europe that killed a Buffalo with me in August said something very true around the campfire(and there was another AR member standing next to him that can testify to this):

"When you are hunting, it does not matter where you hunt, or what the weather is like. It does not matter what you hunt with or what your hunting for. It further more does not matter if you are hungry or thirsty or suffer from any other discomfort. The only thing that is important is that you are hunting, and who you are hunting with!"

I could not have said it better.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
That is all well and fine but where is the reference to people bashing PG hunts in RSA?

Andrew is trying to use the "PG" in his previous statement as his caveat.

quote:

Originally posted by graybird:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
That is all well and fine but where is the reference to people bashing PG hunts in RSA?

Andrew is trying to use the "PG" in his previous statement as his caveat.

Just trying to stick to the thread. When Ted announces the participants of his "PM" then we can all have a pissing match.

I have way more class than that

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:
I have way more class than that

Seemingly all the red necks I have met have been classy blokes. And I apologise for the insinuation my comment was simply a jab at another.

Sorry so late to comment on this interesting thread. I took my son to RSA for a PG hunt for his 12th Birthday and we will both remember those 10 days for the rest of our lives. My wife's idea of "roughing it" is not having a bidet and she enjoyed the trip as much as we did and the very nice RSA wines/food/lodging too.

I will never be able to afford a $100k Tanzania full bag hunt, but enjoy reading about these kinds of classic and hardcore hunts on AR and really thank those of you who share those experiences with us who can only dream.

I get to Joburg several times a year for work (including again in November), but more than anything, I look forward to returning to RSA ( or maybe Namibia), soon for another "family hunting vacation" which, with my limited experiences, would think RSA does better than most places in the world.

Like others have said, who cares what anyone else thinks as long as you, your friends and your family enjoy yourselves and the memories.

very best personal regards & good hunting to all wherever it may be, mark

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:
It seems PG hunting in RSA is the wipping boy here of late.....throw in PH's and it's about coveed

I took my fist ever trip to the Eastern Cape this past June with my wife.

A combination vacation/25th wedding aniverserary/PG hunt.....loved every second of it btw

Only one day after I posted my hunting report I recieved a PM

In short I was congratulated on a successful trip but was informed that if I ever want to "do it right" I need to "leave the lodge"

First and foremost.....I brought my wife on a 2 week vacation so "the lodge" was nice

Second.....I had fun.....even if I "did it right" or not

Let's talk....shall we?

No "proper" RSA English terms or talk required......I'm more than a bit redneck/hillbilly then most here

Ted as you know the lodge hunts are not for everyone, but as you also know, that fact doesn’t make your hunt/vacation any less enjoyable or honorable. No matter where or how you hunt is none of anyone else’s business as long as you break no laws.

Congratulations on your hunt, and 25th anniversary!

We hunted the Eastern Cape of the RSA (Crusader) last month and had an awesome time!
My son & I brought our wives along. They had a great time too and want us all to go back.

What more could I ask for?

Ted:
IF it's still good at 25yrs, I congratulate you both! Mine was done yrs before we reached that point.

Then there's those of us that for several reasons could never make such a hunt anywhere. So we just spend time enjoying reading about all you other guys that were able to take such a trip, whether hunting or not. This is one of the biggest things in my life these days, reading all your stories and enjoying the many pictures. It's also the reason I subscribe to quite a few magazines and have a big collection of books. "I enjoy it all". Do I wish I could go? Damn right I do, but, it'll never happen now.

Glad you both had a great time. There's a mighty good reason these things have the delete buttons.

Wish all of you well,
George

what makes a great trip ?
hunting 20% the experiences around the hunt 80%

Reminds me of the Marx Brothers.

"I once shot an elephant in my pajamas, I don't know how got there!"

Ted, what matters most is the experience you had and will always value. I am thankful that we have choices and options about where we hunt and what we hunt for. Especially today, given the constant and growing threats to stop this pursuit we all share a common passion for.

Sadly, I think there is too much division among those of us that hunt and enjoy the outdoors. More and more this division will be exploited by the antis who see it as a weakness and a way to win.

(My opinion only) The decision about what is, "The Right Way" rests soley with the individual participating in the activity. Each hunt is different, to paint all hunting in RSA, Texas, the Yukon or anywhere with the same brush fails to account for the diversity of what really is out there for all of us enjoy.

I hunted rsa in 2013, it was wonderful. One property was 5 star and one was i would rate 3 star so to speak. Yes it was high fence. One property was a bit over 40k acres and the other over 400k acres. Bad the awesome experience of coming across a lion bw the makn lodge and our quarters. We stood staring at each other for what seemed an eternity and the. It buggered off. Evidently the lions dont respect fences. It was wonderful and had a very exciting time. I have friends that did the fullbag safari and saw very few animals and personally for what i wanted i booked the right hunt. Who cares what the snobs say.

Just returned from RSA last Friday after 16 days of hunting with my 14year old son. Couldn't have been any better as I see it.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
It is your hunt. If it was legal and you liked, who cares what these other people think. Ignore them.

I have a hard time respecting anyone who would make such comments to you.

I have been on more than my fair share of international hunts. If I went on nothing but warthog hunts for the rest of my life, I would be fine with it. While some may not feel the same, it is none of their f'ing business.

I have friends who view international hunting a lot differently then I do. They want to hunt as many different species in as many different countries as possible. I , on the other hand, have told them that I basically want to hunt buffalo and elephant. I like it. I am happy with it. While we differ, we don't try to change each others views. We certainly don't criticize each other.

Ignore these people.

+1

Its your money - its your hunt.

Unless someone wrote the check for your hunt, flight, gun. Their view on your hunt should be worth as much as the cost of a pm to you - zero.

Mike

WOW, things will never change on AR. Just returned from RSA, Natal and the Eastern Cape. Hadn't been to RSA for a few years and it had been 13 yrs since I had hunted the Cape. Took a friend along this time who had never been to Africa and she enjoyed it immensely. Stayed in 5 star lodge and say 3 or 4 star hunting camp. We spent a couple of days touring the Anglo/Zulu battlefields and then hunted the Cape near Grahamstown. Really only went for one animal Vaal Rhebok, but also hunted Red Hartebeest and Common Lechwe. We then spent a few days in Cape Town touring. It was the least amount of hunting I have ever done in Africa but it was a great experience seeing Africa thru a newbies eyes. This trip was no less fun than the Zambezi Valley, Moz. or Ethiopia just different.