While preparing for our Chicago Chapter Fundraiser on March 3rd, I found an April 1969 issue of Saga Magazine in an old box. The issue contained a story by one of the Chicago Chapter founding members Sam Pancotto "I bagged the Big 5 in seven days". Sam hunted in East Africa with Stan Lawrence-Brown and took a 136 pound per tusk elephant, 43 inch buffalo, big maned lion, 7 foot 4 inch leopard, and a black rhino in seven days of hunting.

After reading this story, I was wondering how many people go to Africa to take the Big 5 or Big 6 (Hippo) in one trip or do most hunters in today's Africa make multiple trips?

If anyone is interested in reading Sam's story,send me a P.M. and I will fax the story to you.

PM sent. Thanks.

I can't think of many more things that I don't want to do in life. Taking all of the big five in 7 days just short changes you on the African experience. The most important part of a safari for me is being in Africa as many days as I can afford and workng hard to get the trophies I want. It seems like I can remember few of the animals I have killed easily but the best memories are those that I had to work hard for. The longer and harder the hunt is, the more the satisfaction.

465H&H

Sam Pancotto was not short-changed.

I don't know how many total days he spent on safari in Africa, but I would wager it was several months, if not a year or more.

I have killed four out of the six on one safari. It was unbelievable fun.

quote:

Originally posted by mrlexma:
Sam Pancotto was not short-changed.

I don't know how many total days he spent on safari in Africa, but I would wager it was several months, if not a year or more.

I have killed four out the six on one safari. It was unbelievable fun.

To each his own! I just gave my opinion with no attempt to force it on or even sell it to others.

465H&H

37 Safaris

Hey, 465, no problem!

I was merely pointing out that Sam Pancotto was not a flash in the pan nor a man to rush through things. He took more than his share of 100 pound elephants in his day, and spent much time doing it.

But his five in seven days goes to show that hunting luck can come in spurts, and I would suggest that one should take it when it comes, because it can leave and stay away a long, long time!

In my case, BTW, something less than twenty one days were required. Not all were easy either, although some were.

Bottom line is, I agree with you that rushing through the experience, with only the goal of how many you can kill in mind, is not the way to do it.

I have hunted for four of the big five on two safaris but could not connect on a leopard or lion on either.

No tried for black rhino or hippo.

It wouldn't have dented my experience at all to have bagged a lion, leopard or both on either trip!

JPK

I just read it. Great story and nothing wrong with it to me. Experiencing what the author did myself certainly wouldn't spoil anything for me. I got very lucky on my first plainsgame hunt and it hasn't diminished my desire to return even knowing full well those trophies will be hard to match, much less beat. It's all about the experience for me. Not just winning.

Such a hunt is a true stroke of luck as it sounds like Sam shot some VERY respectable trophies that no one here would have passed up.

I had a sort of lucky hunt in 2005, I shot hippo, leopard and ele (though tuskless) on a seven day hunt. The hippo was the hardest hunted, they were difficult. The ele cow was on the first morning, again, luck to find a herd with a suitable cow that fast.

The next day WE were hunted repeatedly by a tuskless matriarch.

The leopard was taken the following afternoon after setting a bait near where we found his track in the Zambezi River sand. To me that was pure luck, a leopard in one day!

If there were buffalo left on license I could have shot my choice of three big dagga boys that we boxed in a canyon along the Chewore River. Those bulls knew they were busted, you should have seen their faces. I put the scope on them all and dreamed. So I guess I can count them too?

I shot some other game during that short time and a week later took a 63 inch kudu at another property.

I doubt I could repeat that hunt again.

No one can repeat what Sam Pancotto did, the man is a Legend..........

Hi Ann ... nice to see you!

Sam Pancotto is a gentleman. He recently donated all his trophies harvested in hunts over more than 30 years to a university in the Chicago suburbs. When the young turn increasingly anti hunting, these trophies should light a spark of interest in their minds for the outdoors. People like Mr PAncotto should be commended for their service to the outdoor sports.

From Kathi Klimes:

I Bagged the Big 5 in 7 Days by Sam Pancotto

Nickudu,

Thank you for posting the story. I was inundated with requests for the fax. Once again,thank you.

Glad to be of help Kathi. I thank you for your efforts and a prime vintage hunting article.

I hope you can find more!

Many Thanks Nick, and Kathi.

VERY nice of you to find it and share with us. Thanks.