Folks:

Last Friday I was in Athens, GA on a business meeting a with the publisher of a regional magazine (A very nice looking woman, btw, but way too pretty and young to be interested in this old guy.) Anyway, during the day, I asked her if her twin boys, aged 13, liked to hunt. She somewhat went off on me about firearms, etc.

We didn't finish business until late and she was kind enough to invite me to her home for the evening to have dinner with her sons and spend the night instead of driving 5 hours back home.

The boys were delightful and began to quiz me about hunting. I let them read a copy of "I've Been to the Mountaintop!". Without pressing their mom, they told her that they might want to do some hunting sometime.

Saturday night the Atlanta SCI folks had their banquet. I decided to go since I was an hour away and had no plans. Cindy, the mother, asked if she could go. I asked why, and she said just that she was curious and thought she might be able to sell some advertising.

I was shocked when she began to bid on Africa hunts during the auction. I slowed her down some and explained what might be worthwhile. She/we picked out a 2/1 hunt in Limpopo on a 10,000 hectar ranch with 2 impala, 2 warthogs and 2 steinbok (or something???) with the impala mounted included... seven days, etc. She got it for $1500 which I though was fair. Unknown to me, before we ever left Athens, she had checked on airfare and was willing to pay the $4500 or so that will be. The two PH's who run the place were at the show and she had met them when I was checking out the silent auction and bar, btw, so she has some confidence in her choice and my suggestion..

So, mama's love is greater than mama's fears, it seems and Hunter and Hudson are on their way this summer for the adventure of their lives.

I'm writing this so they can take a look at some suggestions that you folks might want to give them. I'll get them aboard AR as members and they might correspond with some of you folks about suggestions, books to read, etc.

There mother hasn't realized that since she's going, she will also be hooked and her $1500 raffle buy will cost her serious money for subsequent fixes.

So, fellows and ladies, how about giving Cindy, Hunter and Hudson a welcome and congradulations to an adventure, bonding-experience and a time with the mother of us all!

What a wonderful mother and what lucky sons!!!!

Get a copy of the Perfect Shot ASAP and study it with the boys.

Sign up and take a firearm/hunter safety course and youth shooting course.

Frequent trips to the range with a 22, then 223 then 308 to work up to the recoil. Buy and air rifle and pellet stop for the backyard.

Find a game ranch close by and shoot some exotics or hogs before going across the pond.

Perry

What a wonderful gift for all of you. You will never regret the time you spend with your kids in Africa. You all have a lot to do in a relatively short period of time, but with Judge G to help guide you along you should be fine. Welcome to our forum!!

This a perfect story, there is a

God in case there are any doubters.

AWESOME!!! There will be more than my 2 boys hunting Africa in the future. Congrats to you, Judge, for facilitating the events that led to her decisions.

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer

Judge I missed you at the Sci show, thats too bad because I would really like to talk with you about your great hunts of the past. David Culpepper and I were running a booth for S&S pro safaris . Any way Congrats on getting the Twins and their mom involved in the wonderful world of hunting, Best of Luck

Hey JudgeG,

Amazing! You truly spread the "word" when it comes to Africa and I for one am thankful for that!

Those two young men are fortunate to have a Mother that takes such an interest in their pursuits....they owe her much!

Drop me a PM and let me know where I can send them a copy of the "Perfect Shot", since you have done so much for me I would like to return a favor.

Best,

jjs

Class act!

ALP#4,
Thanks!


WTG Ernest! They will have fun!

JudgeG,

I guess you're not as old as you think...after all.

Rich
DRSS

Rusty once again you speak with wisdom while my stab at tongue in cheek humor failed.
It's gone

A little Peter Capstick can't hurt. In fact if The Judge will contact me with his address I will send Death In the Long Grass and Death in the Dark Continent and he can get them to the boys.

Judge, well done.
Alp, kudos for changing your post.
Young hunters are the future of our sport.
I admire their mom for her decisions.

Judge, you might want to invite all 3 of them to our next hunt at the 4K Ranch. I would be happy not to hunt myself and take one of her sons into the field to shoot a pig. I would even give both of them some shooting lessons at the ranch and furnish them with rifles for the hunt.

The 4K Ranch would be the perfect place for this.

Awesome chain of events JudgeG! Welcome to AR: Cindy Hunter & Hudson. Some excellent advice from our members and I would second taking the Hunters Safety course. A call to the GA G&F should shed light on their schedule for classes, and it would be an excellent idea for Cindy as well. Safety more so than hunting is stressed and we can never be too safe when in the field or anytime we handle or clean guns. From personal experience, 99% of 13 year olds will have a hard time spotting game (as they aren't used to looking for it) and keeping a steady aim when shooting. PWN375 stressed practice with firearms, and some mentioned air rifles. Practice with either would be advantageous along with breathing technique and squeezing the trigger. Shot placement will be a challenge for the boys but with so many of you offering to help, they both should be in good shape by summer. If I can help on checking for discount airfares just let me know. $4,500 for 3 round trip fares is not bad at all, but there may be some specials around or someone may need to sell some tickets. Most likely there may be rifles belonging to the ranch for the boys to use, so that may eliminate the need to buy a new rifle(s) and get temporary gun permits into RSA (I assume the Limpopo region of RSA). If you do take your own gun(s), it is no problem to get preapproved before you leave the US. Your local video store may have hunting video's for rent pertaining to Africa, if not I'll be glad to check and see what I have on the region. Auction bid on an African Safari...$1,500. Airline tickets for three...$4,500. Taking your two sons to Africa at the age of THIRTEEN....PRICELESS! Enjoy your journey, David

Ernest,

What an ambassador!

Is their hunt in 2007 or 2008?

I'd echo what everyone else has said, with the first and foremost step getting the twins enrolled in a hunter safety course. Kevin Robertson's book on shot placement are a must (The Perfect Shot) and "Africa's Most Damgerous" written by Kevin on Cape Buffalo is good for future hunts.

Now you have to take Cindy, Hunter and Hudson shopping for a plains game rifle (don't drop double rifles on them until AFTER their hunt).

I also like Tony's idea to get the clan to one of our DRSS shoots. The thinking at this point is to try to get another shoot/hunt in by the end of March. And if I'm not mistaken, I believe I have a life sized impala and warthog target let over from our last shoot. We can set the targets up in the bush and let them practice on them to their heart's content.

Cindy, you have done a wonderful thing for the young men in your life. Your gesture is the epitome of putting your sons interests before your own. You obviously love them more than words can express. WAY TO GO, MOM!!!!

OUTSTANDING!!! what a mom!!!

What a mom. But more important is that the sons were introduced to the hunting idea.

More children would be hunting if they were mentored.

The worst thing that you can do for kids is to initiate them into hunting with having to eat genitalia and forcing them to eat raw organs.

blood on the face seems to be okay. This was a small study i did when asking children why they would not hunt.

It would be intresting to see if this is also a putoff factor in other countries

Absolutely terrific! It's nice to finally hear some good news in a world that is currently so hostile towards hunting. I wish them the best of luck. I would definitely stress the importance of a hunters saftey course to their mom. She seems like a rational woman with a good head on her shoulders (hard to find now a days). Good luck Hunter and Hudson and Mom!!!

best story of the year - kudos to all

Best news I have heard all year. Good job Judge and congratualtions to the boys and their mom. Your live's are about ot be enriched beyond your wildest imagination. Treasure every moment.

Brian

quote:

Originally posted by PWN375:
What a wonderful mother and what lucky sons!!!!

Get a copy of the Perfect Shot ASAP and study it with the boys.

Sign up and take a firearm/hunter safety course and youth shooting course.

Frequent trips to the range with a 22, then 223 then 308 to work up to the recoil. Buy and air rifle and pellet stop for the backyard.

Find a game ranch close by and shoot some exotics or hogs before going across the pond.

Perry

That sums it up.

Mom should be shooting as well.

Judge,

That has to be one of the finest lessons a parent can learn...
I sure would like to meet those young African hunters and shake their hands and welcome them to AR, and the hunting community...

Regards,

Mike, Dad, Grandfather

Hearing stories like that is wonderful.

Made me glad when I had to take a hunter's safety course in Kansas; (I'd been grandfathered out in Texas). Among the 50 or so students there must have been 6 single mom's taking the course with their kids. Showed me that when its a parent taking a kid hunting, it ain't necessarily dad.

It also made me remember to take another kid along if they don't have a father or mother who can/will do so.

What a great turn of events! I just wanted to say that Cindy must be one heck of a Mom. The twins should count their blessings that they have a parent willing to educate themselves and rise above their fears in order to further their child's interests and enjoyment of life.

I've been here for quite awhile, but I've never been moved enough to post anything until now. Great job, Judge!
Test

Judge G: Congrats on contributing to keeping our sport and heritage alive. You've done a wonderful thing.

I second the notion of a couple of .22s and .308s for these boys - posthaste. I "guided" my nephew to his first deer, and it was one of the most exciting hunting experiences I've ever had. I missed the last couple of years hunting with him - he lives 14 hours away, but I'll making plans for this next year. I'm currently fixing him up a single shot 30-30 for his next birthday.

You gotta love a person/woman that has an open mind. Well done Cindy! And, I think your open mind will change your relationship with the boys forever (for the good of course).

Please keep us posted as you progress through your up coming journey.

Judge- kudos to you too. You didn't jam it down her throat like so many of us tend/want to do.

John

I really don't think John read his post before pushing the send button!

yup jorge

Congratulations ,we must follow your example ,i always offer free hunts for youngs here ,my son made a lot of foriends with this,now Aaron Grabiel a young guide of 21 years from Redding California is living here for 4 months ,hes hunting and fishing all the days totally free.Juan

Jorge:

If John, God bless him, saw the lady, he understand my giggle. She is a pretty thing and a good enough a sport to laugh at the "joke".

I enjoyed seeing you and Dawna in Dallas, btw. Let's go to supper on the JFK?

Likewise, Ernest. As to the JFK, I'll take it up with the management jorge

Did mom read a copy of "I've Been to the Mountaintop!." ?

What a wonderful story, and effort, by JudeG! Lucky twins to have a mom like Cindy!

I endorse all advice given.

I'm sure, or hope, that some will help these lucky kids prepare mentally for dealing with the fact that hunting, in the end, involves actually 'killing' an animal. Ending a life! When I killed my irst springbok at the age of 13, I was some distance from my supervising dad. Still remember the anguish on realizing that I actually killed this beautiful creature. Yes, I was proud of my shot, but torn mentally a bit. Just wasn't prepared for it at all!

As Junior Training Officer for my local branch of the SA Hunters & Game Conservation Assn. I always make a point of ensuring that the youngsters realize that despite the excitement, hunting also involves killing. When this is properly handled the kids seem to all accept hunting much better.

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren

Judge G,
Kudos on your diplomacy and service to this single mother. A gentlemanly act of kindness.

By the way, Uh, would she be interested in a College Professor?

The boys are very fortunate. They will forever have a more complete perspective on life as a result (and an addiction too).

HooRah! for Cindy.

Good Show to JudgeG.

JudgeG, I think these guys deserve an "Old Hand" guide for the trip ... just to make sure things go perfectly. You ought to volunteer.

quote:

Originally posted by JudgeG:
I really don't think John read his post before pushing the send button!

LOL....Now that post of John's was an all time classic!!

Mike

Way to go, Ernest. You are a class act.

I talked to Cindy last night and she is overwhelmed that folks are being so nice. She's not much of a computer person and she asked me to send her a hard copy of the thread and I'll do that from work today (with John's comment deleated .) The boys more than a little excited to see the support for such a wonderful group of folks that really know a lot about safari.

For those of you who have sent books, etc. Way to go! I'll let you know the responses here and I'm sure that thank you letters of thanks will be sent snail ma

Keep up the suggestions. I'll learn from them, too. My daughter may well be Africa bound 2008.

This is one of the most positive treads I have seen for a while Judge.
Good work, and what an adventure Cindy and the twins have in store !

The fact that a single mother take such steps to introduce her sons to the adventure of hunting, and to Africa none the less... I just tip my hat to such a lady