quote:

We would be better off in North America if wounded animals count on the license!

Absolutely. And it would go a long way toward getting rid of the ultra long range shooting on TV. Craig, I know you know Dave Sturm at Silver Spur; we have both hunted there. He had a "long range" TV show (I think we all know who that is) that has been pressuring him to provide a hunt. I told Dave to host the show, but do it with a contingency: if they wound the animal, they pay the full price of the hunt and the hunt is over.

I have lost 2 big game animals in my life. One whitetail and one elephant. The important part is the upfront understanding.

The airlines lost my clothes and ammo. The PH loaned me a rifle, but I was not confortable with it. However, it was me that shot too fast, and lousy. The PH and trackers gave it their best, but the ele made a beeline for the park. My poor judgement, I paid.

The fates were kind however. Got my clothes and ammo later. Killed a nice ele, with my own rifle.

I have no complaints against anyone, but me. I will go again, as soon as I save the money. Hopefully I will only loose one animal per continent.

If your wound it you own and and you pay for it. I really have no tolerance for "Let's tip the game scout and see if we can shoot another one" I was in a camp in Zambia where the other "hunters" were paying off the scout daily. It was a little sickening. The hunters were slobs and thought money could make up for their total lack of skill. If a safari operator has plenty of quota and offers to let you shoot another of XYZ that's fine. Paying your way out of poor shooting can't make you feel good in the long run. Just take responsibility for your actions.

Mark

... I bring blood,, i pay,,,

I've been hunting to Africa twice, and on each trip while hunting in Namibia, I wounded a gemsbok and ended up losing them both. Blood was found, great efforts were made to track and find them, even dogs used on the first trip. On the second trip in 2008, while tracking the wounded gemsbok bull, we did spot a lone gemsbok standing in some bushes, but weren't 100 % sure it was my hurt bull and so didn't shoot,and in the end it was lost when the blood trail stopped and his tracks got mixed in with other gemsbok. I guess I was pretty lucky, since gemsbok are plentifull in Namibia and it was not huge trophy fee, tho losing those animals was far worse then forking over the cash. Each PH had plenty of quota on these and I was able to get shots at others and successfully take them. Also have to say Ive lost 1 deer while hunting, after wounding it, tho the blood trail was weak to start with and after hours of searching, well it just didn't pan out. Still makes me sick to think of the lsot animals, so I practice as much as I can and hope for the best on each hunt.
Willi

My brother lost 2 warthogs and a blue wildebeest on our trip. Then he put away his bow and grabbed a rifle. No more lost animals. I did feel a little bad (just a little) when he finally took a warthog. That warthog cost him +$1300.

What about a discount on an animal that you drop with one shot. No tracking or backup needed! Maybe 5% or 10%?

Those gemsbok are not what they appear ... like jumbo .. one has to know where to place that bullet ... trial and error is way too expensive ...