Fantasy Becoming Reality

31 July 2005, 02:25

cable68

When I was about 12, somehow I came into possession of a Weatherby catalog. How I got it, I don't really know. Dad was never a hunter. It was outdated even then, but I was fascinated by all the pictures of the hunters with their trophies. One animal in particular got my attention, it had a gray coat and white stripes on it's flanks, and these marvelous spiraling horns. The caption of the photo said it was a "greater kudu". I fantasized about hunting it someday, but always thought these marvelous animals would be out of reach.

Now roughly 25 yrs later I am 5 days away from takeoff to Namibia. I took my first larium dose yesterday, got my rifle sighted in with the ammo I'm going to use (plent of practice beforehand with different but similar ammo) and have been organizing my gear. As you can guess kudu tops my bag list, but also looking for gemsbok, eland and zebra. The latter is to be made into a rug for my girlfriend's daughter.

What was a childhood dream is now becoming a reality. I have also expanded that original dream: I now have a lifetime goal of the spiral nine. I think that can be accomplished over the next 25 yrs.

31 July 2005, 03:35

retreever

cable68, welcome to the club...You will never be the same...Take your time and do not rush your shots...Take in all of Africa...Ask a thousand questions...Remember hit all your animals straight on the leg 1/3 of the way up..
All your practice will pay off and get the grey ghost...We want photos and stories..

Mike

31 July 2005, 04:17

vapodog

You know what?????...there's a few of us here that can relate to your post.....may you have as much fun as I did...it stays with you forever.

31 July 2005, 04:24

Brad_Rolston

quote:
Originally posted by cable68:
When I was about 12, somehow I came into possession of a Weatherby catalog. How I got it, I don't really know. Dad was never a hunter. It was outdated even then, but I was fascinated by all the pictures of the hunters with their trophies. One animal in particular got my attention, it had a gray coat and white stripes on it's flanks, and these marvelous spiraling horns. The caption of the photo said it was a "greater kudu". I fantasized about hunting it someday, but always thought these marvelous animals would be out of reach.

Now roughly 25 yrs later I am 5 days away from takeoff to Namibia. I took my first larium dose yesterday, got my rifle sighted in with the ammo I'm going to use (plent of practice beforehand with different but similar ammo) and have been organizing my gear. As you can guess kudu tops my bag list, but also looking for gemsbok, eland and zebra. The latter is to be made into a rug for my girlfriend's daughter.

What was a childhood dream is now becoming a reality. I have also expanded that original dream: I now have a lifetime goal of the spiral nine. I think that can be accomplished over the next 25 yrs.

cable 68

A dream , passion , and a long term dream . Read all the fine literature you can find , and dont be too proud to listen to well informed and reasearched advice from the right people . Your first hunt will give you a whole new perspective and you will become even more passionate about your dream than you are now . Bwanamrm & use enough gun are 2 AR members that that started out as clients and beccame close friends , and they share your passion .

All of the very best to you .

Brad .

31 July 2005, 07:30

AnotherAZWriter

A friend gave me a copy of an old Weatherby catalog from the 50s. Very cool...but those trophy rooms of the day were a hoot! No memorabilia, no photos, just heads stuffed into every square inch.

31 July 2005, 15:57

Dulcinea

Poor guy, he doesn't know what he is doing to his self.
You will have a wonderful time, trust us!!!

Dulcinea

31 July 2005, 17:32

Palmer

Cable 68
Take lots of pictures. We look forward to seeing some of them.

31 July 2005, 20:01

Phil

Cable68,

Congratulations!!!! You will have a great time over there. Don't forget to take some time to take in the whole experience - not just the hunting.

Take a buch of photos and if you haven't already planned to do so, make yourself jot down a few notes on paper at the end of each day. You will enjoy the memories later plus you can give all of us on AR a great hunt report.

Phil

31 July 2005, 20:42

NitroX

Good luck and have fun.

31 July 2005, 21:03

MacD37

Take in everything you can, not only the shooting, but the smells, the sunsets, the friendships you will make, and hunting will take care of it's self! You are embarking on a journey that will take a life time to complete!

Good luck and take lots of pictures, not only to show to us, but because you will be sorry if you don't!

01 August 2005, 00:35

AnotherAZWriter

Also, pick up some porcupine quills, a few rocks, buy some stuff at the local roadside markets. Makes the trophy room look that much better.

and one more thing: don't let your PH convince you to shoot stuff smaller than you want. Tell him what you want, then go hunt for it. I like to put a little challenge into my hunting there; simply shooting what you are after is not as satisfying as having goals and then meeting them. That way, even if you shoot something at the end of the hunt smaller than what you wanted, you will still be satisfied. I wanted a huge gemsbok, but never got one. The kudu on my homepage below was a gift - but I still like my gemsbok shoulder and skull mounts every bit as much as if they were 45 inch monsters.

01 August 2005, 01:09

cable68

Thanks all, not just for the encouragement above, but for all of the information I've recieved here ovet the past few months. I'm not really in a position to give advice, but I am extremely thankful for all I've recieved. Too many to thank for the advice, so I'd end up leaving people out. I do want to thank Saeed for putting this site up, and all the moderators for their work with it.

01 August 2005, 23:39

butchloc

watch out for the larium - if you get a reaction get off of it.

02 August 2005, 07:29

goosejoe

cable68, Best of luck, this site is proof that dreams can and do come true. Take 2 pictures of everything, take plenty of disposable cameras that you can shove in a pocket, you won't regret it.Enjoy, enjoy and enjoy!!!Joe

02 August 2005, 07:57

DB Bill

I grew up reading Jack O'Connor and Warren Page but it wasn't until someone gave me a copy of Robert Ruark's book on his first trip to Africa that I got hooked....and I was all of 12 or 13 at the time and I wanted to shoot a leopard more than anything else in the world. A bit more than 4 decades later that dream came true and I can finally say "Me too Harriet Maytag".

02 August 2005, 07:58

gas57

Take you an empty blank journal. Keep it with you, write down all the details from when you leave your house ubtil you get home. Take note of bird calls, sunrise, sunset, the people, the places, anything and everything. When you read it five years from now, it will be worth its weight in gold. Take pictures of everything from start to finish, all day long and correlate the two! It will all be special and preserve the memories for you and your family for years to come. Go and have fun and the show and tell us!!!
Jeff