Just three, you know me, I got a hundred (some of which have already been suggested)….but here it goes:

1) Share the experience with those who are important to you, while you still have the opportunity. For me, my hunts with my sons were some of the best times in my life, and I expect that we are not finished yet although finding the time now that they are “grown” is difficult. Our trips to far off destinations made parenting a lot easier, they were exposed to the big picture and got plenty of adventure and thus never felt the need to get into trouble. One is a mechanical engineer at an awesome local company, and the other just got accepted into a great medical school…I wouldn’t change a thing. They were young when I first took them, 11 and 14, but it’s never too late. I only wish that my father would have lived long enough, but then again, I think the farthest we ever traveled together was Jersey!

2) Suck every last ounce of adventure out of the trip that you can. For most of us, from the moment we get off the plane until the time we step back on it, everything is so vastly different than our day to day lives. Enjoy every moment, including the ups and downs. Challenge yourself and your PH to pack your days with new experiences. As was eluded to above, PH’ing may be a passion for some but it is a job for all, strive to connect with those who can not only keep you safe and get you your animals, but proudly show you all that Africa has to offer.

3) Savor the build-up and anticipation. Work up loads, practice at the range, tweak your gear, buy a pith helmet if it makes you happy, read the classics, learn about the animals you plan to hunt, get into better shape, participate on AR, save, work harder/smarter, close the next big deal. Life seems to have more purpose with a trip on the horizon. Use it for motivation to take you places that you would otherwise never reach, and everybody is happy (including your significant other!).

The bottom 100 you ask…

98) Old warthog eats like crap, regardless how you cook it.
99) Not boozing late into the night might keep you from getting killed early in the morning.
100) Don’t slam the friggin truck door.

1) Get off the clock. It's Africa. They don't operate on the same schedule that you did back in the world, so don't sweat it. It will happen when it is meant to happen. Saves a lot of stress.

2) Take what Diana gives you. I know, you are on an elephant, buffalo, cat -- whatever hunt and have absolutely no desire for a non-target species. Don't pass a good opportunity.

3) Document everything. Take pictures of the stickbug you saw while the gari was broken down, the frog in your shower, getting a car unstuck or changing a tire. Take pictures of the trackers -- their faces will fade with time. Take notes about each day -- they will blend together (I carry a little book in my pocket so I can make notes during downtimes -- mid-day, before bed). And use your notes and pictures to document your safari. Don't just leave all the pictures in a pile or file on your computer-- package it, so you won't forget.

Hell, there's nothing left to add.

4. Take notes (you don't have to journal like a psuedo-Ruark or Hemingway) but a little notebook with daily notes will help you to remember and tell more of your story when you get home.

1. Don't hunt elephants or lions. You'll get spoiled and never want to hunt in North America again.

2. Take a .375 Holland and Holland belted rimless nitro express. Nothing more powerful and nothing more flat shooting is needed.

3. Prepare prepare prepare! Work out with a personal trainer. Take 5-mile hikes carrying a 10-pound object slung over your shoulder. Take a guide to southern African birds, a southern sky star chart, bone up on the history of the region, and learn some phrases in Shona (or whatever the local language is).

quote:

Originally posted by billrquimby:

quote:

Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:

quote:

Originally posted by billrquimby:
1. Should have been born to wealthy parents.
2. Should have married an heiress.
3. Needed to win the Powerball lottery.

Bill Quimby

Why not make a lot of money yourself Bill? Interesting choice of three things...

My net worth statement indicates I didn't do too badly in Money-Making 101, and I've done more than my share of hunting on six continents, including seven African countries.

However, in my infinite wisdom, I invested most of my portfolio in real estate (six houses, three commercial acres on a busy Tucson street and 150 acres above a golf course, etc.) in the belief that eventually selling it would allow me to continue a certain standard of living after I was unable to write.

Don't need to tell anyone what has happened these past few years to real estate purchased before 2007, especially in southern Arizona, or to 401-K plans starting at the end of that year.

So far, my real estate investments have brought some monthly rental income, but selling any of them in this market would be insane.

Have I mentioned the property taxes, utilities and insurance we pay on our properties?

Anyone need someone to help with their memoirs?

Bill Quimby

Okay, I hear you. I agree, selling anything now is insane. Rents are going up quite a bit in PHX; hopefully yours are too.

How about writing your own memoirs? Sounds like a good story. Self publish an electronic book. I will buy one.

Some sage advice given here, and not much to add.

As a PH mostly hunting on vast open plains where long shots are the rule, I'll venture saying a few more:

n: Learn the real truth about your own shooting abilities and the lack thereof by plenty of prior simulated hunting shooting, like standing freehand, over sticks and leaning against a "tree", sitting down etc. at a range at short and long ranges.
(n+1): Learn to be ruthlessly honest to your PH about your own faith in your own abilities: Don't be afraid to whisper [a la BRICKBURN #1]: "PH, I'm not sure I can kill that animal from this distance with this rest!" Also don't be afraid to whisper: "PH, we need not approach any closer, I'm quite confident that I can kill it from here."
(n+2): Learn that your "Third from the left" may not be the same animal as the PH's 3rd from the left - he may not be counting the one way out far to the extreme left at all. [A different way for stating JudgeG's #2, and some other's.] Know well what a trophy of what you are hunting looks like.

In good hunting in Africa.

Andrew McLaren

1. For most hunting, you don't need the ludicrously expensive technical underpants.

2. Check the environs of your proposed seat before you sit down in the bush.

3. Don't be react with anything other than polite indifference towards the rancher's attractive daughters.

aside from shooting practice, fitness training, packing correctly, etc, etc...

Here are my top 3:

1) De-program yourself from your daily norms prior to arriving in Africa. In other words, get out of the instant gratification mode - Africa ain't the US - so don't expect it to be. Leave a day or 2 early to unwind and take an extra day coming home to decompress, update journals, write postcards (yes folks still love to get these) etc.

2) Double your Safari budget! 10-15% don't cut it - By the time you get all trophies back home, mounted and delivered - that 10,000 SA PG hunt will cost you over 20K - "All in".

3) Read reports on AR and ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS about whatever is of concern to you prior to your trip!

Do these things and the rest will fall into line!

quote:

Originally posted by safari-lawyer:
. . . and, wear hearing protection.

Agreed, to add to that:

1. Let the safari take shape on it's own, don't fret or worry about getting your primary animal. We shot our elephant on day 14 with 30 minutes of legal hunting time left and I never doubted we'd get the bull. My best safari to date.

2. NEVER get too comfortable when hunting dangerous game. It's easy to do, and can get you hurt or killed. (The grizzly was a reminder of that)

3. Start young - I'm glad I did.

1.) Keep a journal you will be surprised how often you reread it.
2.) Don't be afraid to take a day or afternoon off from hunting to photograph,fish,bird hunt,relax or whatever
3.) remember: efficiency is not an African word.

3. Hunt as many different African countries with as many different outfitters and PHs as you can afford, and don't wait. African countries tend to open and close hunting completely or by species, rather unexpectedly. See Tom's comment above.

I don't know that the above is a lesson learned but I think Mike's point here is an excellent one. Africa offers so many divergent experiences I think a hunter is cheating him or herself by getting stuck on one destination, PH or species.

Mark

4. Stay longer. Do more than hunt! The first trip I took an extra week and toured South Africa, visiting some large preserves, a cheatah breeding program, Kruger National Park, the Cradle of Humanity, the Voortrekkers museum and more. The second trip I spent a week with the Bushman, learned how to snare an ostrich, recognize the plant that the poison caterpillars live on, took tracking lessons, and shot their bows. Hunting was grand, but Africa offers more, too.

Amen Chuck. I have tried to do the very same thing.

quote:

Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:

quote:

Originally posted by billrquimby:

quote:

Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:

quote:

Originally posted by billrquimby:
1. Should have been born to wealthy parents.
2. Should have married an heiress.
3. Needed to win the Powerball lottery.

Bill Quimby

Why not make a lot of money yourself Bill? Interesting choice of three things...

My net worth statement indicates I didn't do too badly in Money-Making 101, and I've done more than my share of hunting on six continents, including seven African countries.

However, in my infinite wisdom, I invested most of my portfolio in real estate (six houses, three commercial acres on a busy Tucson street and 150 acres above a golf course, etc.) in the belief that eventually selling it would allow me to continue a certain standard of living after I was unable to write.

Don't need to tell anyone what has happened these past few years to real estate purchased before 2007, especially in southern Arizona, or to 401-K plans starting at the end of that year.

So far, my real estate investments have brought some monthly rental income, but selling any of them in this market would be insane.

Have I mentioned the property taxes, utilities and insurance we pay on our properties?

Anyone need someone to help with their memoirs?

Bill Quimby

Okay, I hear you. I agree, selling anything now is insane. Rents are going up quite a bit in PHX; hopefully yours are too.

How about writing your own memoirs? Sounds like a good story. Self publish an electronic book. I will buy one.

Safari Press published my memoirs, "Sixty Years A Hunter," two years ago. PM me if you are interested in buying an autographed copy.

Bill Quimby

1. Accept that the first trip will not be your last trip.

2. Shoot animals that are indigenous to the area that you are hunting. They are usually cheaper where they are from and they are a more worthy trophy that way.

3. Don't worry about time while on safari. Let the trip happen as it will.

quote:

Originally posted by billrquimby:

quote:

Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:
Why not make a lot of money yourself Bill? Interesting choice of three things...

My net worth statement indicates I didn't do too badly in Money-Making 101, and I've done more than my share of hunting on six continents, including seven African countries.

However, in my infinite wisdom, I invested most of my portfolio in real estate (six houses, three commercial acres on a busy Tucson street and 150 acres above a golf course, etc.)
Bill Quimby

Open mouth, insert foot...

quote:

Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:
How about writing your own memoirs? Sounds like a good story. Self publish an electronic book. I will buy one.

Repeat....