Not taking more pictures and not learning the benefits of shooting pictures in RAW format.

Thanks for all! A lot of information which I never heard.

This may sound contradictory to what I've said before but one of the worst things that a safari novice can say to his PH is "I don't really care about the trophies I just want to hunt". This is a cue to a slightly unscrupulous PH that the client is a rube and he can tell him to shoot anything.

A client needs to know what makes a good representative of the species in the area they are going to hunt and these good representatives should be the goal.

Mark

Roman

I thought of something else.

Always shake out your clothing and boots before putting on, check your bed and any sofa you sit on, under pillows etc. and if you have to visit the bathroom at night and it is outside your tent....don't...

I got bit by a poisonous spider that had crawled into my glove- it hurt! and I had to visit a clinic

I have found spiders in the bed, on the pillow, snakes under outdoor sofa cushions, a big ass lizard under my gun case and startled something one night walking to the bathroom outside my tent, asked the camp manager, he said from the tracks it was a hyena....took a big pot with me to bed thereafter!

I am taking my first hunt for PG this June and this is all valuable information. Already I'm doing most of what you folks recommend. When the snow melts I will practice my shooting this spring in anticipation of my trip. All these thoughts make real sense.

Your trophies will be important reminders of your safari, but so too will be your photographs. Unfortunately, most hunters end up with a couple of printed photos on a desk or bookshelf and a digital file full of snapshots in their computer that they will rarely open.

Instead, create a 'photo book' that captures your safari from start to finish. If you have a Macintosh it's really easy: You simply load all of your digital photos into iPhoto and then create an iBook. You then simply size your photos the way you want, add captions, and then with a push of a button - the file is sent off to Apple and a week or so later you get your a book complete with custom dust cover. PCs also have software and vendors that perform the same services.

There is no souvenir from our safaris that is more satisfying - or that is appreciated as often - as our photo books. The trick is to discipline yourself to take photos that help to tell the complete story of your trip, from the time you leave for the airport until you arrive back home. Trust me, nothing is better at recalling the many details and special events! And they make a great gift to your PH.

Oh, and as others have said over and over:

Accurate guns don't make accurate shooters.

Practice, practice, practice. It's for that reason that I recently obtained Bwana Moja's full-size cape buffalo shooting target. Trust me, this thing is impressive and a whole lot more than just a paper target! More on that later ...

Read my article "Seven Ways to Ruin an Otherwise Perfectly Good Safari", it's on my website.

Thanks.