I promise I'll get the hunt report and photos posted soon, but I've got 2+ weeks of work to dig out of first. At any rate, as I posted before, my guns did not arrive in Atlanta, nor at my final destination here in So. Cal.

I got an e-mail from Chifuti PH, Mike Payne that he had gone to the airport in Harare, and located my Tuffpak in lost and found and it has been sent along to me.

Just a quick reminder: DO NOT count on your little luggage tag. Mine was gone, but luckily, I had an aluminum plate engraved with my contact info and pop riveted outside, as well as inside my case. Luckily the one on the outside was intact, as once your gun case has been cut open, kiss anything inside good bye.

Thanks again to Mike Payne. A class act, and a good friend who came to my rescue. To anyone who has left a gun case behind in Africa knows, it's a hopeless feeling. I owe him big time...again!

Also thanks to PH Johnny Hulme for meeting me at the airport on the way in.

One of the things I have noticed about the hunting community in Zimbabwe is they are willing to help each other out when in need. Whether for something like your incident, or something small like a couple of bottles of tonic water all the way to hanging a bait for another client and PH.

That positive spirit of things is quite remarkable considering the difficulties the people face in that country.

Hope your guns reach you soon.

So this contact info riverted to the outside of the case, did you use your home address or the info for the safari companies you are hunting with. What about when you hunt multiple countries on one trip? How is this handle with SA and their SAPS requirements since from Zim anything being sent to someone back in the states will in almost every case require it being routed back thru SA regardless of airlines? Sometimes makes another case for renting guns I suppose tho I would much rather use my own.

And not to make light of this at all, but I guess with the number of hunters that travel one really doesn't here that much of lost guns, at least on this site. Again, doesn't help when it your guns that are lost.

Best of luck in a timely return of your guns.

Ann, I think the positive spirit is because of all the adversity they face on a daily basis. We in this country are too fat and lazy to think of others and their problems. We heal our souls with cash donations by and large. JMO

quote:

Originally posted by bisonhunter1:
So this contact info riverted to the outside of the case, did you use your home address or the info for the safari companies you are hunting with.

I used my business address (same as my tickets and CC billing address), including regular and toll-free numbers, my SCI membership number and my CDL number. I made it very easy for them to pop my name in the computer and figure out who I am, and where to send my weapons. It also makes it easy to identify my case in a pile of others. Doesn't matter where you travel as long as they find their way HOME.

I'm 6'7" and my guns are custom built for my frame. Not only are they valuable, but fit me like a fine shotgun. I would not use a borrowed gun unless it meant not hunting at all.

BTW, Ann, you are still the talk of the camp!

You may still face some obstacles once they land in the US, as I did when mine were left behind due to the SAA strike, but it should all work out.

Looking fwd Mark to your report and picts from CN...and new signature picture!

quote:

BTW, Ann, you are still the talk of the camp!

No offence Ann, but I am a bit saddened to hear that this honor no longer goes to Bill Stewart, whose previous PH-greeting is legendary!

quote:

Originally posted by Bill C:
Looking fwd Mark to your report and picts from CN...and new signature picture!

quote:

BTW, Ann, you are still the talk of the camp!

No offence Ann, but I am a bit saddened to hear that this honor no longer goes to Bill Stewart, whose previous PH-greeting is legendary!

Okay, better? I'm trying to figure out how to make it smaller...in the mean time, we know what Ann is famous for, but I'm afraid I'm not sure of the Bill S story?

OK, well since I am still so famous I am now offering autographs for a 'small fee' so as to further my fame on another hunt.

quote:

Ann, I think the positive spirit is because of all the adversity they face on a daily basis. We in this country are too fat and lazy to think of others and their problems. We heal our souls with cash donations by and large.

Damn. That was well said!
peter.

quote:

once your gun case has been cut open, kiss anything inside good bye.

One would think so anyway. In 2005 my wife's case arrived in Jo berg without locks or the catches they were attached to! Amazingly, everything inside was intact. I can't prove it but I'm pretty sure it happened in Baltimore (Maryland) where the BA staff had an unusual amount of concerns about her .308Win. - military caliber you know. Ugh!!!!

After the catches were cut off they were kind enough to put the locks (and catches) inside the case, as though I could put them back on! What the hell. The important thing is all was well, although I still can't hardly believe it.

Ann: We need to know the rest of the story. . . .

Ann, I'll post the story today I promise...

PRIORITIES FIRST:

Guns arrived last night. Delivered here to the house, no customs hassles...nothing. Thank goodness, they are clean and back in the safe and my other items in the case are intact.

Glad to hear the stuff showed up.

Kyler

What a relief!!