quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
I hope this gets resolved amicably. I know both parties. I consider both to be good people.

Yes.

I consider both Buzz and Mike as good friends.

I do hope this gets fixed, or taken directly between them off a public forum.

Exactly

Went hunting with cms for tuskless a few years ago in the valley. Rich, blake, and snake were great! Buzz and Myles i will always trust

Some wise counsel here to walk away from this and as a result, this will be my last word on this issue. Thankfully I set off tomorrow on two big safaris with return clients hunting the large Western ele Bulls.

Michael your fundamental complaint is that CMS sold you “a hunt in a poacher’s paradise, in an area where poachers were clearly given a free hand during the pandemic.” Let’s get the facts on the record.

Dande East has a small quota. Additionally, we try not to fully book the available quota. So the number of hunts and hunters that actually hunt the East each season is very limited. I can assure you the few hunts we do in the East do not cover the running costs which we supplement from the North.

We try to sell the following hunts annually (these change slightly due to clients' wants)

2x buff plains game hunts,
2 x ele bull specials
1 x buffalo sable plains game hunt
1 x buffalo tuskless hunt
1 x croc hippo hunt

Then every alternative year we sell an extra 2 hunts below (which were very successful last year)

1 x buffalo Roan Plains game –
Species taken
Buffalo, Roan, Kudu x 2 Impala, hyena, bushbuck sable eland
ZF is returning in 2024 for an ele bull with us

1 x Buffalo leopard hunt- see link under BA
http://www.cmsafaris.com/zimba...ery/gallery2021.html
BA returning next year for his 4th safari with us

With that in mind, so far this season there have been 7 hunts in Dande East including yours. Those hunts have involved 7 hunters including you. On those 7 hunts by 7 hunters the following game has been taken:

3 x Buffalo ( plus one missed)
1 x Tuskless
2 x Elephant Bulls
1 x Sable Plus an additional one that we decided to offer a hunter from the North ( 1 day hunt)
1x croc
1 x hippo
2 x Kudu
3 x hyena
2 x duiker
3 x impala
1 x bushbuck (one allowed a year only)


Out of the 7 hunters we had was a very old gentleman hunting tuskless who did not get one. He however hunted to the end and was in elephant most days but physically though his own admission- was not up to the task. My hat goes off though to this gentleman who hunted as hard as he could to the last day and enjoyed the experience. He is a true hunter.

Other than that all but you were successful in taking their primary game animal sought. Only 1 of the 7 hunters has called it quits during the middle of their hunt for whatever reason.

It seems that it is common today for many hunters to talk about “hunting being hunting” and not “shooting”. Then when the hunter has an unsuccessful trip they want to blame their lack of success on a variety of factors unrelated to themselves, the weather, conditions in the bush, lack of effort by the outfitter, bad equipment, or a host of other factors besides things like “I missed” or “I quit”. Sometimes a little more introspection is called for. Luckily for us we operate on about a 75% return client base. These clients have become friends and an integral part of our and the communities success in the Dande.

We are proud of our efforts in Dande East. Proud of the fact that we took an area largely depleted of game and have through good stewardship brought that area back to a good hunting area. Proud of our partnership with the community in the area and the anti-poaching efforts of DAPU in the East. Proud of the success that our committed and patient hunters have experienced in the area. Anyone interested in the development in the east feel free to email me and I will fill you in.

The numbers above tell the story. On one of the Buff Tuskless Plains game hunts Troy had already shot several plains game species or else he would have and could have shot several other species. I think his summary of the hunt sums up the east well!

Look at TD on this link
http://www.cmsafaris.com/zimba...allery/gallery.htmIf

Anyone is interested in the Video next to the above link look at Gonono school- This was kindly funded by Dave in the video who shot an amazing buff in Dande East this year and as it was his 3 rd safaris with us. His first was with me 20 years ago and he returns next year.

Like I personally said to you Michael I am sorry that your hunt did not go the way you had imagined it would. I wish you better luck in any of your future hunts where ever you may go.

The thread was about non-refundable trophy fee?

I read a quote that went something like this : If you consider an unsuccessful hunt, one where you don' t shoot something, you have missed the point entirely.

quote:

Originally posted by Scott King:
Nobody cares what I think and rightfully so, but I wish this discussion would stop.

The client hunter believes they had a bad experience and the Outfitter believes they did everything they could. Both parties are obviously experienced and well intentioned, it's just a bummer that good times or good hunts aren't guaranteed.

There's no good that's going to come of this discussion. There's no education to be gleaned, no revenge or justice to be had, it's just a roll in the shit for everyone. Walking off seems far healthier.

Wise words. I have hunted with CMS and had a good hunt. I also understand the perspective of the hunter. It would be better to agree to disagree and walk away.

JCHB

Regarding the non-refundable trophy fee deposit. I hunted Nyakasanga a month ago and did pay that fee for a Zebra. I was puzzled when I got there as during the hunting we saw literally hundreds of zebra. I asked Buzz why the deposit and he explained that people were not shooting them after committing to the animals. That did make sense to me.

Now, if it was a non-refundable deposit on game that was super rare then I'd have problems with it and not take the option, but that is not the case. I took my zebra after we were done tracking buffalo on the way back to the camp.

In regards to M.Rs experience. I was at Dande East last year, 2021 right after it opened up after the Covid shutdown. I did see buffalo as mentioned on the other post and I know people that have taken their buffalo last year. If poachers had free rein (and that seems to be an assumption not a fact) it did not impact those hunts.

Also, personally speaking, if I am on a hunt and being unsuccessful and have the option to move to a different area I will move to a different area and continue hunting as I did last year. You might not get your animal but if you quit then definitely you will not get your animal.

I am already booked with CMS for a trophy bull at Kazuma next year. Call me a satisfied customer with multiple CMS hunt experiences.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
The thread was about non-refundable trophy fee?

Sadly, THAT has brought it up.

I was thinking the same thing this morning after reading this thread.

Mike back home for quite a while.

He posted a hunt report.

Nothing unusual about that.

Sometimes I wish companies would think about changing their conditions, and not make what amounts to a knee jerk reaction to someone cheating them.

Of course, they have every right to protect themselves - businesses cannot survive if they did not.

We do it here.

But we are selective who we trust and give credit to, others have to pay in advance.

In the hunting industry, very often they have to deal with an unknown quantity, and a rule change, they think, is going to solve future problems.

If that change is not to many people liking, it won't work.

And can have a much worse effect.

Saeed it has been a tough AR debate that drew a lot of interest and comments from its members. Unlike other hunting sites AR offers the freedom of free speech for good or for worse.

I will end my posts regarding this subject with just a few words, then heed the advice of our host and others, and cease further public comment.

I have come home empty handed on many occasions and for a variety of reasons, including lack of game, decisions on my part to pass on animals and seek better ones, incompetent outfitters and guides, and for lack of a better explanation, just plain bad luck.

Hunt long enough and it will happen to you, so you had better be ready for it. I am generally ready for it on any given hunt.

What bothered me in this case wasn’t that I came home empty handed. What bothered me is that Dande East was held out to me as a buffalo heaven, where it would be no problem to take two buff in 14 days, or even 10 or 12, early in the season, in June.

Of course, I know that one must take that sort of sales talk from a stranger with more than a few grains of salt.

But I have, in fact, hunted buff in excellent hunting grounds very successfully over the years, and so my hopes were elevated.

I learned, however, from firsthand experience, that Dande East, as things now stand, is not such a place.

I learned that poaching is undeniably rampant, either in the concession itself, in neighboring Mozambique, or both. Read my hunt report for the details. This information had been omitted from the sales talk.

I also learned that, because of conditions on the ground, June is a terrible time to hunt there. The vegetation is far too thick and green. This, too, had not been mentioned in the sales talk. In fact, June was touted as a great time to hunt there.

To sum things up, I am unhappy that I had to learn these things the hard way, and only when it was too late to do anything about them. I have come to expect better and more forthright treatment from my outfitters.

That’s really all there is to it.

I stand by my hunt report and have no regrets about the decision I made to cut my losses and head for the Falls after nine days of fruitless tracking. I am no more a glutton for punishment than most African big game hunters, and so called it quits.

I of course paid my bills and left well-earned tips just as I would have done on a full-term and successful hunt.

I will close by saying that I sincerely wish CMS and any other hunters who may hunt Dande East the very best of luck.

God willing, I will be hunting elsewhere.

Peace.

Sad thing to hear about. On one hand, a very well known and reputable PH, and on the other, a known and respected client hunter.

It seems as though some issues were lost in the transition and sadly it doesn’t look as though the issue will be resolved since there is allot of bad blood and anger between the two

The thing I find most saddening about this situation is that there was ample opportunity whilst face to face to deal with this as gentlemen.
There were evidently days left to have sat down and made a plan

Worst of all there were days left to keep hunting
The hunt isn’t over until the last second of the last minute before you Miss your flight!

There are enough hunting reports here about Dande East for even someone like me to know:

1. It is not impossible to hunt buffalo there as plenty have done it before, on this forum alone, however i would never think it would be easy

2. It is one of the more challenging concessions on the valley which in itself is one of the more challenging areas in the country, not saying its bad at all just challenging.

3. It is flat and super thick, there are plenty of reports with plenty of pictures for someone to get an idea with little research on this forum

4. It is a recovering area, poaching is a problem but a lot of care and effort has been put by CMS to make it a good hunting area and the proof is good trophies have been taken there. However if people don't want to deal with those challenges simply don't hunt there.

5. Dande north is super different in terrain and vegetation and buffalo habits, given the choice i would hunt the north or nyakazanga, if the change of area was offered it was gonna be probably be light day and night in difference, simply because it is not seems as difficult as the east, again not saying the east is a bad area.

6. If I wanted to have a more competent chance specially at several buffalo i would not hunt when it is all thick and green, visibility seems to be pretty damn important when hunting buffalo.

7. If I wanted to be on buffalo and see buffalo, and check out different heads of buffalo a day I would probably hunt another part of the country like say the save, although the valley seems to be king in the experience of the hunt.

Again all this info seem pretty obvious by just reading enough reports on the cms areas on this forum of which they seem to be plenty and most of them positive.

The 50% of the plains game fees on those specific animals seem quite reasonable considering the low quota they have

quote:

Sad thing to hear about. On one hand, a very well known and reputable PH, and on the other, a known and respected client hunter.

Exactly. Let the two of them work it out amicably, if at all possible. I know and respect both of these gentlemen.

quote:

Originally posted by ManuelM:
The 50% of the plains game fees on those specific animals seem quite reasonable considering the low quota they have

An outfitter asking this is not going to get me hunting with them.

One guy seems to be the only complainer.I could tell when he quit.Mike you fall under the category of just remain silent.Just by writing your report told everyone what you are.Just stop and slink away!!

This whole thread has made me think. From the outfitter's side, it never occurred to me that someone would reserve a quota animal and then show up and say they didn't want to hunt them. That is just dishonest in my opinion. Now I understand the outfitter's position.

I have done the last safari of the season routine as Saeed suggested and mopped up all remaining quota a couple of times. A lot of fun. Kind of a grab bag, but hope to do that again.

But we've all hunted with days and days of doldrums. Nothing. That doesn't mean it won't turn on tomorrow. Also, I've hunted in poached areas. I hunted once with a joint army and game department anti-poaching task force of about 50 soldiers in camp. Had a great hunt, but came down to the last day. Shot an elephant last light on the last day.

If you leave early, I'm not sure you are in a position to complain. Just my two cents. It doesn't always go according to plan. Frankly, it seldom does.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by ManuelM:
The 50% of the plains game fees on those specific animals seem quite reasonable considering the low quota they have

An outfitter asking this is not going to get me hunting with them.

Just saying that despite being uncommon, and perfectly respectable for a client not wanting to do it, after a honest explenation of the reasoning behind that and the negatives experiences with clients that basically left the quota hanging, I understand where it is coming from and does not seem that unreasonable, specially since Nyakazanga seems to work differently to the other areas CMS and Buzz manage.

I hunted Dande East last year with Buzz. It was early season, and the vegetation definitely added to the challenge. All I can say is this.. We were in hundreds of buffalo over the course of my safari. I killed two great bulls as a result of hard hunting. I can honestly say DANDE EAST IS ABSOLUTELY A BUFFALO HAVEN.
Additionally Buzz and the entire CMS team go above and beyond to accommodate all manner of clients Including those without the fortitude to stick it out till the hunt is over. It’s pretty easy for people to talk sh_t behind a keyboard and pretty difficult to babysit that same keyboard warrior in the bush. All safari operators are better off without clients like this!
Looking forward to our hunt next year Buzz!

I thought I would chime in here as I hunted Dande East in late May/early June this year for buffalo over ten days with my wife. My wife, although a country girl is a “girly” girl who is not a hunter but loves to come along and take in a view of Africa that can not be seen any other way. My PH was Dean Kendal.
Dean was brilliant and his crew were second to none. Teddy, the lead tracker, was unbelievable. I thought at the time, if this bloke was after you in the bush there would be no escape. He would be able to follow you anywhere.
We tracked and caught up with buffalo every day. We passed up buffalo on days one two and three until I shot a great old bull on day four. I also shot a great kudu, a funny looking impala and a hyena after an exciting hunt from a blind.
I normally hunt Southern Africa later in the season. It was a conscious decision to hunt earlier and see the bush with a little green still around. The Jess was incredibly thick. The shoulder high terminalia was in places like a solid wall.
The mopane forests were spectacular and beautiful. After a wonderful wet season the country was flourishing. After a few long hard days in some pretty thick stuff, the moment when Teddy waved his hand to indicate the bulls were ahead and the bull stepped into an opening, a quick yes from Dean and I took the shot is what it is all about. I wont ever forget that moment and the planning and work that went into it.
Dande East is wonderful. The camp is perfect. The staff went to so much trouble for my wife’s birthday, singing and dancing around the table. Happy birthday never sounded so good.
A fantastic place run by wonderful people for all the right reasons. If you ever get a chance to experience this place, grab it with both hands!
All the best.

quote:

The Nyakasanga was for many years an auction area. Then the quota was given to less than reputable individuals. Lands and camps around that area were taken over by those on the banned list.
The hunting in this area is now in the hands of CMS who are doing what they can to bring it back to what the area should be. This may take time so the quotas are low.
During the Auction years everything was paid upfront. If you did not take an animal there was no refund and extra quota was not available after the auctions closed. Shenanigans did occur but that’s a different subject.
Perhaps CMS is required to pay for the quota upfront in keeping with the history of the area. Perhaps they have been burned by clients reserving quota then deciding last minute not to take quota. Maybe it’s both, either way it seems they have been upfront about their policy and would likely be accommodating to their clients if there were to be a disagreement.
Regardless this is a great area to hunt adding on tiger fishing and some days in Mana Pools would be a great trip. Hunt the species that are readily available and if when you’re there something else becomes available great.

After reading all of these posts I would like to offer these thoughts:

Buzz: Your reputation is well know and besides this thread I have never heard a bad word about you or about ANTHING bad about your business. I would be happy to hunt with you and hope to one day

That said, maybe there was a communication glitch between you and Mike and MAYBE you should have been more pro-active about moving Mike with the bad conditions in mind?
Maybe he was sulking and didn't want to talk about it so maybe you should have been more assertive?? Just speculation here of course

Mike: First of all YOU QUIT.You gave up with many hunting days ahead of you. I can't imagine doing that. In my opinion, you don't have much to complain about because of that
MAYBE you should have been more proactive with Buzz about making a change? Every Zim PH that I ever hunted with are always eager to "Make a Plan" when a problem arises. Did YOU communicate effectively with Buzz?? Did he with you?

I once did an unsuccessful Leopard Hunt in Zim with a well known PH. I spent 14 nights STRAIGHT in a blind and went home with nothing. We both strategized and hunted until the last second. He did everything possible to make it happen. I was delirious getting on the plane from lack of sleep, since I stayed awake in the blind. I don't know how I did it.

That's hunting. You did not put in that level of trying so I would temper your level of dissatisfaction with that point

Not picking on or blaming ANYONE HERE....just my 2 cents

Welcome to all the new members!

quote:

Originally posted by James Woodward:
...
Mike: First of all YOU QUIT.You gave up with many hunting days ahead of you. I can't imagine doing that. In my opinion, you don't have much to complain about because of that
MAYBE you should have been more proactive with Buzz about making a change? Every Zim PH that I ever hunted with are always eager to "Make a Plan" when a problem arises. Did YOU communicate effectively with Buzz?? Did he with you?...

His PH that he mentioned in his hunt report is a friend of mine, considering all his complaints I chatted with him. First Mike did indeed have a shot at a buffalo and MISSED completely on day 6!!!

Next, he just did not want to keep walking 15K a day to keep hunting and pulled the plug. Now, that being the case I would have moved to Dande North which was offered.

I don't think anyone should blame the outfitter after quitting and especially after further accommodations are offered for his unwillingness to walk further.

Every hunt report that mentions Dande (both North and East) talks about the 10+ mile hikes each day either in the jess or hills or combined and mentions that one hunts with their feet in those areas, so one should not complain about the effort required.

But Mike is right about one thing, CMS hunting areas are not for him as they take an effort on the part of the client for a successful hunt, and they are not for the faint of the hunt. Maybe at this stage of his life South Africa and/or Namibia game ranches are a better fit for him.

I agree with you, and I feel bad for mike that his hunt wasn’t what he thought that I should be

Michael- I’m sorry that your hunt wasn’t what you’d hoped. That said, I had a fantastic 14-day hunt with CMS in Dande North this august. Yes, the hunting was tough but we stuck with it, hunted hard and got it done.

More importantly, Buzz, Myles and Alan all proved to me that they are stand-up individuals and I believe that they run a highly-ethical operation. Their efforts to maintain the long-term sustainability of their concessions through limited quotas and aggressive anti-poaching efforts shows that they put doing the right thing before making a quick buck.

I would not hesitate to recommend them to a friend and I most certainly will hunt with them again.

quote:

Originally posted by James Woodward:
After reading all of these posts I would like to offer these thoughts:

Buzz: Your reputation is well know and besides this thread I have never heard a bad word about you or about ANTHING bad about your business. I would be happy to hunt with you and hope to one day

That said, maybe there was a communication glitch between you and Mike and MAYBE you should have been more pro-active about moving Mike with the bad conditions in mind?
Maybe he was sulking and didn't want to talk about it so maybe you should have been more assertive?? Just speculation here of course

Mike: First of all YOU QUIT.You gave up with many hunting days ahead of you. I can't imagine doing that. In my opinion, you don't have much to complain about because of that
MAYBE you should have been more proactive with Buzz about making a change? Every Zim PH that I ever hunted with are always eager to "Make a Plan" when a problem arises. Did YOU communicate effectively with Buzz?? Did he with you?

I once did an unsuccessful Leopard Hunt in Zim with a well known PH. I spent 14 nights STRAIGHT in a blind and went home with nothing. We both strategized and hunted until the last second. He did everything possible to make it happen. I was delirious getting on the plane from lack of sleep, since I stayed awake in the blind. I don't know how I did it.

That's hunting. You did not put in that level of trying so I would temper your level of dissatisfaction with that point

Not picking on or blaming ANYONE HERE....just my 2 cents

James -

First, welcome to the forum. New membership is great. You seem experienced and that makes your membership here even more appreciated.

That said, I find Social Media and hunting don't go well together. I believe, it has single-handedly caused us most of the difficulty in buying a hunt, going on a hunt, traveling with firearms and getting trophies home.

As Social Media applies to this situation between two valued members, IN MY OPINION;

Mike took a gamble on using some of his forum credibility chips to make himself not look like his hunt failure was his fault. Problem is, Buzz has been around on here for quite some time and has a sterling reputation of his own.

I wish it would never have happened, but it did.

I would hope the two of them could come to some agreement, even if it is a simple - Agree to disagree, but move past this as friends.

I wrote an article years ago called "The Client". In it, I spoke of this exact situation. My advise then and still today is to discuss at dinner or breakfasting in a calm tone ANY level of dissatisfaction or disagreement on hunting time, place or tactics.

This will keep the PH in complete awareness of any potential or brewing shit-storms coming over the horizon.

I've had some very uncomfortable discussions that led to a few hours of silence in the Cruiser. Better that than a goat-rope like this. It's our hunt, we need to speak up.

I'm certain any and all PH's would rather explain the why's, where's and how's than a client demanding a charter or a ride to the airport. You're a team...communication!!!

Thank you Steve and although I just registered here, I have been a “lurker” for years so I feel as though I know you all here

I totally agree with you regarding social media…I am not on any of them.

I DID read your story in SCI Magazine? and I remember it being very sensible and contained great and sound advice. Just like most everything else in life, communication is the answer to 99% of life’s problems and it seems as though that is what went sideways here. I am not taking sides because I don’t know Mike or buzz but from what I have read about Buzz, I can’t see him taking a client for a ride

I have been to Africa only 8 times, and in every single hunt, my PH bent over backwards to make me happy. Other than providing me with a pretty massage lady at my beacon call, I couldn’t have asked for more from any of them

Maybe I have been lucky but these fellas seem to be an incredible bunch

I will post once again on this subject, but I will not attempt to set right any of the many misinterpretations of what I have done and said regarding this hunt that continue to crop up here. That would be a waste of time.

Nor will I respond to any of the critics and surrogates, many of whom are brand new to the forum and all of whom have been very busy since my last post. That would be a bigger waste of time.

I will continue to let my hunt report and my previous posts speak for themselves.

I am posting again only to thank those who are adding to the quantum of public knowledge about Dande East, Dande North and Nyakasanga. I have read your new posts, and the new ones on my hunt report thread, with great interest.

I wish I had known all of this about the CMS concessions, and their relative strengths and weaknesses, before I booked this last hunt.

More information is a good thing. Please keep it coming.

About 10 years ago I did a 10 day buff hunt on the Ume River where it meets Lake Kariba in October- suicide month. The Tiger Bay jesse is so thick that at times we were reduced to crawling. Elephants were everywhere in the jesse, adding to the risk. It was so hot I had the staff move my bed out on the veranda of my bungalow. Hippos walked by my bed every night Shot my buff on the afternoon of day 9. If you quit, it’s on you….

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
About 10 years ago I did a 10 day buff hunt on the Ume River where it meets Lake Kariba in October- suicide month. The Tiger Bay jesse is so thick that at times we were reduced to crawling. Elephants were everywhere in the jesse, adding to the risk. It was so hot I had the staff move my bed out on the veranda of my bungalow. Hippos walked by my bed every night Shot my buff on the afternoon of day 9. If you quit, it’s on you….

Jerry -

Come now. After your DIY hunt report, nobody here can handle the shit that you did.

Please give Becky my best.

Steve

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Ahrenberg:

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
About 10 years ago I did a 10 day buff hunt on the Ume River where it meets Lake Kariba in October- suicide month. The Tiger Bay jesse is so thick that at times we were reduced to crawling. Elephants were everywhere in the jesse, adding to the risk. It was so hot I had the staff move my bed out on the veranda of my bungalow. Hippos walked by my bed every night Shot my buff on the afternoon of day 9. If you quit, it’s on you….

Jerry -

Come now. After your DIY hunt report, nobody here can handle the shit that you did.

Please give Becky my best.

Steve

Done!

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
About 10 years ago I did a 10 day buff hunt on the Ume River where it meets Lake Kariba in October- suicide month. The Tiger Bay jesse is so thick that at times we were reduced to crawling. Elephants were everywhere in the jesse, adding to the risk. It was so hot I had the staff move my bed out on the veranda of my bungalow. Hippos walked by my bed every night Shot my buff on the afternoon of day 9. If you quit, it’s on you….

In total agreement with you, Jerry. I believe you’re referring to the Omay, I shared camp with you a couple of days. It was so hot that I went to bed soaked with perspiration and the nights were miserably hot also. A memorable hunt nonetheless…

Dear AR friends

Just back from a fantastic hunt with Buzz in Nyakasanga. I hunted with my two best friends and among us we shot lion, 3 buffalo, hippo, 2 eland, 3 hyaena and some plans game. When we booked Buzz explained that certain species like Eland, bushbuck and some others would need a 50% trophy fee up front. The reason being that CMS would have to pay them even if not shoot. I paid for an eland and a bushbuck. As it turned out we did not have time to hunt for bushbuck. And we did not shoot one. Buzz, without me having to bring it up, told me that it would be deducted from the bill. That means CMS will carry the loss of one bushbuck trophy fee.
I have hunted Africa the last 35 years. My last 5 safaris with CMS. Of alle the outfitters I have met Buzz and CMS is the one I trust the most. I trust Buzz with my money as he trusts me with regard too unpaid trophy fees (as I am writing we own him 50-60T US). During the years I have had my share of hunts where I have not shot the animal that I hunted. Sometimes due to lack of game other times because I did not find a trophy that lived up to what I was looking for. I have been disappointed but the happier when I got the trophy I was looking for on a later hunt. It is an integral part of fair chase hunting that one does not get your hunted animal every time.
I do not think it is fair to call a man untrustworthy on social media because of a failed hunt.


Good Hunting
Carl Frederik

quote:

Originally posted by txsouthpaw:

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
About 10 years ago I did a 10 day buff hunt on the Ume River where it meets Lake Kariba in October- suicide month. The Tiger Bay jesse is so thick that at times we were reduced to crawling. Elephants were everywhere in the jesse, adding to the risk. It was so hot I had the staff move my bed out on the veranda of my bungalow. Hippos walked by my bed every night Shot my buff on the afternoon of day 9. If you quit, it’s on you….

In total agreement with you, Jerry. I believe you’re referring to the Omay, I shared camp with you a couple of days. It was so hot that I went to bed soaked with perspiration and the nights were miserably hot also. A memorable hunt nonetheless…

Yep, that’s the area. I remember keeping a loaded rifle by the bed at night in case the hippos got too frisky.

quote:

Originally posted by Carl Frederik Nagell:
I do not think it is fair to call a man untrustworthy on social media because of a failed hunt.

In one sentence Carl, you have summed up this entire thread.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:

quote:

Originally posted by Carl Frederik Nagell:
I do not think it is fair to call a man untrustworthy on social media because of a failed hunt.

In one sentence Carl, you have summed up this entire thread.

Totally agree. That was the comment that bothered me, as I thought it was over the top. We get that Mr. Robinson was unhappy, but I believe that comment was the one which probably left a bad taste in the mouths of many who read it. CMS and Buzz have an excellent reputation.

I believe that the use of this forum (or any for that matter) to air grievances, such as this one, is not the way to go about things.

I've hunted with CMS once and cannot wait to do so again! I'd trust the CMS team (esp Keith Wall) with my life and those of my family. CMS is a first class operation and beyond the petty crap too often spread on this site.

As for the pre-paid trophy fee - I see no problem with it. If Buzz, Myles, or Keith asked, I'd pay it without another thought. It's worth that (at least) to hunt with good folks who take care of you from the very moment you step off the plane to long after you return home.

Keep up the good work boys and save me a buff/leopard for next year!

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
You won't see me next year, Buzz, or ever again.

This business you are in is based on trust, and you have lost mine.

Others can decide for themselves.

Speaking only for myself, I will say that once you lose my trust, you don't get it back.

Of course, I do applaud your latest business decision on trophy fees, belated, and only after public pressure, as it may be.

Have you ever hunted or plan to hunt Alaska? As a non-resident you have to pay for your tag ahead of time and if you don't succeed on the hunt or buy the tag and don't show up for whatever reason you are not getting the money back.

Just a thought!!

I don’t see why American hunters object to prepayment of the trophy fees. That’s how it works here when you buy a license. Buzz has every right to protect his bottom line.