In Africa

08 September 2008, 17:24

Frank Martinez

In Africa

Well I am learning a very valuable lesson. Don't come to Africa until you can control your nerves and shoot comfortably off sticks.
#2 Hunt with a PH that has the patience of the Gods. Mine does thankfully or I would be crawled up crying under the bedsheets by now.
#3 Go and try again.
And still I am having a fabulous time and enjoying the scenery, the weather, the sights and sounds and most of all the company of people that are from a storybook about kindness and gentleness and love of all the things I hold dear to my heart.
Frank

www.accuratereloading.com
Instagram : ganyana2000

We seldom get to choose
But I've seen them go both ways
And I would rather go out in a blaze of glory
Than to slowly rot away!

Frank

"I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money."
- Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953

NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite

08 September 2008, 21:18

thunder stick

quote:
Originally posted by Frank Martinez:
Well I am learning a very valuable lesson. Don't come to Africa until you can control your nerves and shoot comfortably off sticks.

I've heard this many times. I'm going to get a set of bipod shooting sticks to start practicing with, a takedown model that I can take with me.

09 September 2008, 00:18

fredj338

Very wise observations. My first shot off sticks was a total miss high on an exceptional Waterbuck. For this upcoming trip, I have been practicing off homemade sticks & am more comfortable. Still, shooting w/ 2-4 people watching can be a little nerve racking. I have yet to meet a PH that wasn't patient & by some of the stories, if you are only missing once or twice, you are an exceptional shooter.

LIFE IS NOT A SPECTATOR'S SPORT!

09 September 2008, 01:59

oupa

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Saeed:
...Enjoy all that Africa has to offer, including the scew ups, as you will get plenty of these...
QUOTE]

Yes, enjoy EVERYTHING and years from now the "screw ups" will likely be some of the best rememeries and you'll tell over and over and laugh about! It's what makes it real. The part you never see on TV or in some edited video. Enjoy it.

An old man sleeps with his conscience, a young man sleeps with his dreams.

09 September 2008, 02:36

Brice

Don't feel bad. I just returned from my ninth safari. In Zambia I made some perfect shots, but for two days I couldn't hit a barn from the inside. I felt worse than terrible. My PH is now considered a friend, after 7 or 8 hunts together. Imagine how I felt before him, missing puku at 30 and 40 yards?

I did some serious self-analysis to find the reason, did some practice dry firing, and got control of the nerves, doing as I have practiced. I'm sure it happens to better shots than I.

09 September 2008, 03:50

L. David Keith

Frank, I had no doubt you would be well taken care of. My friends are some of the finest people you will ever meet; hunting or otherwise. It's just the heebee jeebee's. They will go away once you stop rushing yourself. Pick a spot, then pick a hair. The rest falls into place. You'll be fine. Enjoy the rest of your safari. I want to see pics!!!
Cheers,
David

Gray Ghost Hunting Safaris
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"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading" - Thomas Jefferson

Every morning the Zebra wakes up knowing it must outrun the fastest Lion if it wants to stay alive. Every morning the Lion wakes up knowing it must outrun the slowest Zebra or it will starve. It makes no difference if you are a Zebra or a Lion; when the Sun comes up in Africa, you must wake up running......

"If you're being chased by a Lion, you don't have to be faster than the Lion, you just have to be faster than the person next to you."

No people in history have ever
survived who thought they could protect their freedom by making themselves
inoffensive to their enemies.

Michael Podwika... DRSS bigbores and hunting www.pvt.co.za " MAKE THE SHOT " 450#2 Famars

Rusty
We Band of Brothers!
DRSS, NRA & SCI Life Member
"I am rejoiced at my fate. Do not be uneasy about me, for I am with my friends."
----- David Crockett in his last letter (to his children), January 9th, 1836
"I will never forsake Texas and her cause. I am her son." ----- Jose Antonio Navarro, from Mexican Prison in 1841
"for I have sworn upon the altar of god eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." Thomas Jefferson
Declaration of Arbroath April 6, 1320-“. . .It is not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.”

10 September 2008, 00:28

Frank Martinez

Thank you all for the super encouragement.
Today was much kinder and I had the fortune to take a black wildebeast on the plains which run forever near East London. What a tough guy.
We are taking photos and I have been allowed to stop and shoot film on occasion.
I will post photos when I return as I am on a borrowed dialup and it cannot handle the load.
Frank

Johann Veldsman

Shona Hunting Adventures

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Mobile: +264 81 128 3105

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Outjo
Namibia
Africa

11 September 2008, 06:00

jetdrvr

quote:
Originally posted by fredj338:
Very wise observations. My first shot off sticks was a total miss high on an exceptional Waterbuck. For this upcoming trip, I have been practicing off homemade sticks & am more comfortable. Still, shooting w/ 2-4 people watching can be a little nerve racking. I have yet to meet a PH that wasn't patient & by some of the stories, if you are only missing once or twice, you are an exceptional shooter.

It's all mental. Forget about who's watching, forget about how the trophy will look, forget about the reception you'll get at camp if you score, forget about what you consider the PH's opinion of you is or will be. Concentrate upon nothing but the shot. The shot is all there is. Nothing else matters. Next year, they'll be guiding someoine else and may have already forgotten about you.

You're there to make the shot. Concentrate on breathing, sight alignment and trigger squeeze. That's all there really is to it. Everything else is superfluous.

12 September 2008, 10:00

Frank Martinez

You are all correct. I am getting better.
Hold the sticks and not the rifle.
A key.

I took a super E. Cape Kudu.
I don't measure but they keep records here and I guess 48 inches is worth note. I also took a very stout Gemsbok yesterday and we are off today for Blue Wildebeast.
I will connect again soon.

If you are looking to book a great hunt in a great location you better hurry. We are tlaking about a couple of back to back 10 day hunts for next year. My wife and son will love it. If you are interested, contact
L.David Keith who posted above.

Frank

-------------------------------

Some Pictures from Namibia

Some Pictures from Zimbabwe

An Elephant Story

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Political correctness is nothing but liberal enforced censorship

Michael Podwika... DRSS bigbores and hunting www.pvt.co.za " MAKE THE SHOT " 450#2 Famars

13 September 2008, 12:11

Frank Martinez

quote:
Originally posted by retreever:
You got it Frank... Way to go!!!

Mike

It has been a fantastic week. A slow start with the missing of the Lynx and my first impala but I did take a super Impala later.
We took a bush duiker and a steenbuck yesterday and capped the week off with a Very, large Warthog. Wait till you see.
I am feeling great and will be back in March or April for a different look at this great hunting.
I am heading out for Zimbabwe and Buffalo, Hippo and maybe something else. This is going to be interesting.
Frank

03 October 2008, 09:51

Frank Martinez

I am finally back and yet it feels like It was only a few days ago that I was enjoying my first African sunrise and pinching myself that I was really there.
I enjoyed a tremendous time an met only the best of people.
I usied to think that those who stated they were too worn out to type a few lines were simply excusing themselves but after 30 hours of flying and driving back home I find myself in the same boat. Here at least is one of the great prizes of my trip. I will post all I can and write up the total adventure including my luck of helping to recover a wounded 60 lb bull.
At the moment, this is how I feel I must look.
Thank you all and I promise more soon.
Frank

Andrew McLaren
Professional Hunter and Hunting Outfitter since 1974.

http://www.mclarensafaris.com The home page to go to for custom planning of ethical and affordable hunting of plains game in South Africa!
Enquire about any South African hunting directly from andrew@mclarensafaris.com

After a few years of participation on forums, I have learned that:

One can cure:

Lack of knowledge – by instruction. Lack of skills – by practice. Lack of experience – by time doing it.

One cannot cure:

Stupidity – nothing helps! Anti hunting sentiments – nothing helps! Put-‘n-Take Outfitters – money rules!

My very long ago ancestors needed and loved to eat meat. Today I still hunt!

03 October 2008, 11:17

jetdrvr

quote:
Originally posted by thunder stick:
quote:
Originally posted by Frank Martinez:
Well I am learning a very valuable lesson. Don't come to Africa until you can control your nerves and shoot comfortably off sticks.

I've heard this many times. I'm going to get a set of bipod shooting sticks to start practicing with, a takedown model that I can take with me.

If you can shoot off a bipod, African tripods are simple. They're simple, anyway. Bipods are nowhere nearly as stable.

Very nice pig, Frank.