I was busy with work and personal things for a few months and rarely visited here. Thankfully I have freed up some time, and am getting excited for my next safari in July-Aug 06.

One thing I've notice while I was gone, is that alot of "characters" have joined up, and started posting here.

I think the big change seems to have started when viewing the videos required you to register on AR. I think a lot of nimrods come for the videos, and then once they are registered, they feel compelled to start posting a bunch of garbage.

I don't know. Just feels different around here lately...FWIW

Happy T-Day

You did not miss much buddy, tell Debbie to not expect you during the weekend and start digging through the posts

Happy T-day to you and the family

I agree. Way too much name calling and useless posts.

quote:

Originally posted by cchunter:
You did not miss much buddy, tell Debbie to not expect you during the weekend and start digging through the posts

Happy T-day to you and the family

Thanks ol buddy!

Actually, I'll skip all the garbage posts and go hunting instead! I'm off to shoot some wild pigs in Parkfield with Kyler Hamann for four days.

Now THAT'S something to be thankful for!

XOXO to the family Christer

Happy hunting Mark and send my regards to Kyler!

I spent some hunting days up north in Sweden and the conditions were great but I did not get a chance on any Moose.



We only had a 50 degrees difference in temperature (celsius) to Mohjave Desert some weeks ago.

Hi, N'gagi,

Actually, as one of the newcomers, I'll just kick in that the stuff that attracted me were things I really was interested in and want to learn about from experienced folks. I was fascinated by double guns, how double-barrel regulation works, some of the details of the alignments, etc. There has been a bunch of stuff about the virtues of varous calibers. Lotts of stuff about .458's. Ray likes .416's, thinks the .458 Lott is much better than the .458 win, but doesn't like to shoot them. Thinks the .416s make up for it in sectional density. Doesn't figure .458 400 gr loads are worth it (moot point: only 400 gr solids are Barnes). Some guys arguing about .45-70s (since a friend of mine has been a long-distance target shooter in BPCR, I have some sympathy, but think both sides of the argument don't really get it on that one). I've learned a little about elephant skulls, that there's a lot of honeycomb-like bone structure that is NOT filled with jelly-like substance, though it is coated with it ... I particularly liked the posts of animal aiming point exercizes (elephants and buffalo).

I have also been trying to get enough info together to plan a trip to Africa -- negotiate with my wife, etc. The stuff in Uncle Bob Mugabe land is quite disconcerting -- I'd love to meet Ganyana, don't know if I'll get the chance. I've looked at some of the cheaper countries (Namibia) -- looks like they might be cheap for a reason. Figger if I spend a lot of money, I want to have some fun -- so this gives me a chance to figure out what "fun" might mean. I don't think I want a package, but would like to go for buffalo. So far, the hardest thing to negotiate is my wife (trying to convince her Africa isn't too much different medicinally than her home country hasn't worked -- she's from China, home of SARs and several nasty strains of bird flu). I've been watching politics most, lately. AR is still worth it on that scale.

Weather permitting -- and meetings permitting (I have as much control over either), I also have been out hunting. Its like a soap opera -- doesn't feel like anything's moving very fast, but in a couple of days, there's a whole new set of posts with all sorts of strange personality stuff going on... Who's Carmella, anyway?

On the serious side, there was a hunt that went a little sour (no fatalities, just bad feelings). Ray was involved in arranging the hunt. Ray isn't hanging around -- hope that's temporary. I won't go into any details -- have quite literally decided not to form opinions, and keep my nose clean as possible. There's a lot of high feelings going around on this issue, though. You'll find the threads.

Dan

quote:

Who's Carmella, anyway?

Carmello is a mystery …… covered by an enigma…………… wrapped in a riddle and buried in a tub of chicken sh!t.

Too many pissing contests lately. I'm thankful that I have successfully kept out of all of them..

Dan just about summed it up!

The good news is that one has to like these new graemlins

Hey Dan,

quote:

. I've looked at some of the cheaper countries (Namibia) -- looks like they might be cheap for a reason. Figger if I spend a lot of money

Not sure I agree with you. Hunting buff in Tanzania was an adventure I will never forget. Two years later I went to SA and while the hunting and country was totally different, it to was another trip I will never forget.

The Tanzania trip was big $$$, while SA was very economical.

Point is, I think you will enjoy any trip to Africa as long as you keep site of reality, enjoy each hunt as it is happening, and take time to really know the people and the Country.

Look! They even piss on each other! ...and here I was thinking it is bad enough to be in a pissing contest...

Thanks, Jim.

The scuttlebut I'd heard about Namibia was that the cheaper deals on the web may be associated with concessions that were depleted. Then again, the deals were startlingly cheap in comparison to other places. I'd read there was some buffalo hunting in the Caprivi strip -- which was the only place I could find buffalo and elephant hunting being offered in Namibia. (I understand it is tropical and swampy [in summer] riparian and riverine in character.) Apart from that, I've been looking things over, and making sure I *do* try to understand what reasonable expectations should be -- I don't want any dissatisfaction to come from my own misconceptions or impossible expectations. One thing I'd like is a chance to understand the animal I'm hunting. That can take a while to really do, but at least I can get a good start in a few weeks time.

Dan

I think new faces are good. It keeps the site from getting stale. Welcome.

quote:

Originally posted by RBHunt:
I think new faces are good. It keeps the site from getting stale. Welcome.

I agree, as long as it's guys like Dan and others who either have something to contribute, or want to learn. Not just stir up crap. Oh well, it does keep things interesting I guess.

I do miss cranky old Ray and the Judge.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by DanEP:
Thanks, Jim.

The scuttlebut I'd heard about Namibia was that the cheaper deals on the web may be associated with concessions that were depleted.


DanEP, if you've not already seen it, checkout Robert Johnson's recent report on his hunt there. Hunting Reports - Africa Forum, page 2. He raised the bar with that one.

DB

quote:

Originally posted by N'gagi:

I do miss cranky old Ray and the Judge.

So Ray shafts a guy on a $30K hunt and won't stand behind it, and the Judge sells a guy a double with bulged chambers and won't return phone calls or make it good. I wonder if the guys who were on the receiving end of those deals feel the same way as you do.

quote:

Originally posted by N'gagi:

I do miss cranky old Ray and the Judge.

Any time you miss them just look at this and it will cheer you right up!

Hey, I don't have love for ANYBODY I don't know in person. I've never met either of those guys, but that doesn't mean I haven't enjoyed watching them trade jabs, tell stories, maybe tell a few lies, and generally entertain.

I think there is an awful lot of speculation, assumptions and jealous hatred on these boards lately. Right or wrong, both those guys are in a no-win situation at this point.

If nothing else, I wish they were here to defend themselves.

quote:

Originally posted by duikerman:

The good news is that one has to like these new graemlins

Amen, I like the new "whatever you call thems".

quote:

Originally posted by N'gagi:

quote:

Originally posted by RBHunt:
I think new faces are good. It keeps the site from getting stale. Welcome.

I agree, as long as it's guys like Dan and others who either have something to contribute, or want to learn. Not just stir up crap. Oh well, it does keep things interesting I guess.

I do miss cranky old Ray and the Judge.

We miss Ray like a good case of AIDS.

Thanks Dungbeetle -- I'd already seen the pics Saeed had set up for Robert and his wife. They are awsome!! I see what you mean by raising the bar! At least, I know to keep that family in mind for a place to hunt! The funny thing is, I know for sure I'd read the disappointing stuff later, and it was the bad news that stuck. I suppose I read the poor reports after I had placed Namibia, learned more about it, and had done price shopping. When I'd seen Robert Johnson's report, I didn't know what Namibia was, yet.

Dan

quote:

and the Judge sells a guy a double with bulged chambers and won't return phone calls or make it good

Posted on these forums?

DB

quote:

Originally posted by duikerman:

The good news is that one has to like these new graemlins

Whatever keeps you guys happy and coming back for more abuse.

Don

quote:

Originally posted by DRG:

quote:

Originally posted by duikerman:

The good news is that one has to like these new graemlins

Whatever keeps you guys happy and coming back for more abuse.

Don

Don

I think we need a 'smilie' or 'graemlin' with a back stabbing motion. It would be perfect for some of the attempted character assasinations that have gone on recently in PMs before all these good gentlemen's backs.

quote:

Originally posted by cchunter:
Happy hunting Mark and send my regards to Kyler!

I spent some hunting days up north in Sweden and the conditions were great but I did not get a chance on any Moose.

Christer's doing a new calender for Ann from the looks of it.

But I am very glad he left the bottom half of the photo off the forum!

My kids will never be the same after seeing him walking around in his underwear...for the third year in a row...just when they quit stuttering and having speech impedements he COMES BACK!

Thank goodness he brought his wife and kids last time...when he came out in his Swedish bathing suit, my kids looked at his kids, and they didn't panic, so mine stayed calm too..

Kind of like when the Alaskan Bush Pilot dives the plane between the pine trees...If he still looks calm, I feel calm.

quote:

Originally posted by Dungbeetle:

quote:

and the Judge sells a guy a double with bulged chambers and won't return phone calls or make it good

Posted on these forums?

DB

Yes. The gun is now at Champlins for quotation on the repair, with an expected turnaround time of 1 year and an initial cost estimate of $3500, unfortunately. If you search, I am sure you will find it. The keywords Westley Richards double, or bulged chamber may help in the search.

DanEP:
Namibia was certainly not shot out last year. My son and I hunted 10 days with van Heerden Safaris and shot 4 animals that went in Rowland & Ward.
Kudu, Hartebeest, Springbok and Duiker. We had exclusive hunting rights on several farms, 100+ square miles.
Never saw another hunter.
Not five star accommodations, but perfectly acceptable. Excellent hunt and affordable.
This was of course a PG hunt not DG.

We also did two hunts in RSA. I'm going back to Namibia. That should tell you something!

Your post:

quote:

Originally posted by cchunter:

My reply:

Namibia will be considerably less than RSA ... or anywhere else for that matter. Don't let low prices scare you in Namibia, research it, ask questions, just like any other hunt you would go on and just realize that Namibian prices are just cheaper.

I did the same thing you guys are now doing. I saw a website with daily rates of $165/day 2x1, trophy fees were cheap too. I thought, these guys must be some kind of jokers.

FOR FUN, I called the references to see what they said about it.

I sent them a deposit not long after and have not regretted it one bit. Many other AR members have hunted there as well.

As with any hunt, just do your homework.

Come on Dan, your girlfriend will get very upset if you post photos of her showing off her twin 40's.

Damn 500, warn me before you do that! My brain gets very confused when I scroll up from your picture and I meet with CChunter!

Where is the "throw up" icon .....

(No offense CChunter)

quote:

Yes. The gun is now at Champlins for quotation on the repair, with an expected turnaround time of 1 year and an initial cost estimate of $3500, unfortunately. If you search, I am sure you will find it. The keywords Westley Richards double, or bulged chamber may help in the search.

Thx, 500Gr.
DB

quote:

Originally posted by NitroX:
Christer's doing a new calender for Ann from the looks of it.

But I am very glad he left the bottom half of the photo off the forum!

Just for you John I tell the truth behind the picture; It was f**king cold and I needed another layer and the cameraman thought it was a good oppertunity for a VIKING image.

Christer, the comparison that 500 did was not really in your favour...



Regards,
Martin

quote:

Originally posted by N'gagi:
My kids will never be the same after seeing him walking around in his underwear...for the third year in a row...just when they quit stuttering and having speech impedements he COMES BACK!

Thank goodness he brought his wife and kids last time...when he came out in his Swedish bathing suit, my kids looked at his kids, and they didn't panic, so mine stayed calm too..

Kind of like when the Alaskan Bush Pilot dives the plane between the pine trees...If he still looks calm, I feel calm.

????? Mark, I did not notice anything about this, but got another flashback as seen in the image below

I must say that I miss Ray -he has a lot of knowledge and experience. I guess if you´re in the safari business something will sooner or later go FUBAR and then things get FUGLY.

Let´s try to get some Christmas spirit going and put all the crap behind us.

As for Namibia: I had a great hunt on the fringe of the Kalahari in October -lots of game, we saw oryx, kudu, warthogs etc about ten miles from the airport in Windhoek!

Do your shopping and you´ll have a great hunt, I can recommend the people I hunted with, Uhlenhorst Hunting. They´re on Napha´s homepage.

quote:

Originally posted by Marterius:


Christer, the comparison that 500 did was not really in your favour...



Regards,
Martin

Actually Martin we had a great day together....