quote:

Originally posted by Karl S:
For those of you who are concerned with what happened concerning me and Mr. Duffy, please be advised of the following:
First, I do not personally acquire the Botswana transient permits for my clients. I live and work in the Caprivi of Namibia. I employ an individual in Botswana who provides that service using scanned information that the client provides. The service costs me a bit more than $100 for each permit if done individually (to include courier service, etc. It is much more efficient and cost effective if a batch of permits are presented at the same time. That was the case with Mr. Duffy’s permit.
When the date was found to be improper by Mr. Duffy, a correction was promptly sent back to Botswana to remedy the same. Simultaneously, Mr. Duffy was informed that the correction was being made and what information was being changed. Unfortunately, Mr. Duffy did not notify me that both the original permit and the proposed corrections listed Zimbabwe as an en route stop from Australia.
When the second permit (albeit with the Zimbabwe stop listed) was completed, I sent, by cell phone, a copy of that permit. My laptop often will not have service in the bush. Perhaps that is why (the cell phone origin) his computer rejected my sending it to him. In any event, it was sent two days before Mr. Duffy decided to not travel. Still, I never heard from him until the day he was supposed to arrive. Why he never called or did not receive the document sent by cell phone to his email address, I don’t know, but it was returned to me as “pending” (a copy of which I have still on my phone showing that the address, etc. was proper and showing the time that it was sent).
As to all the suggestions that we come to some form of agreement, I have verbally offered to Mr. Duffy to come at a later stage, at which point he became abusive. (My wife was witness to this conversation, and commented afterwards that she was impressed on how calm I stayed, I never slammed down the phone as it was suggested, and I just ended the call with “Good luck on that, Mr. Duffy.”
Now I believe I am a reasonable man, (obviously not a sentiment all of you share, but then again, everyone is entitled to his or her opinion), but if someone becomes abusive, all negotiations are off.
In his first email to me after HE decided not to come, (which, interestingly enough, he was easily able to reach me, Mr. Duffy had this to say: “If you ignore this email, as you have ignored other emails, then I will instigate the above measures.” I’m not sure what emails to which he refers, but I don’t have them???
Then later on, after I told him that I will not be blackmailed, he changed his tune and said: “. As previously stated, these letters have and will go out irrespective of whether you re-imburse me the $4795.”
So far, NOT doing Mr. Duffy’s hunt, has cost me:
1x PH for 7 hunting days and 2 travel days US$ 900
Camp staff for the period US$ 496.20
1x trip to Kasane to pick up a phantom client US$ 315
2x airplane tickets for PH to and from Katima Mulilo US$ 475.50
Total: US$ 2186.70
Now if I ignore the rest, like lost hunting days, spoilt food, the second gun permit that I paid for, (his first one was wrong and I paid for it anyways) and that I still need to pay 15% VAT (or US$ 277.20) on the deposit of only US$ 2125 that Mr. Duffy paid me, his decision not to come, has cost me US$ 2463.90, or $ 338.90 more than what he paid me so far. So, no, I am not interested to compensate him for his decision not to board that plane, particularly since Mr. Duffy wouldn’t even discuss some type of proration or even listen to what I had to say without threatening me with ruination.
While Mr. Duffy claims he had trouble contacting me by telephone and email (and cell phone and internet service in Africa is sometimes difficult), it is most interesting that he could reach me to make threats of ruining my reputation, etc. at his convenience.
So, yes, the permits weren’t perfect. Yes, I held on to multiple applications until all could be done at once. Yes, there was a mistake as to the date (and the Zimbabwe transit) on the original permit. When the “date” mistake was pointed out to me, it was corrected the best I could do from Namibia, using a service that has been 100% successful in the past. I did not ask to correct the “Zimbabwe” mistake because Mr. Duffy, himself, apparently, missed it too. All that said, if Mr. Duffy had asked, he would have been told that we had great “loaner” rifles to use, if he felt uncomfortable about the permits, but that I am 100% comfortable that we’d have no problem when he got to Botswana with his own guns, even with the wrong transit country and definitely without paying bribes.
I’m not perfect by any means. I do have a temper if threatened. I attempted to discuss a reasonable way that both of us could come to terms (and not limited to another hunt, btw), but Mr. Duffy was adamant, wouldn’t listen to what I had to say and threatened reprisals unless he had his way. His “absolute” way. I couldn’t even ask him if his cancelled airline ticket was partially refundable, if the “shots” (which he does not need BTW) would last through another safari season, if he had called my cell number or that of my wife or home or even if he wanted to discuss any alternate solution. It was his way or nothing. And finally, in his second email after my attempt at a civil discussion, he wanted me to pay him thousands of dollars and he still would try to ruin me. Still, I shouldn’t have gotten mad.
As an aside, I am a rifle nut. (Most people on this site that knows me, knows this.) I never received a single bit of correspondence or phone call about alternate “camp” rifles. Here’s what I had available for Mr. Duffy: 3 suitable rifles in camp, an 8x68 with a 2.5-10x42 Swarovski scope on, a 9,3x64 with a 1.25-4x24 Swarovski scope on, and a .375 H&H with a 2-7x33 Leopold scope. (That’s besides the heavier guns I had in camp, as remember, he was after plains game only.)

I think these rifles would be more than adequate and Mr. Duffy would have also so thought if he had just called at the contact points I had given him, and, at the same time, I could have informed him of what was going on with the permits in Botswana and how we’d make a plan if there were any bumps in the road, so to speak. The fellow who was to pick Mr. Duffy up in Botswana deals with permits every trip there to pick up a client. He, and I, know the officials and seem them several times each season. If Mr. Duffy had called me, we’d have done just fine.
Again, I have no idea why Mr. Duffy did not call me ON MY NUMBER, when he began to get anxious. We’d have worked it out. Likewise, after he decided not to come to Africa (and use the fine rifles and scopes I had available for him if he’d asked), when I talked to him about his cancellation, it became all my fault for my not being perfect, clairvoyant and ready to pay him for expenses that might well have been recoverable by him (i.e., alternate use of tickets, the expiry of the inoculations, etc.)
Yes, my reputation is somewhat besmirched by Mr. Duffy’s postings, but I’ll continue to offer damn good safaris at reasonable prices to those who want to come to Namibia and hunt with me. And, if you do, if you have concerns, please call or email me at the numbers and addresses I’ll provide you when we discuss your safari. It will save a lot of angst and we’ll have a great time when you get here.

quote:

Originally posted by fvh40:

quote:

Also, one lesson that I've learned is to use one of the available services that take care of preparing your rifle permits

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Originally posted by hunt99:
Anyone that travels to hunt knows or should know that the airlines are far more likely to foul up your rifles arriving for the hunt than any African permitting mess (as many hunts as African PHs do they encounter this regularly) which is easily cleared up with a couple of $5 bills.

quote:

Originally posted by WoodsyAl:

quote:

Originally posted by hunt99:
Anyone that travels to hunt knows or should know that the airlines are far more likely to foul up your rifles arriving for the hunt than any African permitting mess (as many hunts as African PHs do they encounter this regularly) which is easily cleared up with a couple of $5 bills.

I've traveled to hunt a LOT, just not to Africa, though I am going next May. Because of my experiences with permits in other countries, it would never enter my mind that I could just go without the permits and work it out once I got there. Try that in the UK.

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Originally posted by Todd Williams:

quote:

Originally posted by WoodsyAl:

quote:

Originally posted by hunt99:
Anyone that travels to hunt knows or should know that the airlines are far more likely to foul up your rifles arriving for the hunt than any African permitting mess (as many hunts as African PHs do they encounter this regularly) which is easily cleared up with a couple of $5 bills.

I've traveled to hunt a LOT, just not to Africa, though I am going next May. Because of my experiences with permits in other countries, it would never enter my mind that I could just go without the permits and work it out once I got there. Try that in the UK.

I've made 7 trips to Africa, 2 trips to Russia, and 1 trip to New Zealand to hunt. I have never had a firearm permit in my hands when leaving the US on any of these trips. I did have advance info sent to the outfitter who met us in Petropovlovsk the first time and Moscow the second time on the Russia trips. Even for Russia, I got my permits once arriving. Australia would be a different story however as would some of the other places.

quote:

Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting:
Lessons learned from this thread!

1. Clients must never post a negative report about an African PH, that is just not acceptable and everyone knows that clients that are not cut out for Africa are liars.

2. All persons desiring to go on an African hunt must be mentored for an unspecified length of time by at least 3 "Veteran" African hunters, and must learn to subscribe too and believe in the concept that firearms permits are not all that important and with just a little wheel greasing, everything will turn out perfect.

3. Persons prone to expecting things to be in some form of reasonable order should never attempt to hunt in Africa, everything over there is chaos and should be accepted as such.

4. The AR Kangaroo Court will be the final authority on such discussions, and judgements brought forth by this August body will be based on the application of #1 above.

It is clear to anyone actually following this thread and NOT letting their egos get in the way, that this situation is not going to be solved amicably. Both sides have locked into their position and that is not going to change.

quote:

Originally posted by Karl S:
...I sent, by cell phone, a copy of that permit. .. I don’t know, but it was returned to me as “pending” ....

quote:

Originally posted by David Duffy:
Antlers,

Now I'm sure you are not an elitist, being from the Double Rifle Society and owning a Heym 450/400 3" (and advertising the fact), but if my rifle arrives after 24 hours, we don't go to where originally agreed, but we manage to sort it out and I shoot a cape buffalo - thereby implying that I can deal with the African idiosyncrasies when things don't go to plan and still have a good time, yet I'm still not cut out for Africa, what does being cut out for Africa mean?

It really is time to move on.

quote:

Originally posted by David Duffy:


Gatogordo,

I am well aware that the quotation by Antlers of Todd's comment may have not been referring to my immediate previous post. However, it is very arguable that it was referring to my post, and could easily be read that way. So I was aware there was ambiguity. If Antlers post was not referring to my post, I withdraw my comment and offer an apology. Please note as explained in earlier posts, that I knew full well that when I made posts on the internet, I knew to be prepared to get some derogatory personal attacks. Some of those personal attacks I have countered, some I have ignored.

quote:

I've traveled to hunt a LOT, just not to Africa, though I am going next May. Because of my experiences with permits in other countries, it would never enter my mind that I could just go without the permits and work it out once I got there. Try that in the UK.

quote:

Originally posted by David Duffy:
A 7 day hunt for hyena, kudu and warthog was to cost (including my own expenses) $4795 plus $1250 = $6045
That is how much it was worth to me, no more, no less. I was happy to pay that.

A 7 day hunt for hyena, kudu and warthog without my own rifle is worth only half that to me $3022
To some they don't care whether they take their own gun, but I do. For example, I made preliminary enquiries about a hunt in the desert about 2 years ago. The PH could not give the information to me for me to be able to get a licence to use my own rifle, but said that I could borrow his. I said I wanted to bring my own rifle. I didn't book the hunt.

A 5 day hunt if there is no rifle in camp and we have to get one from somewhere for 2 of the three species is only worth to me 2/3 of $3022 which is $2015.

However, if I had gone without my rifle, I would still be paying $6045.

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Originally posted by Hunter54:

quote:

Originally posted by Karl S:
...I sent, by cell phone, a copy of that permit. .. I don’t know, but it was returned to me as “pending” ....

Prove it. That's B.S. Nothing gets returned as pending; what gets returned is a cannot deliver message; but since you have his e-mail, this would have gone through.

Besides, what a joke! Only two days before his departure?! That's cutting it too close- how about I send you a deposit only two days before departure to see if you like that!? Sheesh! That's unprofessional.

quote:

Originally posted by Hunter54:

quote:

Originally posted by Hunter54:

quote:

Originally posted by Karl S:
...I sent, by cell phone, a copy of that permit. .. I don’t know, but it was returned to me as “pending” ....

Prove it. That's B.S. Nothing gets returned as pending; what gets returned is a cannot deliver message; but since you have his e-mail, this would have gone through.

Besides, what a joke! Only two days before his departure?! That's cutting it too close- how about I send you a deposit only two days before departure to see if you like that!? Sheesh! That's unprofessional.

What about this?

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Originally posted by LittleJoe:
David you keep digging yourself a bigger hole. You keep beating the same dead horse and it is getting old. The support you had is continuing to dwindle like it or not.

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Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
David, I'm afraid that you are really not cut out for African hunting.

quote:

Originally posted by David Duffy:
A 7 day hunt for hyena, kudu and warthog was to cost (including my own expenses) $4795 plus $1250 = $6045
That is how much it was worth to me, no more, no less. I was happy to pay that.

A 7 day hunt for hyena, kudu and warthog without my own rifle is worth only half that to me $3022
To some they don't care whether they take their own gun, but I do. For example, I made preliminary enquiries about a hunt in the desert about 2 years ago. The PH could not give the information to me for me to be able to get a licence to use my own rifle, but said that I could borrow his. I said I wanted to bring my own rifle. I didn't book the hunt.

A 5 day hunt if there is no rifle in camp and we have to get one from somewhere for 2 of the three species is only worth to me 2/3 of $3022 which is $2015.

However, if I had gone without my rifle, I would still be paying $6045.

__________________________

John H.

..
NitroExpress.com - the net's double rifle forum

quote:

Originally posted by Hunter54:

quote:

Originally posted by Karl S:
...I sent, by cell phone, a copy of that permit. .. I don’t know, but it was returned to me as “pending” ....

Prove it. That's B.S. Nothing gets returned as pending; what gets returned is a cannot deliver message; but since you have his e-mail, this would have gone through.