quote:

africa is a place of challange and if something is going to go wrong chances are it will - but that is what attracts thousands of hunters to africa each year.

quote:

Originally posted by stradling:
Dave I hunted with Karl couple years ago

Namibia for a PH Namibia is a much less profitable and more ridged environment than most of the adjacent states the margins are thin for a PH

the fees they pay [not keep] are to a large part no refundable
when I took my hunt with Karl lots of things changed before I got there and a bit when I arrived my flight to vic falls stalled at maun Botswana and I was a day late getting in Big K holed up in a bar in vic and waited me out almost chartered a 210 to camp but namib air finally loaded us up and delivered us 29 hrs late Karl was right there loaded me up cleared my rifle into zim Botswana and then Namibia

we got to camp a day late and a dollar short in the dark of night

next day we also had a adjustment to make with the local conservation people --concerning my hunting tag-- to sort out that's just Namibia I was right there watched it happen and it did minor paperwork needed to be sorted out on the local level can't do that by email out there

were to fly camp in the national park

now we stayed at his well appointed tent camp and drove in to the hunting area each day
I was really looking forward to the fly camp looking back glad we did not do that that way

well we hunted for 4 5 days I got a 44+55 lb so right at 100lb total elephant

I -quite walked out- and plenty excited- shot it to for forward and high should have never tried that head shot from 40+ yards

k cleaned that up and quick

just what doctor orders when you are hunting elephant some of us are quite soft hunters when push comes to shove

had 20 plus bush trackers find that thing for me

we had tracked in about 3-4 miles to the kill site I had just had 2 hip replacements and a new knee put in should have not really gone just then but I did

and I did not tell him all this relevant medical stuff- as I feared he would not take me- and yet he preformed but I bet that pissed him off I never saw him blink on that not once

we got the el and I went home he handled the ivory and all details exactly as spoken no contract all ended as per spoken agreement

now here is the real issue another PH not for me to name took a guy out and stayed in Karls camp for free and "to quote I doc took him for a walk" Karl paid all that camp cost for his PH friend lots of promises were made and not kept

and I saw Karl mop it all up and offer the guy a hunt on K's dime a year later

that's quite something

have been in Africa hunting a bit first time I seen that

Karl is not getting rich its a labor of love this hunting elephants and he is as good at it as one can get has given up a lot for the privilege and may not be able to pay the cash to
you that he spent non refundable with Namibia game people I get your point one in a life time hunt want to be sure but we need to understand the issues and the forces in play

and work to gather as a hunting community

wish I had noticed this post sooner

we all need to report the good with the bad

quote:

Originally posted by Hunt4:
If a word is misspelled wrong, is it spelled correctly?

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
Mac, I'm with you on that. I'm sure many contributors to this post don't know anything about hunting in Africa, have never been to Africa, and will never go to Africa. Karl is a great PH and a great friend, so if you don't know him, just STFU.

quote:

Originally posted by GAHUNTER:
Frankly, I'd have gone anyway.

Now, I realize that may be a leap of faith, but consider this: Right now, there are probably several dozen hunters from all over different parts of the world either just arriving in Zimbabwe, or on their way there, who were originally supposed to hunt in the Save Conservancy. When they left home, all they knew (or should have known) is that their Save dreams were abruptly killed -- but they went anyway without a clue where they were going to hunt.

Why do they risk it? Because they have faith that Southern African professional hunters in general, and Zimbabwean PHs in particular, are the best in the world at taking care of their clients. They will find them a place to hunt, and they will make every effort humanly possible to get them the licenses for the trophies they originally were to take in the Save.

They are also making the trip because time stands still for no one, and none of us know when, or if, we'll ever get back to the sights, sounds, smell, taste and sense of adventure that is Africa!

God, I wish the only obstacle standing in the way of my returning to Africa was the lack of a firearms permit! Leave the damn things at home and trust in the "camp rifle." Take yours and trust that you'll get a permit upon arrival. Do whatever it takes. But not go?

No way, no how, am I not going!

quote:

What is the point of having a discussion forum if people are supposed to STFU?

quote:

Originally posted by GAHUNTER:
Frankly, I'd have gone anyway.

Now, I realize that may be a leap of faith, but consider this: Right now, there are probably several dozen hunters from all over different parts of the world either just arriving in Zimbabwe, or on their way there, who were originally supposed to hunt in the Save Conservancy. When they left home, all they knew (or should have known) is that their Save dreams were abruptly killed -- but they went anyway without a clue where they were going to hunt.

Why do they risk it? ....

quote:

Originally posted by Duckear:

quote:

Originally posted by GAHUNTER:
Frankly, I'd have gone anyway.

Now, I realize that may be a leap of faith, but consider this: Right now, there are probably several dozen hunters from all over different parts of the world either just arriving in Zimbabwe, or on their way there, who were originally supposed to hunt in the Save Conservancy. When they left home, all they knew (or should have known) is that their Save dreams were abruptly killed -- but they went anyway without a clue where they were going to hunt.

Why do they risk it? ....

I am guessing losing their paid in full daily rate and more likely than not non refundable airfare has more to do with it than their 'unwavering faith' in their PH. LOL

quote:

Originally posted by GAHUNTER:

quote:

Originally posted by Duckear:

quote:

Originally posted by GAHUNTER:
Frankly, I'd have gone anyway.

Now, I realize that may be a leap of faith, but consider this: Right now, there are probably several dozen hunters from all over different parts of the world either just arriving in Zimbabwe, or on their way there, who were originally supposed to hunt in the Save Conservancy. When they left home, all they knew (or should have known) is that their Save dreams were abruptly killed -- but they went anyway without a clue where they were going to hunt.

Why do they risk it? ....

I am guessing losing their paid in full daily rate and more likely than not non refundable airfare has more to do with it than their 'unwavering faith' in their PH. LOL

All the more reason to have taken the "leap of faith" and gone anyway.