The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting African Big Game Hunting Have you had a PH that went above and beyond what was expected?Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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In 2010 my Botswana PH, Gareth Flemix, was undergoing a nasty divorce. I never would have guessed it. His performance was exemplary in every way...always teaching about tracking, ele behavior, bullet placement, etc. without being condescending. Always a gentleman and very cool under pressure. Looking at his facebook page, I don't think he is hunting anymore and that is our loss. | ||
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I hunted with Barry Long when I was at Blaauwkrantz. He was an absolute straight shooter from the introduction. I remember our first conversation. He said something like I don't hunt anything young and immature, I want old species. If you don't agree I am not your man. I smiled and away we went. Had a tremendous safari. I was without ALL of my gear for 8 of 10 days and he made the most of it and we never missed a beat. Jason Bridger was just opening up Kanana when I hunted there and considering all the stress he was dealing with it never for one second affected our safari. Had a tremendous trip and look forward to hunting with him at Tholo Safaris this July. | |||
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I guess it depends on what you expect of them. How about a PH who hunts hard without complaint even though the client is a picky bastard who passes on over 20 quality Nyala and doesn't shoot his first game animal until day 5 of an 8 day plains game hunt? 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 | |||
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I could give at least half dozen examples of how Buzz Charlton has "made a plan" and as a consequence he has taken what could have been a negative safari experience and made it a memorable experience. I am extremely appreciative of his efforts and value our friendship. Mike | |||
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Ditto for Mike Payne of Save Safaris for me. | |||
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Adam Parkinson was superb when I hunted with him in CAR. Bruce Martin in Uganda was also wonderful. Of course, my "First African Hunt" was also off the charts with Tinus van Heerden. Pancho LTC, USA, RET "Participating in a gun buy-back program because you think that criminals have too many guns is like having yourself castrated because you think your neighbors have too many kids." Clint Eastwood Give me Liberty or give me Corona. | |||
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Johan Hermann does it every time. He always manages to pull several rabbits out of his hat. But don't tell him I gave him any credit  | |||
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 My friend Nigel Theisen. We met well over a decade ago and have shared countless good times. He always goes above and beyond.  Orphan calf at Blondie's house in Bubye. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ J. Lane Easter, DVM A born Texan has instilled in his system a mind-set of no retreat or no surrender. I wish everyone the world over had the dominating spirit that motivates Texans.– Billy Clayton, Speaker of the Texas House No state commands such fierce pride and loyalty. Lesser mortals are pitied for their misfortune in not being born in Texas.— Queen Elizabeth II on her visit to Texas in May, 1991. | |||
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As someone has already stated, it depends on one's definition of excellence. I've only been on 7 safaris so far. To me, finding an honorable man is the key to the best hunt possible. Sadly, honorable men are harder to find today in any corner of life. My 8th hunt will be with the man that I did safari # 6 & 7. He is a person I consider a man of honor: Andrew Baldry of Royal Kafue Safaris in Zambia. | |||
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Andrew Baldry, Leon Kachelhoffer, Mr. and Mrs. Surefire and Mr. and Mrs. 218 Bee all worked together to turn a potential disaster in 2015 in to a fine safari on Royal Kafue. I still appreciate everybody's efforts on that hunt. | |||
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Agreed on both these guys. Mike saved our last safari with the cock up of the permits they had a few years back in the Save. Now finally getting back around to see the Save and will be back with them in a couple weeks. Mac | |||
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absolutely - stewart finlay cooper in zambia | |||
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First I'd like to say I think every PH I've hunted with has worked hard and that includes the two I had issues with. only one in retrospect, looking back 20 years might have been a little lazy in that he was not too fussy about what we shot but we had a good safari. In later years the PHs that stand out for me and who have done a great job for me and my clients are Neil Duckworth/Mokore Safaris and Johnny Du Plooy/Muchinga Adventures. Both of these guys are driven but with completely different styles. There also was a PH I hunted with in RSA named Armand Aucamp or Arms for short. He hunts with Crusader Safaris and probably was the most knowledgeable PH I've ever been with about his little corner of the world and it's animals. Nobody could of worked harder to make our safari a success and the effort he put out in trying to retrieve the caracal I had wounded was extraordinary. These guys are all exceptional. Mark MARK H. YOUNG MARK'S EXCLUSIVE ADVENTURES 7094 Oakleigh Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89110 Office 702-848-1693 Cell, Whats App, Signal 307-250-1156 PREFERRED E-mail markttc@msn.com Website: myexclusiveadventures.com Skype: markhyhunter Check us out on https://www.facebook.com/pages...ures/627027353990716 | |||
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I have been one lucky SOB Fred Bezuidenhout in Namibia was outstanding. Chappy Esterhuizen in Zim was fantastic. Had a great time. Johan Hermann in SA is a hunter's hunter. All excellent and would recommend them to anyone. | |||
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TWO THUMBS UP for NIGEL THEISEN. Not only a great PH......but of the 'old school', where a man's word and a handshake can be trusted! Absolutely honorable, and supports the other PH's in the industry. He is who I will trust my second set of grandbabies with. In fact - when my family was there last year for an extended time, NOT HUNTING, mind you......He took my grandchildren through the game preserves, and places like Chamabondo (places you have probably never heard of) in his own cruiser and own nickel! He is the BEST! He is my Friend. | |||
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All 3 of my PHs were outstanding individuals who worked hard to get me my trophies. Abbie Steyn Kirk Mason Lin Stanton BH63 Hunting buff is better than sex! | |||
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I have had the good, the bad and the ugly. I won't comment on who was the latter! Just kidding. I have had some really good PHs. Collen van der Linden is the PH that I have hunted with the most ( 6 times). He is a true gentleman and his hunting skill are outstanding. The one thing that Collen did that , at least in my book, went above and beyond was out 3rd hunt together. His wife had just had their second child. She was having problems. As I recall, post partum eclampsia. She was still in the hospital. This is fairly serious especially in a place like Zimbabwe. Collen went on the safari anyway. I told him to go back to Harare. He insisted on continuing with the safari. Above & beyond? Hell yes! | |||
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Thierry Labat. Over 6 hunts in two countries, he's exceeded expectations and provided exemplary service every time. I can't imagine hunting with any other PH and probably won't. | |||
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Great thread - taking notes. | |||
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John Sharp for me. Hunted only twice with him, but I'll not choose another, at least not in Zim. USN (ret) DRSS Verney-Carron 450NE Cogswell & Harrison 375 Fl NE Sabatti Big Five 375 FL Magnum NE DSC Life Member NRA Life Member | |||
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What is "above and beyond" defined as? I've had many good hunts with good PHs (and a few cockups, too). The PHs and the staff did what was expected: laundry, good skills in the bush, getting me the game I sought, good meals, followed the agreement and/or contract, etc. So what would be defined as going beyond expectations? Saving one's life from a charging elephant? That is expected. A good followup to make sure trophies make it out of the country and properly dipped and packed? That is expected also. Come as a client and leave as a friend? Any work or time outside the contract? If at no charge, maybe. If charged and paid for, no. Just wondering, fellas. Cheers, Cal _______________________________ Cal Pappas, Willow, Alaska www.CalPappas.com www.CalPappas.blogspot.com 1994 Zimbabwe 1997 Zimbabwe 1998 Zimbabwe 1999 Zimbabwe 1999 Namibia, Botswana, Zambia--vacation 2000 Australia 2002 South Africa 2003 South Africa 2003 Zimbabwe 2005 South Africa 2005 Zimbabwe 2006 Tanzania 2006 Zimbabwe--vacation 2007 Zimbabwe--vacation 2008 Zimbabwe 2012 Australia 2013 South Africa 2013 Zimbabwe 2013 Australia 2016 Zimbabwe 2017 Zimbabwe 2018 South Africa 2018 Zimbabwe--vacation 2019 South Africa 2019 Botswana 2019 Zimbabwe vacation 2021 South Africa 2021 South Africa (2nd hunt a month later) ______________________________ | |||
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Con Van Wyk | |||
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I will back up FishN4Eyes. Thierry Labat is top notch and will go above and beyond. I will only hunt with Thierry. The only easy day is yesterday! | |||
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I agree with you, Cal. I started this after some (including me) complained about a PH or safari company that had not met expectations. A more accurate title would have been "Do you have a PH you have been very happy with". | |||
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I will second that. Jim "Bwana Umfundi" NRA | |||
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ok Cal - how about a PH who personally picks you up at the airport, takes you back to his home, feeds you, provides a place to stay at his home, takes you trout fishing and tigerfish fishing, drives you to and from the hunt, has gun cases made from some of your hides - all for no charge - I could go on, but I think you get the point. I feel sorry for you if you have not personally experienced some of these things. | |||
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That weasel Mike Payne  I think Leon DuPlessis getting shot by a client in a ad and still insuring the client finished his safari with another ph probably takes award for above and beyond in ph service. Mike | |||
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Only three safaris so far. 2011 with Pete Barnard. Hard worker, competent, and a practical joker. 2015-elephant with Rich Tabor. Shot my bull on day 13 of a 14 day hunt while Rich was fighting malaria big time. Was so impressed that in 2016 in the Save I told the operator I hunted with Rich and his team or I wasn't coming. Just my $.02. "Never, ever, book a hunt with Jeri Booth or Detail Company Adventures" | |||
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John Sharp will make u the luckiest hunter ever. Above and beyond is every day for John not only great PH but the best company around. | |||
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Danny Moore from Rungwa Game Safaris in Tanzania. Best PH I ever had. We hunted Masaailand on August, had a pretty scary situation with a crappy shot on one of those ninja buff. He never lost his nerves and did not fire a shot on the buffalo when he saw it bedded down before anyone else. He indicated the position to the client (my father) to finish the buffalo. We were after big buffalo and worked our asses off for the whole safari looking for the buffalo of our dreams. It was not easy, but we ended up taking a wonderful old boy on the last day with a 44.5" spread. Truly a perfect PH. | |||
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Dave: You are a lucky man. I've had PHs do much for me but usually it is at a price. That is not in itself a bad thing. Since 1994 I have many good and some great memories and I keep going back. Even the poor experiences had a silver lining in the black cloud. See the thread on bad hunts. Cheers, mate. Cal PS. Any word on your double import? _______________________________ Cal Pappas, Willow, Alaska www.CalPappas.com www.CalPappas.blogspot.com 1994 Zimbabwe 1997 Zimbabwe 1998 Zimbabwe 1999 Zimbabwe 1999 Namibia, Botswana, Zambia--vacation 2000 Australia 2002 South Africa 2003 South Africa 2003 Zimbabwe 2005 South Africa 2005 Zimbabwe 2006 Tanzania 2006 Zimbabwe--vacation 2007 Zimbabwe--vacation 2008 Zimbabwe 2012 Australia 2013 South Africa 2013 Zimbabwe 2013 Australia 2016 Zimbabwe 2017 Zimbabwe 2018 South Africa 2018 Zimbabwe--vacation 2019 South Africa 2019 Botswana 2019 Zimbabwe vacation 2021 South Africa 2021 South Africa (2nd hunt a month later) ______________________________ | |||
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Read our hunt reports and I sense you will find we have been happy hunting with the different PH's. Each, to some degree, went "beyond the call". Johnny dePloy put a .22 in Joyce's hands, Doves died, and a huntress was created. Andrew Baldry, what can I say. We have encouraged many people to hunt with him since. Buzz, gave us the hospitality of his home and shared his "girls" with us. Derek Littleton backed Joyce with regular encouragement from the time of her diagnosis. He refused to keep our deposits at a time when we were unsure if Joyce would be around to later hunt. He arranged dates so we could hunt earlier than most to coordinate with the timing at the end of the hunt with Buzz. He literally gave us a free week with the option to hang in the bush in Niassa or a beach front cottage on the Indian Ocean. We've been lucky!! Cheers Jim & Joyce ______________________ DRSS ______________________ Hunt Reports 2015 His & Her Leopards with Derek Littleton of Luwire Safaris - http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/2971090112 2015 Trophy Bull Elephant with CMS http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/1651069012 DIY Brooks Range Sheep Hunt 2013 - http://forums.accuratereloadin...901038191#9901038191 Zambia June/July 2012 with Andrew Baldry - Royal Kafue http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7971064771 Zambia Sept 2010- Muchinga Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4211096141 Namibia Sept 2010 - ARUB Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6781076141 | |||
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A different tack on what was above and beyond. I hunted Lemco many years ago with Wayne Williamson and had a great hunt including lion and buffalo. However two of my favorite memories of the hunt are as follows: First, while shooting lion bait Wayne continually urged me to shoot a giraffe for bait. Lots of bait. I kept declining but for some time never told him why. Finally after many times asking I finally said "here's the deal...my mother is dying from ALS and she absolutely loves giraffes. If she ever found out i shot one she would be devastated." Several days later while driving through Lemco he suddenly stopped the vehicle and excitedly told me to get my video camera and start shooting video of a group of nearby giraffes. As I complied, I could hear Wayne saying "This is for you, mum" Second, on the drive back to camp one night it was the night that the planet Mars, or the moon, or some other celestial body was as close to the earth as it would be for another century or some such thing. Again the land cruiser came to a halt in the middle of the two track and as we got out of the vehicle he said "Ive just got to see if I can make the guys understand". We stood there in the middle of the bush as he called all of the trackers out of the back of the car, pointed to the sky and the conversation went like this Wayne: "Do you see that light in the sky?" Trackers (in unison): "Yes boss" Wayne: "Tonight that light is as close to us as it will ever be!" Trackers: "Yes boss" Wayne: "Do you understand that this will never happen again" Trackers: "Yes boss" We got back in to drive home and he looked at me and said "I really wanted them to understand" A class act and things like that make a great hunt more memorable to me | |||
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Great vignettes, thanks for sharing. Sounds like a wonderful PH to hunt with. Mike | |||
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In 2014 my wife and I had a wonderful PH..... Jeremy Sheepers Looking back we can't believe how lucky we were. He was a perfect gentleman towards my wife and great guide for our two week stay. He was perfect. Sadly I would bet that there is a larger populous of demanding/overly demanding clients then there are PH's that will routinely go over and beyond. ________________________________________________ Maker of The Frankenstud Sling Keeper Proudly made in the USA Acepting all forms of payment | |||
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That's good stuff and to me what matters. ___________________________________________________________________________________ Give me the simple life; an AK-47, a good guard dog and a nymphomaniac who owns a liquor store. | |||
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Yeah man, great stuff. A little empathy, a little philosophy, all good stuff. | |||
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In that context I have been very happy with each of the PH's with whom I have hunted. Martin Pieters, Neil Duckworth, Shaun Buffee, Lindon Stanton, Zayne van der Merwe among the others I mentioned in a previous post. By far the worse PH I had was me on my self guided hunt. | |||
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Trust!!!!..... to have my back under all the situations Im not familiar with or don't know how to handle immediately or safely. That is my "biggie" and the only reason I hunt with the same PH more than once. They've proven I can "trust " them. The first safari with an unknown PH is a "cr//" shoot I expect. Best regards, D. Nelson | |||
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The expertise to make your hunt possible was certainly provided by the professionals, Andrew and Leon. But it was our pleasure to have you share our camp and our hunts together Mike. Hope to cross paths with you again some day. Good hunting to you. | |||
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The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting African Big Game Hunting Have you had a PH that went above and beyond what was expected?
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