Hello Friends-
Yes, I know this belongs in the BOOKS Forum and I have also placed it there....since I thought many of you might miss this, I decided to put it in African Hunting as well so you don't miss you opportunity to complete your Big 5 set!

Just a heads up, Safari Press has released the long past due Fifth Book in Rickoff's Big Five Book Collection HUNTING THE AFRICAN RHINO!! FINALLY, the other 4 were published in signed and numbered edition over I recall about 2 years in the 90's...then stopped!!
Note, those books in great condition are bringing $2200-2600 per set!!
The newest book is offered in your same number set series if you order and then send a copy of the numbered page from the 4 others, Hunting the African Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Buffalo. Price is $150 plus shipping.
I assume this might add some value to the set now complete and I have ordered mine. Yes I do recognize all of the jokes and jibes about the author and former Publisher of Amwell Press!
Cheers,

Thanks Eddy! I appreciate knowing that since I have all those other books.

Had mine on order for awhile...

Speaking of rhinos and hunting, if you have not already read Ron Thomson's book, Black Rhino, it is an incredible read. It is a non-traditional hunting book in that it is focused more on Thomson's participation in the black rhino relocation program in Zim. That said, it is an amazing hunting story. One of the better hunting books I have read.

How many AR members have taken a rhino? Either a darted or not. I know it's a silly question, but I am curious.

quote:

Originally posted by DCS Member:
How many AR members have taken a rhino? Either a darted or not. I know it's a silly question, but I am curious.

And a really elite club . . . how many have taken a black rhino, with rifle or dart gun?

DCS- Interesting Question!! I never thought I would ever even consider that in my hunting career....Africa came into my hunting fairly early and I proceeded down the trail with 2 Buff and Lion...many Leopard hunts, then Elephant with a Leopard added on and got it....so I was at 4 of Big 5.
One December I got the newsletter from old friends Johan and Nadien Bosch at Dinaka near Nylstroom SA with a highlight on their White Rhino hunts. I had no idea they had Rhino in all of the years I had known them! I sent off an e-mail with surprise and comments.
Promptly I got an e-mail back and a "proposition"...they were going to dart 2 Big Bulls before SCI to have photographs, measurements, and do Veterinary work up...can you come over for the event and do the darting??
Holy Smoke, what an opportunity...and I had also been invited by my taxidermist to join him in July....Same Price...HUMMMM 2 bulls...I was on the plane PRONTO!!
I had an absolutely fantastic hunt....took three days to find one of the bulls on foot, did some practice stalks and photos on others... one of the trackers bedded in the bush that night...we had to find the other finally with a helicopter....this was Very HEAVY Bush on 20,000Hectares....and 31 known Rhinos on the property.
The Vet showed up in the afternoon prior to the hunt....we practiced all afternoon with the dart gun....and discussed anatomy and shot placement...and drilled in the fact we had to be at 16-20 yards for the shot!! Back up with Johan's 416 Rigby...
We had to do two stalks on the first bull, accompanied by a cow and calf...then had to find the other bull by helicopter and he put us within 200 yards in heavy bush...did the stalk and he slipped us....broke for Lunch....found him again with the chopper, did the stalk to about 25 yards....he split again!! Then they wanted me to shoot from the Helicopter...NOPE, they put us down again and I finally got the shot at 16 yards...then the race begins before they go down....The Vet moves in, installs a catheter in the ear for antidote, Vet work starts, pictures, measurements....then I was allowed to administer the antidote....the Vet pulled the catheter...and we got out of the way....all in about 20 minutes from the Rhino going down. Did this with both Bulls....a FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE and probably much more challenging and potentially dangerous than shooting!!
Truly one of the GREATEST EXPERIENCES of the Big 5....Times 2!!
Interestingly, both bulls scored over 94 SCI and exactly the same measurement but far different horn configurations...longest was 29+"
Long answer to a SHORT Question...but I thought I would share.
Obviously, this was long before the moratorium on darting and done ONLY for Vet and documentation purposes...these bulls were killing Cows and Calves...and were to be hunted for keeps, or sold moved off the ranch.

Cheers,

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:

quote:

Originally posted by DCS Member:
How many AR members have taken a rhino? Either a darted or not. I know it's a silly question, but I am curious.

And a really elite club . . . how many have taken a black rhino, with rifle or dart gun?

Mike,

I suppose I'll start. New thread. I know some won't want to answer, but I might do it as a poll. It's definitely an elite club. On my trip to Limpopo, a gentleman was in a darted hunt and was successful.

I'm interested in reading the book, although I'll likely never hunt one.