Hey Judge, you must be getting pretty short. Please tell us about your impending hunt!

Hey Scott!

I'm really getting excited! Six nights and a wake-up! I've gone on lots of safaris, but the anticipation never lessens.

I'm leaving from JAX on the 7th. Jason Johnson and his wife will meet me in the Sky Club Lounge while we await the Delta 777 and the 16 hours ATL-JNB flight.

Upon arrival in RSA, I'll r.o.n. the 8th at Afton Guest House and the 9th with Russell at Ultimate Lodge. I'm looking forward to seeing the improvements to the place that so many have bragged upon.

On the morning of the 10th I'll charter into Chete on the plane that goes to pick up BigGuy458 and crew. They're buff hunting so I hope they leave me a leg or two in a tree to get chui interested. [Just got an e-mail from Rebecca Scott that both guys already have dagga boys down!]

So....., I've got Leopard, buffalo (bull and cow), a tuskless, hippo and plains game on the ticket. I'll be hunting with Lou Hallamore for 14 days.

Tonight I got out three fishing rods that I'll be taking, a 9wt and a 6wt flyrod and a baitcaster loaded with 20# test. I'll use wire leader for all three since tigers are toothy. For flies I have mainly aggression patterns that I tied myself that have long streamers. Lou will provide the lures for the baitcaster. A moment ago, I got an email from Jean (Lou's wife) who just returned from Chete and confirmed that fish are biting! Whoopee!

I'm taking two rifles. First, for the tuskless and hopefully a dry hippo, I'll be toting my Searcy Classic in .450 N.E. with Hornady 480 grain DGS.

For leopard I have my Alaskan .416 Ruger loaded with 350 grain softs. Since my last trip, I've bought a Swaroski 1.24-4x with an illuminated reticle and have QD mounts. Last month I posted a picture of a target which shows that the little rifle will put three shots in an inch at 100 yards while smoking along at 2500 fps at the muzzle. If I have the Ruger with me and an elephant wanders by, the iron sights remain regulated for 400 grain Hornady DGS.

I've been walking everyday with my sweetie. Yesterday we walked the Sidney Lanier Bridge (picture below), here in Brunswick. Over and back is 3.5 miles and with the 280 feet of vertical and 94 degree weather, doing something like that daily has trimmed off some weight and made me a bit better prepared for the hills of Chete than I was for Chirisa in March (Right, Biebs?).

For those of you who don't know, Lou is the consumate fisherman. While in the States for the winter shows, he has even fished the B.A.S.S. tour and won substantial money. He usually keeps his passion for fishing separate from his P.H.ing, but this being our third safari (and our combined ages being over 130 years!), he's relented some and I'm almost as excited about a giant tiger on a fly as I am about chui in a tree!

On the 21st, I'll celebrate my 64th birthday while overlooking Chete Gorge, howling at the moon and shooting a .450 N.E. round at the Southern Cross! I'll have a cake, but no candles since lighting up that many would be a fire hazzard extraodinare and would probalby draw the wrath of Al Gore with the huge carbon footprint.

After the hunt and the charter back to Victoria Falls, I plan to stay at Gorges Lodge for three nights, river raft, booze cruise and maybe even play golf! I'll also visit a local guy and his family for whom I bought a nanny (as a present for his newborn son) last year. The goat is named "Judge" and already has a kid of her own.

My living room table has stuff all over it as I check off my list and fill my TuffPac and suitcase. HHK has already sent me my pre-printed SAPS and Zim gun forms. I've got my cash and some travelers checks in the safe, sunscreen to slather on while putting around Lake Kariba, my malaria tabs in a daily pill box (along with my other meds), three good books for the plane and evenings around the fire and, of course, 25 good cigars! HHK as a barge coming down from Binga with Scotch and red wine.

I just wish I could smuggle Sandy aboard the plane, but she won't be going this time. Maybe she'll join me in July of 2011 when my daughter and I go to Matetsi?

And, Scott (SBT)... I owe you and your Pam some credit for my improved physical shape and readiness. Below's a picture from Grand Teton Park when Sandy and I hiked some while visiting ya'll. I guess if I can get up a Wyoming mountain, I can do the same with the hills of Chete.



The only "hill" in my home town, the Sidney Lanier Bridge. A good workout, for sure and a beautiful place, too!

Sir.
The very best of luck for your next adventure.
As a relative "newbie" to this forum I greatly enjoy reading your reports and will anxiously await your latest account.
Take good care of yourself and shoot well.

Judge,

Young Will and I wish you the best and look forward to the photos and another one of your great stories. Be careful and successful.

Judge, I will be in Vic around the 22nd, if you are at Russel then, give me a call, and we can have a quick scotch

Go get 'em Ernest! Good hunting!

We look forward to the story on your return. Good luck.

Illuminated reticle is THE ticket for low light cats.

Good luck, God speed, and have fun!

I wish I'd be there, Karl, but I don't fly back out of Chete until the 25th.

quote:

Originally posted by Karl S:
Judge, I will be in Vic around the 22nd, if you are at Russel then, give me a call, and we can have a quick scotch

JudgeG,

Go get um bud! Enjoy Chete it is really a special place. The cook there is a chef and the camp manager is outstanding, the waiter will keep you entertained with his daily change in table decorations. Three Africans that really know their jobs. But you already know that. Remind Graham to have plenty of oil and petrol for the boat. We ran out last year. Most of all, save a few tuskless for me and my hunt in November!

465H&H

Judge, good luck as always. And remember to speak up! Lou told me he can't hear that well, so he does a lot of nodding!!!!

Judge: Come back with new and exciting stories to regale us with!

Godspeed Judge......have a great trip!!

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI
DSC

And another good luck and Godspeed from the rockies!
Max

Enjoy Judge. Sounds like you are well prepared and ready for the excitement. As always looking forward to your excellent report and pics.

Be safe.

enjoy ernest and come back safe - via con dios

Goodluck judge and great shooting.


Mike

Happy Birthday and enjoy your hunt!

Happy birthday youngster and shoot straight.

You're going to be on safari on your birthday?

Nice touch Judge and waidmansheil!

Regards,

Amir

Good luck Judge! You go on safari the way we all should-that is take our time and visit other attractions. I will be looking forward to your report.

Best of luck and shoot straight. Look forward to your hunt report on your return.
Russ

Just got an e-mail today that I could take a sable, too. This thing is coming together!

My wife and I are in Joburg on the 10th and 11th. Sure wish I could have crossed paths with you JudgeG. I would have loved to meet you. Good luck on what sounds like a heck of a hunt.
Semper Fi
Will

JudgeG,

Have a great trip! Looking forward to your hearing of your adventure.

Best,

jjs

Ernest, have a great trip!

tie some flies that look like dry carpenta. chum them tigers and cast your fly in the middle. Watch them take on surface and enjoy. Tell lou to take you to fish some of those bottle nose in front of the chete camp they are HUGE.Just came back from the Sirinda and tigers are taking allthough fishing is a little slow because water this year is very cold. Enjoy.

Good luck Ernest, maybe we can have dinner when you get back. Take care and have a great time! jorge

quote:

Originally posted by JudgeG:
Just got an e-mail today that I could take a sable, too. This thing is coming together!

Talk about a sweet add-on! Sounds like you'll have another fantastic trip. Best of luck.

It's Christmas Eve Judge! Have a wonderful trip and a great adventure.

quote:

There Goes the Judge!

On my way out of the door. I'll stop by Gander Mountain in Jacksonville (right by the airport) and get some fly line and hopefully a 4 piece flyrod (8-9 wt) to stick in my TuffPac as an extra (and to leave with Lou).

I'm looking forward to seeing my friends at Afton and making new ones at Ultimate Lodge.

Thanks for the good wishes!

good hunting sir and have a very happy birthday !

I'm in my room at Afton Guest House. I had a great steak with several folks coming and going to various safari destinations.

One dad and son were celebrating the son's summa cum laude graduation from college (after two deployments to Afganistan as Airborne). It's his first safari and he's headed to Limpopo for kudu, etc. with a bow. Another dad had his wife and son on a great trip with Ron Oliver. They love Ron, and rightfully so!

What great luck on Delta 200. I had a whole row (3 seats) in which to sleep. I think I slept 12 of the 16 of the flight. And the Scotch was single malt. Seamless! Amazingly, my luggage was almost first out, shortly after Jason's (who posts here) ... and my TuffPac was awaiting me at SAPS.

At SAPS there was a new employee. An attractive lady who had her stuff together. She facilitated everything, signed documents.. had me out of there in 5 minutes.

I guess that ol' farts deserve some breaks!

I fly to Vic Falls in the morning. Can't wait to have a toast to Livingstone and Stanley at the Ultimate... or three or four.

Ya'll come~

Ernest

have fun and shoot straight, keep the wind in your face and enough scotch in your glass.

peter