I admit Peter Capstick's book are usually entertaining reading, but I wonder if anyone actually knows how many elephant he actually shot?

In his books I think he often states its 800. He also says at least once, that he probably had taken more elephant than any other man alive (well at the time) when he said this.

Personally I heard from a good source that he had hunted and killed four (4) elephant during his hunting career.

Anyone here know. Thanks.

[ 07-20-2002, 23:46: Message edited by: NitroExpress.com ]

John, holding your lantern high again, searching the literary night for the truthful African Big Game writer?

I don't know if he did or not? I still find his books very enjoyable today. I couldn't remember who I loaned my "Death in the Long Grass" so I bought a new copy last month and reread it. I found it still, a wonderful easy read that made me want to be in the long grass again!

Rusty
We band of brothers!

I go along with Rusty. Capstick could spin a good yarn. I read where Capstick was a bartender in some hotel in a well-know hunter's haunt. I forget just where. He got a lot of free material from these hunters and I believe he just put his name on their stories. I don't have any idea how many elephants he actually shot but I would bet it's no where the amount he claimed, if any. I saw a video of him on a buffalo hunt a few years ago and wasn't impressed by what I saw. His buddy, a well-known professional guide and hunter, I believe named Gordon Rundle or something like that, seemed to like him a lot and went to bat for him in some publications, so I guess there was something to the guy at one time.

Give ole' PHC a rest. I don't care how many ele he shot. He was mostly full of it, but a good writer.

And probably about as truthful, or more so, as some of what you see here.

Will

Old PHC was a great writer and likely did more to re-popularize African hunting than any other single human being. As previously mentioned, he was a good friend of Gordon Cundill, who at the time those videos were made, was part owner and GM of Hunter's Africa, one of the old time great safari firms. They both liked to break a seal or three on a bottle!
We all will believe what we want about the truthfulness of PHC's yarns. I know he spent many hours around the bar at Vic Falls, so....let's just say I'm an unconvinced skeptic about much of his personal accomplishments.

I agree. I too love reading his works(I've got every book he wrote-autographed). I'd put money on the fact he was more honest than Mondele.

Hey I agree with you.

Capstick does write good "fiction" (thst was a joke, by the way) and it is very enjoyable. I have several of his videos and his books and will buy more of his books one day. I'm not impressed by his biographies though (or the one I have). He tries to dramatise things over the top.

It was just a legitimtae query as some of the people here seem fairly cluey.

I stayed with a PH acquaintance on a property on the Northern bank of the Zambezi which was owned by a outfitter. I can't remember the outfitters name (I didn't meet him) but he was supposed the PH that PHC used for most of his hunts.

Here's to "Death in the Long African Forums".

Boy you guys are easy. Dazzle them with BS and confuse them with FACTS! If a poster you dont recognise talks with authority about a subject you dont agree with you crucify him but some drunk that spins a good yarn come on board and and you all buy him drinks. I just dont get it!
lb404

It would appear as though Capstick took at least ONE elephant during his lifetime. His excellent book, "Sands of Silence" describes his successful hunt for elephant in Namibia with PH Volker Grellmann.

AD

Thank You, Thank You Very Much.

[ 07-21-2002, 18:20: Message edited by: MePlat ]

Gentlemen,

I have read and enjoyed all of PHC books.

I found even people who normally do no associate with hunting enjoy reading his books.

lb404,
You are most certainly right about the posters of this or any other forum. However I don't think we require the "pound of flesh" from authors that we do of posters?

I don't know any poster here who has managed to get as many people out of their chairs and into Africa the way PHC has.

He has served me well, seemed like a fine fella. Hell, he was a writer. He was a Hell of a writer! That will suffice nicely for me!

I will never get to share a campfire with PHC or RCR, I think it would have been a great time!
Perhaps I will get the chance to share a campfire with George Hoffman someday?

Rusty
We band of brothers!

I read thru his writeing a guy with a sense of humor and an ability to laugh at himself. I find myself laughing at loud at some of his stuff, I love the part where he descibes a "Great PH" as "A PH who is either dead, or retired, or not in competition with him for clients".

The one about them whacking the Big Elephant Bull, and then the herd survivors loseing their scent "then getting together in a rugby circleing while mumbleing Elephant strategy". Then "how the whole herd charged off in different directions, looking for them, useing brilliant elephant strategy. The story of the tough RSA PH who got mauled by a leopard, went home and drank a bottle of booze while getting pissed of at the cat, and off he went "another bottle in hand" and with a torch and rifle in the other, stomping thru the high grass at night with "payback in mind". Well he found the cat, got mauled again tho he finnaly killed it, and then he stomped home with the cat over his shoulder and bloody as hell and proceeded to open another bottle of booze.

I find in PHC a "kindred spirit", who lived a life I would have loved to , had it occured to me at the time". And it really doesnt matter if its all true or not , cause as another great writer once wrote, "everyone needs a little soap opera in their life"...................J

[ 07-21-2002, 22:14: Message edited by: JHook ]

JHook,
Well said!

I get a great laugh out of these "KILL PHC" fests, by many who simply repeat what they have heard someone else say! That is exactly what you guys accuse PHC of doing, sooooo, glass houses, and all that!

The cropping officer of the 1960's, and 1970s is about the only person other than a poacher, who had any chance of shooting 800 Elephants,after about the 40s and 50s, but durring some of the droughts, and attending crop failiers,of the late 60s, and early 70s, it would certainly have been possible. I would say there is only one or two people on this forum, who can come anyplace close to PHC's total bag, and that would Be Saeed, as a client, and George Hoffman, as a PH! There are a few very conservative people, who don't like to blow their own horns, like Allen Day, who will come close, Everyone else is just trying to keep score for those few, and PHC!

Count me among those who spent a week's pay for autographed set at my elbow. PHC definitely helped convince me to hunt Africa (only 7 weeks to go!) and to get some hunting stories published. Would it matter if he was 90% liar and only shot a mere 80 elephant? Not to me.

I was fortunate in having met Peter some years ago. I was in RSA for a hunt, and had a few days to kill before the hunt started. On a lark I called him at his home outside Pretoria, and introduced myself, and then asked if there was any chance of my meeting him. He sent a driver to pick me up at my hotel, and drove me to his home where I spent a fabulous 9 hours with him and his wife Fiona. He was definitely a MASTER story teller. I've never been entertained so well, by anyone, anywhere! We are much worse off with his passing away.

[ 07-22-2002, 02:00: Message edited by: mikeh375 ]

The first PHC words I ever read were contained in an article in a US outdoor magazine describing an elephant cull in Southern Africa. It was powerful stuff, and the power of the writing put you right there in the blood, dust and heat.

I went on to acquire all of his books and videos over the years.

I took my copy of Safari to Reno for the SCI Convention when Peter was going to speak. I arrived the morning after he collapsed, and alas never got to meet him.

I credit him with reviving the safari industry, and I don't worry overmuch about the details.

jim dodd

I have seen his videos cabelas sells shooting a huge bull with his 470 double. From the way he went about the hunt, I would think he has more then a max of 3 elephants at the time, assuming that could have been his 4th?

Anywho, who in the hell cares? Take PHC for what he is, and that is a writer, ex wall street investor, and last but not least a hunter...

I guess that after reading 300-400 books on african hunting, I thought that the more credable writing would be more of a value to hunters than the "yarns and outright lies" some writers get away with. I think that he probably told a good story and if that gets you going then I guess thats OK too. I just wouldn't put much stock in the facts you read in his material. That, after all, was what this post was about-wasn't it? I am not trying to demean his name. I thought you guys were out of the fantasy land stuff.

lb404,
Wow now that is an extensive library!

I have read all of PHC's books and liked them very much. True or false I do not care. They were the best stories I have ever read on African hunting. They were the spark that set the flame in me to experience Africa some day. I hope to take my first trip in a year or two. I am sure that I will think of him while I am there. I was sad to here that he past away a while back.

Rusty, When you pull 60-80 hrs. a week and call on top of all that, you have to do something to entertain yourself. Those at Video Visions have sold me everything they have and are always looking for things I dont have. I am always a buyer for original african hunting books especially first editions and Limited pressings. When I go to the big gun shows I am looking for four things, Rare books on african hunting, custom rifles, Mauser rifes, and pre-64 model 70 rifles. We all have to have our petty vices!!!!!

Gentlemen:
I have had the pleasure, to be in camp with PHC on several occasions and on a speakers platform on another accasion. Peter did most of his culling under the watchful eye Of Bob Langefeld, with whom I have spent some time with. Bob, I believe the head cropping officer in the Luanga valley dduring the years the cropped elephant there. If memory does not fail me Bob, had to his credit nearly 3000 ele.
I noticed that someone mentioned Grodon Cundill, in one of the posts. I got word two weeks ago that Gordon was in a shootout with some of the locals in SA recently. Gordon, took a 9 mm in the chest through the left nipple and one in the knee. I understand he is still doing as well as can be expected. This is the second time in 3 years that some one has tried to rob and kill him.
It looks like it is far more dangerous living in some parst of SA than hunting Dangerous Game.
George

George,
That is terrible news about Gordon. Godspeed to his recovery.

That is good news about PHC actually doing some elephant culling work. There is more to PHC than some want to admit.

And it is always good to see you posting here.

Best Regards,
Ronald A. Berry

/

Alf

Thanks for the information and short biography, and other information. Especially the modern culling numbers etc. It sounds like an elephant culler today would be "less romantic" and probably shoot an SLR 7.62 as part of a team of shooters.

George

Thank you very much for your post. From your post it sounds like he may have at least participated in some culls, even though 800 may be stretching it.

Other posters

As I said I agree with you that he was an entertaining writer. That is why he sold so many books and continues to do so.

In my mind I compare him to the "The Odyssey" the ancient poem by the Greek poet, Homer. Where Odysseus, the "master story teller" gave his wife the excuse he was 7 or 10 years late getting home "from work" (ie the Trojan War) because he was cursed by a god, imprisoned twice by sex goddesses on islands and used physically by them until he escaped, fought demons and monsters, journeyed to hell and back, among other tales and that was why he returned looking like a beggar and a "bum".

Tried that one at home once after a night at the pub, but it didn't work .......

Maybe not as good a story teller.

In the audio tape PHC did with Ken Wilson of Sportsmen on Film Capstick states: "I've shot, that is to say I've been in on the shooting of over 800 elephants."

I take the above statement to mean PHC witnessed 800+ elephant being killed. I think it is fair to say he could have killed and "seen killed" this number of elephants.

I have always wondered why we never hear of the cropping officers from the Luanga valley stating weather PHC worked there when he claimed he did. What Mr. Hoffman put forth blows a big whole in the claim that PHC was nothing but a fiction writer.

I am saddened that someone would start a rumor that PHC was a bartender in a PH hangout. Making these outlandish claims is akin to shitting on the man's grave. Please give it a rest!

RIP Mr. Capstick

Jason

I'm glad to see everyone's opinion, but most glad for opinions by those who know what they are talking about first hand. Thank you.

gentlemen , just a couple of statements !what if what mr.Capstick wrote was the truth !!

i only own " Death in the Long Grass " i can only read it every so often !. it scares the crap out of me !!2. and it creates the urges to go to Africa so bad and it is bad enough with out any outside stimuless.

thank you Peter Capstick !!!

Recurve,
Everytime I read the first elephant story, I laugh til my sides hurt! "... smell like leather. . .Ez the first one for me too"

As far as the other part about wanting to go to Africa, I can only quote Lucutis of Borg, "Resistance is futile, you will be assimalated"

Rusty
We band of brothers!

/

Mr. Chapstick certainly stirs up a lot of conversation around here, but the fact is why doubt his word when you have no knowledge one way or the other if he is guilty or innocent, assumption and gossip are meaningless...

I have no doubt that he was in on the killing of 800 elephant and that he shot a lot of them, if he worked as a control officer and he did, thats a documented fact.. He never claimed to have shot 800 elephant, learn to read!...

The only thing I KNOW is he furnished the world with some mighty fine relaxing reading and that he was very polite and a gentleman when I talked with him on several ocassions..He could spin a tale and he popularized Africa like no other.

He was a little bizarre in his Leopard getup with catchers chest protector and mask and stove pipe protection, and I got a good laugh out of that, but everybody swings different, different strokes for different folks and all that sort of stuff...

Bottom line is "May God bless and keep him"..he is gone now and we will read no more of his great books.

BUT, that damn Mark Sullivan is still alive, lets get'em!!

BUT, that damn Mark Sullivan is still alive, lets get'em!!

Oh No, were due for another Col. Boddington bashout. And what "A friend , of a friend, of a friend, of a friend , told me". ......................Man I hate negative gossips, who have no facts or personal experiences, to back up their bashing ...........................J

Seeing the BS is flowing here as well as insults, I think I will respond.

Raymouth said "He never claimed to have shot 800 elephant, learn to read!..."

J Brown wrote "In the audio tape PHC did with Ken Wilson of Sportsmen on Film Capstick states: "I've shot, that is to say I've been in on the shooting of over 800 elephants.""

So I decided to watch my copy of the tape. The following is an extract from PHC's tape "Capstick Hunting the African Elephant " a Sportsman on Film video.

Word verbatim - Peter Capstick
"But I find it fascinating that having been obliged through a combination of my own duties as an official game officer as a professional hunter for a variety of companies in four different countries. aah. To have to had killed something over 800 elephants."

The video cuts to commentary, I gues PHC choked at this point.

Comnmentator
"The vast majority of these elephants were killed by government mandated cropping whereby the methodology bears no resemblance to licensed regulated sport hunting."

Also the cover states:
"As a cropping officer, he PERSONALLY shot over 800 elephants."

Maybe J Brown has a different tape with a different "story"?

My post was never an attack on PHC.

Maybe he did cull over 800 elephants. I don't know.

That was the purpose of this thread. To see if anyone had any "first hand" knowledge, not whether they have autographed books (I have autographed copies too, did you know?) or if they shook hands with the bloke in Las Vegas.

Thanks to Mr Hoffman for his personal knowledge. Its good to hear he was actually a government control officer.

Thanks also to ALF as usual for his excellent and information factual posts.

Ray, why not just say "I have no doubt that he was in on the killing of 800 elephant and that he shot a lot of them" without the insults.

I have "learned to read" and also to listen.

BUT YES I STILL ENJOY HIS VIDEOS, AND HIS BOOKS. And he certainly did more African hunting than I ever will. Goodluck to him

JHook with comments like those, I won't bother answering except to point out your "favourite quote" is out of a fictional movie.

Anyway signing out of this discussion.

[ 07-22-2002, 20:52: Message edited by: NitroExpress.com ]

Nitro - I see no harm or foul in your original question. (Don't let the man get you down.) I think there has always been some difficulty separating Capstick the writer and Capstick the hunter. Maybe he even had the same problem. In any event, it suffices to say the he will be forever measured by the skill of his writing and not necessarily by his skill as a profession hunter. His support for African hunting was one of his greatest achievements.

"""""""""JHook with comments like those, I won't bother answering except to point out your "favourite quote" is out of a fictional movie."""""""""

Dont take nothing TOO personaly Nitro.I wasnt talking about you, or even for matter, to you personaly. But I do notice a certain tendancy here, among some, to attack famous outdoor writers, personalitys.....ect, and without haveing met them.

Hey, its a free country. You can say what you want. And you can bet I will too..........good shooting..............J

Thanks for the info.

I have learned PHC actually was a Professional Hunter. I didn't know that. I thought it was more of his "story".

Also that he may have participated in some form or other in elephant cropping. Personally I think his ele numbers were closer to 4 than the 800.

I have learned he was a gentleman and a friendly man. I think this shines through in his books etc.

That he probably is the greatest American African hunting author since Ruark, and that he has done more than anyone else in the recent decades to get Americans hunting in Africa again. (Probably to the detriment of everyone else I remember when a big five hunt cost A$300 a day, and plains game was A$125 a day). And black rhino trophy fees were $1,000.

I knew he was an excellent read and his books were good value.

So who is going to one day write PHC's biography (if someone hasn't already) and if they do, can they tell it actually as it was? I hope so. I think that book would also be good value.