Even though I dont have any pictures downloaded yet I wanted to report that everything is alive and well in the areas I hunted in Zimbabwe. My PH was Pete Fick a very dedicated intense hunter but a very good PH. My sons PH was Phillip Reed a younger but experienced PH. My son and I first hunted Chewore South for buffalo and I also hunted sable. Very nice tented camp on government land. Rugged, beautiful country and absolutely no problems. This is primarily a dangerous game area but there is some plains game. We hunted sable hard for four days before I took one but he was worth the wait, beautiful animal. Plus I was able to take him about 275 yds out so was glad to make the shot.

The next day my son and I both took good old daga boys with good spread and wide mature bosses. Interesting comparison in the two kills, my son took his with his .375 H&H with one shot ran 80 yds and fell over dead. Mine took five broadside shots from my .416 Rem. Mag all well placed before he would roll over. After running about 20 yds I think he locked up and just would not go down until I broke both shoulders with Trophy Bonded Sledgehammers, only one exited. The good thing was he never saw us.

We then moved to the Mokore area of the Save Valley Conservancy. Barrie Duckworth the owner of Mokore Safaris privately still owns this area although he has lost other areas in other parts of the country including his homeplace that had been in his family for four generations. This is a beautiful camp sitting on a flowing river. My son was after kudu and impala and took good animals. I was primarily hunting leopard the old fashioned way with baits and blind. We had 5 females hit, one immature male, crocadile and every varmit you could name but did not get a hit from a big tom until the last day, although 2 1/2 days of of colder rainy weather slowed everything down. The tom that did hit had a track longer than my .300 Win. Mag. shell so we knew he was big. Pete set everything up very well, great blind location, listening device at the bait and a remote sleeping area. the leopard came after dark about 7:30. Pete woke me up by sticking his head phones in my ear so I could hear the leopard crunching the rib bones of the zebra quarter. We made our way silently to the blind, checked to see if the leopard was still feeding and I took my place over my rifle. The light went on, I had a perfect field of vision -- no leopard. I guess he was one of Lou Hallamores PhD leopards he didnt get that big by being dumb. We discussed all possibilties but no one could figure out why the leopard left before the light was turned on.

On brighter note I also took a great bushbuck a "bull" of a warthog and a zebra. For those of you that measure, all animals I took will make the SCI book and then some.

Overall it was a great hunt with great people in a beautiful place with no problems. I would encourage anyone interested in great hunting areas at very fair prices to not cross off Zimbabwe as a destination as long as you have direct contact with quality people on the ground in the area you intend to hunt such as Mokore Safaris and Barrie Duckworth.

Anyone wanting more specific informattion, send me an e-mail and I will certainly respond.

CFA

CFA,

Glad you had a great safari but I would have expected nothing less from Barrie. He has been putting on top quality hunts since '79.

Sorry you didn't get your leopard but those lowveld cats are tricky.You must have seen tons of plains game as Barrie said it was a very good year for all the animals.

I hunted Chewore South in '96 and it definitely is wild Africa. Speaking of wild did Pete talk to you about the concession in Mozambique? There is some good but tough hunting there now but I think they are expecting great things with a few more years of their stewardship.

Regards,

Mark

Mark,

Yes both Pete and Barrie talked about Mozambique, Barrie and Bertie went there after spending a few days with us at Mokore. Pete thinks some big elephant should come out of there and of course is looking forward to hunting them. We did see a lot of plains game at Mokore but with hunting leopard we mainly were doing some hunting to and from the leopard baits. That is a great combination, being able to hunt both Chewore and the Save.

Fred

Enjoyed reading about your buffalo hunt. I am in the process of trying to plan a hunt for 2005. Duckworth is one of the companies I am considering using. Can you provide me with a e-mail address for him? Thanks, Hartley Kittle

I know Pete Fick well. He's a good friend of my PH, Doug KOK and a hell of nice guy. You had two very good PH's.

Hartley,

Mokores e-mail address is mokore@mweb.co.za. Someone is usually there that can relay a message to Barrie. If you happen to be going to Reno for SCI next year he will be there with all his family, great folks. If I can answer any questions for you let me know.

Fred
CFA

Geronomo

You are certainly right, both were very professional and dedicated. I had no qualms putting my son into Phillip Reeds hands and he certainly took care of him. They had a close call with a buff and Phillip handled it well. With Pete, he is all business when hunting and you always feel that he is giving you 110%.

CFA

Geronomo,
Where is barefoot Doug Kok these days? I have lost contact with him.

"bare foot doug" still going strong in zim,lost his touch with the bare foot program..........now moving with good old veldskoene