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Larry..great report

On your earlier briefing you mentioned poaching and I assumed elephant poaching. Atleast that was not the case in reading your report..which is good.

I have a feeling that elephant only hunting will continue via government issued permits in the future just as happened on your hunt. Wishful thinking?

Cant wait for your pics.

Well done Larry... two fine bulls. Pity the area when the hunters do leave it. Sounds like the hyenas (both human and animal) will have their way with it when no one is there to patrol the area!

Larry, CONGRATULATIONS.....and a great report. Thanks for the pics on my phone. Lovely Bulls. I am surely glad we both got to see and hunt Bots this year. Very shortly it may all go to heck. Again - thanks for the report and Congratulations.

quote:

Murray made some comment about the speed being from all the years of shooting doubles. I laughed and told him this was my first DG animal with a double. He was floored. I was happy.

Larry, you don't actually have to aim these Verney-Carron doubles. They're so perfectly designed that they do it themselves. At least, that's what Ken told me :-)

I am smiling reading your report.

Mike

Must be true. I have to close both eyes when I shoot the 500 anyway.

LOL !!!

Congrats Larry! Can't wait for pics

CONGRATULATIONS Larry!
Am very happy for you getting to go & take TWO great elephants.
The poaching makes me sick, but we have that here at home on whitetail as well.

Very nice Larry, eagerly awaiting the photos.

Very nice Larry. Thanks for the ele pics. That second one looks like a real big boy. Sorry you had issues with the DO but glad the VC worked great. Lots of fun hunting up close and personal with the doubles isn't it!

Shame about the poaching and removal of the pumps but you're right, who could blame Johan. Just goes to show what happens when hunting goes away. Just sad indeed.

great hunt and congratulations. my only concern is why you left camp 5 days early. on a few safaris i have completed a wish list early and could have gone home- but i refuse to leave any sooner than absolutely required by plane tickets! Africa just refuses to release it's hold on my soul.

Great Larry, sounds like a great hunt. Congratulations on the two great eles, can't wait for the pics.

Thanks gentlemen.

I left early because I deemed any further plains game hunting allowed would be (a) an impairment to Jeff, (b) a total waste of time , (c) we potentially have a hurricane headed our way (d) my girl friend fractured her pelvis just before I left (e) I am super busy at work and (f) I leave for the SAVE in 5 weeks.

I in no way blame Calitz for taking the pumps out. It was a reasonable action based upon what was known at the time.

I can't find my cable to load my pictures. I will post some from my i phone.

Congrats on taking two Elephants, one hell of a resultant For five days hunting in anyone's book. Can not wait to see the pics....

Congrats. Looking forward to pix...

Congratulations, Larry! Great report!

great hunt...congrats on the elephants.

sorry about the poachers messing with your hunt

Problems with Photobucket today. Will post as soon as I can.

Living the dream, did Lauri get some good footage ?

Oh yes. The kill shots were excellent. I hope to have those clips soon and will post them.

Larry,
Been reading your reports for years and have enjoyed everyone. Thanks for laying it out there,
and thanks for the facts, along with the great adventure.The very best to you, Butch

Fantastic story and great shooting. I've never been to Africa, but it's the kind of adventure I'd want if it were possible.

A few unrelated questions, if you've time -

Since apparently they're closing it, what would the story probably be on the issuance of the extra permits? I take it they were unexpected.

Did anything come of all those calls to the authorities about the poaching?

And if they're closing it to hunting I guess that means they want photo tourism instead. I wonder what will happen when ecology tourists find out they're rubbing shoulders with uncontrolled poaching. It'll be an educational experience for sure.

Just one other - have you thought through the likely scenario if that young bull had entered the trail a few minutes earlier, while you were on it by yourself?? The surprise face to face could have gotten interesting..

Nice report and sounds like a fruitful hunt. Too bad they don't issue poacher permits....

Agreed. Looking forward to the pics as well. Hey Larry, what are the new gun retrieval procedures in Atlanta? I would like to know before I leave on Tuesday as our time in arriving in Atlanta and catching the next flight to Vegas is short. Thanks.

I am still having Photobucket issues. I got the pictures to load finally. However, when I posted them, they were massive. I erased them while I am working on this.

Shack:

As I understand it, additional permits were issued for a similar area. The Council started raising hell that permits should be issued for their area. 10 permits were issues after all of the shows.

Wildlife department people did show up (too late). Nothing happened. They did find some camps which were burned.

Using these areas for photographic trips will be an unmitigated disaster.

Yes, I did give the matter of the young bull some thought. I figured there was ample opportunity for us to escape each other. If not, I am confident I could defend myself.

UEG:

You might have trouble. There is a new terminal. ALL guns go to a locked room manned by 2 Customs people. A long line is formed. You wait your turn. It is very disorganized.It took me almost 2 hours and I have Global Entry.

By the way, Jeff is not having good luck. I feel awful.

its easy to down size them in photobucket, you just uploaded them to big. Some info about the Westley looks sweet a good tip from a client ?

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
Must be true. I have to close both eyes when I shoot the 500 anyway.

Understandable!! You wouldn't want your retinas flying out the front of your eye sockets.

Nice report and it justs wets my appitite even more to add Elephant to our 2014 trip (don't tell the Madam).

Cheers
Jim

Congrats Larry, good elephants and good shooting

Outstanding pics Larry! By the way, did they cut up and use the Giraffe? She looks fairly fresh in the photo. Nice eles!!

Congrats Larry and thanks for the post. I love the pic of the eles with the thorns in the foreground. So natural. I am keeping a close watch on that storm from here in South Texas as well.

UEG:

Apparently someone did get much of the meat. There were clean cuts. This happened over night.

Anton:

Long story on the W-R. He bought it from a person that inherited it. It had been sitting in a closet for years. He got it at a true bargain price.

It was originally made in the 50's for some Asian guy who was going to be an ivory hunter. On one of his first trips, a cow hammered him. He opted for a career change and sold it.

Dang Larry, I thought you were...well...taller. I'm "floored"! Hope you have a sense of humor. Congrats on your hunt. I received my V-C with the D.O. a week ago. Some issues we can chat about. More to follow. Anyway, congrats on your hunt and thanks for the report!

Regards

Nice job Larry!

I love the tusks on that 2nd bull in particular, and good shooting! There is nothing like an elephant bang-flop!

Don't worry, you'll have some nice long walks next year.

Thanks for a great report Larry!

Awesome bull Larry, congrats!

CONGRATES on a productive hunt. Look forward to more pix. Thanks for the report!!!!

Looks like that Double did the job on the Two very nice Elephants.
Way to go!!!