Operator - Norbert Reiner Safaris
PH - Andrew Baldry
Area - Royal Kafue Zambia
Date - September 2016

Otto is a very interesting man whose hunting is steeped in Austrian/German tradition. A big and larger than life character who once had been a noted pistol combat shooter and whose passions were restoring classic motorcycles and the making of fine schnapps whose ingredients is a closely guarded family secret.

His wants were fairly simple and it had been his dream since childhood to hunt a Sable. He had hunted extensively across the African continent but had yet to come across a Sable that suited his standard.

Lets go back a few weeks when I was crawling through tangled thickets behind the villages of Kaindu after what was considered a wounded and dangerous buffalo. The buffalo was carrying a snare and Chief Kaindu asked me to put it down as the Government PAC team dare not enter the acacia and matete reed beds of the Kaluanyambe stream. This buffalo was tracked down stream to the junction of my eastern boundary and I left it here as I had other more lucrative plans for this old boy.

This was to be Otto's buffalo and he shot it under the chin when it lifted its great head over a stand of long grass. The snare had disfigured the front left hoof.

Otto after what seemed to be a couple of moments of prayer proceeded to break off two green branches and with the first I was instructed to place it in the buffalos mouth as 'last bite' and the other I did lightly dip in blood and place on my hat and presented to him with my left hand and in my best German accent loudly pronounced 'weidmannsheil' of which he replied 'weidmannsdank'. Having shed a tear he produced a flask of whiskey and with our left hands we drank to the beast that had provided for our sport. We repeated this tradition many times during the safari and one fine afternoon the Sable of his childhood dreams walked into the scope of his rifle.

The flask was replenished several times that evening and agreed that we dismiss with the wake up call for the following morning. That evening he told me all about the making of stills and Schnapps and is to be my mentor for my new Schnapps making business. We are to use an indigenous fruit that grows in abundance in a secretive place of Zambia.

Otto was a fine a man as I have ever met and I admired his traditions and respect for the game. As Otto was leaving Zambia he put his big arms around me and said 'Andrew you are a good man and I would like us to hunt together again'.

Trying again, something blipped my computer out.

Very nicely put post.

Looks like you have found a true friend and fine sportsman.
I hope that both of you keep up the fine work.

Excellent.

As always Andrew! Proper!

I always enjoy your hunt reports.

Proper hunting for all the right reasons . . . well done to the hunter.

I like that. More to it than just pictures and numbers.

Well done Andrew and Otto. I bet it was fun around the campfire too! Congratulations to both!

Best regards, D. Nelson

The "last bite" has always been a German hunting tradition that I've particularly admired. Well done!

I have always admired the European's respect for their game animals. Nicely done.

Lots of respect here for a hunter that will honor his quarry like that. We need more of that. Well done, sir.

Wonderful post, Andrew. I always open your posts as they're usually worth reading and this one certainly was.

A gentleman teamed up with a gentleman. What a great hunt. Congratulations to Otto and yourself Andrew.
Jytte

Excellent, well done!

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Great story and pictures Andrew and a big WAidmannsheil to all involved ! Europe - with or without the UK - has some wonderful traditions especially when it comes to hunting !

Cheers

Charlie

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Integrity... A rare find in todays world.

Thanks for posting Andrew

As usual you don't fail to deliver Mr. Baldry, Congratulations to you and your client on a fine safari, always admired the european hunting tradition.

Wonderful, old trophies. Well done to you, your team and client.

So gratifying to see that sportsmanship is alive and well. Congratulations to you both, and thank you for brightening my day.

Great team effort rewarded with great trophies. Well done by all!

well done Andrew. glad to hear some are still with traditions.

quote:

Originally posted by mej:
A gentleman teamed up with a gentleman. What a great hunt. Congratulations to Otto and yourself Andrew.
Jytte

Yep.