Well said.
I can't agree with you more. My buffalo was really small, but the fact that i worked so hard for him for a week, and remember every detail about that hunt, makes it the best trophy that i have ever taken. There was something just so intoxicating being out in the african bush. I mean The Bull wasn't a mosnter or even an average head, but he's mine. I hunted him through the thickest nastiest bush that i had seen in the 4 months i had been in Tanzania. My trophy i think was the memories that i created on my hunt. The head just reminds me and takes me back every time I look at it or the Pictures.
I have several trophy heads that are not monsters or even minimum SCI but I dont value them less. Everyone wants big heads but it dont always work out that way. My second buff (Botswana) is only about 34" across, so what. He has a nice boss and shape and I downed him with one shot from over 140 yards moving away from me. One .375 solid dumped him instantly! It was an easy stalk too but I wont forget it.
http://www.africahunting.com/hunting...e=13268&size=1
This was the only guided hunt I have every been on and it was amazing, I can only imagine what a tru African Safri would be like. 275lbs shot on the second day of a 5 day hunt.
After many hunts in very difficult terrain, one of the Rams I have shot in these harsh conditions and one of the Rams that lived up to it's full reputation!! Absolute honour to be able to hunt this awesome animal! :-)))
http://www.africahunting.com/hunting...e=13269&size=1
Thanks again for the lovely prize on offer.
Below is a link to the whole story I wrote about my hunt that took place in 2009.
It was a very satisfying hunt to say the least. A very nervous stalk while gemsbuck were watching us, culminating in me having to take the shot over 172m, over a small valley.
Here is the pic of the zebra and below that, a link to the story.
http://www.africahunting.com/hunting...le=5240&size=1
http://www.africahunting.com/namibia....html#post4291
Hunting trip in South Africa. My first Blue Wilderbeest and warthog. They were taken from the same hide with 40 minutes gap. Great experience!
For the one who wish to view the shot I made on the Blue Wilderbeest, I've uploaded the video on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSdy2Dd381w
Enjoy it! However it was quite hard to see the animal going like this. It's part of the hunt anyway!
http://www.africahunting.com/hunting...e=13270&size=1
http://www.africahunting.com/hunting...e=13271&size=1
http://www.africahunting.com/hunting...e=13272&size=1
1. picture: fallow deer stag taken in Poland, near Prudnik, on a rut in 2009. 30-06 Spr. 220gr. Federal Power Shock,
2. picture: black bear taken on bait, western New Foundland/Canada in 2007, same rifle
3. picture: canadian moose taken in rut in New Foundland/Canada 2008, 7 Rem.Mag.180gr. Federal Premium
4. picture: non-typical woodland caribou taken in New Foundland/Canada in 2008, rifle as above
5. picture: 5 wildboars taken within 20 seconds during the night hunt near Koszecin/Poland in 2005, 30-06 Spr. 220gr. Federal Power Shock,
6. picture: golden class rusa deer stag taken on Mauritius in 2010; 7 Rem. Magnum 150gr. Federal
7. picture: non-typical roe deer buck taken near Pszczyna/Poland in 2009; 243 Win, 58 gr. Hornady V-Max w/Molly
8. picture: 6/7 non-typical Rocky Mountain elk taken in GMU 16a New Mexico/USA in 2009, scored 375 points SCI; 7 Rem. Magnum 180 gr. Federal Premium
9. picture: pronghorn antelope taken in GMU 20 New Mexico/USA in 2009, 257 Weatherby Mag.
10.picture:brown bear taken north Magadan Siberia/Russia in 2008, scored 8 6/8 feet; 375 HH Mag. 270 gr. SP-RP HM InterLock
11.picture:2 wild boar taskers taken ("doublet") near Pszczyna/Poland in 2007; 30-06 Spr. 220gr. Federal Power Shock
12.picture:waterbuck taken in Limpopo Province/RSA in 2003; 375 HH Mag. 270 gr. SP-RP HM InterLock
Attachment 5779 Attachment 5790 Attachment 5789 Attachment 5788 Attachment 5787 Attachment 5786 Attachment 5785 Attachment 5784 Attachment 5783 Attachment 5781 Attachment 5782 Attachment 5791
http://www.africahunting.com/hunting...php?file=10851
Picture taken in Portugal during a traditional wild boar hunt.
Dogs are used to chase wild boars but sometimes they can grab them. This generates a big fight. Here is one of those moment's.
http://www.africahunting.com/hunting...e=10852&size=1
Taken in Portugal, Axis deer with a bow
http://www.africahunting.com/hunting...e=10853&size=1
Small game bow hunting in Portugal
colosse: Hunt with my uncle in the hunting ground of Ferney, in Mauritius. Beautiful weather. Amazing memory.
trophy size: 36 7/8 inch.
june 2010.
grater and DSC 01215: taking pics of deer while stalking wild boar with my cousin and best friend.
Attachment 5797
This very nice Oryx came as a tremendous blessing after 5 days of not seeing a single animal I was hunting. It had been a fantastic Safari with PH Gerard Ambrose, but I was beginning to think my safari was over. This is the great hunting team (minus Gerard) that guided, tracked and assisted me in my first, but definitely not last, African safari. The sunset photo was one of many -- each day ended in a sunset more beautiful than the day before.
Heaven on earth.
Attachment 5798
This trophy whitetail was taken by my best hunting partner ever: my daughter. She took this when she was 12 and it was the first year that I let her carry a rifle while we were hunting. This was her first big game animal ever and, although it was a doe, it was definitely a worthy trophy for both of us. My daughter is truly a remarkable person. She attends a school for the intellectually gifted where she is one of two girls who made the varsity track team, is on a travel soccer team, volunteers for community service (unlike her dad who was asked to do community service when he was a young teen by a man who wore black satin and carried a gavel!), and most always puts other people ahead of herself.
Attachment 5799
My daughter has accompanied me into the woods on our annual deer hunting trip since she was eight. She has helped me spot deer, especially when I may have dozed off for just a minute or two, track deer that I've shot, assisted in field dressing, and all the way through helping with the sausage making. Now she finally got to do it with her own harvest.
She has told me on several occasions that her dream hunt would be a hunting safari with dad in Africa and who am I to argue with my baby's dreams?!?!
I took this eleven year old Persian desert ibex in Iran last month. The shot was taken from 137 yards using a custom XP-100 handgun in 6.5 WSM.
http://www.africahunting.com/hunting...e=10855&size=1
This Transcaspian urial was taken in Iran, Jan. 2011. The eleven year old ram was taken with an XP-100 handgun from long range.
http://www.africahunting.com/hunting...e=10856&size=1
I took this bongo with a 375 JDJ handgun in Cameroon.
http://www.africahunting.com/hunting...le=6792&size=1
http://www.africahunting.com/hunting...le=6791&size=1
I took this Western Forest Sitatunga with a 375 JDJ handgun in Cameroon.
http://www.africahunting.com/hunting...le=6793&size=1