Warning for New Hunters

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I'm not going to say that Africa is addictive but...my user name used to just be @Eventually_Africa and this is my story.

You've always wanted to go to Africa, but you know you never had the time or the finances. Still, a dream takes a while to die so one day, sitting bored in your office, you decide that just looking around couldn't hurt, right? You stumble across an innocent looking sight, something about Africa Hunting and as you start to glance around the desire begins to grow. Look at all these people...look at all these stories! But no, no, you can't. You can't spare the time. You can't spare the money. And yet...there it is. Calling to you. Beckoning you forward. Your friends and family will start to wonder at all of the discarded Hunting magazines around the house. You'll tell them it's not a problem, you have this under control, and if they are worried you will cut down to just 5 hours a day on Africahunting.com. You'd be amazed at how quickly your brain will start scheming for your next hit of the adventure though. You simply cannot keep away. Reading, however, simply isn't enough. You know you need more. Soon someone will post something about firearms and before you know it your perusing used gun stores. You tell yourself your "just looking" and "can't afford it anyway" but then one catches your eye. Well, holding it for a second won't hurt, right? Oh, that feel, look at the grain of the wood and wouldn't you know it it comes with a scope already! And really, shouldn't you have a rifle? Just in case? Sure, everyone has one, so why not? After taking it to the range you realize you have a problem. Spent ammo boxes litter the den and living room despite your efforts to clean them up, reloading components have mysteriously materialized in the garage and even in your dreams your stalking through the long grass. You decide to seek help from a professional and you know just where to find them. A few conversations latter and, as you sit in bed, your wife looks over. "Honey, you have sweat on your brow and you look nervous. Do you need to talk?" And you can't hold it in anymore. Travel brochures, plane ticket quotes, hunting lists all come out as you poor out your troubles to your loved one. Sobbing for air you look into her eyes, expecting the recriminations to start. She thinks for a moment, lips slightly pursed, then says "I've been thinking to..." as she pulls out her own hunting magazine, cleverly concealed in the Cosmo you thought she was reading "I hear South Africa is very nice this time of year..."
 
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You've been assimilated, welcome.

 
I'm not going to say that Africa is @Eventually_Africa and this is my story.

You've always wanted to go to Africa, but you know you never had the time or the finances. Still, a dream takes a while to die so one day, sitting bored in your office, you decide that just looking around couldn't hurt, right? You stumble across an innocent looking sight, something about Africa Hunting and as you start to glance around the desire begins to grow. Look at all these people...look at all these stories! But no, no, you can't. You can't spare the time. You can't spare the money. And yet...there it is. Calling to you. Beckoning you forward. Your friends and family will start to wonder at all of the discarded Hunting magazines around the house. You'll tell them it's not a problem, you have this under control, and if they are worried you will cut down to just 5 hours a day on Africahunting.com. You'd be amazed at how quickly your brain will start scheming for your next hit of the adventure though. You simply cannot keep away. Reading, however, simply isn't enough. You know you need more. Soon someone will post something about firearms and before you know it your perusing used gun stores. You tell yourself your "just looking" and "can't afford it anyway" but then one catches your eye. Well, holding it for a second won't hurt, right? Oh, that feel, look at the grain of the wood and wouldn't you know it it comes with a scope already! And really, shouldn't you have a rifle? Just in case? Sure, everyone has one, so why not? After taking it to the range you realize you have a problem. Spent ammo boxes litter the den and living room despite your efforts to clean them up, reloading components have mysteriously materialized in the garage and even in your dreams your stalking through the long grass. You decide to seek help from a professional and you know just where to find them. A few conversations latter and, as you sit in bed, your wife looks over. "Honey, you have sweat on your brow and you look nervous. Do you need to talk?" And you can't hold it in anymore. Travel brochures, plane ticket quotes, hunting lists all come out as you poor out your troubles to your loved one. Sobbing for air you look into her eyes, expecting the recriminations to start. She thinks for a moment, lips slightly pursed, then says "I've been thinking to..." as she pulls out her own hunting magazine, cleverly concealed in the Cosmo you thought she was reading "I hear South Africa is very nice this time of year..."
Does that mean she is coming with or telling you to go? Because I would have 2 very different reactions there.....lol
 
Does that mean she is coming with or telling you to go? Because I would have 2 very different reactions there.....lol

Oh she ended up coming with me, knocked over several Impala, a Blesbuck and a Wildebeest and fell in love with it! She isn't coming with me this time around, but she will be going again!
 
My story started out the same but unfolded very differently.

Me: "Babe what do you think about going to Africa with me next year"?
Her: "Hmm. (Short thoughtful pause) How long is the flight"?
Me: "Sixteen hours or somewhere there abouts".
Her: " Oh hell no but you knock yourself out"!
Me: "OK great!! Of course this is a once in a lifetime, bucket list trip, so we'll go somewhere nice next year".

So now several years and several trips later I have yet to miss a year. I've read many many similar stories here and I think we can all agree that, yes it is very addictive.

And FWIW she held me to my word and I had to take her to Hawaii..................but I still managed to fit Africa in the same year!!;)

BD
 
My story started out the same but unfolded very differently.

Me: "Babe what do you think about going to Africa with me next year"?
Her: "Hmm. (Short thoughtful pause) How long is the flight"?
Me: "Sixteen hours or somewhere there abouts".
Her: " Oh hell no but you knock yourself out"!
Me: "OK great!! Of course this is a once in a lifetime, bucket list trip, so we'll go somewhere nice next year".

So now several years and several trips later I have yet to miss a year. I've read many many similar stories here and I think we can all agree that, yes it is very addictive.

And FWIW she held me to my word and I had to take her to Hawaii..................but I still managed to fit Africa in the same year!!;)

BD

Now that's a happily ever after!
 
My wife caught me once late at night on the computer and was livid accusing me of being on gunbroker buying big bore rifles, I cleverly switched screens to Ashly Madison website before she cleared the distance to look at the computer!
 
That sounds oh, so true. I started "just glancing through" AH for something to do one evening. Growing up hunting and being interested in guns, I thought "What the hell, I'll ask at the gun shop about African hunting". The clerk I talked with has been to Africa 6 times and the stories he told really got me going. We started talking guns and you know how that goes. I opened my big mouth about his recommendations And lo and behold he grabbed a Win 70 in 375HH right off the rack! I tried to decline but he suggested I just hold it and see how it felt. Bad move. Instant love. That action was so smooth and that gun literally jumped right to a perfect cheek weld. Well, it wasn't long before I was devouring outfitters websites for safari info, etc, etc. Now three years later I'm booked for my third hunt. I'm hooked!! All year I scheme how to get back there just one more time. Let's see--- Today is 7 February. My flight is 12 April. Aha! just about 9 weeks to agonize through.
 
Funny as I had lunch with @ActionBob and @tarbe today we talked about how much money this forum has cost us, but also how it is better to live life to the fullest and Africa is doing just that!

Oh yeah and Bob joked about SELLING GUNS!
 
Funny as I had lunch with @ActionBob and @tarbe today we talked about how much money this forum has cost us, but also how it is better to live life to the fullest and Africa is doing just that!

Oh yeah and Bob joked about SELLING GUNS!


What better place to play with all our pretty toys and --money? You can'take it with you and the kids will probably just waste it.
 
This post is why I love this site. Any site that can make a grown kid with four kids of his own both laugh and cry at the same time is awesome. Laugh cause it is so true after three times in Africa I still come back here routinely. Cry cause I would be so rich without learning about this site and having four kids. Enjoy this year in Africa and May g-d have mercy on your soul!
 
Funny as I had lunch with @ActionBob and @tarbe today we talked about how much money this forum has cost us, but also how it is better to live life to the fullest and Africa is doing just that!

Oh yeah and Bob joked about SELLING GUNS!

I look at it like this site has SAVED me money...… at least that's what I tell the Minister of Finance. ! She calls this site my Africa Porn site, it could be worse..
You've been assimilated, welcome.


And yes, as the Borg say, resistance is futile!
 
I have a local safari outfit here in North Georgia. Within a month of meeting one of the guides I purchased my Whitworth .375 H&H from them. I found this site and joined the next day already looking for a Whitworth in .458 Win Mag. It is now 5 days from the purchase of my .375 and my .458 will be here tomorrow morning (from Ohio because it is an almost twin to my .375 stock grain pattern and all) along with a SXS 12 gauge that my gunsmith is already working on plans for a poor man's double rifle. If anyone could be an example of catching the Africa fever fast it is definitely me. However, I don't think I've felt so excited for something since I was a child. Hopefully next year is Africa.
 
My wife and I leave the last week of April for our first safari. Everyone said you never go once. I haven’t even been but I find myself after being on this sight for more than a year and going to DSC I am planning number two. Tell that to other people and it doesn’t make sense. Tell that to someone that has been and it makes total sense.
 
That sounds oh, so true. I started "just glancing through" AH for something to do one evening. Growing up hunting and being interested in guns, I thought "What the hell, I'll ask at the gun shop about African hunting". The clerk I talked with has been to Africa 6 times and the stories he told really got me going. We started talking guns and you know how that goes. I opened my big mouth about his recommendations And lo and behold he grabbed a Win 70 in 375HH right off the rack! I tried to decline but he suggested I just hold it and see how it felt. Bad move. Instant love. That action was so smooth and that gun literally jumped right to a perfect cheek weld. Well, it wasn't long before I was devouring outfitters websites for safari info, etc, etc. Now three years later I'm booked for my third hunt. I'm hooked!! All year I scheme how to get back there just one more time. Let's see--- Today is 7 February. My flight is 12 April. Aha! just about 9 weeks to agonize through.

I hear you! My flight is the 18th of April!
 
You are indeed hooked! Enjoy because as they say you only go around once......no wait was that?.?. Twice.....Three or Four or Five times!
 
I have a local safari outfit here in North Georgia. Within a month of meeting one of the guides I purchased my Whitworth .375 H&H from them. I found this site and joined the next day already looking for a Whitworth in .458 Win Mag. It is now 5 days from the purchase of my .375 and my .458 will be here tomorrow morning (from Ohio because it is an almost twin to my .375 stock grain pattern and all) along with a SXS 12 gauge that my gunsmith is already working on plans for a poor man's double rifle. If anyone could be an example of catching the Africa fever fast it is definitely me. However, I don't think I've felt so excited for something since I was a child. Hopefully next year is Africa.
If you’re getting the .458 from the Columbus Cabela’s, I handled that rifle last week. It is SWEET! Very smooooooth.
 
As others have said “You are Hooked”!
I went on my first trip in June 2018. Booked second trip by mid July 2018 for June of 2019. Hunted plains game first trip going after Buff this trip and planning 2020 for croc and possibly hippo already. I got hooked bad. Real bad.
 
This string is hilarious! I had wanted to hunt Nyati since I was a kid. I finally made that ‘once in a lifetime’ trip to the Upper Luangwa valley in 2012. 2013 was our 30th anniversary. My wife was thinking Italy, we ended up in Botswana taking both buff and elephant on our anniversary. We leave on July 29th for our 7th safari and will be spending our anniversary in the bush again. My wife intends to take her first buffalo on this hunt with a brand new Rigby in 9.3x62. It is life’s most grand addiction!
 
“Cheaper than a mistress!” I heard that joke for years from a close friend when he would justify our hunting expenses. Then I watched a business partner go through the mistress/turmoil process and the phrase took on new meaning.
Africa, too, is an adventure. I’m going back again because there is so much more to learn. And it is much, much cheaper than a mistress. (While writing this I realize I’m trying to justify a Blaser rifle...)
 

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