Recent content by Hank2211

My trip to Ethiopia was planned more than two years ago. I had originally planned to go in 2023, but my outfitter couldn’t guarantee the availability of a Menelik’s bushbuck. He believed we’d be ok, but rather than risk going to Ethiopia and not getting one of the two endemic bushbuck, I chose...

I haven’t measured it exactly but a bit over 4” I’d say. And I have had a duiker cut in two by a shot . . . !

Trail-type or hiking sneakers have come a long way in the last decade. I've noticed that many PH's have moved away from more traditional types of hunting boots and moved towards more comfortable-out-of-the-box types of footwear for hunting. As have I, for a few reasons. First, as I said...

I should have added two things: 1. The watermelon cost about 25 cents and was bought off a farmer in Ethiopia; and 2. The knife was made by a former member of this community . . . and the handle is New Zealand swamp kauri (which unfortunately you can't see).

Another reason to carry a knife on safari. And it's better if the blade is damascus.

I’ve used a .300 Win Mag on the high neck shot with quite satisfactory results (“timberrrr . . .”). If the shot hits the neck bones, it’s dead on the spot. If you were using the .375 as backup, so much the better. i wouldn’t worry too much about it. And I look forward to the report.

I like the idea of ‘sanctuary countries” for elephants and other mega-fauna. My guess is that the welcome wouldn’t last even as long as the welcome lasted in US sanctuary cities.

I’ve probably taken at least six giraffe. I enjoy the hunt - it’s not easy to sneak up on them and if badly hit, they can cover some distance. My first was taken with the heart lung shot, but ever since then, I’ve gone for the high neck shot. It really produces a very satisfactory result...

If I could perhaps be allowed to differ a bit . . . Anyone who hunts enough will make a bad shot from time to time . . . and frankly, I don't believe anyone who says they've never made a bad shot. We practice, we try our best, but sometimes we fail. When we do that, and the animal is wounded...

Congratulations. One of the great trophies of Africa and not one of the easiest to get. Your PH was smart to advise you as he did, and you were smarter to take his advice! No all we need is a picture!

I fear we're hijaking this thread . . . but I agree with Lon. I would also add that while Lon infers it, any dangerous game baited hunt requires an enormous amount of work by the PH and his (or her!) team and resources, far more than does a plains game hunt. There is also the supply and demand...

Has anyone tried to enter the US with a firearm, let alone one with the serial number wrong? In Calgary, we pre-clear US customs at the airport here, and even with the proper ATF forms pre-approved, it can take up to an hour (though usually half that long) for US CBP to let you go with the...

Agree completely. Even in more “mainstream” African hunting destinations you can find yourself in trouble for unknowingly violating local rules and regulations, or even just a local interpretation of what you thought you understood. While in Mozambique recently we found that one police officer...

While we were in Liberia my hunting partner was told that an outfitter was looking to set up an exploratory hunt in Gabon, but there were no real details. If anyone knows anything, I’d be glad to hear it. I have some interest in camping out in an ‘untamed’ jungle to see what can be found...

You’re welcome. But I would love to hear about hunting in Gabon . . . Didn’t know it was open, but thought they were trying to open it. I wouldn’t mind going somewhere untested . . . Provided I knew that in advance!