Killing your dream animal?

VonJager said:

Top of my list is Sable. I went to South Africa in 2016, and they had Sable. But it wouldn't have been "proper." My next trip will be for Sable specifically, and will be "proper" and I will not hesitate to pull the trigger.

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I know what you mean. A guy I know is both a PH and a South African game rancher. I've stayed at his place a couple of times where he has sable amongst other species. These were younger animals being grown on for release on concessions. I managed to walk quite close to a couple of these because they were used to humans being around. They didn't run, just stood and looked at me from around 40 yards away.

It made me think that someone will eventually pay thousands of dollars to shoot (I refuse to use the word hunt in this instance) these animals in the future thinking they've 'hunted' it.

well its not a definite add to the list. I am certain i could pull the trigger and the more i think about it the more i realize something else will take its place. maybe my grizzly bear will move up to number 1 after the giraffe. i mean when i was 13 i killed a 158 in whitetail this didn't stop me from hunting whitetail at all

MJ75 said:

I know what you mean. A guy I know is both a PH and a South African game rancher. I've stayed at his place a couple of times where he has sable amongst other species. These were younger animals being grown on for release on concessions. I managed to walk quite close to a couple of these because they were used to humans being around. They didn't run, just stood and looked at me from around 40 yards away.

It made me think that someone will eventually pay thousands of dollars to shoot (I refuse to use the word hunt in this instance) these animals in the future thinking they've 'hunted' it.

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I agree that this isn't hunting. I feel that there are a lot of people though that will pay to kill one of those just for the mount. I have no doubts that the animals will be wild, they will be fenced but still wild.

My humble advice to you is that you go for your dream animal when the right opportunity presents itself. And the #1 reason to me is that you might never get a chance again. Two friends of mine had dream hunts that they kept putting off for a better time. Sadly they both never got the opportunity because of their untimely deaths. The first to die had the dream to go to the Yukon with his brother to hunt moose. In a bizarre twist of fate, he died when he was in a collision with a moose while driving home one night. My other friend and I were co-workers and would always talk about our life-long dreams to hunt Africa. We promised each other that if either of us won the lottery, we would take the other guy on a safari. Then he drowned while on vacation with his wife in Cuba. That was the kick in the pants that needed to quit putting off my dream on the possibility that I might gain a little more financial security. As a small dedication to him, I taped a photo of him on my rifle and brought him, in a way, to Africa with me. You can see that in the pics that are in my hunt report.

Since I was 14 years old I have dreamed of Kudu. Every damn day! When I decided to go to Namibia in 2014 at the age of 45, Kudu was the one animal that I would be upset if it never came together. I wanted one so bad I could taste it. We saw lots of kudu cows, but only two bulls in 10 days and my PH was unable to judge the horns before they disappeared. So I went home without my dream animal. And I still dream of Kudu every day....only far worse than before! I am hopeful to be able to go to South Africa in 2018 and at the very top of my Want List will be a Kudu. If the Hunting Gods smile on me and gift me with a Kudu I know that my emotions will be all across the spectrum, from tears, to pure joy to a little remorse. If I am fortunate enough to return for a 3rd time, I won't want to repeat on any of the species I've taken previously, except Kudu. And they will be on the top of my list again.

If you get the opportunity, and everything feels right, take your giraffe. Go through the spectrum of emotions. You'll still have dreams...they never go away!

huntinlabs said:

I agree that this isn't hunting. I feel that there are a lot of people though that will pay to kill one of those just for the mount. I have no doubts that the animals will be wild, they will be fenced but still wild.

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We're all individuals, we travel to Africa for our own reasons. Some are true hunters who'll only hunt animals in their native range, free chase. Others are 'bone collectors'. Pros and cons to all reasons.

Those hunting captive bred sable or even lion in RSA are deluding themselves if they think they're hunting in the true sense. But taking these animals leaves examples in the wild, so there's an argument to say it's not all bad. That's not aimed at anyone it's just an opinion. The best thing to do is thoroughly research the species you want to hunt and if it's important to you, find out if it's captive bred in a put and take or truly wild. Some fenced areas still have indigenous, self sustaining breeding populations after all. I hope that all makes sense!

I recognize that sitatunga Wayne! It is still my most prized animal.

sestoppelman said:

I recognize that sitatunga Wayne! It is still my most prized animal.

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............and it should be.

I bet you have a whole bunch of dreams that you had no idea until you see them live! I was bow hunting so I got to really see how many of the animals acted and you notice an animal hierarchy that you never thought about. Live it up and keep adding dreams.