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Well done Doc. You had a heck of a hunt not many will ever get to experience.


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Very enjoyable write up Doc. Thank you very much for sharing the narrative and photo's. I loved your fresh approach and the bit of humor you added to the narrative. Too often the stories we read are stoic and filled with too much testosterone . Yours was readable and put the reader right along your left shoulder. Thanks again.


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Wonderful story Do, we was right there with you.

I was proud of the way you handled that rifle.


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Thank you for the excellent and enjoyable read!


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Originally Posted by Birdwatcher


I was proud of the way you handled that rifle.



I'm not sure you know how I handled it, Mike, but.... okay!!

I actually was really critical of my rifle-handling on this hunt, and definitely see some room for improvement. My PH said he was very pleased with my shooting/riflework, but he sees a lot of people who have made serious mistakes in their riflery preparations, and that colors his perspective some.

I'm putting together an article on the journey I undertook in selecting my African rifle, and my training with it to get ready for this hunt, which I might share on the big bore/express rifle forum at a later date.


"I'm gonna have to science the schit out of this." Mark Watney, Sol 59, Mars
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Doc,

Was John packing his ARs in his truck. He likes to get them out on occasion and let em loose…

Billy


Turn em loose ...
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Yes, we got the AR's out a couple of times. Good quality rifles, both the .223 and the .308, with excellent Trijicon optics (ACOG).


"I'm gonna have to science the schit out of this." Mark Watney, Sol 59, Mars
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Congrats on great hunt and a great read, well done sir.


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Doc, talk about late, but I just made my way to this thread. Very nice experience and write-up.
My two regrets concerning my trip in 2007 were I didn't include mbogo at the get-go (heading the earlier advice I'd gotten) and that we could never catch up to a mature bull eland though we were at coffee table range of young ones.

Very nice pic's too.

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Doc, found myself frozen each word eyes wide open. Best read in a very long time on the fire IMO. Your Kimber Caprivi In .375 H&H Magnum a beauty.

Great stuff! Thanks and congrats.


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George, thanks very much. Sorry to hear we have the no-eland experience in common, but not too sorry... after all, it's about the hunt, not the kill. I'm already tossing around ideas for an eland hunt as soon as I can scratch the dough together.


"I'm gonna have to science the schit out of this." Mark Watney, Sol 59, Mars
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Thanks for the kind words, Shag. Glad you liked this hastily-written account. I'm working on putting it together in a better format as part of a larger work.

As for the Caprivi, yes, it's an outstanding rifle for the price they're going for right now. I was first turned onto the Kimber when I read Terry Wieland's book Dangerous Game Rifles. Wieland is one of the better gunwriters out there, IMHO, although like most Canadians (including me!) his prose comes across a bit stodgy, or so I'm told by my American friends. In any event, his 2-page write-up of the Caprivi in his book piqued my interest, so I did some research and found that most savvy gun guys agree with him... it's one of the best non-custom rifles on the market.

I'm writing an article at present about my Caprivi, as it happens, which I hope to get published next year. We shall see. It would be ideal if I could get my hands on a Caprivi in 458 Lott as well so I can round out the piece.


"I'm gonna have to science the schit out of this." Mark Watney, Sol 59, Mars
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Doc, I'm obviously late to the party, but glad I made it. What a great read. You certainly made the story come alive. I haven't had the opportunity (or the money) to hunt buf but I did enjoy my plains game hunt in So. Africa last year. As you found it's certainly easy to catch the Kudu fever. I had a similar experience with a zebra when a bullet richochet off a branch he was looking through. In my case the bullet went almost straight down and hit him in the hoof and when he stepped it stopped the blood. Glad the dogs were able to find him. Your pictures were very good for a point and click. Thanks for the efforts you made on the story and pictures. Sounds like you literally had the time of your life. Good on you.


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Doc,
I just found this thread and found it fascinating. Like many others have noted, you're an excellent writer. Thanks for sharing and for keeping me dreaming of my own safari someday.


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Great story and well written.

I expect to go to Zim (or someplace) next year for buff. Your buff is very respectable. My guess is the average good buff is about 32-34 inches wide now-a-days with a 12-14 inch boss.

Good Hunting,

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Doc, thanks for the stories. Although I set aside ample funds for a decent African hunt over fifteen years ago, it never happened. Life got in the way early on, and later on defects in heart valves robbed me of my ability to remain fit with any hope of enough stamina to hunt as you described.

Yes, I have been offered drive around and shoot Safaris, but I have no desire for that. I hunt deer and such with the aid of a Kawasaki Mule, and it is not the same. I end up usually just watching the game interact, kind of like your young bull elephant cousins.

Since I have settled into living my dream vicariously, your writing was most enjoyable from the perspective of a first time safari.

Thanks again,

Jack



"Do not blame Caesar, blame the people...who have...rejoiced in their loss of freedom....Blame the people who hail him when he speaks of the 'new, wonderful, good, society'...to mean ,..living fatly at the expense of the industrious." Cicero
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Sounds like a grand adventure Doc.
Thanks for a great read and some insights on your experience. I may not experience such a trip but through you, I have gotten a little bit closer. Such reading instantly makes one ponder the possibility of a safari some day.

Beee


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KB... I always thought a safari was out of my financial reach, too, until I really looked into it. I found the cost could be far more reasonable than I had feared. I also found that by putting money aside from every paycheck, I saved more than enough funds over the three years of planning and waiting to pay for the safari, airfare, and taxidermy. Planning is the key. Not only is it smart, it becomes part of the fun.


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Doc,

Did you ever do a post on your search for the perfect big-bore? I'd be interested in reading it.

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Originally Posted by DocRocket
KB... I always thought a safari was out of my financial reach, too, until I really looked into it. I found the cost could be far more reasonable than I had feared. I also found that by putting money aside from every paycheck, I saved more than enough funds over the three years of planning and waiting to pay for the safari, airfare, and taxidermy. Planning is the key. Not only is it smart, it becomes part of the fun.


I'm on that road, Doc.
I will go sooner, rather then later.
I may be dead later. smile
An average Joe can go.
Thanks.


Have Dog

Will Travel

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