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Interesting question:

I don't believe there's a right answer. I have just completed my 1st African hunt, aka 10 days in the Caprivi.... No fences at all. My prime directive? Get a buffalo with a hard boss. It took 5 days, a great deal of hard work, and a ton of good luck, and I got a huge old massive buffalo. After that, I wanted a kudu, zebra, and warthog as incidentals if the opportunity arose. I ended up with a really good warthog, and a nice Impala. The kudu just didn't work out for a really good mature bull, and the zebra offered several chances but no shot opportunities after some blown stalks and a couple of herds with too many foals that we passed on. I had a great opportunity on a heart stopping massive Roan bull and a good Sable, each on license, but each was $9,000.00 US, so I passed.

And my thoughts after the fact? I had a GREAT hunt!!! I would have been less happy if it were shooting fish in a barrel. The Impala came after a 1/2 hour stalk and felt too easy after the heart stopping multi- day tracking of an injured buffalo adventure - my fault for bad shooting initially, but the PH wasn't prepared to quit, and I swore to follow him and the trackers to the ends of the earth to recover the buff come hell or high water . We did get a face off with the buff when he took his final stand and I dispatched him without the drama of a charge, although I'd possibly admit to having to look for fresh underwear afterwards. The pig offered up an interesting stalk, and a 1 hour wait for it to show enough of itself in the long yellow grass so I could get a clean shot.

Did I have a good time??? FANTASTIC!!!! One day when I get back, I hope I can get that Kudu and a Zebra, but to me, it is really more about the experience. I REALLY want to go back and hunt buffalo again and if I do get a chance, I will feel the same way about collecting other animals: nice to have, but I would value a quality hunt far more than a truck load of dead trophies destined for my wall.

On the flip side, I wouldn't begrudge the man who wishes to shoot a great number of animals in a short period of time, but for me, that isn't really all that important.

Edited by Postman (22/07/14 12:34 PM)

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