Just Returned From Hunt With JJHack

[Mr Mike]

Hi All, I just returned from Africa and a glorious 10 hunt with http://www.customosteo.com/huntingadventures/index.php3 on the beautiful Landelani Game Preserve. For all those considering a hunt with Jim, I can whole-heartedly recommend it. If you have as much fun as I did, you absolutely won't know what to do with yourself when you return home.

MW de Jager, his wife Lizette and their fabulous staff have a fantastic facility at the http://www.landelanilodge.co.za

They are the most friendly folks I've ever met and their PH's are all top notch hunters and damned fine gentlemen.

Below are some pictures of the animals I harvested during my hunt there, and while I may not look all that happy in these pictures, I can tell you I was nearly always ready to burst at the seams with excitement. Africa is a place you will never forget.

 

[One Track]

Mr. Mike:  

Those are beautiful photos. Congratulations on your success.  Can you elaborate on the "fair chase" element of your hunt.  Was it difficult?  Was it too easy?  We're you holding out for trophies?  Was there an element of danger?

Thank you.

 

[Mr Mike]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

Mr. Mike:   

Those are beautiful photos. Congratulations on your success.  Can you elaborate on the "fair chase" element of your hunt.  Was it difficult?  Was it too easy?  We're you holding out for trophies?  Was there an element of danger? 

Thank you.

One Track,[/b]

I wouldn't call the hunts difficult, but I believe that for plainsgame, the PH's really go out of their way to make it as easy as possible, unless you tell them otherwise. As this was my first trip (and HOPEFULLY not my last) to Africa, I kind of went along with the flow, just to see what things were and how they worked. On my next trip, I have already to the PH (Pieter) that it WILL be done differently. But then I will probably go after some different species than this trip, something along the lines of an Eland, Leopard and possibly Cape Buffalo.

-Mr Mike

 

[jjhack]

One track, We have so many different types of hunters coming to hunt with us in Africa that we make it possible for nearly any age or disability to have a somewhat successful hunt. We can hunt fromt he truck, walking, stalking, sitting at water, hounds, stands in productive feeding loacations, night hunting with a light. You name it we can figure out a way to make it happen.

With that said the hunter has a lot of choices in deciding how he would like to hunt. Many times the first Africa trip is a "go with the flow" type of arrangment just as Mike has described. I had a hunter who did not want to drive at all this year. After 4 days of busting through the thorn bush he was willing to shoot any animal we saw just to "get it over with". I had another guy who was so out of shape and over weight he could not walk 100 yards without huffing and puffing so loud the game was alerted to our presance. He was also way to big to pack out of the bush with a heart attack. On the few occasions he was going to stalk game he clanked and banged to get out of the truck and slammed the door of the truck so loud everything in earshot was headed for the hills! He was glad to shoot from the back of the truck( and so were we that he did)

Yet another guy thought hunting from a stand was horrible and boring. But one guy loved sitting and seeing all the game interact at the waterholes and he loved the silent and entertaining overview of the game from the elevated platforms we have.

The hunting can be anyway you like. Tell us what you want aand we can usually make it happen. My suggestion is to use the method suggested by the PH your hunting with each day for the species your after. As an example with a recent rain sitting at a water hole is worthless. But may have been an exceptional area just a day ago before the rain fall. Trying to stalk a big Kudu bull in the thick bush (out of the rut) is a waste of time. He will likely be behind watching you the whole time your tracking him.

Sitting at water for Eland or Gemsbok is a waist of time as well as they don't water every day. Each species and condition require a new plan. I would suggest that Buffalo, elephant, rhino, giraffe, and eland hunters prepare to spend many days and miles on foot. These animals will require you pick up a track and follow it until you see the game your after. They wander far and wide usually require day long tracking in the bush for days and days in a row to finally locate them. Once loacted you may have a herd without a bull meeting your trophy requirements, so you start again!

The waterholes and the truck look pretty darn nice to hunt from after a week of thorn bush and 90+ temps! If you have an interest in a particular species or hunting style let me know and I will set up the hunt you want.

jj

 

[One Track]

Thanks for the perfect explanation JJ and Mr. Mike.  JJ, you are a great writer.  I love reading your stuff. I am very intrigued.  However,  I'm years from going on safari.  

Personally, I can't imagine "not" busting my ass for a trophy.  However, I do respect the different ways of hunting, by different folk, in different areas. I'd probably be the guy that crawled through hell and back for a week, and then begged for an easy shot.

Thanks again.

 

[Warren123]

I read the above with mixed feelings. I suppose the ethics of hunting and the associated practices vary greatly. What is seen as normal for one man may be totally unethical for another. I understand that some hunters may have physical limitations which require "concessions" to be made. I have no problem with that . A hunter that is physically not capable of fair chase, should not be excluded from the pleasure of the bush and all that goes with it. It seems to me however that too many people, who have no such physical limitations, want a quick and easy hunt. Sitting at a water hole and waiting for something to shoot is , for me at least, not hunting. Sit there long enough and most things will arrive, same as shooting from a vehicle........I have done both, and think of myself as guilty of unethical hunting for doing it. Its about the pursuit of an animal on his terms that makes the hunt worthwhile. So what if it takes a week to get that elusive prey, you are scratched up, perhaps bleeding a bit from the acacia thorns and so stiff and sore you are convinced you will never walk properly again. At least you know you have done it honestly, you have accorded your prey the respect it deserves and know you earned him. You can shoot animals and you can hunt them, let us not confuse the two.