Dinsdale

I was working a deal with that dealer for a used full size van and was able to haggle a good price; would go back there again if something I wanted was there, but I ended up in another truck instead (new 2017 Tacoma 4x4 for just over 23K; but a plain jane and no rear seats access cab).

Them deer better be getting nervous.

Well looks a little thin and rather see a pic of a fat doe and have THAT walk by me. Yaa....right..... Good God I'd fall out of the stand. Good luck with him and the yote!

SCI's record book does not have deductions for abnormalities in the symmetry like P&Y, B&C...etc. It's just a gross score maximizing potential rack/horn size. So they score the entire rack and that makes the scores above average for any antler/horned animal. Honestly that book makes folks feel good to see their name in there and makes money for SCI with the entry fees; but its doesn't factor maturity and often rewards hunters by having them shoot younger larger horns/antlers rather than mature animals which lose score when older/mature. For example Cape Buffalo have suffered for this quest, shooting for width instead of age has actually decreased the quality of bulls in many places. Such a ridiculously small percentage of animals taken also don't lend that book to any scientific value; I have 3 that would make top ten in plains game, and I know a dozen hunter who could beat those numbers. I have looked at it, and it does serve a purpose if one is unfamiliar with a species to give an idea of what a good to better representative animal should be, and what someone might be telling you when you need to pull the trigger.

Need to do some hiking to get some training in for hunt in Oct., doing a few miles quick before work in the morning I hope for the next few months. I have the opposite problem to some; wouldn't mind gaining 5 lbs or so. Good luck to those trying to improve their health!

Used one 21 days strait on a hunt with a 9 lb rifle without issues. Swivels were fine for strength/durability; drove me crazy was they squeeked in the very dry fine dust environment I was in. But sling itself was fine. Used Vero Vellini neoprene last few years and seem to be a bit happier with that for carry; although the extra stretch doesn't work as well if you wrap a sling on your arm for extra support offhand shooting. Uncle Mikes are standard with them. Used the split backpacking sling to much success on another hunt with lots of hiking/climbing required.

I have a box of retired lures, know there is one of these in there; I'll dig it out and try on Sunday morning.

I think this happens with more guides than one would think. Takes me years to sort through to a short list for a hunt and in that time enough whispers about the same folks always seem to pop up so one can avoid them. And you are absolutely correct the " mindset that they must bag game in order to get their "money's worth" from a guided hunt " issue is the biggest problem. I try to emphasize the experience, not the success rate; however I find it ironic those attitudes often produce some damn fine animals too when booked with the right outfitter.

The current epidemic of coyote attacks on humans leaves me plain scared to go in the woods.....

Cameraland on Long Island also offers demos that can be a very good buy. Don't sell good glass very often, but sell the rifles out from underneath them; good investment and I just move them to the next one. Skip the beer for a few weeks and there's $50 extra that would otherwise just be pissed away.

Ya....kinda calls into question TCIII's standards doesn't it?

I can say conclusively that a Vervet Monkey vs. a 300 RUM leaves nothing but red mist, and with 375H&H vs Chacma Baboon is not very good for the bo bo's on the receiving end. Love to try my hand at another primate, and hell I'll even pay them for a chance at a good male with some canines.

Short answer; USA imports can be done from South Africa and Namibia. Due to this the prices have increased multifold in the recent past. USF&W accepts those countries management plans. Other countries just follow the CITIES listings and can import (Canada being one) Our gov't has deemed themselves above CITIES and makes their own rules. However that has made this hunt financially available to me as overall demand in Zimbabwe has dropped due to non import rules. Down side overall is Zimbabwe gov't is trying to make up the shortfall of lower trophy fee incomes by increasing prices. Like adding taxes to hunts. I feel now is the best time to take advantage of several circumstances before these hunts get cancelled all together or beyond my price range if import rules change with new Trump appointees allow importing again and hunts go back to former pricing.

This hunt will be just about the experience, and I cannot bring anything back. Thats a concept I'm becoming more comfortable with as I have done a fair amount of management hunting now and not brought anything back from those parts of hunts. With the type of management hunt being looked at this time the meat will be consumed locally.

I used to put out mineral blocks for my cattle and put them on old stumps. Now the deer chew on the bark and paw at the surrounding dirt. Always find it interesting they stop around early November and I get no tracks at all around them in the winter. Sure enough 10 years after I stopped putting them out ,they are after them again this spring and summer.

No issue with me.....although I expect a fair number of folks won't get it. I'm after an Elephant hunt. Its #1 on my bucket list. Thats the reason for interest in solid bullets that don't expand; penetration is the name of the game. Happen to get info in the past week on both a discounted left over management quota and a cancellation hunt. I had planned to tweek a rifle this summer and book something for next year; but I may be able to catch a very good price for a hunt this October in one of the premier concessions with a top outfitter. Waiting to hear on possible dates and availability; often return clients get first dibs on these and just need to see if we can shake something out.

Annealed Norma on these and I have some Hornady to try. Non compressed load a2230 powder. These have a meplat, but not a wide one. Woodleighs are full round nose that are also being tried. I have had the chance to shoot Woodleigh solids at heavy game and the results were most impressive (300 gr 375H&H); so I am comparing the two at the moment. I have 5 dummy load North Fork flat nose solids here, about as big of a meplat as one can get, and have a small feed issue with them that can't be happening with this rifle. They get excellent reviews so we'll will see about maybe sending this off for feed work, but going to try a stiffer follower spring first as this one seems very soft. Overall fun project rifle; played a bit adjusting trigger today and that is much improved, pretty sure I have decided a RMR type sight is going on the front ring, crappy beater stock is coming to make a pattern and have a new one turned (palm swell, shorter rounder forearm, a little more length of pull, and some more drop at the heal, two crossbolts, reinforced wrist) Only problem now is my time table may have been accelerated and may have to fall back on a different rifle for hunt. But that leaves this one for next time.

Couldn't say it better. Interesting enough another application is the tiny antelope. No expansion means saving the cape by having one hole in and out.

Doing some work on a 458 Win Mag for a hunt I am planning, so today I was taking a few shots. Bullet is a 500gr Hornady DG Solid. (Thats a lead core/steel jacket,copper guild bullet) I'm shooting open sights and my initial target at 50 yds is 3 pressure treated 2x8 nailed together from a deck tear out, and my regular log backstop behind. After drilling a hole in the 2x, I went to check 100 yd backstop for hits. Empty case is entrance hole; Loaded case at the exit down inside the stack. Glint of something in the sun caught my eye, looked down and not 3 feet away, the bullet laying on the leaves. Looks good enough for a reload.

I'll have what he's having. Damn that looks good.

This was my opening paragraph in a trip report I did for a hunt on another forum; This would be my 4th trip to Africa (South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe) and my 8th outfitter/PH used there and have been rather fortunate in being able to take some very good trophies along the way. I would guess I have used maybe 20 outfitters/PH/guides between Africa and the rest of the world hunting and fishing and can say although I have never had a horrible experience; there’s maybe a handful I would use again no questions asked….KMG and Marius is one of them. Just in my experience; all the top operators; and they have been in the business from 15-40 years; are still passionate about the total experience of hunting; although they may not do a lot personally as some like the African guys may hunt 8 months a year. They also happen to have the business acumen to run a total program from hiring proper help to bookings. The next guys tend to not be able to run a business as well; and some seem to be just a tad burned out. Any business is hard to run when there are financial pressures. The only 2 guys I'm not fond of were a$$hats who never cared to begin with and only wanted the money. No coincidence they were outfits I did little research on and were based on "friends" recommendations, something I no longer listen too. The more I have booked the better the operations have been as you can get a feel where folks are at given a little face to face time.

I hear quite often that all taxidermy is the same and how someone is getting a deal. They just need to look at this thread. Proper job for a terrific buck.

LOL..... On occasion I get lucky and stuff runs in front of my gun barrel. Always looking to learn more about improving the hunting part.

Nice story.... This topic has come up a few times here over the years. You'd be surprised how many late/self starters are on here. (I came from a anti gun/non hunting family and started on my own in my mid 20's)

Easy to find them off trails near Mass/CT/NY border near me; after a cold night they try getting warm on south facing rocks. Big den site near a job I was doing with a researcher who was very keen on talking snakes as a regular visitor when we were working there. I should really try to take more pics, but they are fun to watch. Three in this pic,one is just in the edge of the frame near top right.