I am about to turn 60 and for once in my life, the species hunted from my adventures past will all be housed in one building. The plan started formulating in mid 2022 after I purchased the Reserve Ranch in South Texas as this would be the appropriate place to display the collection. I have...
My quest for the final specie to complete the North American 29 starts with a hunt to Newfoundland for Canadian Moose. The weather has been warm according to the outfitter so the rut has been spotty so we are hoping for better weather. My past experiences have taught me the colder, the better...
Nunavut 2023 – Central Barren Ground Caribou
My quest to complete the North American 29 continues and I am off today in pursuit of number 28. I am off today for Baker Lake, Nunavut which is the Arctic home of Caribou, Musk Ox and Polar Bear.
This is my second attempt to collect the Central...
HS Precision 2000 LA Takedown 300 H&H and 375 H&H
This is a great Safari rig from a quality gunmaker. I bought this rifle a few years back and have never hunted with it. So, after spending too long in the safe, it is time to move it on to someone that will actually use it! It has been fired...
This will be a most memorable trip for my family as we will start in the Luangwa Valley of Zambia then move on to Bushmanland of Namibia in pursuit of a Leopard for each of my daughters.
The trip is to celebrate the culmination of two college graduations.
My wife Debra has joined us to share...
The thought of hunting Chad was far from my mind until recent years. Having first learned about this destination and the rare Western Greater Kudu back in the 90’s it was always a place of mystery to me. I didn’t think I’d ever be able to take a Safari in this obscure place but fast forward 30+...
I bought a collection from a very dear friend that hung up his hat a long time ago and will never go back to Africa. His DG gun is a custom 416 Remington magnum built on a Double Square, Bridge Mauser action by Flaigs custom rifles in Pennsylvania. Do an Internet search on them and you’ll see...
My youngest son Parker Lee Stepan was the co-recipient of the Young Hunters Award at the 2023 SCI Banquet. The award was also bestowed on Ms. Libby Gear from Ft. Worth, Texas.
To say that the Stepan family is proud is an understatement. Parker’s passion for the outdoors along with his...
Our trip started in Port Elizabeth with an early morning flight to Joberg then connected on to Entebbe. I had hunted Uganda back in ‘18 and vowed to go back and take my wife Debra with me as it is an absolutely beautiful country. Mid-year 2022, the Dallas Safari Club Foundation held its annual...
This is a hunt my wife Debra and I have wanted to do for over 25 years. I had the Spanish Ibex Slam in the back of my mind for many years and hunted a nice Gredos Ibex nine years ago in Extremadurra, South of Madrid. Finally, with all of our children out of the house we are able to travel...
This hunt for Bezoar Ibex was not on my list for 2022 and I put it together at the last minute.
I was corresponding with Riza Gozluk of Caprinae Safaris about a future hunt when he told me of the problems that have arisenin Turkey. It seems there is an active and well-organized anti-hunting...
Utah Mixed Bag hunt with Mossback Outfitters
I met Russ Collard with Mossback Outfitters at DSC Convention this year at his booth. An impressive collection of big Elk and Mule Deer on display so I decided to inquire about a landowner Shiras Moose tag. Fortunately, being the first show of the...
Day 1
This hunt takes me to Winnipeg, Manitoba for Central Barren Ground Caribou and Canadian Moose with Ganglers Sub Arctic Hunting. I purchased the Caribou hunt at the Austin SCI Fundraiser and upgraded to the combo hunt to include moose. These are #’s 26 and 27 on my quest for the North...
Day 1
With all of the kids out of the house and our youngest off to college this year, Debra is able to travel more often so I am happy to have her along for this trip. We have never been to this part of Europe before so are looking forward to the overall experience. The Alpine Ibex has been...
Day 1
My final North American hunt this season (other than Whitetails at home) as I head off to Alberta this morning in pursuit of Shiras Moose. This specie is # 25 on my quest for the NA 29 and I booked this trip three years ago and I can’t believe it’s finally here.
I am hunting in the...
Fall was in the air this past week with temperatures dropping to the low 50’s in the Texas Hill Country. I got my bags packed well ahead of time and made way to Toronto yesterday and now on to Deer Lake.
The service was good on Air Canada however I was promptly chided for my mask slipping off...
Day 1
The flight on SA Airlink from Nelspruit to Livingstone was more like a charter than a commercial flight. My family made up nearly half of the passengers and clearing Passport control in Livingstone was a breeze with so few passengers. There were no customs officials inside so we few...
This is the Safari my son Grant booked last year when Bossie Mostert of @LIMPOPO BIG GAME SAFARIS ran a special here on the forum.
We talked on Parkers hunt with Shaun Keeny, Debra came along to observe but I’ve made a plan to hunt a giraffe with Bossie while we were there.
We talked on...
Well my AH friends, its that time again and I am elated it is has arrived. I am sitting in the Qatar lounge at DFW getting ready to board for Doha then on to Johannesburg. My wife Debra and my two sons Grant and Parker are along for the Safari. Check in was a breeze with Qatar and the staff...
Well, I woke to some uncertain news today, supposed to be “wheels up” in 21 days and I see my Emirates flight on July 5 has been suspended. I am waiting for a reply from my agent at TWG to see whats going on. Anyone have any info on this subject?
My apologies for the delinquency in posting this report from last month but my dance card has been full since getting home. Here we go!
Day 1
This hunt was to take place in 2020 however the Governor of Alaska Closed the bear season last Spring amidst Covid fears.
The hunt is being outfitted...
With sadness I attended the funeral of my dear friend and hunting partner Danny Balke of Wimberley, Texas today. He was 59 years old and succumbed to the perils of cancer. He was a gentleman hunter, having taken Safaris in Cameroon, South Africa and Zambia he was a student of African Hunting...
We were notified today that my son Parker Stepan has been chosen to receive the Colin Cartuthers Young Hunter Award at the 2021 Dallas Safari Club Convention. To say that I am once again proud is an understatement. Likewise, his brother Grant who received the award in 2019 and his two sisters...
I had arrived Kodiak Island, Alaska Saturday evening from Juneau via Anchorage and there must’ve been 75 hunters on the plane! It took me nearly an hour to get my gun then headed over to the Best Western and settled in. My am scheduled for a Monday afternoon flight to camp which worked out...
The last couple of weeks have been a whirlwind catching up on work after getting back from Zambia. As I continue my quest towards the North America 29, the elusive Mountain Goat is one trophy that I put off way too long but now my time has come.
I researched outfitters in Canada and Alaska and...
With the Covid shutdowns disrupting lives, we all realize how quickly events can change and simple things we once enjoyed are now forbidden. I have stayed in contact with my many friends around the globe and times are difficult for those in the hunting business. With countries slowly opening...
I am trying to get a hunt together for Tanzania in September and am curious what International travel will be like. Have any members out there flown since the craziness started?
So, it’s been a strange year to say the least. I have worked all my life to be able to pursue my dreams and now I am told I can’t. We had a safari for my son canceled so I have been looking for an outlet to satisfy my love for the African Continent. I have somewhat satisfied my desire with...
I got a surprise email today from my shipper in South Africa. I had a trophy shipment scheduled right as the country locked down. The shipper sent the air way bill and the crates are on their way to Houston. I hope everyone else starts to get their trophy shipments as well.
After nearly a four year wait it is finally here. My youngest son Parker and I are checked in at San Antonio Int’l airport waiting to board our flight. We are headed to Hermosillo, Sonora to hunt with Rogelio Lizarraga of Rancho El Bamury.
Flying on American, check in was a breeze and with TSA...
Continuing my quest for the North American 29, I started searching out a free range Bison hunt last year. I discovered the Oglala Sioux Reservation Bison hunt while perusing the auction list for the Wild Sheep Foundation. After a bit more research and a phone call to the Director of the...
Sorry for being a couple weeks late but after being gone nearly a month I have been hammered since I got home!
This Safari was to the Selous primarly for East African Greater Kudu and Nyasaland Wildebeast.
Day 1
I was up at 5:45 to leave the hotel by seven for my 15 minute walk over to the...
Day 1
I awoke at the hotel in Pretoria to the alarm and ready for the day. After breakfast I will head to Johannesburg for my 11:30 flight to Beira.
The trip to the airport went smoothly and I was checked in with ample time to get to my gate before boarding.
I was flying SA Airlink to Beira...
Day 1
I arrived Joberg at 5:30AM and my bag was one of the first off the carousel and I quickly made my way to check in my gun. Anna from Gunpermits.com was waiting for me in the reception hall and Dawie Kemp showed up shortly thereafter.
There were about a half dozen hunters in the office...
October 6
Heading to the airport via Uber today, it finally sunk in that I am finally going back to the Dark Continent after 17 long months!
This trip evolved around a a hunt for Suni, Red Duiker, Blue Duiker and Oribi donated to DSC by Zambeze Delta Safaris. I was sitting at the Life...
This outstanding trophy was taken by an old friend/client with Rocky Valley Safaris last month that was the largest bull of the season at 37”. He took advantage of the End of the Season Special I posted here on AH a few months back and saved thousands. Congratulations Zeev on a Great Trophy!
I have been a fan of Swarovski Optics for many years. The first pair of 8x32 binoculars have been serving me well for the past 28 years!
Recently, I had some issues with my 10X EL Range binos and they had to go in for service. I sent them off and had a prompt reply from Swarovski USA that they...
A question for all you taxidermists out there - How long can I store my skins before mounting?
What is the best method;
Keep them salted in a dry place?
Have them soft tanned and store in a cool, dry place?
Have them wet tanned and store frozen?
I am no where close to finished hunting...
Wilson Stout video introducing Grant
My son Grant receiving Dallas Safari Club Young Hunter Award by JES Adventures posted Jan 23, 2019 at 10:42 AM
Video that Dallas Safari Club DSC prepared of my son Grant for the Young Hunter Award
Video that Dallas Safari Club DSC prepared of my son Grant...
I received an email from my old friend Johnny Vivier of @Wintershoek Safaris that he will be awarded the Outstanding International Professional Hunter of the Year at the 2019 Safari Club International Convention.
The copy below from his email. I have known Johnny for over 30 years and besides...
We were notified yesterday that my son Grant Stepan has been chosen to receive the Colin Cartuthers Young Hunter Award at the 2019 Dallas Safari Club Convention. To say that I am proud is an understatement. Likewise, his three siblings are all avid hunters and are so happy for Grant as well...
I own a house down in South Texas on Baffin Bay about an hour from Corpus Christi. My daugher Jordan was at the house this weekend and went outside at midday, around 2:30 and saw something walking along the bayside of our property that looked like a cat so she started to video with her phone...
Well, its a long story how I got here so I'll spare you the boring details and give you the short version. At the last minute this opportunity came up and since I was in the "neighborhood" I decided to add this on to my trip. I said to my wife "life is too short, I'm adding on to the Uganda...
Uganda has been on my list for quite a while. I had been in communication with Christian Weth of Uganda Wildlife Safaris for some years and 2018 was finally my time to visit this exotic location.
I booked the hunt more than a year in advance and my friend Gustavo from San Antonio joined me for...
It appears he's just another politician. In retrospect it is interesting how he used his sons love of the hunt to make himself appear pro-hunting to a broader range of constituents.
The Tweet -
"Big-game trophy decision will be announced next week but will be very hard pressed to change my...
According to an article in the UK Daily Mail, he has refused to eat since Saturday saying "He is willing to die for what is correct". Maybe the old guy will finally feel some of what his countrymen have endured the past three and three-qurter decades.
https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/11/17/us/politics/trump-elephant-trophy-ban.html
Is he buckling under the pressure of the ignorant elite media in America? Hopefully after he is briefed by Secretary Zinke and he fully comprehends the facts he will carry on with allowing the importation of sport...
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