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Thanks. I certainly intend to take **a lot** of pictures and I'll share a few of the better ones. (For a trip like this 1,000 - 2,000 is likely. My wife will be taking her own set. We each have a camera, plus a backup - just in case.) Of course, I will post trip report.

Tomorrow at 3:30 AM (I can't bring myself to call that morning) a car is scheduled to arrive to take us to the airport. That will be the beginning of what is supposed to be roughly 53 hours of travel to get to Omujeve lodge in Namibia. It will include four commercial flights and 24 hours of...

Congrats on some great trophies.

Well, yesterday I had a panic attack, followed by a good laugh at myself. Backing up a couple of months, I started practicing shooting from sticks. It took a lot of practice and finally was to the point that I was feeling pretty good about my ability to shoot a reasonably small group. Then...

If you can afford it, business class is the best answer for extra space. In general, I feel that first class isn't worth the premium. There are three basic ways you can get one of these seats. You can buy business class seats, paying full fare ($$$). You can use miles to upgrade or to pay for...

Boeing doesn't build the interiors or engines of their aircraft. Those are selected by the airline buying the plane. Boeing just installs them.

In two days, I'll be on my way for my first safari. I made the decision at the end of January at SCI. However, I had unbelievable difficulty in booking the flights. Part of the reason for the difficulty was some quirks in United's reservation system. However, I finally got reservations at...

Thanks. By the way, do you ever sleep???

Any idea what the name of thread is?

I've read here and been told by others that I should take some small gifts for the staff. I'd really appreciate some guidance about how much and for whom. I'll be hunting 8 days - plains game in Namibia with Omujeve. When do you give the gifts? At the beginning? At the end? Do you give...

If you can afford it, why not book the second animal as a very early first anniversary present? ;-)

Have you tried doing a descriptive search (hunting shirt, cartridge loops, etc.)?

I have some fishing shirts like you are talking about (except for the cartridge loops). I got them at Dick's Sporting Goods. They are rated SPF 30, the back is vented, etc. Do you still have the old one(s)? If so, why not get manufacturer, etc. and do an online search?

Brandi, Welcome! If he isn't particular about what he shoots, he ought to be able to kill something in a single day. I would recommend that he find an outfitter that will let him rent/borrow a gun. As you can read on this site, transporting a gun can be a lot of hassle. Also, carrying it...

I keep practicing and, what do you know, I'm improving. Funny thing about that. I'm getting mentally and physically comfortable shooting with sticks. My groups are getting smaller. Today, 80% of my shots were in a 3" x 4" group. Today, I identified two things that I'm doing wrong. Now that...

I wanted to share some more information about the danger of insect damage. First, here is a link to a Yale University technical discussion of the problem. Unfortunately there are no illustrations. [NHCOLL-L:5363] RE: moths and taxidermy mounts Another site (in the UK I believe) with a good...

I will add that you should inspect for bugs periodically. More precisely, you need to look for the larva. Unchecked, they will destroy every mount you have. They have destroyed museum collections. I personally know that they are an ongoing problem for the Denver Museum of Nature & Science...

I generally avoid LHR and can do that since I seldom have business in the UK. I prefer FRA or CDG if I have to go to Europe. The Swiss airports are OK too.

Spike, Thanks. That is good info about LHR. Agree about the carry-on limit. However, I think that the Brits get a bit too zealous. A suitcase, a briefcase and a water bottle, or a bag with candy from one of the airport shops isn't allowed. You would have to cram the extra thing into your...

postoak, Also weighing on my decision was a very good experience that I had 4 years ago with a coastal black bear hunt in British Columbia. The outfitter talked me into taking one of his guns. It worked out very well. Also, this is a plains game hunt. I would probably feel differently if I...

Jeff, Thanks that helpful info. My first safari is a few weeks away. However, my rule of thumb in North America is that the "real" cost of the hunt will be double what I pay the outfitter. It's not perfect and tends to breakdown at the extremes on both ends (cheap and expensive)...

First, my outfitter told me not to try to bring a rifle through Heathrow. Second, I read something about the process on the LHR website but can't find it now. As I recall it, it wasn't impossible but it sounded quite difficult. Therefore, my wife and I won't be checking any bags. I plan to...

Rob44, I've been through Frankfurt many times. I do not believe that it is possible to get a good meal within the secured area of the airport. I've got a 15 hour layover next month in London Heathrow. I plan to hang out in the Star Alliance lounge. My wife plans to go (window) shopping in...

postoak, You just have to pick your poison. I didn't make my decision to go to Africa until after SCI this year, which in the realm of flying to Africa qualifies as a last minute decision. I had extreme difficulty in making flight arrangements for Denver - Windhoek. The only way I could get...

That is a good tip from Greyfox about setting your watch to the local time. When you arrive, don't keep telling yourself things like "It's 2:00 AM back home." Unless you're about to call someone at home, don't even think about what time it is there. I agree that being a little tired can...

There is so much to say about this topic. I travel a lot and am of the opinion that all US carriers are bad and so are most international carriers. If you can manage to fly business class ($, miles, or other) it will be a much better experience. If you can't, at least do yourself a favor...

It's not all doom and gloom. I killed the moose that I mentioned earlier in this thread with an offhand shot at 100 yards. That was 10 years after my incident.

There is a "little detail" that I haven't shared till now. In 1997 I had a medical incident - for any docs here, it was an acute onset sublumbar neuropathy. I went from normal to mostly paralyzed from the waist down in about 3 hours. I eventually recovered but I have some residual effects...

enysse, If they would just give me a shooting platform where I could sit, instead of sticks, I'd be in great shape. ;-) Sitting, i am comfortable out to 300. I can do 400, but prefer closer. Once made a shot at almost 500, but that was a special case with a bad guide in Alaska. When...

I made 2 trips to the range last weekend to try my new sticks. I was quite disappointed with my results. I am hoping that it was because of a basic mistake. I was shooting a 7mm WSM (with a brake). I didn't bother with a recoil pad and was just wearing a t-shirt. I finally realized that...

I agree with all of the advice that has been given. I will add that while you have to have a good fit with your outfitter, you also need to be aware and beware of those guys who all talk ("Good Time Charlies"). Check references and better yet check with guys on this forum. This the best...

I'm going on a plains game hunt in Namibia. Do you think that a medevac policy is advisable? I have selectively had them for other travel (business as well as hunting trips). If you think it's prudent to have a policy, which company do you prefer? The two that I know best are MedJet Assist...

Uintaelkhunter, Thanks. I bought a set of sticks (tripod) a couple of weeks ago. Like you, I am also tall (6' 2") and the sticks seem short if the legs are spread far apart. However, if I have found that I can adjust for that. After I put the rife on them, if I hold the sticks by the rest...

I would appreciate any advice you folks can offer about shooting on sticks while standing. I have never done that and I've only once shot with sticks while sitting. I've seen a couple of videos on YouTube, but they seemed to give conflicting advice. I intend to practice as much as I can...

Thanks. So, in my case you would take around $300 in singles? Surely, the larger tip for the PH can be paid in larger bills - no? That's the opposite of what I have found in China and Mongolia. There, people will be happy to take US dollars but don't want bills smaller than $50. I was...

The booking form for my Namibian plains game safari called for a 50% deposit. That seems normal, based on my experience with hunts in the US and Canada. However, when I asked for details so I could wire the deposit, the answer that I got was "your dates are booked if it will be easier for you...

This seems to be more or less the consensus. Reading through the thread, I see the advice to tip in cash. In Namibia, is US currency good for tips or do I have to get Namibian dollars or SA Rands?

This is all great stuff! However, being new to this forum and heading to Africa for the first time, and having missed the session at SCI about tipping, I have to ask the question - is this advice still current? Before you answer, let me get to the real question. Before booking my hunt...

Ear protection After having done significant damage to my hearing, I have gradually moved to using earplugs like you see in use by pilots and other people on a tarmac. Generally, it is satisfactory. However, there are drawbacks. Not the least of which is the requirement that I remember to...

I just discovered and joined this site today. Living where I do, there aren't a lot of hunters to connect with. (Hunting is politically incorrect here.) Looking forward to learning from all of you. Last month, I booked my first African safari (plains game in Namibia). Until now, my...