Large Botswana Bull

Congratulations on a magnificent bull

I have had multiple heat exhaustion episodes, being a rancher and boat captain really puts a strain on the body, we had to unload 6 tons of feed one day in 104* ( 120 heat index) and got way too hot and as said before it’s not a easy recovery and can easily go south if you don’t learn to pace yourself, I wear deluth pants and a full sleeve fishing shirt ( any cool dry material) and alpaca socks, and keep a special towel that is made for cooling after being soaked in cold water, and a large brimmed hat
If you’re near bananas or watermelon eat some when you start feeling the heat and take a break and eat some, carry some packages of salted crackers or almonds in your pack or vehicle
a fish oil daily supplement will help ward of HE also , oysters are full of zinc, magnesium, and other essentialsView attachment 627857
Thank you for your thoughts Sir.
 
I'm not a fan of short pants either. I have some Kuiu pants that have mesh pockets and leg slits with zippers to open. They are awesome! Zip up in the early morning and evenings, but when it starts to warm up unzip the pockets and leg slots and you quickly feel a nice breeze coming through yet still have protection from scratches and sunburn. You can also get long sleeve sun protection shirts that are thin and breath well. Fishing shirts.
Thank you very much for your input, I will look into those options, as I have never wore shorts and like to keep my 70 year old skin out of the hot sun.
 
Great bull congrats, heat stroke aint fun. The exitement and adrenaline of the hunt must have overpowered your senses of getting weaker and felling off and then it hits you hard.

Slow and steady recovery is the only treatment I know off.
Yes, it was extremely hard mentally for me to quit the hunt, as we were so close to the elephants that we could hear them.
 
Congratulations on the elephant! You have to drink plenty of water and possibly rest in the heat. Your body is going to need time to recover and rebuild.
Thank you Sir.
 
hmmmm,

like many ailments in our lives, that i believe is the answer, getting slowly better. what that tells me is that you basically ran yourself into the ground (think of an airplane doing that). it takes time to recover. just be intentional and you will get better. the thing is....dont repeat it, cause next time it could be worse. be aware and slow down and take the time to cool off or things could end up worse.

all this said, i am just a dumb EMT with 20 years experience. i suspect there is a doctor or two on this site that could give you better advice. get well.
Thank you Sir
 
Great elephant, congrats !

Had a problem with heat exhaustion many years ago while being Range Master in an IPSC competition, in the middle of summer.

I was taken in the shadow, my t shirt soaked in ice cold water, and started to drink, water, cokes, whatever was available. Was able to drive back home later, with an escort !

Lesson learned was, drink a can of something every hour, wether you are thirsty or not, and take a rest in the shadow now and then.
 
Great elephant, congrats !

Had a problem with heat exhaustion many years ago while being Range Master in an IPSC competition, in the middle of summer.

I was taken in the shadow, my t shirt soaked in ice cold water, and started to drink, water, cokes, whatever was available. Was able to drive back home later, with an escort !

Lesson learned was, drink a can of something every hour, wether you are thirsty or not, and take a rest in the shadow now and then.
Yes, I was drinking a lot of water all day, but very little shade could be found.
Thank you for. your thoughts Sir.
 
Yes, I was drinking a lot of water all day, but very little shade could be found.
Thank you for. your thoughts Sir.
Heat exhaustion is not fun. I spent a night in the hospital when I was a teen. It was county fair day, hotter than the hinges of hell and about 90% humidity. I started feeling queasy, everything came up and I collapsed. They put two bags of iv into me at the hospital and got me cooled down. I thought I was feeling better til I slid out of bed--right onto the floor. Back into bed for the night. I'm still heat sensitive today and always have a water jug close when working outside.
Nice bull, by the way. Hope you get another chance.
 
Good to hear from you again, thank for your thoughts Sir.
 
@M70375! Did you get a peak at the elephants you were tracking…or just heard them?
Any plans to go back and have another go?
 
@M70375! Did you get a peak at the elephants you were tracking…or just heard them?
Any plans to go back and have another go?
I had already killed my first bull and passed up a bull and tracked 2 more groups of bull and got within 30 yards of them and could see parts of them. When I finally had to give-up we were so close we could hear the elephant
s, but if I would have pushed on , I think I would be dead, I just hated to say I needed rest when we were that close, that's why I pushed myself as far as I could, big mistake.
Yes, if I can get over this illness and am feeling strong again(70 years old now), I am already talking to them about going back. Most exciting hunt I ever did.
 
I had already killed my first bull and passed up a bull and tracked 2 more groups of bull and got within 30 yards of them and could see parts of them. When I finally had to give-up we were so close we could hear the elephant
s, but if I would have pushed on , I think I would be dead, I just hated to say I needed rest when we were that close, that's why I pushed myself as far as I could, big mistake.
Yes, if I can get over this illness and am feeling strong again(70 years old now), I am already talking to them about going back. Most exciting hunt I ever did.
No, I did not get to see the last group
 
Great bull! Savage hunt, heat stroke was a wild curveball, though. Recover strong!!
 
Thank you Sir.
Thanks for the advice, I did a Hocatt sauna a few days ago, but I will forget that idea, I just went to Thermopolis to soak my tired legs in the mineral hots springs , but they were closed, maybe God is watching over me, and yes one of our wonderful members got the picture posted.

Thanks everyone for your help and advice.
@M70375!

Thanks for being candid about your experience, a lot of men would have been too proud to publicly state that they fell out on a hunt let alone show pics of themselves being carried out on a improvised field litter and by doing so you brought attention to a serious issue.

The good....

1.You had the right head gear, a wide brimmed hat keeping sun off the face, neck and ears can make a huge difference; if you had been wearing a cap things may have been much worse.

2. You were not wearing an undershirt - wearing cotton undershirts holds heat and sweat against the body.

The bad....

1. Jeans - I spent most of my life wearing jeans while working/hunting in the heat and have now completely abandoned them and have switched to the ripstop work pants by Hawx; they breath better, are more comfortable and the extra pockets are handy.

2. Electrolytes/Hydration - You mentioned that you were drinking water constantly and that's always advisable; however electrolytes are your friend and you should start the day with them early and continue throughout the day and finish with some at night before bed. Personally I prefer the pedialyte.

Underwear - I've stopped wearing traditional cotton boxers/box briefs and switched to SAXX "drop temp" boxer briefs - These have a sack/hammock system for support as well as cooling mesh that allows sweat to evaporate...... so no more swamp ass.
 
@M70375!

Thanks for being candid about your experience, a lot of men would have been too proud to publicly state that they fell out on a hunt let alone show pics of themselves being carried out on a improvised field litter and by doing so you brought attention to a serious issue.

The good....

1.You had the right head gear, a wide brimmed hat keeping sun off the face, neck and ears can make a huge difference; if you had been wearing a cap things may have been much worse.

2. You were not wearing an undershirt - wearing cotton undershirts holds heat and sweat against the body.

The bad....

1. Jeans - I spent most of my life wearing jeans while working/hunting in the heat and have now completely abandoned them and have switched to the ripstop work pants by Hawx; they breath better, are more comfortable and the extra pockets are handy.

2. Electrolytes/Hydration - You mentioned that you were drinking water constantly and that's always advisable; however electrolytes are your friend and you should start the day with them early and continue throughout the day and finish with some at night before bed. Personally I prefer the pedialyte.

Underwear - I've stopped wearing traditional cotton boxers/box briefs and switched to SAXX "drop temp" boxer briefs - These have a sack/hammock system for support as well as cooling mesh that allows sweat to evaporate...... so no more swamp ass.
Saxx are life changing
 
Thanks for the great reply, I will look into those clothing suggestions , as I definitely have to do things differently if I am going to return and I am now hooked on elephant hunting, so hopefully I can return next year.
Thank you Sir.
 
Thanks for the great reply, I will look into those clothing suggestions , as I definitely have to do things differently if I am going to return and I am now hooked on elephant hunting, so hopefully I can return next year.
Thank you Sir.
I forgot to mention, that I got virtually no sleep the night before and started out my day feeling super tired and a bit sick feeling and I am sure that is why I got heat stroke.
 
Saxx are life changing

Agreed, total game changer. As to shirts, the Magellan shirts at academy are ultralight, quiet and breathable. Those, shorts, a wide brimmed hat and a buff that you soak in water will keep you cool. I am wearing one of the Magellan shirts in my avatar.
 

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Grz63 wrote on x84958's profile.
Good Morning x84958
I have read your post about Jamy Traut and your hunt in Caprivi. I am planning such a hunt for 2026, Oct with Jamy.
Just a question , because I will combine Caprivi and Panorama for PG, is the daily rate the same the week long, I mean the one for Caprivi or when in Panorama it will be a PG rate ?
thank you and congrats for your story.
Best regards
Philippe from France
dlmac wrote on Buckums's profile.
ok, will do.
Grz63 wrote on Doug Hamilton's profile.
Hello Doug,
I am Philippe from France and plan to go hunting Caprivi in 2026, Oct.
I have read on AH you had some time in Vic Falls after hunting. May I ask you with whom you have planned / organized the Chobe NP tour and the different visits. (with my GF we will have 4 days and 3 nights there)
Thank in advance, I will appreciate your response.
Merci
Philippe
Grz63 wrote on Moe324's profile.
Hello Moe324
I am Philippe from France and plan to go hunting Caprivi in 2026, Oct.
I have read on AH you had some time in Vic Falls after hunting. May I ask you with whom you have planned / organized the Chobe NP tour and the different visits. (with my GF we will have 4 days and 3 nights there)
Thank in advance, I will appreciate your response.
Merci
Philippe
 
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