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[WAB]

How dare you!!! For your information, do you know how it's posts like this that really anger me to no end!!!
How can I now survive my regular hum drum, normal life destroying shift work, night to day life while thinking about that sort of mind blowing, spine tingling experience.
Unbelievable, and thank God no one was hurt or killed, and I really do mean that.
I truly hope everyone is O.K. in every way.

I'd wager that in time, that will be one of the most cherished moments of your lives.
Best post I've ever read, no kidding.
I'm so jealous, I think?
Might have had a glass of wine or two before writing this so please forgive me.

I hear you! My first elephant hunt changed me. 25 clicks through the Kalahari thorn scrub, 45 minutes up close and personal trying to assess ivory and come up with a shot, a clean brain shot and a charge by the attending Askari. How do you go back to a conference room after that? I sit in meetings that demand my attention but my mind and heart are in Africa.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Man o man! Somehow I missed this report and just seeing it now. What an adventure. Glad everyone lived to tell about it. Amazing!

 

[MMAL]

wow that is a story. Glad everyone is alright and kudos to your wife. I know most men are stupid but after that experience your wife is going back. In a very positive way, she is a tough cookie.

 

[Iwannahunt]

I hear you! My first elephant hunt changed me. 25 clicks through the Kalahari thorn scrub, 45 minutes up close and personal trying to assess ivory and come up with a shot, a clean brain shot and a charge by the attending Askari. How do you go back to a conference room after that? I sit in meetings that demand my attention but my mind and heart are in Africa.

Fantastic, I hope one day it'll be me... don't know how close I want to get to whole death deal though!?

 

[Iwannahunt]

I hear you! My first elephant hunt changed me. 25 clicks through the Kalahari thorn scrub, 45 minutes up close and personal trying to assess ivory and come up with a shot, a clean brain shot and a charge by the attending Askari. How do you go back to a conference room after that? I sit in meetings that demand my attention but my mind and heart are in Africa.

Someone in the party was charged?

 

[Mort Hill]

Awesome. Thanks for sharing the experience.

 

[Iwannahunt]

Someone in the party was charged?

Sorry, you were charged. Do you mean another member of your party was also charged? by an "askari" (gaurding elephant). I'm not familiar with the term.

 

[WAB]

I was referring to another hunt in Botswana. I took an old bull with a side brain shot. When he went down his younger buddy took exception and came for us. We stood shoulder to shoulder and shouted him down. Pretty exciting as he was inside ten yards. Good thing he thought better of things, lots of paperwork involved if you have to take the shot.

 

[WAB]

Nothing to be sorry about, one of the highlights of my hunting career. There was that brown britches event with a griz when I lived in Alaska...

 

[cbvanb]

wow that is a story. Glad everyone is alright and kudos to your wife. I know most men are stupid but after that experience your wife is going back. In a very positive way, she is a tough cookie.

Yes she is, and she is a born hunter. However, if we can put together an elephant hunt next year I don't think she'll accompany me on that one. She's a little skittish around them!

 

[WAB]

Our wives have decided that they are shooting buffalo next year. I guess they are tired of being spectators on the big stuff.

 

[spike.t]

@WAB whose was the .450 ackley?

 

[WAB]

PH, Clive Lennox

 

[jacques smith]

I’m glad to see this thread revitalized/— always thought there was more to kick around
My wife used to be happy not to go when it was teeth and claws (lions and leapards) the deal was she could go when it was (horns and hoofs) after she has gone six times and shot all small normal stuff she also wants to hunt buff all I know is happy wife means happy life. Best of luck

 

[WAB]

I’m glad to see this thread revitalized/— always thought there was more to kick around
My wife used to be happy not to go when it was teeth and claws (lions and leapards) the deal was she could go when it was (horns and hoofs) after she has gone six times and shot all small normal stuff she also wants to hunt buff all I know is happy wife means happy life. Best of luck

It certainly increases the cost of our safaris, but it is cool that our wives want to do this with us.

 

[Iwannahunt]

I sort of wish that I could concur. My wife has many strengths. Her natural aptitude to hunting unfortunately is not one. When we got married I thought hey, she'll be the best hunting partner ever, we can both get tags and if she is successful or I am successful it doesn't matter as all the animals come back to our home.
First hunt we went on was a either sex mule deer hunt in one of the southern zones of Sask. We both had tags were both young 24 or 25 and I was just starting to care about horns rather than just getting a deer. I was in quite a bit better shape then (definitely lighter) and really gung ho. We started out walking the coulees along the South Saskatchewan (River) and started seeing deer. Everything was great. Suddenly we kicked up a good group of about 15 does with a buck that was definitely a shooter to me. They didn't waste time heading at least into the next coulee. We were off after a slight break. Everything was great. We crossed the coulee and as we slowly crested the ridge to see if they had settled down in this next coulee.
I was pretty focused looking for the group but did eventually notice that my wife was sitting on the ground near me and she was... crying? WTFrick?
"What's the matter?"
"I can't do it" sob sob
"Do what?" I genuinely and stupidly asked.
"Keep up, keep doing this, you've got to slow down!"
Now, sensitive me, now aware of what the problem was dealt with it as any good young husband would.
"Seriously?... suck it up, we don't have time for this" I responded. I think it had a bit of shock value.
The group was not in this coulee from what I could see so we rested for two or three minutes while I gave a short drill sergeant "pep talk" and we were off again to the next ridge. The deer were in the next coulee and were settling down but were still on their feet. I asked her "Do you want to shoot him?".
She was huffing and puffing and looked pretty tired. She said "No, you just shoot". I didn't have to be told twice. I took my best shot and it was good. Getting the deer out of that spot turned out to be another minor nightmare with my 1981 chevy 4 x 4 but I left her there with the deer as she was "done" and was just happy to be able to rest. The deer (and wife) recovery worked with no major issues (just a lot of walking by myself). She just forgave my insensitivity without a word, we were young and in love and "issues" were always minor.
I have taken her on a few more "successful" hunts since then and a few not so successful and every one with the exception of the last was a complete GONG SHOW, no B.S., it's funny now, it wasn't then. The last one was with the muzzleloader from a blind. Now when I hunt, sometimes, most of the time, I'm glad she's not there. She has one absolute stud of a Muley, grossed 186 and was going down hill. I know from pictures by Big Buck magazines Gary Donald that the deer was at least eleven years old. I guess I'm becoming an old daggaboy.

JP

 

[jacques smith]

The GONG SHOW ! Now that is funny. My biggest fears are getting her out of the way so I can take care of business

 

[Iwannahunt]

The GONG SHOW ! Now that is funny. My biggest fears are getting her out of the way so I can take care of business

I don't have to worry about that. My dear wife knows that getting in the way could be hazardous to her health. Just kidding you know.

 

[Iwannahunt]

Nothing to be sorry about, one of the highlights of my hunting career. There was that brown britches event with a griz when I lived in Alaska...

I'm not pushing too hard but I would like to hear that story some day.

 

[spike.t]

PH, Clive Lennox

i thought it was clives....its the twin to mine , larry amrine built them . mine is .458 lott