Contents 

    Editorial

    Choices Abound 

    It’s Wednesday, 1 February… 

    I was having dinner with Jeremy, a guest at the Afton. He’s in his 40s I’d say, father of four, lives in Oregon, USA, loves hunting (is actually nuts about hunting) and is out on a specific hunt.  He had to come now because of all sorts of commitments.

    His hunt included a 49-inch sable, 60-inch kudu and four buffalo. Two are 47 inches. Now some will say ‘ordering’ such trophies is akin to a restaurant menu, and maybe they are right. But it happens everywhere, from New Zealand to the USA. Rightly or wrongly, the moment a tape measure was brought into the world of hunting – rather like using a scale in the world of fishing…things have changed. That is another long discussion altogether – and not for this month.

    (As it turned out, after the first week, the sable had died. Let’s see about the rest of the hunt).

    South Africa takes a lot of flak for offering these types of hunts but hear me out. Here’s a gent who is not interested in run-of-the mill hunts; they need to stand out and be memorable. And for him, size matters. It was those social media posts that started it all off for Jeremy – and now he’s following about 30 outfitters. By the end of the night, we spoke about getting to the Congo or Cameroon for the two mega antelope – bongo and Lord Derby, and of course the mountain nyala. Leopard was of no interest until he has got his own cougar or mountain lion first!

    Two different outfitters he was going with – and two very different experiences.

    I find it fascinating what triggers the obsessions of different people. Here’s a chap with age and money on his side, and a huge passion for hunting, and is now officially hooked on Africa. And he is just starting out. How fantastic.

    How many more are there like him? I bet thousands!

    We have animals to hunt, jobs to create and an industry to protect – and most importantly – to grow. We are on a mission.

    And talking of choices… we have helped you with our African Dawn Outfitters catalogue on THIS LINK.

    In this select group that we promote, you have everything you’d ever need to select a hunt in Africa:  From Cameroon, across to Uganda (the Pearl of Africa), Ethiopia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe (It’s great but I am biased having grown up there), beautiful Namibia and into South Africa. Go mad! Enjoy the read, not only of the African Dawn Catalogue, but also, this edition of AHG Monthly.

    See you in Nashville.

    Richard Lendrum

    Who are African Dawn Outfitters?

    The African Dawn Program is about promoting hunting in Africa, not just through what we publish, but with the outfitters’ cooperation in this program… and it is for your peace of mind.

    International travel consumes two precious commodities – personal time and money. And when you are a hunter, things can get tricky when there are further considerations like rules, regulations, details and differences between each country and their species. It is important to have a good outfitter, and whether it is your next hunting safari, or your first one, there are many outfitters to choose from. In fact, there are over 500, so how do you find a reliable one, the one that is right for you?

    To help you, we decided to promote and work with approximately 10% of this continent-wide group of outfitters. We have listed a limited number of an esteemed group of established and reputable African outfitters and they can be found in this Catalogue. To familiarize yourself with this list, we also offer monthly publications, and monthly trophy gallery posts (Trophies Fresh from the Veld). To ensure you receive these updates, sign up www.africanhuntinggazette.com.

    If you are an agent looking for an outfitter to represent, you’ll be safe contacting one of these outfitters.

    If you are researching for your next safari, be sure to contact any one of listed outfitters directly. It will support them and save you money by booking with them. Please tell them that it was by them being an African Dawn Member that contributed to the decision.

    Our website www.africanhuntinggazette.com
    has a detailed overview of them all, and you know where to contact me if you need to know anything more.

    For now, just enjoy the read.

    Richard Lendrum - Publisher African Hunting Gazette

    [email protected]

    www.africanhuntinggazette.com

    READ THE AFRICAN DAWN 2023 CATALOGUE NOW

    Classic and Contemporary African Hunting Literature:


    Africa’s Most Dangerous

    Much of African hunting literature is of the “Me and Joe” variety, books chock-full of tales describing the hunting adventures of the author. On occasion, however, someone pens a well-researched “how-to” book that is intended to inform, rather than entertain. And on very rare occasions, that book is so thorough and well-written that it is destined to become a classic. Such if the case with Kevin Robertson’s Africa’s Most Dangerous – The Southern Buffalo (Syncerus cafer cafer.)

    Read More

    Campfire Thoughts & Reminiscences Ch 15


    A good friend of mine has always had a yearning to shoot a lion. When I was involved with problem animal control, Geoff kept asking me to call him if there was an opportunity to join me and perhaps get a shot at one of the problem animals that kept raiding and killing livestock. I told him it was not really a hunt, but more a matter of shooting problem animals. Nevertheless, he wanted to accompany me and hopefully have a chance of bagging a lion for his trophy room.
     
    I knew that Geoff was an experienced hunter and I felt there would be no problems if he accompanied me on a foray against the cattle-killing lion.

    Read More

    Jason Stone: Inch By Inch, A Trophy Hunter of 25 Years


    Since record books started and inches measured, some believe this has been a curse on the hunting industry. For many, it is their way of distinguishing themselves, to prove something, be it for themselves as a massive achievement, a reward, demonstrating to their peers, or simply seeking acknowledgement by distinguishing themselves from the rest.
    Like or not, respect it or not, it is part of our industry. And one African Dawn member has managed to deliver across a broad range of species to the envy and dislike of some, and the sheer admiration of others – particularly those inch-seeking international big-game hunters.

    Read More

    Leopard Hunt – Podcast


    I was talking with Tim and Mary Sylvester when they were out on their safari and somehow the conversation turned to recalling a previous hunt they had done – a leopard in Zimbabwe almost 7 years ago. I said hold it there, I want to try something – and got my recorder. It is a but rough, and my first, but I’m hoping that this is something that could work.
     
    Listen to a short account of Tim’s leopard hunt…

    Listen & Read More

    The Baobab Buffalo

    It is almost a cliché to say that hunting Cape Buffalo is special. For me it began, curiously enough, many years ago hunting whitewing dove in Mexico with Ralf. Ralf was a successful, greying guy who loved the hunting and fishing life, and who was fortunate enough to have safaried in Africa from the time he was twelve years old. After a hot day of shooting doves, he and I would sip icy margaritas and he would reminisce about hunts and the animals he had taken – hissing crocs, trumpeting elephants, roaring lions, hyenas, baboons, leopards, horned plains game of every sort, and Cape buffalo. To my youthful ears it sounded like high adventure and a test of personal courage. Ralf had been everywhere and stalked everything, but he always came back for buff because, he said, they live up to their reputation for exchanging human damage for a poorly placed shot, and for fighting to the end, especially when they knew who killed them!

    Read More

     

    Hunting Lord Derby Eland in Cameroon with Mayo Oldiri

    It is almost a cliché to say that hunting Cape Buffalo is special. For me it began, curiously enough, many years ago hunting whitewing dove in Mexico with Ralf. Ralf was a successful, greying guy who loved the hunting and fishing life, and who was fortunate enough to have safaried in Africa from the time he was twelve years old. After a hot day of shooting doves, he and I would sip icy margaritas and he would reminisce about hunts and the animals he had taken – hissing crocs, trumpeting elephants, roaring lions, hyenas, baboons, leopards, horned plains game of every sort, and Cape buffalo. To my youthful ears it sounded like high adventure and a test of personal courage.

    Read More

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