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Safari Club InternationalSouth Florida Chapter

800 SE Third Avenue, 4th Floor • Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316954-761-3434 • FAX: 954-763-4725 • scisfc@aol.com

A Non-profit OrganizationDedicated to Conserving Wildlife

and Preserving Hunting

OfficersPresident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Keith AlmeidaVice President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Glen A . Hudson Jr .Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Timothy J . BradshawTreasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barry S . Vonada

CommitteesAwards, Recognition & Public Affairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leo LamponeRichard B . NilsenBudget Chairman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barry S . VonadaChapter Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Glen A . Hudson, Jr .Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tim BradshawConvention / Fundraiser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Glen A . Hudson, Jr .Education / Conservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sean McCann / Bruce BrockGovernmental Affairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fred Buresh / Bruce BrockPublication / Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Keith AlmeidaSportsmen Against Hunger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sean McCannWebsite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tom Van Note

Past Presidents

Board Of Directors

Fredric C . BureshTimmie E . BurrW . Bruce BrockDean Castillo

Lawrence S . KatzHarry D . Dennis, Jr .

Carlos DavidovGlen A . Hudson, Jr .

Ralph E . JohnsonRichard B . NilsenStephen J . Potter

Richard L .Gotshall

Marcus AndradeW . Bruce Brock

Fredric C . BureshRich Engels

Jim FalkowskiRichard L . Gotshall

Sean McCann

Richard B . NilsenStephen J . Potter

Tom Van NoteMichael T . Yeary

ReportsFrom the President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Meetings & Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Website Committee Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

FeaturesMember Spotlight: Joe & Jewell Hand . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Floridian Flashback: This is Your Dream . . . . . . . . . . . 8A Sincere Thank You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13SCISFL Banquet Photos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Donor Spotlight: Seminole Prarie Safaris . . . . . . . . . 16Cooking Wild . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Congratulations Dr. Gregory Cheek . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19SCI International Handgunner of the World . . . . . 20An Unexpected African Adventure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Member InformatonSportsmen Against Hunger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25Supporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27NRA Banquet 2012 Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30Hunter’s Code of Ethics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31Advertising Rates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

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Well, it’s that time of year again . We made it over the holiday hump and have put another annual banquet to bed . This year’s fundraiser proved to be one of most successful as we raised record high amounts in all facets of the program . There is a tremendous amount of work that goes into putting on such and event and I would not only like to thank all of the vendors for their generous donations, but a special thanks to all of the members (especially our board of directors) who donated their time and money to make this night happen . We have included some of the photos from that evening in this issue and I’m sure you’ll agree that a great time was had by all!

We are about to move into the slow time of the year for our chapter . Dinner meetings will start to wind down and then resume in the fall . Everyone will be getting prepared for their fall hunts this year and some will take a little summer hiatus . I know I’m looking forward to it .

Next issue, we will be including a section in our magazine about the SCI museum located in Puerto Rico . The Museo De Vida Sylvestre is a wonderful exhibit of taxidermy animals from around the world . We will be featuring photos of the exhibits for those who aren’t able to make it down to that part of the world .

As always, hunt reports and photographs are always welcome and we encourage each and every member to share his/her experienced with the rest of our club . Feel free to contact me directly regarding our magazine .

In closing, I wish all of you a healthy, happy, and safe summer .

Very Truly Yours,

Keith Almeida President – SCI South Florida Chapter

As it has been a while since my last report, I have numerous dinner meetings to report about .

On November 12th, Steve Potter opened his lovely home in Pompano and I am pleased to report the turnout was very good . Everyone enjoyed a great dinner and Steve’s hospitality; not to mention his new puppy and his nice trophy room . However, everyone attending agreed that his newly remodeled kitchen took first place . Thanks Steve . We look forward to coming back this fall .

On December 3rd, we enjoyed our annual Christmas party which has been held for the last few years at Leo and Linda Lampone’s . Once again, great attendance, great dinner, and a great trophy room .

On January 14th, Terry and I hosted a lovely dinner party at our house . I personally would like to thank everyone for attending .

February 25th was our annual fundraiser at Hugh’s Catering’s banquet hall . We are very pleased that our attendance and our fundraiser was one of the best we have had in our 25 years as a chapter . I would like to thank all the donors and everyone who attended, not to mention the Board of Directors for working so hard to make this event such a success .

March 17th, Steve and Anita Grant once again opened their lovely home in Davie for a dinner party . I am sure everyone attending enjoyed Steve’s new artwork by the front door . Hopefully no one stole it on their way out . Thanks Steve and Anita . It is always a pleasure when you host a party .

Our next party will be a new venue . Jimmy and Myra Joeckel are opening their home on April 21st, and I can tell you what a lovely home it is . Not to mention, Jimmy’s very impressive trophy room . We are certainly looking forward to the first of many dinner parties at their house .

If anyone is interested in hosting a party at their home, please contact me by phone or email . We are always looking for new venues for our events .

Glen A. Hudson, Jr.Meetings and Entertainment ChairmanCell: 954-654-9189 • Home: 954-389-4503 • GHudson586@aol.com

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Please visit our website at www .scisfc .org . The last eight issues of our Chapter’s award winning magazine “The Floridian” are now available on line . NEWS… . NEWS… NEWS… At the last Board Meeting we decided to give our website a complete overhaul . We have started the process and will be going live with the new site within the next 30 days. We will send a notice to all members when this is complete .

We are also looking for Members and Vendors to Advertize on our new Web-Site . We will be providing you with more information on this exciting opportunity in the near future . If you want to be in the first group of advertisements, please contact me for information and pricing .

We are continuing to update our Web-Site and are looking for more ways to serve the Members of the South Florida Chapter of SCI .

If you have any requests or recommendations regarding the Web-Site, please give me a call or send me a note .

Regards,

Tom Van Note954-748-4019 • Tom@statpromo.com

www.scisfc.org

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Joe & Jewell HandMy hunting career began when I was 11 years old . My Dad was an avid small game and deer hunter and he started training me when I was 10 years old. We were very lucky and had about seven different farms owned by friends at various locations in New York and New Jersey on which we were welcomed to hunt on . We always hunted rabbit and I loved to hunt squirrels . We had two great Beagles and they surely made our weekends fun .

Most of my shooting in my younger days was trap . I went almost every weekend with my Dad . I did all my own re-loading . My first big game trophy was a six point whitetail I got in New York State at the age of 16 . What a Thrill . I was forever hooked on hunting .

I had always heard about Jack O’Conner and Elmer Keith . I read their articles and both were completely different . O’Conner enjoyed flat shooting rifles such as the 270 or other wildcats and Keith liked the heavy big bore with slower velocity bullets . I enjoyed reading both their articles and eventually I had several of what they used, the 270, 30.06, 375, 378 and a 458. I liked them all.

In 1962 I joined the army . My first duty station was Tinker Air Force Base in

Oklahoma City . There I met my wife Jewell of almost 48 years . We both were attending night classes at Oklahoma University . When I asked her to marry me, I asked her, “If ever I could afford to go to Africa would you agree to go with me”? She of course said,“ Yes” . But, laughed as I didn’t have two nickels to

rub together . A few months later I was transferred to Homestead Air Force Base in Homestead Florida .

After Jewell and I got married in 1964 we lived for 10 months in Homestead. We liked Florida very much but jobs were scarce . We then moved back to New Jersey . I was fortunate to get a job with NCR and eventually into Cash Register Sales, and was lead salesman in New Jersey for several years . We had two wonderful daughters and we were able to buy a home .

In 1971 Jewell and I went to Kenya on our first Safari . We hunted with Galana Game and Ranching LTd . Our PH was Mike Hissey . I was the only hunter . We had access to a million and a half acres, adjacent to Tsavo National Park . What an exciting experience . Those days are long gone! I was able to take 4 of the Big 5, a 44 ½ “Cape Buffalo, a Bush Leopard, Elephant, several plains game and of course the Black Rhino . The Rhino was the prize at 30”.

As I had joined Chicago Safari Club the year before, I was invited to attend their Annual Awards Ceremony and was

awarded a Silver Award Plaque for the Black Rhino . Thanks to Rich Gotshall who just recently measured the Rhino and submitted it to SCI Record Book Department in Tucson, AZ, it should be Number Five in the SCI Record Book .

As a Big Game Hunter, having gotten 4 of the Big 5, I had to go for the Lion . Our second Safari was in 1974 to Botswana, a 22 day Safari with Safari South, just outside of Maun . Our PH was Lionel Palmer . We hunted everyday looking for that Lion, in between we hunted for other animals . On the 18th day just before dark I finally got a shot at the big one . I fired a shot with my 378 and wounded him . We tracked him, just about dark he leaped out of the brush aiming for Jewell . I didn’t have time to aim but fired the shot and got him just above the eye and he fell a few feet in front of us . He was a fantastic lion with a beautiful mane . We all had nightmares for months! Jewell jokes that I used her for bait . WHAT A TROPHY!

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GOOD BAIT! I have enjoyed all my hunting experiences . Our trips to Kenya and Botswana were very special . THE TRUE AFRICAN HUNTING EXPERIENCES .

After hunting in Africa, Africa gets in your blood . We have gone three more times to Africa, South Africa 1985, Namibia 2006 and South Africa August 2011. All were exciting . Jewell has always been at my side in Africa, New Zealand and Bear Hunting in Alaska . I have hunted in Northwest Territories and British Colombia and many trips out West .

After working for NCR for 8 ½ years, Jewell and I had the opportunity to buy a small travel agency for investment purposes . But, after owning it for a short period of time we could see the potential for growth . Four months later I gave my notice at NCR . Everyone thought I was nuts . Within a short time we built Wyckoff Travel and Cruises into a premier Travel center . We were among the first Travel Agencies to have had the opportunity for Sabre computers from American Airlines . Ten years before the PC was invented . Our first commercial account was IBM and more companies followed . When we reached 32 employees we bought property nearby and built a beautiful commercial building with several tenants. Jewell and I worked together for 30 years until retiring nine years ago . Because of volume of business

we were able to travel over most of the world .

Sixteen years ago we bought a small farm in Northern NJ . We continue to enjoy the property as we have good Whitetail, Turkey and Bear . Our pond of 1 .8 acres is filled with largemouth Bass, Perch and Bluegill . The record catch for Bass at the pond was John Wolfe, member of SCI South Florida .

We have been Blessed with two wonderful Daughters Tammy and Tara and four super grandchildren Samantha, Benjamin, Ryan and Tyler .

I feel extremely honored that SCI South Florida asked me to do a member spotlight . We both enjoy the club very much and it is very important today to belong and support organizations like SCI, NRA and a few others that are standing up for us . Without them our future is lost as far as hunting and shooting are concerned . My grandson

Ben 13 is now hunting and I definitely want that to continue . This November we face a very big challenge to our sport .

Get out the vote and encourage as many good people you know to vote . May everyone be happy, healthy and successful . God bless America .

“This is your dream” is exactly what my hunting partner and best friend in the world, Leo Lampone, said to me on April 18th at approximately 4:30 AM as I left our bungalow in western Zimbabwe in what was soon to be my first day of elephant hunting . As I walked to my PH’s truck with gun and bag full of gear, I smiled as I realized this was in fact my dream, hopefully about to come true and I remember saying to Leo “Wack ‘em and stack ‘em!”

Before I go on, I would like to explain a few things about how I felt prior to my elephant hunt . As anyone who knows me well can tell you, for many years I always considered an elephant the ultimate goal – the #1 animal on earth to shoot . Keep in mind that even though I had no experience at hunting elephants, in my mind, when you shot an elephant you had completed the ultimate in hunting . I cannot begin to tell you how many times in the last 15 years that I made the statement that if I hit the lotto, I am booking an elephant hunt tomorrow! No I didn’t hit the lotto, but things worked out .

I can remember years back before more countries in Africa opened back up for elephant hunting, the prices were through the roof, a minimum of 21 days at $1,000-1,500 per day were required, plus a trophy fee of $10,000-15,000. Back then I realized the only way I could even afford an elephant hunt was if I did not hunt for 2-3 years and saved my money . About 5 years ago, I started to consider hunting elephant more seriously and told Leo that I had set a goal to hunt elephant by my 50th

birthday, to which Leo responded, “Don’t wait until you’re 50, I will be an old man by then .” Not to worry, we will get it done!

In the Fall of 2003 while hunting deer and hogs at Leo’s ranch and

spending the evening eating dinner and watching a few hunting videos, I asked Leo what hunt he wanted to book next . After perhaps a few too many sundowners, he blurted out “An elephant hunt .” “What did you say?” I asked . He then repeated “An elephant hunt .” So I said, “Try that again in English, this time without the slur . Did you say elephant?” “You bet” he replied . So I responded, “You said it, it’s a done deal . Let’s book it!”

First thing the following week, I was on the phone talking to my friend Col . Bill Williamson of Fair Chase Ltd ., a booking agent who I have known since the late 1980s and with whom Leo and I booked our first Safari in 1994 to Namibia . Col Bill is well known in SCI and has a flawless reputation for telling the truth, not what you want to hear to sell you a hunt . I knew for many years that Col . Bill booked hunts for Russ Broom Safaris who had an equally flawless reputation . In my discussions with Col . Bill, I told him that Leo and I wanted to hunt elephant and that I knew that Russ Broom had elephant hunts in Zimbabwe that were reasonably priced . With the 2004 SCI convention around the corner, Col. Bill suggested that Leo and I hook up with him at the convention where we could all go by Russ Broom’s booth to surely book a hunt . After explaining to Russ that economics were certainly a factor with Leo and me, we negotiated a 12-day 2x2 elephant safari . As some of you may not be aware, Zimbabwe is blessed with an abundance of elephants; however, the political and economical situation there is quite grim and the violence from the blacks taking back the farms from the whites is pretty abundant . With the situation so bad in Zimbabwe, they are having a hell of a time booking safaris; hence, Russ Broom’s reducing his elephant hunts from the traditional 21 day all the way down to a 10 day. So with a hand shake and a modest deposit, Leo and I had booked our 12-day elephant hunt for April 2005. A year and a half is a long way off; however, when you have to work your butt off to pay for the safari you just booked, this time comes very quickly!

Upon returning from the SCI convention, my dad asked me what I booked . When I told him an elephant hunt, he thought I was kidding as he knows an elephant has always been my dream . I say, “No, I’m not kidding dad . It’s for real .” He replied, “Good, I always hoped I would live long enough to see you kill an elephant!”

Finally on April 15th, we left to Miami for a flight on British Airways to London, and after an 11-hour layover, we are on to Johannesburg . After an hour layover, we are on to Harare . As we depart the jet in Harare, we are met by a very young woman, approximately 21 years old, holding a sign that said “Hudson and Lampon” only Lampone is missing the “e” at the end . When we approached her, I said “If you add an “e” to the Lampone name, we can help you .” She cheerfully took us over to the visa counter where we soon had our visas in hand . During our wait in line, she mentioned our bush flight into camp . Quite shocked at her youth, I asked her “Are you our pilot?” to which she responded yes . I then asked, “If you don’t mind me asking, how many hours do you have?” “About 250” 8

This is Your DreamBy Glen A. Hudson, Jr.

she replied. Wow I think; about 250. Is that like kind of pregnant? To say the least, I am shocked . We booked a hunt with one of the premier outfitters in Africa and here we were with a pilot with only, or should I say, maybe 250 hours or less. I looked at Leo while thinking we’ll get through this . Our bush flight into camp was as turbulent as hell with the heat rising up off the land . We shook like mad for 1 hour and 45 minutes; a lot of turbulence and one hell of a ride .

Upon arriving at our dirt airstrip, we were met by 50 or so natives, our trackers and my PH Rory Muri . We loaded all our gear into the Land Rover and off we were for a half-hour ride to camp . Arriving at camp, Leo and I were extremely pleased, to say the least . The dining hut was very nice with a bar at one end and a dining table at the other . It overlooked a very large watering hole with crocodiles and other game . Our sleeping quarters, which were also quite nice, contained a shower, toilet, running water and nice beds with mosquito nets over them!

During dinner our first night in camp, my PH Rory told me that we would be waking at 4  AM as we had a 2 ½ hour drive to the area where we would be hunting . Surely he must be kidding I thought . Wow, that only leaves 6 hours of sleep! Sure enough, at 4 AM a camp boy came into our bungalow to wake me up . As I was heading out the door, Leo said the words that are the title of this story – this is your dream!

Day 1 – We drove 2 ½ hours on a very bumpy, rock road that shook the hell out of us and the truck . Much of the ride is in the dark . Finally we reached the area and started going from village to village . Before long we happen upon a villager who stops us to tell us he had four bulls raiding his crops last night . We walked over to his field to look at the size of the tracks and Rory and the

trackers agreed that two of the four elephant tracks were big enough . So

we loaded up with lots of water and off we went into the brush on my first elephant track . The bush in this area of Zimbabwe is so thick that you can only see a few yards in a lot of places . With the trackers in front, we followed the tracks, elephant dung, etc . After a few hours, we saw that the bulls split up – two one way and two the other – so we chose to follow the two larger tracks . Just a little ways on we could see in the sand where the two bulls laid down and could see where one of the bull’s tusk imprinted in the sand . After a few more hours of tracking, the bulls’ tracks went on to hard ground and they started walking in circles . After 5 hours 9

of tracking, we determined that we couldn’t tell where the tracks were going so we decided to start walking back to the truck . After about another ½ hour walk through the brush, we suddenly saw two bulls 20 or so yards in front of us. Up went my rifle, and the PH’s for backup, and there I stood looking up, and I mean up, at the first wild elephant ever . “My God, look how tall they are” I thought . The bulls stood still with their ears flapping while looking at us, sensing that we were there . I whispered to Rory how many pounds he thought the one on the right looked, to which he responded about 30 pounds. At 30 pounds, I thought he looked pretty nice but since it was the first day, I decided to pass and look for 40 pounds or better . After a few minutes, the bulls moved off and so did we . As we walked to the truck, we bumped into a cow with

a calf and backed up quickly . Soon after, we saw a bull just walking by in front of us . Wow I whispered to Rory . Look at the size of those tusks! No, he said, they are only 30 pounds. Oh well, what do I know, I thought . It’s only the third bull I had ever seen . Back to the truck and we spent the remainder of the day driving around trying to find more fresh tracks but with no luck . So my first day of elephant hunting ended with passing on three bulls of which two were 30 pounders. Life is good!

Day 2 –Up at 4 AM and another 2 ½ hour long drive to our hunting area . Little did I know that this would

be the norm for the rest of my safari . At 11 AM we cut the tracks of four bulls leaving the village’s crops, crossing a major dirt road, and climbing a small mountain up to where the thick brush goes on forever . So off we went again and I could see a big bull elephant (in my mind) just ahead . Again I tell myself look at the size of those tusks as I kept following the tracker while dreaming that the bulls are just ahead! Only in reality and after 5 or 6 hours passed, we kept finding fresh, wet elephant dung yet the elephants never slowed down . Finally Rory told me that we had to stop tracking because it was just too dangerous to walk out of the brush in the dark as someone may get killed . Rory went on to explain that with the truck so far behind us, he was going to send one of the trackers back to the truck by himself since without us, he could go so much faster . When he reaches the truck, he can take it down the main road the elephants crossed and meet us at a dam that’s only 1 ½ hours in front of us . So I asked him how far ahead he thought the elephants were from us . He responded that he thought the elephants are holding up about a mile or so to our left (they killed one there last year), but we couldn’t make it in time and get out of the brush before dark . Honestly, I must say that my heart sank as I thought the elephants were just a mile or so away and yet we had to leave them . I realized however that Rory was only doing what was safest for all of us, so off to the dam we headed to meet up with the truck . I would like to mention that Rory used a GPS wherever we went, which added greatly to our safety since we knew all the time exactly where we and the truck were .

Day 3 – The worse day of the safari yet. We left camp at 4:30 in the morning but we never cut a track to follow! Just rode, rode, and rode as we looked all day for fresh elephant tracks to follow . Bouncing around in a truck on a rock road from 4:30 AM to 7:30 PM sure shakes your kidneys and is no fun . God how I missed the sweating and tracking through the bush . I can tell you camp was a welcome sight!

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Day 4 – This was better than Day 3 . We went to a new area to check out a spring in the morning . While driving through the area, Rory showed me a spot where they watched a pride of lions catch a baboon last year . Even though Leo and I had lions on our licenses, I told Rory that I only had solids with me since I was only hunting elephants and my soft points were left back at camp . He then told me to always carry a few soft points with me since you never know what you’ll see . How true were his words! Later in the day, we tracked two bulls – one about 25 pounds and one with a broken tusk – as well as a couple cows .

Day 5 – We’re on the road again . Just a quick note . During these first 4-5 days, Leo would return to camp each night explaining that they were just tracking elephants each day without ever getting close to them, always behind them . After telling him how big the elephants were when you walked up to them, I felt for him because he was not seeing any elephants and was not passing on bulls like I was almost every day . However, I knew deep in my heart that this was God paying him back for our brown bear hunt . Man, I just love putting that in print! He still calls my bear Boo Boo . Now, that being said, let’s get back to Day 5 of my elephant hunt .

We cut the track of the same bulls raiding crops that we followed on Day 2 . However, this time they didn’t cross the road and head north but rather climb a mountain, and I mean mountain, heading towards a National Park . As we topped out, Rory decided to send the trackers to the park’s boundary to see if the elephants made it into the park . An hour or so later, they returned and told us that the elephants had stopped just short of the park’s boundary but were later scared into the park by a few natives walking through the brush . So Day 5 was dead and gone .

Day 6 – We went to the water spring area again . While driving the truck through the brush, two cow elephants walked out in front of us no more than 30 yards ahead. What a sight to see! Later in the morning, we cut the track of the large bull near the springs . However, after tracking him for a few hours, we found that his tracks lead into the National Park . Oh well, back to the truck we went . Later in the afternoon, we crossed a small village and one of the trackers asked the old man if any elephants had been this way . He replied in his native Tonga language that four bulls were raiding his crop for five nights in a row! We decided to check out the size

of the tracks, and as Rory and the tracker explained, they looked good . Since it was late in the day to start tracking, we told the old man that we would return tomorrow .

Day 7 – This is the day that things started changing quickly . One thing I didn’t mention is that after the first 5-6 days, camp ran out of bottled water so they started to refill the bottles with well water . Since Col . Bill had warned us about drinking the water, I asked Rory about the well water. He said that it came from a well that was 300 feet deep and that it was fine . Well, I thought, why did it look so cloudy? People get sick from drinking well water in Mexico and I’m sure it’s 300 feet deep. Back to reality. At 2 AM on Day 7, I woke up with my stomach on fire, sweating like a dog, big chills, plus other problems that are best not mentioned here . From 2 until 4 AM, I laid in bed in not the best of shape . At 4 when the camp boy came to wake us up, I asked Leo if by chance he had any medicine that could help me with my problems . As always, my pal pulled through for me and saved the day . Since I was preoccupied, a camp boy came into our room to get my bag and my gun case to take it to my truck . He didn’t know that the night before, I had removed the bolt to oil it and left it out of the gun thinking that I would put it back in before leaving in the morning . I never dreamed I would be preoccupied . Finally, I got into the truck and off we went . Thank God that only after a mile or so I started to wonder whether my bolt was in my gun . I asked Rory to stop the truck . When the trackers handed me my gun out of the rack, I opened the soft case and slid my thumb into an action that had no bolt! I was grateful we had only gotten about a mile, not 2 ½ hours, down the road and had only wasted 5 or so minutes . I thought to myself then that these 5 minutes will make a difference today!

We went back to the bulls that kept going into the park, and as we drove into the village just past sunup, a bunch of natives were hooping and hollering that the elephants just ran in front of us not 5 minutes ago! Our trackers jumped off the truck to find that the tracks were headed towards the jess – meaning very thick brush – and not into the park! So we dropped two of the trackers off and headed towards the entry to the National Park just in case . When we got to the valley the elephants took into the park, the trackers determined that the elephants had not been through this morning . This was a good thing as they are now in the jess . So we went back to the first two trackers . Soon we reached one of the two trackers who had backtracked to tell us that they had spotted the bulls laid up in the jess . We headed up on the side of a mountain and as we looked down way above the bulls, we spotted their backs in the jess about 500 yards in front of us! Before we went into the bush after these elephants, I had a simple talk with Rory telling him that if we got up on the elephants, my first and only question would be how many pounds is he? Rory is to judge his tusks and tell me what he thought with no other conversation . Rory agreed to my request . I then told him to hold the shooting sticks up for my first shot, and as my gun went off, throw them to the ground since I wanted any other shots to be off-hand .

Now that that was out of the way, we went off to stalk four bulls in very thick brush, or as they say, jess . After about 45 minutes of tracking, things started to happen quickly . We tracked around the corner of a tree and at about 20 yards stood four elephants. I looked at the closest one broad side and saw very thick but short tusks; however, he looked very good to me so I asked Rory how many pounds he thought it was. He said over 30, so I said good, I’m taking him . Rory whispered to me, “Are you sure?” and I wonder why we are having this conversation . I answered yes . As he handed me the sticks, he said “He’s a little short . Are you going to be happy with him?” Again I wonder why we are having this conversation . Yes Rory, give me the sticks! All in whispers . So finally, he hands me

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the sticks and as I was lowering my rifle for the shot of a lifetime, he let go of the sticks and the barrel of my rifle hit them as they fell to the ground . The broad-sided elephant that just had seconds to live looked at me and ran off into the brush . To say I was upset is an understatement to say the least! I told myself to keep my cool as I asked Rory why he dropped the sticks as I still had to get my gun ready . I was not a very happy camper . The bulls ran a few hundred yards in the brush and stopped, obviously quite alarmed . We went after them and before long we are once again upon them . The brush is too thick to see . The elephants sensed we were there, and we heard them crashing towards us with a lot of noise . Up went our guns in an effort to cover us even though we couldn’t see them . The crashing stopped but still we couldn’t see the elephants . Rory decided it was best if we worked our way up to the elephants, so we crawled towards them down on our knees . We crawled about 10-12 yards when I could see a shadow, not the whole elephant, through the bush . I thought to myself, this elephant is so close and the bush is so thick that I don’t think I can raise my gun if it charges, not to mention I am on my knees! I decided I didn’t need an elephant that bad that I was willing to die for it (meaning in this situation I didn’t see how I could defend myself ), so I tapped Rory on the shoulder and gave him the thumb backwards to let him know we are out of here! Rory took one look at me and after seeing how serious I looked, didn’t question me . We started to crawl backwards until we were far enough away to stand up and walk way from the elephants .

Rory then said it would be best if we let the elephants settle down for a few hours while we had lunch . We decided to walk back to the side of the mountain so we could still see the elephants while we had our lunch and tried to take a nap, which was impossible due to the heat and the hundreds of flies on us .

After about 3 hours we decided to have another go at the elephants . We went back into the brush and as we got close to the elephants, they started running away and crashing through the jess . These elephants had enough of us and instead of running 50-100 yards and stopping, they were, as we say, getting out of Dodge! We moved as fast as we could to catch them, and as we topped out over a hill, we could see them just crossing over the next hill 300-400 yards ahead of us. We continued to chase them, and by the time we topped the hill where we last spotted them, we couldn’t hear or see anything . The tracker picked up the tracks and we started following them . After about an hour, we walked within 20 yards of two of the bulls standing broad-side. Up went the sticks, which I decided to hold myself this time . I had my gun resting on the sticks, aimed at the heart of the elephant on the left, when Rory whispered to me to wait until he got a good look at the tusks . After about 15 seconds, he whispered no, it’s not the big one . He looked through his binos at the one on the right, and again whispered that it wasn’t the big one either . It was obvious these were the younger of the bulls which will always try to protect the older bulls . After a minute or so, these two bulls looked at us and walked forward in more brush . We waited a few minutes before following to try to find the big bull. We went about 50-75 yards and next thing we knew, we heard all kinds of brush breaking as we realized the bull (or bulls) was charging us! I stepped to Rory’s right as both our guns rose . We stood side by side as the crashing noise kept getting louder and closer . Things were happening fast .

Suddenly I picked up the sight of both bulls charging us with their heads up . As they were coming straight at us, I picked up the one on the right through my scope and put my cross hairs on its head . Since I wasn’t sure at what distance to fire – I was guessing at 15 yards – I decided to let Rory shoot his before I shot mine . At about 20-25 yards, the bulls stopped and stared at us with their ears flapped out . Rory whispered to me to back up . As we both backed up, so did the elephants. We walked about 40 yards before stopping . Rory then said that we needed to get around these two young bulls to get to the big ones . So back at them we went, and as we got to the spot where we were when they charged us, once again we heard all kinds of stuff crashing and realized here we go again . I picked up the elephant on the right, and Rory covered the one on the left . I again told myself not to fire until Rory did . When

you see an elephant charging you, images of time fly by! The bulls stopped at the same spot they did last time, and Rory again whispered to me to back up . So back we went and so do the elephants . Next thing I know, Rory motioned me forward as I thought to myself that we had just been mock charged twice by the same two bulls, not to mention that we had been pushing them all day long . If they decided to make it a full blown charge, we would have to hit a brain the size of a football at the right angle as it was running at us . I knew I had no experience at a charging frontal brain shot, and since Rory would be covering his elephant, he was not

going to have time to save me if I didn’t brain mine! It’s amazing how quick all those thoughts went through my mind in no more than 2-3 seconds . I decided to tap Rory on the shoulder and again gave him the thumb backwards as I motioned him that we are out of here .

Since it was getting late, we walked back to the truck . As we started the long drive back to camp, I explained to Rory that I hadn’t complained about anything – not the 8-hour hikes, the heat, the sweating, and the flies – not even the 5 hours a day down the rocky roads . However, this morning as we were crawling up to the elephants in brush so thick I couldn’t raise my gun if I had to and now having two bulls mock charge us twice . I told him he might be able to stop his, but I had never taken a frontal brain shot . However, I stood my ground next to you twice . I did not turn and run . I told him that I didn’t need any on-the-job training on a frontal brain shot . Little did I know that those words would come back to haunt me the very next day . Rory said that he understood where I was coming from and was only trying extra hard to get me a nice elephant . No hard feelings at all . A couple of warm beers and a few hours later as we were nearing camp, a hyena ran across the road in front of our headlights . We both yelled hyena at the same time as Rory slammed on the brakes . As we skid to a stop, he grabbed a flash light and shined it at the hyena that was now hiding in a big bush not 20 feet from the road. About that time, the trackers were sliding my gun to Rory through the truck’s window . I grabbed my gun as I jumped from the truck and tried to load a soft point in it but it jammed with the solids in the magazine . Rory said to just load one shell . While fumbling, I hit the magazine floor plate release, dropped the shells on the road, grabbed a soft point, closed the bolt, and left the floor plate dangling open . All of this took about 10 seconds. As I looked through my scope, I saw the hyena still in the bush, but I couldn’t tell which end was which . I told myself, “Don’t blow the

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shot of a lifetime . Wait until you can see which end is which .” About that time, the hyena moved just enough for me to recognize his shoulder . Flames shot from the end of the barrel over the hood of the truck in the dark . I knew I had a good hit, so Rory and I carefully walked up to my shaking hyena . What a sight! I never dreamed I would shoot a hyena . After taking a few pictures, we loaded up the hyena and drove back to camp to celebrate . Back at camp, it was said that things were going to happen fast now that I broke the ice with the hyena .

Day 8 – On the road again. At 4:30 Rory decided we were going back to the old man we met on Day 6 who had the four bulls raiding his crops for 5 days in a row . We arrived at his fields an hour or so after sunup . The old man told us that the same bulls haven’t missed a night . They were raiding his crops again last night, so we loaded up and off we went . After a few hours of tracking at just before 10:00 AM, we found the four bulls standing in very thick brush about 3 miles from the field . We sneaked up on the bulls, but since the brush was so thick, we could only see parts of the bulls . Rory tried to explain to me which one to shoot – a bull to the right in the front . However, I could only see an ear, the tusks and part of its head . Rory said, “See his right tusk and ear?” “Yes, I see it .” Rory then said to go over 2 feet from its right tusk and down 2 feet and I’d find its lungs . “But Rory, I can’t see through the brush!” I told him I didn’t want to shoot through that thick of brush since I didn’t think my bullet would make it . Rory insisted my bullet would make it and again told me to shoot . I told him that the only way I was going to shoot through that thick of brush is if he was to shoot the second he heard my gun go off . Rory agreed to back me up . While on one knee, I shot off my shooting sticks at an elephant that was less than 20 yards away and that I couldn’t clearly see. Since I couldn’t see which direction the other elephants were facing, I hoped that none of them would run me over as I took my shot . As my gun went off, you could hear elephants running all over the place . As the gun recoiled, I waited another 3 seconds or so before I heard Rory’s go off . I am, to say the least, shocked . I looked at my watch and it was 9:50 AM. By the time Rory shot, I saw my elephant spin and run . “What took you so long?” I asked Rory . He said that it was a hard shot to make . But we just had a conversation and you agreed you were to shoot just as my gun went off .

We stood there a few minutes letting things settle down . The trackers went forward checking the tracks and came

back to tell us three bulls went one way and one bull went the other . We sent two trackers after the three bulls to check on them, and certain that the lone bull was my bull, off we went . After tracking the single bull a little way, we found his dung with a lot of liquid with it . Rory explained that is a sign that we hit him . Now I am not in the best of moods and am somewhat mad that I took a shot through such thick brush . Even so, I never thought that we would lose the bull as our trackers were just too good . After a few hours of tracking, we came around the corner and in the tracks of the elephant sat the other trackers who were following the three bulls . “What in the hell are they doing here?” I asked Rory . “They were waiting for us” he said . The three elephants they were tracking made a half loop and met up with our bull . I asked Rory how that could have happened . He explained that elephants can communicate, similar to dolphins, using a high frequency sound from 5 miles away . Great I thought . We now have four bulls to deal with, one of which is wounded! Rory told me outright that this is not good . He told me to remove my scope . As our trackers started to move on, the old man from the field – who got to follow us on the hunt by tribal tradition and if successful, gets a choice cut of meat – started to argue with them in their native tongue and pointed off to our left! He was explaining that he knew just where the elephants were holding up . After a lot of arguing, our head tracker looked at Rory and they decided to abandon the track and follow him . Sure enough, we go about one half mile and could hear the elephants just in front of us breaking the trees .

Folks, this is when things change big time . Before I finish, I would like to say that all I’m doing is putting into words the longest minute or two of my life . I hope you don’t interpret it as bragging or blowing my own horn because honestly it is just simply saying what went through my mind .

Rory looked at me and warned “this is serious shit we are going into .” Great, I thought; this is just what I needed to hear . We heard the elephants about 100 yards away. I tucked my shirt in tight so that it wouldn’t interfere with my ammo loop on my belt which I knew I’d be needing . Tino, our head tracker, then looked at Rory and me and started to laugh . I asked Rory what the &*! is he laughing at? Rory said it was just a thing between the two of them . Off we went one step at a time . As we proceeded forward, I was thinking that I had assured Terry (my wife) I wouldn’t get myself in this position. What happened to that 40 yard heart shot I had envisioned? At this point, my mind was in survival mode . The next

thought that entered my mind, I will be ashamed of forever . It wasn’t a serious thought; just my brain working . My brain said to me “Tell Rory he’s the PH and that he should sort this out .” But then I remembered that he had two boys – one 11 and one 18 – I asked myself “Could I live with myself if I made his boys orphans because I didn’t finish what I had started?” In a fraction of a second I thought of never seeing my boy again . I then said to myself that I wasn’t a coward and at least if I died, I would die with my head held high! All the while I am thinking these thoughts, we were working our way up to these elephants . At this point, I started to tell myself that I was a gun fighter, that I was cold with no emotions . Where the hell is Leo? Man I could use him and his .470 Nitro. Why did I buy a .378 Weatherby? I should have bought a .460. My dad hoped he lived long enough to see me kill an elephant, not the other way around . I assured Terry I wouldn’t be in this situation . No one dies with a million and a half in life insurance . This is just like shooting trap . You know how many 25 straights you have; it’s the same thing . Just point, aim and shoot .

As we neared the elephants, we happened upon a ditch about 5 feet deep x 6 feet wide x 20 yards long. As we dropped down into the ditch, our heads were just a foot above ground level and we could see the elephant’s feet under the thick brush . Rory and I worked our way forward, and as we reached the end of the ditch, we saw the elephant’s feet start running toward us . Rory whispered “Get back, get back!” So I tried to back up quietly as I saw the elephants coming at us . We managed to retreat . About ¾ of the way back I told myself to stop and stand my ground . I was in the middle of the ditch with Rory to my right . The elephant in the front stopped and stared at me as my gun is held on his head waiting for him to charge me . After a few seconds, he walked off to my left . The second elephant did the same thing – looked at me in the ditch and then walked to my left after a few seconds . The third elephant walked to the end of the ditch and stared at me . Rory whispered “That’s him .” I wondered what’s it like to have a tusk go through you . No, maybe he will beat me to death with his trunk . As I pulled the trigger, I thought that’s if he makes it to me . This is going to be over, one way or the other, in just a second . As my gun went off, I saw the bull doesn’t drop but shakes badly . This is good; I was close to the brain . My next shot caused him to fall over backwards . As I reloaded, I told Rory to cover me . My bullets come out of my belt loop . One up the tube, one down the magazine, they go in like butter . As I was closing my bolt, up stood the elephant, only broadside this time . Bust his should I thought . I pulled the trigger . Bang! Then I heard Rory fire, and I fired again on its shoulder . Rory fired again just before I fired my last shot . Five shots in just seconds were fired between Rory and me . The bull decided this was more than he wanted and he ran off to our left before we hear him crash . I told Rory to cover me since I was empty . After I reloaded, we got out of the ditch . I looked to my left and saw my bull . Walking up, I fired the assurance brain shot just for safety . As I rub my hands on his tusks, I am somewhat numb . I have achieved my hunting dream . I am amazed that I am now doing something I had dreamed of almost all my life, standing over my bull elephant . As we walked back to the truck, I am overcome with joy and as I knew I would, a tear or two dropped . On our way back to the camp we ran into Leo and his PH . I got out of the truck and words couldn’t explain as I told Leo I got my elephant .

The next day as we finished recovering my elephant, or as we say skinning and such, and the natives took the meat, we got a call on the radio that Leo had shot a bull . As our job with my bull was

done, I insisted we head to Leo’s . After a few-hour drive, we met with Leo and his PH and got to see his bull . It was a nice bull that I would not have hesitated to shoot myself . Two bulls were taken in 8 days of hunting – 100% success.

I’d like to add just a few closing notes . We were hunting tribal land, nowhere near where the white farms were being taken back by the blacks . Not once did we ever feel threatened . If Zimbabwe ever stabilizes, the price of these elephant hunts will double or triple overnight. My tusk measured 60 ¼” by 14 ¾” diameter and 63 ½” by 15 1/8”. My PH guessed the weight at between 50-55 lbs. per side. For me, it is all downhill from here!!

A Sincere Thank you From

John MarkWolfe

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Okeechobee Outfitters/Brady Ranch

5260 Bluff Hammock Road • Lorida, Fl 33857Office: 863-655-2454 • Fax: 863-655-1716www .bradyranch .com

I’ve been a South Florida hunting guide since 1989 . I started my business on private ranches in Okeechobee and surrounding counties . Hunting turkeys, wild boar and alligators . Prior to my outfitting business my love for the outdoors was an addiction, I couldn’t wait to get out of school and off of work to get to the woods, which I’m sure many of you reading this article can relate . I looked forward to the weekends and the holidays because every bit of extra time I had I spent in the woods . I would camp for days on the river and in the swamps either by myself or many times I would take friends and family with me teaching them how to hunt

the public land and how to have the best outdoor experiences ever . The only way to truly know the animals and the woods is to get out there and live with them in their habitat, you learn their instincts and you grow to respect the privilege God has blessed us with as far as hunting and harvesting from the woods compared to just shooting and killing animals .

I’ve always every since I was very young skinned, cleaned and cooked everything I harvested . My mom tells a story about me to everyone of when I came home with my first big kill and went to the kitchen and started cooking up vegetables and seasonings with the meat I had and she didn’t know how on earth it was going

to turn out . But then she laughs and says “You know what?- it was Really Good ! And he’s been cooking every since .”

In 1993 I took my business into the world of North American Exotics, hunting the “World Famous Brady Ranch” up until 2010. Then I decided to expand to a larger hunting area, which is now located on the Northwest side of Lake Okeechobee on the Seminole Prairie Big Game Ranch . My new location houses hundreds of animals . Native wild boar, alligators, Osceola turkeys, Axis Deer, Fallow Deer, Sika Deer, Black Buck Antelope, plus many others .

Not only do we offer some of the best hunting available in South Florida, but I have made it my Goal to always have excellent accommodations as well a delicious home cooked meals, fresh fruit and good ol’ southern hospitality at all our camps and lodges .

I believe the experience in a whole is what hunters and families are looking for these days and that is just what I offer . I along with my staff work hard to make sure everyone is taken care of personally as well as professionally .

I’ve been very blessed by all the hunters in South Florida and from across the country .

Please feel free to call me if you would like to take a tour of the Seminole Prairie Big Game Ranch .

We also offer Great Yearly hunting memberships for Native game such as Wild Boar and Whitetail Deer along with predator (cats and coyotes) hunting .

I look forward to seeing ya’ll in the woods!

Danny SantAngelo

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Fred’s Smoked Fish Paté

Instructions:Place all ingredients in a food processor . Process until well mixed . Chill . Paté will keep up to a week or more in the refrigerator . To serve, spread on crackers or toast points as Hors D’oevuvres .

Note: Use 1/2 lb . of smoked fish and 1/2 lb . of smoked fish belly meat . This creates a richer, moister paté that is easier to spread .

Ingredients:1lb . smoked fish (boned, chopped)1/2 cup chopped green onion1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice1/4 cup cream cheese, softened

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Dr. Gregory Cheek

The Sportsmen’s Foundation for Military Families (SFMF), an IRS 501(c)(3) charitable organization, is established to provide combat veterans a chance to participate in the hunting sports. Any combat veteran of the United States Armed Forces, or an immediate family member of a veteran killed in combat, is eligible to apply. Our hunts have proven to be extremely therapeutic to those in need. However, participation is not limited to those who have been wounded in battle or are suffering, any combat veteran may apply. All hunts are professionally guided. It is our way of saying thank you for your service.

“SFMF locates combat veteran-hunters and turns their dream into a reality. SFMF covers the costs. These hunts have been well established as an event that the participant relives over and over for the remainder of their lives.”

For more information or if you would like to help support the work of Sportsmen’s Foundation for Military Families call us at 863-655-2454 or visit:

www.huntforvets.com

Congratulations after 34-years of endless hours of practice, hard work, sweat and pain . Your own Safari Club International, South Florida Chapter Member Mr . Kris Johnson was honored at the 40th . Annual World Safari Club International Hunters Convention, Major Awards Banquet held in Las Vegas, Nevada this February of 2012. The Safari Club International Trophy Committee said that they were proud to recognize and honor Mr . Kris Johnson as he was voted in the New Number One 2010-2011 Handgunner of the World for his skills in marksmanship, competition and through all of his successful achievements of number one animals taken worldwide .

First each one of the worlds approximately twenty-six area categories, Subcommittee Chairman’s choose from thousands of people and finally settle on their top-twenty Candidate’s that were entered in from all over the world for the 2010-2011 award time period . The Trophy Records Committee then meets and votes for the top-ten Candidates from each of the world areas . These ballots of each person are then put in front of a selected panel of Major Award’s Adjudicators . The Adjudicators are the most accomplished hunters who have traveled internationally and are considered Experts for the category in which they judge . Adjudicator’s names are not released to the Candidates or the Safari Club International Membership Organization .

Each Judge then ranks the Candidates based on the difficulty of their hunts, skills in marksmanship, competition in each method, desirability of their animals, the number of species submitted in that category to the record book and the overall quality of each entry taken by the method he or she is nominated for . These ballots are then returned to the Trophy Records Committee and are tabulated .

Then the Adjudicators select the final first through tenth places along with two alternates for each of the categories throughout the entire world . Alternates are not recognized unless a member selected for a Major Award withdraws his or her name from the SCI World Major Awards Program .

Past President of the African Safari Club of Florida, Mr . Michael Runyan and Past President of the Safari Club International, South Florida Chapter, Mr . Richard Gotshall along with Gloria and Julie traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada to be apart of Mr . Johnson’s lifetime achievement . Mr . Kris Johnson said to all of the Trophy Records Committee Members and all of the Subcommittee Chairman’s that he was honored to be chosen as the New Number One Handgunner of the World for 2010-2011 by all of them as he walked across the stage after receiving the Number One Bronze Statue made by C .M Russell .

World Renown Hunters and Outfitters, Mr . Craig Boddington and famous television host appearing on the Outdoor Channel, Mr . Jim Shockey also posed with

2010-2011 Number One, SCI International

Handgunner of the Worldby Mr. Dennis Prevost

Mr . Kris Johnson our New Number One Handgunner of the World seen here in pictures . These were just a few of the activities which made the evenings events even more wonderful and an exciting experience to be a part of . Congratulations once again!

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The jet touched down, I look out the window, and all I see is sand . Sand? I’m expecting Abbott & Costello to come by on a camel any minute . There can’t be any animals here… .

I’m sitting in Ft . Lauderdale airport waiting for my flight . I’m going, I’m really going, I’m going to Africa!! No fooling, I’m actually going to some place called Namibia, with lots of animals and people living in huts, animals that I don’t even know what they look like . A quick crash course at my buddy Rich Gotshall’s home . I want that one, and that one, and one of those, nope, don’t want the Chihuahua with antlers . What’s that? Cool, they have those there? Damn, I’m really going . . .

It started one month earlier, I won a raffle, a trip to Colorado for elk, or a safari in Namibia . I wanted take the elk hunt, close to home, private ranch, easy trip, no shots, or deadly diseases . Nope, Mike Yeary and Rich Gotshall corner me; you have to go to Africa . I admit, my dream hunt would be a brown bear in Alaska; Africa was down on the list . After a severe browbeating, I agree, ok Africa . When?? Well, I spoke with Keith Wright of Didimala Safaris, who graciously donated the hunt . I did know what a Kudu was and wanted one of those . He was only allocated one this year and first come first serve . His lease on Sesfontein was 5 million acres. I did some math, 7200 square miles, twice the size of Delaware! We’re talking serious territory . When? Well, his first week is available, March first . Wait, it’s the end of January, that’s only 4 weeks away, I can’t do this . I plan my hunts like the invasion of Normandy, I need months!! I meet with Keith at Mike’s house the next morning . What the hell, I’m throwing caution to the wind; I’m going in 4 weeks . Less time to drive my wife Zona nuts .

So after an overnight flight to Frankfurt Germany, a day and a few beers in Frankfurt, and another overnight to

Walvis Bay Namibia, here I am . Keith meets me at the airport, and takes me to his beautiful home to meet his lovely wife Susan, his son William, and his daughter Sam . I’m, looking out his massive back windows and see more sand . Did I get ripped off? Are you serious? Have I been scammed? Keith reassures me that we’ll see plenty of animals . Early the next morning we head to Sesfontain, a 7 hour drive, and I’m amazed at nothing but desert . A few mud huts pop up here and there . Starting to see some green, there’s hope yet . More huts, I see some animals! Yeah, I recognize those, springbok . Tons of springbok!! Keith has his two main guys in the back of the truck, Reiny and Franz, trackers and skinners . We stop almost to camp and pick up a “game guide” . He lives in a mud hut with his two wives, and I don’t know which was more troubling, the hut or two wives . I learn later that “game guides” are used to see what we shot and keep track of the animals . Another hour and we near “town”, I guess it’s “town” because there are a large congregation of huts, and some cinder block structures . I learn there is a water well here, hence the “city” . Our first game guide jumps off and goes AWOL, seems he just wanted a ride, but we pick another up 5 minutes later . We pull into camp, and what a camp! I have my own tent on a concrete slab with a bed, and best of all, a real bathroom with a toilet and shower, living large! After a few minutes to unload, and check the zero on my rifles, we’re off to hunt. A short 20 minute drive and we see zebra, springbok, and gemsbok. Hey I recognize those!! I get a shot at a nice 40” cow, and the hunt has started! 200 yards and my first shot isn’t great, the nerves are wired . We jump in the truck and get ahead of her for shot number two . A little better, but the damn thing is still moving . I thought my 338-378 with 250 grains Barnes X would drop her immediately . My first clue this ain’t no whitetail . Keith tells me she’s heading for the mountain, and if I don’t drop her, he must, or she’s gone . No pressure, right? Well, I get it together, stop quivering, and drop her . My first African animal! Wow, I’m shaking like a leaf . A storm has come in, it starts to rain, and a full double rainbow pops up . It rains in the desert?? A good omen for what’s to come . As we head back to camp, I spot a jackal, and animal number two

African AdventureBy Jim Falkowski

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calls out 600 yards, take the shot. Ok, now I can actually see him silhouetted against the sky . Keith and I had discussed my shooting ability when we met . He had watched me shoot, and I told him I would do what he said, but 600 yards? I would never think about

shooting that far, but I followed orders without time to think . A good rest, I feel comfortable and take the shot . The kudu rears up, silhouetted against the sky and runs . I know I made a good shot, but doubt creeps in . We climb to the top, and are rewarded with a large blood trail . The tracker moves and 30 yards later he motions quiet. There he is in the bush, I shoot again, and he hauls down the mountain . Keith sets up the sticks and rock number 3 drops, damn . Keith is talking to himself again, and is ready to take my rifle . He points him out one more time and yes, I really see him . One last shot and I finally drop him in his place at 220 yards . He’s magnificent!! An old bull 52 inches and past his prime . I am ecstatic!! I pose for my pictures with this magnificent animal and say a silent prayer for the help . The fire is started and we sample this great animal for lunch, in what has become a daily ritual . That should have capped the day, but a few hours later, another great zebra, and a 16 .5 inch springbok . How can it get better?

Day 4Pretty hard to top yesterday, as I got my prize animal with a shot of a lifetime . We drove around and saw some elephant tracks, so we looked for them although they were not on the menu . I started thinking about the giraffes again . Maybe it would be neat to take one . They were really big; I never hunted an animal that large . We had seen some more cows yesterday, and got within 50 yards of them. Off in the distance we saw the elephants, two bulls, one a really big tusker . We got within 50-70 yards and I took some video, marveling at their size . They are really big, and it was neat to watch them up close . Time to move, and now I’m really wanting a giraffe, even the cows from yesterday, so we drive back to where we saw them . Nope, they are gone . Keith said ” you take what the bush gives you” . I’m dejected, but I try to remain postive, and tell Keith we’ll see a big bull ” any minute” . Well, 5 minutes later, the trackers pound on the roof . There he is, a big old bull!! We drive closer, and check him out . Yep, an old mature bull . I grab my rifle, get out, and Keith warns me . “He will not go down with one shot, keep shooting, and if he doesn’t go down, I will shoot him” . My heart is pounding, damn he’s big!! I’ve never shot UP at an animal, unless he was on a mountain, this guy is on level ground, 100 yards away. I line up the shot, oh my beating heart . The cross hairs go up and down like I’m on a boat . Control, breathing, relax, all floods my brain . I get control and shoot just behind the hump on the neck. I hear a resounding “whap” as the 250 grain Barnes hits hide . He rears up and

gallops . Another round ”whap” again, as Keith hollers encouragement, “you hit him again” . I fire my last round,

goes down to my Rifles Inc 300 RUM. Wow! Ok, a 180 grain Barnes TTSX is a little overkill . We head to camp for a great dinner and some good bourbon . I’m tossing and turning, and too damn wired to sleep . The next thing I know I hear someone at my tent with a silver coffee service, “Mr . Jim, your coffee”, I feel like a king . A quick trip to the bathroom, and I’m ready for the day .

Day 2We drive for 20 minutes and I see some Hartmann zebra . I didn’t want a zebra, I said that when I left home and told Keith when I arrived . Out comes the 338-378 and a big stallion pirouettes and goes down at 220 yards, one shot. We take a break, while, the skinners take care of business . I’m still in lala land . A few hours later with the hide soaking and the meat in the truck, it’s springbok time . We drive a few miles and I start to notice the rocks are moving . Upon a closer look, they’re springbok, they’re like cockroaches in Ft Lauderdale, they are everywhere! Thousands, tens of thousands, it’s insanity! Keith finds me a good 17 “ buck, and tries to point him out to me. “See the group of 20? The one is facing us, next to the group of 30, over to the right 20 yards, behind the group of 50, next to the one with his head down, back behind the other group, next to the one scratching” etc, etc . Huh? The hardest part was picking out the one he wanted me to take, and waiting for a clear shot . After what seemed like an hour, and Keith starting to talk to himself, I saw the trophy he pointed out . I rested the 300, and took the shot at 165 yards, my first springbok down and he was was a monster!! Scored 45 . 5 inches! The trackers started a fire, and we sat under a Camel tree, while we waited on the liver and backstraps to cook for lunch . Oh yeah, Keith told me next time to check the tree for Mambas before I sat under it . Mama Mia, Thanks Keith! We glassed hundreds, thousands of springboks the next hour, and then drove to look for more animals . We saw several ostrich, and I wasn’t going to shoot one, but, ostrich down at 220 yards with the 300 RUM, and dinner for tonight . We saw a couple cow giraffes, but I had no interest in a giraffe . Ended the day with another nice springbok, and headed to camp .

Day 3Looking for kudu in neighboring Anabeb concession, my number one animal on the hit parade. Around 10 AM the tracker taps on the roof and we stop . Two nice kudu hiding in the bush take off . We drive through the bush a bit and park at the bottom of a mountain . Keith spies the kudu across the short valley, walking up the mountain and calls out 400 yards. I have good rest and take the shot with the 338-378 . A couple inches high Keith calls out. I spot them again at 500 yards, and shot a very nice rock 50 yards from the kudu. Well, they blend in really well, it looked like a kudu, and I did hit what I was aiming at . My blood is pumping after wacking another rock . The kudu has now crested the mountain, and Keith 23

It was only 9:30 and we headed back to the lodge to drop him off and a late breakfast to get us though the rest of the day .

After a few hours of driving a Chihuahua with antlers poked his head up! Nah, well, yeah, sure, and a nice steenbok was mine . The finale came just a few hours later when we saw two Blue Wildebeest in the distance, one was a beauty . We made the stalk of about a mile and lost him in the bush . We stood in silence, searching, waiting, and then I heard a grunt! He had circled away from us, but was still downwind. We finally found him, and a big 30” Blue was on the ground! What an awesome day!

We spent the next two days looking for eland, but no trophies to be found, and it was time to head home . A day at the Wright home to rest up and reflect before heading back to Florida .

My first trip to Africa was just amazing, and the hunting Gods were looking over me . Everything I was told was true, expectations were more than met, and Didamala Safaris was awesome! I felt like I was hunting with old friends . The excitement, the animals, the scenery, the people, the culture, and my new friends, the Wright family, was more than I possibly expected . I want to go back… .

number 3 and am rewarded with another “whap”. 20 yards later the majestic bull goes down . I start shaking, and I can’t stop, it’s amazing .

Day 5The local tribe needed some animals for their meeting, and asked us to bring them two gemsbok and six springbok . Although we were scheduled to leave that morning, I couldn’t pass up that offer . By the end of the day, I shot 2 gemsbok and 2 springbok, and Keith and his son shoot the rest . Keith shot two on the move, off hand at 300 yards, just amazing shooting. In between the days harvest we paid a visit to a local family of Himba tribe people . Camped under a tarp, was a family of about 9, the little children shyly come out for the candy treats I offered them . The chief brought his two daughters out to stand with me for a picture . The women of the tribe cover their bodies and hair with a red mud that gives their skin the appearance of mahogany . It was a scene out of National Geographic, and it was hard to believe it was the year 2011.

Day 6It was time to leave our camp in Sesfontain for the long ride to Keith & Susan’s home . 14 animals in 4 and ½ days, I’m officially ruined for life! Seven hours later and we’re home, dinner a shower and off to the ranch tomorrow for some animals that weren’t available in Sesfontaine .

Day 7 Up and on the road early, arriving at Kahn’s River Ranch around one in the afternoon . We were greeted by Mario, and shown to our accommodations, beautiful one room cottages with all the amenities . I dropped my bags, grabbed my rifles, and it was on the truck to check out the more than 17,000 acres. I wasn’t really keen on hunting a high fence area, but after a few hours, I realized it was no walk in the park . The terrain was heavily wooded and everything had thorns . After a few hours I had a shot at a nice Blue Wildebeest and just blew it . A poor shot, and just a few specks of blood . I was devastated and angry with myself . We spent a few hours looking and finally left it to the trackers . Unhappy with a wounded animal, and my confidence ruined, I tried to keep my head up, although I was sick to my stomach . Keith was great in picking up my spirits, and we continued on . We found some Red Hartebeest, and after a stalk of about 2 miles, I made a great shot at 120 yards as he came between some trees, and he dropped in his tracks . We went to pick up the trackers at dusk, and as we approached, their hanging heads gave me the bad news, no sign of the big Blue . Back to the lodge, dinner and some drinks to finish a day of mixed emotions .

Day 8 I put yesterday behind me and started fresh . We saw some blesbok, but our stalks were unsuccessful . An hour later and a busted stalk on a Black Wildebeest, left me a little frustrated . Were things going south? Not long after that, we saw another Black and he went down hard! 120 yards with the Rifle’s Inc 300 Rum, and the first animal of the day was in the truck .

We went back to the general area we saw the blesbok, and picked up the herd of 5-8 animals once again . This time, after a successful stalk of a mile, I had the sticks in place and waited for him to come out from behind the tree. The view at 130 yards was a neck or

a head, and maybe a glimpse of a shoulder . I waited, and waited, determined to wait for a good line of fire . Patience was rewarded and I had a beautiful blesbok!

Safari Club International started the Sportsmen Against Hunger program in 1989 . Since then, tens of millions of meals have been served at local soup kitchens, food banks, or other charitable organizations such as The Salvation Army and Kids in Distress .

Some hunters take their harvest to a licensed meat processor, pay for the processing themselves, then donate the meat to the needy . Other hunters choose to share the meat from their freezers throughout the year . Because the demand for low-fat, low-cholesterol, preservative-free, high protein meat is so great, these offerings by SCI members are vital to the nutritional success of food banks across America and the world .

In 2006, 314,275 pounds of wild game meat were donated to relief organizations; in 2007 the figure jumped to 377,072 pounds which is the equivalent of 1,508,288 meals. In the 2008 season we set a new record with 412,254 pounds donated .

That is more than 206 tons of meat!

2012 SCI South Florida Members Donations

Tom Van Note - 200 lbs.

WE NEED DONATIONS!!SCI South Florida Chapter will help process or provide transportation to collect the meat. Please call Sean McCann at 954-914-6642 for any and all donations.

Club SupportersKeith AlmeidaBruce W. BrockFrederic BureshRichard H. ChildressStephen H. CornWilliam Elmore, Jr.Jim FalkowskiRich GotshallFre HaddadJoe HandChristine Haugen

Stanley KowalskiDorothy I. KullmanRobert B. KullmanLeo Lampone, Jr.Hugh H. McCauleyJoe O’BannonStephen PotterPeter G. StraussPaul E. TocciDr. Gregory CheekTom Van Note

Keith AlmeidaJoe HandDr. Gregory Cheek

Keith AlmeidaJoe HandDr. Gregory Cheek

Keith AlmeidaJoe HandDr. Gregory Cheek

I want to thank all the members listed above; especially Keith for responding to the mailings and the emails and supporting your club. If you don’t see your name listed on this page is means you did not respond.

To make sure your name appears in the next issue of your club magazine, either purchase an ad or send $100 for Platinum Level; $75 for Gold Level; $50 for Silver Level or $25 for Bronze Level to:

Diane ClutterSCIFC800 SE 3rd Avenue, 4th FloorFort Lauderdale, FL 33316

Your participation is needed and much appreciated when given. We look forward to seeing every member’s name on the supporter’s page. It doesn’t take much and everyone should be on this page either through purchasing an ad or just by participating in whichever level of support you want to show. We want to see everyone on this page, all levels of participation are welcome!

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Recognizing my responsibilities to wildlife, habitat and future generations, I pledge:

• ToconductmyselfinthefieldsoastomakeapositiveContributiontowildlifeandecosystems.

• Toimprovemyskillsasawoodsmanandmarksmantoensurehumaneharvestingof wildlife.

• To comply with all game laws, in the spirit of fair chase, and to influence mycompanions accordingly.

• To accept my responsibility to provide all possible assistance to game lawenforcement officers.

• TowastenoopportunitytoteachyoungpeoplethefullmeaningofthisCodeofEthics.

• To reflect in word and behavior only credit upon the fraternity of sportsmen,and to demonstrate abiding respect for game, habitat and property where I am privilegedtohunt.

Safari Club International

Hunter’s Codeof Ethics

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Advertising RatesLet our members know about your business while financially supporting our club . If you don’t have a business, then join your fellow members on out new supporter page .

Annual Advertising RatesFull Page Ad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,000Half Page Ad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $500Quarter Page Ad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $300Business Card Ad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $100

Supporter Page RatesPlatinum Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $100Gold Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $75Silver Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $50Bronze Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25

Rates include the following four magazine issues .

Winter • Spring • Summer • Fall

Special Placement AdsThese ads will be sold as full page ads and are limited so they are first come, first served .

Please call Diane Clutter at 954-761-3434 for the Special Placement Ad rates .

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Safari Club InternationalSouth Florida Chapter

A Non-profit OrganizationDedicated to Conserving Wildlife

and Preserving Hunting