Proof that giants still walk among us. Photo above: Crossing the Tana River in Kenya with big ivory in the 1960s, a scene that will never be seen again. (Photo by John Dugmore) On May 8, 2019, my old friend Michel Mantheakis from Tanzania and Namibian PH Koos Pienaar, hunting in Namibia’s eastern Caprivi, guided […]
Despite all the emphasis on new cartridges, this old standby is still an all-round champ. The cartridge wars continue! The 6.5mm Creedmoor remains a hot seller. Many of us want more, so we turn to faster cartridges. We used to call them “magnums” and most of them wore belts. The belt never meant much, but […]
The hunting world has lost a pioneer. Thomas Mattanovich, “dean” of professional hunters in Ethiopia, passed after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease on 17 February. He was 82. Thomas immigrated to Ethiopia with his parents and elder brother in 1950 at age 13 from what was then Yugoslavia.They settled in Wondo Genet, southern Ethiopia, then […]
The latest edition of Rowland Ward’s record book features several new world records, detailed maps, and fascinating photos of long-lost trophies. Photo above: The Peter Rous kudu, one of the “long lost” trophies featured in the new record book. The 30th edition of the Rowland Ward Records of Big Game (Africa) is in full production […]
The 30th Edition of Rowland Ward’s Records of Big Game will debut a new way of scoring African buffalo. Go on a Cape buffalo safari almost anywhere in Africa, and you will hear professional hunters talk about a “38-inch bull” or say, “I saw one today I am sure would go over 40.” Since African sport hunting began, […]
The 9.3, not the .375, should really be considered the minimum caliber for dangerous game. It’s a longstanding article of faith that the .375 is the legal minimum for Africa’s thick-skinned dangerous game. This has been the “letter of the law” in some African jurisdictions, but in many cases, it is simply not true. Some […]
A selection of books for reading by the fireside on a winter evening. When the snow flies, the time is right to curl up by the fire with a good hunting book. Whether you prefer the classics or are looking for something brand-new, here are a few can’t-miss favorites. One of the most interesting hunters […]
Photo by Vic Schendel Many think species protection requires the ending of hunting and protection by the government. Neither are true. It was the last clear, bright day of September, and I went out onto the plains to hunt sage grouse. A brace of the oversized birds makes a limit, but there’s still the kicking up […]
Hunters focused on big game often overlook the great bird shooting opportunities on the continent. We were just outside of Etosha National Park, in rolling country with the sun just starting to drop over low hills to the west. Namibia’s normally perfect July sky was, well, overcast, carrying a hint of rain so unseasonal as […]
Advice for trouble-free travel with firearms, and what to do when things go wrong. Traveling with firearms complicates everything. Honestly, it’s becoming a pain in the posterior…I breathe a sigh of relief when I travel withouta gun case! However, with some exceptions, we still can travel with firearms. It’s pointless to try to list the exceptions, […]
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