Paul,
I like the way you think, and agree 110% with your dad's philosophy.
I mortgaged(sp) the house to do a brown bear hunt in AK, and would do it again in a heartbeat.
Way to go on the trout Paulie!!
Bert.

I was offered one free hunt in trade for my wife.  Then the outfitter found out she didn't know how to cook.  Deal was off!  Actually, she used to cook, but then she lost the recipe for toast...

I hate to think of all the times I told my banker that I needed money to buy calves, or fix a broken piece of farm equipment...and then used the money for a hunt.  I worked 18 hours a day and paid it back, though, and I have some great memories to show for it.

Cheers and happy holidays...

Too Short

John,
You will have a wonderful time and memories for life. I was fortunate to go to GKS with Paul a few years ago. It was a great trip. The service, food, and hospitality is as good as it gets. I saw hundreds of animals of many species. You will of course see Kudu, Gemsbock, impala, warthogs and wildebeest. I also saw giraffe, elephants, waterbuck, zebra, a leopard, a caracal, jackals, sable, and a bunch of other critters. The bird life is unbelievable with flock of hundreds of colorful birds moving in unison.

The evening meal is a daily treat with excellent food and stories of hunts past and plans for future hunts. One night during after dinner drinks, not far from camp, the elephants ripped up trees so they could get to the top foliage, cool stuff.

It was chilly when I was there, frost a few mornings. So not wanting his clients to be uncomfortable Howard sees to it that just before bedtime a hot water bottle is at the foot of every bed. Nice touch.

Razorsharptokill, I know what you are thinking.  That it is out of reach, but I am telling you, it can be done.  I went last summer.  I'm just a lowly construction laborer, and I only make $30,000 to $40,000 per year.  I saved and saved and made it happen, and I'm already saving for the next trip.  Don't think about it too much.  Just do it!  You will not even believe how exciting it is.  I hunted for 10 days, which is not long enough.  Hunt for 14.  Anyway, I hunted pretty much from light to dark every day, and I NEVER got bored.  It was awesome. I only killed 3 animals.  I passed on many more, that I was not interested in, but if you pace yourself, you can do a trip like that for under $8,000.  I spent about $7500, total including airfair.  Believe me, it is worth every penny.  Start telling yourself that you are doing it.  Book a trip now, because once you have sent in the deposit, it makes it harder for you to back out of it.  Tell all of your friends and family that you are going.  Keep talking about it...and before you know it...you will be there.

Jon

Lots of PROOF here to support the short guy is pretty damn SMART and even funny sometimes.  I admit, he has taught me more than all others combined.  Listen to the short man!!

justin

Jeeze...that makes not only my day, buy my WHOLE YEAR!  Wow!  And all those years I thought short was an anchor!

Hey, Chad...drop me an email, man!  Tell your wife I landed two Browns around 6 pounds each this morning before breakfast!

I think, Razor, that you are getting the picture about how awesome Africa is!  It's great to see so many good responses.

Well, the Princess, who lost her recipe for toast, is up and needing to be fed.  I must cook!

Happy holidays to all of you!

Too F. Short

Yes, the Short One is wise above and beyond his stature.

Next time I see Karen I will ask her about the toast recipe.

Send you an email TS.

Glad you are having so much fun.

Hot, sunny, and nice, but the darned kids are making a lot of noise on their boogie boards on the beach (which is way too close to our trailer).  Dang, I hate this vagabond lifestyle!

I really wish I could go back to work again, plow snow, feed cattle, chop ice, haul firewood, and really enjoy a freezing cold winter!  If you believe this I have some really valuable beach front property I could sell you in central North Dakota!

Cheers!

Too Short

Paul:
Not too much snow at this time but been raining like hell with lots of wind.
You might as well enjoy it while you can, because like you said the Golden years are not what there cracked up to be.
Bob

Trust me...I'm going a "hunnert" miles an hour!

Too Short

I'm not feeding any cattle but doing all those other things. 6 degrees here this morning.

Hi Bob, With all the critters Too Short is shooting you must be busy building shafts for him. Hope you are wintering well.

Africa was a wonderful experience and I hope to do it again.

Hi Chad:
Yes Paul is keeping me busy, have had to slow down abit after my injury, but I'm giving them hell now.
Its amazing I write a thread about not too much snow only rain and it snowed all day and has been cold. In the single digits all week in the morning.
Bob

Hope all is well with the arm Bob. "Wintering Well"...? must be a Montana thing...     Might see some snow when I get there in 08?

alan

alan:
Yep! "wintering well" is a Montana thing. Its quite unusual for us to have snow on the ground for more than a week at a time in our part of the state, but we have had it now for two weeks and the temp. right now is 11 degrees F. not sure how that converts to Celcius.
Bob

Bloody cold mate.... bloody cold! An aussie summer kills just a quick as a Montana winter I'm sure.

Hope you like the other thread too mate. Let you know my progress with the shafts.

alan.

P.S. Oh and not wanting to hijack the thread I too want to hunt Africa one day, maybe after New Zealand next year and Montana in 2008?

Thanks again guys for all the good info.

Razor, I have never been but i have a friend who has been a couple times. He got both of his hunts at Safari Club banquets. His first hunt run him about 10K that was the final cost for every thing. Even getting is animals mounted. I think he killed a Kudo,Zebra,Sable,Gemsbuck,Diker,And  some freebies like Baboon and game for camp meat.The only thing he complained about was the flight over. Good luck and be safe.