T H E OFFIC IA L PU B LIC ATIO N OF H OUS T ON S AFARI CLUB • FALL 2 0 1 7
The Legend
TABLE of
CONTENTS
FEATURES
20 FUNDING WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION WITH SMOKE AND MIRRORS
By Andy Treharne
22 SUMMER TRAVEL: BEWARE OF YOUR DIGITAL SECURITY BLIND SPOTS
By Global Rescue
26 DEA RANCH DOES TEXAS HUNTING RIGHT
By Jonathan Erickson
32 BIG BORE AIR RIFLE VS. CAPE BUFFALO By Keith Warren
40 MOKORE MIXED BAG: A GROUP
HUNT IN THE SAVE VALLEY YIELDS SOME UP-CLOSE ACTION AND INCREDIBLE TROPHIES
By Tim Herald
32 40
46 LEAP OF FAITH: A STORY FROM
THE SHORES OF NEWFOUNDLAND ILLUSTRATES THE CRUCIAL PART THAT PUBLIC DISCOURSE MUST PLAY IN THE SURVIVAL OF HUNTING
By Shane P. Mahoney
50 REAL FAST FOOD By Scott Leysath
56 FAMILY SAFARI
By Kevin Ormston
64 GRANDEUR & GLACIERS: ALPINE
HELICOPTERS AND MINARET STATION PROVIDE EXPERT MANEUVERING AND FINE DINING AMIDST MAJESTIC VIEWS OF NEW ZEALAND.
By Doug Beech
74 GEMS OF THE SOUTH
PACIFIC: NEW ZEALAND
From West University Travel
82 SHOOT TO SAVE: CONSERVATIONISTS
TURNING TO TROPHY HUNTERS TO PROTECT A RARE CENTRAL ASIAN GOAT
By Jason G. Goldman
COVER ARTWORK:
The Warrior, Oil on panel, by James Stroud Image provided by Call of Africa, www.CallofAfrica.com 4 HUNTER'S HORN FALL 2017
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56
46 64
74 82
22
50 FALL 2017 HUNTER'S HORN 5
OUR MISSION Preserving the
sport of hunting through
education,
conservation and the
protection of
hunters’ rights.
6 HUNTER'S HORN FALL 2017
2017-2018 HOUSTON SAFARI CLUB OFFICERS Tommy Morrison – President Mark King – Immediate Past President Mitzy McCorvey – President Elect Patrick Bryan Anderson – Vice President Shaun Nelson – Vice President John Pepper – Treasurer Jerry Henderson – Secretary HOUSTON SAFARI CLUB DIRECTORS 2017–2019 Michael Van Ambrose Jeff Birmingham Linda Cunningham Travis Simpson Matt Mann 2016–2018 Monica Williamson JD Burrows John Bowers Darrell Kainer HEADQUARTERS STAFF Joe Betar, Executive Director Dawn Fuselier, Office Manager Carla Nielsen, Marketing & Publications Manager Abby Rapp, Events & Membership Manager Charlotte Betar, Advertising Sales Vic Williams, Editorial Consultant Nate Silva, Design Consultant Alliance Printing and Graphics Hunter’s Horn is published quarterly by Houston Safari Club 9432 Katy Freeway, Suite 350 Houston, Texas 77055 713.623.8844 (p) 713.623.8866 (f) info@houstonsafariclub.org www.houstonsafariclub.org © Copyright 2017 Houston Safari Club
Houston Safari Club welcomes contributing articles, photos and research. Houston Safari Club reserves the right to edit submissions for spelling, grammar, clarity, organization and punctuation and to abridge length. Houston Safari Club reserves the right not to publish submissions. Content may not be repurposed without the express written consent of the author and publisher. Please submit materials with a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you wish materials to be returned. Houston Safari Club is not responsible for lost or unsolicited submissions. Digital submissions are preferred. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to Houston Safari Club, its members, employees or affiliates.
U PCOMING EV EN TS OCTOBER 14TH
45th Anniversary Event at Armadillo Palace featuring Kimberly Dunn
NOVEMBER 1ST
Dr. James Kroll AKA Dr. Deer at the HESS Club
NOVEMBER 9TH
Defense Against Personal Invasion at Athena Gun Club
NOVEMBER 17-19TH
Duck, Duck, Goose! Duck & Goose Hunt with Rocky Creek Retrievers, Inc.
DECEMBER 7TH
Christmas Party featuring Reckless Kelly at Redneck Country Club
JANUARY 26-28TH
Convention at the George R. Brown Convention Center
FEBRUARY
European Style Tower Pheasant Shoot with Waterfowl & Gamebird Outfitters
MARCH 22-25TH
Weekend at SAAM Shooting School
Texas Farm & Ranch Real Estate
Presents:
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3 different accommodations and fishing experiences. Late August – January
Let us plan your next Amazonian Adventure! (800) 292-2213 info@detailcompany.com
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FALL 2017 HUNTER'S HORN 7
8 HUNTER'S HORN FALL 2017
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE TOMMY MORRISON, HSC PRESIDENT
A
new year has begun and as your newly elected President, I promise to dedicate my time and effort promoting the Houston Safari Club and its mission. I have been involved with this club over 40 years and observed its growth into what it is today, “an organization dedicated to the sport of hunting and conserving the wildlife of this world.” I promise we will continue this effort and the Houston Safari Club will impact the world of hunting and conservation with the funds we raise and the tireless efforts of our staff and volunteers. I would like to thank the past officers, directors, and volunteers for the many hours of their time spent dedicated to the Houston Safari Club. Without them, the Houston Safari Club would not have made such a vast impact on the hunting world and the education of our future leaders in the wildlife industry. I also want to thank, in advance, the new officers and directors for agreeing to serve the club during the 2017-2018 year. They are as follows: Mitzy McCorvey, President Elect; Mark King, Immediate-Past President; Shaun Nelson; Vice President, Bryan Anderson, Vice President; John Pepper, Treasurer; Jerry Henderson, Secretary; and the Board of Directors: JD Burrows, John Bowers, Darrell Kainer, Monica Williamson Mills, Linda Cunningham, Matt Mann, Jeff Birmingham, Michael Ambrose, and Travis Simpson. These officers and directors have and will dedicate many hours of their time this coming year to promote the Houston Safari
Club and its missions. I hope each and every one of you will thank them personally. The 2017-2018 year for the Houston Safari Club will be one of nostalgia and change. We have some big events coming up including our 45th anniversary party at the Armadillo Palace where we will feature singer and entertainer, Kimberly Dunn! Our annual Christmas Party will be hosted at the Redneck Country Club and will feature the Grammy winning band, Reckless Kelly. Don’t miss out on dancing, door prizes, and fun for all! If you are unable to make those events, we hope to see you at one of the multiple hunts, shooting classes, and/or cocktail socials planned throughout the year. We hope these events will provide you with a way to impact the sport of hunting and conservation while enjoying some time with other hunters and conservationists. It’s a great opportunity to bring in new people, tell old stories of bygone hunting trips, and discuss the planning of trips in the future. Speaking of planning trips for the future, be sure to stop by our annual Convention, held January 26-28, 2018. This year, we will make the new and exciting move to the renowned George R. Brown Convention Center where we will host approximately 300 exhibitors during the expo, followed by our nightly events and Gazelles luncheon at the Hilton of Americas. Many of our old exhibitors from around the world will be attending, along with many new outfitters. I encourage all members to join us, visit the exhibits, bring your friends, plan your next trip, buy a new rifle, jewelry or maybe
even a new ATV. The move will come with challenges, but I am certain our staff and volunteers are ready. This will be an exciting change, one that is long overdue and will boost Houston Safari Club into a new and effective role in protecting our rights as hunters. Lastly, yes, HSC has chosen to recycle me now for the third time as your President and I look forward to serving you and the club this coming year. I also want to encourage each and every one of you to volunteer this year in some capacity. We need new people involved with new ideas, energy, and eagerness to help the club to reach greater heights. I promise your time spent with us will be full of fun, laughter, and camaraderie as you join others who have the same ideas, goals, and love for hunting! Sincerely,
Tommy Morrison HSC President
2018 HSC President’s Rif le The 2018 HSC President’s Rifle is currently being handcrafted by the Texas-based rifle manufacturer, Stealth Precision Firearms. This precision rifle chambered in .300 Winchester Magnum will feature a precision-machined Stiller action and Hart stainless steel barrel fitted by Tommy Shurley into one of Shurley Brothers’ finest hardwood rifle stocks. The 2018 HSC President’s Rifle will be adorned with engravings and feature a Jewell HVR trigger and Swarovski Z6 riflescope with a custom
ballistic turret matched to the factory ammunition that we hand select for this rifle. This rifle will deliver both aesthetically and functionally, producing 1/2 MOA precision. Whether you are hunting pronghorn in the Texas Panhandle or moose in Saskatchewan, this precision rifle will help to make your hunt a successful one. Stealth Precision Rifles LLC (www. stealthfirearmsllc.com) builds precision boltaction rifles for precision shooters as well as the demanding hunter who is passionate
about quality and precision. They are passionate hunters, outfitters, and shooters who believe a precision hunting rifle can turn an average hunter into a confident hunter. Shurley Brothers Custom Rifles and Stocks (www.shurleybrothers.com) are true custom craftsman in the shooting industry who strive to build rifles that are as accurate as they are beautiful. They have some of the finest hardwoods in the world today offering both solid highly-figured hardwoods and custom wood-combination laminations.
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OFFIC E RS HOUS T ON S A FA R I C L U B
Tommy Morrison, President
Mitzy McCorvey, President Elect
Patrick Bryan Anderson, Vice President
John Pepper, Treasurer
10 HUNTER'S HORN FALL 2017
Mark King, Immediate Past President
Shaun Nelson, Vice President
Jerry Henderson, Secretary
DI R E C T O R S HOUS T ON S A FA R I C L U B
Michael Van Ambrose, 2017 – 19
Jeff Birmingham, 2017 – 19
Linda Cunningham, 2017 – 19
Travis Simpson, 2017 – 19
Matt Mann , 2017 – 19
Monica Williamson, 2016 – 18
JD Burrows, 2016 – 18
John Bowers, 2016 – 18
Darrell Kainer, 2016 – 18
FALL 2017 HUNTER'S HORN 11
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR‘S MESSAGE JOE BETAR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
T
Important Information Regarding the Future of Houston Safari Club
he Migration Has Begun! Some of you may have seen these words as part of our media campaign to promote Houston Safari Club’s 2018 Convention and Hunting Expo. You may ask, “What does it mean?” The theme refers to the move of our annual Convention to downtown Houston in 2018. We have outgrown our former home in The Woodlands and are relocating the Expo to the George R. Brown Convention Center. There will be almost 300 exhibitors from around the world ready to greet you in our new home. Banquets will be held next door at the Hilton Americas Houston. Be sure to book your rooms early in the HSC room block to take advantage of great rates. All convention information may be found on the website at houstonsafariclub.org or call the office at 713.623.8844. The Migration Has Begun! While the theme refers to our Convention move, it also refers to the proposed positive changes in the structure of your organization. Houston Safari Club currently operates as Houston Safari Club (HSC), a 501(c)(4) organization, and The American Conservation and Education Society (ACES), a 501(c) (3) organization. Operations reside under the HSC umbrella while ACES hosts the scholarship program. Your Board of Directors has approved two very important measures. The first is to change the name of our 501(c)(3) division, American Conservation and Education Society (ACES), to Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF). The HSCF name aligns both divisions of our organization by using a consistent name for recognition and branding. The second change is to move 12 HUNTER'S HORN FALL 2017
operations (membership, staff, convention, etc.) from Houston Safari Club, the 501(c)(4), to the Houston Safari Club Foundation. Moving operations under the 501(c)(3) umbrella allows for increased fundraising potential, considerations of tax-deductible contributions for supporters and donors, the ability to apply for grants and other public or private allocations available only to IRS-recognized, 501(c)(3) organizations, potentially higher thresholds before incurring federal and/ or state unemployment tax liabilities, discounts on US Postal bulk-mail rates, potential property tax exemptions and potential membership growth. Houston Safari Club, the 501(c)(4), would be focused on legislative and policy initiatives that affect the future of hunting. These important steps will allow HSC and HSCF to function more efficiently and to prepare for the future of your organization.
If approved, these changes would take place at the beginning of our next fiscal year, July 1, 2018. However, these steps cannot occur without your vote! Ballots to approve these measures will be mailed to you. Your vote is critical to address the proposed changes, in accordance with our bylaws. When you receive this information, please review the proposed naming and bylaw changes and complete and return your ballot. I am always available to answer any questions. Yours in Conservation,
Joe Betar Executive Director
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FALL 2017 HUNTER'S HORN 13
CHAIRMEN‘S MESSAGE MARK & JULIANNE KING, 2018 HSC CONVENTION CHAIRMEN
I
t hardly seems possible that we are already in full swing preparing for our 2018 Convention, with all the planning well underway. The past eight years of hard work to position HSC into a big move to downtown Houston has finally come to fruition. January 26th-28th marks the date! There are so many new and exciting events planned for this Convention. Not only do we have a new venue for the expo portion of our weekend, we have a new home base for our social events at the beautiful Hilton of the Americas. Whether you plan on spending your entire weekend with us or coming as a day guest, we’ve got something for each and every one of you! Our new expo will host more than 300 exhibitors spread over more than 104,000 square feet. There will be plenty to do and see, as we have many of our long-standing exhibitors back, joined by many, many new exhibitors. An expanded HSC store, raffle and even a weekend long silent auction will be included in the mix. You won’t want to miss the new membership area, with a lounge to rest your feet and catch up with old friends and hopefully meet some new folks. Friday’s banquet will feature a fun and casual evening with delicious fare, cocktails, and live entertainment. We will be honoring all of our scholarship recipients for the year. If you have not attended before, it is a fantastic opportunity to see our fundraising dollars at work and meet the inspiring students who are truly at the forefront of research and conservation in Texas. We will also recognize our member’s hunting accomplishments. For those of you in pursuit of a trophy of a lifetime or are simply out in the woods enjoying a hunt with your kids or grandkids, let us honor your special achievements. HSC friend and artist, Ron Sweeten has once again created the beautiful bronzes this year! All of this will be followed up with a live auction, featuring firearms and plenty of North American hunts. Saturday morning will be a “blast” with a luncheon hosted by the Gazelles. “Shotgun Powder and Pearls,” will be one of HSC’s best events…you won’t want to miss it! Always a great time with an amazing silent auction, plenty of food and cocktails and a very spirited live auction. Many of you may think this event is just for the ladies, but you are sorely mistaken. We guarantee if you were to ask any of the resident male members who always attend, they will tell you it is one event that is always at the top of their list. Not to be outdone by the Gazelles, our signature event is the Saturday night gala. A beautiful evening featuring a fourcourse dinner, open bars, live auction and a laugh a minute with our featured entertainer, is must for all. Our live auction, featuring many custom and one-of-a-kind items, including jewelry, firearms and of course plenty of hunts to destinations 14 HUNTER'S HORN FALL 2017
around the globe will be front and center. The auction committee is working diligently to ensure one of the best live auctions we’ve ever offered. This weekend marks the most important fundraising event for Houston Safari Club. It is an opportunity to support HSC and all the conservation and education endeavors for which we are known the world over. If you love to hunt, fish, collect guns, love the shooting sports, or just want ensure our hunting heritage for future generations, please join us. Mark and I are so appreciative of all our members who have stepped up and heeded the call to volunteer. Without all of you, none of this would be possible. Don’t fret, if you haven’t signed up yet, there are plenty of opportunities and committees that could use a hand. No commitment is too big or too small. Mark & Julianne King 2018 HSC Convention Chairmen
WORLDWIDE CONVENTION & CONSERVATION EXPO GEORGE R. BROWN CONVENTION CENTER
FALL 2017 HUNTER'S HORN 15
HSC LIFE MEMBERS Bob Abernathy John Abraham Richard Alexander MD Crystal Allison Shannon Alston Michael Ambrose Skip Avara Dannine Avara Jacob Avara Anne Avara Kenneth Bailey Freddie Bailey Jr. Cope Bailey Camp Bailey Frank Baird Jack Barksdale Wendy Barnhart L. Barnhart* James Bell Lyndel Berry Tony Bessette Charlotte Betar Joe Betar James Biggerstaff Craig Boddington Werner Boeer Jay Bonano E. Bond Greg Bond Pete Bonora Jeri Booth Frederick (Tony) Box James Braus John Bridgwater Jack Brittingham Kathryn Brown Joe Bruno Robert Burke Matt Burke Byron Burris II Quint Burris Grady Burris Prentiss Burt Daniel Butler Turner Butts MD Don Byrne C. Cagle Thomas Cain Jr. Dennis Cain Rick Callison Alex Campbell Bill Carter Paul Carter Ivan Carter Ben Case Barbara Cavender-Lewis Preston Cavner 16 HUNTER'S HORN FALL 2017
Chris Caywood Tracey Cearley Alan Cegielski Steve Clark James Clark Craig Clendenin Stephen Coale Russell Coleman Randall Coleman Joe Collett Dwayne Collier Frank Comiskey Kevin Comiskey Alan "Bink" Cooke Rocky Cooper Dian Cooper George Councill Steve Crawford Kenneth Crockett Gary Crouch Ralph Cunningham Deb Cunningham Ford Cunningham Linda Cunningham Mandy Daigle Ralph Daigle Joe Davis Laurent Delagrange Armando DeLeon III Armando DeLeon IV Gregory Desautels Elliot Desautels Charlie Desautels Perry Dillon Jr. Randy Donato Barry Donoho Tim Doucet MD James (Red) Duke MD * Jan Duncan Scott Duncan Bruce Edwards Robert Elkins Walton Eller Susan Ellerbeck* Gary Ellison Will Ellison Shaun Essery Travis Findley Charlene Floyd Tommy Fogle Randy Fowler Nathan Foyil Bobby Frederick Aaron Freeman Warren Gallant Scott Garrett Zachary Garrett
Tanya Garrett Paul Geiger Frank Giacalone Gary Glesby Carl Godfrey Russell Gordy William Gouldin Sandra Green Kevin Gregory Edward Guinn Dodd Hackman Clayton Hagerman Cory Hall James Halley Greg Harvey Vickie Hayes Charles Head Jr. Jerry Henderson Mark Herfort Heinert Hertling Robert Hibbert II Steven Hill Greg Hill Edward Hoffman William Holder III Bill Honza Gene Human Terry Hurlburt Tanya Hurlburt Harold Inman Keith Itzel John Jackson III Jack Jensen MD W.A. Jentsch Jr. Todd Johnson Clay Johnson Robert Jones III Harris Junell Darrell Kainer David Kalich Susan Kalich Kirk Kanady John Kelsey Gaye Kelsey Mark King Julianne King Robert Kneppler Philip Koehne George Kollitides Tommy Kolwes Phil Koonce George Kopecky Keith Lake Fred Lamas Wayne LaPierre Joel Latham Kyle Lehne
HSC LIFE MEMBERS Richard Leibman John Lindholm Jr. Tom Lipar Bryant Littlefield Mark Livesay Ricardo Longoria Doug Luger David Mafrige Paige Manard John Martin III D Martin IV James Masten Chad Matherne Wyatt McBride Tony McCorvey Mitzy McCorvey Ed McCrory III Travis McWilliams Gerald Meinecke Lewis Metzger Greg Mills Brook Minx Howard Monsour Paul Montealegre Sr. Forrest Montealegre G.L. Moore Reed Morian Tommy Morrison Ron Mostyn Dustin Mykyte Shannon Nash Bob Neese Rob Neilson Scott Nelson Shaun Nelson William "Bill" Newlin Rudy Nix K. Nunnally Kerry O’Day Carol O’Day Charles Onstead Kevin Ormston Neal Overstreet John Painter Michael Park Michael Parr Steve Pate Trevor Penny John Pepper Melanie Pepper Timothy Peter Wilson (Woody) Phillips Jr. Bryce Phillips Carson Phillips Dusty Phillips Thomas Powell Kevin Poynter
Andrew Pratt Kymberly Pratt Charles Prince Jr. Sharon Propes Carlos Ramirez Lawrence Rearick William Reed Sr. Gayle Rettig MD Keith Riggs John Robberson Larry Robinson Mike Robinson* Chuck Rod Robert Rod Stephen Rogers William Rohrbach William Roosevelt Gary Rose Mark Rose Jerry Rubenstein Chris Ruhman John Rulon Gerald Russell Byron Sadler Sandra Sadler Michael Sample Michael Sandeen Scott Scheinin MD Robert Scherer Wade Schindewolf George Severence Wayne Sheets John Shelby Richard Shepherd Jason Shrieve William Simmons Travis Simpson Barret Simpson Mike Simpson Becky Simpson Weston Simpson Michael Simpson Autumn Simpson Austin Simpson Jacob Simpson Tristan Simpson Dawn Simpson Sam Skipper Jason Smith Steve Smith Tom Snyder Norman Speer MD Larry Stifflemire Mark Stouse Randy Strickland H. Stuart Greg Stube
David Swan Lloyd Swiedom Sally Swiedom Leah Symens Tyler Symens Peter Tam Larry Tatom Terry Taylor Mark Terpstra Heidi Thomas Robert Thomas J.B. Tinney John Tobin Pete Trammell Ted Trout* Hal Tryon Don Turner Phillip Veale Thom Venus William Vick Amanda Vick Juan Villaveces Glenn Vincent Pierre Vorster Joshua Walker Greg Walla Rob Walsh John Waltz Dana Weber Rick Weber Larry Weishuhn Brian Welker Denise Welker Robert Wells Brian Welsh Lawrence West Matt West Bruce Whitmire Bill Wilkinson* Steve Willenborg Ron Willenborg Gregory Williamson Alan Winslette Robby Winstead Kurt Wiseman John Wood Bill Woodall J.D. (Des) Woods Jr. Patricia Woods Preston Young Debi Young Brian Zaitz
*Deceased FALL 2017 HUNTER'S HORN 17
HOUS T ON S A FA R I C L U B
COR POR ATE MEMBER S TH A NK YOU F OR SU PPORTING HSC
Blake Wilcox Properties blakewilcoxproperties.com
Capital Farm Credit capitalfarmcredit.com
Champion Ranch huntchampionranch.com
Clay Time www.claytimebaycity.com
CEMEX cemex.com
Hawkeye Hunting Club hawkeyehunting.com
High Heel Huntress highheelhuntress.com
RM
ER
FIR
EA
Y
Arkitektura Development arkdevinc.com
S & ARC
H
Palletized Trucking Inc. palletizedtrucking.com
Saddle River Range saddleriverrange.com
Safari Specialty Importers safarispecialtyimporters.com
Scendero Outfitters LLC scendero.com
South Texas Ranches – Ruple Properties southtexasranches.com
Tech-Mark Sales tech-marksales.com
West University Travel westuniversitytravel.com
Wildlife Partners wildlifepartners.com
18 HUNTER'S HORN FALL 2017
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Wade Abadie Jorge Adlrett Patricia Allen Shaun Allison Alan Amos Blake Bajjali Riecke Baumann Brandon Bearden Nicholas Belsher Taylor Birmingham Klae Boehme Tony Bolding Jeff Boswell Kagan Bosworth Aric Boullion Wade Bradford Kermit Brence Daniel Brown Taymur Bunkheila Colby Burks Brent Burley Jeff Burnett Charlotte Burrows Brandon Burts Grant Butrum Derrick Carson Chris Carter Bobby Caruthers Jerome Cashiola Robert Chandler Scott Clarke William Correa Ross Couvillon Darrion Crowley Steve Daigle Kenneth David Steve Davidson Richard Davis Brian Debord Jim Devlin Leah Dyess Greg East Craig Edwards John Edwards Anthony Falk Andy Flack Curt Fletcher Victor Flores Josh Flowers Tom Forestier Donald French Jr. Gene Garcia Clay Gaspar
Tucker Gilbert George Gilbert Hunter Gilbert Mike Gilroy Armando Ortiz Gonzalez dennis good Megan Gosnell Jay Hahn Pamela Halverson Cody Harris Brian Harris Victoria Haynes Zac Henderson Bill Henn Reese Henningsen Cole Henry Tim Herald Steve Heron Mark Hildebrand Mason Hinnenkamp Daryl Hoffman Steve Holmes Brooks Holzhausen Matt Howard Ethan Huffman Ty Hunter Justin Irwin Courtney Jasik Mike Johnson Jody Johnson Ira Jones Joseph Kincheloe John Kinsey Kenneth Knott David Koch Bradley Wayne Kubecka Collins Kuper Dustin LaBat Amanda LaBat Jacob Lampman John Lampson Joel Landis marty lanier Ricardo Layton Ricardo Layton Jim LeDoux Jim Looke Kaitlin Lopez Garrett Lucas Courtney Lum Ryan Luna Tim Macmanus Carlos Martinez
Gayla McBee Dale McCook Ross Melinchuk Elliot Metzger Laurie Meyer Jason Miller Kirk Minter Scott Moreland Ron Morrison Thomas Moyers Joe Napoleon Ramon Navarro Chris Nelly Tripp O’Brien Charlie O’Hara Shannon O’Neill Yaziri Orrostieta Ryan O'Shaughnessy Whit Peterman Ross Polk Jarrod Portelance Clyde Pray Tom Rabb Wes Reeves Gayle Richey Cody Rodgers Ryan Rothstein Gael Sanchez Michael Sandeen Matthew Seligmann Johnny Sellers Brad Sheffield Kenneth Sherman Cullom Simpson Scott Stanislaw Iain Stewart Joe Strack Cory Strouth Jason Tabansky Jamie Talbert Mark Taylor Trent Tellepsen Harold Thomas Tyler Thomas Justin Treadwell Kellie Vazquez Jay Vonbank Gage Walsh Greg Westmoreland Clay Whitfill Henry Wyche Derek Ybarra Rowan Zerf
FALL 2017 HUNTER'S HORN 19
20 HUNTER'S HORN FALL 2017
Funding Wildfire Suppression with Smoke and Mirrors
BY ANDY TREHARNE SENIOR DIRECTOR, FEDERAL LAND POLICY, CONGRESSIONAL SPORTSMEN’S FOUNDATION
O
nce again, the summer fire season is upon us. Although I’m writing this column well in advance of when it will be published, I’m confident that there will be at least a handful of wildfires burning across the West when you open the mailbox to retrieve this edition of Hunter’s Horn. While those of us who live, work and play in mule deer country have learned to adapt to the ups-and-downs of fire season — dry years and wet; campfire bans sometimes, but not always; some fires too close for comfort, others far away — there is another element to fire season that has unfortunately been all too consistent in recent decades. I’m referring to the decisions that are made in our nation’s capital that are often a couple thousand miles from where these fires harm people, local economies, and natural resources. Momentarily setting aside the physical and emotional toll that wildfire can have on those that are affected, the practice of “fire borrowing” occurs when the rising costs of fighting wildfires require federal land management agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service to fund their fire suppression costs by “borrowing” from other budget line items, including those that fund programs that are important to sportsmen and women. If you’re trying to figure out what this means for you personally, consider this: between 2001 and 2015, due to fire borrowing the National Forest Road System saw a 46 percent reduction in funding, spending on recreation programs declined 15 percent, and a 64 percent decline in spending on land
management planning that has created a significant backlog of forest plans, which should be updated every 10 to 15 years. Make no mistake, if you hunt, fish or camp in a National Forest, your experience has been impacted whether you realize it or not. Making matters worse, the transfer of funds to support fire suppression — in addition to expensive and timeconsuming lawsuits put forth by those who oppose active forest management — takes valuable resources away from programs that could reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfires before they start in the first place. Even though tens of millions of acres of Forest Service land need treatment and restoration, only three to four million acres are treated and restored in a typical year and timber cutting occurs even less. The result is a system that is set up to respond to forest fires rather than prevent them, while forest users and adjacent communities suffer the consequences. For a number of years, leaders in Washington have proposed a variety of approaches aimed at solving the fire borrowing conundrum and the 115th Congress is no different. Although more bipartisan proposals are sure to come, bills such as H.R. 2862, The Wildfire Disaster Funding Act and H.R. 2936, The Resilient Federal Forests Act are good faith efforts that have garnered support from the hunting conservation community. If you’re interested in supporting solutions intended to improve the management of our nation’s forest resources, take the time to learn more and then call your elected officials and make your voice heard. ★
FALL 2017 HUNTER'S HORN 21
No matter how careful you are, when you use your computer or smartphone in a public area in a foreign country, you are vulnerable. Avoid or limit your posts on social media when you travel, and make sure any tracking mechanisms on your phone are disabled.
22 HUNTER'S HORN FALL 2017
Digital Danger Beware of your security blind spots BY GLOBAL RESCUE
You use passwords, antivirus software and due diligence to protect yourself from malicious attacks that could harm your home computer. But what about when you travel? How can you keep yourself safe when you aren’t in the comfort and security of your own home, but in a strange place with unknown threats?
Make sure all of your electronic devices are password protected.
Joseph Mroszczyk, Intelligence Products and Services Manager for Global Rescue, offers this advice for travelers to avoid compromising their digital safety.
FALL 2017 HUNTER'S HORN 23
If you can, it’s best to keep all of your electronic devices with you at all times while you’re traveling.
If possible, set up a VPN to use while you travel, and avoid accessing your personal email directly - the data there can be easily compromised both by criminal elements and foreign governments with strict usage rules.
• While traveling overseas, especially in non-Western countries, it is generally safe to assume that your online behavior and interactions are being monitored. While this may not always be the case, it will help establish a security-conscious mindset and make you more aware of what you’re doing on your phone or your computer. It is rare that authorities will confront a traveler regarding their online behavior, but you should still be concerned with protecting your privacy and preventing the compromise of any sensitive information, including personal identity, bank account information, family relations, etc.
• Use encrypted e-mail, not your personal email address, and log into a virtual private network (VPN) when on the internet. Do not send any emails while overseas on any private or personal issues that can wait until you are home. Alert friends and family of your trip before you leave and make sure they do not send you any sensitive or private information while you are traveling.
• Be aware of the political climate in your destination country. Conditions can range widely in terms of privacy of electronic communication. In some countries, comments made on social media can result in fines or arrests, or may result in additional questioning or scrutiny during customs screening. It is always safe to avoid making any political, social, religious, or other controversial comments online while traveling, and in some cases, even before travel.
• Utilize a hardline internet connection whenever possible. Wi-Fi connections are easily monitored or hacked by third parties. Use of a VPN will also minimize this threat when using Wi-Fi.
• Understand your unique risk profile. For instance, if you are a journalist traveling to an illiberal country to report on a controversial topic, you may be more susceptible to attempts at hacking or monitoring and may need to take more precautions, whereas if you are a tourist going to a modern Western country, the risks will be significantly less.
24 HUNTER'S HORN FALL 2017
• When possible, keep electronic devices with you at all times while traveling. If this is not practical, use a safe in the hotel room to store electronic devices while not in the room.
• Password protect all electronic devices. Utilize a different password for each. • Ensure Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are turned off on all electronic devices when not in use, especially when doing work on the device (i.e. typing a document). • Ensure virus detection software is up-to-date and present on all devices, including Windows-based smartphones and tablets. • Consider utilizing a “clean” device for typing purposes that never touches the internet.
• Store all work files in an encrypted container located on a removable storage device that is secured when not in use. • Erase all unneeded documents and personal photos from devices before travel. • Download a commercial “secure deletion” program, or utilize the “secure empty trash” feature on a Mac. Remember, even if data is deleted using the recycle bin, it can still be retrieved. • Maintain a low electronic footprint while traveling. For example, do not post to social media during the trip and ensure past postings and/or connections cannot be misconstrued as hostile. Maintain private settings on all profiles. Ensure any location tracking mechanisms on your phone are disabled. • Travelers to certain countries should assume their data has been compromised if they connect to the Internet or other networks. As much as possible, do not conduct sensitive business, such as banking, while overseas or on any unsecured networks. ★ Global Rescue has provided travelers all over the world with medical advisory and evacuation services since 2004, with more than 12,000 missions completed. Before your next trip, consider a Global Rescue membership as part of your survival plan. Global Rescue www.GlobalRescue.com Member Services 617-459-4200 memberservices@globalrescue.com
They taught us how to hunt. That was our greatest inheritance.
W E A L L H A V E O U R favorite moments. Among them are stories and wisdom passed down through generations that make us the hunters we are. If only the guns could talk. Then again, the rarest guns can tell a story. We’re here for those who are looking for the kind that speaks deeply. Such as bespoke guns from the likes of Rigby and Purdey, each craft a rich narrative that begins when one of them is placed in your hands. Come see which one speaks to you. Visit our grand showroom at 22 Waugh in Houston or at gordyandsons.com.
The finest shop for hunting and fly fishing to be found. FALL 2017 HUNTER'S HORN 25
DEA Mark Davis with a great South Texas buck.
Mississippi client with a red stag.
Ranch Does Texas Hunting Right BY JONATHAN ERICKSON
If you are looking for the ultimate South Texas hunting experience, you have found it at Dancing Elk Alexander Ranch. Whitetails, Longhorns, breathtaking sunrises and sunsets are true icons of historic South Texas hunting and ranching culture and you can experience it all during your trip to Dancing Elk Alexander Ranch. Known for the best whitetail and exotic game hunts in south Texas, this is a unique Texas hunting and ranching experience. The diverse selection of wildlife will create lasting impression and make you the envy of your family and friends. Dancing Elk Alexander Ranch is a virtual paradise we specialize in whitetail, exotic, turkey, hog and elk hunts with exceptional personalized service.
26 HUNTER'S HORN FALL 2017
A very rare photo of a whitetail just after shedding its velvet.
Mark Davis, who has hunted with DEA the past 3 years, with a great main frame 8-point.
He's waiting on you!
FALL 2017 HUNTER'S HORN 27
Dancing Elk Alexander ranch started in 1890 when Thomas Mathis saw a need for a town and donated 300 acres to the town of Mathis Texas. He had a vision for ranching, commerce and railroads in South Texas. The ranch is located on I-37, 100 miles south of San Antonio and 40 miles North of Corpus Christi. Remote yet easily accessible, DEA Ranch allows you to get away from the pressure and commotion of everyday life and enjoy unique ranching hospitality under the Texas stars. To this day the ranch has longhorn walking around that Thomas Mathis started. Dr. Mathew Alexander, the owner of the ranch, still has the same vision the late Thomas Mathis did. Dr. Alexander wants longhorns on the ranch; I asked him why. “There aren’t that many ranches in Texas that can say they have the original blood line walking the same ranch for 120 plus years,” He is very proud of that. “We have the longhorn located on one end of ranch next to Hwy 37 where everyone can see them.” On the other side of the ranch Dr. Alexander has 100 head of Brangus cross Wagyu that were going to start offering to public organic grass fed beef on the menu. One thing that all the animals in south Texas cannot go without is water. “We have windmills on the ranch with solar power wells on the ranch and have over 13 miles of waterline that run though out the ranch so there is not one pond on the ranch that we cannot run water,” Dr. Alexander is very dedicated to do the very best and provide the very best to all the animals on the ranch. When you come to the ranch you will be greeted by ranch manager/wildlife biologist Jonathon, who will go over his rules. First rule is safety: Jonathon and the owner have gone to great lengths to assure everyone’s safety at the ranch. Second rule is to have a good time; it’s not a pressure hunt. We care more about you having a good time; we’ve seen it happen too many times where a hunter goes to a ranch where they are treated like a number, but we’re all about building memories for a life time. Ten years down the road you reflect back on that hunt and you want to come back. Third rule: Harvest your animal. If you follow rule 1, 2 but we didn’t
harvest your animal, you still had a good time and went home safe. We have had 100 percent harvest, because we feel if we do our jobs it makes the hunt go 100 times better. A lot of you have been there where a guide takes you to a blind but the feeder don’t work so you’re sitting there thinking, “why am I sitting in a blind that corn feeder doesn’t work?” It’s always the little things that are done for every hunter to make the hunt go smoothly and enjoyably. The blinds of choice for us is Ranch Ling — there just isn’t any better for what we use them for as far as quality and durability. All blinds have stairs and hand rails, and we have box blinds for anyone from ground to 12 feet in the air. We do a lot of brush blinds — a 12-foot piece of hog panel with native brush stacked around it we can use for bow hunter, turkey hunters or if we just have a hunter who just prefers the ground. We are different from the others — when you come hunt here it’s not a daylight to 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. till dark kind of hunt. We look at it like this: you come to hunt, see wildlife and beautiful scenery of the Dancing Elk Ranch, not to come sit in a lodge and watch television your entire time. We feel that this is what sets us apart from others — you’re not a number to us, you’re a friend. We had a group of hunters come and after their hunt they went back to Mississippi. The CEO of company that headed up the hunt sent an email to Dr. Alexander and told him that when he booked the hunt with Jonathon, he felt comfortable about coming to the ranch. But after being on the ranch for three days with his clients, “We came as clients but left as good friends. I would let Jonathon come to my house and watch my kids.” That’s just how much trust and friendship he earned in such little time. The best compliment a man can get and such a great honor. There is one thing we will be the first to tell you: a lot of people with a ranch in the commercial hunting business have whitetails of all sizes, from 130 inch bucks to well over 200 inches, and some over 300 inches. The Dancing Elk Ranch has both. Again, we go the extra mile for you and your clients. South Texas whitetail deer hunting at
If you book a hunt it’s just you and your group on the ranch, you will never bump into another hunter. You will have all our attention to ensure your group has a great time.
28 HUNTER'S HORN FALL 2017
Above: Majestic 170/150 class bucks.
DEA Ranch is an experience every serious hunter should explore. Quality whitetail hunting is the main objective of the management program at the DEA ranch. We continue to improve our natural genetic deer with regular releases of additional trophy genetics to take our trophy potential to the next level for hunting clients. DEA Ranch offers trophy exotics and elk for our clients. Year-round hunting for axis, blackbucks and several species of trophy rams are available. Hog hunting is fantastic and offered year-round as well. With a healthy population of hogs, we can offer some trophy boars for those who are willing to hunt hard. Like a lot of ranches we buy exotics. It’s our goal to reproduce our exotics. We were doing it but can’t keep up with the needs
Tall 10-point buck found roaming the ranch.
One of DEA's satisfied hunters with a 178 class buck.
FALL 2017 HUNTER'S HORN 29
of our hunters, so we buy exotics and only the biggest of each species. We have 300-inch-plus red stags roaming the ranch, 40 inch gemsbok running around, 40-inch-plus orix, pere david, zebra, water buck, fallow, spring buck, elk, and many exotics. When you come to the ranch, if we’re hunting and you see something you really like, you can harvest it; there is no pressure. For instance, if you paid for a whitetail buck and like a red stag, then it is a red stag hunt. All the deposit means to us is to hold your days on calendar; most important thing is you hunt the days you wanted. Also we do something that not many other ranches do if you book a hunt with us: we do not book another hunt on the same days. We have seen it too many times where you will have hunters from different parts and they don’t jell together (meaning this hunter may like to drink and stay up and have a few and get a little loud, and that’s fine with us, but the other hunter doesn’t drink and don’t stay up and party). If you book a hunt it’s just you and your group on the ranch; you will never bump into another hunter. We guarantee you will have all our attention to insure your group has a great time. We do not charge a trophy fee; when you call and book your hunt and we give you the price of the hunt. That’s it, there is no other charge added to it. We ask for 50 percent deposit, which is refundable; if for some reason you cancel your hunt, we are very understanding. We have a walk-in cooler for hanging your game. We fill, dress, skin, and cape your animal and can send it to be processed and caped. We work with have three taxidermists; we will give you their info so you decide where it goes, and we deliver it to them at no extra charge. There again, it’s pressure free. Dove hunting can be exceptional, offering fast and enjoyable shooting for our clients. We are surrounded by thousands of acres of grain fields which provide plenty of food for doves in our area. The many lakes located on the ranch draw large numbers of birds onto the property for water and the large trees surrounding the lakes provide the perfect roosting area. This combination of food, water and roost areas can support fast shooting and easy limits. Once we put out all the dove hunters we will make rounds to give water more ammo if needed, or if they aren’t seeing enough birds we will move them to another spot. We clean all the bird for our hunters and can hunt large groups. We have four lodges; 30 HUNTER'S HORN FALL 2017
one will sleep 25 hunters — each hunter will have his or her own bed. We can handle 100 day hunters or 45 hunters who stay in lodges. We cannot compete with all the milo planted right across the road — thousands of acres of milo — but we have everything else they need including 13 ponds. We offer some of the best quail hunts around our part of Live Oak County. We do native bird hunts and pen release bird hunts, and will do a package hunt where you hunt exotics or whitetail in the morning and come back and do a half day quail hunt, but we will set you up with any package hunt that meets your needs and expectations. We even set you up for a fishing trip for a half day or even set you up for half day of duck hunting. This area has some great duck hunting. Spring turkey hunting is exciting Another happy hunter with a nice fallow deer. and consistent with large number of birds that inhabit the ranch. We work hard weddings, a party, business meetings and to improve the turkey population, limiting hunting; it will hold 750 people and then the number of hunts offered. You can be some. It offers outdoor TVs and a 20,000 sitting in a deer blind and see 50-80 tursquare foot barbecue pavilion so we can key at one given time. We do a lot to help handle anything. We’re set up for corporate both turkey and quail; one method is by events and hunters, able to handle groups putting a bag of milo in every corn feeder of any size with a chef on staff that will ask so quail has food to and keep predators in you what you like and want for your group, check like coyotes, coons, bobcats etc. We and you get it. Were hosting a TDA event have both turkey and quail feeders spread here at the reserve October 14 and there throughout the ranch so we can hunt the should be well over 750 people attendentire ranch. ing. We will do anything and everything All hunting is conducted by using box to assure you and your clients will have a blinds, pop-up blinds, rattling, spot and great time here at the ranch so you don’t stalk and safari style. We will employ any feel like you’re a number or a dollar sign. technique that will ensure our clients a sucThat is why we have so much repeat busicessful hunt. ness. if you hunt with a rifle or bow even The accommodations at the DEA Ranch crossbow we will hunt anyway you want. are very comfortable and offer an array of If you have special needs hunter we can amenities not found in most hunting and take them hunting and they too will have ranch lodges. We are proud to provide an a hunt of a lifetime. We love taking kids experience that you will long remember hunting — sometimes a kid feels a lot of and once you’ve come and experienced our pressure from parents and the child gets hospitality, we hope you’ll come back again tight and breathing speeds up. We have a and again. Dancing Elk Alexander Ranch fix for that, and it’s no pressure. provides 24/7 lodging and food. RV and We also hold several long-distance shoot Camping sites are available. We also have events here at ranch every year. You will three housing options for you to choose shoot 300 yards out to 1,000 yards, after from that will complete your hunting exyou’re done hunting, and if you’ve never perience. One lodge has a swimming pool; shot long distance we can help you set up another has a pool table. We also offer skeet your rifle. shooting so if you’re on a midday quail or So at the end of the day our goal at DEA dove hunt, day you can shoot skeet and your ranch is to provide the best experience by family can walk around and look at all the not cutting corners and delivering what we wild life. We also have a very large buildsay we will. And make sure everyone leaves ing called the reserve that can be used for with good memories and good times. ★
The Ultimate South Texas Hunting Experience
Known for the best whitetail and exotic game hunts in South Texas, we offer you year round, guided, well planned hunts to make your hunting experience the best ever! All Inclusive, Affordable Hunting Prices!
“Your complete satisfaction is our goal whether you prefer to hunt from a blind, spot & stalk or desire to experience a South Texas safari, the experienced DEA guide staff is committed to providing you the hunt of a lifetime. Give me a call so that we can plan your next adventure.” Jonathan Erikson, RANCH MANAGER
Corporate Dove & Quail Hunts Great Discounts For Groups Of 6+ Hunters Premier 24/7 Food & Comfortable Lodging Hunt A Diverse Selection Of Wildlife From Whitetail, Elk To Exotic! Year Round Hunting Packages with Experienced Guides Walk-in Cooler Storage, Taxidermist & Processing Available
311 County Road 351 Mathis, TX 78368
(361) 249-1157 | www.dearanch.com FALL 2017 HUNTER'S HORN
www.houstonsafariclub.org
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Big Bore Air Rifle Vs. Cape Buffalo By Keith Warren
32 HUNTER'S HORN FALL 2017
ike most hunters that have been afield for any length of time,
I am always looking for a new way to take hunting to another level. Choosing new methods of hunting helps keep things interesting as it challenges our skills. Most archers started out hunting with a rifle and took to archery to help them enjoy hunting even more. For me, I do it all and have found that new methods of hunting keep me energized and excited to take to the field. Whether I choose to hunt with a long gun, hand gun crossbow or recurve bow, I do so in order to get more joy from the experience. It’s for that reason that I am now an air gunner. Air guns are just another way that any hunter can get more out of the hunting experience. If you haven’t shot a modern-day air rifle that is specifically made for hunting, you don’t know what you are missing. They’re accurate, lethal and are surprisingly affordable too. I have used air rifles for years and taken lots of small game animals. Until about a year ago, the largest animal I’d taken using an air rifle was a feral hog that probably weighed about 100 pounds. That was about
all my air rifle was capable of ethically putting on the ground. But things have changed now that I discovered a big bore .50 caliber air rifle. Now, with this new rifle, I can hunt just about any big game animal on the planet. Before I go any further I do want to point out that before you hunt with an air rifle, please check local game laws to make sure that they are legal where you plan to hunt. This new rifle is called the Dragon Claw — a .50 caliber PCP powered rifle capable
of shooting either pellets or arrows. The pellets are simply .50 caliber slugs, similar to muzzleloader slugs. The arrows resemble crossbow arrows, except they have an oversized knock and threaded fitting on the “business end” that centers the small shaft in the center of the barrel. The Dragon Claw is distributed online by a company called Pyramyd Air (www. pyramydair.com). Priced at less than $700, it’s an incredible value and shoots like a dream. Besides being nice looking, it features a mechanical safety, air gauge, fine FALL 2017 HUNTER'S HORN 33
From left, Keith Warren, PH Doug ad trackers Motele and Michael
wood grained stock, superb bluing and a sweet lightweight crisp trigger. I first learned of this new rifle about a year ago and went to Pyramyd Air’s main facility in Ohio to actually try it out in their indoor range. After getting the safety talk, I loaded and cocked the Dragon Claw, took aim and fired into a paper target. Two things came to mind when I pulled the trigger. First was the noise from sending a .50 caliber pellet downrange. It was louder than I expected. It was more like shooting a suppressed .243 Win. So it did have a report. The next thing I noticed was that there was literally no recoil. None. Like I hadn’t shot the rifle at all. PCP air rifles don’t have much recoil and, with the weight of this model, there is zero recoil. The next thing that I noticed was that the 336 grain flat nosed pellet hit exactly where I was aiming. Not quarterinch off but perfectly where I was aiming at the target 20 yards away. I shot another pellet and it center punched the first hole. Very impressive. For the next shot I loaded the Dragon Claw up with an arrow, which loads from the muzzle. With the rifled barrel, I could feel the arrow veins spin clockwise as I shoved the projectile down the barrel towards the breech. Only the 100 grain field point stuck out in front of the muzzle. The bag target sat downrange at 20 yards. I was unfamiliar with the brand of target (Big Shot Extreme 500), but I soon found out that this is the only target that is built today that will stop the arrow when fired out of this gun. I’d shot arrows into the top brand bag and foam archery targets for years. But, like I said, this was the first time I’d seen this brand of target. 34 HUNTER'S HORN FALL 2017
I took aim and squeezed the trigger and all I heard was a whop. I was watching through the scope to see the flight of the arrow, but the arrow flew so fast that I couldn’t see it. Literally, it was like trying to see a bullet in flight. All I saw was the arrow in the target about four inches below where I had aimed. The reason for being off from where I aimed? The arrow weighs quite a bit more than the pellet. I was shocked that I couldn’t see the arrow. I loaded another arrow, took aim on the knock of the arrow that I had just fired, and squeezed the trigger. This time I was really focusing on seeing the flight of the arrow. Again, all I heard was a whop and the arrow was exactly four inches below the first arrow. I turned to the CEO of Pyramyd Air and said, “Do you know what you have here? Honest, I don’t think you realize what you have! This is not just a .50 caliber air rifle. It’s more than that. This is a tool that sportsmen and serious hunters will absolutely love.” I left the facility that day already planning on where I’d try out this new air rifle. As I mentioned, , I used the Dragon Claw in Canada on big-bodied whitetail deer and had lots of success. There were others too that shared my success as well as enthusiasm for the rifle. My next stop was hog hunting, and the Dragon Claw performed superbly. I had even changed out the DX crossbow scope to Pulsar Trail 50 thermal scope and hunted with it. This rifle was quickly gaining my confidence and the respect of everyone who saw it perform. My next goal was to take this rifle to Africa on a plains game safari. It was easy for me to plan this trip as it would be my
Above: The mountainous terrain of the Eastern Cape is vast
third time to hunt with the particular outfitter: Huntershill Safaris in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. I contacted the owner, Greg Harvey, and explained that I wanted to bring an air rifle to hunt with. Greg has lots of hunters visit his more than 50,000 acre operation, but none of them have shown up with an air rifle. I explained that this wasn’t an ordinary air rifle. It was extraordinary. He agreed to let me give it a go. So off I went with lots of arrows in hand as well as a hand pump so I could fill the reservoirs on the rifle with compressed air. Checking through customs came as a surprise as none of the customs agents in Johannesburg knew what to think of a rifle
Right: Surprisingly, Cape Buffalo don’t have much hair on their hide
like this. They asked where was the ammo and I showed them the arrows. They smiled and waved me through with literally no paperwork at all as they did not consider it to be a firearm. After arriving in camp, I was assigned a professional hunter as well as a team consisting of two trackers. All three guys were apprehensive about me showing up with an air rifle, and they were all interested to see how it would perform on the range. With only a small hand bicycle pump type air pump, we took turns filling the gun to 3,000 PSI. When the gauge registered full, we released the air from the fill line and were ready to shoot our first arrow. FALL 2017 HUNTER'S HORN 35
No matter if I’m traveling 50 miles down the road or half way across the world, I always want to check zero before I hunt. Taking aim off a sand bag, at 20 yards I shot the target and the arrow hit in the exact middle of where I was aiming. It also flew so fast that none of the three guys could see it. You should have heard the response. Although I didn’t understand the language they were speaking, I did comprehend they were blown away by the performance of this rifle. Another shot and this time they wanted to see more. I stepped back to 30 yards and again the arrow hit perfectly in the center. I stepped back to 40 and held the second reticle on the scope, and another perfect shot. At 50, I held the third reticle — and another perfect shot. At 60 and 75 yards respectively, with the fourth and fifth reticle holds … perfect shots. At this point, even I was impressed. I checked the air gauge on the fore end and it showed that after the seventh shot that it needed to be aired back up. As one tracker pulled the arrow, the other put about 100 strokes on the air pump and topped the rifle off. Now we stepped back to 90 yards to shoot. In this crossbow scope, there are a total of six reference points. My first and primary hold is flat on up to 30 yards and the next four reticles are on at the distances mentioned above. The last reference mark in the scope is only a vertical line in the bottom of the scope. Based upon the distance between 60-75 yards, I guessed the line would be 90 yards. I steadied the rifle, waited for the wind to subside and squeezed the trigger, sending the arrow downrange. At 90 yards, it was dead on! I was even astounded as this gun was delivering accuracy far beyond what I’d ever expected and certainly at further ranges than I’d ever shot before. I figured that if I can hit at 90 yards a spot the size of a business card, I’m good to hunt. Although 90 yards was definitely a distance I could accurately shoot, I’d never want to shoot at an animal with this air rifle at that distance. There are too many variables that could go wrong with a projectile that would take one second to get to the intended target. The plan for this hunt was to film it for one of our upcoming television shows of The High Road. I decided that rather than attempt spot and stalk using this rifle, it would be best to hunt as if I was using archery equipment. With this in mind, we decided to hunt out of what they call hides. 36 HUNTER'S HORN FALL 2017
Author with his first sable taken using air rifle
Even a mature eland bull couldn’t stop an arrow from making a complete pass through
Hides are simply shooting houses or blinds as they are called in my home state of Texas. We headed out for one of my favorite hides. It was one that I’d hunted several years ago and it was loaded with baboons. I figured a baboon would be an excellent first animal to take with an air rifle. But, after sitting for the first evening’s hunt, it became obvious the baboons either got the memo to stay away or they’d moved on to greener pastures. We did have some other action though. On our first sit, there were a number of springbuck and impala that came and left the pile of oranges used to bait the hide. There were also some eland that were on the far mountain that were thinking about coming in but never did. And then there was a sable. The sable was beautiful and, with one look at him, I changed my mind. A sable would be the perfect animal to take with the air rifle. My PH was skeptical. A sable is a large, almost elk-sized animal, and they are solid. His horns, although not super long, were long enough to get me excited. I’d never
taken a sable before and his shiny black coat and face markings were beautiful. Closer inspection revealed his horns were not symmetrical, but kind of lopsided. Which meant I got the green light to take a shot. The bull sable slowly made his way in and at about 35 yards turned sideways, offering the perfect shot opportunity. Soon as my cameraman was ready, he gave me the nod and I took aim. Watching intently through the scope, I saw the arrow disappear just behind the shoulder and then instantly out the other side. The bull whirled and ran only about 60 yards and expired in seconds. The trackers were shocked and so was the PH, but not me nor my cameraman. We knew exactly what to expect. This was no fluke. This was a typical performance by the Dragon Claw. And yes, even on an animal the size of a sable. We recovered the bull and after taking pictures, got some much-needed help to get him loaded up and on the way back to camp. It had been a great day. The next morning, I decided to ask Huntershill owner Greg Harvey if I could try for an eland bull. He
was hesitant but after watching the video of how this air rifle performed, he gave me the green light. Two days later we finally had a nice mature bull eland show up with enough camera light remaining. At 30 yards, I took aim and watched the arrow disappear into the 1,600-pound animal and then out the other side. It went through the bull so fast it was like paper tuning a bow. The arrow never slowed down. We filmed the recovery of my bull eland and took pictures less than 50 yards from where I shot him. This hunt had been a resounding success as all I wanted to do was to take a couple of animals using the air rifle. Everything went according to plan. Until now. Two years ago, I had spent considerable time with Greg Harvey filming a documentary on Cape Buffalo and specifically his efforts to having a disease-free herd. This video was exciting to make as it included aerial darting of the buffalo and relocating part of the herd to other properties. Greg Harvey is a true conservationist and in my opinion, we need more people like him. He puts his money where his mouth is and he gives back far beyond what most people could do. His efforts have helped put herds of buffalo back where they were before man and the plow destroyed them. Greg explained to me that he now has a sustainable breeding herd of Cape Buffalo at Huntershill and that they have started to do some buffalo hunting on a limited basis. I had a plan. I intended to ask Greg if I could use the air rifle to hunt for a Cape Buffalo. But, I had to execute my asking for permission perfectly. We showed Greg the video of both the sable and eland hunts and he was impressed. The guests in the lodge were equally impressed with the video and the performance of the air rifle. Next, I took Greg to the rifle range and let him shoot the rifle. He took one shot and was speechless. I’ve known Greg for quite some time and I could see the wheels turning. His smile was contagious and I asked if he wanted to shoot it again. He did. Again, and again. Each time he was getting to like this rifle more and more. It was time to pump it up again and I asked Greg to remove the arrows from the target while I pumped up the rifle. About five minutes later he came back and commented on how deep in the target the arrows were and how hard they were to pull out. He had taken the bait! I looked at Greg as I finished airing up the rifle and said, “I bet this will kill a cape
buffalo.” Suddenly Greg looked at me and said, “It probably will, but you’ll never know unless you give it a try.” I was elated knowing that my chance to hunt buffalo with an air rifle had just been granted. I have successfully hunted Cape Buffalo in the past, but it was always with a rifle and I know how hard they are to kill. They are known as Black Death for a reason. After studying shot placement on Cape Buffalo, we set out to see if we could make it happen.
I took aim and squeezed the trigger and all I heard was a whop. The arrow flew so fast that I couldn’t see it. It was like trying to see a bullet in flight. The PH oversaw building a hide in an area the buffalo like to pass through. To monitor the area, I used a Reconyx game camera and sure enough, it took some pictures of them. The hide was just big enough for my cameraman and his gear, the PH and myself. We took up residence in the hide for six days and saw lots of game while waiting for buffalo. Each day we did get a glimpse, sometimes more than a glimpse of them. But, they were too far away to attempt a shot with an air rifle. I wanted to make sure that I made a lethal shot; I’d limit myself to 30 yards and no more. Finally, on the sixth evening, a herd of buffalo appeared and they were heading out way. They were all huge but my PH, armed with a .458 Win Mag as a backup rifle, pointed out which bull was the oldest. “Don’t take your eyes off that bull. Don’t get in a rush. Take your time and if you shoot him, make it count,” he said. My cameraman was rolling some incredible footage as the buffalo fed and it seemed that time had stood still. My eyes were affixed to the buffalo the PH had pointed out. The air rifle was on the shooting sticks sticking out of the small window of the hide. I was looking through the scope hoping the old bull would turn perfectly broadside. He was 28 yards away and several times he looked straight into my eyes. As I froze in my position, I know now what they mean when they say that buffalo look at you like you owe them money.
Finally, the bull took his eyes off me and nudged the smaller bull standing by him. Then he turned perfectly broadside, and that was when history was made. I took aim and released the arrow into the shoulder of the buffalo and it disappeared. This time, it didn’t come out the other side. This time was different. The arrow simply disappeared and the bull jumped in reaction and took off following the others in the herd. But, at about 30 yards he slowed down and stopped with blood flowing out his side. He turned and looked at the hide. My PH pushed me out of the way as the .458 went out the window just in case it was needed. The bull rocked, staggered and went down only for a few seconds and then was back up. The PH was expecting him to charge at this point. But instead, he tried to keep up with the herd and only went about 30 yards and then hit the deck. About 15 seconds later we could hear the familiar death bellow. All of this was captured on camera. We did what to the best of our knowledge has never been done. We used a modern air rifle to take down a Cape Buffalo, and we did it with one shot. The PH was beside himself as he’d been on more than 100 successful buffalo hunts in his career and had never seen an arrow dispatch a Cape Buffalo this quickly. We exited the hide and claimed our prize. The buffalo was old and had a nice boss. His hide was covered in dried mud indicating he’d been in the nearby river earlier that day. He was dead, and he was mine. We took pictures and enjoyed watching the sun set on what would be my last day to hunt on this safari. This hunt had been everything I hoped it to be. I had set out to do a hunt, maybe even two with the air rifle and yes, I succeeded. But, I never in a million years expected to be able to hunt for Cape Buffalo, much less be able to do it successfully using an air rifle. We checked online and to the best of our knowledge, this is the first Cape Buffalo to ever be taken using an air rifle. ★ If you’d like to see the video of this exciting hunt, you can log on to our website at highroadhunting.com or check it out on our YouTube Channel: YouTube.com/OutdoorAdventures. Keith Warren is the host of The High Road which airs on Pursuit Channel (DISH 393, DirecTV 604). He can be reached via email at keith@highroadhunting.com. FALL 2017 HUNTER'S HORN 37
Did you have A GREAT HUNT THIS YEAR? Say "Thank You" and recognize an outfitter, guide or professional hunter who provided amazing service and a once-in-a-lifetime hunting or angling experience. HSC is offering "Appreciation Ads" in the 2017 Convention issue of Hunter's Horn, at great rates. By placing an ad in the Convention issue of Hunter's Horn you will say "Thank You" while also sharing your outfitter, guide or PH’S information with many other HSC members. Help us thank those who provide outstanding service and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. • All ads are full color • Ads must be booked by October 23, 2017 • All photos must be high resolution digital images (300dpi) • No outfitter contact information or logos
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For more information, contact Charlotte Betar at Charlotte@houstonsafariclub.org or 210-275-7113. Submit message and photos by Monday, October 23 to Carla Nielsen at carla@houstonsafariclub.org 38 HUNTER'S HORN FALL 2017
Prairie Mountain Wildlife Studio prairiemountain@goldenwest.net www.prairiemountainwildlife.com Cell 605.490.2711 | Fax 605.985.5213
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FALL 2017 HUNTER'S HORN 39
Rod Belsham and the author with a fantastic 56” kudu and 40”+ buffalo taken with Neil Duckworth.
40 HUNTER'S HORN FALL 2017
MOKORE MIXED BAG A Group Hunt in the Save Valley Yields Some Up-Close Action and Incredible Trophies. BY TIM HERALD
I
recently returned from a Worldwide Trophy Adventures group hunt in the Save Valley with Mokore Safaris where all the hunters had different objectives. Earl Peterson was looking for a male lion, Mark Peterson was to come in toward the end of the trip for a buffalo, Mark McKinnon was hunting a trophy bull elephant, and my good friend Rod Belsham was hoping for a big Save leopard. I was going to tag along with Rod on his hunt, and I hoped to get a chance at an eland and a buffalo. As our trip was in late April and early May, things were still green, but the rains were late, and the whole area had water distributed everywhere. After the extended drought in Zimbabwe, the plentiful rain was needed and welcome, but it made hunting conditions more difficult as game was widely scattered. The first day, we hung and checked some baits for Rod, and Earl had a run in with a couple of big lions, but there was no shot opportunity. Mark M. took a very nice eland bull to break the ice. The second day, after the bait run in the morning, we were out looking for a kudu for Rod when our PH, Neil Duckworth, spotted some eland in the distance running toward a large area of mopane. We waited a few minutes and walked to where we had last seen them and picked up their tracks. It was a mixed herd, but within about 10 minutes on the tracks, we saw three eland bulls feeding 250 yards in front of us.
The mopane forest was fairly open, so Neil and I crept ahead very slowly using any cover we could. We glassed the eland and there was a youngish bull, a mature bull with a broken horn, and a mature bull that had average horns. I told Neil I did not care about horn length, I just wanted to make sure that we were on a mature bull, and I wanted to shoot it with my VerneyCarron .470 double rifle. Neil and I ran out of cover at about 110-120 yards, and I got on the sticks. I decided if either of the mature bulls gave me a good shot, and I felt comfortable with the sight picture, I would shoot; otherwise I would pass and wait for another opportunity. After being on the sticks for over five minutes, one of the mature bulls stepped broadside into an opening walking right to left, and Neil made a loud noise to stop him. I felt steady as a rock, so I let a 460-grain CEB Safari Raptor fly, and the massive bull lunged forward as the bullet smashed into his lower shoulder. There was a lot of dust, and as Neil and I ran forward, we soon saw the bull down about 60 yards to our left. He was just what Neil said, a mature bull with very average horns, but it was a really fun stalk, and I finally was able to get an eland with my .470 after a couple of years of trying. Mark M. was on elephants every morning and afternoon with PH Doug Duckworth, and he had set his goal at a 50-pounder. Early in the hunt, he encountered FALL 2017 HUNTER'S HORN 41
Optics for Cats and Bullets for Buffalo Most shots at lions and leopards come in low light. Early mornings or very late evenings are the norm in areas that can only hunt with natural light and those that do allow artificial light find hunters generally in the dark with a fairly dim red or green light. That being said, light gathering and reliable accuracy are the name of the game for cat hunters. My choice has long been the Nikon Monarch 5, 2x10x50 scope. The 50mm objective just seems to suck in every bit of available light and multicoated lenses that feature multiple layers of anti-reflective compounds on every glass surface provide bright, vivid sight pictures and optimum light transmission from dawn to dusk. Additionally, the Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass reduces chromatic aberration to provide images that have superior contrast, and that can make a huge difference in low light situations. I like the 2x10 magnification because the rifle can easily be used for other species on the cat hunt. You can have a .375 that you use for buffalo at close range with the scope set at 2x, or you can dial it up to 10x if you wanted to take a 200-yard shot at a kudu bull. I have used Nikon Monarch scopes for almost 20 years, and their accuracy has never let me down. I can’t stress how much a quality bullet is for cleanly and safely taking Cape buffalo. My overwhelming choice is the Cutting Edge Bullets (CEB) Safari Raptor whether out of my .416 or my .470. These all brass bullets are the best of both worlds considering expandable and solid bullets. The CEB Raptor penetrates an animal 2-4 inches, and 6 petals sheer off and continue traveling outward in a star shape. The remainder of the bullet acts as a jagged fronted solid at that point and penetrate as such. You get massive trauma and deep penetration, and when you are a few small inches from the perfect shot, the petals make up for your error in many cases.
42 HUNTER'S HORN FALL 2017
a few bulls in the 40-45-pound class, but he was having fun tracking and looking at bulls, and he was in no hurry. Earl and PH Gary Duckworth had an encounter with three big maned lions at a bait site, but when they tried to track them, the cats did a disappearing act. My crew was in serious leopard mode, and we had 11 baits hanging. Almost immediately there were 6-7 female and young male leopards on bait, but no big boys. Neil and I both told Rod that it was normal for this to happen, and the big guys usually showed up a little later. I predicted that Rod would sit for a cat on day 7. By day 5 we still were covered up with females and young toms, and in the afternoon, we got on a big herd of buffalo. We got in close, and as the herd got into their afternoon feed, we were surrounded on three sides by buff from 25-50 yards. There were many more that we couldn’t see, and Neil estimated the herd at well over 100 animals. Rod was getting pretty antsy and nervous about not having a good leopard hit yet even though Neil and I kept reassuring him that it would happen. He had worked himself up pretty good, and I know he isn’t the most patient guy in the world, so I thought he needed a little relief. As we stood among the buffalo, I Ieaned over and asked Rod if he wanted to shoot my buffalo if we got a good opportunity, and it took him about 1/10th of a second to say “YES!” I handed him my V-C .470 that he had never shot, and he got on the sticks. A few minutes later, Neil spotted a nice hardbossed bull to our extreme right, and slowly Rod got turned around. It was thick, but there was an opening in front of the bull 30 yards from us, and I told Rod if he stepped into the open to take the shot and concentrate on shooting low. Like clockwork, the buffalo fed into the opening and stopped broadside as if on cue. Rod quickly placed a CEB Raptor perfectly in the boiler room, and then all hell broke loose as more than 100 buffalo took off in what seemed twenty directions. We could see nothing but black bodies and dust, and as we began to follow, it was obvious that the bull had run into some very thick scrub. No one was looking forward to going in after him, and we were all surprised that he had gone more than 50 paces since Rod’s shot looked so good. As we discussed the situation, the bull let out a very welcomed death bellow, and relief came over our small group. We still walked in very cautiously and were greeted by a fantastic 40-and-a-half-inch Save Valley buffalo. Rod was ecstatic, I had just as much fun watching him shoot as if I had done it myself, and I am pretty sure the buffalo lowered his self-induced pressure level about the leopard situation. I walked on elephants a few mornings with Mark M., and we had some great close encounters with great bulls. In two days we walked up very close to three bulls in the 40-45 pound range, but Mark elected to pass them all.
Top left: Mark Peterson with a hard earned 42” buffalo bull from the Save valley. Middle left: The beautiful Mokore camp was home base for this safari. Bottom left: Tim Herald with an eland bull taken with his Verney Carron .470 double rifle.
On day seven, Rod had a good male leopard hit, so he and Neil built a blind and sat. The cat came in like clockwork; they watched him in the tree for six minutes, and Neil elected to pass because he just didn’t seem to have a big head from the angle they were watching him. As he turned to leave the tree, Neil saw that he was indeed a very nice male, but it was too late. The guys sat the next night two nights to no avail, but on the ninth day, they actually had a good cat hit a bait that we had set way up in the hills, and he hit in daylight. The next evening, they were sitting in their pop-up blind that was very well concealed behind a large boulder about 50 yards from the bait. An hour before dark, the rock rabbits began alarm calling, and Neil told Rod the cat was on the move. Not long after, the guys heard a leopard call in the distance. Neil felt like their cat had decided to go a different direction, and the game was probably over. They sat tight. Tenminutes before dusk, Neil lifted the cloth covering the window in the blind, and he immediately reached over and grabbed Rod’s leg in a death grip. Rod knew something was very wrong, and as we had seen a lot of lion and elephant sign in the area, he assumed there was some immediate danger from one of those species. In reality, when Neil peeked out, he was looking dead into the face of a big male leopard at a mere six feet. The cat had his front paws up on the boulder that hid the blind as he was checking out the new addition to the kopje. Neil said he could clearly see the teeth as the cat stood slack-jawed, and he could actually hear the tom breathe. After maybe 30 seconds the cat turned and slipped into the shadows, and Neil could finally take a deep breath of his own. He told Rod what had happened, and I think they both had an adrenaline dump. They new that the game was definitely over then, but they hung out for a while anyway as they were almost in shock. FALL 2017 HUNTER'S HORN 43
Neil Duckworth in the spot where the leopard peered into the blind the evening before.
Just as dusk was turning to dark, they heard a noise, and Neil looked out in absolute disbelief as he saw the big cat in the tree and immediately feeding on the bait. He gave Rod the signal to shoot, but the angle was all wrong, and Rod watched the cat patiently for a couple of minutes. When the cat moved a bit to gain a better grip on the bait, Rod made another great shot, and he had his leopard, and it was certainly a dandy. The old tom had a square blocky head, big body, and a scarred face. My friend Rod couldn’t have been more pleased. The very next night Earl and Gary connected with a simply incredible lion. The big take had a thick long mane, weighed in at an honest 496 pounds, and was later aged at 8 years old. He was a perfect lion to take, and Earl had seen at least five beautifully maned lions in the first ten days. Mark P. arrived to hunt the last half of the trip, and he ended up taking a bigbossed 42-inch wide buffalo and a number of great plains game trophies including a beautiful eland. Earl ended up with a 44 HUNTER'S HORN FALL 2017
nice dagga boy as well, and he took quite a few plains game animals along the way. Rod really wanted a nice kudu bull, and though we saw a lot of kudu, we had only seen one fully mature bull early in the hunt, and it was not up to Neil’s standards. On the very last day of our trip as we drove in for lunch at noon, Neil spotted a bull way back in a thicket. We could only see his face and first curl, but his horns looked heavy. He eventually slipped back in the cover, so we drove a head a few hundred yards, and then got out for a stalk. After 30 minutes and bumping countless cow kudu, the big bull followed some of his harem through an opening, and Rod took a quick shot. We weren’t sure of the hit, but within about 200 yards, we found the old bull piled up. He was indeed heavy, but we were all incredibly surprised when his horns stretched the tape to 55 ¾ inches and 56 inches. What a way for Rod to end the hunt. Mark M. passed up elephants until the last day, and Doug Duckworth counted that they had passed up 43 bulls. They just never ran into a bull that was for sure over
50 pounds. Being the great guys they are, the Duckworth clan offered to let Mark come back a few months later to try and finish his hunt. Hopefully, by the time this article is published, Mark will have a nice set of ivory on its way to his home in British Columbia. I will end by saying that on 20 safaris, I have never been anywhere that had the diversity of dangerous game (all the big five) and many species of plains game, with very high populations and top shelf trophy quality. The Save Valley Conservancy is truly a special place, and I can’t imagine a safari operation being run any better than Mokore. ★ Editor’s note: Tim Herald is an owner and hunt consultant at Worldwide Trophy Adventures www.worldwidetrophyadventures.com (WTA). To book this or any other high-quality hunt anywhere in the world, contact Tim at tim@trophyadventures.com. WTA’s services are free; WTA is paid directly by the outfitter, and your hunt cost is the same whether you book directly with an outfitter or through WTA.
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FALL 2017 HUNTER'S HORN 45
LEAPofFAITH Part 1 of 3
Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, located in Newfoundland, Canada, is the most accessible seabird rookery in North America. Thousands of common murres nest here each year.
A story from the shores of Newfoundland illustrates the crucial part that public discourse must play in the survival of hunting. BY SHANE P. MAHONEY
T
he hunting community needs to demonstrate its commitment to conservation and to do so by directly speaking to and engaging the general public. Understandably, there is much reluctance. However, if we fail to do this, we will become totally
46 HUNTER'S HORN FALL 2017
irrelevant and every career, business, and personal odyssey that identifies hunting as its wellspring will be the high price we will pay. The following story of an iconic North American bird illustrates the necessity of this move and the courage it will take to follow through.
The Island of Newfoundland stands resolutely separate from the North American continent – an ice-sculptured model of erratic coastline, formidable granite escarpments, and stone beaches worn smooth by a relentless sea. Inland, breathtaking expanses of barren land and a frenzied pattern of braided streams, fjord lakes, and innumerable ponds, gullies, and crystal-clear rivers divert the eye constantly. Wildlife abounds on these landscapes — rock ptarmigans, arctic hare, black bear, moose, lynx, river otter, red fox, and the great-bodied and heavybeamed woodland caribou. Yet, this fullness is but a whisper compared with the writhing abundance of the offshore islands that millions of nesting seabirds call home. These small and numerous citadels lie like spawn around the coastline, ripe to bursting with eggs, chicks, and adults that cram every inch of sod, rock, and crevice from May through September. If one wishes to experience nature in all its intensity, indeed in all its creative force and ferocious hardship of gentle birth and callous death, then these small cathedrals are where you should worship. For these places, as wild and wind-torn as they are, provide an intensity of natural experience almost unsurpassable. Such experiences, duly witnessed and reflected upon, can lead us to insights regarding our role in the universe and how we can best achieve the perpetuation of those wild others we rightfully honor and cherish. Common murres, known to Newfoundlanders as “turrs,” are duck-sized black-and-white seabirds that nest in huge, dense colonies on many of these offshore islands. Long a source of meat for coastal residents, these birds have been hunted for centuries and still abound within spitting distances of many communities, a testimony to the sustainable use approach to wildlife conservation that has so effectively secured the future for most species hunted under regulated, science-based programs. Turrs have several peculiar habits, among which is laying a single, fantastically colored egg on bare rock. They have completely forsaken all nest-building. This achievement is even more remarkable given that they occupy tiny ledges of rock, often no more than six or eight inches wide and often hundreds or even thousands of feet above the water, and are packed onto such ledges like a throng of small, tuxedo-suited men, growling, defecating, and jabbing with abandon. The noise and confusion on these ledges is almost unbelievable, as is the survival of the eggs that are incubated alternatively by the male and the female, which are identical in physical appearance. Part of this remarkable survival is explained by the fact that turrs have evolved a very sharply pointed egg that tends to spin, rather than roll, when dislodged. Only this prevents a complete loss of eggs over the abyss and into
the sea – this and the assiduous care of the adult birds. For the three or four weeks of egg laying and incubation, these ledges are alive with turrs crammed together, shoulders touching and single eggs held closely to their warm bellies. Night and day, through driving rain or snow and in warm sunshine and wild winds, these birds jealously protect the one chance they have at reproduction. Below them, often far below them, the ocean dances to the surge of wind and tide. After about three weeks of care, the turr eggs hatch. The small black-and-white chicks that emerge have spiky down feathers, giving them the appearance of being shell-shocked. The big-footed youngsters represent a new challenge for the parent birds. These mobile bundles of energy live in constant peril of falling from the ledges, of being crushed by the throngs of adult birds, of drowning in fetid pools of water and guano, or of being killed by marauding gulls, ravens, and hawks. Furthermore, unlike many other seabird chicks which do nicely on regurgitated food, turr youngsters like their fish fresh, requiring the parents to forage at sea and often at long distances. Working in relays, one parent seeks dinner while the other protects and preens the growing youngster. Miraculously finding the specific and unmarked location on the ledge, the returning parent holds a single fish head-first down its throat with only the tail emerging from its bill. It will hold the fish there until the cartilaginous head has been digested and then will present it to the chick. The fish will then be swallowed whole and the chick will rest until awakened by insatiable hunger once more. This delightful existence is predicated on a predictable environment, one where baitfishes are abundant and close to the islands. As the baitfishes move off and the environment changes, new strategies are required. After four weeks, the remarkable seagoing of the chicks takes place. In this species, the wings are used very effectively for swimming to considerable ocean depths in search of small fish, and thus their length and shape have been quite modified, along the lines of penguins but not as far. The small turrs that have now reached four weeks of age are a fantastic combination of body parts that reflect both their immediate survival needs on the ledge and those that will suddenly emerge once they have left its relative safety and ventured upon the open sea. Their great feet provide stability on the ledge and will help paddle and steer the chick in the water, while the short, stubby wings will be fine for swimming and pursuing fish. However, and this is surely the most incredible part of their young lives, they have not yet attained the power of flight when the time comes to leave the small ledge where, up until now, their entire lives have been spent.
Hunting is one of the few great departures from an otherwise predictable and suffocating world. It is in the possibility of the animal’s death that we come to treasure the absolute necessity of their future lives.
FALL 2017 HUNTER'S HORN 47
It will be late evening when they decide to depart. Maybe a thousand feet below them, ocean surges will be crashing the fragmented rock skirts of their island and gulls will be soaring, raucously calling, and waiting for things to turn in their favor. In the fading light of day, often in fog or heavy drizzle, the chicks, which until this time have hugged their rock face with such determination, will suddenly move and calling and bowing incessantly, will approach its edge. They will hear their parents calling, swimming back and forth in the gray-and-white surges below, throwing their heads back over their shoulders and exposing the neon yellow-orange palettes to guide the chicks onward. The ledges will come alive with noise and aggression. The small landlubbers are about to become seafarers, all at once, from off the rock and into the turbulent air. They will extend their large feet like parachutes and beat their tiny wings like mad, breaking their fall into the great ocean below. Many will die, of course, beaten senseless on the rocks, crushed by their first ocean surge or eaten by predatory gulls. But most will survive, bobbing to the surface and swimming outward into the gathering darkness, to a new existence, accompanied by one parent and the certainty that inevitable change has occurred. Creatures that have only known land will not touch it again for at least four years. But when they do return, they will be part of yet another transition, taking their places as egg layers and providers so that turrs may always gather along the coasts of Newfoundland, making all of our lives so much richer in turn. For all this to occur, one great leap of faith will remain forever the essential odyssey. No matter how long the chicks might persist in the comfort of their ledge existence, there is no future for them unless they leave it behind. Hunting is one of the few great departures from an otherwise predictable and
The common murre starts off its life with a great leap of faith – one that hunters are going to have to take, as well.
suffocating world. It is in the possibility of the animal’s death that we come to treasure the absolute necessity of their future lives. That complexity will forever ensure that opposition to hunting will always be with us. We know we are in decline and that we must do something more than we are doing in order to keep hunting alive. All else is lies and self-deception. Our safe ledges, from which we look
down on the uncertainty of public discourse, can keep us for only a little longer. Social, economic, and ecological realities leave us absolutely no choice. We either convince our fellow citizens of hunting’s modern relevance and value, or we will perish in our high cathedrals, left to die in a changing environment that could be conquered only by confidence in ourselves and a great leap of faith. ★
Born and raised in Newfoundland, Shane Mahoney is a leading international authority on wildlife conservation. A rare combination of scientist, hunter, angler, historian and philosopher, he brings a unique perspective to wildlife issues that has motivated and inspired audiences around the world.
48 HUNTER'S HORN FALL 2017
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Tacos
Dove Lettuce Wraps 50 HUNTER'S HORN FALL 2017
Real Fast Food BY SCOTT LEYSATH
M
ore often than not, most of us enjoy meals that are
simple to prepare. Unless you have the advantage of
having more free time than you know what to do with,
weekday dining usually consists of something that won’t take
hours to prepare. You’ve been working all day. You’re hungry
and want to relax, but that doesn’t mean that you should settle for something that’s not healthy and delicious.
Fast food from a chain restaurant tastes great, but that’s
usually because it’s loaded with fat and carbs. Too many bad
calories and you run the risk of not being able to fit into
your waders. But fast can also be healthy. Game meats are generally much leaner than domestic meats. Go easy on the
added bacon, cheese, carbs and calorie-rich sauces and there might even be room for a little dessert.
Here are a few favorite weekday recipes that take relatively
little time to prepare and are a better alternative to something
you might pick up at the drive-through on the way home from work.
FALL 2017 HUNTER'S HORN 51
TACOS
Having grown up in Virginia, not Texas, I can remember my first taco. My buddies and I raced into town for the opening of our first fast food taco joint. The tacos came frozen and loaded with a ground meat-like product. They were dropped into a deep-fryer for a minute or two and then stuffed with some shredded lettuce and a slice of American cheese. We each ate four. Not really what most people today would consider a taco, at least not a good one. So, what’s wrong with an 800 calorie snack with over 40 grams of fat? Nothing, if you’re 13 years old and spend all day riding your bike. If you’re sitting on your hindquarters all day, well, not so good. Today, there are about as many varieties of tacos as anyone can imagine. Fish tacos have been the rage on the west coast for several years. Some of those who think that fish tacos are a healthier alternative to beef might not be paying attention. The fish is often fried tilapia that has been farmed in the somewhat unregulated waters of Southeast Asia. Apparently, the regulations are getting tighter but, for my
DOVE LETTUCE WRAPS
Here’s another way to cut down on carbs and calories while still enjoying a great weekday meal. As a matter of fact, you can prepare the same taco fixings and wrap them in a crunchy lettuce leaf rather than a corn or flour tortilla. This recipe calls for doves, but any ground or diced game meat works just as well. When choosing heads of lettuce for this recipe, look for large, loose heads that can be broken apart easily. Since the idea is to keep the lettuce leaves intact, it will take about one head of lettuce every two to three people. Save the remaining unused lettuce pieces for salads and sandwiches.
ingredients
4 servings (8 to 12 tacos)
• • • • • • • • • • •
2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 cup yellow onion, finely diced 1 cup bell pepper, finely diced 1 jalapeno pepper, stem and seeds removed, minced 2 garlic cloves, minced 4 cups ground venison 1/8 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves 1/2 teaspoon chili powder 1 14 1/2 can diced tomato, drained corn or flour tortillas
money, I’d rather catch my own. At my house, we probably prepare tacos in some form at least once a week and two to three times in a week isn’t all that uncommon. They are super-quick to make and a tasty way to use up any type of fish or game, even leftovers from the weekend. If you are long on ground game, consider making a large batch of seasoned taco meat and vacuum-packing
ingredients
4 to 6 servings
• 2 to 3 heads iceberg lettuce • 2 tablespoons peanut or vegetable oil • 1 teaspoon sesame oil • 6 green onions, white and green part, minced • 1/2 red bell pepper, finely diced • 3 garlic cloves, minced • 1 tablespoon gingerroot, peeled and minced • 1 1/2 cups skinless dove breast fillets, chopped • 3 tablespoons soy sauce • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar • 1 1/2 cups cooked rice • 1 (8 ounce) can water chestnuts, chopped • 1 jar hoisin sauce • Asian chili sauce (Sriracha) preparation
1. To prepare lettuce cups, remove the stem end of the lettuce head.
52 HUNTER'S HORN FALL 2017
• shredded lettuce • shredded cheese • sliced tomato preparation
1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, peppers and garlic and sauté for 4 to 5 minutes. Add ground venison, cumin, oregano leaves, chili powder and diced tomato. Cook for 5 minutes more, stirring often to blend flavors. 2. Distribute stuffing evenly in the middle of the tortillas. Add lettuce, cheese and tomato. it into meal-sized portions. When it’s dinner time, heat it up in the microwave or in a pot of boiling water and, in just fifteen minutes or so, it’s dinner time. This recipe can be used with your choice of soft or crispy flour or corn tortillas. Piled high on a bed of lettuce, tomato, grilled corn kernels, tortilla chips and avocado this seasoned meat also makes for a delicious main course “taco” salad.
Carefully, peel individual lettuce leaves away, starting at the stem end. You don’t need full leaves for wraps, smaller pieces will work as well. If desired, trim ragged lettuce edges with kitchen scissors. 2. Heat vegetable and sesame oils in a large skillet or wok over mediumhigh heat. Add onions, bell pepper, garlic, and gingerroot. Stir-fry for 2 minutes. Add dove meat and stir-fry for 2 minutes more. Add soy sauce, rice vinegar, cooked rice and water chestnuts. Stir-fry until mixture is warmed throughout. Transfer to a medium bowl. 3. To serve, place lettuce cups on a plate. Each person makes their own lettuce wraps by first spreading a thin layer of hoisin sauce in the center of a lettuce cup. Then add a spoonful or two of the dove mixture and, if desired, a drop or two of the chili sauce.
PIZZA
Pizza
Making pizza dough from scratch is easier than you might think, but pulling a premade shell out of the freezer makes more sense after you’ve been working all day. Wild game pizzas are a great way to put your harvested inventory to good use and make room in the freezer. Seasoned and browned ground venison, sausage, pepperoni, summer sausage and shredded pulled meats all fit nicely on top of a pizza. Other toppings include fresh vegetables, olives, artichoke hearts and just about any type of cheese that floats your boat. Start by adding crushed garlic and Italian seasoning to about 1/2 cup of good-quality olive oil. Brush the mixture on top of a couple of uncooked pizza crusts. Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce over from edge to edge. Top with your favorite meat, maybe some mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, peppers, a little more sauce and your favorite shredded cheese. Place the pizza onto a lightly greased sheet pan or, better yet, a heated pizza stone, and bake in a preheated 450 degree oven until the top is lightly browned and bubbly.
DUCK “STEAK” AND CHEESE SANDWICH
Duck “Steak” and Cheese Sandwich
ingredients
4 servings
• 3 cups skinless duck breast fillets, very thinly sliced • 1/3 cup olive oil • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt • 1/4 teaspoon coarse or freshly ground black pepper • 2 cups yellow onion, very thinly sliced • 1 bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
• • • •
2 garlic cloves, minced Tabasco sauce, dash or two 4 slices cheese, any type 4 soft Italian rolls
preparation
1. In a medium bowl, combine half of the olive oil with red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Add duck and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours. 2. Heat remaining oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions, peppers, and garlic and cook,
This is an adaptation of a classic Philly Cheesesteak sandwich. Once the ingredients are prepped and ready to go, the cooking part is done in just a few minutes. Thin-sliced duck, peppers, and onions are quickly cooked on a hot griddle or skillet and then topped with cheese and piled into a firm roll. It’s best to place duck breast in the freezer for an hour or two to firm up before slicing as thinly as possible with a sharp, thin-bladed knife. This recipe also works well with any antlered game and upland game bird breast fillets. while stirring often, until onions are lightly browned. Mound onion mixture on one side of the skillet. Add marinated duck to the open area of the skillet and stir-fry for 2 – 3 minutes. Once cooked, season with Tabasco sauce to taste. 3. Combine meat and onion mixture. Form into 4 rectangular mounds, top with cheese and cook until cheese is melted. Fill each roll with meat, onion and cheese mixture.
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ingredients
VENISON BACKSTRAP AND BLUE CHEESE SALAD
To some, topping a salad with grilled lean meat just doesn’t seem right. Meat should rightfully be served next to a baked potato, not set atop a pile of mixed salad greens. I disagree. And as if mixing meat with salad greens isn’t strange enough, this dish also includes crumbles of pungent blue cheese. While that might put a few less adventurous eaters over the edge, others will sense that it’s a winning combination. Combined with roasted walnuts, crumbled bacon and a spirited balsamic vinaigrette, this is one of my favorite entrée salads. ★
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4 servings
• 1 1/2 pounds venison backstrap (loin) • Olive oil • Kosher salt • freshly ground black pepper • 1 large onion, any color, sliced into 3 or 4 thick slices • 4 cups romaine lettuce, chopped • 4 cups kale leaves, chopped • 3/4 cup walnuts, lightly toasted in a 300 degree oven • 6 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled • 2/3 cup blue cheese crumbles • 2 tomatoes, quartered dressing
• • • •
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper • 1 teaspoon brown sugar • 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice • 3/4 cup olive oil
preparation
1. Rub venison with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Place on a medium-hot grill with onion slices and lightly brown meat on all sides, about 2 minutes per side for medium-rare. When meat is done, allow to rest for 5 minutes. Slice into 1/2-inch thick slices. Venison can be served warm or cold. Continue to cook onion until evenly browned on both sides. 2. To prepare dressing, combine balsamic vinegar with next 5 ingredients and whisk to blend. While whisking, add olive oil in a thin stream until emulsified.
3. In a large bowl, combine lettuce, kale, walnuts, bacon and blue cheese. Toss with 1/2 cup of the dressing. Mound mixture on plates. Arrange sliced venison over. Arrange two tomato wedges on each plate. Drizzle a teaspoon or two of dressing over venison and top with grilled onions.
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The view of the water hole at Etali Safari Lodge where we ate all our meals.
Cheryl with rhinos at dusk.
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Ormstons about to eat lunch at Louis’ tower with Botswana in the far background.
Ormstons with their driver and tracker from Etali Safari Lodge at Madikwe Game Reserve.
I
t all started at the Houston Safari Club’s
both of our girls Kayla (12) and Kendall (9). He said, 2016 “Commitment to Tomorrow” Convention. “great …we love having families over to hunt with Cheryl and I decided it was a good time to go us.” We eventually came up with a list of the animals to Africa with the kids. We had been discussing for we would like to hunt and Louis provided a quote for some time and met with several different outfitters us to review. and consulted many HSC members on who they Then our Saturday Night Gala and Auction came thought we should go with. along and I had not studPrentiss Burt, who was at ied the auction item list at the time serving on the that point, probably because Board of Directors in a I was the President that year Vice President role, recomand had numerous other mended we hunt with Louis events to tend to. As the van Bergen and Spiral Horn night rolled on I noticed Ed Safaris. Louis and his wife, Phillips auctioning a sable Carien, had hosted the Burt hunt in South Africa. A nice family before and Prentiss sable has always been on my said they did a great job takbucket list. Upon closer ining care of the whole family. spection, I realized it was BY KEVIN ORMSTON He also hunted with Louis being donated by Louis van on a few other occasions. Bergen, the very person we HSC PAST PRESIDENT Cheryl and I decided to had decided we should hunt speak directly with Louis in his booth at our convenwith. At that point, I jumped into the bidding and next tion. Louis has been an exhibitor with Houston Safari thing you know, I bought a sable hunt! The next day Club for several years and has made some amazing nice I went to talk with Louis about the hunt and he was donations to our Saturday Night Live Auction. Louis happy to hear about it. He said that it would be a good welcomed us into his booth and we went over a few addition to our family safari and we could combine details which included hunting with me, Cheryl, and everything into the same trip. Over the next couple
Family
Safari
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Top left: The trackers and house staff at Spiral Horn Safaris who took care of us while we were hunting. Bottom left: Kendall with her zebra, David the tracker on the left and her PH “Mr John.”
of weeks, Cheryl and I made all our travel arrangements which included a photo safari on the back end of the hunt at Madikwe Game Reserve. The anticipation grew over the next several months as we prepared for the trip. Louis knew I liked to hunt with a bow, but not exclusively, so he encouraged me to bring it. He said I would have a good chance to take a sable with my bow and possibly a kudu or other game. At one point in my life, I only hunted with a bow but went back to the rifle in recent years, as I have been teaching and hunting more and more with my girls. Young kids in a bow blind don’t always work. So, I dusted off my bow and practiced shooting the months and weeks leading up to the hunt. The next thing you know August was here and we were leaving for Africa. The girls, Cheryl, and I could hardly believe we were going to the other side of the world for our trip. We flew Delta and had a good experience after stopping and changing planes in Atlanta. We landed the next evening in Johannesburg and were greeted by Louis and Tunis (pronounced “Tinnis”), one of Louis’ PH’s. The two of them helped us gather up our luggage and check our guns in with the South Africa Police. We were then on our way to stay the night in Pretoria at the Ndlovu Lodge before heading to the ranch in the morning. We were very impressed with the accommodations and the food. We had a great time and a great dinner then we turned in for the night. We woke up and ate breakfast at Ndlovu before our four-hour trip to Louis’ ranch. The girls enjoyed the road trip and were intrigued with all the people, places, and animals they saw along the way. We were greeted at Louis’ family ranch by the staff, his wife Carien, and their little boy “LC.” The trackers were there to help with our luggage as we went to our chalets. Kayla and Kendall stayed in their own chalet on the other side of the pool from where Cheryl and I stayed. All the chalets were clean and decorated very nicely. After settling in, we went to the rifle range to check everyone’s rifle and to do a tour of the ranch. The entire area was very dry because, at that time, they had been in a major drought. Luckily the rains 58 HUNTER'S HORN FALL 2017
Top right: Kevin holding “Hammer” the Jack Russell that helped Kayla recover her tremendous Red Hartebeest. Cheryl on the right. Middle right: Kayla, Cheryl, Kendall, and author with his Waterbuck. Method of take: bow. Bottom right: Kendall with Nyala. David, the tracker and her PH, Juan. Kendall called him “Mr. John.”
finally came after we left. Louis had a couple of PH’s hunting with us also. Kendall and Cheryl mainly hunted with “Mr. John,” which is how Kendall addressed him while Kayla hunted with Tunis most of the time. Louis and I hunted together quite a bit unless we were all out as a group. That first afternoon was warm but Louis said: “bring a jacket” for when the sun goes down. It does cool off in a hurry especially in the back of the truck. Louis’ vehicles were very nice Toyota Land Cruisers that are all set up for safari style hunting. Our first day hunting went really well. I hunted with Kayla, Tunis, and Louis. Kayla had several animals on her list of potential trophies but she especially wanted a zebra so she could have a zebra rug in her bedroom. As luck would have it, we found a group of zebras and she was able to take a nice stallion. Later that day Louis said to me, “I know I told you to bring your bow for a kudu and/or a sable but if we see a good kudu, you need to shoot it with your rifle because I don’t know how many chances we’ll get.” I said “ok” and stayed ready. It was approaching dark that afternoon when Louis spotted three kudu bulls and told me to shoot the one in the middle. I replied, “I only see one”! He then helped me locate the biggest bull of the group and I fired free hand from the back of the truck and hit him. After the congratulations and pictures were over it was time to head to Louis’ boma with a relaxing fire and some sundowners. The following days were filled with lots of driving, walking, stalking, tracking, and taking some really nice trophies. Kendall took a zebra so she could have a zebra rug for her room and managed to take a very nice nyala and a gemsbok later in the week. I was proud of Cheryl’s first kill. She took a very impressive Southern Impala. Kayla took a zebra, a gemsbok, and an exceptional red hartebeest. I was able to shoot my trophy sable with my bow but had to follow up with my rifle to finish. I was able to take a 32” waterbuck with my bow on our last day. Louis and I had some time to burn at the end and he said, “come on, let’s FALL 2017 HUNTER'S HORN 59
go try to get an impala or something with your bow.” So on our last day, we set up in one of his tower blinds over some water. We had a group of blue wildebeest come in along with some warthogs, and then a nice waterbuck showed up. I told Louis I already had a waterbuck from a previous safari and I really wasn’t interested. A few minutes rolled by and I said, “how much is a waterbuck again”? Louis told me and all got quiet again. Then a real monster waterbuck showed up and Louis said, “if you don’t shoot him, I will.” I knew it was a really good one and I could not pass it up. After waiting a few minutes for him to get into position, I let the arrow fly. Of course, everything blew up, dust was flying, and animals were running everywhere. We found blood and tracked him down sometime later that same afternoon. As most readers will understand, those animals in Africa are tough and don’t go down easy. Now that our hunting safari was over, it was time to leave and get ready for additional sites and relaxation. Louis and Carien drove us about an hour away to Madikwe Game Reserve. Madikwe is South Africa’s fifth largest game reserve at 185,329 acres and a true hidden gem. Louis and Carien both recommended going to Madikwe after our hunt for several reasons. One of the biggest reasons is not just anyone can drive and tour Madikwe. Unlike Krueger, for example, you must be staying at one of the Madikwe lodges in order to have access to the park. The guards at the gate double check your reservations before allowing anyone entrance to the reserve. Carien recommended two lodges and we decided to stay at Etali Safari Lodge. Upon arriving at Etali we were greeted by our host with a refreshing drink, our driver, and our tracker. Your group is assigned a host, a driver, and a tracker so you’re with the same people and get to know them while you are there. Etali Safari Lodge is made up of eight individual chalets and one main lodge where you eat your meals, have afternoon tea, meet before your tours, etc. We had our own chalet at the very end. It had a nice wrap-around porch with a large private hot tub. They alternate the dinner venues — one day it is a semi-formal fourcourse meal and the next night is more of a buffet-style dinner served in the boma near the watering hole where you can watch the animals come and go all night. Our table, where we ate most of our meals, had a magnificent view overlooking the watering hole. We saw many animals including a 60 HUNTER'S HORN FALL 2017
Above: Cheryl with her Impala...her first harvest. Below: Kevin with his PH, Louis Van Bergen, owner of Spiral Horn Safaris.
group of big Cape buffalo bulls, large herds of elephants, big groups of kudu, baboons, lions, impalas…you name it and it came by the waterhole. Etali does morning and afternoon drives. We were there for three days so we did both and everyone spent some time in the spa there at Etali. The morning drives always stopped at some point for coffee, hot cocoa, and something light to eat. The afternoon drives were fun when we stopped at sunset for refreshments and sundowners. It was a nice relaxing way to treat Cheryl and the girls and unwind after hunting all week. The meals were excellent and the service was second to none. We really did not want to leave and head back to reality. On our getaway day, Louis
met us at Etali and brought us our rifles as they are not allowed. He introduced us to our driver who would be taking us to Johannesburg. Our driver was very professional and took us by some curio shops to do some shopping along the way. He stayed with us the entire time and we always felt safe. Once we arrived at the airport he helped us with our luggage and helped us to the correct check in line. I can’t say enough good things about Louis van Bergen, his wife Carien, and their entire staff. They were excellent hosts and hunters. They did such a great job of taking care of us and making our family safari such a wonderful experience. Cheryl, Kayla, Kendall, and I still talk about our family safari nearly every day. ★
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Grandeur &Glaciers Alpine Helicopters and Minaret Station Provide Expert Maneuvering and Fine Dining Amidst Majestic Views of New Zealand. BY DOUG BEECH
64 HUNTER'S HORN FALL 2017
It is late fall in New Zealand and in this corner of the world, it’s a mighty time of year. Lake Wanaka is a picturesque resort town on New Zealand’s South Island, set on the southern end of its namesake lake with views of imposing snow-capped mountains. It’s the gateway to the Southern Alps’ Mount Aspiring National Park, a wilderness of glaciers, beech forests and alpine lakes, which offers an array of opportunities for fishermen, hunters, recreational users, hikers, athletes, skiers, and sightseers. It is the quintessential holiday destination. Nestled above the mighty Clutha river surrounded by imposing mountains and a landscape shrouded in red, orange and yellow, is the Lake Wanaka Airport, a tiny cluster of buildings surrounded by nature’s best. It is a magnificent sight to behold, and as I was to discover a fitting prelude to the sights and scenery ahead of me. I arrive at the unassuming airport and make my way to the Alpine Group headquarters where I am received by Toby Wallis, chief pilot with Alpine Heli, a subsidiary of the Alpine Group. Toby is one of four brothers who run the family owned company and their name is synonymous with the aviation
industry of which they are pioneers and veterans both. Their father, Sir Tim Wallis (Hurricane Tim) is a business man and entrepreneur who pioneered the live deer capture market using helicopters. He was an international leader and representative in the deer industry and who, among other things, founded the alpine fighter collection and Warbirds over Wanaka air show. He and what he represents is highly regarded nationally and internationally. The company has interests that include pastoral farming, tourism, export, hunting, and agriculture, with each son actively involved. Today I’m booked on the famed Fiordland Heli
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Traverse, arguably the epitome of Helitourism in New Zealand. My trip will take me throughout both Mt. Aspiring National Park and Fiordland National Park, the scenic corner and coast line of southwest New Zealand. Mt. Aspiring National Park is in the Southern Alps and is a wonderful mixture of remote wilderness, high mountains, and beautiful river valleys. Fiordland National Park has spectacular ice-carved fiords, lakes and valleys, rugged granite tops and pristine mountain to sea vistas. The park was registered as a world heritage area in 1986 and is the most remote and spectacularly preserved national park in New Zealand, and given its famous inaccessibility, it is incredibly untouched. Toby and I lift off in a comfortable and well-appointed squirrel and make away toward the Matukituki Valley, via Lake Wanaka. The township of Wanaka with its 7,000 residents, is dotted beneath us, situated all around the lake edge protected by its famous mountains. As we lift higher Toby points out the Imposing Minarets, a distinctive jagged edge mountain range, after which the high country station the Wallis’ own and operate, is named. He indicates the valley which is home to the Iconic Minaret Station Lodge whose outstanding remoteness, hospitality and service, fine food and wine leave it beyond compare and an experience in itself. That is on my to-do list next time. We continuing flying towards Mt. Aspiring National Park. The jewel of the crown is Mt. Aspiring itself, a venerable peak with a height of 3,033 meters (9,951 feet), also known as Tititea, which translates as Glistening Peak. Globally It is also often called “the Matterhorn of the South,” for its pyramidal peak. It is surrounded by three glaciers systems which flow out to surrounding rivers and we fly low over the trifecta: the Bonnar, Volta and Therma glacier systems. The intense whiteness of the snow and ice gleaming juxtaposed under the bright blue sky is a sight to behold and as Toby expertly weaves his way in and out of the various peaks and valleys I feel as if I am literally part of the landscape. As we fly over the peaks of the park I am afforded a great view out towards the Tasman Sea and I am reminded just how close we are to the wild west coast of New Zealand; by car a journey of several hours, by foot a trip of several days but by helicopter across the tops, a half hour journey over the most spectacular scenery I have ever seen and that couldn’t be seen by any other option. 66 HUNTER'S HORN FALL 2017
The majesty of Fiordland, ice carved Fiords and U shaped valleys
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Trout spotting Helicopter style Lower West Coast South Island
Above: Minaret Station Alpine Lodge Far left: New Zealand Fur Seal posing on the rocks at Martin’s Bay Near left: New Zealand Lobster fresh from the ocean
We cross over into Fiordland National Park and I am staggered at the scale and beauty of the mountains and valleys. The park is home to the world-famous Milford Sound, the glacier carved fiord that is synonymous with the magnificence of this area. We make our way up the coast towards Martins Bay, a deserted piece of paradise, just north of Milford Sound in Fiordland. Home to the rare Fiordland Penguins and colonies of languishing seals, this is nature at its best. The seals are not the least bit bothered by our presence — they show as much curiosity and interest in us as we do in them. Their seal pups play vigorously in the rocky pools, reminding me very much of a preschool, eliciting much laughter from us at their antics. Under the complacent eyes of the mothers, we get several close-up photos of the pups playing, interacting not only with each other but us too. The Martin’s Bay beach is untouched and stretches for miles, exactly how it would have been when New Zealand was first discovered and due to its generally inaccessible coastline, very few people get to see what I’m enjoying. From Martins Bay, it’s a trip south to a remote little spot on the coastline, the name of which is unspoken, Toby’s secret spot, to catch lunch. Famed for its bountiful fishing, in particular, the New Zealand Crayfish, also known as lobster, Toby secures some fresh bounty from the ocean and then we’re off again in search of the perfect lunch spot.
We head inland to Mt. Tutoko, the highest mountain in Fiordland National Park, with a massive peak rising to 2723 meters, 8933 feet. We touch down on the Tutoko glacier, part of the protected Ngapunatoru Plateau, and explore this almighty landscape with panoramic views stretching across the Southern Alps in the east to the Tasman Sea in the west and everything in between. Toby names several peaks in the area and points out areas of interest. Back aboard we traverse the peaks towards Milford Sound and its towering icon — Mitre Peak. It does not disappoint. The flight through the sound is jaw-dropping and breathtaking. Its reputation as New Zealand’s most spectacular natural attraction is not overstated. Toby points out the Stirling and Bowen Falls both in full flight after recent rainfall and we keep an eye out for fur seals, penguins, and dolphins. The seals and penguins are in full display but the dolphins prove a little more elusive. We lift up high above the peaks and up through the famous Arthur Valley, historically significant as the route the early explorers took when discovering the area. We fly across to Lake Quill, a unique lake which fills a large steep-sided basin very much like a natural amphitheater and overflows into the famed Sutherland falls and drops 580 meters/1902 feet over three stages. The falls themselves are a must-see natural phenomenon, but as I simply don’t have the four days it takes to walk in, I very appreciate that I have a bird’s eye view FALL 2017 HUNTER'S HORN 69
Landing at Lake Quill, breathtaking
of scenery that most people simply never get to see, from the most expansive view point imaginable. From one lake to another, we make our way over to Lake Erskine, a discerning destination for wedding photos and special moments, and I can see why. Lake Erskine is a stunning alpine lake perched at 1390 meters/4560 feet. It is surrounded by icy mountains at this time of the year and has small waterfalls cascading down from it but it is the brilliant blue of the clear water that makes it spectacular. “Swim?” Toby casually inquires. It’s certainly been done before he assures me, but not today, I assure him! And it’s still not even lunch time! 70 HUNTER'S HORN FALL 2017
Deep in the west coast wilderness, Toby points out areas of interest, geographic features and keeps me orientated as to where we are in the scale of the landscape. It is hard to describe the unique perspective you get, looking down on these majestic mountains that ordinarily tower above us, the gaping valleys and the tarns and lakes dotted at all altitudes. From here you appreciate the difference in the neighboring parks, separated by the Alpine fault line that is clearly visible running between the two. The imposing sheer granite valleys of the Fiordland National park contrast with the color and detail of the schist prevalent in the Mt. Aspiring Park. Toby expertly maneuvers us through
the landscape and the helicopter finds a seemingly impossible spot to land in in Ancient Beech forest, where we shut down for lunch. Pilot becomes chef, sommelier and maître d’ in one and from the unassuming squirrel comes dining table, chairs and all the trappings of a Michelin feast in a five-star restaurant. I am impressed. Toby magically produces a gourmet cheese board of which I avail myself to while he prepares a delicious feast of local produce for lunch. The lobster, which has was in the ocean less than an hour ago, he steams lightly and then finishes in a delectable herb butter, accompanied by an assortment of barbequed meats from Minaret station, served with
Lake Eskine, one of New Zealand’s best kept secrets.
seasonal salads and dressings. A great selection of New Zealand wine and beer accompanies a fine dining experience made all the more palatable by the simplicity and isolation of the dining room. I couldn’t have asked for anything more. In some ways, this moment is almost the highlight of the trip. The ability to enjoy great food, drink, and company, in an unhurried manner in the absolute quiet of the great outdoors, this is when food tastes as it should. But it’s not over yet. Toby and I lift off again and head toward the Olivine wilderness area, one of New Zealand’s premier wilderness area, situated in Mt. Aspiring National Park. The landscape is grand and daunting and usually reserved for the fit and adventurous and those with plenty of time. Today we get up close and personal with mountains, cornices, glaciers, crevasses, seracs and more waterfalls. We can’t land here but I can see what draws the climbers and mountaineers to its charms. We fly over the Red Hills a unique land scape of massive contrast, stunning shades of red rock formations, devoid of any plant life, in the middle of the glaciated rainforest, green and vibrant. It is a privilege to be here, an area that truly is untouched by people and I marvel again at what I can see, scarcely comprehending the grandeur of it all.
From here it’s a sightseeing feast down to the Dart Valley. The Dart Valley and neighboring Rees Valley are made of green and gray schist shaped by glaciation. The Dart Glacier is now a small valley glacier, but at its peak, it was part of an enormous system that terminated at Kingston, 135 kilometers away at the southern end of Lake Wakatipu. Toby points out the huge moraine walls beyond the Dart Hut which show the previous extent of the glacier and how much it has receded in the last few hundred years. The forest is dominated by the Beech tree family species with Southern beech, Red beech, mountain and silver beech throughout the valley. This is a hunters’ paradise with goat, chamois, whitetail and red deer all making this valley their home. Despite not hunting today, I keep an eye on the terrain, seeing if I can spot some movement. We trail down the valley and out into the broadening Matukituki Valley and follow the River as it winds its way towards Lake Wanaka. The Matukituki Valley is Wanaka’s outdoor playground and offers a huge amount of activity and enjoyment to all who use it. As we may make our way down Toby points out the various tracks and climbs that cover the valley and we see day trippers making their way back from the Rob
Roy Glacier, a popular day trip. The valley is a pleasing mix of beech forest and farmland and Toby shares stories about the challenges the farmers have had in these remote areas from isolation, climate, landscape and stock management. The sun is setting on the mountains we were just soaring over and the snowcapped mountains are turning a very pleasing pink, boding well for the next day’s weather. We fly over Lake Wanaka, the lake is still and calm as a pond, and back towards the airport. It has been quite a day. I unreservedly recommend this epic Fiordland Heli Traverse, it is a must do trip and was the crowning glory of my adventure with Toby and his team at the Alpine Group. The level of service, the quality of the experience, the information provided, the gourmet lunch and of course the grandeur of the scenery were beyond compare. In just one day we saw and experienced scenery on a scale that was unprecedented, visited spots where literally only a handful of people have ever been to and engaged with the great outdoors in a way that is almost indescribable. This unique and bespoke experience epitomizes the “trip of life time” expression and truly was an unforgettable adventure. It must be seen to be believed. ★ FALL 2017 HUNTER'S HORN 71
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Gems of the South Pacific:
New Zealand
helena bay
From West University Travel
T
he South Pacific is home to some of the most intriguing, diverse wildlife and landscapes in the world. New Zealand is no exception. From red stag to tahr, elk to wild boar, ram to water buffalo, even the most experienced of hunters will be satisfied with the diverse selection of safaris. The South Pacific is home to some of the most intriguing, diverse wildlife and landscapes in the world. New Zealand is no exception. From red stag to tahr, elk to wild boar, ram to water buffalo, even the most experienced of hunters will be satisfied with the diverse selection of safaris. For those in the family who won’t be hunting, New Zealand has plenty of other things to offer, including relaxing geothermal spas in Rotorua, highly-acclaimed wineries in Marlborough, and more adventure than you could ever handle in 74 HUNTER'S HORN FALL 2017
Queenstown. With a direct flight from Houston to Auckland, there’s more reason than ever to visit New Zealand! Below we’ve highlighted some of our favorite cities and towns on both the North and South Island.
AUCKLAND
Start your journey in Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city located at the northern end of the North Island. Spend some time strolling along the Viaduct Harbour as you get over your jet lag. Go up to the
Whangaruru bay
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Auckland Rotorua
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Wellington top of Auckland’s iconic Sky Tower, and if you’re brave enough, do the SkyJump, an unforgettable 192 meter fall perfect for true daredevils. Take a day trip to Waiheke Island, a haven of beautiful vineyards, olive groves, and beaches in the Hauraki Gulf. With its variety of things to do, restaurants to eat at, and places to explore, Auckland is the perfect start to your travels in New Zealand.
ROTORUA
Less than a four-hour drive southeast of Auckland, you’ll find Rotorua. Home to Te Puia — a Maori cultural center and geothermal preserve — Rotorua is the quintessential New Zealand that most of us picture. This is one of the best places to experience the culture of the Maori, New Zealand’s indigenous Polynesian people. Enjoy an authentic Maori cultural performance, flax weaving workshop, and a feast of Maori kai at Te Puia. As you venture further into Rotorua, you’ll find yourself surrounded by scenery that feels straight out of the Lord of the Rings trilogy — because it is. You can even visit the world’s only permanent movie set, Hobbiton, which is located on a still-working sheep farm. Visit Kuirau Park, a beautiful local
park with naturally occurring hot springs and geothermal baths. And don’t forget Waitomo Caves, where thousands of glow-worms light up the inside of the cave so that it feels like you’re floating in the middle of the night sky. After a day of exploring, head over to Polynesian Spa, where you can enjoy a soak in their sulfur pools before indulging in a mud massage. For those who truly want to experience the authentic culture of New Zealand, Rotorua is a must-visit.
WELLINGTON
At the southern tip of the North Island, you’ll find New Zealand’s capital city, Wellington. This bustling, compact city reminds us a bit of San Francisco, with the colorful buildings situated so closely together and iconic cable cars providing transportation. Visit Wellington Botanic Garden, one of the oldest in New Zealand, or stroll down lively Cuba Street for great restaurants, bars, and live music. Te Papa Tongarewa is the national museum and art gallery of New Zealand, and with free admission and great views over the harbor, it’s a can’t miss. After you’ve had your fill of exploring the city, head east for a stay at beautiful Wharekauhau Lodge. This
Edwardian-style lodge is located on a vast 5,000-acre estate dotted with Romney sheep. Every spring brings 10,000 new lambs to the property, and guests can enjoy a Farm Tour to see sheep shearing demonstrations, sheep dogs in action, and other farm activities. For an excursion off-property, you can visit the nearby historic village of Ngawi to see one of New Zealand’s largest Brown Fur Seal colonies.
MARLBOROUGH & NELSON
While the North Island offers bubbling hot springs, peaceful blue harbors, and emerald rolling fields dotted with millions of sheep (it’s estimated that there are 7 sheep to every person!), hop on over to the South Island and the topography rapidly changes, with the snow-capped Southern Alps and the misty Fiordlands. At the northern tip of the South Island, you’ll find Marlborough and Nelson, both small towns with a lot to offer. Marlborough is quickly becoming a highly-acclaimed wine country, and is fondly referred to as the Napa Valley of New Zealand. With over 60,000 acres of producing vineyards, it’s easy to see why. After spending a day or two exploring the vineyards and enjoying the savory seafood that the area is known FALL 2017 HUNTER'S HORN 77
for, head over to Nelson, a charming town known for its local art galleries and craft breweries. It’s also a perfect base from which to visit Abel Tasman National Park, where you can enjoy beautiful beaches, hike through tropical jungles, and kayak alongside New Zealand fur seals. Both Marlborough and Nelson operate on a slower pace, reminding you to relax and just enjoy the moment.
QUEENSTOWN
One of the most iconic destinations in New Zealand is the city of Queenstown, and Matakauri Lodge offers the perfect base for exploring this beautiful area. Situated right on Lake Wakatipu, the lodge offers spectacular views of the Remarkable, Cecil, and Walter Peak mountain ranges. The property is only seven minutes from the action of Queenstown, but feels like a world away. In fact, it’s exclusivity is what drew Prince William and Kate Middleton to stay here on their recent tour of New Zealand. It’s easy to feel like royalty yourself when soaking in the views from your private cottage. In Queenstown, you’ll explore a town rich in history and breathtaking natural beauty. For those thrill seekers in the group, you’ll find bungee jumping, jet
Queenstown boating, rafting, scenic helicopter flights, and more in the adventure capital of the world. New Zealand is a destination that calls to the imagination, from its fantastical origin stories of the demigod Maui to its recent popularity as the filming location for the Lord of the Rings series. Many travelers list this South Pacific country on their travel bucket lists, and for good reason. No matter your style of travel or personal interests, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Not to mention, New Zealand’s majestic
Southern Alps are home to some of the finest big game animals found anywhere in the world. With adventure and relaxation both readily available, New Zealand is perfect for those looking to continue a trip full of adventure after their hunting safari, as well as those looking to unwind and calmly explore a new destination. ★ Interested in exploring more of the world’s top destinations? Need help planning your pre- or post-safari adventures? Contact us at info@westutravel.com to speak to one of our knowledgeable travel advisors.
Marlborough
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HOUSTON SAFARI CLUB
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Be a part of the Convention Crew! If you are interested, please contact JD Burrows at burrows25@sbcglobal.net or 713.578.0542
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To protect a rare Central Asian goat—and the snow leopards that depend on it—conservationists are turning to an unlikely ally: trophy hunters. STORY BY JASON G. GOLDMAN PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOEL CALDWELL AND SEBASTIAN KENNERKNECHT
Above: A male snow leopard (Panthera uncia) ever vigilant as snow falls in the Sarychat-Ertash Strict Nature Reserve, Tien Shan Mountains, eastern Kyrgyzstan. Photograph by Sebastian Kennerknecht Background: Two Tajik rangers from the Saidi Tagnob Markhor Conservancy search for markhor on the steeps slopes across the valley. Photograph by Joel Caldwell
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A
few hours after arriving in Tajikistan’s Dushanbe International Airport last December, Bill Campbell sat bouncing in the back seat of a Toyota Land Cruiser as it made the sixhour journey to a small rural village called Anjirob, just a few kilometers from the border with Afghanistan. Home to some 700 people, the mountain community is nestled into the country’s Hazratisho Range, whose soaring crags form the gateway to the even more impressive Pamir Mountains, often called the “rooftop of the world.” A funnylooking goat with twisted horns called a Bukharan markhor (Capra falconeri heptneri) makes its home in this forbidding landscape, and Campbell, a 65-year old physician, had traveled all the way from Anchorage, Alaska, to find one. It wouldn’t be easy. These mountain herbivores are extremely rare to begin with, and their tawny brown coats allow them to all but disappear into the uneven rock faces where they graze. By the time the Soviet Union released its grip on this Central Asian nation in 1991, there were fewer than 700 of the goats left on the planet. Half of them lived here in Campbell’s destination, on the southwestern fringes of Tajikistan’s Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast, a Soviet-era regional designation that’s still in use today. To blame for the species’ dwindling numbers were all the usual suspects: habitat loss, competition with grazing livestock, and diseases transmitted by domestic animals. Most of all, however, the markhor suffered from decades of unrelenting pressure from poaching — illegal hunting for meat by locals, along with the occasional illicit trophy hunt. Those declines are finally in reverse. Between 1994 and 2015, the species was classified as “endangered” in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, but then, two years ago, it graduated to “near threatened.” Markhors are not out of the woods yet, but things are starting to look up. The Tajik population of Bukharan markhor has more than quadrupled since the early 90s; the latest surveys estimate that some 1,900 markhor graze these steep slopes. And finding one has become a bit easier — at least if you know where to look. In a world suffering what many conservation biologists call a sixth extinction, such conservation success stories are rare. So, too, 84 HUNTER'S HORN FALL 2017
Above: Photographer Joel Caldwell on his first yak ride. (“Yes, it’s just like riding a dinosaur,” said Joel.) Below: A female snow leopard (Panthera uncia), wet after crossing the Uchkul River, Sarychat-Ertash Strict Nature Reserve, Tien Shan Mountains, eastern Kyrgyzstan. Photograph by Sebastian Kennerknecht
are folks like Campbell, who had shelled out some $120,000 for the chance to shoot a markhor dead. “It’s probably the most expensive hunt in the world,” Campbell says. “This is basically where my income goes.” Trophy hunting is often portrayed as the worst sort of human entitlement, a way for extremely privileged white men — and, indeed, they typically are all three — to assert their dominance. Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, has called the practice “cruel, self-aggrandizing, larcenous, and shameful.”
Jimmy Kimmel called it “vomitous” in a televised monologue in 2015. But as I traveled along the same roads several months after Campbell’s journey, I learned that wealthy hunters like him are the main reason that Bukharan markhor still exist at all — despite how uncomfortable that truth may be. In specific cases — as even some conservation groups attest — trophy hunting can be an invaluable tool for protecting species and the ecosystems they rely upon. Some hunters, of course, are almost certainly engaged in a vainglorious pursuit of
A markhor (Capra falconeri) in rugged habitat camouflaged against rock, Tajikistan, Central Asia. Photography by Eric Dragesco
power — and lack the self-awareness to realize it. But after spending time with dozens of Tajik hunting guides and wildlife biologists (some of whom were both) on two markhor hunting concessions in southern Tajikistan, I discovered that painting the entire hunting community with such a broad brush ignores a reality: the trophy hunters who attempt to engage honestly with the thorny ethical quandaries underlying their pastime, who go out of their way to have their fun in an ecologically and socially responsible manner. Still, these folks breathe rarefied air. “It’s an elite experience. It’s for wealthy people like me,” says Campbell, who has white hair, doesn’t shy away from foul language, and sometimes goes by the nickname “Wild Bill.” At home in Anchorage, Campbell has a private psychiatry practice. “I earned my money the old-fashioned way,” he says, “seeing patients one by one for many years.” He began hunting as a young man, shooting deer near his family’s home in Vermont. Later, as a medical student in Southern California, deer hunting allowed him to
afford eating meat. “That was an alternative to eating peanut butter,” he says. As his fortune grew, Campbell turned his attention toward more exotic, expensive, difficult hunts in far-flung locales like Nepal, Zimbabwe, and Tajikistan. In the contracts he signs with hunting preserves, he usually insists that he be the only hunter present. Sometimes the law already ensures this: Tajikistan’s 74-squarekilometer (29-square-mile) Saidi Tagnob concession (the name means “downhill hunt”), Campbell’s destination last December, was granted only one markhor hunting license for all of 2016. Once Campbell arrived at the concession, his only focus was on negotiating the difficult terrain. Ten rangers carried his gear: backpack, rifle, and all the supplies they would need to survive several days on desolate, frozen ridges. The group began by winding its way up a riverbed. “It was a shallow, rocky river, so you could cross without getting your feet wet,” Campbell recalled from his home back in Alaska. “At one point, it narrows down and goes
through this remarkable rock formation called ‘the vagina.’ It’s what the locals call it. It’s this narrow slot maybe five or ten feet wide that the whole river goes rushing through, so at that point it’s quite deep. It’s quite exciting to be jumping from rock to rock in this.” In his younger days, Campbell was a skilled mountaineer. The high point in his life, he says, was summiting Half Dome in Yosemite National Park. This sort of adventure is his true passion. A little farther upstream, Campbell and his team came across a group of locals digging along the riverbanks with small shovels. He suspects they were searching for gold; the nation produces some 1.5 tons of the precious metal each year. “If it weren’t for this hunting conservancy,” Campbell mused, “I think the chances are extremely good that some company would have a gold mine there, and it would be an ecological disaster.” By allowing for the sale of trophy hunting expeditions, the argument goes, privately held lands can be managed for the benefit of wildlife. The alternatives seem objectively FALL 2017 HUNTER'S HORN 85
worse: mining, ranching, agriculture. Isn’t it better to sacrifice a few old animals in order to maintain an entire functioning ecosystem?
*** It’s not quite that simple, of course. For trophy hunting to be an effective conservation tool, not only must it rival extractive industries like mining or logging in terms of revenue earned, it must also de-incentivize the poaching that has plagued the markhor for so long. Markhor poaching is different from the sort that afflicts rhinos and elephants. The prize isn’t a horn or tusk that winds its way to the Far East to be bought and sold for use in a traditional healing practice or as a conspicuous display of vanity. When a markhor gets poached, it is typically at the hands of a poor Tajik villager, who is just looking for a decent meal for himself and his family. While some markhor are indeed killed as the result of illegal trophy hunting, most simply wind up on local dinner tables. To be effective, legal trophy hunting must therefore benefit not just the animals themselves but also the human communities that live alongside them. Back in the early 1980s in Pakistan, a group of tribal leaders became concerned that their large animals — like the Suleiman markhor (Capra falconeri jerdoni), a close relative of Tajikistan’s Bukharan sub-species — were disappearing. As in Tajikistan, uncontrolled hunting for meat was the primary threat. Working together, the community set up a conservancy based upon a simple premise: In return for giving up hunting, local men would be paid as game guards to prevent poaching. The financing would come from limited trophy hunts by wealthy foreigners. Besides the salaries, most of the meat would also be turned over to local villages. And whatever money was left over would be re-invested in the community itself. The Torghar Conservation Project resulted in a dramatic decline in illegal poaching, and an equally dramatic increase in markhor numbers. Between 1986 and 2012, the project delivered more than $2.7 million to local communities, while the markhor population increased from fewer than 100 animals to an estimated 3,500. Many in the high-mountain Tajik communities were eager to replicate the Torghar experiment. With initial support from the German Development Agency (GIZ), they learned how to monitor and protect the markhor, along with the other large 86 HUNTER'S HORN FALL 2017
Horns of male Siberian ibex (Capra sibirica) killed illegally by a poacher in the Pikertyk, Tien Shan Mountains, eastern Kyrgyzstan. Photograph by Sebastian Kennerknecht
herbivores in the area, like Siberian ibex (Capra sibirica) and Marco Polo sheep (Ovis ammon polii). It was about then that the international big-cat conservation group Panthera began its own work in Tajikistan. “Panthera has a complicated view of trophy hunting,” says Tanya Rosen, director of Panthera’s programs to protect snow leopards (Panthera uncia) in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. “When it comes to trophy hunting of big cats, we’re not supportive. But in the case of the prey of big cats, it is slightly different.” Predators need prey. If trophy hunting can boost a struggling population of prey animals, then it brings an indirect benefit to the cats. It wasn’t long before Panthera became involved in the markhor project as well, by providing logistical support to the communities, including binoculars, spotting scopes, and vehicles, by training community members on wildlife monitoring techniques, and by aiding the communities in their interactions with the Tajik government, the IUCN, and various international hunting organizations. At that time, hunting of any kind was illegal in Tajikistan. Some countries, such as Zimbabwe and Costa Rica, have bans on hunting for sport, or partial bans for certain species, like Zambia’s ban on lion and leopard hunting. A wholesale ban on all forms of hunting is rare, but not unheard of. Earlier this year, Kyrgyzstan’s Parliament narrowly rejected a proposed ban on all hunting activities through 2030, with only small exceptions made for lethal predator control. In order for international hunters to
legally export their kills, Tajikistan would have to overturn its ban, legalize trophy hunting, and join the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). If they had any hope of convincing the government to do these things, the Tajik communities would have to demonstrate their commitment to wildlife conservation by documenting the progressive increase of the markhor population while reversing their own poaching activities. In 2004, the handful of communities living alongside the markhor began the hard work of bringing an end to their traditional poaching culture, and of preserving 560,000 hectares (more than 2,100 square miles, an area almost twice the size of Rhode Island) of prime markhor habitat on the promise that they would one day benefit from trophy hunting. “For several years, it was all about protection and conservation,” says Rosen. Everyone worked on a volunteer basis. Even the rangers went unpaid. The first legal trophy hunts would not occur until 2014 — a decade later.
*** I made my own expedition to markhor territory in March of this year. Over a meal of domestic sheep meat and rice, bread and honey, tea and cherry juice, Odina Abdulkhaev, the 63-year-old director of the Saidi Tagnob conservancy, explained to me (with Panthera’s Rosen translating) that hunting wild animals was simply a way of life before he and his counterparts began to realize how special the markhor was. By protecting them, he has used the funds from
three years of legal trophy hunts — just one hunter each year — to dramatically improve the lives of those in his community. Hunting revenue is used to pay 10 rangers — each of them former poachers — a full-time salary. Markhor money also goes toward buying books and uniforms for schoolchildren, and paying teachers’ salaries. After lunch, we strolled through Anjirob until we came to a clearing. Looking out across the valley towards Afghanistan, Abdulkhaev pointed out what appeared to be a black cable strung across dozens of wood posts. It’s a new 3-kilometer-long water pipe that brings clean water directly to the village. He smiled, flashing his gold teeth, and told me that work was underway on an even longer pipe, close to 15 kilometers long, that will bring fresh water directly to the schoolhouse. All of it was paid for with revenue from trophy-hunting fees. Of the $100,000 to $120,000 that a markhor hunter shells out, $41,000 goes directly to the government to pay for the license. Of that money, $8,200 is funneled to the national government and the rest is split between regional and local authorities. Most of what’s left — more than 60 percent — stays with the hunting concession to be used for projects like Abdulkhaev’s water pipes. According to Farhod Mamadnazarbekov, Deputy Chair of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast Committee for Environmental Protection, a fair amount of the money that winds up in government coffers is used to benefit both wildlife and the public. The funds, he said, are used to provide hay to livestock herders — so they won’t have to compete with wild herbivores for grazing space — as well as for supplemental food for wildlife in areas where plant communities haven’t fully recovered from decades of over-grazing. He also said that funds are used at the district level to support governmental wildlife monitoring efforts, and to provide coal for heating so people won’t be forced to harvest plants for fuel, depriving wildlife of food. It’s hard to determine how much of what Mamadnazarbekov described is true. Several sources told me that some money must also be spent making various payoffs that aren’t legally justifiable, and that the government doesn’t necessarily spend its share of the revenue as they are supposed to. In a country with a per capita GDP of just 804 U.S. dollars, it’s not hard to imagine why many people here would want a piece of the action. Bribery and corruption may simply be part of the cost of doing
Above: A male markhor (Capra falconeri) traversing a steep cliff, Tajikistan, Central Asia. Photograph by Eric Dragesco Below: The skeleton and skull of a male argali (Ovis ammon), all that remains of a previous snow leopard (Panthera uncia) kill in the Sarychat-Ertash Strict Nature Reserve, Tien Shan Mountains, eastern Kyrgyzstan. Photograph by Sebastian Kennerknecht
business, even when that business is wildlife conservation. Some 60 kilometers away from Anjirob sits a village called Zighar, home to a 70-year-old man named Davlatkhon Mulloyorov. Together with two of his four sons, Ayub and Khodudod, Mulloyorov oversees the country’s largest markhor hunting concession, an area of some
150 square kilometers (58 square miles), two-thirds larger than Manhattan. His operation, called M-Sayod, won three of the country’s nine markhor hunting licenses granted in 2016, all of which were sold to foreign trophy hunters: two Americans and one German. (In total, the nine permits went to seven Americans, one German, and one Russian.) FALL 2017 HUNTER'S HORN 87
A Burgut ranger leads a yak ridden by one of the one of the Panthera biologists across the snow and ice. Photograph by Joel Caldwell
Like Abdulkhaev, Mulloyorov takes great pride in the community projects he has funded, many of which are also related to clean water, health, and education. He’s built pipelines to all three villages inside the concession. He’s offered scholarships to help some of the villagers attend university in Khorog or Dushanbe and hopes soon to send several particularly gifted students to study abroad. When a bear mauled a local villager, Mulloyorov used hunting revenue to cover medical expenses. Markhor funds have also paid for some of Panthera’s prey-animal surveys and snow leopard camera-trapping studies at M-Sayod. In 2013, those camera traps revealed six snow leopards inhabiting an area less than 100 square kilometers (39 square miles) within the conservancy. At the time, it was the highest density ever measured for the cats anywhere in the world. Two years later, Rosen and her team documented 10 snow leopards there. Despite its benefits, this conservation strategy can still strike many as unpalatable, or worse. The potential for corruption, when so much money is changing hands inside such a poor country, raises legitimate concern. But it’s difficult to argue with the results, at least so far. More than 10 years of intense effort have allowed the markhor population in Southern Tajikistan to flourish. 88 HUNTER'S HORN FALL 2017
Still, why not simply establish a national park to protect Tajikistan’s unique faunal heritage? The main reason is that formal legal protection over a landscape only works when there are sufficient resources available to monitor and protect wildlife. That’s a tough proposition for a nation as poor as Tajikistan. And when park designations are imposed from the top down, without the buy-in of local communities, they’re rarely effective. Hunting bans instituted in this way can even lead disempowered communities to intensify their poaching efforts, rather than to reduce them. As people perceive diminished opportunities to care for the nutritional needs of their families, conflict with the government increases. Communities exert even greater control over a landscape to which they feel entitled, and over its natural resources. On the other hand, when local communities can benefit economically from the sustainable use of wildlife, they instead become stewards of those natural resources. “The key is for the communities to connect livelihood benefits with species conservation,” said Rosen. It isn’t enough to simply use hunting revenue to build a hospital or a school, or to set up a scholarship for gifted students, she adds. People need to understand the direct link between wildlife conservation and these benefits. By allowing hunters to shoot three
markhor last year, Mulloyorov said he’s been able to protect the nearly 550 that live on his concession, plus the 10 snow leopards, while simultaneously making daily life easier for the people who live alongside them. This is the Faustian bargain of modern trophy hunting. “If 30 years ago there was an opportunity for [hunting] Persian leopards and tigers,” he said, “we would still have leopards and tigers.” This rationale applies not just to the markhor; in 2016, Tajikistan also offered permits for up 85 of its population of near-threatened Marco Polo sheep — a sub-species of argali with especially large horns — as well as for Siberian ibex, another more plentiful, wide-ranging type of mountain goat that has been hit hard by illegal poaching. In the 1990s, Mulloyorov said, snow leopards were often killed in retaliation if villagers suspected them of preying on livestock. But here in Tajikistan, a far more progressive approach to animal husbandry is now emerging, one that is rare even in parts of the United States. Mulloyorov believes that herders have a personal obligation to keep a close eye over their livestock. If a snow leopard or a wolf grabs an easy meal, the fault lies with the shepherd, not with the predator, he told me. Rather than directly compensate herders for their lost livestock, he has used markhor money to fund the construction of predator-proof enclosures.
In this way, trophy hunting revenue has engendered a more peaceful, if still uneasy, coexistence between people and predators.
*** Back in Saidi Tagnob in December, Campbell’s group eventually abandoned the river and began their steep ascent into the mountains. The thick snow and bonechilling air made it difficult going, but by nightfall, they’d reached a primitive adobe cabin with a nearby outhouse built by the conservancy for hunting parties. The rangers lit the wood stove to prepare dinner, and the group fell asleep in relative comfort. On the second evening, the party reached a small sod dugout, a sort of log cabin built into a ditch that had also been provisioned with a small wood stove. This would be their home base for the remainder of the expedition. “You go out every day and get up high and ‘glass’ with binoculars and spotting scopes, looking for animals,” Campbell says. “We saw some 150 markhor, including females and very young ones. When you’re trophy hunting you’re looking for a very old male.” For Campbell, it took only two more days to find what he was looking for. After settling on a suitable target, he fired off a shot, and missed. Later, he spotted another prize, an older male grazing alone — which indicated the animal had been kicked out of his herd and was no longer part of the breeding pool. Campbell took his second shot, from 343 yards. “It was a beautiful animal in a beautiful setting,” he says of the approximately nine-year-old male. “It was the most exciting hunt of my life.” A South African hunter called Isaac (not his real name), who bagged a markhor in the M-Sayod conservancy two years earlier, tells a similar tale. “It’s a matter of walking, climbing, and spotting,” he said. After selecting a target, he begins the long process of “stalking that particular animal to try and get within reasonable range. It’s very difficult to get close to these animals. They are the king of the mountain,” he told me. Isaac’s take is somewhat more thoughtful than Campbell’s. “You’re faced with sadness and joy,” he explains. “Joy that you achieved what you did, but there’s a sadness associated with it. It’s a very emotional time when you look at an animal you’ve just killed.” After Campbell’s successful shot, a ranger escorted him back to camp to rest while the remaining nine set about retrieving the carcass, which had fallen down a particularly treacherous slope. Once he could better examine his prize, Campbell discovered some
buckshot in one of the animal’s hind legs, evidence that some locals had tried, and failed, to kill the animal for meat years before. The markhor’s misshapen hooves also revealed a prior case of foot-and-mouth disease, likely transmitted by domestic animals grazing nearby. “These are common problems faced by conservationists in developing countries,” Campbell said. As they warmed up in the adobe cabin, one Alaskan and 10 Tajik hunters feasted upon markhor kabobs. The remainder of the meat went to feed people in the nearby community — first the concession’s rangers and their families, and then others in the village. In addition to the massive sum Campbell paid for his adventure, he tipped each of his hunting guides $200, an amount greater than the average monthly wage in Tajikistan.
It isn’t enough to simply use hunting revenue to build a hospital or a school, or to set up a scholarship for gifted students. People need to understand the direct link between wildlife conservation and these benefits. For better or worse, conservation often comes down to cold, hard cash, which is why a common refrain is that shooting animals with cameras is a preferable alternative to shooting them with bullets. Even photographic tourists spend a considerable amount of money while on vacation — and it’s the gift that keeps giving. But with prime markhor habitat along Tajikistan’s southern border sitting literally rock-throwing distance from Afghanistan, this is not a place most tourists are willing to take their holidays — despite the stunning landscapes and the friendly, welcoming people. The terrain is difficult, the weather is extreme, and the air is thin. Traditional tourism infrastructure is non-existent. There isn’t a fancy hotel or lodge in sight, to say nothing of indoor plumbing or, in some areas, electricity. To find a restaurant means driving at least a few hours and, in the winter, risking getting caught in an avalanche.
Wealthy hunters just might be the best hope for the survival of these imperiled wild animals, given the harsh realities of life in these parts.
*** I asked Campbell about the furor kicked off by the American dentist Walter Palmer when he shot an African lion nicknamed Cecil just outside of Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park in July 2015. In the weeks following the botched lion hunt that became international news, Palmer was forced to contend with threats against his life, his family, and his business. “I feel sorry for him,” Campbell said. “I think that the people who lynched him [online] don’t realize how much he has done for conservation.” Campbell knows Palmer socially. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Walt spends $250,000 to $500,000 a year hunting. And the people who are lynching him donate 25 bucks to the Sierra Club. Who’s done more for conservation? There’s no comparison.” But it’s not only about economics for the rural Tajik communities. Modern trophy hunting is also seen as a means of encouraging a return to an older, more sustainable relationship between people and wildlife. “During older times, hunting supported an entire village,” Munavvar Alidodov, a Panthera field biologist and also a member of Tajikistan’s Yoquti Darshay ibex hunting conservancy, told me. “There were rigid rules: Do not shoot a pregnant female; do not shoot during the rut; only target older males.” But when modern weapons were introduced, he explained, suddenly anybody — not just a skilled hunter — could easily kill a large, wild animal. The old cultural guidelines were quickly forgotten. “These community-based organizations are trying to recreate traditional hunting ethics,” he said. They are simply taking advantage of a somewhat more modern tool — affluent foreigners — to do so. Campbell is busy planning his next community-based trophy hunt in Tajikistan. He’s eyeing the Marco Polo sheep, a hunt he’ll attempt on the even tougher, higher, and more remote Pamir Plateau. “I feel good about it in my heart because I feel like I’m promoting really effective conservation.” He’ll spend around $40,000 to add the sheep to his collection. ★ This story was originally published on bioGraphic.com, a digital magazine about science and sustainability. FALL 2017 HUNTER'S HORN 89
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