Effective shot placement and optimal bullet performance.
“Every hunter should attempt to dispatch an animal, when it is required, in the most humane way possible. If the life of an animal is going to be ended it should be done in such a way to cause the least amount of suffering” This serves as a reminder of why most self-respecting hunters invest […]
The virtues of hunting
“Know what you’re talking about before you open your mouth!” That’s what I wanted to say to the nice man who I had been having a pleasant conversation with on the bus from long-term parking to the Dallas airport before he found out I was going on a hunting safari. “Well, I hope you don’t […]
The rise of the rising block
President Theodore Roosevelt said a man should “speak softly and carry a big stick.” If Bailey Bradshaw had been making rifles at the time, Ol’ Teddy wouldn’t have been talking about his famed Holland and Holland Royal Double in .500/450. It’s a practical guarantee he’d have been talking about one of the finest double rifle […]
A Career in Taxidermy: 5 things I wish I knew
A Career in Taxidermy: 5 things I wish I knew – Douglas Cockcroft It’s fair to say that over the past 25 years, there’s very little I would want to do differently. I’ve had an incredible career and a wonderful experience in this industry, and I truly can say that every morning I wake up, […]
The Connection between Safari Guide and Client
“The duties of a Professional Hunter on safari are essentially the same as those of a ship’s captain and with the same responsibilities. He’s everything from the social director to the ship’s surgeon, if needed. He’s the author of the strategy of the hunting plan, but also the tactician as to make each stalk. He […]
SCI regional shows: Great things in small packages – January 2025
They call it the “Super Bowl of hunting shows.” Safari Club International’s annual international convention not only comes with more than 1,000 vendors but more seminars and entertainment than you can shake a stick at. It’s a dream of many, myself included, to one day stroll the miles of aisles at the big SCI show, […]
Hunters’ Dollars Matter in South Africa – By Sonja Harmse – Muvhimi Buffalo Safaris – January 2025
With hunting season soon to be upon us, it is easy to forget that the seemingly simple act of booking a legal hunting safari, has a profound impact on essential wildlife management in South Africa. Moreover, it significantly influences the social landscape of our rural communities, where education levels are low, and jobs are scarce. […]
Elephants, Rigby and “Weaver tracks” – January 2025
It was late October and the Tanzanian tsetse flies were murder. The sweat was rolling down Jim Ellison’s face as he peered ahead through the swamp grass, ignoring the cigarette burn bite of another winged devil on his neck, eyes fixed on the three looming shapes ahead. Had his hearing not been battered to near […]
Hunter’s charity gets more than it gives
Alabama safari hunter Roger Patterson has lost track of how many times he’s been to Africa. “In excess of 25,” is his best guess when asked how many times the 56-year-old has hopped a plane for the “Dark Continent” in the last 20 years. Like so many hunters who find their way to the “motherland,” […]
Humbly hunting in Africa
Thanksgiving just passed for us here in the states and I have to say it is my favorite holiday, as my midsection can attest. For our African friends, Thanksgiving is a day we all (hopefully) gather with loved ones, overeat, watch football and then sleep off the turkey blues until early Black Friday when we […]