Kilimanjaro

1gotaway, I have a 10" fabtech lift on my F350.. Got it at Super Duty Headquaters in the Phoenix area.. can't go wrong with them..

get her ready and we'll take the mutts and find a few coveys of Mearns!! I remember you saying that your buddy had a good set of Vislas.

didn't see any, but heard a couple of males "hootin" at the lower parts of the mountain in the thick stuff.. We had a good time and dodged a few monsoons and got to the top of the hill!! Highest peak in AZ baby!!

Doug, we're pulling out of Tucson within the hour and headed to the high country. I'll fill ya in on how the hike goes! Hopefully, by tomorrow, I will have stood on the highest peak that AZ has to offer!!!

I was 50 yards from the U.S? Mexico fenceline way up in the hills.... I don't think they would have made it down in time!!

very cool!! You're almost there!!! One question, is Mt Humphrys open to hike?? We were thinking of making the trip up there tomorrow and doing the hike on Sat morn.. i wasn't sure with all of the recent closures and such.. Let me know!

happy birthday Casey..

Just took this one while having a sun-downer after hunting while in South Africa. I was trying out some diff setting on the camera. A little dark, but still OK...

i am always on it mesin' around!! Very cool what you can look at these days on the internet..

Just got back today and couldn't wait to share our trip with everyone!! Area hunted: Messina and Hoedspruit areas, Limpopo Province, South Africa Spear Safaris: Spear Safaris Professional Hunter: Koos Moulder Dates: June 28th thru July 8th Firearm and Ammo Used: Hill Country Custom Rifle in .300 RUM with Safari Grade Remington Ammo with 200 grain Swift A Frame bullets. Animals hunted but not taken: Grey Duiker and baboon. Travel Arangements: We used Desinations Southern Africa for our airfare arangements. Day 1: We fly out of Tucson and make the quick jump over to Phoenix. From there, we make the flight into Washington DC. We round up the baggage and jump on the the shuttle to our room. Eat some good dinner, have a few drinks and call it a night. Days 2 and 3: We get to the airport and get on the South African Air 747 and start the big pond jump to Joburg. Along the way in the airport, TSA agents were friendly and had no problems with the rifle. Security check took no more then 15 minutes from beginning to end. No problems on the flight, other than the knee room ( I'm 6' 3"), service was pretty good, the quick fuel stop in Dakar, Senegal was less then 40 minutes. Arrival in South Africa- took about 5 minutes to clear thru customs where we then headed off to the new SAPS office. I was one of the first one?s there and one of the first rifles to come off the plane. I already had all of my paperwork done and processed in less then 20 minutes to get the permit. As long as your paperwork was in order things went well. After getting thru all the hassle, we got over to the domestic terminal and got checked in for our flight over to Peitersburg. We got all that taken care of and had a good steak from Spur Restaurant. If you haven't tried a Spur steak, you don't know what you're missin! Caught our flight into Peitersburg and was met by our PH for the hunt. We all hit it off and in minutes, were on our way up the road to the Messina area to hunt Kudu and warthog for a couple of days. Day 4: It was cold and rainy!! I couldn't believe it. I had promised my new wife that the winter weather in SA is perfect, but I was proven wrong on this day. It rained and dizzled on us all day long. But we were still seeing plenty of animals. Finally, at around 3 PM, the waether started to break and the Kudu began coming out of the wood work and into the open areas to dry out. At around 3:45, we found a group of 4 bulls that had a tremendous bull in the bunch. We off loaded from the truck and got to within 125 yrds of them and I got ready on the sticks.. took a quartering away at the big bull and felt really good about it. But when we walked up to the area, the trackers began laughing and pointed to a 1 inch limb that was cleanly killed with one shot!! At least it was a clean miss! We decided to try an area of the concession that was thicker but held lots of Kudu. We made our way over there and began seeing Kudu everywhere.. And eventually, we saw the right one. Long story short, I made a 100 yrd shot off the sticks and redeemed myself with a great first Kudu bull! He ended up measuring almost 56" on the long side and 54 1/2 on the short. And I couldn't be happier with him! After the hunt, we went to the house of the consession manager and had a few beers and got to play with their pet Klipspringer!! She was a handful to say the least! She really liked my wife, but everytime I got close, the thing would charge me! My wife with the Klipie.. And the damned thing charging me!! Note the blurriness!! Day 5: The weather is now picture perfect and we hunt for a big warthog all day but without success. Saw alot of pigs, but no shooters. We did see a monster bushbuck that had my trigger finger itchin' though! After the hunt, we made the 3 hr drive to our main concession near Hoedspruit, right near Kruger Park. Day 6: Today was the day that I have been waiting for since I can remember. I was going to get the chance to harvest a mature, black bull giraffe. The area was absolutely loaded with giraffe and it was just a matter of finding a bull that was dark enough. After a few hours, we finally found the right bull standing in a dry river bed alone. My PH and I got out of the Cruiser and put the sneak on him and our cover was blown by 3 waterbuck cows. The giraffe then ran out into an open area and spotted us instantly. He was about 75 yrds away and broadside and about to run when I put the rifle on the sticks and said those magical words.. " I'm gonna take him.." I hit him squarely in the shoulder on the first shot and he took off like it was a mosquito bite. We ran for all we were worth and caught him out in the open running full tilt. Sencond shot was quartering away, and hit him high in the shoulder. This one hurt him. He really slowed down and began to falter. And before he fell, I put another one into his backside right above the tail. This one crumbled him. And just like that, I had my trophy! And he was everything I could have asked for and then some. He will have a special place in my hunting memories.. And here he is... paying my respects... And a pretty intresting pic I took. In only a matter of minutes after the bull was down, the vultures began circling us.. I was amazing how fast they came to the kill site. And how many came so quickly.. Needless to say, the rest of this day was spent tending to the giraffe. To say that they are a big job is an understatement!! Day 7: We started the hunt again for warthog, Impala and a zebra if we could find any of the 3. There were literally hundreds of good impala rams on the property. I was just a matter of picking out a nice mature ram that you liked. And this worked out perfect for my still novice hunter wife.. We found a good ram and she really liked him. She got a good rest and make the 50 yrd shot with no problems. Dropped her first African animal with the first shot! A really good Impala ram was now hers.. She is now 4 for 4 on one shot kills on her animals she's harvested.. Here she is with our PH and our tracker, James posing with her 22 inch ram.. We hunted for the rest of the afternoon, but no shots were taken the rest of this day on my end. Day 8: Pretty much the same as the day before, but this time it was me that found a decent Impala the was mature. And my wife beat me! and believe me, she did not forget to rub it in that her Impala was bigger! But hey, you gotta let 'em win every now and again! But my ram was plenty good for me. Here he is.. a hair over 20".. After we loaded him up, we stumbled into a herd of over 200 Cape Buffalo in an open area near a waterhole.. We were busy taking pics of the buff when we finally noticed the decent warthog boar in amongst them. Considering he was the best seen so far on the trip, and the fact that I had to put my crosshairs over some great Cape Buff bulls to get to him, I decided he was good enough and that it was a unique opportunity to take a warthog.. Here are a couple of pics of the Buff herd before seeing the hog.. the big boys.. And my piggie that thought he was a " Dugga Boy'!! Day 9: The last animal on my wish list was another zebra.. I had already taken one on a previous trip, but I wanted another to do a ped. mount with. We hunted all day and saw 0 zebra. Lots of sign, but no luck seeing any. Day 10: Hunted all day AGAIN and saw only one herd right at dark.. And what do I do.. I miss a slam dunk shot at 100 yrds. No limbs to blame it on this time.. Just a good 'ol fashioned miss..I felt like an butt. But hey, its hunting... Day 11: It the last day of hunting and we get up with the mission of finding a zebra. And luckily we accompished that feat.. At around 9 in the morning, we finally found a good herd of them near a watering hole. And I made the shot count this time and was rewarded with another striped donkey.. they are alot of fun to hunt over there.. The next few days we did a couple of game drives and took lots of pics of all the critters.. we saw 4 of the big 5 (didn't see a leopard), hippo, giraffe, and just about every type of plains game that are in the area.. Nyala, impala, warthog, bushpig, blue wildebeast, kudu, duiker, monkeys, baboons, etc.. here is a pic of one of the male lions we saw out of the 2 prides that live on the concession we did the game drives on.. We also did a tour of a wildlife rehab center. It was quite educating on the local wildlife, with the raptors in particular. Very cool to see all of the animals up close and personal. And we did a couple of days of just shopping around and haggling with the natives for the best prices on gifts to bring back.. All in all, we had a wonderful time on our honeymoon. We had a great time hunting and relaxing in the South African velt. I was so happy that she enjoyed Africa as much as I do. She is already thinking of our next trip over there!! I feel like the luckiest guy in the world right now!!

Thank you very much guys.. I was a wonderful trip and I am already thinking of ways to get back over there for a 4th time!! Hopefully next year if all works out. Again, thanks for all your kind words.. Doug, I just don't think I have the room for a Lifesize Giraffe bull right now!! But he is going to be a Ped. Mount! Casy, the Swift bullets worked out great. All one shot kills, except the giraffe of course.. Give me a shout and I'll fill ya in. Coosesfan, Trust me, those Swaros had the covers on them. You can bet that I checked that first!! Again, thanks guys and hope you enjoy the pics.. Africa is such a wonderful place and I hope all of you get the chance to expirence it at least once. Its alot more affordable than you might think! Let me know if I can be of any assistance to anybody who would like some info.. Here are a few more pics for all of you to enjoy. The property I hunted was covered in Cape Buff. And we saw more than a few "big Boyz".. Enjoy and thanks for lookin'.. Here's a good "up and comer".. He'll be a big boy in a few years.. And here's his daddy!! A decent waterbuck we saw.. Narrow, but still a shooter in my book.. And just a pic of one of the young male lions we saw. I thought this pic came out nice and just wanted to show ya'll this one.. And one of another big male with a buddy of his.. And a few Rhino bulls we found while we were warthog hunting..

eyeguards, that is one of the best pranks I've heard of!! I would have paid money to see that one!! Freakin fantastic!

In a little over 24 hrs, my new wife and I will be on a plane bound for 2 weeks in South Africa!! We have been planning this honeymoon for over a year now and it has finally got here. Everything is ready to go..We are all packed up, all the gun permits and other paperwork is in order, and we are ready to do some serious flying! Its a LONG trip over there. We fly out of Tucson on to Phoenix and then on to Washington DC to overnight. Then we board the big plane and fly all the way to the country of Senegal in west Africa to refuel the jet and then keep an truckin till we get to Johannesburg. Its a 17 hr flight. And then from there we have another 1 hr plane ride to Hoedspruit.. Not fun when you're fired up and ready to get there and start hunting and seeing Africa again after a long absence.. We will be hunting for 7 days ...The property I will be hunting neighbors the Kruger National Park and is over 35,000 acres in size. Should be big enough to find some good plains game!! Maybe a day or so of bird hunting thrown in there as well.. Then we are going to do alot of sight seeing and photo safari hunting with cameras for a few days days in Kruger. After that, we are going to just do some little sight seeing around the local towns and do some shopping and such. Should be the times of our lives.. This will be my third time to SA and I always told her that I would take her as soon as I could. I know she is going to fall in love with Africa as much as I did the first time I went.. I got the memory cards ready and lots of film for the cameras, so be ready to see alot of pics when we get back in a few weeks!! Wish us luck!!!

Thanks guys.. we are off in the morn!! We will catch up with all of ya'll in a couple of weeks..

Oh crap Doug, that is our grouse hunting grounds!! And I was planning on doing another trip up there this Sept. Lets hope all those grouse don't high tail it to Utah!!

No hits for us yet.. We only put in for the unit 29 muzzleloader pronghorn hunt though.. And its a hard one to draw.

I just put in for deer this year and put in for bonus points for elk, sheep, and pronghorn.. gonna be strapped for time off after the Africa trip and then on top of that, I have to be in a wedding in Mexico City on Nov 3rd (thats another week off) and I would have to jump off a cliff if in the unlikely event that I drew an elk rut rifle hunt or a sheep hunt with no time off to take full advantage of it! With that said, we are banking on just being able to hunt cola blancas for a few days in Nov!! Our deer plans are.. 1. Dec. 36c 2. Nov. 36c 3. Nov 33

In September, I'd RATHER be sitting at a water hole with my scattergun and my pooches than sitting in some sweltering heck hole of a blind waiting for some scrawny, thirsty coues buck to come in.. I'll wait till it cools off before I start thinking deer hunting.. Sept is dove hunting, not deer hunting!!

Man, I thought I was bad but you win this one hands down!! you got a bonafide problem on your hands there, sir!! looks like I see some old Capstick videos in the lower left hand corner.. those are classics. Nice collection!

nope.. don't really miss those nasty little turds... but they are only bad during the spring turkey season... but the moccsin comment is outta line!! Come on now, somebody from Az baggin on a Texan about snakes?? Az has more snakes than anywhere I've ever been! I see them ALL THE TIME out here! I think Az wins that battle hands down, even though we know both states have tons of them!!! BTW, I have never once paid a tresspass fee in my life either..anywhere... Like I said, Az is nice and I like it here, but these pics are of my HOME and there's no place like the Tx hill country anywhere else and I miss it like you wouldn't believe.....these are from last April when I went back turkey hunting... the bluebonnets where blooming pretty good.. Not knockin on Az at all, just wanted to share a few pics with any of ya'll who have never been to my home before..

While I do enjoy being here in AZ right now, it is most definately not my home.. I still miss the TX Hill Country very dearly and hope to God to be able to get back there ASAP.. that will always be my home to me.... but Az is a good place to call home for the time being. It would have to be my third choice state to live in behind Tx and then Mt.. I've been here since '03. I have liked Az since I was a kid when all the guys on my Dad's side of the family would load up and we would come out here to spend a week chasin' Mearns and Gambels around with the dogs. We would have a blast and I learned that I really liked the country down around Sonoita. It reminded me alot of home because of the oaks and grass without all the catus and cholla and such.. So, I decided to give it a try for a few years.. I figured I would have plenty of places to run the pups and get into a few Mearns coveys and get a chance or two at a big Coues buck while I'm out here.. The hunting is good here.. I have really enjoyed hunting the ocotillo thickets at first light way up in the hills, chasin' bears up near the rim, and bird hunting all over the whole state!! I just wish it wasn't so hard to get some of the tags here.. I would really like to hunt elk and maybe a good muley at least once before I leave.. I guess I'll just have to keep tryin' to pull one of those tags! Another thing I don't like so much is the weather here.. thats cuz there is none!! I miss RAIN! And cloudy days.. and foggy mornings.. and a dusting or two of snow in the winter and all that.. There is nothing but the unrelenting sun out here for months on end!! I miss seeing those wicked summer T-storms build up almost every evening that we get in our part of Tx during summer. The monsoons are great and they make the desert a beautiful place, but since I've been here its just been alot of fluff and puff with them with lightning and big dirt storms , but with little moisture in them. I miss the rain that comes with a storm! Az has alot to do if you enjoy the outdoors.. I have really enjoyed the hiking and climbing here, the snow skiing up in the White Mts ( when there is snow!), and the diversity of the geography here.. lots to do here!! So, while its not home to me, its sure not a bad place to rest the head while I'm away from home and I sure am glad to be where I am at the moment! It could have been a helluva lot worse for me!

Welp, it has come to that time in my life.. the bachelor in me has held on for as long as he could. I got away with putting it off for 9 yrs so far and I couldn't do it any longer!! I'm taking off in the morn to drive back to TX and getting married. The wedding has been in the works since Sept of last year..I'm scared outta my mind! But on the other hand, it should be a blast as well.. We have over 300 people coming to this shindig. Her Grandad helped build the church and her parents were married in it as well so we'll have the honor of keeping the tradition alive in her family.. But I guess it had to happen if I ever wanted the honeymoon to come along!! We are leaving on it on the 28th of June!!!! I cannot wait till that day rolls around.. Africa bound for 2 weeks and 21 days off from work! Anyways, wish me luck.. Hopefully, this is the first AND last wedding I ever have to be the groom in!! We'll let ya know how it went on Mon evening when I get back here to Tucson..

Thanks alot guys!! The wedding went great.. I was scared outta my wits, but all went smoothly. We had a busy weekend.. Golfing, drinking, fishing, drinking, wedding, drinking, water skiing, drinking... Am I seeing a pattern here?? All in all, we had a terrific weekend back home.. Again, thanks guys for all the encouraging words... Now, just 3 more weeks till the honeymoon!!

Gotta either say a High Altai Argali if I was headed to Asia on my greatest hunt or if I was headed to Africa, a 21 day open license hunt in Tanzania with the real classic tented African safari with all the good stuff on license... lion, leopard, elephant, buff, hippo, lesser kudu, gerenuk, Roberts gazelle, etc..

i agree with DEERSLAM.. I think they are crap that edges the average hunter out of the picture and gives the non-hunting pop. a bad image of the hunting community...Why not raffle them off. They would still raise a ton of money and at the same time, give EVERYONE a fair chance to win.. Those Govenor's and Commisioner's tags are a load of crap...