why I love Africa

[billrquimby]

If you want to raise the hair on the back of your neck, check this out:

 

 

http://forums.accuratereloading.com/groupe...043/m/310102644

 

 

BillQ

[Rembrant]

Quite a story, Bill!

Had a mortally wounded bull elk (that my buddy just arrowed) crashing through junipers and charging directly at me until he veered off course at only ten yards. I could see the whites of his eyes, and no doubt he could see mine too - wide with surprise and the instant fear that comes with helplessness. Not quite the same as an animal that is purposely trying to kill you!

I have read Capstick's, "Death in the Tall Grass", that I am sure you are familiar with, Bill. Every chapter a collection of stories of mortal encounters with Africa's various dangerous animals; elephants, buffalo, crocks, and the cat stories are especially frightening - lions taking people from their tents as they sleep?!!!

So far I am content with just reading about Africa.

Mike

[peloncillo]

Great story. the ph really knew what he was doing.

 

Keven

[jamaro]

I WANT TO GO TO AFRICA SOOO BAAADDDD... I mgiht end up going solo next year...

jason

[billrquimby]

"I have read Capstick's, "Death in the Tall Grass", that I am sure you are familiar with, Bill. Every chapter a collection of stories of mortal encounters with Africa's various dangerous animals; elephants, buffalo, crocks, and the cat stories are especially frightening - lions taking people from their tents as they sleep?!!!"

 

 

 

Yes, I'm familiar with Capstick's books. He was a friend, and he was quite a guy.

 

He was born to a family of means in New Jersey, and worked briefly as a stock broker on Wall Street after graduation from college. He then became a jaguar guide in Brazil before moving on to Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) to become a professional hunter, and eventually an outdoor writer and author living in South Africa. His early death shocked a lot of us.

 

Although Peter has been accused of gross exaggeration, he was the real thing -- and man could he write! His style is unmatched.

 

I was deeply honored when his widow, Fiona, presented me the 2003 Peter Hathaway Capstick Literary Award for the books I've been writing about and for noted international big game hunters.

 

BillQ

[Chef]

Great read!

 

Thanks!

[DEERSLAM]

WOW

Great story!

[Tucson John]

Bill, I had no idea that we lost Capstick. I have read everything he ever wrote I think, the latest being "Return to Silent Places". Nobody (except maybe you Bill) IMHO wrote as REAL as Peter, he could really make you feel like you were there. If you guys havn't read Capstick I would stronly suggest you check it out.

 

TJ

[billrquimby]

Bill, I had no idea that we lost Capstick. I have read everything he ever wrote I think, the latest being "Return to Silent Places". Nobody (except maybe you Bill) IMHO wrote as REAL as Peter, he could really make you feel like you were there. If you guys havn't read Capstick I would stronly suggest you check it out.

 

TJ

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I've forgotten, but I think he died in 1996 or 1997. He was scheduled to speak at the SCI convention, but had a heart complication that put him in a Reno hospital that night. His wife, Fiona, also an author and a great speaker, did his speech then flew him back to South Africa, where he died after heart surgery. I spent only a few minutes with him at the convention that year.

 

BillQ

[firstcoueswas80]

SCREW THAT!!!! dont get me wrong, when i am worth about 10-20 million, i would LOVE to go lion hunting but man thats scary! i just ordered death in the long grass and am awaitng its arrival!

 

 

 

Bill, i would love to hear the story of your beautiful lion!

[billrquimby]

Bill, i would love to hear the story of your beautiful lion!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I've written about the hunt in magazines and a couple of books, but a quickie version goes like this: C.J. McElroy, the founder of SCI, had a booking agency and asked me to accompany him to Zambia to check out an outfitter's facilities in 1994 and write about what we found. There was no way I could refuse.

 

I shot a zebra the first afternoon we reached our camp in a concession called Mumbwa, just outside Kafue National Park. After the zebra was skinned the outfitter had the carcass hung legs up where we had found lion tracks.

 

He then had his men clear a two-foot wide path for at least a quarter of a mile and mark it with pieces of toilet paper so that we could follow the path in the dark. They removed every stick and leaf that we might step on. They also built a blind (a flat screen of long grass) just twenty yards from the bait tree and set up shooting sticks for my rifle. I am 6 foot 4, but I could just touch the zebra by standing on my toes. Before we left they covered the zebra carcass with brush so vultures would not find it.

 

When we reached the start of the path in the dark we could hear lions roaring and fighting over our bait. Walking in the dark with me was the outfitter with a .458, and a black man with an axe. I had a .416 Weatherby Magnum on loan from the factory. Each step took us closer to the roaring. It still was dark when we got into the blind to find the cats had knocked down the shooting sticks. As black began turning to gray I could see a lioness stand on her rear legs and jerk off a two-foot length of backstrap from the zebra. She then walked toward us and plopped down just a foot or so from where we were standing behind the grass wall.

 

A short time later I could barely see this big lion walk up. Visibility was very poor, and (as I learned) the scope the Weatherby people put on my rifle did not gather much light. The outfitter had told me lions would leave the bait at first light, and I was excited about being so close to those big cats. I quickly found what I thought was the male in the scope and ... shot a bush! I cannot describe how awful and dumb I felt.

 

As we headed back to the truck we found lion tracks in our blind and on the trail.

 

I was doubtful when the outfitter said the lions might return to the bait that afternoon but he knew what he was talking about. The sun had been down only five minutes or so when the lioness walked up and began chewing on the meat I'd scared her off that morning. Right after that the big guy showed up and I shot it. It was all that six of us could do to load it into the truck. We had no scales but the men estimated that it weighed more than 500 pounds. Could be, but for sure, it was a very big lion.

 

Over the next 20 days I shot waterbuck, bushbuck, hartebeest, oribi, reedbuck, grysbok, warthog, impala and I've forgotten what else. It was my most memorable safari, and the lion is my finest trophy from Africa.

 

Any hunter who says he has never missed an easy shot is a liar, but why do my misses always happen when other people are watching? And why are my best shots always made when I'm alone?

[COOSEFAN]

Awesome story! I would be FREAKIN' OUT, It's dark and your'e only 20 yards and less from feeding lions!!!!!! AFRICAN LIONS that are in fight mode over their feast! WOW! JIM

[billrquimby]

Awesome story!  I would be FREAKIN' OUT,  It's dark and your'e only 20 yards and less from feeding lions!!!!!!  AFRICAN LIONS that are in fight mode over their feast!  WOW!      JIM

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

I wasn't as brave as my brief little tale made me seem. All that roaring ahead of us in the pre-dawn was downright spooky. My Adam's apple was so high up my throat I was gulping air as we approached that bait.

 

Later, when I asked the outfitter why he didn't have our tracker carry a gun, I learned that a man with an axe was better equipped to fend off a big cat that wants to argue.

 

My lawyer friend who has been buying up northeastern Botswana has me beat, though. He shot his lion on foot with a single arrow! There is no way I would try that, even with a .600 for a backup. Lions and elephants scare me greatly.

 

BillQ

 

 

 

[stanley]

VERY, VERY, VERY, awesome!!! I love those kinds of stories!!! These are the kinds of stories I LOVED as a boy, and that my young children are just now starting to appreciate.

 

Great job.

 

S.