doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Africa story & photos

I have written up the story of the elephant hunting safari in Botswana I joined with my friend Michael in april 2008 and have slipped in a few photos.

A few people here said they'd like to read it so I have posted it on my website on the ARTICLES page. Sorry it is a bit long!

I did edit it down a bit and am still writing up a longer version of it for use somewhere sometime - maybe.

hi small bore

have you seen this?
http://doublesanddogs.com.p4.hostingprod.com/files/AGFD.pdf

might be a good place to publish your story.

Thanks RDD. I am in two minds about it as yet - you'll see that it is rough around the edges to say the least. It needs a lot more work before it is publishable. It may go into a book, or become a book.

A shortened and tidier version of it will likely appear in the DGJ in the Winter.

Good read and rendition of some classic thoughts regard game and man.

Well done Dig,enjoyed the article,perhaps
"Best animal to hunt hardest to pull the trigger on" sums it up well.
Dave K

Thanks you for sharing; I really enjoyed reading it. It sounds like a fabulous trip. I like that you tackle with intelligence and sensitivity what it is that drives hunters, what it is they feel about what they do, as well as the issues around african game hunting. I wonder if it's an indulgent, Western, capitalist, European thing to experience that bitter-sweet moment when the quarry is brought to bag?

Here is a Poem by Neil Murray, a local singer/song writer who has spent much time in central Australia with the traditional owners:

"Emu Hunter"

In the flat country between the dunes
Ginger Tjakamarra Studied the tracks of emu.
He knew their business,
two days before
he'd seen their tracks fresh that day
knew they were heading for water
that they'd return the same way
he'd waited
all day hiding
when they came
he shot three of them

Now his camp was hungry again so he's after more.

Squatting down on his haunches
he points out at the prints in the earth and explains:

"these two fella wednesday
this one today- early
these six fella my mob
won't be back for about fortnight
- they've lost three bloke"

"sorry camp" I suggested

"yuwa" he said "they a little bit sorry".

"you shot them"

"yuwa"

"you feel sorry for them?"

"wiya"

(Yuwa = yes, Wiya = no, nothing)

I agree, very poignant and willing to look without blinking at today's version of some of the same issues that have existed since the beginning of man's self expression w/petroglyphs .. concord with triumph.

Dig,
I enjoyed your story very much. So much, I failed to stop reading it this morn and prep for work. Fascinating!

Regards
Chuck

Hello Dig,

Great story. Entertaining and insightful.

JC

Dig,
Very readable story, I enjoyed it a lot.
Kind regards,
Jani