"REACHING OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS THROUGH OUR NETWORK OF OVER 350 WEB SITES"
Kill Or Be Killed
May 24 2007
| Written By - Charlie Goldenberg - 05/24/2007 | |
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Link to Original Article here |
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During the past 30 years of taking many ferocious animals in many different situations, one thought was constant in my mind, "Will all Hell break loose and everything nearby be shredded to pieces, or will this monster beast just drop quietly in its tracks?"
Dangerous game hunters seek the ultimate of challenge and sometimes that challenge is staying alive long enough to effectively respond to unanticipated close encounters.
I clearly recall once picking my way through cold, wet, thick alders and suddenly being face to face with an almost 11-foot Kodiak bear. There was a time crawling through Ethiopia\'\'\'\'s almost impenetrable hot, muggy, bug-infested thickets and peeking upwards to see an elephant\'\'\'\'s ivory hovering slightly above my head. I remember staring into the eyes of an angry lion that instantly appeared behind the blind rather than from the front.
There was also the time belly crawling with my teenage son through open low grass into the middle of a herd of sleeping Cape buffalo that eventually winded us and then instantly challenged us with a frightening head-on charge. In all those experiences, there was no place to run, no place to hide.
Today, most hunters practice to consistently hit distant tiny paper targets with their super-magnums, custom designed bullets and special optics.
Unfortunately, too many don\'\'\'\'t develop "hunter skills" and will miss simple shots afield. In order to develop field accuracy, shooting practice should incorporate reenactments of field conditions. Dangerous game hunter training should combine smooth gun handling and maximize shooting speed with the right balance of aiming composure.
Once rifle accuracy is determined, then most shooting should be off-hand or resting against trees, and even swing-shooting at fast-rolling cardboard center tires at varying distances. Practice fast and properly aimed follow-up shots for group accuracy. Because I have done a tremendous amount of shooting (45-plus years of extensive hunting and practicing), almost all of my many North American and Big-Five African Dangerous Game trophies were taken with just one shot.
Beginning in my sub-teens and throughout my twenties, I successfully hunted North America\'\'\'\'s challenges – scores of its largest hoofed animals, many sheep and goats, plus some monster bears, too. Then when 30, I wanted even more challenge, so my first African venture was a Big Four safari. I\'\'\'\'ve returned every year since – multiple times many years. Because shooting and hunting have always been my passion, it became natural for me to help and counsel others who seek the adventure that I love so very much. I\'\'\'\'m fortunate in having developed my experience hunting so many types of animals in so many countries and regions into a premier business.
Having a great safari isn\'\'\'\'t like selecting lunch off of a sushi menu. When dangerous game is on your mind, first find the best expert who knows the best options for your safari. Make sure that specialist is full time and has lots of personal field experience. It\'\'\'\'s important to make sure your expert has extensive and updated knowledge of the most productive combinations of best areas, optimum times, and most experienced professionals who specialize in hunting your specific species.
Finally, choose an experienced expert when hunting dangerous game because there\'\'\'\'s much more at risk than your money and time.
