I believe in conservation through hunting, and certainly have no objections to your having done so . . . but my $$$ are too tight for me to voluntarily take a nontrophy tuskless elephant.
I've been reading a lot about how grim things are getting over there in Zimbabwe - food and gas shortages, hostility toward white people, etc. . . did you encounter any of this?
And in view of the problems in Mugabestan, are you confident your trophies will ship?
Hank,
All valid questions and comments. Thank you.
I can relate to the tight $$$ thing and taking of a tuskless. I really couldn't afford it either.
But the trophy fee is about the same as a buffalo bull. In the big picture it's not really all that cost prohibitive if you you one or the other...
The fuel shortage thing, yeah it's errie on the 1.5 hour charter flight into the concession I didn't see one vehicle on the roads not one tractor working a field and mile after mile of farm fields that have gone to weed and houses falling to disrepair. There are literally thousands of green houses that used to be hydrponic growing stations that are crumbling to the ground.
I did not find any hostility towards white people myself out in the bush the people are good simple hard working folks. Like everywhere. But there is definatley an air of forboding in the winds I think that big changes are going to happen soon in Zimbabwe. The educated and wealthy blacks are starting to get fed up with Mugabe and the people are starting to get hungry. Does this sound familiar? The formula for civil war is strong hopefully Mugabe will die soon and save the country lots of blood shed.
As far as trophy shipment I book for only the top outfitters in Zimbabwe. So far we haven't had any problems with shipments but if the SHTF over there well that's that, hopefully it won't happen.