it is strange how things change in my life, sometimes
for the good and sometimes not, but always memorable. This time last year after I had decided to drop out of the HHC (after 14 years of hunting with a lot of special friends) and let Alcorn take over and I am sure he will do a good job. I decided to look around and maybe find a special hunt here in the states for something I have never hunted before. Then I get a call from John Abraham my close friend and African PH since my first African hunt in 1992. It seems he has a new concession that has just opened and is loaded with monster Cape Buffalo. Well hell. I can't turn that down. So one more hunt in Africa before I hang up my guns. I did that hunt in Africa this past April. It was memorable to say the least as all my guns, gear and clothes were stolen in Qatar on the flight to Africa. So I decided to get by with some help from my friends (Damn, sounds like a Joe Cocker song). I borrowed clothes guns and ammo from friends took a monster Cape Buffalo with a piss ant 454 that I borrowed from Michael Mendes.
After coming home I said that's it. I am officially retiring from handgun hunting. As soon as that thought crossed my mind, I said bullshit. There has to be someplace I haven't been or some big critter I haven't hunted. Or some country I haven't been thrown out of. Then along comes John Abraham again, my very good friend with an offer I can't refuse. He has a lion hunt, that would normally be out of my price range at around $80,000 but now is available for $12,000, everything included. I can't refuse this, plus I get to build 3 more new guns for this hunt after mine were stolen in Qatar. Personally I hope the raghead that stole them puts a round in my 450 GNR and pulls the trigger.
So now, good Lord willing and my health holds out there is a big black maned lion sitting under a tree in Africa just waiting for me. He is probably old, cranky, pissed off at the world and all the young stud lions and wanting just one more chance to have a hunter for lunch and show the young stud lions that he is still King of the Jungle. So come the last week in September, good Lord willing, he and I will have a little get together, and maybe this time one of us will retire for good.
Or at least until John Abraham comes up with another hunt I just can't refuse.