Ever since he was a youngster in short britches, Larry Weishuhn, a wildlife biologist and outdoor writer, had always dreamed of going on safari. When he first learned to read, a friend of his family gave him a copy of J. A Hunter’s books and that was him hooked. Going into high school Hemingway’s books were on the required reading list and this Larry considered somewhat of a sign. In this blog Larry tells us of his excitement for venturing off to Africa and what preparations are required.
During my early writing years working as wildlife biologist, I got several invitations to go hunting in Africa but after phoning my editors explaining my desire to accept an invitation to hunt kudu or other exotic critters across the whale pond, their response was always the same, “That’s great Mr. Whitetail, now what specifically are you going to be writing about deer for us? Our readers are not interested in Africa, but they do love whitetail.” So as much as my heart sank, I wasn’t my time yet.
Even if the publications I was writing for at the time did not have readers who cared about hunting the dark continent, I decided I had to go. So with bags packed, Kim Hicks, Jay Novacek (the former Dallas Cowboy) and I, as well as being great friends and partners in Texas Hunting Directory, headed off to hunt the eastern part of South Africa and had a blast.
I lamented having not gone sooner, the flight home was a long one, but all the way back to Texas I dreamed and schemed about how I could get back as soon as possible.
Since that time I’ve gone on safari in Africa quite a few times, sometimes twice a year. I am not much on numbers, I can’t remember how many times I have hunted in Africa but as to countries, I have hunted South Africa a couple of times, Zimbabwe, Benin, Burkina Faso, Uganda and Namibia many times.
Namibia has become somewhat of a home away from home, particularly hunting with Corne Kruger’s Omujeve Safaris. I have been in their camp when members of the Omujeve Safaris Professional Hunters family proposed, had weddings, children born and of course numerous birthdays. I’ve celebrated the latter a couple of times with my adopted Omujeve Safaris family as well.
Later this summer I’ll be headed back to Namibia to hunt on a couple of Omujeve’s concessions, specifically the Waterburg plateau for eland, where I’ve never hunted before and then on to the Namib desert for springbok and gemsbok.
Several years ago before I started hunting with Corne’s outfit, I hunted the Namib desert with Fred Burchell. I hunted Namibia numerous times with Fred before moving over to Omujeve. The Namib desert was and probably still is one of the most remote areas of Africa, also one of the least populated by humans. I can hardly wait to get back.
Preparations for my trip started several weeks ago at the DSC Convention where I met with Corne and set-up hunt dates. With dates secured I contacted Steve Turner from Travel with Guns to book flights, as well as a hotel on site at Joberg airport for the night of arrival and make arrangements with their “gun people” who will meet me at the airport to help me clear my rifle through customs, and then again when I leave the next morning for a flight from Joberg to Windhoek. I’ve got a letter of invitation from Corne and the appropriate paperwork I need to get my rifle into Namibia.
From working with Travel with Guns, I knew I needed a Form 4457 from the local Customs office, and notarized copies of that 4457. I doubled checked all my hand-written forms were legible (I have very poor handwriting) and sent them to Travel with Guns to do their magic, as well as making two copies of each, just in case.
Long before my scheduled departure, I check that I have several extra, “open” pages in my passport and that it was completely up to date. I also made a couple of color copies of my passport and copied my Global Rescue card, with the original carefully stored in my wallet.
My choice in firearms for this trip was a new Ruger Guide rifle in 375 Ruger. I love the shorter barrel (which in no way has an effect on accuracy) because of the ease of handling. I pop on a sling for while hunting plains game but when hunting dangerous game, I remove the sling, so it can’t get hung up on anything should I need to bring it up to shoulder quickly.
My Ruger 375 loves Hornady 300 gr DGX (expandable) and 300 gr DGS (solid) ammo. On all my Ruger rifles I put a Hornady Cheek Piece where I can carry extra ammo and my gun permit inside the pouch. The Cheek Piece can be set up so it perfectly aligns your eye to the sights, in my instance a variable scope. I’ve got about two months left before I leave, so at this time the jury is still out on exactly which scope I’ll use. I’ll spend some time at the FTW Ranch on their SAAM ranges before I make a final decision.
Most of my Ruger larger caliber rifles are sighted in at either 50 or 75 yards. This one I’ll likely sight in at 75 yards since I may be shooting out to 200 or so. Sighted in at 75 yards I should easily be within the vitals of most all African plains game out to 150 to 175 yards without hold over. When heading to the Namib desert, which is where I will hunt by tracking eland on the Waterburg, I very well may sight-in at 100 yards before hunting gemsbok or springbok. Rumor has it some of the longest-horned specimens of these two species are found here.
I always carry binoculars in Africa because I love spying. But once the animal is spotted and the stalk is on, for the most part I do not use my binos, I leave that up to the PH. Too often I’ve seen hunters looking through their binoculars at the point they should be looking through their scope. My favorites are the 10x42s, rather than carrying them hanging around my neck, I hang them so they are under my left arm, out of the way in case I need to quickly shoulder my rifle.
Regardless of where I hunt I use shooting stick rests and I will again be doing so. This time I plan on using one of Vanguard’s sticks. The sticks will fit handily in my Boyt double rifle case, along with my rifle which I’ll have in a Boyt soft case. Regardless of where I go, I put my rifle in my Boyt soft case before putting it a TSA-approved hard, lockable case. Some places I travel require the rifle to be encased when traveling in the field. Equally important to me is the soft case protects my rifle when I’m in a vehicle or a boat.
A couple of years ago I started wearing a cartridge belt when hunting in Africa, made for me by Chris McClean from Houston. With the belt I have quick and ready access to additional rounds when I need them. To make the individual rounds easier and quicker to be pulled I leave a space between each of the rounds, as I wear leather gloves nearly all the time when hunting. Such round arrangement makes them much quicker and more easily accessible.
For years I’ve worn tall leather boots. About a year ago I started wearing Kenetrek boots because I love how comfortable they are and I also generally wear gaiters to protect my lower legs from thorns. When hunting in “snake country” I switch my gaiters for snake leggings. Thankfully when I will be in Africa it will be their winter time and most snakes will have crawled into a den, or at best be sluggish because the cooler weather.
I’ll be in southern Africa during their winter time. In the past I’ve been there when it snowed and there was ice. I’m taking over a couple of cool weather jackets made by Drake Waterfowl. Pre-dawn temperatures can be cold but then it usually warms up to shirt sleeve weather. I’m taking over two changes of pants and shirts, plus what I’ll wear on the plane, three pairs of underwear and socks, beyond those I’ll wear while traveling. A daily laundry service allows me to do so.
Something I’ll take with me to keep in my backpack once I get to Africa, will include sun screen. Most days are bright and sunny and even though it is going to be cool there could still be some pesky insects. As a precaution, before leaving I’ll treat my jackets, hunting vest, shirts and pants with Passport Health’s Clothing Insect Repellent, this treatment lasts numerous washings. It indeed repels ticks and mosquitoes, incidentally it does the same with chiggers.
I’ll also take some laminated taxidermy tags with me, that have my name and contact information on them as well as The Wildlife Gallery address and information where to ship, so the Wildlife Gallery can do their taxidermy magic. I take three to four tags for each of the animals I intend to take while in Africa, but then a small handful of extras in case I find something not on my plan I really need!
Even though I have a couple of grand hunts before heading back to Africa, I’m counting the days until I leave.
Photo credit: Larry Weishuhn Outdoors