The Good And Bad News About Zambia

Long-time subscribers to The Hunting Report already know the southern African country of Zambia is a wonderful safari country, rich in lions, sable, roan, buffalo and lechwe, just to name a few of the more important animals on tap here. Its concessions are vast, its people friendly and at least some of its professional hunters absolutely first rate. Trouble is, Zambia has a terrible habit of letting its entire wildlife management program and hunting industry go ker-flooey every few years. These spectacular derailments - and one has just happened - seem to occur just when Zambia is beginning to produce great safaris and re-win a loyal following among international hunters. Just look at some of the good things that happened this year. Literally scores of successful classic safaris took place in Zambia this year. Great lions, good leopards, handsome sable - scratch around out there and you will find dozens and dozens of satisfied clients. Zambia even appears to have produced a new world record buffalo this year. According to the Safari Club International score sheet, the huge buff measures 109 7/8 inches tip to tip and has boss measurements of 16 inches and 15 6/8 inches. The total score is an amazing 141 5/8. I saw the horns myself in the storage area of Keith Asherwood's Luangwa Crocodile and Safari Company in Lusaka and they are going to cause a sensation when they go on display some time in the future. The lucky hunter was Grady Hogue of Beeville, Texas, who was on a seven-day buffalo hunt in Busanga Lunga - his first-ever hunting experience in Africa. The PH was P.J. Fouché. The tale of the taking of this buff deserves longer treatment than can be afforded it here. Suffice it to say there was a dangerous charge involved and a tension-filled followup in thick brush.

Other fine animals? How about a yet-to-be ratified new No. 1 Crawshay's waterbuck from Mumbwa West Game Management Area, which is hunted by Yusuf Patel's Busanga Trails? That same GMA, incidentally, produced a 49 1/2-inch sable and several others in the area of 47 inches. On the bowhunting........(continued)