Your firm sent me a questionnaire regarding my recent trip to New Caledonia and Australia conducted by Jamie Bell Safaris. Since simple questionnaires do not always tell the entire story, I thought I would add some comments.

My comments, as follow, are intended to be constructive in nature and not a condemnation of Jamie Bell or the Trophy Connection.

Upon arrival in Melbourne, we were not met by a representative of Jamie Bell as your travel documents indicated we would be. (I suspect this may have been due to a miscommunication between Bell and Trophy Connection.) This was especially disturbing as an uninformed Australian Customs official would not allow the release of my rifle although I had all the proper documentation. After much difficulty in reaching Jamie Bell's wife (the wrong cell phone number was on his letter-head) she was able to clear the matter up, and I got my rifle later in the afternoon.

The cull hunting in New South Wales was excellent. The guide, Darrell Bell, was experienced, competent and very helpful. I would estimate that I was able to cull over 160 roos, pigs, emus, fox, and goats in two days of shooting. We traveled by four-wheel drive pickup, which was in good condition. Originally, my wife was to accompany me on this hunt. Fortunately she did not. The hunting camp accommodations, although adequate for me, would not have been comfortable for a woman. I would suggest that future arrangements should be made with the host farmer to provide meals and quarters in the main farm house rather than outbuildings intended for hired help rather than paying guests. This would also free the guide from cooking and kitchen chores allowing more time for hunting. Incidentally, I have not been credited the daily fees charged for my wife who did not accompany me.

The cull hunt was represented as a four-day hunt. In actuality it was a two-day hunt with two long days of driving to and from the hunt area. Had I have understood this I would have arranged for more hunting time. Although the price charged for this hunt was quite modest I would have rather spent more for travel and had more hunting time. I would suggest alternative means of travel such as charter aircraft for hunts of this short duration.

Again, the rusa stag hunting in New Caledonia was superb. The particular farm we hunted on was literally overrun with deer and the rut was in full swing. My guide, Darrel Giles, was experienced, energetic, helpful and fun to be around. I was able to take a very nice stag the second day of the hunt. Additional hunt time was used culling numerous does and feral pigs and hunting Rio Grande turkeys, which are plentiful on the island.

My corrective comments on this hunt center mainly on the accommodations, the hunt vehicles and the food. The room was clean and adequate although unheated. The nighttime temperatures dropped into the high thirties. This would not have been a problem except my wife became very ill with chills and vomiting and the lack of any heat in thee bedroom only made those matters worse. The separate bathroom had a broken toilet seat, which was noted but never repaired while we were there. (A small but easily corrected and annoying matter). Hunt vehicles consisted of a Combi and a dilapidated Suzuki Samuri. The Combi, which my guide used most of the time, was comfortable but lacked the ability to access the backcountry. This was not a problem for me as I enjoy walking and stalking on foot. It could, however, present a problem for a hunter who, for whatever reason, would not be able to walk long distances in terrain, which is mildly steep. The Suzuki would be adequate for a hunter and a guide but not for an additional observer as it lacked a third seat. The food was adequate but not of excellent quality or quantity. I suspect that most of the camp problems stem from the inability of the Australians to communicate with the locals and the locals' (being French) general lack of hospitality towards outsiders.

Traveling with a rifle in Australia is a hassle. I still don't understand the rules but there is no uniformity among the Australian Customs Officials nor Quantas Airlines in the application of whatever rules may exist. Each of the five times I checked in or retrieved the rifle from the Airlines it was a hassle. My suggestion would be to take a rifle that breaks down and can be carried in a smaller (suitcase length) gun case. If one used a shorter case it would eliminate the inconvenience of having to go to a separate area each time you check in or claim a long gun case.

In summation, I enjoyed my hunt with Jamie Bell Safaris and certainly would not hesitate to book with him in the future as he offers excellent hunting opportunities. I feel with a little more attention to detail he could become a top rate operation.