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DVS 2018 "Think Big and Take What Your'e

“Think Big and Take What You’re Given” In September of 2018 I returned to Dries Visser Safaris for my 4th once-in-a-lifetime archery safari. On my first safari in 2011 I took 11 animals in 72 hours. What? My second safari I returned to hunt sable, eland, mountain reedbuck and nyala. My third safari I hunted cape buffalo and bushbuck. Africa is awesome! In 2018 I booked the “Ulitmate Hunters Package” because I wanted to relive my first safari and “take what you’re given” as advised my first PH Nico. So, “Take What You’re Given” became my motto. During a roan steak dinner the first night, Elana winked at me and said, “Think big.” After dinner Dries pulled me aside and asked if I would be interested in changing up my package and hunting a roan, a kudu and a 42” red sable, though the sable had not been seen for a week or so. I told him that I would sleep on it. At breakfast the next morning we worked out the details with my PH, Gerald. My motto became “Think Big and Take What You’re Given.” We placed some trail cameras at watering holes in the area where the red sable had last been seen and started hunting. By mid morning I had an old roan with massive horns and a battle scarred face on the ground. An animal I had been considering for a future hunt. Surprise! I was so excited I wanted to jump up and down. I could hardly wait to see what was for dinner that night and if that too would predict the next day’s success. Africa is awesome. “Think Big and Take What You’re Given.” Over the next several days I hunted the red sable but didn’t see him. There was no sign of him on the trail cameras either but, I did take a beautiful black impala and a golden wildebeest. Surprise! Africa is awesome. “Think Big and Take What You’re Given.” I continued to hunt the red sable but still, no sign of him. One morning a big, old, heavy horned black Zambian sable showed up. I took photos of him and admired his horns, which had been broomed back. Gerald told me that this bull had been fighting the red sable bull and may have bullied him into an obscure corner of the ranch or may have even possibly killed him. Remembering my motto I told Gerald, “To heck with the red sable I’ll take this one.” We determined that he was on the hit list and I finished the job. Surprise! Africa is awesome. “Think Big and Take What You’re Given.” I was still intrigued by the red sable so we scouted and hunted for him everyday. We never saw him. None of the other PHs, hunters or workers on the ranch saw him. We didn’t get a single trail camera photo of him at any of the watering holes in the area where he had last been seen. Dries lamented that he may have been killed fighting the big black Zambian bull that was now in the salt. Though I did not see the red sable in the following days I had a great hunt and took a spot and stalk black wildebeest; a red hartebeest, a spot and stalk porcupine; a great kudu, a blesbuck and I even saw a leopard that came to the water. Surprise! Wow, it was pretty amazing! The porcupine hunt has to be one of the most memorable hunts I have ever been on. After I put an arrow in him, he chased my tracker Tonkey for some distance dragging my arrow behind him! I finished him with a 20 yard, running broadside shot; hitting the porcupine right on the shoulder. A miracle shot. I’ve never even practiced that! Africa is awesome. “Think Big and Take What You’re Given.” On day 10, the last day of my 10 day safari, I still wanted to hunt for the red sable even though he had not been seen by anyone for a couple of weeks now. We returned to hunt the watering hole where he had last been seen and where we had hunted for him almost every day. An hour after settling into the blind a ranch worker drove up and excitingly told us that he had just seen the red sable near another watering hole. We bailed out of the blind and quickly moved to the new location and set up… but nothing. After a couple of hours we had a nice 8”x10” warthog, some gemsbuck, kudu and eland bulls all gathering near the water. Gerald suggested that perhaps the red sable had watered earlier that morning and would not be returning. He recommended that if I wanted to shoot any of the great trophies in front of us I might consider it, as it was the last day of my hunt. I was tempted, but none of them were exceptional so, I decided to wait it out a little longer. Eventually, after watering, they all faded into the thorn bush. At 1:00 p.m. the red sable that had I hunted every day for 10 days stepped out of the thorn bush! He cautiously approached the water, but before I could see him through the shooters window the wind swirled and he ran out of sight. My heart sank. A long five minutes later Gerald said, “He’s coming back!” My heart skipped a beat. Sure enough, he circled the water hole and approached from the opposite side. I drew my bow and let an arrow fly. He ran about a 100 yards, stumbled and went down within sight! I have never been more excited or more emotional after a successful hunt. After doing all you can, you still have to get lucky. It’s better to be lucky than good! Africa is awesome! “Think Big and Take What You’re Given!” Do you know why African game tastes so good? There’s no sagebrush in Africa. Do you know why lions eat zebra? They’re delicious! Do you know the number one reason I keep returning to Dries Visser Safaris? The food is delicious! Thank you chef Abel. I’ve already booked my 5th once-in-a-lifetime archery safari with Dries Visser Safaris. I can hardly contain myself. Every safari at DVS has been different than the previous. Always full of first time experiences. Always an adventure. I can’t wait to see what “Surprise Package” Dries comes up with for me next year. I have no reason to hunt anywhere else because the facilities, the staff, the PHs, the food, the friendships, the service, the quantity and quality of trophy animals are all exceptional. There is no guarantee when hunting but, at Dries Visser Safaris it’s not a matter of “if” but “what” and “when.” Dries Visser Safaris is truly dedicated to “Exceed Your Expectations.” They have done that for me every time I have hunted with them and they have always treated me fairly and honestly. They are family to me. Thanks for the great memories Dries, Elana, Gerald and Tonky. Thanks for the air conditioning. Africa is awesome! “Think Big and Take What You’re Given!”

Some great trophies there Grizz, well done.

What a trip! Congrats Grizz...

Wow!!! Beautiful man, congrats!! I hope Dries and Family are doing fine?

Awesome trip with some great people to hunt with! Thanks for sharing!

You definitely put some beauties in the salt. !! Congrats on a great hunt.

It was a great hunt Grizz …. looking forward to see what happens next year!

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