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Safari Club InternationalSouth Florida Chapter

800 SE Third Avenue, 4th Floor • Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316954-761-3434 • FAX: 954-763-4725 • scisfc@aol.com

A Non-profit OrganizationDedicated to Conserving Wildlife

and Preserving Hunting

OfficersPresident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Keith AlmeidaVice President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Glen A . Hudson Jr .Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Timothy J . BradshawTreasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barry S . Vonada

CommitteeAwards, Recognition & Public Affairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leo LamponeBudget Chairman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barry S . VonadaChapter Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Glen A . Hudson, Jr .Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tim BradshawConvention / Fundraiser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Glen A . Hudson, Jr .Education / Conservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sean McCann / Bruce BrockGovernmental Affairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fred Buresh / Bruce BrockPublication / Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Stephen J . PotterSportsmen Against Hunger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sean McCannWebsite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tom Van Note

Past Presidents

Board Of Directors

Fredric C . BureshTimmie E . BurrW . Bruce BrockDean Castillo

Lawrence S . KatzHarry D . Dennis, Jr .

Carlos DavidovGlen A . Hudson, Jr .

Ralph E . JohnsonRichard B . NilsenStephen J . Potter

Richard L .Gotshall

Marcus AndradeW . Bruce Brock

Fredric C . BureshRich Engels

Jim FalkowskiRichard L . Gotshall

Sean McCann

Richard B . NilsenStephen J . Potter

Tom Van NoteMichael T . Yeary

ReportsFrom the President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Meetings & Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Website Committee Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

FeaturesMember Spotlight: Fred Fanizzi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Cheek’s European Vacation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Donor Spotlight: Ross Parker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10One in a Million Safari . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Cooking Wild . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Dear Hunter: The Story of an Amazing Dog . . . . . . . 19Pygmy Antelopes of Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Member InformatonSportsmen Against Hunger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21Supporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23Advertising Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Hunter’s Code of Ethics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

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Hello everyone . This will be my first letter to the club as your new president . Well, we are well into this year’s hunting season . Many of you have already been and I’m sure many more will be leaving as this year comes to a close . I am anxious to see how we all made out this year .

At this time I am pleased to report that the club has been making some positive strides regardless of the current economic condition . The past few years we have started to make the switch to an e-magazine . In an effort to save money we were only printing two of the four editions of the Floridian . This was met with a wide variety of views . With some re-structuring and a lot of creativity fielded by the board, we feel that we will be able to produce both a printed magazine as well as an electronic version . That being said, we still need the support of our membership to bring this to fruition . Therefore, we would appreciate any and all advertising support anyone can give to this magazine as it will go a long way into achieving our goal . A special thanks goes to Steve Potter for his work on this project .

Additionally, our website is also going through some changes and should be up and running by the time this magazine gets delivered . Kudos to Tom Van Note for this accomplishment .

Once again our membership will be sending two (2) teachers to the AWLS program this year . This will hopefully strengthen hunting awareness for generations to come .

Finally, Glenn Hudson, our new Vice President and Fundraising Chairman has already begun organizing Next year’s banquet and it is shaping up to be another successful event .

In closing I just want to wish everyone good luck this hunting season . Be SAFE, responsible, and respectful in all your hunting endeavors .

Very Truly Yours,

Keith Almeida President – SCI South Florida Chapter

In September, our chapter enjoyed a wonderful evening at John and Jackie Murray’s beachfront home in Pompano Beach . Members and guests certainly enjoyed the wonderful time . Thank you John and Jackie for once again opening up your lovely home for a club dinner .

In October, the club rented two private skeet and trap fields at Markham Park for the morning . Those attending enjoyed a wonderful time with the opportunity to shoot on the private fields reserved exclusively for our club . Following the shoot, Fred and Kris Williams opened their home up for a bar-b-que lunch catered by Scruby’s . This was our first opportunity to view Fred and Kris’s impressive trophy room and home . On behalf of the club, I would like to thank you for this invitation and hope you will consider hosting another event in the future .

Be sure to mark your calendars for the following upcoming gatherings:

January 14th – 6:00 dinner at Glen and Terry Hudson’s February 25th – annual fundraiser at Hugh’s Culinary March 17th – 6:00 dinner at Steve and Anita Grant’s April date to be set – 6:00 dinner at Jimmy and Myra Joeckel’s

If anyone is interested in hosting a party at their home, please contact me by phone or email . We are always looking for new venues for our events .

Glen A. Hudson, Jr.Meetings and Entertainment ChairmanCell: 954-654-9189 • Home: 954-389-4503 • GHudson586@aol.com

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Please visit our website at www .scisfc .org . The last six isues of our Chapter’s award winning magazine “The Floridian” are now available on line . I let everyone know in my last report that we are working to make our site more interactive and user friendly . We are currently revamping the Members Only section . We had some security issues, so when you go to the Members Only Section you will have to request a User Name and one will be emailed to you within 24 hours . Once you receive your Sign In you will be able to communicate in private with other Chapter members, share Hunt Reports and read our more frequent updates of the issues that are not only important to our local community, but nationwide and worldwide .

We are also going to start allowing members and vendors to advertize on our Website . We will be providing you with more information on this exciting opportunity in the near future . If you want to be in the first group of advertisements, please contact me for information and pricing .

We are continuing to update our Website and are looking for more ways to serve the members of the South Florida Chapter of SCI .

If you have any requests or recommendations regarding the Website, please give me a call or send me a note .

Regards,

Tom Van Note954-748-4019 • Tom@statpromo.com

www.scisfc.org

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Fred FanizziIn the fifth grade, I checked a book out of my grade school library called “The Art of Hunting Big Game in North America” . The book was written by a fellow named Jack O’ Connor

who I had never heard of . I wanted to know more about hunting as I had been briefly

enlightened on the sport by classic television shows such as The American Sportsman with Curt Gowdy . The book was full of classic tales of hunting the high country on horseback for many species of majestic big game animals . As a kid being only eleven or twelve years old, I was enamored at the idea of venturing out on my own adventure one day in search of big game .

I had the opportunity to shoot a few trap targets during family vacations to Georgia and even head out on few duck hunts in the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge with friends of my dad . This was a big deal to me as my dad was not a hunter although he did enjoy time outdoors . My first kill was a hen blue winged teal when I was twelve and needless to say I was hooked . Good friends from the Ft Lauderdale area invited me to Moore Haven almost

every weekend of the duck season throughout my high school years . I shot an everglades white tailed doe from the seat of an airboat as my first big game animal when I was fifteen . My desire to pursue the hunting and outdoor lifestyle continued through my graduation from Ft

Lauderdale High in 1986 .

After graduation, I headed west to work on a Colorado cattle and guest ranch in hopes of getting all of this cowboy stuff

out of my system . It was here, in the Rocky Mountain high country, that I shot my first Mule Deer buck . I never did get the outdoor lifestyle out of my system . About five years later, I graduated from the University of Florida with an Animal Science degree from the College of Agriculture . The “blueprint” was set for me to make a career out of my passion for the outdoors .

In 1993 I met the love of my life Maria who was majoring in Agriculture at U of F while I was working my first job as a cattle foreman for Deseret Ranch also known as the Mormon Ranch . One of our first dates was to go duck hunting on Orange Lake just outside of Gainesville . I am not a hundred percent sure Maria realized what she was getting into, but we were married a few years later in 1997 . It was at about this same time that I also met Whit Hudson, a prominent Ft Lauderdale businessman that like me loved the outdoors . Whit and I hit it off at our first meeting during a Lake Okeechobee alligator hunt and vowed to stay in touch . By May of 1998, Whit purchased a spectacular piece of

Old Florida property north of Lake Okeechobee that we would both develop into what is now Quail Creek Plantation . Together we have developed this organization into one of the top sporting clays operations in the country and truly a premier wing shooting and outdoor destination . Whit has always been supportive of my passion for hunting and has taken me along on many great trips to his former Colorado Ranch and duck hunting lodge in South Carolina .

In the mid nineties, I began to get fairly serious about my big game pursuits and began to venture North and West in pursuit of the North American twenty nine . I enjoyed a great trip for plains game in Namibia and have taken several journeys to South America as a booking agent for a few of the world’s best high volume wing shooting lodges . My favorite adventures have been to the North country including Alaska, British Columbia, Northwest Territories and the Yukon . I have been very fortunate to have taken several great trophies on some fantastic adventures and look forward to continuing my quest . The more I get involved in hunting, the greater the appreciation I have for the fantastic folks I have met in my travels and the camaraderie we have shared . Non hunters can simply not understand the kindred spirit that is shared by those of us that hold hunting in high esteem .

My best hunting stories include special times with Maria and my now eight year old son Joe . Joe has spent time in the woods with me since before he could walk . Two years ago on December 21, which was also Maria’s birthday Joe made a one shot kill on a beautiful Florida eight point buck while sitting on Maria’s lap . I have included the photo of this big day with this write up . It was a special evening for all three of us and now I guess you could say Joe has been bitten by the hunting bug as well . As they say the story continues .

I am honored that the South Florida Chapter of Safari Club International has asked me to submit this brief biography of my true passion for hunting and the outdoor lifestyle . I am in extremely good company as a member of a club of great individuals who share the same values for love of country, family and religion and who also share a moral obligation to protect our liberty to pursue these freedoms . Membership in conservation organizations such as SCI is vital to the future of hunting . May we all continue to do our part to promote the pastime we love . One day you may have an opportunity to invite a young city kid from Ft Lauderdale along on a shooting expedition or hunt who otherwise would have never had the opportunity . He may develop his passion and dream into a career in the outdoors and provide a wonderful lifestyle for his family and in the future return the favor to his friends who never forgot him . Please remember that it is our duty to Pass It On .

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No, Jess and I did not win the “Pig-in-a-Poke Contest” as the Griswald’s achieved in the movie National Lampoon’s European Vacation . There were some comparable phenomena as driving on the left side of the roads, very friendly people, quaint towns and pubs and very narrow streets . Of course London is very cosmopolitan dripping in history and lavish buildings and department stores . Fortunately, from my perspective, we spent the majority of our trip in the rural south-eastern sections of England with rolling hills and small villages . We actually stayed in a pub erected in 1457 in the town of Mayfield where our room was huge and very comfortable coupled with excellent food . There was a bakery across the street which I obtained some phenomenal goodies before going hunting each morning . The most treacherous part of the vacation was the driving through the small towns and villages on streets barely room for one vehicle . More than once we found ourselves on a sidewalk or in the brush .

My wife Jessica, accompanied by one of our grand-kids, Samantha, toured each day that I hunted with a professional tour guide, Mitch, in his vehicle . They visited castles, parks, aquariums, zoos, military historical sites and cathedrals . One of their many highlights was the Cliffs of Dover and the history surrounding the area, particularly during World War II .

Hunting in England is somewhat comparable to hunting in Texas or on smaller ranches in places like South Africa . The largest ranch I hunted on was approximately 1,000 acres . One has the opportunity to view many animals and pick the one that

Cheek’s European Vacation

... I do not know what

they are feeding their

deer, but nearly every

one we viewed was a gold

medal ...

fits their pocketbook . The outfitter and guide was Mike McCrave of Mike McCrave Hunting Ltd . Even though his home is located in Scotland he is very knowledgeable of all the ranches we hunted . Mike is very meticulous and allows the client to experience spot and stalk hunting which is much more enjoyable then sitting in a blind . Our first hunt was in East Sussex County in Wadhurst Park . That morning we harvested a Pierre David deer and the afternoon a huge chocolate Fallow deer. I used Mike’s 308 which was very effective in bringing down all of the animals harvested during our

hunting trip . The following day we hunted again in Wadhurst Park for an English Red Stag . Viewing the majority of the mature Red Stags in this area was interesting . I do not know what they are feeding their deer but nearly everyone we viewed was gold medal . Even though I was looking for a silver medal the stag scored very high and was actually wider with more character than the one I shot in New Zealand which I paid big bucks for . If one is looking for a quality Red Stag I highly recommend this park . The next day we traveled to Kent County in the Village of Seal for Manchurian and Japanese Sika deer . This ranch was only about 400 acres but extremely well managed with lots of deer . We harvested good representations of both species and actually walked many hours viewing hundreds of deer .

When we arrived back to the pub Mike received a phone call from t he game manager at Wadhurst Park and offered me the opportunity to harvest a Barrasingha deer that had some type of feet abnormality . Even though the hide and skull is not allowed in the US based on some type of restrictions from Fish and Wildlife the hunt was exciting . After many hours of viewing lots of Barrasingha we finally found the one with the bad feet . The last hunt was probably the most notable . We traveled about 2 hours just south of London to Bedfordshire County on property owned by the Duke of Bedford for a Chinese Water deer . His estate is magnificent were you are guided by one his employees . Even Mike was not allowed in the hunting area unless he was hunting also. I used their rifle, a 223, since the deer is extremely small. It was probably the most unusual deer I have ever harvested with small tusks that protrude from his mouth to just under his chin .

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After the last hunt day I left Mike and joined Jess and Samantha touring a castle and then on to London for three days . I am planning a safari with Mike for 2013 hunting in Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Our plan is to finish the European Deer Slam and the Animals of Europe Inner Circle by 2013. Hunting with Mike McCrave was very enjoyable since he is very knowledgeable about European animals and does a remarkable job in organizing every detail of your adventure . I look forward to our next European vacation and hopefully without any mishaps as experienced by the Griswald’s . Good hunting and get some blood on your boots .

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 I can’t tell you, exactly, when I discovered that Ross Parker isn’t your average dealer of fine wildlife and sporting art .  But I know this: the epiphany didn’t happen at Safari Club International or in one of Parker’s two south Florida galleries, where I’ve observed him suavely interacting with clients ranging from avid hunters to refined social bluebloods . Perhaps the realization came instead on the morning in remote Mana Pools National Park near the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe, where Parker and I happened to be in the company of artist Craig Bone .

The three of us were on foot and unarmed . Back in the early 1990s Mana Pools was a protected area that did not require you to hire a safari guide who would then ferry you around in the safe confines of a Land Rover . Park guards made it clear that hikers like us were courting danger at our own peril . Over the years many visitors have died in Mana Pools: gored by mean-tempered buffalo, fatally mauled by lions, crushed by elephants and hippos, bitten by snakes, and whacked by crocs while boating and fishing the Zambezi .

“I want to show you what true wild Africa is . . . the way I knew it as a boy,” Parker said . “It’s what I want my artists to communicate in their work .”

Bone had invited us to tag along as he gathered reference material for a series of paintings featuring leopards and charging elephants . In the months to follow Parker planned to exhibit those scenes at Safari Club International, Dallas Safari Club and in his Call of Africa Native Visions galleries in Ft . Lauderdale and Naples, Florida . 

Our walkabout led us up a mostly dry wash that held a seeping pool called Chitake Springs . The waterhole was a magnet for megafauna . Proceeding through the twisting labyrinth as it

cut deeper into the Earth, the banks around us rose

higher, meaning we had only two ways out – where we’d entered and forward . Soon, a complication

“If you attempt to run,” Ross

said, “we’re all in a shit storm

of trouble. Those lions will take us

down.”

ensued when a bull elephant appeared just behind us, hell bent on reaching the spring .

To stay ahead of the massive tusker, we hightailed it, and then another formidable hazard presented itself as we rounded a bend . Little more than 30 yards beyond, in the center of our path, lay a pride of lions, resting after just killing and consuming a Cape buffalo . The carcass still moist, blood was fresh on their muzzles .

Faced with either confronting the bull in a cramped space or attempt to skirt the lions, Parker and Bone chose the latter . Gingerly, we pressed on, in treeless terrain barely a stone’s throw away from the cats, hoping we’d soon be in the clear .  Unexpectedly, a cub got up and ambled to within several feet of us . This caused the youngster’s mother and the other lions to rise to their feet with looks of concern . The cub wanted only to play with the two-

legged intruders; its parent, however, studied our body language, swishing her tail, ears pinned back, agitated .

Part of the mystique of Craig Bone stems from the fact that he will disappear into the bush – all alone – for weeks at a stretch without a gun or anything larger than a Swiss army knife . I live in Montana, where I have encountered plenty of grizzly bears .  But it’s an eerie, different thing altogether to be eyeballed by a troop of seven lions at close range . Parker and Bone didn’t have to look at me . “Todd, no matter what you do, don’t run,” Parker whispered .     They could sense what my primal instincts were

telling me to do . We weren’t prey, but we weren’t the biggest predators either . “If you attempt to run,” Ross said, “we’re all in a shit storm of trouble . Those lions will take us down .”

Looking back now, with the same adrenalin welling up, I can recall what I was feeling: Not only was I struck in that moment by Parker’s mind-reading skills; I remain impressed to this day by his cool unflappability . By staying calm, and telegraphing their vibe to the lions, we got out of a jam .

During subsequent African treks in which I’ve shared Parker’s company, we’ve been charged by elephants, dodged rhinos and hippos, and been harassed by thugs toting AK-47s . The resonant impression I have of Parker is that he’s willing to go to incredible lengths to identify promising artists, join them afield to ensure their work rings authentic, and then proudly present their paintings and sculpture to appreciative collectors .

“Since turning professional in 1974, I have worked with many galleries worldwide,” says British-American painter John Seerey-Lester . “There are few galleries in North America specializing in African subject matter to the same degree as Call of Africa’s Native Visions . This sets them apart from others .” 

THE SURVIVORHe’s endured a civil war that transformed his homeland and turmoil that changed an entire continent – all while nurturing incredible artistic talents and fighting for wildlife conservation. By Todd Wilkinson

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Parker has roots in Africa that go back five generations . He was born in a tiny Zimbabwean farming town that in many ways resembled the American heartland . After his parents divorced, his time was divided between the farm operated by his father, Dick, and a 15,000-acre ranch called Chigwell owned by grandparents .

His memories of childhood are idyllic . “My friends and I grew up with no pressure in life,” he recalls . “Everything was lax . We left our windows open and didn’t lock the front door . Until I went off to military school, many of my closest mates were the native kids who were the children of people working on the farm .” As a result of that interaction, Parker can speak English, Shona, Afrikaans, Matabele and the local rural veld dialect .

His father was a professional rugby player and was away often competing in matches . At an early age, Parker says, he fell under the tutelage of black bush-trackers who taught him how to read the spoor and movements of animals, how to make fires by rubbing sticks together, and how to subsist on wild edibles . These skills would serve him well during his stint in the army years later . Mashona men also showed him in how to hunt with guns and bows and arrows . In those years, Rhodesia was coping from sanctions imposed upon it by the international community after Britain turned its back on the former colony .  Times were tough .  Game provided food for the table .       The first large animal Parker ever killed and field-dressed by himself, at age 12, was a kudu. He took it with one shot using a .30-03 at 5:30 in the morning, a Mashona elder at his side. The vision of it remains vivid as he thinks about all that has changed and why he has a soft spot for tribal Africans .

“You never fear the things you love and know,” he says . “I always have felt most at home in the bush . It is the city that leaves me feeling stir crazy .”

In the years when his grandfather first came to the ranch, lions were on the place and there were still some roving rhinos and

elephants . “By the time I was born, that was a thing of the past .” 

Still, the forests around Parker’s Huck Finn dream world were alive with monkeys, and the veld held kudu, sable, reedbuck, impala, duiker, oribi, jackals and what locals called graywolf . Parker trapped small animals and sold their pelts for money . One of his early purchases was a kayak that he used to navigate waterways filled with crocs .

Amid it all, his first exposure to art didn’t come out of a textbook or museum visit in Salisbury (today Harare) . At the foot of a cliff on the ranch, in an alcove out of the wind and rain, he found pictographs created by bushmen . He would press his fingers against the ancient sketches and try to imagine what those artisans were thinking . His father, who had drawn large graphite sketches of eagles and other raptors, also nurtured a more formal interest in art in his son . Young Parker’s bible was the Roberts Birds of Africa .

“I was very fortunate . My grandparents used to go to the Zambezi Valley and camp along Lake Kariba and in the country’s national parks, then head into Mozambique when it was still a Portuguese colony . We traveled extensively until it was time for me to go away . But everywhere we went, wildlife was part of the backdrop .”

Just as his father and grandfather before him, Parker entered Plumtree School in Matabeleland, one of the oldest military boarding schools for boys on the continent . Situated near the Botswana border, the school produced a prodigious number of Rhodes scholars and cadets who went on to earn swords of honor at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, England’s version of West Point .

In these surroundings, Parker learned to become a budding naturalist and a crack shot . He studied birds (Zimbabwe is home to hundreds of species) and he collected the eggs of rare avifauna . Most notably, perhaps, is that he earned distinction

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in art on tests for his university entrance exams . Parker’s college plans, however, got waylaid . Isolated by the rest of the world, Rhodesia’s civil war escalated against black guerillas fighting to liberate the country from white government rule .

“Most people recognized the need for change, but when the conflict spread to horrific violence being inflicted upon civilian populations, you were expected as a young man to step into the fight,” he says . “Anyone would .” Parker enlisted in the special forces at age 17 . He became a member of the Rhodesian Light Infantry, part of a forward unit that often would parachute out of the nighttime sky and conduct reconnaissance . [They recorded more combat jumps than any military unit in history] . The RLI was feared and legendary, but its members suffered a high rate of casualties . Rhodesia, vastly outnumbered in manpower, was forced to sign a peace agreement with rebel forces led by Robert Mugabe who changed the name of the country to Zimbabwe .

Once a cease-fire was announced, Parker no longer had the heart for hunting . He had seen too much carnage, including a huge toll exacted on wildlife . He needed to gain geographical distance between the war and his future . Acting on the invitation of Americans who had fought on the Rhodesian side, and with his mother having resettled in the U .S ., he immigrated to Florida, arriving on June 10, 1980 .  “This was the day my old life ended and I entered a new phase,” he says . At first Parker worked at a number of jobs . He sold diamonds and Ferraris and Lamborghinis and made a name for himself . Yet he realized that he was drawn to fine art not only as a collector . By becoming an art dealer and steering some of the profits he made into conservation, he felt better .  Looking back, he realizes that in helping big game recover in the country of his birth, the trauma that stayed with him from the war began to lessen .

“Art can have a healing effect for whatever you’re suffering from,” he says, explaining why he now uses his galleries to raise funds for the Wounded Warrior Project, founded to help injured veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan readjust and get the medical attention they need .

Parker’s initial foray into retail art was modest . Operating from a one-car garage in a townhouse in Plantation, Florida, he began selling works from native Zimbabweans, including Amos Marimo, Nicholas Mukumberanwa and Henry Munyaradzi Their work today is in the permanent collection of major museums around the world . 

In 1986 he set up booths at the SCI and Dallas Safari Club shows and has been back every year since, with the shared proceeds from his art sales contributing several hundreds of thousands of dollars to wildlife conservation causes . A year later, he moved into higher-profile spaces in Boca Raton and expanded the list of artists he represented . His reputation spread, attracting collectors from around the world .

“People who love to hunt have always represented the core of my clientele,” he says . “My dream and vision was to build the finest wildlife art gallery in the world .  We’ve gone from that one-car garage to a multi-million-dollar art organization .

“North American collectors know their animals and many of our clients have spent a considerable amount of time in Africa,” Parker says . “They appreciate great art the same as they value a finely crafted shotgun or rifle, a memorable safari or the gift of friendship . Art enables the special love they have for the outdoors to live larger in their homes and offices . What’s interesting is that the spouses often end up loving the art even more than the hunters do .”

During the early 1990s, when Bone was still relatively unknown in the States, Parker was back in Zimbabwe to peruse the artist’s

drawings and field studies . He encouraged Bone to create larger easel paintings and ultimately developed a campaign that brought Bone’s work to greater attention in the U .S . By the end of the decade, one of Bone’s paintings, Year of the Leopard, set an SCI auction record for a living artist, selling for $105,000 .

Parker has been a conduit between talented artists specializing in African subject matter and the lucrative North American collector’s market . In addition to Bone, he’s played a pivotal role in the careers of Kim Donaldson, Shirley Greene, Claire Naylor and the legendary Loet Vanderveen .  Today, his stable of headliners includes SCI favorite David Langmead (Zimbabwean), James Stroud (South African), Peter Gray (Zimbabwean), Margaret Gradwell (South African) and the widely hailed emerging artist Jaco van Schalkwyk (South African) .  Greene, Gray and Naylor have won critical attention for their avian works juried into

the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum’s prestigious Birds in Art show .

“Jaco and David are coming into their own, just as Craig and Kim and John came into their own,” he says . “Astute collectors want to own pieces by living and deceased masters, but they’re informed enough to realize the promise of young and emerging artists .”

In 2010, an informal bidding war nearly erupted at SCI-Reno over Langmead’s lion painting, Seat of Power . “If David had painted that work ten times, I could have sold every one,” Parker says .  ”That’s why we make the SCI show an event . We like to have surprises .”

Buck Woodruff, a major businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist in Atlanta, values Parker as a close friend whom he admires for his bravery in battle . “Good god, he survived three tours of duty before he was 20 years old .” The men became acquainted when Woodruff decided to buy some art after seeing it at SCI . “I treat firearms as high art . To be able to carry them into the bush, prairie and plains and hunt with them is a marvelous thing .  I love the mechanics and the craftsmanship,” Woodruff says . “With fine art, it’s a little different but the passion is the same .”

At his home and office in the Big Peach, Woodruff surrounds himself with paintings, many of them purchased from Parker . He owns nearly a dozen major Langmeads and Strouds . “I don’t hunt

“I’ve always said that Africa

doesn’t fit into a camera. But

paintings allow each viewer to find individual meaning. What Ross’ artists do is capture the

essence of magic moments.”

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with a tape measure . I get emotional about the experiences you have while hunting,” says Woodruff, who has traveled the world on sporting adventures and today is a director on the SCI Foundation board .  “It’s not just about appreciating beautiful pictures . They allow you to reminisce and they ignite that little light .

“I’ve always said that Africa doesn’t fit into a camera . But paintings allow each viewer to find individual meaning .  What Ross’ artists do is capture the essence of magic moments .”

Between the hundreds of people who buy original paintings and sculpture from Parker and those who have purchased limited edition giclees and prints, he has a client list with nearly 30,000 names . One indication of the prestige commanded by Call of Africa artists is that some of them have been showcased on the catalog covers of Sothebys and Christie’s .

“If you’re a collector, you don’t want to be dealing with a gallery that’s a fly-by-night operation,” says Parker . “Our longevity hopefully means something to people . And we aim to be as welcoming for seasoned collectors as we are for those making their first purchase .”

Parker can come across as the prim and proper dealer, guiding clients through his immaculate, museum-like gallery spaces, though he prefers roughing it in the bush .  He enjoys what he calls “ground-truthing”– helping his artists get to the best places to have wildlife encounters, and when necessary, challenging them to do better . He believes that if a painting or sculpture doesn’t ring true, it will never maintain its staying power in a collector’s home or office .

“Artists brand themselves with their style,” he says . “The only way you can claim a style as your own is by being original .” Two of his prized discoveries, both of whom now enjoy an avid collector base in the U .S ., are Shona figurative rock sculptor James Tandi and Matabele carver Mopho Gonde, known for his exquisite animal

creations in leadwood . Amid the on-going political turmoil in Zimbabwe, Parker has been an assertive advocate for Tandi and Gonde .  The money earned from their art supports an extended family of several dozen people . When Tandi’s supply of the rare mineral was in jeopardy, Parker traveled to Zimbabwe and the verdite quarry to ensure he had a supply of material . Verdite is a green rock marbled with colorful striations . Its consistency is so hard that is requires diamond-head bits to pierce the surface, yet Tandi’s polished busts are smooth and distinctively exquisite . 

Tandi could be described as “self taught” though he learned from some of the best Mashona animist carvers . “James has the kind of talent that a graduate of any fine art school in the States would envy,” Parker says . “He and Mopho Gonde, whom some have called ‘the Michelangelo of Matabeleland’, are only obscure because of where they live . When I founded my galleries, one of the commitments I made was to make their talent known to the rest of the world .”

There have been times amid the social turbulence in Zimbabwe that Parker has thought of giving up . “I can’t turn my back on those guys back in Zim, or the country where three generations of family members lived . When we sell their artwork, it is in the hope that someday things may be made good again for the artists and their countries .”

Ross has been a lifeline for artists in Africa . He understands our love of the region and why we don’t want to leave, but more importantly he knows how challenging it can be to try and make a living amid so much political uncertainty .

When I met with Langmead at his home in the Karoo region of South Africa, with Donaldson in Durban, Peter Gray and James Stroud in Cape Town, with Gonde in Zimbabwe’s Matopos National Park near Bulawayo, and with Tandi in Harare, they all praised Parker’s marketing work that makes the commission he earns a good investment .

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“Kim Donaldson made a great point many years ago . I asked him if he would consider painting North American subjects,” Parker explains . “He said that he had no interest in competing with the great artists here, because they have lived and breathed American subject matter and landscapes their whole lives . It’s very hard to compete with that, just as it’s hard for Americans to compete with artists who live in Africa .”

Back in the States, Seerey-Lester credits Parker with helping to ignite a second act in his already successful career . Parker was an early, enthusiastic supporter of Seerey-Lester’s interest in painting historic hunting scenes beyond his traditional portfolio of wildlife subjects . Moreover, he has actively promoted the artist’s book, Legends of the Hunt, that Seerey-Lester published in concert with Sporting Classics . 

“Ross has opened up a brand new market for my work through SCI, the NRA, Boone and Crockett and many other organizations, which I may never have been introduced to without the exposure offered by him and Call of Africa,” notes Seerey-Lester .

While Parker’s galleries are destinations by themselves, he has made SCI and Safari Club Dallas key venues for interacting with collectors of sporting art . “I don’t hunt big game animals anymore unless it’s purely for the table, but I’ve often taken my sons deer hunting in the Southeast and for plains game in Africa,” says Parker . “I’m still crazy about deep sea fishing and casting a line whenever I’m back on Lake Kariba in Zim . What I really enjoy in life is taking kids out and mentoring them in bush skills, tracking, and good hunting values .”

Gaining U .S . citizenship just a few years ago, he adds: “I’m very pro-hunting and, of course, committed to

Second Amendment protections .  Sportsmen were the original conservationists . But now I’m satisfied with just watching animals through binoculars and hanging a painting on the wall .”      

Call of Africa’s Native Visions offers a full range of ancillary services . It will advise collectors on proper lighting, how to hang the work in their home, and how to ensure pieces .  Since many collectors are in the process of building homes, Parker also offers free storage for up to a year . It’s perhaps worth noting that Parker and his wife, Kirsten, also hang works by artists in their gallery at home . 

“This is the fifth recession I’ve gone through,” he says . “There’s a sorting-out that’s happening with artists and galleries . Quality really matters – it always has and it always will .

Parker doesn’t know what the future holds for Africa .  “I don’t believe that nature can be destroyed, but species can disappear forever and unless you allow wildlife populations to recover when they’re down, they’ll never come back,” he says .

“North America knows that lesson because this is a continent where large animals were rescued from the brink . I think it can happen in Africa . But we need to be passionate .  And I know there is nothing liable to make you more passionate than a great piece of art . It lifts you up in a way few other objects can .” Note: Todd Wilkinson is a hunter and author who just finished writing a book about Ted Turner’s commitment to conservation and humanitarian causes.  Wilkinson, who lives in Bozeman, Montana, also is the online editor of WildlifeArtJournal.com.

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15

One in a Million SafariJoe and Jewell Hand, August 2011

“Joe, you have hunted a lot,

have some wonderful

trophies but for you this is a one in a million

safari.”

My wife Jewell and I returned from a wonderful safari in South Africa . We hunted with Two Waters Safaris in the Eastern Cape, Kleinport with owners Brian and Sheryl Seady . They were great hosts . The ranch is located about 1 1/2 hours northwest of Port Elizabeth .

We were invited to go on this trip with Jimbo and Myra Joekel along with Myra’s son, Jess . We all had a wonderful experience . My PH was Anton Greeff, who was excellent in every respect and extremely knowledgeable of the game areas . We were also accompanied by our tracker, Jerry and our mascot Zulu, a Jack Russell Terrier . I had seen different videos on TV of Jack Russells and how much they enjoy hunting, this made a believer out of me . Zulu was a very determined and smart hunter and loved Jewell .

Day one of our hunt I took a nice Duiker . That same day I got a shot at a Nyala and shot about 2” high wounding him . We tracked for hours to no avail . The next morning we went back and Jerry picked up his trail along with Zulu . We had a couple of other trackers with us and they were of great help . Finally about noon on the second day I got a better shot at him . At 29” the Nyala is a beautiful trophy .

As getting rifles and ammo through Johannesburg is difficult, I chose to use the outfitter’s rifle, a 30.06 Barnes 168 gr. Triple X bullet and used it 90% of the time . It was an excellent choice as there was no dangerous game in the area . On the smaller trophies I used a .223 which was also a good choice.

Day 3 we went after our Sable about an hours drive from the lodge and a huge concession, but very thick thorn bush . I said to Jewell and Anton “it will take a miracle to find a Sable here .” We didn’t see one until just before dark in a field far away . We got in our vehicle to get closer and then walked to find him . Finally I got a decent shot and down he went . The Sable is the reason I chose to again go to Africa . A 42” Sable! I was thrilled to say the least . It was worth the trip!

Day 4 got a very nice Steenbuck . Nice enough for a life mount . Day 5 we went to a new concession looking for a large Impala and Warthog . Jewell decided to go do girl things that day, visiting Jeffreys Bay with Myra, Denise and Sheryl . I got nothing that day . I guess I do need her! Well, I guess one day of nothing was okay! They enjoyed the beautiful coast of South

Africa, shopping and picking up shells on the beach .

Day 6 we went back to where I got the Nyala and was able to get a dandy 25” Impala this was not easy either as it took most of the day, a challenge but lots of fun and wonderful trophy!

The next day, day 7 we went for a Cape Kudu . I said to Anton I only want one 50” plus . He said, “Joe, we will do our best but this is hunting!” Anton spotted a Kudu and said “It is large so let’s give it a try .” We posted in a large field and Jerry went for a walk to locate the Kudu

bull . About an hour later Anton spots the bull with a bunch of others coming our way . There were at least 50 cows, caves and other bulls in the herd . Anton says “Joe, get ready, don’t shoot the wrong one. He is #2, no #3.” I was so confused and I didn’t know which was which . Anton said “Shoot!” I shot and missed a chest shot at about 150 years . Anton said “Do not worry we are going to get that bull .” He sent Jerry and a couple of guys out into the area . He took Jewell and I about a mile away and we set up in a semi-open area . All of a sudden many animals; Impala, Wildebeest, Kudu and Springbuck all headed towards the area where the big Kudu was supposed to be . Anton then radioed Jerry and the boys and told them to come slowly in front of us. About 30 minutes later we started to see many animals heading back . We got ready and here came the Kudu we wanted . Anton said “Better than 50 .” I took the shot about 235 yards and down he went. He got up and I shot again, two good shoulder shots . He turned an came down the hill slowly and I gave him one in the chest and that was it, a 51 .5” Cape Kudu . I was thrilled!

That evening we were all at the lodge and indulging in out drink of choice . Jimbo looks at me and says “Joe, you have hunted a lot, have some wonderful trophies but for you this is a one in a million safari .” Thanks to Jimbo this is how I named our article .

Day 8 we took a break from hunting and drove to Addo Elephant Park . It was a two-hour drive through miles of beautiful citrus groves during harvest season . There were truckloads of citrus everywhere . We had never seen grapefruit so large . We had an interesting drive through the park . As it was mid-day we saw only a few elephants but they were enormous . You forget how big African Elephants really are until you see them up close . We saw herds of Kudu and Warthogs . After our drive through the park, we stopped for a late lunch at Lookout Restaurant on the mountainside overlooking the valley of citrus groves . What a view! We didn’t want to leave .

Day 9 we traveled three hours to try for Copper Springbuck, which I didn’t have . The terrain was flat . The weather was cloudy with very heavy winds that day . The first week of September is the beginning of spring and the weather can become very windy and changeable . The concession was large, 17,000 acres . we looked over the many acres and saw a herd of about 60 Copper and Common Springbuck . As we came closer to the big herd, Anton said, “I see a large bull so let’s try and get a shot .” The problem was that he was in this big herd that was moving very fast, changing direction frequently and with winds over 40 mph, it was quite a challenge . After about 2 hours of keeping track of the herd, the bull stays put and the Springbuck behind it moves right and I make the 200-yard shot within seconds . He never moved and when we finally got a look at him Anton and the ranch owner, Yannie said he will be in the top 5 in the SCI record book . When we got back to the lodge several measurements were taken and he measured 15” . The current world record is 14 .5” . As of now my Springbuck is a possible new world record! This definitely makes this safari a “One in a Million Safari .”

Day 10, our last day, we had a Bontebok on our list . After several hours we spotted a good one, 14”! Wow! What a great ending to a wonderful hunt .

I cannot say enough about Two Waters Safaris . Brian, Sheryl and Anton are the best . The lodge was newly built . The accommodations and staff could not have been better . The chef was excellent . We couldn’t wait for what was on the menu each evening . Some nights game meat with alternate selections was served . Many evenings a special grill room was opened and was a wonderful experience . The skinning area and staff were very experienced .

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Traveling to and from South Africa, we flew Lufthansa from Miami via Frankfurt down to Johannesburg then South African Airways to Port Elizabeth. We had the privilege of flying on the new A 380 Airbus . The plane is so large it makes a 747 look small . It also was a great experience . A very long trip but everything was great .

We had flown into South Africa a couple of days early, as Jewell loves sightseeing . We stayed in a beautiful Bed & Breakfast in Port Elizabeth . We needed many hours to recuperate from our long trip . The next day we visited Scotia Lions Park . We had an afternoon and evening animal viewing then an overnight stay in a thatched hut . We were awakened several times by a lion’s roar . What an experience! We saw not only lions but rhinos, cape buffalos, zebras, hippos and various plains game .

After leaving Two Waters Safari, Brian took Jewell and me on a sightseeing trip along the coast of South Africa called “The Garden Route” to NYNSA . Three days later we flew from George to Cape Town for five days of sightseeing . We were there 5 years ago and loved it . We stayed again at the Radisson Waterfront . We took the tour to Robben Island, the prison where Nelson Mandela spent many years . The views from the mountains are breathtaking . It is always exciting to see the Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean come together at the bottom of the African continent, at the Cape of Good Hope . We enjoyed it even more this time .

Twenty-two wonderful days and a “One in a Million Safari .”

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Fred’s Wild Game Curry

When you’re ready to make the curry, place a large saucepan over medium heat and add the olive oil and the curry . Heat until the mixture changes color to dark red .

Add the remaining ingredients to your saucepan and bring to boil . Before adding the meat, you can brown the meat in oil prior if desired . Simmer for 10 minutes to taste .

I like to change up things up by serving either over rice or fettuccini noodles .

* You can add thickening agent such as potato flakes* Garnish top with fresh basil when serving* Fish sauce and curry paste are available at Publix and Oriental markets

An avid duck hunter and passionate deer hunter, Fredric Buresh has found himself in the cold more than once. To warm him and his fellow hunting buddies, Fred cooks one of the best Curry dishes in South Florida. Should feed 4.

Ingredients:3 tablespoons red curry paste3-4 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil2 cans coconut milk7-8 tablespoons Tiparos (Thai fish sauce)2 tablespoons oyster sauce3 tablespoons sugar1 handful fresh basil (and more for garnish)3 cups fresh vegetables (or mixed frozen) – summer squash and bamboo shoots (canned) work great1 large red pepper – thinly sliced2 lbs . venison, wild boar, goose or any meat, cut into ¾” cubes

19

Dear Hunter, It seems like yesterday when I saw you for the first time . Wow, I was so excited, my first dog! I’ve had Labs in my youth but never myown, now I was of age and responsible enough to have and care

for my own dog . We purchased you from a place called Teal Brooke Kennels, a place where they breed and train Labradors for hunting . You were related to Bear Haines who was your great uncle and a phenomenal hunter . One could only hope that you would follow in his footsteps .

You were eight weeks old when we met for the first time and I knew the moment I held you up and looked into your eyes that we would have an everlasting bond that only you and I would understand . For the next four months we were inseparable . Going out in the woods, swimming, chasing game, rides in the truck and sleeping in my bed, which in time was a mistake because you were a bed hog… I can’t tell you how many sleepless nights I had because you had me wedged to the edge of the bed, and because I loved you so much, I didn’t move in fear

of disturbing your sleep . They say a dog loved you unconditionally? I think in our cause it goes both ways .

By the time you reached six months of age you were ready for a new journey, hunting school . The schools policy was to keep and train you for six months . Six months! That’s a long time to be away from something you’ve become so attached to . Well, it was going to be hard but I knew once you got there you would have a ball, retrieving ducks and playing with some family members and other Labs . Time went by slowly and I was counting the days upon your return . I would call often and check on your progress . Of course, you were #1 in your class and always on your best behavior .

Finally, you were on your way home . We were fortunate that my friend Lisa was on her way home from Florida State and offered to give you a ride . Sure beats the cargo compartment of a plane .

Although excited, I was afraid of our meeting thinking that you might have forgotten me; I couldn’t have been more wrong . When you jumped out of the car you ran right to me and wouldn’t stop licking my face . Together again… The time has come for your first hunt . It was the week before Thanksgiving, opening of duck season in 1995 . I, my Dad, you and Maggie (our other yellow lab) all piled in the suburban with the airboat in tow and headed up to Lake Okeechobee . Upon arrival we checked into the condo and hurried to the boat ramp to launch so we could begin scouting for tomorrow’s hunt . While riding around in the airboat you were excited but remained calm . The smells of the lake, the sounds, the coots running across the water, were all new to you . This was going to be fun you thought .

At 4:29 AM the following morning I was awakened by your wet tongue lapping my face . “What the hell?” I thought . The alarm was set for 4:30 AM and you were up somehow knowing it was time to go . Before long Dad and I were tossing out the decoys and setting up the blind , preparing for the morning hunt . By sunrise the first pair of mallards was heading our way . Dad immediately gave them a chuckle with his duck

call and they honed in on the decoys . POW POW, two ducks own and you were on your way . Maggie, being the more experienced hunter, led the charge . Then the most amazing thing happened . You stopped behind Maggie and put your nose in the air . Immediately you made a hard left and plowed through the thick clump of Sawgrass . “Where are you going?” I thought . Well, wouldn’t you know it, a few minutes later you came marching out of that clump, chest out and looking proud with a mallard in your mouth . I knew right then that you were an amazing hunter and would live up to your name . I will never forget that day .

For many years we hunted that lake together and every hunt we could write a story about . Time and time again you would amaze me with how you would never let a duck outsmart you . They would dive under the water, you would follow completely submerging your body . They would hide in clumps and you would just work a pattern downwind until you picked up their

that evening sitting out on the airboat while the sun was setting, looking into your eyes and begging God to just give us one more season together .

My prayer was answered and we were blessed with one more season . Although it was hard on you, you never wanted to stop . Your retrieves became more difficult for me knowing that our time here would soon be over . I tried to be thankful for the extra time we were given but I was overwhelmed with sadness .

Four months later your body was giving up, unable to stand on your own I knew it was time . That night I called my hunting buddy,

Richie and asked if he would join Hunter and me for one last ride on the lake . There was no hesitation, “Of course .” he said . We departed early the nest morning and headed up to the lake . It was a long and tearful trip as I held Hunter’s head in my hands and dreaded what liked ahead . I tried desperately to focus on making this a great day for him but his enthusiasm was slipping away which made it even more difficult .

When we reached the boat ramp I rolled down the windows and with a twitch of your nose you quickly realized where you were, home . After launching the boat I returned to the truck and carried you to the boat . We sat on the forward bench together and Richie would be our chauffeur . In no time we were off roaring through the trails of Lake Okeechobee . We stopped and kicked up a bunch of mallards and you lifted your head recognizing the familiar smell of ducks . For a moment we sat there and thought about all the wonderful times we had up here . Then you looked at me with those sad eyes and laid your head down as if to tell me it was time .

You were laid to rest that evening surrounded by people who loved you . I will ever so miss and cherish our bond and all of the memories we shared . You were the best dog a man could hope for . When the phrase “A dog is a man’s best friend .” was created, they didn’t realize what an understatement that would be . You were a best friend and so much more .

I will always love you,

Dad

scent . Sometimes they would go into the thickest clumps and you would somehow manage to get yourself in there and get the duck . You were so amazing to watch . Seeing you would, outsmarting them, doing multiple retrieves, never giving up, applying what you learned on previous hunts . You were proud and strong and made other dogs envy you . You were the King of duck hunting .

By the time you were six you were a Father of five . You would have five sons to carry on your legacy . Your favorite, Drake would be your protégé and you his mentor . Fro five years Drake would hunt with us and you would teach him all the tricks to retrieving ducks . Not only was it a joy to watch you in action but to see your son learn from you was spectacular . What a great Father you were!

Hunting wasn’t the only thing you were good at, you had many qualities . To start off you were great with kids . They could pounce on you, pull your ears, poke your nose, it didn’t matter . You knew they were kids and would jus lick them non-stop . You were also a great protector, forget about getting into the house if I wasn’t home and Hunter didn’t know you . I can’t tell you how many windows I had to replace from solicitors knocking on the door . You also liked your long jogs with Kim knowing it was to keep you in shape for the approaching duck season . You also loved tubing behind the boat, sliding down waterfalls, swimming whenever possible and

stealing other dog’s bones . What a life .

The years went by so very fast and before long you began to slow down . It was early teal season October 2006 . I thought maybe this might be our last hunt together but you probed to be strong and still had some stamina left . We had a great hunt that morning and our friend Richie and your son Drake witnessed a champion in action . You might not have been as fast or agile as you once were but you still retrieved with grace and determination . I remember

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Safari Club International started the Sportsmen Against Hunger program in 1989 . Since then, tens of millions of meals have been served at local soup kitchens, food banks, or other charitable organizations such as The Salvation Army and Kids in Distress .

Some hunters take their harvest to a licensed meat processor, pay for the processing themselves, then donate the meat to the needy . Other hunters choose to share the meat from their freezers throughout the year . Because the demand for low-fat, low-cholesterol, preservative-free, high protein meat is so great, these offerings by SCI members are vital to the nutritional success of food banks across America and the world .

In 2006, 314,275 pounds of wild game meat were donated to relief organizations; in 2007 the figure jumped to 377,072 pounds which is the equivalent of 1,508,288 meals . In the 2008 season we set a new record with 412,254 pounds donated .

That is more than 206 tons of meat!

2010 SCI South Florida Members Donations

Joe Hand - 30 lbs.Ray Moses - 200 lbs.

Dan Beckham - 2000 lbs.Mike Yeary - 2000 lbs.

WE NEED DONATIONS!!

SCI South Florida Chapter will help process or provide transportation to collect the meat. Please call Sean McCann at 954-914-6642 for any and all donations.

After just returning from South Africa and Namibia predominately hunting the Sharpe grysbok, Livingston suni, Natal red duiker and Damara dik-dik it became quite evident that these hunts were as challenging and difficult as any of the African species .

When just beginning my hunting adventures in Africa I started with the typical plains game species and worked my way up the “food chain”, i .e . lion, leopard, crocodile, elephant, etc . Now that I am getting close to harvesting most of the various African species more attention should have been allocated to these “little guys” .

In my experiences there are a few ways to hunt these smaller creatures: • Spot and stalk is very difficult and in

many cases impossible since some never leave the thick bush .

• Calling seems to be a great way for some species but many will not respond to unusual sounds .

• Looking for scat and then setting up blinds to hopefully ambush one if it appears . We spent four days sitting in a blind in Namibia looking for a dik-dik with no luck .

• Chance. One is stalking and tracking an animal and out of the bush a yellow-backed duiker appears . Do you shoot or risk spooking the intended animal?

Another problem with harvesting these little creatures is that even if you find one by chance you probably did not prepare with the proper ammo for shooting one . I have learned to take solids with me so if an opportunity appears I will at least have a chance for a shot without completely damaging the animal . Be prepared to lose more blood and skin than the harvested animal . Most of these creatures live in the bush or very hostile environments . These smaller animals are near the bottom of the food chain so there are many predators they are constantly on the look out for . These small animals only chance for survival is living in the thick, thorny bush or areas having lots of hiding places or very spacious plains for quick retreat .

In a nutshell, if given the opportunity to harvest one of these small antelopes without jeopardizing your hunt do not hesitate to shoot .

For additional information please contact info@legendarysafari.com.

Good luck, shoot straight .

Greg Cheek

The Pygmy Antelopes of

..even if you find one by chance you probably did not prepare with the proper ammo for

shooting one.

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Club SupportersKeith AlmeidaBruce W. BrockFrederic BureshRichard H. ChildressStephen H. CornWilliam Elmore, Jr.Jim FalkowskiRich GotshallFre HaddadJoe HandChristine Haugen

Stanley KowalskiDorothy I. KullmanRobert B. KullmanLeo Lampone, Jr.Hugh H. McCauleyJoe O’BannonStephen PotterPeter G. StraussPaul E. TocciDr. Gregory CheekTom Van Note

Keith AlmeidaJoe HandDr. Gregory Cheek

Keith AlmeidaJoe HandDr. Gregory Cheek

Keith AlmeidaJoe HandDr. Gregory Cheek

I want to thank all the members listed above; especially Keith for responding to the mailings and the emails and supporting your club. If you don’t see your name listed on this page is means you did not respond.

To make sure your name appears in the next issue of your club magazine, either purchase an ad or send $100 for Platinum Level; $75 for Gold Level; $50 for Silver Level or $25 for Bronze Level to:

Diane ClutterSCIFC800 SE 3rd Avenue, 4th FloorFort Lauderdale, FL 33316

Your participation is needed and much appreciated when given. We look forward to seeing every member’s name on the supporter’s page. It doesn’t take much and everyone should be on this page either through purchasing an ad or just by participating in whichever level of support you want to show. We want to see everyone on this page, all levels of participation are welcome!

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Rates include the following four magazine issues .

Winter • Spring • Summer • Fall

Special Placement AdsThese ads will be sold as full page ads and are limited so they are first come, first served . Please call Diane

Clutter at 954-761-3434 for the Special Placement Ad rates.

Do you keep your old club magazines?If you do then we need your help! We are trying to put together a complete set of SCI South Florida Chapter magazines . Below is a list of the issues we are missing . If you have one of theses issues please bring it to one of our next dinners of give Diane Clutter a call and we can arrange to have it picked up . If you do not want to part with the issue we can make copies of it then return the original unharmed back to you . We are also going to scan past issues to place on our new and updated website .

1995 Summer Spring Winter1996 Spring Fall1997 Spring Fall Winter1998 Spring Fall Winter1999 Summer Spring2000 Summer Spring Fall

Well as you can see, we are in need of quite a few issues . Please dig through your magazine stack and see if you can help us . I do not have any records prior to 1995, so if anyone has earlier literature we would be interested in that also .

Thank you,

Club Historian(Indentured Servant to be chosen at a later time)

Issues needed:

2001 Spring Fall2002 Fall2003 Fall2004 Summer Fall2006 Summer Winter2008 Spring Fall

Recognizing my responsibilities to wildlife, habitat and future generations, I pledge:

• To conduct myself in the field so as to make a positive Contribution to wildlife and ecosystems .

• To improve my skills as a woodsman and marksman to ensure humane harvesting of wildlife .

• To comply with all game laws, in the spirit of fair chase, and to influence my companions accordingly .

• To accept my responsibility to provide all possible assistance to game law enforcement officers .

• To waste no opportunity to teach young people the full meaning of this Code of Ethics.

• To reflect in word and behavior only credit upon the fraternity of sportsmen, and to demonstrate abiding respect for game, habitat and property where I am privileged to hunt .

Safari Club International

Hunter’s Code of Ethics

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Safari Club InternationalSouth Florida Chapter

A Non-profit OrganizationDedicated to Conserving Wildlife

and Preserving Hunting