Rifle : 50 Alaska Lever Action Rifle

1 Bullet recovered , no distortion or damage.
6 shots fired +/-30 yards
1st bullet just infront of brain (broadside) bullet exited behind ear hole.
2nd high shoulder – bullet exited
3rd quartering on in cheek, bullet went into chest cavity – not found.
4th bullet entered behind shoulder into stomach – not found.
5th & 6th ‘Coupe de grase’ from behind into back of head one bullet found in throat area.

I told Alan several times that there was nothing I would change about our hunt. It was exactly what I wanted and yet somehow more than I had hoped for. I am almost afraid to come back as I do not know how the experience could be improved upon. As mentioned the physical challenge on my hunt was on the high end of the scale. If I came back it would be difficult to raise the bar but in talking to Alan, we have a little seed planted about doing a backpack hunt for buffalo in the jess bush. That should up the ante a bit. I would definitely want to hunt with Alan again. How can you not like a guy who can tell you what every tree, bug and bird is in English, Latin and Shona? Here is a photo of Alan (don’t ask me what he’s doing with his hand) and the scout. If you get a chance to meet Alan be sure to tell him that he reminds you of Leonardo DiCaprio in Blood Diamond. He will really like that

The rest of the guys with Charlton McCallum Safaris (Buzz, Myles, and Rex) are superb hunters as well and highly respected. I do not know how you could go wrong with any of them. As to tuskless elephant, it was definitely the most exciting hunt of my life and I am from Alaska and enjoy hunting bears with a predator call...so I am no slouch in the adrenaline department. If you are delaying a tuskless hunt, I recommend you shift up a gear and get into the action before the world figures out how much fun we are having out there.

The only thing I would have done differently is to take more photos and spend more time doing that but when you are chasing elephant...well, who wants to stop and take photos? If you are looking for the hunt of a lifetime then I would highly recommend Charlton McCallum Safaris. I want to say a big thanks to PH Alan Shearing for the best hunt of my life. In the words of Douglas MacArthur, I shall return!

- Bryan Pettet, June 2007, click here for a full summary of this safari