Good book?

[markc]

Has anyone read, "Death in the Dark Continent" by Peter Capstick?   Picked it up yesterday, and was wondering if it accurately portrayed hunting dangerous game in Africa.  Either way it is a very interesting read, and sure makes one think twice about taking on those dangerous critters there.   markc

[JJHACK]

Peter Capstick was an excellent writer. However he wrote his first two books before becoming a PH. He was working as a stock broker in the USA and took a trip to RSA where he much like I did fell in love with the place. He found himself a job as a travel agent in RSA and lived there doing that job and hanging out in the bars of Joburg with many PH's. Listening to the many stories told over drinks he began to write them as his own experiences. After a few years of this his popularity grew but several of the "real PH's"  got wind of his work.

The publisher told Peter he would need to become a "real PH" before he could do his book tour in the USA. Far to many people were pointing the finger at his stories and claiming BS on them. I rememebr one writer whom I know personally that said He would have had to been hunting big game since he was 1 year old and now be 200 years old to have killed all the animals he claims. Yet another PH said "he must have to shoot an animal in self defense on every hunt to have survived that many charges."

Peter Capstick was the greatest writer of all time on African hunting. Just read the books like you would a Steven King novel and enjoy the story. Don't put too much importance on the "reality" of the story, or that Peter actually lived that life or those events.

He eventually became a PH in Botswana and RSA. His services were were in high demand because of his status. Turns out he was a decent PH after all but the books were written long before he was a PH.

[markc]

can you recommend any other books on the same subjects?  

I gotta say that his chapter on Cape Buffalo made me wonder why anyone would consider going after them without a cannon of some type.  Very intersting read and the closest I will get to hunting Africa until I have retired from my current employer in a few more years.
markc

[JJHACK]

For educational purposes try these:

The perfect shot by Kevin Robertson A professional hunter and veternrian He knows shot placement like few others. His photo's in the book remove all doubt about the bullets proper path. They took whole animals froze them solid and them cut then with a band saw length wise to show where the organs lay and how to place bullets! The photos and drawings are unmatched. This is the worlds greatest resource on animal anatomy for hunters and shot placement.

Ballistics in perspective by Mike lagrange. This man has killed more big game then anyone alive today. He has culled out over 6000 elephants alone without counting any other big game. His opinion of shot placement,  bullet construction and cartridge choice is unmatched!

African Rifles and Cartridges by John Taylor This is both entertaining and somewhat educational. John Taylor likley killed more buffalo then anyone who ever lived. He took over 3000 with a 375HH to prove it was a minimum caliber for them while doing government culling. You won't likely find it in an original form. However it's been reprinted many times as it's a true classic. The Gun room Press usually has copies for sale.

For entertainment try these:

African Hunter by James Mellon Is also a wealth of knowlegde on every topic on hunting Africa and this book reads more entertaining then those above which are more educational then entertaining.

Hunting the dangerous game of Africa by John Kingsley-Heath This is a big book with a mountian of information and stories

Hunter by JA Hunter A classic African book with entertaining stories. This guy was alive during the peak of African hunting and lived the dream most of us have today. This is without a doubt the guy Peter Capstick wanted to be, and who he tried to emulate!

[markc]

I believe Hunter is mentioned affectionately in the Capstick book I am reading.  Will be checking for these at the place I bought the Capstick book.  Thanks again.
markc