Sporting Classics Digital

March/April 2017

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S P O R T I N G C L A S S I C S • 93 B ack in the day" bird hunting was pretty much a local thing. Of course, there were a few "rich guys" that could muster the time and financial resources to travel to hunt birds that they couldn't find at home, but for the most part, "average Joe" hunted what he had. Folks who lived in the northeast had woodcock and the glorious ruffed grouse. Midwesterners pursued pheasants. East- coasters and folks along the "Big Muddy" were largely waterfowlers. Each locale developed its own customs and traditions. No greater bird hunting tradition exists than that surrounding "Gentleman Bob" in the South. I grew up in the South and naturally was a devotee of the latter. Over time, however, things changed. When railways and highways opened up the country in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, ordinary folks began to avail themselves of wider bird hunting opportunities virtually from coast to coast. And when jet passenger planes made intercontinental travel a reality, that ushered in a new era for sportsmen to reach destinations that were hitherto impractical. We now find hunters traveling to all corners of the world to new and more exotic hunting grounds. And more and more, bird hunters are among them. We usually think of big game hunters traversing the globe, but one man's sport is not necessarily the sport of his neighbor. And big game hunting is not everyone's game. In recent years we've seen more and shotguns by robert matthews Bird hunting in AfricA is finAlly tAking off. more hunters flocking to South America to gun doves, waterfowl, and even parrots. As wonderful as it is, many veteran travelers have developed a "been there and done that" feeling toward South America. That being said, I'm amazed that even the most diehard bird hunters haven't discovered the absolutely fabulous wingshooting in Africa. I'm not sure as to why, but if I had to venture a guess I'd say that, up until now, big game safaris have simply overshadowed the bird hunting opportunities. Africa is still the world's last great hunting ground. The continent, in its vastness, contains an amazing variety of gamebirds, depending on the locale. There are clouds of doves and pigeons that rival what you might see in Argentina. Again, depending on your location, you might also find a profusion of waterfowl, francolin, guinea fowl, sand grouse, tiny little quail, and God only knows what else that I simply haven't run into yet. As hunting opportunities for big, dangerous game begin continue to dwindle, I think that folks are starting to notice. Fabulous high-volume dove and pigeon shooting is found in the countryside around Kimberly, South Africa.

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