Readers Feedback
Dear Brooke
Thanks for a great magazine. Today, I took out a three-year subscription.
I love everything about this publication. The advertisements are exciting and the photos are great. The articles are well worded, and for anyone who has ever hunted they bring back a sense of nostalgia and longing to be ‘on the spoor’ again. I am enthralled by the tales of old and new, and thoroughly enjoy every page. Consequently, I did not renew subscriptions with other hunting magazines, as they simply do not compare with ASG.
I’ve always been obsessed with hunting and undertake at least five plains-game hunting trips per annum. This doesn’t include weekend hunts for pigs, etc. I have, over the past couple of years, started reading the great safari tales of Selous, Roosevelt, Patterson, and the like. This has just fuelled my obsession to undertake the ultimate hunt: stalking elephant, lion and Cape buffalo.
My quandary is this: I appreciate all that American and European hunters have done for Africa; they bring a constant flow of monies and aid to people who really require it. The boost in South Africa’s tourism sector can be largely attributed to foreign visitors. Overseas hunters have also taught us how to sustainably develop our hunting grounds, and have always been part of the ‘Classic Safari’ tales we hunters know and love.
Alas, this has also meant that the price for hunting big or dangerous game has skyrocketed. Even a guy like myself, who earns a very good living, will probably never be able to have the pleasure and experience of hunting elephant or lion in South Africa, much less the exceptional hunting grounds like the Selous in Tanzania. With prices usually quoted in US$, at present Rand to US$ exchange rates, what is a ‘poor’ South African hunter to do?
In the meantime, I wish you the best with your publication and hope ASG is around for a long time to supply endless hours of reading pleasure and flights of fantasy.
God bless,
Gerhard Wernecke
Hartbeespoort, South Africa
Dear ASG
WOW! I just picked up a couple of copies of ASG 14.2 on West and Central Africa. It's fantastic. Your magazine is done so well, so beautifully coloured. While many of us are aware of ASG, the magazine doesn't get nearly the respect it deserves from the American hunting community.
In other hunting publications, I find that only 50% of the stories appeal to me. With ASG, I find myself reading nearly 95% of the content.
Loved Brooke’s story about the life of the wife of the PH. Well written and truly informative, because it explained the evolution of a relationship. It was a story with no bang-bang-bang.
Marc Watts
Sable Trail Productions
Chicago, Illinois
Dear Brooke
Thank you and everyone at ASG for this wonderful magazine. It’s a real pleasure to read every issue from cover to cover.
Yours truly,
Neil Badenhorst
Monte Visa, South Africa
Dear ASG
Just a quick ‘attaboy’ (and girl!) for a fine magazine and the courage to ‘tell it like it is,’ versus the political correctness that seems to have taken over most editorial content in most media.
I’ve just finished reading ASG 14.2 (which has prompted me, by the way, to subscribe), and cannot praise enough Brooke's editorial, The Trouble With Africa. Africa needs look no further than its own internal politics to discover the cause of most of its problems. I also appreciated Terry Wieland's shooting column, The Hunting Rifle. Obviously, I agree with both pieces.
Hunting should be more about getting as close as you can – and then 10 metres closer – and not about how much energy your wonder-gun can carry to be lethal. I’ve had the privilege of hunting Africa three times, and my fondest memories all center around the great stalks my PHs have led me on, although more than a few ended with, "No, Al, we can find you a better one,” rather than a shot.
Again, thank you for a fine magazine. I look forward to receiving my first issue as a subscriber.
Al Greene
Blue Springs, Missouri
Dear Brooke
I’ve been a subscriber to ASG ever since I read my first issue many years
ago. This is truly an upbeat publication compared with other magazines that discuss hunting in Africa.
Vol. 14, Issue 2 on West and Central Africa is by far the best issue I’ve ever read. I appreciate how honest and down-to-earth the content is in each article, especially from Jean-Pierre Bernon and your husband, PH Rudy Lubin. The information about hunting West and Central Africa is priceless to any avid African safari hunter. I now have my eye on that part of the continent – if I don't run out of time.
I hope you will continue providing in-depth stories from different countries, with the best PHs stepping forward with actual factual information from the country they hunt.
To share a little of my background with you so that readers don’t think I’m a deer in the headlights, I’m 61 years old and have hunted Africa 14 times. I’ve taken the Big Five almost twice by the hardest means possible. Unfortunately, some of my trophies were destroyed in a fire in a local restaurant, and I’ve spent several years replacing them, which I surely did not intend to do! My wife, Peggy, and I were married in Victoria Falls in 1998 (before Mugabe went crazy). At present, Peggy is working with Barrie and Bertie Duckworth of Mokore Safaris in Zimbabwe, helping with things here in the States.
I’ve been blessed to see both the good and the bad of hunting in Africa, but look forward to the future of African hunting.
Keep up the good work!
Pemble Davis
Merigold, Mississippi
Dear Brooke and Birgit
As a subscriber to ASG, I’d like to start by complimenting you and your team on an excellent magazine. The content is great, with good variety, and I also enjoy the Sporting People section.
However, I do have one criticism. Several trophy photos in the Sporting People section are repeated issue after issue, which is dull. You need to get safari operators to supply their most recent photos; maybe you can even get readers to submit their most memorable photos of that PH or outfitter.
Keep up the good work!
Dr. Michael Nigro
London, UK
Dear Brooke and Birgit
Ladies, I must say I am thoroughly impressed with your magazine. The format, pictures, and articles are all top of the line. Too many of today’s hunting magazines in the United States are filled with advertisements and biased articles on gear, which I believe detracts from providing readers with quality information. Thanks again for a wonderful reading experience!
Jed Crabb
Anchorage, Alaska
Good morning Birgit
We just returned from Zambia and I was really impressed with your magazine. I spent many hour of free time reading it and would like to subscribe to it. I also would like to know if I can purchase your last two issues with the articles about Richard-Bell Cross’s encounter with the buffalo and the Dry Land Sitatunga both I believe written by Andrew Baldry.
Marie Pavlik
Florida, USA
Dear ASG
Just a note to let you all know that I thoroughly enjoy your fine magazine. From the great photography to the quality print format to the great writing, I really appreciate your efforts and magazine. I particularly enjoy the book reviews – Brooke’s Leopard Blind Reading- as I am an avid reader of modern and historical books about African hunting, lifestyle and colonial history. Rarely does anyone publish quality and in-depth reviews as you do. I also enjoy PH Q&A articles as well. I love the honesty of the PH’s and their view on clients and hunting. The recent one about Andrew Baldry was super. He is blunt, to the point and I would love to hunt with him. Last but not least, I like the advertising format. Many magazines are flooded with low quality and distracting advertisements touting products or services that are of little interest to the sportsman. Your ads are well done, informative and helpful. In the recent issue on Zambia, I selected a safari company for a trip in 2010 as a result of your ads.
Thanks for the great magazine and your efforts.
Ross Murphy
USA
Dear Brooke - (USA - 2008)
I am a better hunter and businessman than author but I can tell you of my experience with the Wentzel family that owns and operated Kirabo Lodge in the Limpopo Province of South Africa that Africa has much to offer. My party was treated as part of the family and the hunting and fellowship was extrodinary. I will be returning this April with my wife and 3 other couples to again enjoy the Wentzels hospitality and company . If the outfitters featured in your magazine hold a glass to these folks then I can see I will be returning to Africa many times in the future . Your magazine is extraordinary and inciteful . Keep it coming
Sincerely
Dana Pazolt
USA
Dear Brooke - (USA - 2008)
Just a quick note to say thanks for your work in editing ASG. Of all
the outdoor publications I recieve, it is my favorite.
I have enjoyed following Ron Thompson's career. He guided me and my
wife to our first African trophies in 1995.
Recently you published an article on gun safety by Ken Morris. My wife
and I have hunted with Ken several times and have appreciated his
concerns for gun safety.
We experienced a near fatality while hunting elsewhere and an event
like that does put a damper on things.
Keep up your good work!
Best regards,
Gary Underhill
Brian Johnson - (USA - 2007)
Hi Birgit.
Just spent two weeks in South Africa and became exposed to your magazine. Loved it and have ordered a subscription through your Vermont office. Got this from my Guide Russell Lovermore of Safari-Trails International in Patterson. Through your Vermont office, I was able to get some past issues, specifically all of 11 and 12. I did buy the fall issue of 13 in South Africa. Are there any other past issues that you may have available to purchase?
Thanks for looking into this. I love your magazine.
Brian Johnson
Tucson AZ, USA
Brooke and Birgit - (USA - 2007)
Africa is an amazing continent, with many animals seen no where lese in the world. After a six week safari I am certain, it has beauty like no other. Your magazine African Sporting Gazette does a fabulous job of displaying that beauty through color photographs of professional quality, and information of the same level. The visitor to Africa would be foolish to arrive on African soil without first reading some issues, of your magazine. They would certainly miss some of the most treasured areas, and wildlife available on this large continent. Your articles are to the point, diverse and provide information only a local would know about Africa.
Keep up the good work, sharing the African beauty and safari options with us not so fortunate to live there.
Sharon Merriam
CEO, RCS Outdoor Writers Inc.
Longmont, Co, USA