THE HUNTING GAME. By Kevin D. Thomas.

2015 1st edition. 8vo paperback (148 x 210mm). Pp332. B/w photographs and illustrations, brief bibliography.

"The Hunting Game is a collection of hunting stories gleaned over the four decades the author has spent as a professional hunter in Southern Africa. Whilst many of the chapters are stories about specific hunting safaris the author has guided international clients on for different species, there are also chapters covering rifle calibers, bullet performance and related stuff. The author also includes a historical chapter on the hunting of crop raiding elephant (circa 1936) in Mozambique (what was then Portuguese East Africa). Another interesting chapter is about the author's experiences in dealing with tribal African superstitions when he was still a young game ranger with the Rhodesian Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management. Another chapter is a rather tongue in cheek humorous look at the often contentious gratuity issue in the safari hunting industry. Humor aside though, the author also issues a sombre warning as to the critical situation in some of Zimbabwe's once great state owned hunting safari concessions, where rampant poaching, greed, gross corruption, and horrific mismanagement have led to a sharp decline in wildlife numbers, probably now well beyond the critical tipping point. The author considers The Hunting Game a light campfire read, which will be of interest not only to sport hunting enthusiasts, but to anyone with an interest in the sustainable consumptive yield of Southern Africa's wildlife resources." Though not stated as a limited edition, only 200 copies were printed. Chapters include:- A bias towards all things kudu!; Random hunting reminisces and observations; Problem animal hunting - Marromeu, Mozambique, circa 1936; Eland memories; Waterbuck hunting memories; Red hartebeest: The high plains drifter; Random thoughts about the cull / trophy hunt combination; Warts and all; The noble warrior; Ubuthakathi!; For the love of impala; Tuskless elephant in Chirisa; The Sichifulo saga; Of common duiker and blue duiker; The .458 Lott; Big cat on the Bubye River; Giraffe reminisces; Of gratuities and broken horns; Old faithful - my 7x57mm Mauser; Close call with a buffalo; North Fork bullets - ideal for Africa; Sable: The suave African antelope; A zebra for decor; The parting; At the going down of the sun. The foreword is by Gregor Woods.