The challenges a hunter faces in C.A.R. are far greater than those of hunts in Eastern and Southern Africa. The entire hunt will be chronicled in a book that will be released later this year. I`m currently working my way through the rough draft. I`ve done a lot of writing throughout my career but this is my first attempt at a book, so I want to make it special.

I was hunting with PH Andre Roux of Dar El Kouti Safaris and we were in the central region of the country. We had a spectacular camp situated along the Mbali River. As usual, at my side for all the rides and thrills, was Kappie. Let me tell you—it was hot in C.A.R. 90 degrees everyday. This was the first safari in which I lost weight. That was nice and of course made possible by my daily ten-mile walks and stalks. Kappie took off a few lb`s as well.

Besides the book we have several other projects underway here at Sable Trail. We`re starting a school in Africa. I`m also in the process of launching an initiative to fight AIDS in Africa and will be asking the support of all you fellow hunters. You`d have to be living in a vacuum to not know the devastation AIDS has taken on Africa.

For us hunters to sit around and not do anything about it is unconscionable, especially considering how much we take from that continent. We can all give a little back for sure. Just in my short African safari career, four trackers that I`ve hunted with are no longer with us because of AIDS.

We`re also in the process of putting together an auction package to be donated at the 2008 Reno convention. It consists of a new Rigby .500/416, a hunt with Bwana Moja in Namibia in 2009, with portions to be included on our Namibian hunting DVD and taxidermy mounts of dangerous and plainsgame. What a deal!

More news on this to come later. We`ll have our own booth in Reno next year and two of the finest builders in Chicago are coming up with the design. Design and drawings just for an exhibition floor booth you ask? Well yes, because you all know we at here at Sable Trail don`t do anything half-aced.

And when you see this state of the art booth complete with TVs, interactive screens, virtual hunting, world-class mounts and automated shopping features, you`re not gonna believe it. I better keep tight-lipped about this project so as not to give the other guys any ideas.

They`ve already taken our production music, graphic ideas, video sequencing and special effects—employing them now to their advantage. Like I always say though, you know what they say about "imitation."

Sometime this summer my new Executive Producer Karen Frost, Brenda Brattleaf our editor, and I will sit down in our editing suite and start putting together, Delta Royale: Botswana`s Perfectly Shot Dangerous Game. If you`ve seen Fire and Ice, you`ve seen a trailer for Delta Royale.

Speaking of Fire and Ice, congrats are in order for my technical crew, Brenda, Tom and Kappie. That DVD was just awarded the first place Award of Excellence in the VIDEOGRAPHER AWARDS competition from more than 2000 nationwide entries. It was judged Best in Editing/Creative Usage of Music. That is a tremendous honor.