Hunting the Great Beasts of the World – Dene Cogdill’s Safari with Colonel Smoothbore
By Kelsey

Posted: October 7, 2012

I’ve known Dene and Lynn Cogdill for several years. Both are All-American and world class skeet shooters who have won world championships. I knew that both enjoyed big game hunting; what I didn’t know is how passionate Dene is about hunting the great beasts of the world.

In 2008, Dene and Lynn shared a 10 day Plains Game hunt in South Africa. Dene followed that hunt up with a 12 day dangerous game hunt in Zimbabwe in 2010. This past August, Dene upped the ante to the ultimate in big game hunting.

Dene traveled to Zimbabwe, Umguza R.D.C. Matabeleland North where for 14 days he, his PH (professional hunter), and the trackers and bearers of the safari searched and stalked in the wild lands of south central Africa. Elephant, crocodile and a sable were on the menu for Dene’s Zimbabwe hunt and as you can see in the photo, the croc was a monster.

Dene used a CZ Safari grade rifle chambered in 375 H&H Magnum. This classic big game cartridge is celebrating its 100 hundred year anniversary this year and it is most likely that more of the world’s big and dangerous game has fallen to the 375 H&H than any other big game cartridge.

Dene was able to take the ultimate prize in big game hunting; what the great writer Robert Ruark’s safari glossary describes as m’kubwa ndofu, big elephant. Some of you may think that elephants are endangered or near extinction. The fact is that elephant populations in much of Africa are not only healthy, but in some cases overpopulation is threatening the habitat where the great beasts thrive. In fact, there are some areas where populations are double the carrying capacity of the land.

Nearly every part of Dene’s elephant was used by the local villagers. The elephant will feed nourishing and very scarce protein to hundreds of people for months on end. There is the chance that when we sit down to our Thanksgiving turkey, some of Dene’s elephant will still be feeding hungry Africans. Trophy fees paid by hunters help keep the game plentiful thus providing employment in the safari camps for many people who otherwise might not be able to earn a living.

I’m a bit envious of my friend Dene, but also proud to be a member of our special brotherhood, hunters.

Be safe and good shooting.

Colonel Smoothbore

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