Joe Francois - OVIS #26 - Page 11
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| Joe Francois (WI) took this old broomed Yakutia snow sheep in August 2005 with Vladimir Melnikov's Profi-Hunt Ltd. |
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Joe Francois (WI) has added yet another fine ram toward his Ovis World Slam. The photo of his very old Yakutia snow sheep reveals a lot of annual growth rings. I am not sure how old that old broomed warrior is, Joe, but I can see enough to guess at least 14 years old. You must be proud of such a trophy.
Under "hunt high- lights," Joe wrote: This hunt did not start well. I waited for my luggage in Moscow. Finally left on the third day without my hunting clothes.
Bought some clothes in Moscow, but not enough warm ones. Mark Jackson (IN) was in my camp and was generous enough to lend me long underwear, vest, insulated shirt, wool hat, gloves and rain pants. I was extremely pleased with Profi-Hunt and all they did.
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Gary Parker, Vladimir Melnikov - OVIS #26 - Page 36
Gary Parker (NE) has accomplished something very few people have ever done, or will ever do. He has taken a Dagestan (Eastern) tur, a Mid-Caucasian tur, and a Kuban (Western) tur all on the same trip!
It took almost a month for him to do that, but he got it done. I am looking at some e-mailed photos of two of his trophies that were sent by his outfitter Vladimir Melnikov of Profi-Hunt.
I could use those now, but Gary, I will await your report to go along with them - and I am sure you will be sending along more photos then. Gary and Vladimir hunted in Azerbaijan for the Dagestan, and two different Russian republics for the Mid-Caucasian (Kabardino-Balkariya) and Kuban (Karachayevo-Cherkesiya).
I am going to use Vladimir's photo here, as he took a very good Dagestan tur in Azerbaijan after Gary had his on the ground. We await your full report, Gary!
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Dennis Campbell - OVIS #26 - Page 52
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| Dennis Campbell (AL, left) and Alexie Maximov of Profi-Hunt (right) with Dennis's
Kuban (Western) tur taken on September 3, 2005, to complete his Ovis World Slam
Super 30. |
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Then, in July I got a frantic email from Vladimir Melnikov of Profi-Hunt. He had donated a Kuban (Western) tur hunt to our February 2005 convention auction, and that hunt had been purchased by Dan Smith Jr. (CA). Dan had contacted Vladimir and needed to postpone his hunt to 2006. Vladimir's email explained that he did not have an opening for 2006, and how was he to tell this good client and auction buyer that it was not possible? I quickly solved Vladimir's problem, because I was booked with him for 2006 would gladly swap with Dan!
So, the deal was made and my brain began to click. If I could be successful on both trophies, it would give me the Capra Super 20 in 2005, rather than waiting until 2006. Also, since the Kuban tur counts for both Ovis and Capra, that would give me the Ovis Super 30 too! Wow, what a great turn of events. I knew both trophies would be tough, as all three turs and the chamois from the Caucasus Mts. Certainly are.
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Dennis Campbell (AL) completed his Capra World Slam Super 20 on September 5,
2005, with this Caucasian chamois in Russia. He booked with Vladimir Melnikov and
Proti-Hunt. |
Well, August 30, 2005, rolled around and I departed for Russia the day after the main devastation of Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. What would happen to our 2006 convention was strong on my mind. To make the story shorter, I will cut to the hunt. I was really fortunate to get my tur on the first day of hunting. It did take a few days to get to camp, but the horses made the hunt a little easier than most Caucasus hunts. I went to 10,500 feet and we hunted down from there. I took the tur at 9,500 feet. It was down the mountain on foot, losing 3,000 vertical feet of altitude within a half mile - tough on the knees and thighs! I was pleased that we got fogged out on day two. My legs were so sore, I could hardly move or touch them. On day three, I got the Caucasian chamois by 10:30 a.m. It was quite easy (and lucky). I was ecstatic to get these great trophies. Thanks to Dan Smith Jr. and Vladimir Melnikov for the opportunity!
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