stubs if it eases your mind, I have stalked (and killed, there IS a difference) with a bow. I occasionally hunt from the ground during gunseason and hunt from a Double Bull ground blind ALOT during early bowseason. Africa wise I havent been there. Back in 87 my family had a 21 day trip planned, booked (even the outfitter came over and gave us a slide presentation) and was ready to go. The WHOLE family was going, wives and everything. Leopards, Lions, Zebras, Buffs you name it. Only Elephants and Rhino were going to pose special problems and cost TON$$$ more. Then a sister-in-law came up pregnant and the whole thing went south from there. [:@] EVENTUALLY we are going. As you said the trips really are no more than alot of trips out west and multiple species are available.

9 boxes in 5 years aint much, like I said the gun is easy to shoot all the way too 600yds so why pull the trigger alot @ $5 per pull? Did I say it was my only rifle? I shoot much more than most, just not the same gun over and over. And besides when hunting season closes its time to get the bassboat out and also time to chase turkeys!

Chasing them on the ground, well thats a really low odds style of hunting in states where the herd is over 1 million. There are literally HUNDREDS of deer running around in each woodlot. Walking is sure to bust em for miles. We have maybe 1 snow per decade during deer season in west TN as well. I would LOVE to sneak along in the snow and trail up a buck like you guys in Maine do. Would LOVE it! But again that would be tough as you would be constantly bumping deer. I hunt a place in southern MO that has large sections of mature hardwoods. When the rut is just right and the ground is wet I have been known to climb down and slip along through the woods. Its a very enjoyable way to hunt. But again, you typically arent going to walk up on a 150" buck very often. The stands are much more productive.

Good luck,
RA