An adventure is what you make it and for the Fischer family they made it a good one. Darla, the matriarch of the family, and her sons Tim and Ted recently went on a safari in Limpopo, South Africa. For a geographic reference, it shares a boarder with Botswana. Also along on this adventure were family friends Steve Pechacek, John Branshaw and Vicki Stutske.  

How did that group get 8,700 miles and halfway around the world? Well, that started with a 200-mile trip to the Wisconsin Sportsman’s Expo in Wisconsin Dells. After a conversation with a vendor at that show, a seed was planted that grew very quickly and plans were made.

The Marvel African Safari was the hunting spread where the Wisconsin hunters and travelers landed. The ranch covers a land mass of basically all of Pierce and St. Croix counties combined. It’s why they traveled and hunted by truck, but it was also to get into position for a stalk. The hunts were real, fair chase, fenceless and often started at sunup and lasted until sundown. Also, all hunts were under the direct supervision of a Professional Hunter (always referred to as a PH) who scrutinized each hunting opportunity. Management goals were always the first consideration before a harvest could take place. To that end, many areas have been left unhunted for years in order to maintain or improve the balance and herd health of animals.

Another interesting aspect of this hunt was that none of the harvested meat went with the hunters. Because of the lack of the modern convenience of refrigeration, a lot of meat is donated to schools and other civic groups where it can be used and consumed quickly. The rest of the meat is sold to established markets throughout the area.

Darla, who is an accomplished hunter in her own right and has been featured on the outdoor show “Minnesota Bound,” harvested a zebra and a gemsbuck. The best trophy taken during the trip was harvested by Tim who bagged a golden sable. It is highly prized and when the PH got excited at the sight of the great animal Tim knew it was truly a trophy. Tim also bagged a wildebeest. Ted experienced the safari firsthand by bagging a genet cat and a blesbok. Vicki collected a porcupine and an impala, and Steve added a wildebeest and a gemsbuck. John was the official video photographer of the group.

The hunt was the motivation for traveling halfway around the world (yes, it is springtime there) but all the other experiences were just as memorable. Taking in the local cultures, cuisines, interacting with the local people, and seeing new and beautiful countries were just as important to the trip as the hunting. The entire trip was enhanced even further by experiencing it with family and great friends.

Congrats to all and thanks for sharing your adventure with me.

Didn’t get enough Dave this week? Visit “Outdoor Trails and Tales with Dave Beck” on Facebook or at  ottwithdavebeck on Instagram for photos and video of Dave’s adventures. You can share your own photos and video with him there as well, or by emailing him at dave@piercecountyjournal.news Also, check out OTT content on Instagram @thepiercecountyjournal