Times article

Since opening a shop in downtown Brodhead more than 20 years ago, Albrecht has specialized in fish, birds and game animals found here in North America. More recently, however, he’s expanded his impressive repertoire of skills to include more exotic species found in far-off places like South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

He also sells Mathews archery equipment and Deer Cam trail timer cameras at the 3,500-square-foot taxidermy shop and gallery he opened six years ago on Wisconsin 11.

His first hunting trip to South Africa really sparked his enthusiasm for safari-type experiences, he said. “This time I want to shoot a vaal rhebok.”

The rhebok is highly competitive, he said, with only one mature buck in a herd that may include 20 or more deer. If a competitor challenges the buck, they will fight to the death. A small animal weighing no more than 30 pounds, the rhebok has long, very sharp horns (not antlers) that are highly lethal in a fight, according to Albrecht.

Now, he will accompany nine other hunters (and several spouses) to South Africa this June for a two-week hunting trip offered by Crusader Safaris.

Albrecht met with the group recently in Brodhead to provide them with the information they will need for planning their trip and answer any questions before departing for the “Dark Continent.”

To help with the pre-departure briefing, one of the guides for the safari, Andrew Pringle, flew in from Harrisburg, Penn. where he and his partner are drumming up more business at an outdoor show.

The company’s two main hunting concessions are located in the Baviaans River Conservancy and the Stormberg Mountains. The travelers learned the Baviaans River Lodge offers a luxurious facility in the style one might expect of an African hunting camp with all the comforts its guests will appreciate after a long day’s hunt.

The Stormberg Mountain concession offers terrain that is quite different. The area has excellent plains animal opportunities and is world renowned as a game bird hunting destination. The nearby Umkomaas River Valley features some of the best spiral-horned antelope hunting in Africa. Accommodations there are of the tent-camping variety in the old tradition of African safaris.

Tall, dark and handsome at the age of 27, Pringle is a former professional cricket player who promises a friendly and helpful support system for the visiting Americans. Blithely reassuring in manner, the “bloke” is well-spoken with a charming South African accent.

He answers questions with ease, filling in the gaps with interesting anecdotes about the wide range of experiences visitors can expect on their safari. Spouses who decide not to hunt are offered myriad other adventures including shark diving, bird and animal watching, shopping and wine tasting excursions.

The group will dine on the game they harvest. For those whose palate resists wild game, however, other tasty dishes are readily available, Pringle said.

No high fences

Pringle seems especially proud of the fact that the hunters will experience wide open spaces as opposed to fenced preserves that lessen the fair chase aspects of the hunt. The result is a challenging and rewarding hunt, Pringle said. “People want to go on our safaris because of the wide open character of the hunt. They want to hunt free-ranging animals.”

According to Pringle, the small number of hunters they host during a season—no more than 45 annually—is way below average and leaves no significant impact on the overall population of wild animals in the 800,000-acre range. Hunters can expect to shoot trophy animals as measured by Safari Club International, he said.

He hesitated when asked about the weather. He related telling someone there would be no rain in June when they arrived, nor would there be any snakes out. “Of course,” he said, “it rained for three days and the fellow saw a snake.”

June in South Africa falls in mid-winter. Temperatures should be in the 60s and 70s during the day, Pringle said, and perhaps fall into the 30s at night.

John and Sherry Hlavachek of Albany are going on a safari for the first time. The couple has waited more than 37 years for the opportunity to go to Africa saying they began talking about it when they were first married.
“We’ve been dreaming about it forever,” Sherry said.

Likewise, this will be the first trip to Africa for Harley and Tina Berra of Brodhead. Harley has enjoyed several hunting trips to Canada and Alaska, but he’s looking forward to hunting in Africa.

In his younger days, Harley said, he worked as a hunting guide in New Mexico for nine years. The Berras will be accompanied on the trip by their good friends, Art and Colleen Stender of La Crescent, Minn.

There is still time to sign up for the June safari. Anyone interested should call Albrecht at (608) 897-2313. For more information about Crusader Safaris, visit www.crusaderssafaris.com