Every hunter remembers certain animals. Not always the biggest trophies or the easiest hunts, but the animals that leave behind lessons you carry for the rest of your career.

In this solo episode of PH Journals, I reflect on a few animals that shaped the way I approach hunting today. From an eland hunt with Cody that showed how small the margin for error can be, to the chaos of black wildebeest where adrenaline can easily get the better of you.

I also talk about the unpredictable nature of bushbuck in the coastal bush, the respect and planning required to hunt kudu successfully, and the humbling reality of Cape buffalo—how a herd can disappear in seconds and remind you how little control you really have in the African bush.

These animals didn’t just provide hunts… they provided lessons.

Lessons about patience, discipline, planning, and respect for the craft of hunting.