Most hunters ease into it gradually. They start small with a squirrel here, a whitetail there, maybe a mule deer if they’re feeling adventurous. Me? I skipped the line and dove in headfirst and went out of the comfort zone.
Out of the Comfort Zone – Karen Hunter Begins Her Hunting Journey in Africa
I’m a firearms instructor, gun writer, and educator. My everyday world revolves around black range clothes, defensive-mindset drills, home- and self-defense scenarios, and training at bad-breath distances. That kind of preparation builds the cold certainty of being ready to defend at all times. That’s where I’m locked in and loving it.
Hunting is an entirely different world and mindset: endless thornveld where animals ghost you like ninjas, the wind plays dirty tricks, and patience isn’t optional—it’s everything. I traded my black range clothes for safari khakis, hung up my tactical rig for bush gear, and boom, I was suddenly the newbie on a plains game hunt in South Africa with Mossberg. The moment the plane touched down in Johannesburg, my comfort zone stayed behind at customs.
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Kimberley, South Africa
This Mossberg media hunt took place in Kimberley, South Africa, in April 2024. To be honest, Linda Powell’s attendance was the main reason I accepted. Linda is a dear friend and has been a mentor to me for quite some time. She has countless hunts under her belt, both domestic and international, including several trips to Africa. Having my first real hunting experience with a true subject-matter expert, and someone I could be completely transparent with about my lack of hunting knowledge, was the chance of a lifetime.
There is so much to know before traveling internationally to hunt, especially with a firearm and ammunition. In the weeks leading up, there was paperwork upon paperwork, rifle inspections, and learning every rule and regulation to ensure I entered the country and cleared customs without issues. I had to figure out the right gear, clothing, and footwear, and familiarize myself with a completely different culture.
Animal Education
Learning about the animals alone was overwhelming. Especially where to take an ethical shot. I’m a center-mass, headshot kind of girl, and that instinctive shooting style wasn’t going to work for hunting. For all these reasons, the entire media group headed to Gunsite Academy in Arizona for their Safari/Hunter Prep course.
That course was a wealth of much-needed information. It covered sling use, shooting positions, field-expedient positions, shooting sticks, ammo management, communicating with your guide or PH (professional hunter), and more. We shot out to 300 yards at unknown-distance targets and ran through Gunsite’s outdoor simulator. The world-class instructors were all well-versed in international hunting, with personal experience in Africa. They spent considerable time educating us on travel, customs, and environmental differences. This is an excellent class for hunters in general, but an absolute must for anyone hunting abroad for the first time. Without it, I would have been completely overwhelmed.
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In addition to the media and Mossberg attendees, our sponsors joined us. This was fantastic; we worked together to ensure the gear, including the clothing, was exactly what we needed and functioning properly. 5.11 Tactical, Silencer Central, Maven Optics, Galco Holsters, Wiley X, Spartan Precision Equipment, and others were incredibly helpful and generous with their products.
When I arrived in South Africa, I was enveloped with emotion and amazement unlike anything I’d ever felt before. I’m blessed to be well-traveled and to have experienced distant places and cultures, but this was different. Being in what is known as “the cradle of humanity,” where all human life sprang, possessed a beauty all its own and carried a spiritual essence that seemed to pierce my very existence.
That first night, we took an incredible tour. Sitting in the back of the truck in my safari seat, the wind in my face, looking out at the most beautiful blue sky I’d ever seen, I got to watch the animals in their natural environment. We all started singing along to “Africa” by Toto and were having the best time when the truck stopped. In the distance was a wildebeest. The PH said one of us could take it if we wanted. In an instant, I snapped out of my utopian state. Now? I thought the hunting started the next morning, but we’re doing it now? It was at that very moment that a thought crossed my mind I hadn’t had yet: Was I going to be able to shoot an animal? Especially these animals that seemed so majestic.
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Hesitation
In no way am I anti-hunting, but something in me was hesitating. If I didn’t need it to survive, how was I going to go through with this? I was very open with my incredible team. They told me these feelings were normal, that this was my hunt, and whether I took an animal was up to me—zero pressure. We spent a couple of hours discussing different aspects of hunting and conservation, and many things I never realized. I felt much better, but still wasn’t sure if I’d actually take an animal.
I ended up taking a blesbok and a gemsbok with my Mossberg Patriot Predator chambered in .308 Win. I literally cried over each animal and took a moment to just be still as I kneeled next to them. Not from regret, but from being filled with so much emotion and respect that words cannot describe. My gemsbok was an amazing story. He was older and had been pushed out of the herd. We were literally out in the middle of nowhere, and there he was, still, just standing in front of a large rocky hill. When I looked through my scope, it was almost as if something was telling me it was okay, that it was his time.
100 Yard Off Hand Shot
I fired one suppressed shot, and you could hear the instant “thwap” as he hit the ground. Everyone cheered encouragingly, since dropping a gemsbuck instantly is not common. I was thrilled to have done so well, but dreading the drive to see him. My PH, Obi, pointed out the scars on his face and explained how older males are pushed out of the herd. I couldn’t help but feel this animal was truly ready to go, and it was his time. They used a winch to load him into the back of the truck. Once he was off the ground, my hunting partner, Richard Nance, found a beautiful African coin lying on the ground where my gemsbok had been.
We couldn’t get over that. We were out in the middle of nowhere. Nance handed me the coin and said, “Africa gave you this animal. It was meant to be. Now you have a good luck charm.”
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Four Animals
I had a total of four animals I could have taken while there. After the gemsbok, nothing else felt right. So instead, I concentrated on learning as much as I could from the others attending and their experiences. This hunting trip has given me a deeper respect for hunting and conservation.
On the lighter side, there were quite a few hilarious moments—the kind that only come with a newbie out of their element. Not to mention epic danger. It’s very easy to forget you’re in a wild environment that could literally kill you. On my last hunting day, I was stalking an impala with my PH, Obi. We followed it for a while as it went up to the top of a hill, disappearing behind very tall grass. I knew I wasn’t going to shoot it, but I wanted to learn from Obi. I raised my rifle and, looking through the scope, saw a strange “M”-type formation over the tall grass.
Cape Buffalo
I panned and saw another, then another, and more. Just as I was processing this, Obi took my rifle, looked at me, and put a finger over his mouth in a shushing gesture. He whispered, “Buffalo.” My heart sank as I whispered back, “Cape?” Cape buffalo were my biggest fear while in South Africa. So, there we were, just Obi and I, twenty yards away from an entire herd of cape buffalo. We turned and briskly, but quietly, made our way back to the vehicle, which was quite a way off. I literally thought we might die. One slight shift of wind or startling sound, and they would have trampled us, and there would be nothing you could do. All I could think about was my kids.
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I stayed calm the entire time, not looking back once. “Follow Obi, get to the truck, get home to my kids” was the sentence playing repeatedly in my mind. When we finally got back to the truck, that’s when I allowed myself to panic just a bit. It was at that point that I realized I would never enjoy hunting any type of predator that may want to kill me. That is truly the incredible beauty of hunting trips like these: You find out what type of hunter you may or may not be. I respect and enjoy hunting, but I know I will be very selective about the type of hunt. For other people, they discover a passion they never realized they had and become avid hunters, hunting as often as they can.
Importance of Conservation
More importantly, it is a phenomenal way to learn about the importance of conservation and how we can all make a difference. If you’re someone who’s been wanting to go on a hunt but is hesitant for any reason, you should absolutely pull the trigger and just go. It’s okay to be new and feel out of your element. Find seasoned, knowledgeable guides that you trust, do your research, and prepare. I’ve found that the hunting side of this industry is extremely patient, helpful, and welcoming. There’s something beautifully satisfying about connecting with others, and taking the time to slow down and reconnect with what really matters is more than worth it.
Out of the Comfort Zone
“Hunting is not a hobby. It’s a way of life that teaches us respect, patience, and appreciation for the natural world.” —Jim Shockey.
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