Making A Terminally Ill Client's Final Dream Come True

[Major Khan]

We often wonder . What is the 1 thing which you yearn to do ... Prior to breathing your last ?

In the case of 1 of my clients , a terminally ill gentle man who was suffering from lung cancer ... It was 1 thing and 1 thing , only . He wished to shoot a record Indian forest panther ... Before " Kicking the bucket " . And my former fellow professional shikaree , Tobin Stakkatz and I ... Were determined to make this gentle man's dream come true . Today , I am going to narrate how we did so . Let us turn the clock back , Dear Readers ... To 1968 , and let us travel to Jaipur , India .

Our client ( The gentle man who is using the crutches ) and I ... Ascending a macchan . Photograph by Tobin Stakkatz .

 

[Art Lambart II]

I'm looking forward to another great story.

 

[Major Khan]

It was the end of May , and the annual shikar season was almost drawing to a close . Old Tobin and I had successfully finished guiding most of our clients for the season .Most of the employees of Allwyn Cooper Limited were planning to dedicate the next few months to the more personal aspects of their lives . And I decided that now would be the best time to take a vacation to Uttarakhand ... With my girl friend , who had been enthusiastic to get away from Nagpur for a few days . Still , it would not be a wise idea to make any plans ... With out 1st asking Mr. Shukla ( The owner of Allwyn Cooper Limited ) for permission to take the rest of the month off . After all , shikar season was still officially open until the 15th of June ... And we thus , had a commitment to fulfill our duties as professional shikarees .

When we both arrived at the head office of Allwyn Cooper Limited ... We soon realized that we had been incredibly wise to refrain from making any plans , prior to consulting with Mr. Shukla . For Mr. Shukla , indeed ... DID have 1 last client for us to guide , for this season . A gentle man had booked a shikar with Allwyn Cooper Limited , for a large forest panther. And he had already arrived in India . We were to meet him , tomorrow . My heart bounded with excitement . Hunting forest panthers is the most DIVINE sport ... Ever to be practiced by man . Rivaled by ABSOLUTELY NO OTHER form of hunting .

The next morning , we met our client . And we were greatly taken aback by what we saw . There , sitting on a wheel chair ... Was our client - A frail , lanky man with sickly yellow eyes . He had an oxygen tank strapped to the wheel chair , and he was breathing from an oxygen mask ... Which was connected to the oxygen tank via a tube . Mr . Shukla introduced us to the gentle man . He was a 75 year old World War 1 veteran ... A former member of the American Expeditionary Forces . The gentle man had been diagnosed with lung cancer , and had been given 3 years to live . His life long dream had been to secure a record forest panther ... And he was determined to accomplish this goal , prior to passing on to the happy hunting grounds . His friends had recommended him to call up on the services of Allwyn Cooper Limited ... And here he was .

Just looking at the gentle man , was a sobering experience . Both Tobin and I felt incredibly sorry for the gentle man . If we could ... We would have both , very much liked to have cured him of his cancer . How ever , no one except God / Allah can work such miracles . We could , how ever do the next best thing ... Which was possible to the mortal man . We COULD guarantee our client the panther shikar of his life . Both Tobin and I readily agreed to serve the gentle man , as his professional shikarees .

We both decided to examine the gentle man’s battery . He had brought along an expensive best grade Holland & Holland Royal Side Lock Ejector side by side double barreled rifle , chambered in .458 Winchester magnum . Along side this , he had brought along a box of 510 grain Winchester brand round nose soft point cartridges . The rifle looked brand new . Tobin and I had exchanged glances with 1 another , with out uttering a word . We , each knew what the other person was thinking . The gentle man had this rifle built bespoke for him ... Specifically for the purposes of this shikar . He wanted his life’s final adventure to be grand , in every possible way .

Tobin and I were both determined to ensure that our client had the most comfortable , yet enjoyable shikar experience of ALL time . That said , all of us had to be realistic ... And certain special considerations needed to be made , in light of the gentle man’s physical disabilities and ailing health .

 

[Major Khan]

3 days later , our entire shikar party was in the forests of the Jaipur state . Our entire shikar party was traveling in 2 vehicles . Our shikar party consisted of 10 people :
> Myself
> Tobin
> His Royal Excellence , Prince Hira Singh ( The owner of a Jaipur based shikar outfitting service , named “ Shikar O Shikar “ or “ Hunt & Hunt “ )
> Hamid Moula ( A professional shikaree , under the employment of Shikar O Shikar )
> our client
> 4 coolies
> Hamid’s Garo tracker , Gopala .

Tobin and I were with our 4 coolies , in my Land Rover Series 1 . Our client was in His Royal Excellence’s Land Rover Series 1 , accompanied by His Royal Excellence , Hamid and Gopala . I carried my “ Old Belgian “12 Bore double barreled side by side shot gun ... Which was loaded with my hand loaded Eley Alphamax magnum “ High Brass “ 3 inch spherical ball cartridges . Tobin carried his Fabrique Nationale .423 Mauser Model 98 bolt rifle ... Which was loaded with RWS brand 347 grain solid metal covered cartridges . His Royal Excellence was armed with a side by side side lock ejector double barreled rifle , which was custom built by James Purdey ... And was chambered in .375 Holland & Holland magnum . This was loaded with 300 grain Winchester Silver Tip soft point cartridges . Hamid was armed with his Indian Ordinance Factories 12 bore double barreled side by side shot gun , which was loaded with Eley 2.5 inch “ High Brass “ spherical ball cartridges . Gopala was carrying our client’s Holland & Holland double barreled .458 Winchester magnum caliber rifle, along with a satchel full of spare cartridges . Our coolies were carrying refreshments , butcher knives , skinning implements and tools . In my Land Rover Series 1 , we had also brought along a live female goat ( To use as bait , for the forest panther ) .

His Royal Excellence , Prince Hira ... While owning and operating a shikar outfitting service , only offered clients the opportunity to hunt 3 species of game animals :
> Gaur bison
> Royal Bengal tiger
> Feathered game
He considered shikars for all other manner of game animals to be “ Not exciting enough “ to guide clients for . How ever , he was very close to Mr . Shukla ... And the employees of Allwyn Cooper Limited and Shikar O Shikar enjoyed extremely friendly relations with 1 another . On that particular day , His Royal Excellence and Hamid had decided to accompany us on the panther shikar ... Simply for recreational purposes . And we had gladly added them , to our little shikar party . The more , the merrier . The fact that ( Unlike most Royalty ) His Royal Excellence was extremely sporty and made do , with the most basic facilities ... Was an added bonus .

We finally reached a spot in the forest ... Which was known to be frequented by forest panthers . His Royal Excellence and I remained near the vehicles , with our frail client ... Along with our 4 coolies . Tobin , Hamid and Gopala embarked in to the forests ... Intent on finding panther spoor . In the mean time , our coolies kept our client cool ... By fanning him with ornate silk hand fans . I offered the client some refreshments - A few pieces of cold shepherd’s pie and cup of iced orange juice . The gentle man feebly attempted to eat the shepherd’s pie and sipped a little of the orange juice .

Both His Royal Excellence and I felt extremely disheartened to see this poor gentle man ( A war hero , on top of every thing else ) , struggle to do some thing as basic as eating and drinking . The fork slipped from his hand and fell on the floor of the Land Rover Series 1 . His Royal Excellence bent down to retrieve the fork , but our client stopped him . He feebly spoke out “ 1 thing I’ll never take ... Is pity from any body . Every man needs to fight for his dignity . “ . At the time ... I did not even have the slightest clue , as to what the gentle man was talking about . How ever , 52 years later ... I now fully understand what he meant , all too well . We both watched him , as he painfully reached down ... And struggled to pick up the fork . It took him a full 3 minutes , and even though both His Royal Excellence and I wished to help him pick up the fork ... We decided to honor our client’s request . He finally did pick up the fork .

4 hours had passed ... When Tobin , Hamid and Gopala had finally returned . They had found the spoor of a large forest panther . We now lay out our plan of action . The coolies were to build a macchan , on the top of a tree ... Directly in the middle of the area , where the forest panther spoor had been found . Roughly 50 yards from the macchan ... We would tie the goat , as bait . When the forest would arrive ( At night ) ... Our client could safely shoot the brute , from the safety of the macchan . It seemed like a capital idea .

Tobin , Gopala and Hamid led the way . I pushed our client’s wheel chair , and His Royal Excellence stayed behind me . Our 4 coolies remained close behind , carrying all of our supplies ( And our client’s crutches ) . We finally arrived at the location ... Where forest panther spoor had been found . Hamid , then ordered the coolies to begin building the macchan . It took the coolies roughly , an hour and a half ... To finish building the macchan . Tobin , then led the female goat to a tree which was roughly 50 yards away from the macchan ... And tied her to the tree . We coached our client , on what to do .

As soon as the forest panther had killed the goat , and had begun to feed on her corpse ... Hamid would flick on a powerful 2 cell torch light , and shine the light at the brute . This would give our client approximately 2 seconds , to place his shot(s) on the forest panther’s vital region(s) . Every thing was ready ... And the sun was just about to set .

Tobin , coaching our client ... On how to shoot a forest panther at night . Photograph by Hamid Moula .

 

[WAB]

Major, you are an honorable man. To treat one of our war hero’s in his final days with such dignity is indicative of the quality of man that you are. I salute you sir.

 

[Art Lambart II]

Major Kahn, you have a great gift for describing a hunt, it's like I was there with you. How far did you have to push your client's wheelchair through the jungle?

 

[Major Khan]

It was around 11:15 PM , at night . Hamid and our client were up , on the macchan . Tobin and I were lying in wait ... In a hole in the ground , which was covered with a sheet of tarpaulin ... Topped with grass and dead leaves ( Our American clients used to refer to this arrangement , as a “ Pit Blind “ ) . The female goat was bleating continuously , in loneliness ... Until suddenly , it had gone completely silent . All of us ( Being professional shikarees ) knew EXACTLY why the goat had stopped bleating . Some thing which she had seen , had spooked her . And we had no doubt , as to what it could possibly be . We had heard the call of Ti Ti birds ... Approximately 15 minutes , previously . When Ti Ti birds call at night ... It is a tell tale sign of a forest panther’s presence , in the area .

Slowly peaking out , from under the tarpaulin ... Tobin and I noticed that a dark mammalian figure ( About the size of a large calf ) was slowly creeping towards the startled goat . It was a forest panther . The brute proceeded to clean it’s claws on the bark of a nearby tree ... Some thing which a panther is always wont to do , prior to attacking it’s prey . Then , it got With in inches of the goat ... And gave 1 swift , feral swipe . The female goat , with out so much as a whimper ... Dropped on to the green forest floor , lifeless . We all heard the ravenous sounds of the brutish forest panther ... As it began to feed on the corpse of the female goat. Hamid whispered to our client to get ready . Our client disengaged the safety , on his .458 Winchester magnum calibre double barreled rifle , and quietly raised the rifle to his shoulder .

Right at that moment ... Hamid flicked on the 2 cell torch light , and flashed the beam at the forest panther’s body . The startled brute turned to look in our direction . Right at that moment , our client fired off the left and right barrels ( Almost simultaneously ) ... With his point of aim , being behind the brute’s shoulder . We heard the telling sounds of both the 510 grain soft point round nose bullets , striking the forest panther . The enraged brute roared in pain ... And disappeared in to the thickets .

“ Poton , you’re up ! “ Yelled Tobin . I immediately leapt up , from our “ Pit Blind “ and ran after the wounded forest panther ... My “ Old Belgian “ clutched tightly in my hands . As usual ( For all of my nocturnal shooting activities ) , I had a small but powerful pencil torch light secured to the fore end of my shot gun ... With the aid of a piece of masking tape . I thus , waded right in to the thickets ... Hell bent on dispatching my client’s wounded forest panther .

As much as I love(d) following up wounded forest panthers , at night ( No other sport can ever rival this , in terms of excitement and thrill ! ) ... This was probably the 1 night of my life , when I wished that I did NOT have to follow up the wounded forest panther . I genuinely wished that my client could have had the satisfaction of bringing down the brute , with his own weapon . It would have been , just THAT much more of a satisfying experience ... To him . How ever , there was little ... Which could be done about it , now . Except for dispatching the wounded brute , and recovering it for our client .

I advanced through the thickets , for about 20 minutes ... Cautiously looking for any thing even REMOTELY resembling a blood trail . How ever , there was practically NO blood trail ... Whatsoever . Only a few drops of blood , here and there . I suddenly had a horrible premonition , about what might have happened . How ever , now was not the time to get lost in my thoughts . Because , at that very moment ... I heard the all too familiar low guttural growl , coming from the right side . I swung around , instinctively ... in a 90 degree angle . Just in time , to see the spotted rascal lunge right at me . I instantly pulled the left trigger ...With the brute’s face a mere 10 inches away from the muzzle . The “ Old Belgian “ spat fire , at the 1 ounce spherical ball of hardened lead blew clean in to the region ... Right between the forest panther’s 2 eyes . And thus , perished my would be assailant .

Where the wounded forest panther was , when I took the shot .

Left , bottom - Hamid Moula . Left Top - His Royal Excellence , Prince Hira Singh ( Clutching his James Purdey .375 Holland & Holland magnum caliber double barreled rifle ) . Center - Me ( Clutching Tobin’s Fabrique Nationale .423 Mauser ) . Right - Our client . Photograph taken by Tobin Stakkatz .

 

[Wyatt Smith]

Very good read Major. I’m very glad that the man was able to do his dream hunt with his dream rifle. You can tell he was from a past generation by his refusal to accept any pitty/help. Nowadays people seek it out.

 

[Art Lambart II]

WOW, I think you are the first PH that I know of that enjoys hunting wounded Leopard at night. Every PH I talk to or read about these days does everything they can to avoid pursuing a wounded Leopard. What happened with your client's first two shots?

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

It was the end of May , and the annual shikar season was almost drawing to a close . Old Tobin and I had successfully finished guiding most of our clients for the season .Most of the employees of Allwyn Cooper Limited were planning to dedicate the next few months to the more personal aspects of their lives . And I decided that now would be the best time to take a vacation to Uttarakhand ... With my girl friend , who had been enthusiastic to get away from Nagpur for a few days . Still , it would not be a wise idea to make any plans ... With out 1st asking Mr. Shukla ( The owner of Allwyn Cooper Limited ) for permission to take the rest of the month off . After all , shikar season was still officially open until the 15th of June ... And we thus , had a commitment to fulfill our duties as professional shikarees .

When we both arrived at the head office of Allwyn Cooper Limited ... We soon realized that we had been incredibly wise to refrain from making any plans , prior to consulting with Mr. Shukla . For Mr. Shukla , indeed ... DID have 1 last client for us to guide , for this season . A gentle man had booked a shikar with Allwyn Cooper Limited , for a large forest panther. And he had already arrived in India . We were to meet him , tomorrow . My heart bounded with excitement . Hunting forest panthers is the most DIVINE sport ... Ever to be practiced by man . Rivaled by ABSOLUTELY NO OTHER form of hunting .

The next morning , we met our client . And we were greatly taken aback by what we saw . There , sitting on a wheel chair ... Was our client - A frail , lanky man with sickly yellow eyes . He had an oxygen tank strapped to the wheel chair , and he was breathing from an oxygen mask ... Which was connected to the oxygen tank via a tube . Mr . Shukla introduced us to the gentle man . He was a 75 year old World War 1 veteran ... A former member of the American Expeditionary Forces . The gentle man had been diagnosed with lung cancer , and had been given 3 years to live . His life long dream had been to secure a record forest panther ... And he was determined to accomplish this goal , prior to passing on to the happy hunting grounds . His friends had recommended him to call up on the services of Allwyn Cooper Limited ... And here he was .

Just looking at the gentle man , was a sobering experience . Both Tobin and I felt incredibly sorry for the gentle man . If we could ... We would have both , very much liked to have cured him of his cancer . How ever , no one except God / Allah can work such miracles . We could , how ever do the next best thing ... Which was possible to the mortal man . We COULD guarantee our client the panther shikar of his life . Both Tobin and I readily agreed to serve the gentle man , as his professional shikarees .

We both decided to examine the gentle man’s battery . He had brought along an expensive best grade Holland & Holland Royal Side Lock Ejector side by side double barreled rifle , chambered in .458 Winchester magnum . Along side this , he had brought along a box of 510 grain Winchester brand round nose soft point cartridges . The rifle looked brand new . Tobin and I had exchanged glances with 1 another , with out uttering a word . We , each knew what the other person was thinking . The gentle man had this rifle built bespoke for him ... Specifically for the purposes of this shikar . He wanted his life’s final adventure to be grand , in every possible way .

Tobin and I were both determined to ensure that our client had the most comfortable , yet enjoyable shikar experience of ALL time . That said , all of us had to be realistic ... And certain special considerations needed to be made , in light of the gentle man’s physical disabilities and ailing health .

@Ponton Kahn
My dear friend
It would have been a privilege to have hunted with an old veteran born before the age of the motor vehicle. The stories he could tellwoul fill a book.
His Holland and Holland Royal double is an exquisite weapon and very expensive. Five years ago when I visited the Holland and Holland store in London I looked a a Royal double. It was in 600 Nitro Express and was available in any caliber ones heart desired.
The cost was 250,000 English pounds or over 430,000 Australian dollars or 300,000 U.S. dollars.
A very expensive weapon. It was a great experience going to such a shop where a rifle starts at 39,000 pounds and one young gentleman bought a cheaper shotgun as his mother would only give him 60,000 pounds for it. The extravagance of the well heeled gentry.
Your humble reader and friend
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Major, you are an honorable man. To treat one of our war hero’s in his final days with such dignity is indicative of the quality of man that you are. I salute you sir.

@WAB
For the old veteran wishing to maintain his dignity during such a time is a miracle in itself considering how I'll he was. It takes courage to maintain dignity in trying times but would be even more important to that man considering what he had seen and been thru in his life.
My dear friend you and the Prince respected that mans wishes when it would have been very difficult not to want to assist him. Both showed compassion and respect to him.
Bob Nelson

 

[Major Khan]

I told our client that his 2 shots, were what had laid low the brute. I then , went on to say that , when I had found the forest panther ... It was already lying dead . I merely gave it a frontal brain shot , as an insurance ... Just to make sure of the spotted rascal’s demise . Our client feebly smiled , and our entire team posed together for a celebratory photograph . Hamid and His Royal Excellence , then decided to drive our client back to his hotel in Jaipur ... While Tobin and I remained behind , with our coolies ... In order to field dress the slain forest panther . The brute weighed 202 pounds .

During the post mortem ... Tobin and I learnt that those 2 Winchester 510 grain copper jacketed soft point round nose bullets , had COMPLETELY disintegrated on the shoulder bones of the forest panther . I loudly cursed the blasted .458 Winchester magnum , and cursed Winchester brand .458 Winchester magnum brand ammunition ... Even louder . Those things could not even be counted up on ... To make a terminally ill war hero’s final dream come true . Tobin burst out laughing and then , asked me “ He was already dead when you found him , eh ? Poton , you’re a horrible liar . But I’m proud of you .You finally proved to me , that some times it’s worth telling a lie ... For a good cause . “ . I looked at Tobin , sheepishly . With out even so much as uttering a word , we both came to a silent agreement . As far as we both were concerned ... Our client had dispatched his forest panther , with out even the slightest form of assistance .

Indeed , our client had shot true . Had he been armed with a .375 Holland & Holland magnum caliber rifle ( Loaded with 300 grain Winchester Silver Tip soft point cartridges) , or had his .458 Winchester magnum calibre double barreled rifle even been loaded with fresh Remington brand 510 grain soft point cartridges ( Which used Hornady steel jacketed soft point bullets , as opposed to Winchester’s copper jacketed bullets ) ... Then , I can state with 100 % confidence ... That my client’s 1st 2 shots would have achieved fatal results on the forest panther ( Then , and there ) .

The entire forest panther was made in to a magnificent looking full body mount ... By Allwyn Cooper Limited’s “ Imperial Grade “ taxidermists . This was presented to our client , who gracefully accepted his trophy . He tipped all of us handsomely , and 4 days later ... We ( The employees of Allwyn Cooper Limited ) all watched the gentle man’s wheel chair get pushed towards Mr. Shukla’s Model T Ford car . Tobin and I helped him get comfortably seated in to the car , after all of his luggage had been packed . He took the time to shake all of our hands . His hands felt limp and cold . We all bid him good bye . Each of us , was a bit emotional . Not only by seeing what this great war hero had been reduced to ( By disease ) ... But also because we , each took a moment to reflect up on our own mortality .

6 months later ... Allwyn Cooper Limited’s head shikaree , the Great Rao Naidu Of Hyderabad had given us some extremely depressing news . The gentle man had shot himself , in his home in Delaware . He had committed suicide . Tobin told me , that “ The gent wanted to go out , on his own terms “ . I inferred Tobin’s statement , as “ The gentle man wanted to be in control of his own death . He wanted to die quickly , rather than slowly rot away on a hospital bed “ . I suppose that I do not blame him . I always feared that I would end up like him ... When I turned 75 years old . By the Grace Of God / Allah ... I turned 80 years old ,this February . And I am fortunately , none the worse for wear .

3 years from that day , in 1968 ... I would end up getting conscripted in to the Indian Army Rangers , and I would end up serving during Bangladesh’s 1971 War Of Liberation ... After getting transferred to the Bangladesh Mukti Bahini ( Freedom Fighter’s Battalion ) . I finally was able to fully relate to my client , on a personal level . What he went through in World War 1 ... Was nothing short of nightmarish . I do not think that we can ever properly re pay those who serve their country . It is the highest amount of self sacrifice , that some one can ever make . Sadly , today’s youth views military men ... As nothing more than monsters . All that leftist influence , is certainly to blame ( I personally believe ) .

Hamid ( Like most Indians , who wished to pursue their love of fire arms , hunting and meat eating ) left India in 1974 and immigrated to Bangladesh . He owns 1 of the grandest vacation resorts near the Jamuna river , and basically lives right next to 1 of our country’s finest water fowl hunting spots . Needless to say ... He currently alternates his time between managing the resort , and doing what we all do best - Hunting all manner of legally available game , through out the country . With 8 royal Bengal tigers , 13 gaur bison and 17 forest panthers to his name ... Hamid Moula’s life certainly is not boring , either ( By any stretch of imagination ) ! I have asked Hamid to join African Hunting Forums , and become a contributing member . He readily was open to the idea , and shall ( Hopefully ) be joining soon .

THE END

 

[Newboomer]

Major, Sir,
That was an exceptionally touching account of an old soldier's last battle. You did a marvelous job of relating it to us. I can fully understand his final action. A fighting man wants to go out fighting, not wasting away being a burden to others.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

It was around 11:15 PM , at night . Hamid and our client were up , on the macchan . Tobin and I were lying in wait ... In a hole in the ground , which was covered with a sheet of tarpaulin ... Topped with grass and dead leaves ( Our American clients used to refer to this arrangement , as a “ Pit Blind “ ) . The female goat was bleating continuously , in loneliness ... Until suddenly , it had gone completely silent . All of us ( Being professional shikarees ) knew EXACTLY why the goat had stopped bleating . Some thing which she had seen , had spooked her . And we had no doubt , as to what it could possibly be . We had heard the call of Ti Ti birds ... Approximately 15 minutes , previously . When Ti Ti birds call at night ... It is a tell tale sign of a forest panther’s presence , in the area .

Slowly peaking out , from under the tarpaulin ... Tobin and I noticed that a dark mammalian figure ( About the size of a large calf ) was slowly creeping towards the startled goat . It was a forest panther . The brute proceeded to clean it’s claws on the bark of a nearby tree ... Some thing which a panther is always wont to do , prior to attacking it’s prey . Then , it got With in inches of the goat ... And gave 1 swift , feral swipe . The female goat , with out so much as a whimper ... Dropped on to the green forest floor , lifeless . We all heard the ravenous sounds of the brutish forest panther ... As it began to feed on the corpse of the female goat. Hamid whispered to our client to get ready . Our client disengaged the safety , on his .458 Winchester magnum calibre double barreled rifle , and quietly raised the rifle to his shoulder .

Right at that moment ... Hamid flicked on the 2 cell torch light , and flashed the beam at the forest panther’s body . The startled brute turned to look in our direction . Right at that moment , our client fired off the left and right barrels ( Almost simultaneously ) ... With his point of aim , being behind the brute’s shoulder . We heard the telling sounds of both the 510 grain soft point round nose bullets , striking the forest panther . The enraged brute roared in pain ... And disappeared in to the thickets .

“ Poton , you’re up ! “ Yelled Tobin . I immediately leapt up , from our “ Pit Blind “ and ran after the wounded forest panther ... My “ Old Belgian “ clutched tightly in my hands . As usual ( For all of my nocturnal shooting activities ) , I had a small but powerful pencil torch light secured to the fore end of my shot gun ... With the aid of a piece of masking tape . I thus , waded right in to the thickets ... Hell bent on dispatching my client’s wounded forest panther .

As much as I love(d) following up wounded forest panthers , at night ( No other sport can ever rival this , in terms of excitement and thrill ! ) ... This was probably the 1 night of my life , when I wished that I did NOT have to follow up the wounded forest panther . I genuinely wished that my client could have had the satisfaction of bringing down the brute , with his own weapon . It would have been , just THAT much more of a satisfying experience ... To him . How ever , there was little ... Which could be done about it , now . Except for dispatching the wounded brute , and recovering it for our client .

I advanced through the thickets , for about 20 minutes ... Cautiously looking for any thing even REMOTELY resembling a blood trail . How ever , there was practically NO blood trail ... Whatsoever . Only a few drops of blood , here and there . I suddenly had a horrible premonition , about what might have happened . How ever , now was not the time to get lost in my thoughts . Because , at that very moment ... I heard the all too familiar low guttural growl , coming from the right side . I swung around , instinctively ... in a 90 degree angle . Just in time , to see the spotted rascal lunge right at me . I instantly pulled the left trigger ...With the brute’s face a mere 10 inches away from the muzzle . The “ Old Belgian “ spat fire , at the 1 ounce spherical ball of hardened lead blew clean in to the region ... Right between the forest panther’s 2 eyes . And thus , perished my would be assailant .
View attachment 354389
Where the wounded forest panther was , when I took the shot .

View attachment 354388
Left , bottom - Hamid Moula . Left Top - His Royal Excellence , Prince Hira Singh ( Clutching his James Purdey .375 Holland & Holland magnum caliber double barreled rifle ) . Center - Me ( Clutching Tobin’s Fabrique Nationale .423 Mauser ) . Right - Our client . Photograph taken by Tobin Stakkatz .

@Major Khan
My dear friend
I mean no disrespect in the following. You are either very brave or very silly chasing a wounded panther at night with an OLD torch. Even with one of the new LED torches that will illuminate the interior of a large Mosque would not be to bright for me to even think about it.
Fortunately your reaction was swift but shooting at 10 inches is far to close for comfort.
Your client looks extremely pleased with his leopard and you yourself cut a dashing figure of a young man.
Your humble reader and friend
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I told our client that his 2 shots, were what had laid low the brute. I then , went on to say that , when I had found the forest panther ... It was already lying dead . I merely gave it a frontal brain shot , as an insurance ... Just to make sure of the spotted rascal’s demise . Our client feebly smiled , and our entire team posed together for a celebratory photograph . Hamid and His Royal Excellence , then decided to drive our client back to his hotel in Jaipur ... While Tobin and I remained behind , with our coolies ... In order to field dress the slain forest panther . The brute weighed 202 pounds .

During the post mortem ... Tobin and I learnt that those 2 Winchester 510 grain copper jacketed soft point round nose bullets , had COMPLETELY disintegrated on the shoulder bones of the forest panther . I loudly cursed the blasted .458 Winchester magnum , and cursed Winchester brand .458 Winchester magnum brand ammunition ... Even louder . Those things could not even be counted up on ... To make a terminally ill war hero’s final dream come true . Tobin burst out laughing and then , asked me “ He was already dead when you found him , eh ? Poton , you’re a horrible liar . But I’m proud of you .You finally proved to me , that some times it’s worth telling a lie ... For a good cause . “ . I looked at Tobin , sheepishly . With out even so much as uttering a word , we both came to a silent agreement . As far as we both were concerned ... Our client had dispatched his forest panther , with out even the slightest form of assistance .

Indeed , our client had shot true . Had he been armed with a .375 Holland & Holland magnum caliber rifle ( Loaded with 300 grain Winchester Silver Tip soft point cartridges) , or had his .458 Winchester magnum calibre double barreled rifle even been loaded with fresh Remington brand 510 grain soft point cartridges ( Which used Hornady steel jacketed soft point bullets , as opposed to Winchester’s copper jacketed bullets ) ... Then , I can state with 100 % confidence ... That my client’s 1st 2 shots would have achieved fatal results on the forest panther ( Then , and there ) .

The entire forest panther was made in to a magnificent looking full body mount ... By Allwyn Cooper Limited’s “ Imperial Grade “ taxidermists . This was presented to our client , who gracefully accepted his trophy . He tipped all of us handsomely , and 4 days later ... We ( The employees of Allwyn Cooper Limited ) all watched the gentle man’s wheel chair get pushed towards Mr. Shukla’s Model T Ford car . Tobin and I helped him get comfortably seated in to the car , after all of his luggage had been packed . He took the time to shake all of our hands . His hands felt limp and cold . We all bid him good bye . Each of us , was a bit emotional . Not only by seeing what this great war hero had been reduced to ( By disease ) ... But also because we , each took a moment to reflect up on our own mortality .

6 months later ... Allwyn Cooper Limited’s head shikaree , the Great Rao Naidu Of Hyderabad had given us some extremely depressing news . The gentle man had shot himself , in his home in Delaware . He had committed suicide . Tobin told me , that “ The gent wanted to go out , on his own terms “ . I inferred Tobin’s statement , as “ The gentle man wanted to be in control of his own death . He wanted to die quickly , rather than slowly rot away on a hospital bed “ . I suppose that I do not blame him . I always feared that I would end up like him ... When I turned 75 years old . By the Grace Of God / Allah ... I turned 80 years old ,this February . And I am fortunately , none the worse for wear .

3 years from that day , in 1968 ... I would end up getting conscripted in to the Indian Army Rangers , and I would end up serving during Bangladesh’s 1971 War Of Liberation ... After getting transferred to the Bangladesh Mukti Bahini ( Freedom Fighter’s Battalion ) . I finally was able to fully relate to my client , on a personal level . What he went through in World War 1 ... Was nothing short of nightmarish . I do not think that we can ever properly re pay those who serve their country . It is the highest amount of self sacrifice , that some one can ever make . Sadly , today’s youth views military men ... As nothing more than monsters . All that leftist influence , is certainly to blame ( I personally believe ) .

Hamid ( Like most Indians , who wished to pursue their love of fire arms , hunting and meat eating ) left India in 1974 and immigrated to Bangladesh . He owns 1 of the grandest vacation resorts near the Jamuna river , and basically lives right next to 1 of our country’s finest water fowl hunting spots . Needless to say ... He currently alternates his time between managing the resort , and doing what we all do best - Hunting all manner of legally available game , through out the country . With 8 royal Bengal tigers , 13 gaur bison and 17 forest panthers to his name ... Hamid Moula’s life certainly is not boring , either ( By any stretch of imagination ) ! I have asked Hamid to join African Hunting Forums , and become a contributing member . He readily was open to the idea , and shall ( Hopefully ) be joining soon .

THE END

@Major Khan
My dear friend Ponton Your friend Tobin was correct in what he said but I feel the old soldier would have known different but went along with the ruse.
It is always disheartening when someone dies and it a pity people look at suicide as a cowardice. Yes in some cases it is but in this case it was a very brave man to end things on HIS terms. This takes a great deal of bravery.
War is something that unfortunately is inflicted on humans from time to time and the horrors that strong young men endure change them forevermore. Some for the better and others for the worse. Fortunately during my time in the army we didn't see any action. The stories my father told about Korea were horrendous.
It would be good to read Hamids stories on AH.
Your humble reader and friend
Bob

 

[Major Khan]

Major, you are an honorable man. To treat one of our war hero’s in his final days with such dignity is indicative of the quality of man that you are. I salute you sir.

Why thank you so much for your kind words , WAB . I personally consider what I had done on that day ... To be 1 of the very few noble deeds , which I have committed in my life .

 

[Major Khan]

Major Kahn, you have a great gift for describing a hunt, it's like I was there with you. How far did you have to push your client's wheelchair through the jungle?

Why thank you so much for your kind words , Mr. Lambart . I had to push our client’s wheel chair , through the Jaipur forest ... For only about 2.5 hours . Thus ... It was absolutely NO inconvenience , whatsoever .

 

[Major Khan]

Very good read Major. I’m very glad that the man was able to do his dream hunt with his dream rifle. You can tell he was from a past generation by his refusal to accept any pitty/help. Nowadays people seek it out.

I personally blame “ Obama Care “ , Master Smith . It has turned so many people into lazy , unmotivated free loaders .

Had my client been armed with a 9.3 x 74 rimmed caliber or .375 Holland & Holland magnum caliber double barreled rifle , instead of a .458 Winchester magnum calibre double barreled rifle ... Then , I personally believe that his 1st 2 shots would have easily laid low the brute .

 

[Shootist43]

Poton, your actions as a professional shikaree (shikari) met the needs and expectation of your client. I'm sure he remembered this hunt to the end of his days and was forever thankful / grateful for your actions.

 

[Major Khan]

WOW, I think you are the first PH that I know of that enjoys hunting wounded Leopard at night. Every PH I talk to or read about these days does everything they can to avoid pursuing a wounded Leopard. What happened with your client's first two shots?

I assure you ... That it is absolutely unrivaled in terms of thrill and excitement , Mr. Lambart . Out the 22 man eating forest panthers which I have personally dispatched , in my life ( Till now ) ... 21 of them were shot , during the night .

It is actually incredibly easy . During the day ... Suppose your beaters have a forest panther surrounded . If you approach the forest panther and the beaters point out the forest panther to you ... Then , the forest panther shall attack you ... On the spot .

At night , forest panthers behave differently . In North Bengal ( Where I shot the vast majority of my forest panthers , back when I used to live in India ) ... I some times , used to spend my entire nights ... Chasing forest panthers . I had even some times dispatched up to 3 forest panthers on 1 night . On some occasions , 3 forest panthers were lying down and resting ... At night . I shot and killed 2 of them , on the spot ... At ranges less than 20 feet . The 3rd forest panther would see me , and simply flee in to the thickets . Had I ever attempted this fiasco during the day time ... Then , I would be guaranteed to face a charge !