Hunter protects the ecosystem and fauna far more

[bhumendra]

"Hunter protects the ecosystem and fauna far more than any other group" .

Great hunters like Jim Corbett (in the North) and Kenneth Anderson (in the South) were amongst India's pioneers in wildlife conservation.

India banned hunting more than two decades ago. With "NO" hunting a common man (specially our friends abroad) would expect our jungles to be full of wildlife.

Unfortunately this is not the case. My personal opinion is that a hunter is not a person who kills for fun. On the contrary he protects his hunting grounds.Why does he protect his hunting grounds? Because he loves to be there and also to enable him to hunt longer.I will give you an example. In olden days when Shikar was legal in India , one had to book a "block" within the range . Once you had booked it NO one else was allowed to hunt there. If some one was found roaming around in the area with a weapon it was considered an offence. By legalising hunting ......the poacher was kept at bay. Plus the hunter had his "ethics" to go by . The result ......wildlife flourished.

People may excuse me but the Fact is that an old "Shikari" can tell you more about the animals in the wild than a Forest Official (today) can. For the simple reason that while the Shikari is passionate about his "subject" the official looks at it as his "job".

Here are some rare pictures from the time of the 'Raj'




















We should all be grateful to the digital age as these pictures are now preserved for ever for every one to see and enjoy instead of being stored in someones personal album in some corner of the world and would surely have been lost for ever, once its passed into the hands of someone who has no passion for hunting or its history.

I am a fan of Jim Corbet and his lessons. He had a passion for the animals and Indian forests and the people around the forest.

Let’s follow them and save the jungle and its animals.

[sitar]

what a royal feel...

unfortunately my grandfather didnt liked cameras in the hunting trips..at that time..

[Shamsher]

Dear Bhumendra,
Superb pictures, I guess these hunts were organized by His Higness your late grandfather.

Indeed those were the days !!

Do tell us about the H&H 30-06 Royal Double and the Purdey pair of shotguns you own.

Welcome on Tgg

ss

[lionofkathiyawad]

bhumendra,

Awesome pictures and info. thanx for sharing

[b.baracho]

Ahhh!!! Great photos chief. Man what I would not do to be a part of those days. Even if the wild boar hunt was legalized I would be content.

[gungeek]

Great pics bhumendra, its just amazing, the pic with 2 jeeps is great. Willys MB & Willys CJ3B are a good combination for jungle. My grand father aslo used the same combination for shikar.
Would love to see the pics of your purdey & hollands.

[shahid]

Bhumendra Ji,
Let me extend to you a very warm welcome on behalf of TGG and an invitation for lasting friendship.

We would love to have enthusiasts like you here on this forum.

The pictures you have posted are superb. These things are part of our heritage, culture and history, so good if it can now be reshot and preserved as a Digital image.

There are quitea few of these pictures, but the problem is most of them were shot with a 120 roll film where the print image size is very small. Few from that bunch were enlarged or shot from a box camera which made the format larger.

Who are the ladies and gentlemen in the pictures with their trophies and where did these shoots take place ? Was it a family owned hunting lodge or a dak bunglow, on a shooting block leased for Shikar ?

Your signature says you have a Manton. Is it a Joseph Manton or a gun from Manton & Company ? Would love to see it. I too have one and have used it a few times, it is a special duck gun, ordered from Manton & Co., Calcutta, made to order by a London maker. It is a Box Lock gun, and has 27 inch barrels and 2 3/4 inch chambers.

If you live in Delhi then I would love to invite you over for a chat or see you if I happen to be in your part of the city.

Send me your e mail ID and I will mail a copy of the article I had written earlier- India, Shikar and the Socio Economic Factors. You will appreciate reading and endorseing the views in that article.

With best regards

Shahid

[Shamsher]

Shahid bhai,
That is a Joseph Manton, a gun superior than the Purdey's, please read below

Dear Danish
Joseph Manton was the landmark for the famous Gun Makers of London. Holland, James Purdey, Charles Lanchaster and Boss worked for Joseph Manton.

James Purdey quoted on Joseph ( Joe ) Manton - "But for him we would all have been a parcel of blacksmiths."

Joseph Manton started his shop in 1792, in Davis Street, Berkeley Square, London.

Joseph Manton's contribution is like a man who inherits a sound building and adds another floor to it.

When Joseph Manton died in 1835 a coetrie of his workers formed firms of their own. These were.

Thomas Boss
William Grey
William Moore
James Purdey

Good engravers were in the service of J manton and the best of them went with James Purdey, some migrated to H & H, Boss, Charles Lanchaster, Wilkies or became independents.

As for the reliability of locks and mechanishms - there were some two thousnad if not more patents applied by these messers from 1835 to 1914 when the world went to war and the era of fine guns slowed down.

Shamsher

[shahid]

Oh yes yes, yeh to main ne hi Leekha tha.

If it a Joseph Manton what a fine gun it is. Would simply love to view it.

[R.S]

Great pics bhumendra !! They were a real treat, thanx so much for sharing !!

Respect and Regards
R.S

[bhumendra]

Thank You everyone .

[bhumendra]

[Shamsher]

Displayed at ur farm in Agra.

Chief!!
The pics you linked here of your pet blue bulls do not display, please edit your post and re-do the links


ss

[bhumendra]

[bhumendra]