It's Friday night, and I think we need a MEME thread.
- Thread starter Ebidis
- Start date
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rmns2bseen
Strat-O-Master
rmns2bseen
Strat-O-Master
Yeah, I grew up in TN. My first license plate began with 4, indicating the (at the time anyway) fourth biggest county in the state in population, Hamilton County.
rmns2bseen
Strat-O-Master
JamesE
Senior Stratmaster
I'm always tempted to start hooting the horn frantically... but it's illegal to hoot a horn on a stationary vehicle in many places.
MGW-AB
Senior Stratmaster
Even worse is when they overtake you and then drive slower than you were going.
Then there is the super slow driver blocking you that suddenly speeds up at the last second to make the dark orange light but its too late for you. You would have had ample time to make the light if he drove at normal speed.
tubedude
Senior Stratmaster
More to come. Wuhan is still in operation, right?
Uh, oh....
tubedude
Senior Stratmaster
And their all the north.
tubedude
Senior Stratmaster
You need a degree for an OF account?
dirocyn
Dr. Stratster
Zero sympathy for trophy hunters. Bye bye...
Businessman gored to death by buffalo during South African hunting trip
The businessman’s family was notified of his death as they waited for his return inside a luxury safari lodgewww.independent.co.uk
Millionaire US businessman gored to death by buffalo during South African hunting trip
Madeline Sherratt
A Texas ranch realtor was gored to death by a buffalo while on a hunting trip in South Africa, according to the safari company that organized his trip.
Asher Watkins, 52, was out stalking a 1.3-ton Cape buffalo in the northernmost province of Limpopo on Sunday when the animal charged aggressively toward him at 35 mph, Hunter Hans Vermaak, a spokesman for Coenraad and Vermaak Safaris, told several media outlets.
The unwounded buffalo struck and killed him instantly, according to Vermaak.
It is not known whether the safari team, who were guiding their client on the estimated $10,000 hunt, shot the buffalo dead, or if it escaped back to its nearby herd.
Cape Buffaloes are large, heavy cow-like animals that can weigh between 660 to 1,840 pounds and are around 4 to 5ft tall.
Their horns are joined by a solid lump of bone across the forehead. Lions and humans are their only predators.
Vermaak issued a statement on behalf of CV Safaris saying: “It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we confirm the tragic death of our client and friend Asher Watkins from the USA.
“On Sunday, while on a hunting safari with us in South Africa's Limpopo Province, Asher was fatally injured in a sudden and unprovoked attack by an unwounded buffalo. He was tracking it together with one of our professional hunters and one of our trackers. This is a devastating incident, and our hearts go out to his loved ones.
“We are doing everything we can to support the family members who are here with us and those back in the United States as they navigate this tragic loss.”
On the CV website, they state that they abide by “fair chase and ethical hunting combined with a deep and sincere respect for wildlife.”
“Honesty and integrity come first. Hunting is our right, but it’s also a privilege. We respect all fauna and flora and the laws of the land. We abide by the Custodians of Professional Hunting & Conservation SA (CPHC) code of conduct.”
Watkins’ social media pages are littered with images of game catches from slain desert mule deer to hundreds of dead snow geese.
The Independent contacted Watkins Ranch Group and CV Safaris for comment.
According to reports, CV Safaris has notified Watkins’ ex-wife, Courtney, and their teenage daughter, Savannah, who is believed to be 16 years old.
Watkins and his ex were reportedly still close and shared custody of their daughter following their split in 2013.
His business, Watkins Ranch Group, sells luxury ranches, farms, and land priced in the millions across Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.
A close friend of the realtor said, “He spent every spare moment he could with Savannah and shared his life with her, and nobody could love a daughter more than he did. She will be broken to lose Asher, who was her best friend as well as her dad,” as The Daily Mail reported.
Watkin’s immediate family, including his mother Gwen, brother Amon, and stepfather Tony, were all at the upmarket safari lodge when they were told the tragic news.
His daughter is said to be “in bits” following the news, according to The Mail’s report.
The wealthy hunter worked on his family’s hunting and cattle ranch growing up, so he became familiar with “the complexities of owning and operating a successful ranch”, as well as gaining an eye for land investments. Before working in commercial real estate sales, he also held a career in oil and gas, according to his company biography.
An alumnus of Baylor University, Watkins, is described as “a proud and devoted father who understands the value of introducing youth into the outdoors.”
“He enjoys hunting, fishing, and spending time on the road scouting out new properties and talking with landowners and farmers about the unique qualities in their area,” the profile added.
rmns2bseen
Strat-O-Master
I like this quote from the safari - unprovoked? I hope Watkins felt genuine primal fear and terror. Pain too.
A Texas real estate magnate and trophy hunter was killed by a Cape buffalo during a hunting expedition in South Africa, according to a safari company, which described the incident as "sudden and unprovoked."
Asher Watkins had been tracking the bull for a kill when the large horned animal staged an attack first.
"Asher was fatally injured in a sudden and unprovoked attack by an unwounded buffalo he was tracking together with one of our professional hunters and one of our trackers," said Hans Vermaak, leader of the safari company Coenraad Vermaak Safaris (CVS), in a statement.
"The family and our team members who were present at the time are understandably shaken. Out of respect for the family's privacy as well as our staff members involved, we will not be sharing further details," Vermaak also said.
He described Watkins and his family as "long-standing friends and part of the CVS family."
Cape buffalo are considered one of the "most 'wanted' dangerous game animal by trophy hunters across the globe," according to the safari company.
No other animal has "a more fearsome reputation than a cape buffalo!," the safari company said.
"Responsible for several deaths and many injuries to hunters each year, the buffalo is regarded as the most dangerous animal to pursue in Africa, let alone the world," CVS also said.
The nature of Watkins' death – being killed by the same animal he had sought to take down – sparked discussions online among animal rights groups and activists on the ethics of trophy hunting.
"Asher Watkins went on a luxury hunting trip in South Africa when he stalked a Cape buffalo," animal rights group PETA wrote on Instagram. "The terrified buffalo was cornered and retaliated. Animals aren't trophies or wall decorations. Trophy hunting must end!"
A comment under the post that said "cheers to the buffalo" has racked up thousands of likes.
Watkins led the real estate brokerage firm Watkins Ranch Group, where he was responsible for multimillion-dollar properties across Texas, Colorado and Arkansas.
Watkins was a lifelong outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing and hunting, according to his company biography.
Watkins' mother Gwen, daughter Savannah, brother Amon and stepfather Tony are among his surviving relatives, the safari company said.