Trophy hunter who killed lions and elephants is shot dead by robbers who ambushed him when his truck

[AverageOldGuy]

97. Trophy hunting is not only in Africa . . .

. . . it's also here at home.

I was born and reared in one of the states of the deep Cotton South. My G-G-grandparents, their ancestors and siblings were plantation owners in two states where their 40,000 acres produced cotton and sugar cane along with enslaving almost 300 people. During the unpleasantness of the 1860's the damnyankees burned us out, leaving us penniless.

About 20 years ago, the last 800 acres remaining in my family was sold by a distant cousin to a wealthy Texas couple who established a "hunting preserve." They import young trophy animals from Africa along with North American animals not native to the South (big-horned sheep). The animals are kept on the 800 acre preserve by a system of fences and food lots.

"Hunters" pay a handsome fee to come to this preserve where they place an order for what they want to shoot -- you want a couple of gazelles, a zebra, and a water buffalo, just pony up a few thousand $$$, you get luxury accommodations, chef-prepared meals, ride in luxury pickup or SUV to a stand where you shoot what you paid for.

I visited the place about 10 years ago because there is an old family cemetery on the property that we refurbished and fenced. The couple who own this place are pleasant folks, they maintain the old cemetery, but after learning about their "preserve," I will not return.