American Police Beat (APB) magazine
5.11 Challenge winners called the shots during incredible African Safari
By Heidi Howell
This
past spring, 2006 5.11 Challenge winners Peter Dahl and Jared Taylor of
Minnesota experienced the ultimate hunting adventure: an
all-expenses-paid, 10-day African safari. The two scored highest in the
intense, annual 5.11 Challenge, held last summer near the famous Big
Horn River in eastern Montana. During the all-expenses-paid, four-day
competition, contestants enjoyed luxurious accommodations at 5.11
Tactical’s five-star lodge.
Beating out 31 other two-officer
teams at all skill levels from across the world, Pete, a retired deputy
sheriff from Rice County, Minnesota and Jared, formerly with Rice
County, now a police officer for Bloomington Police Department in
Bloomington, Minnesota, took home $100,000 in gear and equipment for
Bloomington Police Department.
In May, surrounded by lush
greenery and underbrush in the Limpopo province, north of Johannesburg,
South Africa, the winners stayed on a farm in one of several open tents
with tile floors, a thatched roof and adjacent bath facilities. Nearby
was a large, open lodge with a swimming pool. Trip hosts John Ralph and
Deon van Niekerk, co-owners of Ngwarati Safaris Africa, provided
exceptional meals and service. “They rolled out the red carpet for us,”
Pete says. “I felt like a celebrity.” “Special thanks to John, Deon and
Ngwarati Safaris for fulfilling a lifelong dream,” Jared says.
“We
saw hundreds of the most beautiful animals in the world,” Jared says.
“The scenery was breathtaking and the hunt was gratifying. I had the
time of my life!” Pete says.
Both winners were outfitted with
clothing and watches from 5.11 Tactical Series®. “Everything was
fantastic! It really performed,” Pete says, “Remington’s safari-grade
ammunition and the Camelbak backpacks were amazing.” “The Swiftlock
knife and gun cleaning kit Remington gave us were awesome,” Jared adds.
5.11
Challenge Executive Director Bill Berry thanks John Ralph and Ngwarati
Safaris Africa. “They sweetened the pot in terms of getting us a quality
competition that allowed us to take the skills officers have learned in
law enforcement and our event and use them in the hunting world,” Bill
says. “Thanks also to all of the 5.11 Challenge sponsors for helping to
make this happen.”
The 2007 5.11 Challenge bonus prize,
sponsored by Remington, is a trip to the October 28, 2007 Atlanta NASCAR
race and the chance to meet Remington Racing driver Kasey Kahne. View
the August 2007 finals webcast and enter the 2008 5.11 Challenge at
www.511challenge.com.
captions
Situated on a picturesque, landscaped farm, Jared and Pete enjoyed meals and relaxed at the lodge, which was open on two sides.
Pete
Dahl shot this record book impala, who was standing next to a huge ant
hill (visible in background), with a .375 H&H cal.
As this
large bull eland ran, Jared Taylor used a “Texas Heart Shot” to take him
down with a .375 H&H cal. At approximately 2,000 lbs., this is an
incredible trophy.
© HHWS for 5.11 Inc. and American Police Beat magazine
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