POLSON – Finley Point’s Dr. Stephen Irwin now shares more in common with the “Crocodile Hunter” than just his name. Back from a recent hunting safari in Africa, Irwin has added a veritable menagerie of trophies to his wall, including a hippopotamus and Nile crocodile – Africa’s two deadliest animal species.

At the New Life Christian Center’s second annual Wild Game Feed last Friday night, Irwin regaled a rapt audience with tales from his hunting expedition to the remote Luangwa River basin in Zambia.

Irwin, who says he had “always dreamed of an African hunt” said that the highly anticipated pilgrimage lived up to, and perhaps exceeded, his lofty expectations.

“There were lots of animals, lots of game, and lots of adventure,” Irwin said.

In addition to bagging iconic creatures such as crocs and hippos, Irwin also shared stories of hunting lesser-known but equally magnificent antelope species such as the spiral-horned sitatunga, the puku, and even the miniscule blue duiker.

Irwin explained that ecotourism revenue from hunting safaris like his helps to support impoverished local communities.

“All trophy fees go back to the community … the animals attain a value through hunting,” said Irwin.

Though poaching presents a formidable threat to African wildlife, Irwin said that guided hunting outings geared towards foreigners are far more lucrative for native villagers than the alternative of illegally harvesting animals.

Irwin also urged prospective African big-game hunters to take their wives and kids along.

“If we don’t get kids and women involved, hunting is going to die out,” Irwin warned.

Irwin was not the only speaker to encourage local hunting enthusiasts to set their sights on the African bush, as he was preceded in the spotlight by Rufus Luttig, a South African rancher and hunting guide whose organization, Hunt SA, takes aim at both trophy animals and treating children afflicted by HIV/AIDS in rural South Africa.

Encouraging people to “get out of [their] comfort zone,” Luttig appealed to the crowd’s sense of adventure, bluntly stating that, “if you’re not living an adventurous life, you’re not going to be very happy.”

And the hunting trip of a lifetime could be more affordable than many might expect.

Jeremy Rauch, who helped coordinate the event, noted that it’s actually “cheaper to go to South Africa and hunt than it is to go to Alaska for moose. And you get to invest in the lives of children.”

Of course, the gathering was also highlighted by the dinner itself, which featured traditional venison dishes, as well as more out-of-the-ordinary entrees, such as elk enchiladas.

The night concluded with some hunting apparel being given away to members of the audience who earned superlatives such as youngest successful hunter, closest shot missed and most days spent hunting, among other distinctions.