About the Author
Bruce VanBuskirk
Born in the mid 1950’s, the author learned to hunt at an early age at the family farm in southern Michigan. He received his first gun, a gift from his grandfather, at the age of 11. It was a single shot 16 gauge which was used to wreak havoc on the game bird population for many years, until finances allowed for more expensive and sophisticated shotguns. That first firearm remains an honored part of the gun collection to this day.
After college the author entered the field of law enforcement, serving as a police officer for eight years in southern Michigan, after which he moved to Indianapolis to further his career on a larger Department. He joined the SWAT Team in 1989, serving first as a sniper, then as Sniper Coordinator.
In 1994 the author attended the Naval Special Warfare (SEAL) sniper school for East Coast SEAL teams, a grueling ten week course designed to turn Special Forces soldiers into hunter/killer teams operating behind enemy lines. At the end of the course the author had made history, becoming the first non-service person to win the coveted Honor Man designation, taking first place in every skill which had been taught. The Warrant Officer in charge of the School wore a black armband as he bestowed upon the author the traditional engraved rifle.
The author served as the SWAT Team commander for the last two years of his tenure, retiring from the Team in 1999. His Law Enforcement career ended in 2001, and shortly afterwards he left for Africa, his fourth safari.
The author’s hunting career began at about the age of three, when his grandfather convinced him to tie a carrot onto a string and attempt to catch rabbits at the family farm. He learned to bird and deer hunt in the farmland of southern Michigan, and as he got older he traveled to western states to hunt mule deer and antelope, as well as moose and bear in Canada. He made his first safari in 1994, hunting South Africa just before the election of Nelson Mandela to the office of President of South Africa.
The author currently builds custom homes in the Tucson area, and enjoys hunting and camping in the mountains of Arizona as well as scuba diving in Mexico.