BACK FROM AFRICA(LONG)

BIGOLMULEY

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Well some of you read my post about missing my Africa trip, and thanks to a few folks and one from MM (Thanks Chris) I was able to make it there. Cost me a ton more money, (Try buying a round trip ticket a day in advance to JoBurg SA) But I made it, only two days late. Missed only one day of hunting though.

I hunted with J.P. Kleinhans Safaris and they are a top notch operation. My wife and I felt like we were at home. They have two kids the same age as ours and treated us like family.

Started hunting on Monday, went after Kudu. Saw a ton, but nothing quite big enough. My PH was J.P.'s brother Adolf, he was awesome. Was attacted by lions when he was 19 and had all kinds of cool storys to tell. He just kept telling me we could do better, I had to believe him since I really did not know what a good one would look like. We were hunting the Greater Kudu, saw Impala, Nyala, Wildebeast (blue), Bushbuck, and a ton of Baboons. (Just could not bring myself to shoot one) One of the other guys did and the little fingers wigged me out, but cool all the same.

Next day hunted for Nyala and Kudu, but did not see one worth shooting, that afternoon we went after Zebra. Hiked forever and finally spotted some down in a valley. They are very skitish. Long stalk to get above them put us about 200 yards. There were two stallions fighting and Adolf told me to take one of them, as they will kill each other sometimes. So I did, it ran about 300 yards and fell over. I was a little suprised he went that far. When we got to him I saw my shot was about 12" to the right of where I was aiming. Not good. Would have been a good Double lung on an elk, but the vitals on African game are forward and you should shoot them in the shoulder, (where I aimed). But we got him, and I was excited to get one down.

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Next morning we drove to another ranch that was 3 hours away, we were after Gemsbok and Springbok. This area was really dry and more of a desert area, everything had thorns on it. Found a herd of Gemsbok, but the other guys were already stalking them. Couple shots later and they had one down. We then stalked some Springbok that were everywhere. I missed 4 shots at them. Now I know I am not the best shot in the world, but am better than that. So I figure the gun has got to be off. I shot it a couple of days before I left and got a 1" group at 100 yards with 4 shots, 2 1/2 high. I put 3 bullets at 200 in 2". Well, we met up with the other guys and they were heading back to take in the Gemsbok, so I borrowed a
.300WSM from a guy, and they took my gun to see where it was shooting. Now I would have done this myself, but we had just spotted a herd of Gemsbok in a great place to stalk, so off we went. After a 25 minute standoff waiting for the biggest one to step out, and for another to get out of the way, I made a 162 yard shot. Down in 30 yards.

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Got back with my Gemsbok and they told me they moved the reticle 14 clicks to the left and 8 down. Put it dead on at 100. I guess in the flight over it got knocked off. We all noticed our cases were pretty beat, but who knows. Everyone elses guns shot fine. Went back out after Springbok that night and in the morning again, just never could get the shot at the big one we were after. Did see some Eland, they are huge! The other guys all got a Springbok, and one more Gemsbok. One guy also took a Cape Kudu, they are smaller than the Greater Kudu.

Next day, I finally got my Kudu. We were actually hunting for Nyala, but the owner of the property found us and told us he had spotted a great Kudu bull. The stalk was long, and Adolf was wondering if this guy even knew what a big bull looked like. We had the sun at our back and the wind was good. We got to about 450 yards, and I was wondering if this owner guys was going to stay with us the whole time, but he stopped there and we went on up. Got to 300, and ran out of cover. I was nervous about my gun, since I had missed 4 times. But it seemed to be shooting well now. A Kudu cow had spotted us, so we froze, the bull stepped out and Adolf said he definately was a shooter. I scooted out from behind the tree and leveled off on the bull. Adolf said he had the camera going and shoot when I was ready. It was uphill, I put the crosshairs dead center of his shoulder. At the shot he spun and started running, I shot again and he flipped over and was dead. I guess the gun worked. I had hit him exactly where I was aiming. The entrance and exit holes from both shots were within 2" of each other. Just over 50" and massive curls. Adolf said if was a great bull, I think he is great as well.

For some reason all my Kudu pics came out blurry.
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Next day was for Nyala, found a monster bull, but just could not get the shot. That night we found some more. Was getting really dark and could not get the shot on video. 150, and he piled up where he stood. The gun is definately on now. This was the only animal I shot from the truck. We would only see Nyala just at light, and just at dark and for only a moment. In fact this was the only time I was riding in the back of the truck. Wasn't against shooting from the truck for this is a great way to get a shot, we just did alot of spot and stalk, which I preferred.

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Next day we were after Wildebeast and Impala. My wife was going to shoot the Wildabeast. We put a bunch of stalks on Impala, but just couldn't close the deal. Had a shot a really big one, but my wife did not have the camera on him quick enough and I let him walk. Found a herd with a big male and put the stalk on. 400 yards later, we were at 91 yards. I shot standing off of sticks, (don't really like that, prefer to sit down) He turned broadside and I shot. Dropped stone dead. When we got up to him he still had the grass he had just ripped up hanging out of his mouth. Gun still on.


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We found the big Wildebeast just after shooting the impala, but Leah decided she just didn't want to shoot, so I said I would. Had him at 30 yards with a bush on the vitals, so we waited. I made a small move and he was gone.
Next day we went to the beach. I went surfing(which was fun, if you like 15' waves that smash you into the sand) First time, was fun but a little advanced for me. Went back after the Wildebeast right from the beach. Had on my suit, and a t-shirt. Was hot that day. Could not find him anywhere. He had been hanging out with 3 other bulls. There was a big herd with a bull in it they had been hanging around, but nothing. Adolf wanted to shoot my gun, so he took out a vervet monkey at 200 yards. Again, gun on now. Saw some Waterbuck, (want to shoot one of those someday) and also a Dikir.
As we were leaving we stopped to glass back at the herd of Wildebeast and saw the 4 bulls about 300 yards from them just coming out of the bush. We quickly ran around a hill, and stalked up the other side and confirmed one of them was the bull we were after. 15 min. later we were at 250 yards. They had seen us a bit and had bunch together but did not run. The bull we wanted was behind the rest of course. 20 min. later he cleared the rest. Shot him right in the armpit, a bit low. He ran to the left 40 yards, and turned around broadside showing me the oppisite side I had just shot him on. I shot again and he ran 20 yards and fell over. We hurried over and got on the other side of him, so if he had anymore go in him he would not run into the bush. Adolf said he would go get the truck, and to shoot again if he got back up, but his head was on the ground, and I doubted he would. I was about 40 yards from him. I could hear the truck coming, when I looked back he was up and looking dead at me. Pounded him again, and that was it.

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First shot was low, Second was dead center of his shoulder and the only bullet I fired that did not completly pass through the animals. In fact, this is the first bullet I have ever recoverd out of this gun. (.300RUM 180 Trophy bonded bear claws) It was mushroomed perfectly. All of my exit holes on all of my animals was at least 1" in diameter. The guy with the .300WSM was shooting 180 accubonds. None of his bullets were pass throughs. The Gemsbok I shot with that gun was also not a pass through.

Did go after a Bushbok, but did not find one. Was an amazing time. Am majorly jet lagged and seem to wake up at 3 in the morning every day. Get really tired about 2 in the afternoon. Can't wait to go back. J.P. has some amazing hunts in Mozambique for Cape Buffalo. He has been on the Tracks Across Africa with Boddington, you may have seen it. Buffalo, Sable, Waterbok, and Crocadile will be the next one for me, with a bow this time. The gun was fun, but nothing beats a bow. 2009, or 2010. It will be a bit more money than this trip.

If I had not had to come up with the money for the airline tickets to San Francisco, ($800) and the Round Trip to JoBurg($3000) and extra to change the flight down to Port Elizebeth ($200) it would have cost me $10,000 for 6 animals. This does not include shipping home and taxidermy, but does include tips. (I had a ticket on my sky miles, but had them redeposited when I missed the flight due to my passport App. being lost)

Sorry so long, but it was fun and I had to share.

Jason "The Big Ol' Muley"
 
Jason;

congrats on the hunt. thanks for sharing the experience with us, great job on the pics and story.

RELH
 
what an awesome trip. last year i went on a non-hunting safari and saw all those critters. wish i was hunting them. comgrats on a cool trip and a pile of trophies
 
LAST EDITED ON Apr-14-07 AT 07:44PM (MST)[p]
Good job Jason!! Good shooting, too bad the airline messed up your gun, glad it all worked out OK. Those all look like outstanding trophies, especially the Kudu. How was the PH with you having a muzzle brake on your gun? Congrats on a great hunt that could have been missed due to some of our governments finest....

:( Somebody didn't like bouncing betty :(
 
WAY TO GO JASON!!!

WELL!!!

YOU WON'T BE SCREWING WITH THE U.S. GOVERNMENT & THAT PASSPORT NEXT TIME!!!

YOU EAT ANY STEAKS OFF ANY OF THEM???

THE ONLY bobcat!!!
 
Sweet pics and story, I love Africa, I cannot wait to head back there and do some hunting, looks like it was a great trip.
 
Tony, The PH was cool with the break, only the Nyala he got the noise. All the rest he was behind me filming. Got every kill on video except for the Nyala. Could take me a while to sort through all the footage.

Bobcat, we ate some of everything, except the Zebra. Really like the Gemsbok best, then probably Impala.

Where we hunted it was about an hour north of the Ocean on the sothern tip of South Africa. Pretty Humid, and it was just the start of their fall, so still the "Green" season. They said it is pretty dry there, not much rain, but everything is green most of the time. As you get later into winter it starts turning more brown. We were actually the first clients of the year, it just started.

Jason "The Big Ol' Muley"
 
Jason Your trip might of started off bummpy, but you sure made up for it.You got some great animals, Looks like you and your wife had a ball, Thanks for sharing you hunt with us.
 
Jason: Congratulations on a great trip; glad everything finally worked out OK for you. Hope the anticipation was worth the wait. Those are some really nice animals, and nicely posed for photos also. The nyala is gorgeous, and will be my next goal in RSA. Probably 2009 time frame :)

The wife and I leave in two days for my leopard hunt in Namibia, and will return in May. Of course, it has been really dry there for a month, but the 10 day forecast now is for rain and cooler. Isn't that a hunter's luck! Oh well, it is still Africa and better than being here working.
 
SWEET PICS FOR SURE JAS. I'M GLAD YOU WERE ABLE TO GO AND MAKE IT BACK OKAY. SOUND LIKE YOU NEED A LITTLE MORE TIME TO LEARN TO SURF. OUCH!!! I'M PRETTY JEALOUS YOU WENT, AND I'M GLAD LEAH HAD A GOOD TIME. CAN'T WAIT TO SEE VIDEO FROM THIS HUNT. TALK TO YOU LATER.

BUGLEMN
 
Turn your hat around, it'll keep the sun out of your eyes a little better.
Congrats on your trip. Beautiful animals!!!

Lien2
 
Man I am really jealous of you. That looked like an awsome adventure. It is one of my life goals to go on an African Safari. Great job and I bet you are glad that you went! I know I would have......awsome
 
Congrats....all the animals you took are above average, good job. Even with the passport screwup I bet you feel it was well worth the hassle.

from the "Heartland of Wyoming"
 
You have some beautiful animals there. Wouldn't want your taxidermy bill...LOL. Sounds like a definite hunt of a lifetime. Congrats to you. You might have to build a new house just for your mounts....
 
AWESOME. AWESOME. AWESOME! Your story is not too long, I loved hearing about it. Congrats on a fun and successfull hunt!!
 
Turning the hat around would have been better, I just wear it like that when I shoot. But I do have a bright and smiling face.
Thanks for all the responses. Had a blast and keep thinking of the trip and planning the next. Cape Buffalo, next. Leapard After that. Having my wife there was great, she had a good time shopping around and just hanging out. She went out hunting with us a few times, but just relaxed the rest.
Everyone should experience Africa someday, you won't be disappointed.
2 people from out group of 6 got "Tick Fever" Taking some anti-biodics now and should be good as new shortly. I had a tick on me and did not get it. Although mine was called a Pepper tick and not known to carry the fever.

Thanks,

Jason "The Big Ol' Muley"
 

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