Return from Africa!!

fisrtcoueswas80inches

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Just got back a few hours ago. Had a AWESOME time with Kei River Safaris. Thank you so much Andrew Renton and all of his PH's


This is just a quick overview. A few pictures and some short snippets.

One thing is I shoot a heck of alot better in the southern hempisphere.... 10 animals in 12 shots!!

First night... Good bushbok, 200 yards DRT.



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Second day.

Cull Impala, mid day. Andrew called the guy who owned the property we were on, got the go ahead and it was game on.

180 yards, 40 yard death run.

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About 45 mintues later Andrew and I are eating lunch and getting ancy... We decided to continue our search and stumble across this very large "non-typical" Impala. He offers me a 80 yard shot, but facing almost straight away. I tuck it tight to the shoulder and he drops DRT.

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Myself, Sutu, and Cameron, the PH's son
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Next up was the Black Wildebeest and the Red Heartabeest.

We set up on the B.W... Sutu, the tracker went over the hill and spooked them down to us. Andrew and I were caught on the wrong side of a dam.. When the group of 7 bulls were all out of sight, Andrew and I snuck around the dam and got on top. He told me which one, and at 126 yards he was a dead bull walking. The 300 WSM barked, and the 168 TTSX hit the bull perfect behind the shoulder, breaking a rib on the way in and out. 100 yard run and it was all done.

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Later in the day, we spotted the Red Heartabeest... We went after a nice bull that was by himself. While stalking him, we found the herd and stalked into shooting position. After Andrew spent a good 30 minutes looking over the herd to find the old, mature bull he picked one out. The problem was the 30 MPH+ cross wind at 320 yards. I gave the bullet about 4 feet of wind drift... It took about 6 foot... The bull ran 20 yards and stood still. At 340 yards I gave him the proper 6 feet of wind drift, but concentrated more on that than the drop. Hit him right, but low. He stubmled another 15 yards and laid down. I worked my way down to 225, and put the TTSX right where it needed to be. This is the only animal I shot at more than once.
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Here is the TTSX pulled from the last shot.
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The next day Andrew, Sutu and I were off nice and early to his buddies ranch where he has tons of free range true, pure Eastern Cape Kudu. We hunted all day and saw a ton of bulls, just not one worth shooting. About mid day, we decided to make a Coues hunter like move, and move high in the hills and put ourselves where we thought they would come out. Immediately it paid off as we had a beautiful, old mature but short bull bed down and 360 yards. I was frustrated, and was about to drop the hammer on him, but Andrew had he hold off.
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Good thing too! About 20 minutes later, "my bull" stepped out. After a SHORT discussion, we were on the move. I had this bull, with a slight cross wind, but mostly a head wind at 343 yards. I lined up the cross hairs of the Kimber 300 WSM and squeezed the trigger. I saw the bull hunch, holding his near-side shoulder and I knew it wouldnt take long. Before I could put another round in the chamber, Andrew told me he was down.
This shot couldnt have been placed any better! (I am not used to doing that, so I went into a mild case of shock)
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(Notice the hat)
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The next day I ran into one of the toughest/best shots I have made. Not because it was a long way, but because I have never seen a animal of the size/shape of this next animal.

Andrew and I are driving one of the many roads that are cut into the sides of the many mountains on his property. He calmy stops the truck and says "Grab your rifle." I immediately know BABBOON!!!!

We slowly and quietly get out of the truck and I lean across the hood. This big mature male stops at 374 yards and I smoke him, again with one shot.
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Andrew and I had looked over quite a few Mountain Reedbok (The Bushbok I shot was about 10 yards from a Mtn. Reedbok we were going to shoot). After seeing another guy in camp with his Ram, we knew one of the ones we looked at and passed on was a shooter.
We went to where we had seen him, and I set up on a nice rock, shooting heavily uphill at 250 yards. These little dudes are tough! This 75 pound Animal took the 168 TTSX through the heart, with a 1" exit and STILL ran 100 yards, 50 of them uphill!
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Next up and my last animal was the Black Springbok.

Andrew and I did another "drive". Sutu pushed the rams to within 83 yards, but none were shooters so we packed up and went to another area. Another drive revealed a nice ram. 183 yards facing on and the Kimber dumped him on the spot (TTSX was recovered from this ram)
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The .257 wby also made the trip, and Scott killed some nice animals with it.

I wanted to also whack something with it, so Andrew and I went looking for something.

This old babboon was all by himself. I felt bad for him as he was at "only" 350 yards which is a slam dunk with El Chupacabra!
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The fruits of the whole trip:
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That looks like fun I can't wait to go, I will be going to S. Africa to hunt in less than 2 weeks. Do you have any advice for me? I just hope I will be able to shoot as good as you did.
 
Cobra, I do have a few pieces of advice.

When you get to Jobrg, haul ass off of the plane, because every person on that plane will need to go through customs and security. Be one of the first.. Saves LOTS of time.

Make sure you have all your paperwork for your rifles done prior to getting there.

When you land, after you get through customs etc use a porter as they are awesome (tip them about 2-3 bucks).

Hit all the animals through the shoulder. The vitals are farther forward and quite a bit lower than our animals. The Kudu... Looks like a heart short right? Nope. Went above the heart. Aim forward and low.

Take TONS of pictures and lots of batteries for your camera and a large memory card. I was surprised when I got home and I had only taken 225 pictures.
 
That looks like a good trip. I do want to do Caribou hunt first.


"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
 
NICE PICS & CONGRATS. MY SITUATION..........I HAVE THE GREEN LIGHT TO HUNT AFRICA (MOMMY GAVE ME PERMISSION).....A BUDDY JUST GOT BACK....KILLED 10 ANIMALS & HAD A BLAST. I AM HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING MOTIVATED, I THINK I AM STUCK ON OUR NORTH AMERICAN ANIMALS & HAVE PLENTY OF HUNTS HERE. ANYBODY ELSE FEEL LIKE THIS ??? I WILL END UP GOING......JUST KINDA WEIRD OF ME .....NOT TO WANT TO JUMP ALL OVER A AFRICAN HUNT....YD ????????????????????????????????
 
Yukon:

I had the same feelings as you. However, after talking to a lot of people, them telling me more about the experience, I will definately go there int he future. I think it something to try.

I never had a desire to go bear hunting either. Finally, a friend talked me into going. Since then, I am addicted to bear hunting!!
 
Great photos. You're screwed now, once you've been to africa you can't get it out of your blood. Good choice in guns too, model 70: the only way to fly. I shot my black wildebeast with a 300 wsm and 180 barnes tsx, didn't go far.

I love shooting baboons! I could do a 14 day baboon only safari and not get enough of that. They are about the stinkiest critter I've ever been next to.

Who's the young kid in the photo?
 
I keep thinking I have very little interest in Africa. Then I keep talking to people who have been there and they say it is the best. I just don't know...
 
WOW.....I'M NOT WEIRD ABOUT AFRICA. I HAVE TALKED TO 50 PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN......THEY SAY IT WAS FANTASTIC, SHOULD HAVE GONE A LOT EARLIER, CANT WAIT TO GO BACK, THEY SLOBBER ALL OVER AMERICANS, THE COMPOUNDS/CAMPS, FOOD,.....ARE FIRST RATE. MY TIME WILL COME IN 2-3 YEARS AS MY BUDDIES ARE GOING BACK I GUESS.........THANKS......YD.
 
Congrats & thanks for the pics! I'm planning a plains game hunt myself for 2012, can't wait!!

7 Mag
 
Congratulations on a wonderful hunt. Fantastic pictures! I'm sure you had a great time. As one who has been over there 3 times now (Namibia twice and Zimbabwe once), it does grow on you. I have made more memories on each of those 15 day trips than I have in an entire seasons worth of hunts here. New friends, great food and experiences, and a totally unique area to hunt adds up to fun times ten. As much as I love deer, elk, and antelope I get to do those every year, and they begin to be the same.

I have taken elephant, cape buffalo, and leopard - can't ever afford a lion and don't care about a rhino so my dangerous game hunting will be for buff and tuskless ele from now on. Takes 2-3 years to save up for another trip, but save I will! There are so many species yet to hunt.
 
I'm in the same boat as you YukonDall. I can't get exicited like I do for Mule Deer,Sheep and Elk. Part of it for me is the Rocky Mtns. and fall plus it is more of a hunt here and more of a shoot over there. I haven't been there though and I know it would be fun. One can do Africa when we get too old to climb the big mountains. JMO.
 
Any of you that are considering Africa, ought to read "Blanks" thread about his trip. One of the best reports I have read in my 8 or 9 years on monstermuleys.

I will probably hunt bear in Canada first and then I am going to Africa. Thought about going this year with the icredible rates being offered. However, I have a lot of other things going on so I guess I will wait.

Part of what makes hunting so great IMO, is the adventure. Its always fun and interesting to hunt a new type of animal and it presents new challenges IMO...
 
Thanks guys.

The trip to Africa was definately a different type of hunting. Honestly, I didnt get nearly as excited as I would have if I was settling the crosshairs on a big old bull elk, or a big coues buck. Dont get me wrong, I did get the rush afterwards (especially when Scottyboy would equate what I had shot to the size of Coues or Elk it was).

It was truely an amazing experience. I wanted to kill myself on the way there on the plane, but once I got there it was awesome.


Andrew Renton and Kei River Safaris those guys treated us like kings and made sure we were pleased which we were beyond comparison!
 
I wish I could write better to convey all of my thoughts on the subject of Africa. I am sure others feel somewhat the same at times.

You know, I just have to laugh when I read peoples complaints about the trip. Yes, the non-stop Delta 777 is 16 hours and it sucks, but think - you can drink, watch movies, play video games, read a couple hunting mags or books, and sleep. Plus the anticipation of a hunt of a lifetime is almost overwhelming!

Sit in a tree stand or on a bear bait with mosquitos for 6 hours with your legs asleep, glass that mountain all day for that buck of a lifetime, and never see squat, or endure 12 hours of 100+ degree heat in an antelope blind. But you call that fun?????? It can be just as hard over there, and just as devastating when you only get one chance and then miss!

You guys that think you can wait until you're fat and old to go there are looking at doing it wrong. There are outfits that will let you ride around and shoot from the truck, if you want to, but who really would enjoy that? You hunt elephants with your feet! Walking 5-10 miles a day, every day, is not uncommon, and running out of water 12 hours later in 95 degree heat is no fun. Buffalo are generally in the thickest nastiest stuff they can find, and crawling and duck walking for a couple hundred yards will try anyone's Nautilus trained physique. Get in to 10 yards, with no shot possible and nothing but a big brown eye staring at you is SCARY! Walk 5 miles in a sand river bed and you'll think you're back in football camp doing twoadays. :(

The things I really remember vividly are taking my partners picture with an animal he had long dreamed of taking, walking in on a hyena bait in the dark, and having to retreat from the pride of lions who found it first. The rasping cough and grunting of a leopard outside your tent, then the screams as it whacked the baboon it had followed. How can you explain shining your flashlight out the tent door at 2 AM and seeing 3 elephants that are as big as houses, did you know you really can go to sleep with your rifle in bed? Or seeing just how fast those 10 foot black mambas really are!

Those are just some of the reasons I love to go back whenever I can work it out.
 
After 4 years at NAU, I love showin my Jacks gear!


I tell you guys, the 300wsm impressed the hell out of me as far as a plains game rifle. The Kudu didnt even run. He bounced around for about 5 seconds then fell.

The Wildebeest did 100 yard death run before his lungs ran out of air. I was VERY impressed by the gun!
 
Great pics and congrats on a good hunt 1stcoues.

Great post Blank, spot on.

Plane ride is not that bad. Drink, read, eat, sleep and repeat until touch down.
 
Im really glad and happy for you that your hunt was so good. But for me if I cant get there in my F-250 I ain't going. I don't mind the flying but I hate the process . Nothing ticks me off more than having to take off my shoes to get past the check point at the airport.
 
If anyone thinks they might go at some point in the future? Get a credit card the accrues airline miles. I know that idea is nothing new, just a reminder.

I have a united mileage plus card and charge everything I can to it (gas, groceries, bills, etc). When I went I used airline miles for the ticket and that is the second largest expense. Once you get there a plains game hunt is not that expensive and cheap relative to other hunts. I am a long long way from wealthy and I pulled it off.

It is just an all around awesome experience.
 
Who is the oputfitter that you used and what is the cost of something like this. Does the cost of it include getting your game back home meat included or did the meat stay there and you just brought home the trophys.
 
I got a special "recession" deal as the poor economy here hurts them as well. And no, that does not include bringing the trophies home. That, unfortunately will be quite a few $$'s extra. The meat stays there.
 
LAST EDITED ON May-22-10 AT 10:29PM (MST)[p]sweet! thanks for the stories loved it! i really dig the kudu! the wildebeast looks cool to hecjkk there all cool!

so are babboons a nuisance or what is the deal with them? kinda sound like they are killed on site like coyotes here!
 
What a fantastic trip, congratulations! I have been planning my first safari for about 2 1/2 years and will be in Namibia next year. I am already planning to take my son when he graduates from college in 2013. It is looking like buffalo, hippo and croc in Moz. Your trophies are great! When are you going back?!
 
Went in 2008, had 8 day hunt but killed all 6 in 6 days. Use my T/C 338 win mag. The wife and I spent 22 days in all togeather in S.A.. It took a year and about $2500.00 to get my heads home.
 

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