PART II: Hunting
That Friday morning, I finally arrived in camp and met with the outfitter and one of the PH’s. Had I ever hunted big game (as that phrase is used in Africa)? “No” I replied, “I figured I’d start with a bull elephant”. A few smiles. We went over rifles and I left the main area with an iron sight .375 and a suppressed 30.06. They requested I first hunt down that dik-dik I also wanted, and possibly a warthog. This would allow time for Alex Oelofse to return from a trip as they wanted him to be there when I took the elephant.
Waiting until Sunday or Monday (my last hunting day) for Alex was pushing things timewise given my schedule but given the rain, and that he was to be a vital part of the hunt, that is what made sense. It did not help me sleep at night though. Late at night I was second guessing the rented rifle I had been using. It just did not seem as great a fit as I would have hoped. Nevertheless, on that Saturday my PH “Nafi” and I had managed to take a dik-dik with Nafi’s .375, as well as a jackal with that 30.06. Quick note on Nafi - He has worked there for 43 years. He has been a PH since 1991. Him and one other fellow there became the first two black PH’s in Namibia. He obviously knew his job and had a great sense of humor too.
View attachment 677998
View attachment 677996
Then, Sunday morning came, I paired up with a different PH, Steve, for the elephant part of this adventure. Steve was actually an American that had grown up in L.A. but came over to Namibia, to this same property, when he was 19 and became a PH that year. That was in 1974. Experienced? Yeah, Id say so.
Steve and I had discussed shot placement a night or two before. He had asked me where I thought I wanted to shoot it. I told him “wherever you think I have the most chance of success”. He said “okay, lets go for the broadside heart lung shot”.
Steve, another young PH named Max and I headed out that Sunday morning in the bakke. To my relief, we went to the range first and I tested out a different rifle Steve had brought along. This was also a .375, a Kleinguenther with a fixed 4X Bushnell scope. I chose this one, Steve was armed with a 458WM and Max with that iron sight .375. We all lubricated the actions and worked them to ensure they were smooth. Each rifle was then loaded up to the max with solids.
View attachment 677999
Steve told me the plan was to locate the elephant, ensure he was not with the herd, and get as close as we can to take the broadside shot before he knew we were there. He had made it clear that “the first shot has to be right or we are fu***”. We also went over that no matter how good my first shot would be, he would tell me to keep shooting, reload and shoot some more until he was down.
After driving around for two to two and half hours we spotted a big elephant a little less than a mile away. The roads were still quite muddy and we wanted to maintain the element of surprise anyway. Ensuring he was facing away from us and playing the wind, we moved in on him. Steve confirmed it was the right elephant and we did not see any other elephants. He was actually moving away from us but at an angle. The tactic was to get as close as we could from behind him and then swing over almost 180 degrees for the broadside shot. The vegetation afforded cover but it also blocked shots.
We moved in to about 45 yards and Steve set up the sticks. He told me when the elephant stepped forward a little, as he soon did, between two trees would be the shot we were hoping for, but to be sure that no branches were in the way. I got on the sticks and yes, a medium thick branch was blocking the shot. He told me to make sure it was not blocked. “Steve, the branch is in the way” I replied. Even moving the sticks over a few feet did not help. Never mind, the elephant was on the move now anyway. Let’s move.
We backed out, then we all froze on Steve’s command as the elephant was now turning his head towards us, looking for something that he likely sensed (us). Thankfully, he eventually looked away and kept moving. We moved laterally and repeated the prior set ups a few times, set up on sticks, then nope, not going to work. Elephant on the move, freeze, he’s looking around again, back out again, repeat, etc….
Then, at 40 yards, I set up on sticks as we anticipated him stopping at a certain spot, which he did. He was facing left and was broadside. I traced up the back part of his front left leg above the inverted V, then aiming slightly more towards his front but not so much as to shoot him in the shoulder (they have solid bones). I told Steve I had him, “take him” he said. I was telling myself to “squeeze”.
The following happened very quickly but I was managing to process that things were going as planned. The elephant started to run, moving at a 45 degree angle away from us. I sensed from Steve and Max’s tone of voice, and that Steve never unslung his rifle and Max never raised his to his shoulder, that this was working out. Steve was calmly telling me to shoot him again as I worked the bolt and fired three more times from the offhand. I was aiming for his vitals as I could still see his left broadside. The elephant was running, but not at full speed and I could tell he had been hit. I went for the rounds on my belt but Max handed me a round to load before I could get there. I loaded and shot again. Max and I repeated that process one more time. The elephant turned around and crashed down. He was about 70 yards from where I had shot him. As we quickly walked up on him Steve shook my hand. I asked if I should put one more in him. At first we decided no, but then why not, just to be sure. I grabbed that iron sight .375, knelt down and put one last round in his right side that was now the side facing up. All my other shots had been to his left side and he fell on that side. I never got to see how I placed my shots. Max did tell me the first shot had been “textbook”, and that would likely have been fatal. The blood trail started soon after where I first shot him and led to where he dropped. It was a lot of blood, indicating lung as well as heart.
View attachment 678000
View attachment 678005
View attachment 678002
Apologies for the long write up but I wanted to get across the twists and turns this hunt had along the way. I am obviously more than pleased with the outcome and am blessed to have had this opportunity pop up. And I thank the Oelofse family and the Good Lord for it.
Lastly, I am including a photo of when my grandfather took an elephant in Tanzania (in the Selous) in 1968, also a problem bull that had been a crop raider. We loosely used it as a guide for my photo. It worked out pretty well considering positioning an elephant doesn’t really happen without heavy equipment maybe.
View attachment 678004
Lots more details about taxidermy plans, the paperwork, etc… but plenty for now. Any questions or comments let me know. This will likely be the only elephant I hunt, but hey, hopefully not! Cheers
View attachment 678006
View attachment 678007
View attachment 678008
View attachment 678012
