SHOEDOG
AH veteran
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2013
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- 101
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- LIFE NRA SCI
- Hunted
- USA CANADA
Arrived home August 26 after spending 12 days at the Mpunzi Lodge hunting with Marius Goosen of KMG Safaris. I did all my research right here on AH and would like to extend my thanks to everyone who answered my questions and took time to post hunt reports.
My traveling companions were my wife and daughter age 12 as observers and my son 8 would be hunting.
We drove four hours to NYC and spent the night in a hotel with shuttle service to JFK. We flew JFK to Johanesberg then a short flight to Port Elizabeth where Marius was waiting to pick us up. We made it to camp with just enough light to check rifles then back to the lodge for dinner, drinks and bed. It worked out well getting there late as we were tired enough to fall asleep on local time and suffered no jet lag.
I was shooting a Remington 700 in 375 H&H. Handloads with Barnes 250 gr TTSX. I zeroed my rifle for 200 yds. My son shot Marius's Mauser action custom 308. Both had Leupold VX-R scopes.
First day was Zebra in the morning...............
Then a nice dark Bushbuck in the afternoon.............
The following day we spent chasing Impala and finally caught up with this ram. Marius estimated we covered about 10 miles. My son kept up all day like a trooper.
The next day was his turn and he took his first big game animal a nice Blesbuck. Marius and I gave him the warpaint. This was a great day for sure.
Then Marius's wife Kim took the family shopping and sightseeing. My kids had fun and bought sneakers and some back to school clothes.
Marius and I spent the day looking for Waterbuck spotted this fine animal and finally took him the next day late in the afternoon.Very impressive animal found on the hillsides in some really beautiful country. The shot was 250 yds across a valley bottom.
It seemed like everything was going according to script until we came to the Kudu.We saw plenty but nothing Marius deemed a shooter. Close enough that,on walking out after a full day of hunting ,Marius said he might have made a mistake on passing on one we had been watching.He said that he figured I would probably only shoot one Kudu so he would like it to be a good one and we decided to hold out even if it meant going home without one.
On our last hunting day after five and a half days I took this bull that I am very happy with and Marius was no doubt relieved.
Next up was my son who took this Warthog
Marius shares Mpunzi Lodge with another PH named Louw.My son was invited my Louw's sons to go small game hunting and he took a very interesting creature called a Springhare.Half rabbit half Kangroo.
I thought it was really great they included my son and just goes to show how nice these folks are.They all have a passion for hunting and want you to have a great time.I love this photo.
Louw's wife Michelle cooks all the dinners and the food was fantastic.Graham who is Michelle's brother and a new PH himself, takes care of breakfast and lunch.We celebrated my Wife's birthday while we were there and they made a Lamb dinner in her honor followed by birthday cake.
One of the things we enjoyed most about our time in Africa was that unlike a "normal" vacation where you you really only meet other tourists,we got to stay with local people who could share their experiences of growing up and living in Africa.It gave us a wonderful perspective on the country.
A big Thank You to everyone and we look forward to seeing you all again.
Steve
AKA Shoedog
* Hi,
When we were at KMG we met 3 small dogs named Flex and Rigby,(Aka Turd),And Bolt
They were adorable. They were friendly and well behaved, although they were full of energy .
I had a great time!!!!
~ Lauren
My traveling companions were my wife and daughter age 12 as observers and my son 8 would be hunting.
We drove four hours to NYC and spent the night in a hotel with shuttle service to JFK. We flew JFK to Johanesberg then a short flight to Port Elizabeth where Marius was waiting to pick us up. We made it to camp with just enough light to check rifles then back to the lodge for dinner, drinks and bed. It worked out well getting there late as we were tired enough to fall asleep on local time and suffered no jet lag.
I was shooting a Remington 700 in 375 H&H. Handloads with Barnes 250 gr TTSX. I zeroed my rifle for 200 yds. My son shot Marius's Mauser action custom 308. Both had Leupold VX-R scopes.
First day was Zebra in the morning...............
Then a nice dark Bushbuck in the afternoon.............
The following day we spent chasing Impala and finally caught up with this ram. Marius estimated we covered about 10 miles. My son kept up all day like a trooper.
The next day was his turn and he took his first big game animal a nice Blesbuck. Marius and I gave him the warpaint. This was a great day for sure.
Then Marius's wife Kim took the family shopping and sightseeing. My kids had fun and bought sneakers and some back to school clothes.
Marius and I spent the day looking for Waterbuck spotted this fine animal and finally took him the next day late in the afternoon.Very impressive animal found on the hillsides in some really beautiful country. The shot was 250 yds across a valley bottom.
It seemed like everything was going according to script until we came to the Kudu.We saw plenty but nothing Marius deemed a shooter. Close enough that,on walking out after a full day of hunting ,Marius said he might have made a mistake on passing on one we had been watching.He said that he figured I would probably only shoot one Kudu so he would like it to be a good one and we decided to hold out even if it meant going home without one.
On our last hunting day after five and a half days I took this bull that I am very happy with and Marius was no doubt relieved.
Next up was my son who took this Warthog
Marius shares Mpunzi Lodge with another PH named Louw.My son was invited my Louw's sons to go small game hunting and he took a very interesting creature called a Springhare.Half rabbit half Kangroo.
I thought it was really great they included my son and just goes to show how nice these folks are.They all have a passion for hunting and want you to have a great time.I love this photo.
Louw's wife Michelle cooks all the dinners and the food was fantastic.Graham who is Michelle's brother and a new PH himself, takes care of breakfast and lunch.We celebrated my Wife's birthday while we were there and they made a Lamb dinner in her honor followed by birthday cake.
One of the things we enjoyed most about our time in Africa was that unlike a "normal" vacation where you you really only meet other tourists,we got to stay with local people who could share their experiences of growing up and living in Africa.It gave us a wonderful perspective on the country.
A big Thank You to everyone and we look forward to seeing you all again.
Steve
AKA Shoedog
* Hi,
When we were at KMG we met 3 small dogs named Flex and Rigby,(Aka Turd),And Bolt
They were adorable. They were friendly and well behaved, although they were full of energy .
I had a great time!!!!
~ Lauren
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That big toothy grin he always wears tends to dominate
