Texas-LTH
AH senior member
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2017
- Messages
- 68
- Reaction score
- 60
- Location
- College Station, Texas
- Media
- 8
- Hunted
- RSA, Mexico, USA, Canada
Please forgive typos/misspellings I am working from a cellphone!
Prelude:
I have hunted all over the States and in Mexico. This was my first overseas hunt and I cannot stress how comfortable Cruiser made the whole experience. I made this trip solo and I was at ease the entire trip. From booking the trip to returning home it was 1st class all the way. So to start a huge thank you to Pieter Lamprecht and his entire staff. You are truly amazing. To the hunt....
I will skip all the boring travel details, all went well except for the fact I hate flying and there is not enough scotch and vodka for a 17hr direct flight.
Hunt: 7 day plains game Package
Target Animals: Kudu, Gemsbok, Impala, Blesbok, Wildebeest
Rifle: Remington Model 700LR 30-06
Ammunition: Nosler Custom 180 grain Nosler Partition
Weather: South Texas Winter
Day 1.
After arriving in Joberg we stayed the night at Afton. Had a great steak a few beers and actually met one of the fellows I would be sharing a camp with in Limpopo. The next morning we awoke to a stellar breakfast and after a short wait our drivers from Cruiser showed up. After a 4hr jaunt up to camp we were there. Finally I was in camp. In Africa, a dream come true.
I wasted little time after getting my things unpacked I grab the boomstick and off the range I went to see if my zero held true after the delicate care they received from the baggage handlers. 3 shots and 1 click and I was as ready as I was going to be for the adventure of a lifetime. After gun check my PH Hans who I had just met asked "if I was ready to hunt this evening or would I like to rest and hunt the following morning?" This of course was a silly question! I'm in Africa! Partner I'm going hunting! With limited time we stayed on the home ranch and were after Blesbok or Impala. In the bakie I climb and we are hunting! After riding and glassing Hans taps the hood and off we go. I stay behind him and quickly notice how silent he footsteps are. I had heard how stealthy these fellas are but man was I impressed. Being from South Texas the Umbrella thorn and every other prickly thing was easy walking for me. Actually I found it easier walking than most of my hunting areas in S. Texas. After about a 30 min stalk he motioned behind his back for me to get down. The crawl was on! We approach an power line right of way and there about 180 yards out is a herd of blesbok. I scoot on my hind end up behind him and he explains which one is the shooter. I put the Remington on his shoulder and squeeze... Boom...Thud. A hit! I exhale all the anxiety of my first shot on the dark continent out. We get to where I took the shot and no blood. We followed the tracks for 10 yards and there lay my Blesbok. 16" per horn and great first trophy was a Bronze medal animal.
After pictures and a trip to the skinning shed it was a wonderful dinner of Wildebeest pie and a desert that'd make you slap your momma.
Day 2/Day 3.
Gemsbok Trek
After a nice breakfast of sausage, eggs, toast, and coffee (what I ate every morning), we were off to a new concession. 40 minutes and we arrived at the gate. To shorten this and in the essence of your time and mine it was 2 days of hunting our butts off! The gemsbok were extremely clever and we had uncooperative wind. We would cut track for 3-4 hrs only to find they had circled and busted us. Many sightings and a wonderful experience but they won these two rounds. We ate lunch in the field both days and really hunted hard which is what I came to Africa to do. Below is our Bush Lunch. Eland sausage, fruit, and a cold Castle!
We did however have some luck end of day 2 and ran across a old Impala ram past his prime and a cull to shoot. After a short stalk we closed the distance and, boom! Thud! My second African Animal was in the salt! The impala was 20 1/3" and 20 on the dot. It actually ended up making bronze medal by 2/3"!
Day 4.
Kudu Land
My dream animal has always been the Kudu. Much like an Elk in the States, the Kudu reigned supreme over my dreams and the hunt which I will describe is exactly that. A dream.
At dinner the night before Pieter told Hans and myself that we were going to their mountain property after Kudu. I had requested this hunt after seeing pictures online and thinking it would be spectacular. It was...
We arrived at the concession and spoke with the owner. A wonderful man who told us he had seen some good Kudu this year. We were the first to hunt the property so I liked the pressure was low. After inquiring i learned the property was 35,000 acres! We begin our ascent in the Bakie and the view is spectacular.
You can see above the mountains we were headed to.
Once we reached the base of the hills the terrain changed drastically. No thorns mostly scrub oak looking trees and rocks. Kudu sign everywhere! And Leopard tracks..... We climb up to a ridge and begin glassing. We see a few cows and young bulls and decide to move on. We did this for about 2 hours and had not seen a mature animal. We decided come down the hillside to creek below, and we found some tracks that Hans said were a big mature Kudu and scat that was still steaming. He suggested we hightail it up the hillside again and continue to glass for him. Up we went. Once we were ridge high we took position and glassed. Nothing. Then Hans did something that I will use in other hunting situations. He hurled a rock down into the ravine! I was shocked, I chuckled and said, "well I guess its lunch time." No sooner had the words left my lips I saw Hans throw up his binos. I too saw the movement and there he was! A monster! Hans ranged him at 287 ridge to ridge. I set up on a large boulder and boom...... I watched as the bullet struck a rock just below his belly..... I reloaded as my heart sank but the old bull took 4 steps and stopped trying to figure out where the sound had come from. I shot again. Boom! Thud! The old bull dropped. My elation in that moment may never be coupled. Aside from marrying my wife and my children's milestones, birth, smiling, walking, talking, etc. This took the cake. Hans held position and directed me from across the ravine. What I encountered when I got there was something neither of us had a expected. A 60" monster gold medal Kudu.
After some reflection we figured we did not take into account elevation, both shots dropped about 8" from my hold over and I only took into acount about 4" of drop on the first shot. Lucky for me the lesson was not taught with severe consequences. We took pictures and began the grueling task of getting him down the mountain.
That evening after a midday beer and celebration, we decided it was time to go get our Gemsbok. We stayed a little closer and once again saw fresh sign and hopped out to cut some track! After 20 min or so i saw Hans pace slow. We began slowly creeping through the bushveld making little to no noise. He stops me with his signature behind the back hand signal. After what seems like an hour (5 min), he signals for me to get on the sticks. Up I go and immediately I see her. Two nice males and large female who was without calf. Hans says the female is most mature and largest so I make the decision to take her. Boom! Thud! Quick spin, 10 yards, and no kicking she has expired! Finally my Gemsbok was down. What a feeling after working so hard for it. As we approach we do notice that she has a ear missing. Hans says most likely a leopard when she was young. We take our pictures and to the salt she goes. As the sun sets I realize that these moments are fleeting and I appreciate how fortunate we are to be able to enjoy this land and its animals. What a day! The Animal measured 39" and was a silver medal trophy!
Day 5
Wildebeest Cull
So on my list left I had a female wildebeest cull and a trophy impala. We decided to make it a wildebeest day and set out after em! After hunting hard in the morning with many opportunities just not the right animal, we came back to the lodge for lunch and a quick nap. After it was back in the bakie and to the bush again. We had two or three stalks that evening until just before dark we came across a small heard of beest, and there she was,old barren cow. She was noticeably larger than the other females and was without calf. We got to within 190 yards and Hans said it was time without saying a word the sticks went up. Boom! Thud! She flinched and took off with the herd. I knew I was slightly back due to the brush obstructing the shooting lane but felt good about the shot.
Hans and our tracker John went to work. There was one tiny speck of bright red lung blood and thats it! These guys are unbelievable at their craft. After 650 yards of a few tiny specks of blood they found her. Double lunged! These animals are tough, the only African game I had run more than 10 yards.
Going to lunch will finish after!
Prelude:
I have hunted all over the States and in Mexico. This was my first overseas hunt and I cannot stress how comfortable Cruiser made the whole experience. I made this trip solo and I was at ease the entire trip. From booking the trip to returning home it was 1st class all the way. So to start a huge thank you to Pieter Lamprecht and his entire staff. You are truly amazing. To the hunt....
I will skip all the boring travel details, all went well except for the fact I hate flying and there is not enough scotch and vodka for a 17hr direct flight.
Hunt: 7 day plains game Package
Target Animals: Kudu, Gemsbok, Impala, Blesbok, Wildebeest
Rifle: Remington Model 700LR 30-06
Ammunition: Nosler Custom 180 grain Nosler Partition
Weather: South Texas Winter
Day 1.
After arriving in Joberg we stayed the night at Afton. Had a great steak a few beers and actually met one of the fellows I would be sharing a camp with in Limpopo. The next morning we awoke to a stellar breakfast and after a short wait our drivers from Cruiser showed up. After a 4hr jaunt up to camp we were there. Finally I was in camp. In Africa, a dream come true.
I wasted little time after getting my things unpacked I grab the boomstick and off the range I went to see if my zero held true after the delicate care they received from the baggage handlers. 3 shots and 1 click and I was as ready as I was going to be for the adventure of a lifetime. After gun check my PH Hans who I had just met asked "if I was ready to hunt this evening or would I like to rest and hunt the following morning?" This of course was a silly question! I'm in Africa! Partner I'm going hunting! With limited time we stayed on the home ranch and were after Blesbok or Impala. In the bakie I climb and we are hunting! After riding and glassing Hans taps the hood and off we go. I stay behind him and quickly notice how silent he footsteps are. I had heard how stealthy these fellas are but man was I impressed. Being from South Texas the Umbrella thorn and every other prickly thing was easy walking for me. Actually I found it easier walking than most of my hunting areas in S. Texas. After about a 30 min stalk he motioned behind his back for me to get down. The crawl was on! We approach an power line right of way and there about 180 yards out is a herd of blesbok. I scoot on my hind end up behind him and he explains which one is the shooter. I put the Remington on his shoulder and squeeze... Boom...Thud. A hit! I exhale all the anxiety of my first shot on the dark continent out. We get to where I took the shot and no blood. We followed the tracks for 10 yards and there lay my Blesbok. 16" per horn and great first trophy was a Bronze medal animal.
After pictures and a trip to the skinning shed it was a wonderful dinner of Wildebeest pie and a desert that'd make you slap your momma.
Day 2/Day 3.
Gemsbok Trek
After a nice breakfast of sausage, eggs, toast, and coffee (what I ate every morning), we were off to a new concession. 40 minutes and we arrived at the gate. To shorten this and in the essence of your time and mine it was 2 days of hunting our butts off! The gemsbok were extremely clever and we had uncooperative wind. We would cut track for 3-4 hrs only to find they had circled and busted us. Many sightings and a wonderful experience but they won these two rounds. We ate lunch in the field both days and really hunted hard which is what I came to Africa to do. Below is our Bush Lunch. Eland sausage, fruit, and a cold Castle!
We did however have some luck end of day 2 and ran across a old Impala ram past his prime and a cull to shoot. After a short stalk we closed the distance and, boom! Thud! My second African Animal was in the salt! The impala was 20 1/3" and 20 on the dot. It actually ended up making bronze medal by 2/3"!
Day 4.
Kudu Land
My dream animal has always been the Kudu. Much like an Elk in the States, the Kudu reigned supreme over my dreams and the hunt which I will describe is exactly that. A dream.
At dinner the night before Pieter told Hans and myself that we were going to their mountain property after Kudu. I had requested this hunt after seeing pictures online and thinking it would be spectacular. It was...
We arrived at the concession and spoke with the owner. A wonderful man who told us he had seen some good Kudu this year. We were the first to hunt the property so I liked the pressure was low. After inquiring i learned the property was 35,000 acres! We begin our ascent in the Bakie and the view is spectacular.
You can see above the mountains we were headed to.
Once we reached the base of the hills the terrain changed drastically. No thorns mostly scrub oak looking trees and rocks. Kudu sign everywhere! And Leopard tracks..... We climb up to a ridge and begin glassing. We see a few cows and young bulls and decide to move on. We did this for about 2 hours and had not seen a mature animal. We decided come down the hillside to creek below, and we found some tracks that Hans said were a big mature Kudu and scat that was still steaming. He suggested we hightail it up the hillside again and continue to glass for him. Up we went. Once we were ridge high we took position and glassed. Nothing. Then Hans did something that I will use in other hunting situations. He hurled a rock down into the ravine! I was shocked, I chuckled and said, "well I guess its lunch time." No sooner had the words left my lips I saw Hans throw up his binos. I too saw the movement and there he was! A monster! Hans ranged him at 287 ridge to ridge. I set up on a large boulder and boom...... I watched as the bullet struck a rock just below his belly..... I reloaded as my heart sank but the old bull took 4 steps and stopped trying to figure out where the sound had come from. I shot again. Boom! Thud! The old bull dropped. My elation in that moment may never be coupled. Aside from marrying my wife and my children's milestones, birth, smiling, walking, talking, etc. This took the cake. Hans held position and directed me from across the ravine. What I encountered when I got there was something neither of us had a expected. A 60" monster gold medal Kudu.
After some reflection we figured we did not take into account elevation, both shots dropped about 8" from my hold over and I only took into acount about 4" of drop on the first shot. Lucky for me the lesson was not taught with severe consequences. We took pictures and began the grueling task of getting him down the mountain.
That evening after a midday beer and celebration, we decided it was time to go get our Gemsbok. We stayed a little closer and once again saw fresh sign and hopped out to cut some track! After 20 min or so i saw Hans pace slow. We began slowly creeping through the bushveld making little to no noise. He stops me with his signature behind the back hand signal. After what seems like an hour (5 min), he signals for me to get on the sticks. Up I go and immediately I see her. Two nice males and large female who was without calf. Hans says the female is most mature and largest so I make the decision to take her. Boom! Thud! Quick spin, 10 yards, and no kicking she has expired! Finally my Gemsbok was down. What a feeling after working so hard for it. As we approach we do notice that she has a ear missing. Hans says most likely a leopard when she was young. We take our pictures and to the salt she goes. As the sun sets I realize that these moments are fleeting and I appreciate how fortunate we are to be able to enjoy this land and its animals. What a day! The Animal measured 39" and was a silver medal trophy!
Day 5
Wildebeest Cull
So on my list left I had a female wildebeest cull and a trophy impala. We decided to make it a wildebeest day and set out after em! After hunting hard in the morning with many opportunities just not the right animal, we came back to the lodge for lunch and a quick nap. After it was back in the bakie and to the bush again. We had two or three stalks that evening until just before dark we came across a small heard of beest, and there she was,old barren cow. She was noticeably larger than the other females and was without calf. We got to within 190 yards and Hans said it was time without saying a word the sticks went up. Boom! Thud! She flinched and took off with the herd. I knew I was slightly back due to the brush obstructing the shooting lane but felt good about the shot.
Hans and our tracker John went to work. There was one tiny speck of bright red lung blood and thats it! These guys are unbelievable at their craft. After 650 yards of a few tiny specks of blood they found her. Double lunged! These animals are tough, the only African game I had run more than 10 yards.
Going to lunch will finish after!
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