SOUTH AFRICA: Paw Print Safaris & Me Hunt 2016

[CAustin]

Guys day one was absolutely a good day! Pieter and I slept in a little but we were at the firing range by 8:30 to check the rifles! The it was off to the first concession. We managed to spook up a nice Bushbuck but I could not get the cross hairs on him and so the morning hunt saw no barking from either of my Rugers! Lunch and a quick nap over Pieter and I headed to a different farm looking for Sable, Eland and Zebra. About an hour into the drive I noticed what looked like Sable horns in the grass next to the road. Pieter had spotted them at the same time and began glassing. I could clearly see two very nice Sable bulls both shooters. One stood up and was perfectly broadside to me. The horns were big and had a nice curve to them. Pieter said that another bull was bedded down on the other side of the road but I couldn't see him. Pieter wanted me to get the best possible bull.......but I was ready to shoot the one standing up, yet he insisted that we stalk around to see if we could get all three to stand up. We moved to within fifty yards up hill from the group when the other two stood up. All three bulls looked good to me and they started running. Pieter set up the sticks and I got on them quickly. As luck would have it they only ran about 75 yards from left to right and stopped. Pieter had said while they were running that the one in the back was the better bull, the one that had been standing before. I leveled the cross hairs of my Ruger #1 in 300 win on his left shoulder and squeezed the trigger. It was a velar hit and the Sable ran just about 40 yards and piled up. He was kicking around quite a bit and I thought a second round would be needed. However, the Winchester 180 grain Ballistic Silver Tip had found it's mark! Later when skinned out Pete the skinner brought me the heart that was torn almost in two.

 

[Sand Rat]

Good shooting Charlie, can't wait to see the pics!

 

[CAustin]

He measured out at 39.5 inches. Big bases with some secondary growth!

 

[CAustin]

So we took all the pictures and then loaded the sable in the truck. Strangely enough I told Pieter that when I took the shot on the sable that I could see behind them way in the distance, half a mile, eland moving around. Since eland is on my list we drove in That direction but encountered a good size group of zebra. They too were moving from left to right and stopped to look at us. I guessed they were between 200 and 215 yards away. Pieter said to take the one In The back if I was comfortable with the shot. I was wrong on the distance folks. Pieter said it was more like 240 yards. So while my shot was lined up perfectly with the chevrons I was about three inches low which blew up the stallions right foreleg just below the shoulder. Well the heard took off and we got on the blood trail. We followed the trail half a mile when we could see that the zebra was separating from the heard another half mile In The distance. Pieter sent the tracker back for the truck and went around to cut him off. We got to within 100 yards of him and he was down on his forelegs with his ass in the air. With the sun in my eyes I told Pieter all I could see was a rock. He said no that's the zebra shoot forward of his hind quarter into the shoulder. I did and the beast got and ran a few yards and lay down. A shot in the chest ended things.

 

[cpr0312]

Congrats Charlie!!!!! Saw the pics on FB last night! Its a beauty

 

[CAustin]

Lots of work for Pete and Steve to do. Thirty minutes after this photo a nice kudu was brought in for another hunter in camp at Flintbeck Lodge.

 

[cpr0312]

Congrats on the stallion also!!!!

 

[cpr0312]

Cant wait for more updates this week

 

[billc]

charlie and his sable

 

[Lee M]

Well done Charlie! Sounds like any animal that you encounter while stalking an eland may also be in trouble.

Bill C has the same disease on the first fews days of a Safari... Symptoms include a twitching of the right index finger often followed by a loud boom and the smell of gunpowder....

Go get Em!

 

[CAustin]

The damaged heart of my Sable!

 

[Wheels]

Lunch and a quick nap over Pieter.

Can tell this report is going to be very detailed!

Congrats on your first day Charlie.

 

[Jody]

Way to go pal, you're off to a heck of a start. Congratulations.......

 

[jasyblood]

View attachment 156063
He measured out at 39.5 inches. Big bases with some secondary growth!

Beautiful sable Charlie!! Congratulations and good luck with the rest of your hunt!

 

[bassasdaindia]

congrats @CAustin , looks like you are having a great trip .

 

[rinehart0050]

Congrats on your success so far Charlie! Looking forward to hearing more!

 

[Art Lambart II]

Way to go Charlie, that's a beautiful Sable. Keep the Pics comming

 

[JustinC]

Congratulations on a beautiful trophy Sir! Enjoy the rest of your hunt with Pieter!

 

[thi9elsp]

Congratulations, keep the tally coming!

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Nice Sable for sure! Good shooting.