ZAMBIA: SOUTH AFRICA: My Hunt With Takeri Reserve, Diekie Mueller Safaris & Coenraad Vermaak Safaris

[gillettehunter]

Appears the ele may be in must. That would explain some of the temperment. A few miles later I look over to my left and glimpse a BW as we go by. Darrin stops when I rell him about it. We go back for a look. The 3 trackers in the back all missed him. We drove up to 75 yds and Darrin tells me this is the best one we have seen. We had looked at over 50 just today and close to 200 for the safari. He was accompanied by a herd of Zebra. We drove out of sight and then headed back. They had walked up to the crest of a ridge. We angled past then trying to get to the BW and away from the the Zebra. Finally just him. He was quartering to us as the sticks go up. I find him in the scope and he is back end to us. No shot. We wait and the Zebra start working past him into the bush. He turns and walks hehind a nush. I move to the next opening a few feet along. First a Zebra and then the BW steps into it. I pull the trigger and hit him right on the shoulder. As he runs I can see the shoulder is broked. He was dead on his feet and went about 150 yds. Bullet just under the skin on the far side. He is in the top 2% of what is on the ranch. Nice, but not outstanding. Just a darn nice bull. I'm thrilled!

Other photos have some horn cut out. Notice the brooming. We decided to call it a day. We only need to get a Hartebeast and a warthog to fill my package with 3 more days. We have seen 3 very good hartebeasts. Dinner time. More pics later. Bruce

 

[billc]

Wow this place looks to be one of the gems of SA. That picture of all the oryx make me drool as I think they all look like shooters size wise. Plus your seeing all the big 5 animals also. Each animal you have taken has been very nice and hope your luck keeps going

 

[LivingTheDream]

That WB looks outstanding to me. You are having a cool trip. I'm surprised you haven't added a hyena to your collection .

 

[gillettehunter]

Wow, you have seen lots of hyena! Is there a chance one of those is now in the salt?

Can't import the brown Heyenas into the US. I don't think they allow any Heyenas to be hunted on this place. They don't allow you to shoot Jackals. The fewest jacklas I have seen in a day is 4. Saw 10 today. 3 just at 1 waterhole..... We have seen a couple of Rhino's here and there. Tonight coming home a large male, female and a youngster next to the rd. Pics suck. My setting on the camers has gotten moved......again. Trackers trying to turn it on? Thats why these photos are so overexposed.....

Glad your enjoying the report. Only 3 hunting days left....... Bruce

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Took a break at the next waterhole. Just covered up in Gemsbok.View attachment 163249 View attachment 163250
After a light lunch we continued to look at animals. Not too many Hartebeast, but a lot of BW's. Always lots of animals within 3 miles of water. No water no animals. We worked over into the area with elephants. We stopped for photo's at 300 yds. One bull has been a dit cranky. He turned and saw us and headed our way. When he reached 50 yds we took off, He appears to not like people at all.View attachment 163251

Looks like a big bull Gemsbok on the back edge of the water and a very unique springbok!

 

[cpr0312]

Yes no browns can be imported, spotted can. Very cool you got to see a rhino!

 

[Neale]

Bruce, this safari just gets better and better. The taxidermist is also getting happier by the day.

 

[rinehart0050]

Congrats on all your trophies. and best of luck on those to come!

Really enjoying following your progress in this report

 

[gillettehunter]

Little more info on the Heyenas. This is the first time my PH has seen the Spooted although he has heard them in the past. The Browns are relatively common and arrangements could probably be made to take one, but not importable to the US. Today was the Rhino day. We saw 6 this AM. Good to see a place that has a few around. Anytime we make a stalk my PH's .458 Lott comes along. Rhino and lion could be a hazard.

Today was a true Gansta shooting on a warthog. It was a driveby affair. We were looking at a hartabeast that had run off rather fast as we drove up. We came right up to the Warthog. He was just 50 yds off of the road. Out of the truck and on the sticks. 1 and done. Nice , but not great pig. Was wondering if they might be my last animal. Have not seen large numbers of them. They are here , but used to be more before the drougth.

Gotta run. Off to look for a hartebeast. Oh, Darrin just measured the animals. Steenbuck is 5 in. Gemsbuck male is 30 3/4! BW is 29 inches. Some excellant trophies. Bruce

 

[gillettehunter]

I should never post w/e proof reading. Gemsbuck is 39 3/4. Last animal in my package is a red hartebeast. We are also looking eland over in case my lost one is alive and happens to show up. Went by a couple of waterholes. Always a few animals. Drove down to a large block that has lots of feed. Lower brush and grass. The animals were xoming out of the bush to feed. Saw a couple oh hartebeasts feeding and one looked very good. Sp we went to look closer. Turns out there were 6 with a real smooker. We stalked up to 130 yds. 2nd time on the sticks he walked out into the clear. 1 shot and DRT. Got back and a quick measurement shows 24 3/4 with 11 inch bases!

 

[billc]

That's is a big red and what a way to finish your package up. Hope you get lucky and come across that eland before you leave.

 

[BRICKBURN]

That is a dandy RHB.

 

[bluey]

that's a cracker red hartebeest, bruce...
some good chewing there bloke
mate you've had quite the adventure....
you mustve unloaded that sapphire....

 

[bluey]

hope you find your eland.....follow your nose by now ,id rekon

 

[Ridgewalker]

Great adventure! Thanks for sharing!

 

[cpr0312]

Nice pig and Red hartebeest!

 

[hansv]

great report so far Bruce. appreciate you hunting with us, look forward to chatting on the phone before you leave. I hope you find the eland although it sounds like that wont happen. Hope you've enjoyed the Kalahari camp and the area. you've taken some great animals, well done!

 

[gillettehunter]

I am having a great time in the Kalahari. Darrin believes that there are 2 possibilities for the eland. Most likely dead and hidden in the bush where it has been eaten. Probably where the vultures couldn't find it which is part of our search. Lots of other predators around to clean it up. Second is that it is wounded and has relocated away from the search area. We have spent a lot of time in the 20-30 sq mile area around where he initally was. There is still another 300 or so sq miles where he could be....... We looked again this AM. Probably saw 40-50 eland. Just not the right one... I may try to take another one tomorrow. It is not out of the question.
Today we also saw another Cheetah. Lions were seen last night hy others. We couldn't find them. Perhaps later. Here are a few photo's. Bruce

 

[gillettehunter]

Another pic. Thanks for all of the support. I appreciate it. More pics when I-net is better. Bruce

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Enjoyed to entire report so far. It's quite an adventure. You are a trooper to be hunting in 106F temps.