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[WAB]

I sort of wish that I could concur. My wife has many strengths. Her natural aptitude to hunting unfortunately is not one. When we got married I thought hey, she'll be the best hunting partner ever, we can both get tags and if she is successful or I am successful it doesn't matter as all the animals come back to our home.
First hunt we went on was a either sex mule deer hunt in one of the southern zones of Sask. We both had tags were both young 24 or 25 and I was just starting to care about horns rather than just getting a deer. I was in quite a bit better shape then (definitely lighter) and really gung ho. We started out walking the coulees along the South Saskatchewan (River) and started seeing deer. Everything was great. Suddenly we kicked up a good group of about 15 does with a buck that was definitely a shooter to me. They didn't waste time heading at least into the next coulee. We were off after a slight break. Everything was great. We crossed the coulee and as we slowly crested the ridge to see if they had settled down in this next coulee.
I was pretty focused looking for the group but did eventually notice that my wife was sitting on the ground near me and she was... crying? WTFrick?
"What's the matter?"
"I can't do it" sob sob
"Do what?" I genuinely and stupidly asked.
"Keep up, keep doing this, you've got to slow down!"
Now, sensitive me, now aware of what the problem was dealt with it as any good young husband would.
"Seriously?... suck it up, we don't have time for this" I responded. I think it had a bit of shock value.
The group was not in this coulee from what I could see so we rested for two or three minutes while I gave a short drill sergeant "pep talk" and we were off again to the next ridge. The deer were in the next coulee and were settling down but were still on their feet. I asked her "Do you want to shoot him?".
She was huffing and puffing and looked pretty tired. She said "No, you just shoot". I didn't have to be told twice. I took my best shot and it was good. Getting the deer out of that spot turned out to be another minor nightmare with my 1981 chevy 4 x 4 but I left her there with the deer as she was "done" and was just happy to be able to rest. The deer (and wife) recovery worked with no major issues (just a lot of walking by myself). She just forgave my insensitivity without a word, we were young and in love and "issues" were always minor.
I have taken her on a few more "successful" hunts since then and a few not so successful and every one with the exception of the last was a complete GONG SHOW, no B.S., it's funny now, it wasn't then. The last one was with the muzzleloader from a blind. Now when I hunt, sometimes, most of the time, I'm glad she's not there. She has one absolute stud of a Muley, grossed 186 and was going down hill. I know from pictures by Big Buck magazines Gary Donald that the deer was at least eleven years old. I guess I'm becoming an old daggaboy.

JP

Wow, and she had a gun? You’re lucky to be alive! A buffalo hunt will seem tame after that death defying stunt!

 

[WAB]

i thought it was clives....its the twin to mine , larry amrine built them . mine is .458 lott

You have a beautiful rifle!

 

[Iwannahunt]

Wow, and she had a gun? You’re lucky to be alive! A buffalo hunt will seem tame after that death defying stunt!

That's funny, I'll show her your post... I hope it doesn't give her any ideas...

 

[superdutch]

I know I am late to the party, but what a hunt report! What an exciting read!

 

[WAB]

I know I am late to the party, but what a hunt report! What an exciting read!

Thanks, it was quite a hunt. There's something about hunting the big stuff that seems to get in your blood. You come back from a hunt and all you can think of is how to get back over for the next hunt!

 

[superdutch]

I understand completely! I suspect that's why I spend hours on AH everyday!

 

[Scott CWO]

Bill & Bruce - Congrats on a great hunt.

Bruce - As a guide/PH, congratulate you on being a man and being willing to stand up to danger to protect your wife and PH when danger looked you straight in the face. You are to be commended - quite unlike the September 2018 hunter that threw a handgun towards his WY guide and then ran while the guide was being mauled and killed by a grizzly. I am betting you would have unloaded the handgun into that bear instead of throwing it and running away. You would be welcome in my camp anytime.

Your story reminds me of a 2014 incident when I was in Mozambique when a buffalo charged my friend and his PH at close range in heavy, tall grass along Lake Cahora Bassa. My friend shot the buffalo off of the PH. The PH lived but had several surgeries on his thigh. My friend, Craig, received the Gallantry Award from the PH association.

 

[Randy Bo]

“WAB”, out of curiosity, what brand of “soft” was used on the elephant?

 

[WAB]

300 gr Swift A-Frame out of a .375 H&H.

 

[mark-hunter]

It is not just "any" soft. This is premium bullet!
BTW, fantastic report, thank for sharing I did not see it earlier.

Lesson to be learned is defintely to have premium ammo avialvable in Africa.

 

[Randy Bo]

300 gr Swift A-Frame out of a .375 H&H.

I know it was probably the last thing on everyone’s mind but, by chance, did anyone note the A-Frame’s performance (distance traveled or retained weight)?
Thank You, for sharing this great adventure.

 

[375Fox]

This is an incredible story, very lucky.

Do you feel the elephants in save are more aggressive than elsewhere?

 

[WAB]

@375Fox, I don’t have enough experience to say whether they are more aggressive or not. @Randy Bo, I do t believe anyone dig the bullet out.

 

[Randy Bo]

@375Fox, I don’t have enough experience to say whether they are more aggressive or not. @Randy Bo, I do t believe anyone dig the bullet out.

Thank You...

 

[sestoppelman]

I missed this story too, great adventure, great rifles and great buffalo! Got it all!

 

[mikecatt13]

From the outside looking in, I'd be terribly nervous having to decide to shoot something like an elephant in self defense (vs something less regulated like buff), I can just imagine it being like a self defense shooting in the US with a lot of folks judging in hindsight...gotta believe African jail sucks.

I imagine the survival instinct overpowers such thoughts but that's terrifying in many ways, glad it all ended well and thanks for sharing