Hunting Dates: May – June 2017

Safari Operator: Charlton McCullum Safaris

Professional Hunters: Buzz Charlton , Alan Shearing

Hunt Area: Dande Safari Area. Zimbabwe

Rifles: Blaser R8 Big Bore Professional in .375 H & H magnum. Blaser R93 Professional in 30-06. Krieghoff Double in 470 Nitro.

Game taken: 2 - Elephant (Tuskless Cows), Hippo Bull, 2 - Sable Bulls, Bushbuck, Zebra, Klipspringer, Hyena, Impala,

Overview
A good friend (TM) and myself have recently just both completed a 10-day hunt with Zimbabwe based Charlton McCullum Safaris in the Dande Safari area.
This particular hunt was for Elephant ( “Tuskless Cow”) with plains game included.

This was our second hunt with CM Safaris as 2 years ago (2015) myself and same friend elected to both hunt buffalo with this company.
My reason for writing these comments is due to the outstanding experiences that we enjoyed while hunting with CM Safaris along with the high levels of professionalism and attentiveness to our requirements.
Now that we have concluded 2 major big game hunts with CM Safaris we felt that we can pass on some qualified feedback that hopefully may help any fellow hunters considering a big game hunt in Zimbabwe to make an informed decision.

Seeking out options for a big game hunting experience in Zimbabwe was initially a rather complex task due to the wide array of options.
For our hunt we were not prepared to compromise certain factors and what we required was, a genuine free range opportunity in a truly wild area along with a safari company that operated with integrity and passion for the hunt and animals.

After watching a series of videos that were made by “Buzz Charlton” our interest was sparked in taking a step towards engaging with CM Safaris.
Our initial contact was in the form of a personal meeting with a senior PH (Alan shearing) from CM Safaris at a hunting show in Australia.
That meeting with Alan along with all of our questions being answered to satisfaction resulted in our initial booking with CM Safaris for a 10 day buff hunt in 2015.

Our resulting first hunt in the Zambezi valley with CM Safaris was an outstanding success as it related to our desire to have a genuine big game hunting experience.
Additional to the hunting, the camps, staff, level of competence and attentiveness with the PH’s was first class.
The hunting was in our mind excellent on all fronts and we were both extremely lucky to take buff at considerably over 40 inches.

Both of our buffalo were hard won with serious tracking sessions undertaken on various bulls in what was rather thick mopane due to late rains and that added an interesting element to the hunt.
TM eventually secured a lovely 44 inch “Dugga Boy” at a seriously close range with his 470 double.
I was fortunate enough to take a 42 inch bull in his prime under rather exciting conditions as well after 5 days of hard work in the thick mopane.
I also had a hunt prior to taking my bull in the infamous Buffalo Beans at Kanyemba. This hunt whilst unsuccessful will stand out as one of the great experiences I’ve had.
We jumped the huge old solitary bull at ridiculously close range after following him into the long grass which had all of us with our heart in our mouths when luckily he elected to burst away from rather than over us.
Then of course there was the effect of the buffalo beans on our bodies the whole time that we were in the thick stuff. This awful little plant sure does sting and burn.
I guess that’s why those big old Dugga Boys resort to living back in the buffalo beans where they don’t get disturbed to much !

The 2015 hunt was a complete success with everything that we hoped for and as a result we both decided without any doubt another hunt was to be booked hence the just completed 2017 elephant hunt.
We have not long returned home from enjoying yet another wonderful African experience with Buzz, Alan and their teams.
We both secured our Tuskless cows and as luck would have it we also both had success on very good sable bulls after determined tracking efforts over quite a few days.
Additionally TM had an outstanding tracking hunt on a huge old hippo bull that concluded with high excitement in the jess.

TM’s Hippo Hunt

Having concluded my elephant hunt successfully on day 2 , my attention turned towards a much desired sable bull.
Leaving camp on day 3 we came across a large bull hippo spoor on the sandy road.
Following some conversation and having always wanted to hunt a hippo on land a change of plans was made. We headed back to camp to pick up my Krieghoff double.
We followed the hippo spoor along the road until he cut off. That commenced the start of the hunt for what appeared to be one seriously big hippo.
After an hour or so the trackers determined the bull was heading to a pool in a backwash of the Angwa river. The plan was to try and intercept him as there was no other water in the vicinity and he was several hours ahead of us, so back to the truck and we headed off to the Angwa. After a walk of about 1.5 km’s to the pool, all we found was his old spoor.
So, a quick regroup and then we headed back to the truck and drove to the original starting point and commenced tracking again. By now the day had moved on to around 10am.
The trackers followed him through gullies, over rocky hills and through thick bush on a very meandering route with often only the odd scuff mark from one of his toes to follow along with the odd bush covered in faeces.
Watching these trackers work was incredible and they did an absolutely amazing job considering the lack of sign from such a large animal. Very skilled guys !
My PH Alan said the bull would probably be in the thick jesse and if we caught him he would more than likely charge so it was going to get very interesting.
Sure enough, after about 20 km and around 9 hard hours in total we tracked him to the thick jesse near the Angwa river. With visibility down to just a few metres it was a case of being very careful and going slow as the spoor was getting fresher.
The tracks lead out onto the sand and up the river.
At this point he seemed to be heading for the other side of the Angwa which was outside our hunting area so a bit of concern was felt as we were fearful of losing him but thankfully he turned back into the jesse on our side.
The trackers were scouting through the edge of the jesse and suddenly bumped him. It’s fair to say they came running out pretty fast. Luckily the hippo wasn’t on their tails.
By now it was 4pm. We found where the trackers had bumped him and started to follow again knowing that we didn’t have a lot of daylight left.
We went back in with one tracker in front on the spoor. Alan and I were searching the thick jesse intensely with very limited visibility for any sign of the big hippo expecting to see him at any moment possibly charging.
I know my heart was seriously pounding and my mouth was dry but I certainly felt alive with all senses heightened as I digested the situation that we were in.
At 4.30pm we found him standing in the jesse swinging his head side to side looking for us. I will never forget the sound of him chomping those big teeth. He knew we were there but couldn’t seem to pin point us due to the thickness of the jesse.
His head was moving far too much to attempt a brain shot. At a range of 9 metres I took the body shot at him through the bush and managed to anchor him with a clean chest shot. A couple of follow up shots to be certain and an epic hunt came to an end.
My first impression of this great old bull was the prehistoric look of him and the sheer size of his head and body, just a massive animal.
Some photo’s were taken. With daylight fading fast we made our way back to the Angwa river. As we quietly walked with the setting sun into the night I had time to contemplate the incredible experience that I had been through.
After about 10 km’s we finally made it back to where the truck was waiting to pick us up. By now it was 7.30pm on a day that I will certainly remember as a major hunting highlight for me.
Back the following day to recover the bull, managing to get the truck through the bush on an old rough track to within 1.5 km’s of the big hippo.
Sacks of meat, the jaw and some skin was carried to the truck with the rest taken away by the villagers from across the river who left nothing behind.
Very satisfying to see everything utilised particularly with the villagers being able to have all of that meat to add to their protein deprived diet.
A big thanks to CM safaris and particularly Alan and the trackers (Maplan and Martin) for an amazing experience.


DTs Hunt

My elephant hunt unbelievably concluded on day 2. Now that in itself wasn’t a problem as with all hunting the hunt unfolds the way the hunt unfolds.
Over the 2 days we were exposed to some exciting interaction with elephants and a very memorable close encounter with an angry elephant cow in the jess.
This was an experience that one really has to be a part of to understand as words cannot do justice to a screaming and offended elephant coming through the jess at you.
We avoided a defence killing and I give all credit to buzz for his handling of the situation.
It’s hard to imagine any other situation that stirs the adrenalin levels in a hunter as a close encounter of this kind with an elephant. An animal to be respected at all times.
Buzz done a great job of positioning me for the walk-up onto my elephant and the frontal brain shot was made easy by his control of the situation leading up to the shot.

DT’s Sable Hunt

With my elephant hunt being concluded on day 2 of a 10 day hunt Buzz asked me if I would be interested in hunting a Sable bull.
Now a Sable bull wasn’t on my agenda but an opportunity like this was too good to turn down so the conversation turned to Sable hunting that night.
Little did we know what we all signed up for by taking on that Sable hunt !
It would be fair to say that this hunt without exception would be my finest and to some extent mentally the toughest that I have encountered.
What I witnessed over 4-Days, yes 4 days on 1 particular animal was the most spectacular and determined tracking effort you could ever hope to witness and be a part of.
Sable are not exactly prolific in numbers in the Dande so taking on this hunt is always going to have serious miles of walking involved.

Day 1
We found tracks of a herd that appeared to have 14 or so animals in it. We tracked for most of the day and towards later afternoon we made first contact.
Buzz seen the bull and immediately said this is a seriously good bull and we must try for the shot.
As fate would have it I never really could get onto him for a shot as he was semi obscured and the herd broke away before any opportunity presented.

Day 2
Started early and this is where I witnessed the true skill of our 2 trackers as they unbundled the previous day and nights movements to find todays tracks.
This was no easy task and easily 2 – 3 hours of intense tracking was involved before we started on the fresh sign.
We contacted the herd twice over the day but they were extremely wary and each time there was no shot opportunity and the strenuous tracking would start again until finally the evening arrived and we set off home with the plan to recommence tomorrow.

Day 3
Commenced the same way with much effort yet again from the trackers in determining the previous night’s movements leading onto todays fresh sign.
Around midday we came onto the sable standing in shade and unbelievably here was the elusive bull standing no more than 20 meters from us with eye to eye contact. And what an animal he was ! Magnificent.
Due to the obstructions in the bush I couldn’t take a shot and the bull broke away. At that point we took a calculated decision to quickly move into a small opening that allowed me to see where the bull appeared to be running towards.
The bull hesitated. The shot was tricky maybe 80 meters and uphill and I was shooting freehand. A complete miss. I felt the weight of that missed shot as I stood there looking at my team who had invested so much commitment over nearly 3 days into finding this 1 bull for me.
We digested the situation whilst having a drink of much needed cold water.
I asked the guys if they would carry on for me to find this bull again as after this length of time we had so much energy and emotional content invested in the hunt for this particular bull we had to at least try and play it out.
Of course I felt deep doubt inside, where does it go from here as I’ve really stirred these animals up by firing a shot.
Buzz and the trackers said to me that they have never been on 1 animal for this length of time and they were up for the challenge to carry on if I was.
Off we went again for yet another long tracking session and getting towards evening we located the herd standing in shade on the edge of a large open plain.
This was it. We had the chance to conclude.
A clipping pace seen us 20 minutes later standing at about 100 meters from the herd desperately looking for the bull.
As incredible as it sounds another problem turned up. This time in the form of a herd of elephants moving between us and the sable.
The short of it was, Elephants smell hunters elephants scream and run-off straight through the sable. Hunt over !

Day 4
Back to where we finished with the same routine. Find where the sable had settled for the night then pick up fresh tracks and follow.
We had a turn of luck. The sable moved into more open country and as a team we all felt at last this may be going our way and it did.
The trackers found the herd late morning and the sable were bedded down in semi open country.
Well guess what, somehow they seen us on what we thought was an impeccable final approach and off they went again.
Time for a sit down.
We got ourselves sorted picked up the tracks and recommenced the hunt.
At around 3pm on day 4 we found them yet again resting up.
This time the situation went in our favour. The stalk got us within distance but while we were looking for the bull they sensed us and the herd got up and started to move.
Surely not again I was thinking.
Suddenly our luck changed as the herd cut in front of us then proceeded to make their way at an easy clip towards a small ridge that would take them out of the area.
Buzz fired the sticks up and said when the bull comes through the gap on the ridge I will yell to stop him and that’s your moment.
The bull came. Buzz yelled for all he was worth. The bull stopped momentarily. The shot was taken.
And that concluded what may very well be the most intriguing and mentally demanding hunt I have ever been privileged to experience.

So here’s the stats to give some context.
4 days non -stop on the 1 herd holding this bull.
Over 100kms of walking which of course means 100kms of intense tracking on these same animals.
Over 32 hours of continuous walking and tracking in total.
The prize. A magnificent 40 inch sable bull.

I witnessed on that hunt a clinical determination by my trackers and PH to deliver on a promise to find my bull.
That sure was some exceptional commitment in my eyes.

So in summary,
Would we recommend CM Safaris as a credible and high level operator in Zimbabwe ? A resounding yes.
Is their operation flexible enough to deal with discerning or demanding hunters ? Absolutely
Are they passionate about hunting, the environment that they work in and the animals ? Yes. (Read their website as to the anti-poaching investment that they make annually)
And finally they are just great guys to be with and they have in-depth knowledge of the animals and environment along with going that extra mile to ensure that they deliver on what they say..

We are making plans to go back yet again<IMG class="inline_image" SRC="

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Sounds and looks like you got some first class hunting in with Alan and Buzz.

The hippo hunt was the finest of descriptions and you were very lucky to experience such a pursuit.

Some really fine hunting all round and congrats to CMS.

Sounds like you had a great time. Looking forward to a few photos to go along with the report.

.

Excellent story. Great looking sable and hippo. Congratulations to all. Yes, you can't go wrong on CMS Buzzer and Myles run a very solid hunting business.

Congratulations. Ele photos ?

Charlie

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Good stuff, Congrats. Thanks for posting.

Congratulations on a wonderful hunt. Your report is informative, credible, well written and very good reading.
I can tell from your story/report that CM Safaris are excellent in all ways. I will check them out.

Very helpful, thanks again.

Congrats! Great report!

Great report, to bad Photobucket has managed to foul up again as all I could see was a sable and your hippo.

Thanks for all the feedback.
finally cracked getting the photos loaded !
Was probably harder than the 4 - day hunt for my sable but got there in the end.

Thanks for sharing your adventure.

Well done guys!!! great safari and trophies. CMS are at the top of the game in Zim. hands down.
You experiences with Buzz, Myles and crew are a mirror image of my numerous hunts with them in
The Zambezi valley.
Congrats to the PH's Buzz and Allan and the entire team!!!

cheers

Nick

Great photos and would have loved to be on the hippo hunt. Which shot was fatal? I see three.

Myles was apart of one of my first Safaris prior to C&M and was the consummate proffesionals then.
Buzz was in camp on one of my Lion hunts and was spoken of highly by my PH at the time, the late Ian Gibson.
That high praise from Gibbo was somthing i did not take lightly...

The rearmost shot took him through the chest/lungs on a quartering angle.
That knocked him down and we think would have killed him.
The other shots were to ensure that he stayed down.

TM

What a great hunt and awesome set of trophies!! The dryland hippo deal must have been tense. Cheers to BuZZ and Myles and the whole bunch for putting on yet another top notch safari for you'll.

thank you for sharing

Question for Buzzer, when he comes around and sees this. Is it common for a big ole bull Hippo to wander around out of water like that? What was he doing, looking for a new harem? Seems more like a Dagga boy than a Water Cow!! I just assumed they stay closer to water at all times.

great report congratulations

Some fine trophies there. Love the Sable , Hippo and the Klippie. Well done guys.

Great story!

Great story and photos. That hippo hunt was a corker!
CMS is a great team in all ways.

Nice!!

Well done!

Much better pictures!

I just flew back from New Zealand last night. The next time I'm back there I'd like to buy you a beer and hear the stories in person.

Stay in touch for when you're planning to be back in NZ and if we can work it let's catch-up for a chat.

Cheers
DT

Great report!

Kiwi

Very nice and a hearty "Well Done" to everybody involved.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by Kiwi Hunter:
The rearmost shot took him through the chest/lungs on a quartering angle.
That knocked him down and we think would have killed him.
The other shots were to ensure that he stayed down.

TM

Good job and a bite from that thing will surely bring tears to your eyes. Sounded like a classic bit of hunting and good on the CMS team to get you onto such a bull.

Have added in a few photos from our 2015 buff hunt with CM Safaris for those that are interested.

TM's Dugga Boy followed by DT's Buff

Hey Kiwi hunter. Im trying to do a report and my pictures keep coming up with some 3rd party hosting error thing....do i have to pay the 399$ to upgrade to the 3rd party hosting? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Thanks for adding the buff and other photos. Great report, glad you got your sable in the end

Hi
It was a bit of a mission for me to work through the process of posting photos but got there in the end. I didn't pay any money out.
I used photobucket and followed the instructions that are given on this site for photo attachments.

Cheers

Awesome. CM runs a great outfit!

Congratulations for a great hunt and excellent report. No surprise that you had the hunt you expected with CM, including the skill, experience and professionalism of Buzz and Alan, two of the most accomplished and respected Zim PHs. I love Dande for elephant. Thanks for the report.

Terrific report and hunt.

Just sent deposit for tuskless in Oct this year to CMS; not like I needed it, but this report really gets me pumped.

quote:

For our hunt we were not prepared to compromise certain factors and what we required was, a genuine free range opportunity in a truly wild area along with a safari company that operated with integrity and passion for the hunt and animals.

Very well said. Have hunted with CMS twice as well, and this describes the area, the outfitter, and the PHs perfectly.

Well done on some very fine experiences. Love the hippo hunt!

Great Report. Congrats on an awesome hunt.