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What is the one animal that you either did not get a shot at, missed, etc. that did not hit the salt and your regret? My first safari was with the Rudman's at Blaauwkrantz. An amazing safari with an amazing PH. Barry was very very picky which was fine with me. We were on Day 8 of a 10 day safari and I still had not shot my number 1 species on the hit list; the Kudu. We had passed dozens and dozens of bulls looking for the right one. Finally, we found a herd of bulls feeding in the late afternoon. We had to belly crawl into position due to the lay of the land, wind, etc. I decided to setup laying over some type of bush/brush that was not very solid, what a mistake. I thought I was solid enough when in actuality I was far from it. I remember the bull being picture perfect quartering away, almost broadside, it was perfect. I blew it! No idea where the bullet hit other than in a couple of steps all of the bulls were gone and I was totally crushed. No blood, nothing. Just a perfect miss after the PH and tracker had done an amazing job. Never forgot that feeling. On day 9 I redeemed myself and took two fantastic bulls but this one has always had that little lingering doubt for some reason. I don't think the bull I missed was any bigger than the one I took but for some reason that one has always stuck with me. I learned a valuable lessen but thankfully I did not draw blood. | ||
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Skip Nantz | |||
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On my third safari with Jan du Plessis of Sebra Hunting Safaris in Namibia, I decided to leave my favorite Winchester Model 70 in .300 WSM at home and go with one of Jan’s camp rifles, a Mauser in 8 X 68 mm. We set up in an elevated stand where I had shot a couple of trophies in prior years, and before long a herd of kudu cows approached to within 75 yards. A beautiful 55+ inch kudu bull came on a string from a long distance, approaching the cows. When he got within 100 yards, I reached for the rifle, and the cows saw me and everybody ran off at full speed. The bull finally paused at about 225 yards, and I took the shot. Long story short, I drew blood and we tracked for 3-4 hours, but no dice. I paid the trophy fee, and redeemed myself a few days later with an almost identical kudu bull. Thankfully, that’s the only animal in four trips to Sebra that I’ve shot and failed to retrieve. Jesus saves, but Moses invests | |||
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Zebra- Saw the arse end of one....never even got close. And that was the one thing the wife wanted, a zebra rug  ------------------------------ A mate of mine has just told me he's shagging his girlfriend and her twin. I said "How can you tell them apart?" He said "Her brother's got a moustache!" | |||
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Like Skip I was in one of Buzz's camps (Dande East) hunting early season Elephant Bull.... Sable was on quota as well and sure enough we come across a beautiful Sable bull just some 50 yards off the two track. Chip shot.... I grab my .300WSM...line him up and Bang...I think I've just nailed my first Sable. We go to where he was standing in the tall grass and nothing...found a spec of blood... In my haste my brain didn't account for the fact he was standing in 3-4foot tall early season grass and I hit him right in no man's land..high shoulder and below the spine... That Sable bull was GONE!! Expensive lesson learned... | |||
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Wounded a Gemsbok in Namibia. Hit it too high. Paid for the critter. ______________________ DRSS ______________________ Hunt Reports 2015 His & Her Leopards with Derek Littleton of Luwire Safaris - http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/2971090112 2015 Trophy Bull Elephant with CMS http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/1651069012 DIY Brooks Range Sheep Hunt 2013 - http://forums.accuratereloadin...901038191#9901038191 Zambia June/July 2012 with Andrew Baldry - Royal Kafue http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7971064771 Zambia Sept 2010- Muchinga Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4211096141 Namibia Sept 2010 - ARUB Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6781076141 | |||
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That's why it's called: Hunting. All kinds of things can go to hell. George "Gun Control is NOT about Guns' "It's about Control!!" Join the NRA today!" LM: NRA, DAV, George L. Dwight | |||
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A gift buffalo quota tag for my birthday from a compassionate fellow hunter. (I had already taken the two I had on quota). Did a stalk that an abled bodied hunter could easily do, but this old lady needed the help of the hunting team. Finally had a broadside shot at 100 yds! Done deal! Easy easy shot .. I would be walking on air!!!! ...after initial shot (that didn't indicate a reaction, but typical for buffalo) then several follow up running shots. Never hit a thing! Of course that determination came after the team had spent hours looking for sign, at my insistence .... nothing' --- hunting messes with you if you don't have proper shot placement (I hate that rule!) Best regards, D. Nelson | |||
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Missed the only Sitatunga I've ever shot at. Shooting a borrowed rifle at about 350 yards, while laying on a tree limb about 12 or so feet off the ground. That tree was so big, my PH and a tracker were on the same limb with me. It was a long cold walk back to the truck, in a hippo path with water up to our chests. That's OK, I'm gonna get revenge on those swamp fairies this October! | |||
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Awesome!! Pretend it's a Duck. ______________________ DRSS ______________________ Hunt Reports 2015 His & Her Leopards with Derek Littleton of Luwire Safaris - http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/2971090112 2015 Trophy Bull Elephant with CMS http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/1651069012 DIY Brooks Range Sheep Hunt 2013 - http://forums.accuratereloadin...901038191#9901038191 Zambia June/July 2012 with Andrew Baldry - Royal Kafue http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7971064771 Zambia Sept 2010- Muchinga Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4211096141 Namibia Sept 2010 - ARUB Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6781076141 | |||
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Missed a mid 40's sable in Amadundumela (Forestry) near Bulawayo in Zimbabwe that stood there at 150 yards due to a shot out barrel on my .416 back in 2013. Had two cracks at him and missed both. Should have used the .470. I have never seen his better, but since then did see his equal in Zambia, but didn't have the required license in 2015. | |||
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My brother still enjoys reminding me of a monster Blaauwkrantz kudu I missed at 150m. It haunts me. | |||
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Bushbuck at Blaauwkrantz (2005). My avatar was/is the consolation prize -- a pick up head that had likely met the same fate my wounded inkonka would/did. _______________________ | |||
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My first safari in Zim in 2012. I hunted the south Omay for seven days. Was hunting buffalo and whatever plains game we saw. Hunted dark to dark for the whole week and never fired a shot. I was extremely dissapointed. Good news is two years later I went with a different safari outfitter and killed a nice buffalo. NRA Patron member | |||
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On my first trip in Namibia, there were two animals. First was a Springbok, never had an opportunity at this classic Namibian animal. I did get a gemsbok and a Hartmann's zebra though. Second was a huge red hartebeest that was injured. He was less than 50 yards away. I asked the PH if he wanted me to take him, he called me off as we were hunting Kudu for my partner at the time. The hartebeest turned and walked off, we went back looking for him after the kudu was a no show. Never found him, he was massive and injured. I though it was a no brainer call. Lost a lot of respect for my PH after that. | |||
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How about 2 that got away.....damn!  The first pic is of a good lion in Zim. He hit bait for us on a couple of occasions - but we could never get him to show up in the daylight, he seemed pretty hip to the gig! We changed blinds, the set-up, etc, but he knew what we were up to.  The second one, was dead and didn't know it! Not a great pic - sorry about that. We were in Tanzania in 2014, when we came across a couple females and a huge old male with a fresh zebra kill (no cubs present so we were good to go). We saw them the night before too - and came back in the morning - where they had a fresh kill. As we approached they pushed off and we followed on foot for just a bit. As we rounded an ant hill, there he stood perfectly broadside at 70 yards. My buddy threw up the sticks, I got on him perfectly and confirmed with my cameraman he was on him? Just them my cameraman fell in a warthog hole, and said "no", I'm not on him. As he lept to his feet to get it on film the lion took off, and we never saw him again!!!!! I easily could have shot him - no problem....I was on him for 10 - 15 seconds, but sometimes filming for tv can be a problem. I didn't get a lion on that trip!!! TV can be costly on occasion!   | |||
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The Chamakubi Lion would be another! ROYAL KAFUE LTD Email - kafueroyal@gmail.com Tel/Whatsapp (00260) 975315144 Instagram - kafueroyal | |||
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Good heavens Andrew, I was trying to forget him! Simply the smartest, most cunning, wild animal I have ever tried to hunt.....period!!! Richie and I spent weeks trying to kill that SOB. He KNEW everything we were doing, from start to finish! Honestly, I think he was half human....nothing could fool him! | |||
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Andrew....the Chamakubi lion confirmed to me, they are the smartest / most cunning animals on the planet when they want to be! I've guided / killed big elephants, leopards, wild sheep, whitetails, elk, etc, you name it! I've never seen an animal as cunning as a "lion" when they want to be...never! They are capable of thinking, like no animal I have ever seen! What I find especially interesting Andrew is this. The lion you guys hunt in the Kafue, etc, are just as wild as the lions in TZ, but much more clever! I'm not sure why....but its the truth? | |||
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Oddly enough, I've hunted Africa twice and have managed to miss two of the most commons animals - impala and warthog - despite chasing them both multiple times. _____________________ A successful man is one who earns more money than his wife can spend. | |||
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Cape Bushbuck. Two attempts and two failures. At the same time, I've managed to collect 6 of the 8 varieties, including the very hard to get Abyssinian. Also need to try for Chobe. Will J. Parks, III | |||
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It was almost Sitatunga for me a couple of weeks ago. I passed a 26 + bull because he didn't flare out at the top. It was the very last morning of the hunt before I had another opportunity. Fortunately, that bull flared AND he was bigger! Will J. Parks, III | |||
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Grizzly or brown bear can be very clever too ... | |||
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Jinxed on roan. Cats got in the way a couple of times. One too close to a hot bait, and another had to break off tracking to get to a bait a couple of hours away. Was top of the list for this year, but had to cancel for business reasons. Some day! | |||
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Steenbuck have nothing to fear from me. I've missed every one I have ever shot at. 30+ years experience tells me that perfection hit at .264. Others are adequate but anything before or after is wishful thinking. | |||
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Folks, I've had some misses and not so great hits but the one that got away that has haunted me is a very big lion in Western Tanzania. We just couldn't kill enough big baits to keep him interested. There were lots of sable there but I already had a good one and there were some roan but once again I had a good one and we couldn't seem to find a buffalo that met the PH's standards which left us only a kudu and eland for lion size baits which spread our bait line thinly. At midday we rode up to a bait with two males on it and one was a dandy. They ran off and we built a blind in which we set for 6 hours in the middle of the day. The young lion came back twice but the big boy hung back and did not come in until I could not make a responsible shot. The next morning the lions had flattened the bait and proceeded a couple of miles to our last intact bait. When We got there they had flattened that too and were just running off leaving us with nothing to refresh it with as the kudu was hanging miles away. That was a disappointment and we never got another big male on bait. Mark MARK H. YOUNG MARK'S EXCLUSIVE ADVENTURES 7094 Oakleigh Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89110 Office 702-848-1693 Cell, Whats App, Signal 307-250-1156 PREFERRED E-mail markttc@msn.com Website: myexclusiveadventures.com Skype: markhyhunter Check us out on https://www.facebook.com/pages...ures/627027353990716 | |||
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I can fell your pain my friend!!! | |||
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Caracal on my first trip! Easy shot, rushed it, missed. The look of disappointment from the outfitters (and the others that were with us) was priceless (in a bad way)! I did not realize how hard they were to see. That is one of the animals I REALLY wanted! Oh, well..... | |||
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I appreciate the comments on this post. We have all been there done that but when I read about Elephants and Lions; I want to cry for you. My Kudu is but a blip on the map when comparing to the Big 5. | |||
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