Is there a specific animal that stands out in your mind as the most special or impressive African trophy you've ever seen alive? This is wide open -- it could be a duiker or an elephant or anything else. And it doesn't have to be a trophy that you've shot, since the best ones might get away or not be on quota, license, etc., or might be killed by a family member, friend, or client. If you do have a photo (dead or alive), it would be great to see it. And if this topic has already been done, my apologies.

For me I guess it would have to be my nyala. It is not huge monster but I got it after spending 5 days in an African hospital. And it was my 44th birthday. Second would be the 60 inch kudu I was chasing last year but it eluded me. But then again I am all ways in awe of all the animals I see when I am in Africa.

http://www.huntnetwork.net/mod...n%20the%20Sengwa.pdf

To me, lions are at the top of the pyramid of African hunting. Seeing your first lion in the wild is something you never forget.

The mystique of Africa, has not left me and I don't think it ever will.

But when this guy walked out a big dream came true.

I have seen lions and elephants both north and south of the equator, I have seen 3 SCI types of Buffalo (cape west and Dwarf) I have seen quite a bit of plains game from duikers to lord derby's and the answer is still easy. For me its the Bongo in the green hell.

my first leopard after 4 attempts.

ELEPHANT

I have a tie between these two. Both are very very special to me!

This croc on the Zambezi.
Got him by cutting in quickly in a speeding skiff, stood up and started shooting, he was upn a a ledge and almost came into the skiff. The boat actually pinned his tail against the bank. As the Ph and skinner jumped out to grab his tail and try to pull min up on the bank, he started to come alive again, I found the remaining 30/06 cartridge in my pocket and shot straight down at a distance of inches. Earlier I had seen a croc at short range from the skiff that was perhaps double the size of this one.


And my first elephant, Moz

quote:

Originally posted by sandyhunter:
Is there a specific animal that stands out in your mind as the most special or impressive African trophy you've ever seen alive?

I remember the time I was hunting lion in Zim; the time I saw my first "wild" lion, nothing between us but long grass, the hairs on my neck stood up, and I had to catch my breath. The first time I encountered elephants in the wild, we came suddenly upon three big bulls, up close. I don't think I have ever seen anything quite as impressive, it's unbelieveably how big a bull elephant is up close. Although I still have a lot of respect for lions, I don't think I will ever see any animal that that is as impressive as a big bull ele!!

Although I didn't shoot this lion, my client and friend, Mark Horvat did. I was sitting right next to him in the blind, and watching this fabulous lion step out was something I will never forget!

The lion was shot in Zambia's Kafue region in 2003.

I remember many; my Lion, Leopards, seeing Elephant for the first time up close and personal, the Buffalo staring at me from 30 steps, but I just love spiral horns, especially these guys~

David,

That's a real beauty

Where did you hunt?

Roland, PM sent

A very large Eland follwed by a very nice Nyala. Both within 90 minutes of each other.

quote:

What trophy stands out in your memory?

This guy....taken with a single shot from a 60 grain bullet from a M-92 Winchester in .25-20....

Everyone has a different set of priorities!

Here's a different one!

I am posting this picture for Fairgame (Andrew Baldry). He says this is perhaps the best trophy any of his clients have ever taken. It was shot in the Kafue, in 2009. Awesome cat!!!

After many plesant safaris to Africa i must say that the trophy i love and respect most is my bushbuck from 2009

I've been extremely lucky in that I've been able to take quite a few different species in several African countries including the Big 4 plus everything else that bites. Out of all of those I think this gerenuk above is the most unique and one I remeber very clearly. I think this gerenuk is the most bizarre and beautiful of all my trophies.

Mark

My first elephant!

quote:

Originally posted by edholum:
I have a tie between these two. Both are very very special to me!

I really like this hippo photo - unique arrangement and pose with you in the water. Is that a croc or another hippo I see off of your left shoulder?

sandyhunter,

As you are soon to be hunting here with Richard then he will confirm that some time ago we were hunting Kafue Lechwe on the flats with a rather elderly (possibily senile) client who declined to shoot the world record Lechwe as it was 'non typical'. The Lechwe's horns dropped in massive curls, similar to that of a Buffalo and even had vegetation hanging off the bottom of the curves. A great lechwe is 30 plus, well this boy was at least 40 and one of the most impressive antelope trophies I have seen.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
with a rather elderly (possibily senile) client who declined to shoot the world record Lechwe as it was 'non typical'.

Damn but that made me laugh.

Did anyone ever shoot that lechwe, or did he vanish into the thousands? I ask only because I'm not that crazy, and I'm too young to be senile.

All kidding aside, do you recommend the lechwe day trip? And how far out is Richard usually booked on lions? I may have to add one to my long term plan. Those pictures Aaron is posting are killing me.

Keep the trophies coming, guys. Really great stuff. The diversity of species is cool to see. Any more stories like fairgame's, of ones that got away? I remember reading about a 60"+ kudu that Boddington had to pass on since it wasn't on quota.

Mark

you lucky devil.. Gerenuk, along with a lesser kudu and Grants, are at the top of my all time African wish list..

The African memory that really stands out in my mind is setting up on the sticks for my 1st African elephant. I wouldn't trade that for anything.

quote:

Originally posted by sandyhunter:
Did anyone ever shoot that lechwe, or did he vanish into the thousands? I ask only because I'm not that crazy, and I'm too young to be senile.

All kidding aside, do you recommend the lechwe day trip? And how far out is Richard usually booked on lions? I may have to add one to my long term plan. Those pictures Aaron is posting are killing me.

Keep the trophies coming, guys. Really great stuff. The diversity of species is cool to see. Any more stories like fairgame's, of ones that got away? I remember reading about a 60"+ kudu that Boddington had to pass on since it wasn't on quota.

sandy,

Richard hunts Lechwe over two days (spike camp)and I recommend this. The Flats are a wetland so movement is restricted especially May - August. If you want to shoot world record then spend a week in October when you can breach the lagoons and hunt the remote corners of this unexplored concession. I did it with a PH mate of mine and he took a probable 37 incher which if had some curl would have been top of the book. He and I came across a herd of some five hundred males, a couple far exceeded the current record. However he did not want to shoot into the herd in case of wounding another. Good bloke he is.

Have photo of the 36 - 37 Lechwe he took.

I have lots. Shot the big four (actually did it in a period of 8 days on one hunt), including an elephant and a leopard in one day. But I think my all time favorite is the kudu on my website below. I shot him in thick brush running (the pic was taken away from where I shot him). I had time to only snap shoot him and got really lucky. I just threw up the rifle, and when I saw grey I pulled the trigger.

quote:

Originally posted by sandyhunter:
Did anyone ever shoot that lechwe, or did he vanish into the thousands? I ask only because I'm not that crazy, and I'm too young to be senile.

All kidding aside, do you recommend the lechwe day trip? And how far out is Richard usually booked on lions? I may have to add one to my long term plan. Those pictures Aaron is posting are killing me.

Keep the trophies coming, guys. Really great stuff. The diversity of species is cool to see. Any more stories like fairgame's, of ones that got away? I remember reading about a 60"+ kudu that Boddington had to pass on since it wasn't on quota.

I asked Aaron to post a picture of the last Lion taken in Richard's area?

Look at the thread The Apprentice Hunter and that is considered a good average.

My advice is if you want the ultimate experience and a shot at huge trophy Lion then book it now with Richard. In the last two years he is 100% on Lion of this quality and purely because of his stringent policies regarding age and trophy quality.

Sandyhunter - The soonest lion hunt Richard has open is 2012, just FYI. Below are pics of the 3 lions shot in his area in 2009, with Richard or Andrew as the PH. He gets 3 lions per year on quota.

It's easy to see why he's booked two years out. Hard to imagine finding better manes (at least as far as wild lions are concerned). Significantly less expensive than the guys in the Mumbwa, too. If I don't watch it, I'll be bankrupt before my plane touches down.

Sorry for the digression, folks. Let's see some more trophies.

Gosh you guys, I am in awe at all the wonderful trophies here. I guess my most memorable one is rather plain I'm afraid, it's just a zebra, it was a big one and my first African trophy. jorge

Jorge - Your first African trophy is never "plain", congrats!

quote:

Originally posted by Aaron Neilson:
Jorge - Your first African trophy is never "plain", congrats!

Agreed. You look very happy and that is all that counts.

Jorge,

there is no "Just" in a sentence about hunting Africa and a trophy animal. If you had to spot, stalk, and work to get close enough to take a good shot...
You W-O-R-K-E-D and you worked hard for that trophy.
I am headed back in nineteen days. I hope to get a Zebra that nice.

For me, it has to be Cape Buffalo.

Rich
Ruark was right, they do "look at you as if you owe them money...".

DRSS, Searcy .470 NE and Chapuis 9,3x74R

Sorry no pic. I use to think it was my first buffalo. I was hunting the Ume river in the foot hills when I crept over a ridge to see a huge bull walking left to right at under twenty paces.BUT on my second buffalo hunt we were walking back to the road through a thick patch of bush when it opened a little and I was luck enough to watch a Leopard climb out of a small creek bed and silently walk acrross our path and off into the bush again.I have always wanted to hunt leopard and to have one in my trophy room BUT thanks to bloody weak gutted politics in Australia I can't have one and that is my dream

quote:

Originally posted by jorge:
Gosh you guys, I am in awe at all the wonderful trophies here. I guess my most memorable one is rather plain I'm afraid, it's just a zebra, it was a big one and my first African trophy. jorge

Jorge,

I was going to post the same thing. My first animal taken in Africa was my zebra. He was a scarred up old stallion with half his right ear bitten off. He's special to me and he's hanging on my gun room wall.

I read the thread just before leaving home to go to church. Had a whole [probably very good] sermon and a 5th wedding anniversary lunch to think it over. First, thanks to sandyhunter for posting the question. I had a lot of fun thinking about his question.

After a 42 years career of hunting there are obviously many memorable hunts. I distinctly remember like it was yesterday many of my 'firsts'. My first furred animal, a dassie or rock hyrax, my first antelope, a klipspringer, my first springbuck in 1958. I remember many firsts, and they all seem to be special.

A special part of my fading memory is reserved to remember clearly my son's first antelope, a Kalahari steenbuck. And his first 'hunted alone without dad's supervision' impala. Even just typing these words makes me clearly 'see' not only the photo, but relive the actual event!

The hunts conducted as PH also have many firsts for my clients that are remembered vividly and clearly. My 'first' client's springbuck as well as a number of 'first springbuck [or whatever]for the client'. The ones that really stand out are all firsts on both accounts.

A really well and fondly remembered hunt was this one: Cameron Murdoch [Code4's son] got this steenbuck all on his own without any adult help.



Another recent outstanding first was this one: Mason Adkins [ChetNC's son] with his first furred animal. An obviously very proud youngster - and let me assure you, an equally [or more so] proud father not in the photo.




My own personal trophy that really stands out and is very often thought of is not something glamorous like one of my buffalo, but a steenbuck. After practicing as a registered PH for about 26 years I eventually made my first specific trophy hunt. Yes, I was a PH for 26 years and hunted many trophies for clients. In that time I also hunted many animals myself, including some worthy measuring trophies of many species. But the first time in my life that I set out on a hunt with the specific idea of "an easy Roland Ward qualifier or no shot fired" was in about 2007 when I walked from home in search of a trophy steenbuck on Sunday afternoon. There is a long story to this hunt and the trophy so well and fondly remembered. Suffice to say I refer to it as "Scout's Steenbuck", as without my dog there would have been just a regrettable wounding! Here the first animal specifically hunted as a trophy after so many years of hunting.




I seem to get much more satisfaction from helping a youngster get a first trophy that from helping an adult. Come to think of it, I should really see if I cannot possibly make an outstanding 'father & son' plains game hunt offer to enable me to get more of that special pleasure by helping some youngster get a 'first' for him or her. Fathers of young hunters please watch the Outfitters and Discounted Hunts Forum.

I concur with the views expressed that an animal does not need to be dangerous to get burned so vividly into one's memory.


In good hunting

Andrew McLaren

I think one that really stands out to me is my Hartmann's zebra. The whole experience was memorable. We really worked for it, covered many miles, skinned it on top of a mountain while the sun was setting, packed the meat out the next morning. Great fun.

Grafton,

There definitely is something wrong with that zebra. Where's his body? Please remember to leave the body attached to the skin on those eland this year as it makes a much better picture.

Mark