I just returned from an excellent hunt with one of my outfitters in Namibia and another in South Africa. I shot a huge leopard and lioness, a 43" gemsbok, and a bunch of other stuff, but I really dig this impala. What do you guys think?

Very cool!

Now if you could just make the other horn look the same!

I would like to hear more about the lioness.

We hunted the lioness on a 77,000 acre ranch in the Northwest Province of South Africa. We found the tracks on the third day and hunted it all afternoon, then came back the next morning.

After about 2 hours, we found a black wildebeest it had killed the night before and knew we were close. We trailed it through two more fences onto a neighboring ranch. We got to a patch of tall grass and hopped into the Cruiser for safety's sake. Shortly, it jumped out from a bush that was literally brushing up against the Cruiser. Though it was only 3 feet from me, I never saw it until it moved. I hopped out and ran around a tree for a better view and dropped the 227 kilo female at about 50 yards on the run.

Hunting the lioness was far more exciting than tracking male lions because the females tend to have a lot more endurance and are generally more aggressive.

Now I know how many on this forum feel about South African lion hunts, and I couldn't agree more, but this is a damn good hunt. It is not one of those drop-and-pop operations you hear about. The lions live free on the ranch for at least a year and are entirely self-sufficient. My client tracked one nice male for a day and lost it, then it took 2 more days to find the tracks of another suitable male. As you can see from the pic, it was a big cat with a nice mane, but it was not one of those blow-dried beauties so many outfitters offer.

Greats pics.

Now tell us about the Leopard???

Keith

I posted a hunt report and pics in the hunt report section, but it was a lot of fun chasing hounds up and down the mountains in Namibia. And the cats were huge.

Rusty,

You need to stop by and see the new office one day. I am right off 59 in Sugar Land, a block down from the Comerica Bank building

That horn is wild, I like it!

That impala has a lot of character, candidate for the Outer Circle award.

Since you asked... I really don;t care for the freaks of nature. I really like good sized representative animals, without any weirdness. like some of those pics of the record monster cow buffalo. I think they kind of look obscene and I would not shoot one. I also really like older animals that show character with age and who wear their life stories with scars and worn horns/antlers. I know this guy has had his own interesting life with that horn, but he'd have a pass around me. If you like him though, good enough! To each his own said the old lady as she kissed the cow...

_Baxter

Baxter,

I like a classic impala, too, but I've killed dozens of them. The freak really tickled me. Interestingly enough, the client who was with me had never killed an impala and declined it. He took a fine 23" ram later that day, but regretted passing the freak after seeing it up close.

But, as they say, different strokes...

Hey Greg,

Congrats on another great hunt!!

The impala looks like the after picture following a "Texas Saturday Night"!

Bob

I like knowing there are people out there that will cull those things. Not my cup of tea. (Lion hunt either.)

Greg,

The Impala is cool, not everybody has one like that.
The lion hunt sounds pretty cool too.

quote:

Originally posted by Greg R:
... What do you guys think?

I'd call it a cull, but everyone to their own.

Darn, an opening big enough to drive a semi through and no one took it. Well, its Saturday night, I have some bourbon, so I'll do it.
NO, I prefer the 1961 and 1962 Impalas better, especially the 62 SS409.

Here is one of my favourites your impala is unique and nobody has one like yours. there is no way your trophy can be lost at the taxidermy

quote:

Originally posted by Greg R
I just returned from an excellent hunt with one of my outfitters in Namibia and another in South Africa. I shot a huge leopard and lioness, a 43" gemsbok, and a bunch of other stuff, but I really dig this impala. What do you guys think?

I think he's signalling that he's going to slow down or stop. If he were in the States he's be signalling that he's going to make a right turn.

Namibiahunter

375 fanatic,

You almost missed him too! But a near miss is sometimes better than a near hit!

Greg R,

Do you know what will really spoil your fun? If your taxidermist decides all by himself to "fix" that odd horn and returns a shoulder mount with two beautiful symmetrical horns!

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren.

I would kill him!!!

That's one of a kind, all right.

I bet all the other impalas made fun of this one.

Nice Impala !!i hav also shot some dussins and now more and more looks for Trophies with Karakter so if you presents a 23 inch beside a 23 with a broken horn well lets say the 23 with 2 horns survives

Interesting trophy. Any clues as to what caused the abnormality? Injury or birth defect?

The base on the crooked horn looked like it had been damaged when it was a young ram. It was completely healed and solid, but clearly the childhood whack affected the direction of horn growth.

If anyone cares, the normal side measured 21 3/4". The crazy side measured 23 3/4 inches.

VERY cool Greg. After you have shot a number of plainsgame, looking for broken horn or freaky trophies like this guy can keep it fun and challenging. We looked over hundreds of impala to "find" this guy in the Save.

quote:

Originally posted by Andrew McLaren:
375 fanatic,

You almost missed him too! But a near miss is sometimes better than a near hit!


In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren.

that is the exit wound was shot from the front

quote:

Originally posted by Greg R:
I just returned from an excellent hunt with one of my outfitters in Namibia and another in South Africa. I shot a huge leopard and lioness, a 43" gemsbok, and a bunch of other stuff, but I really dig this impala. What do you guys think?

The only way I'd shoot that thing is for lion bait!

How many times does one get to shoot an animal that has a ready-to-shoot bow on its head? Just string that sucker up, get some arrows and there you go!

Greg

The cats you guys got are are fantastic. But your impala sucks my friend! I should have saved this sable for you last year. No seriously, your impala is rather unique ...



By the way, the guy on my right is one of our skinners - Lorenzo. In case you were wondering about the completely dazed look on his face ... that is what a man with 7 wives and 25 children looks like. (Really!)

Greg,

Nice trophies. I love the impala and look for the unusual myself.

Johan,

You have work to do. No posting pics and playing on the computer.

Mark

Johan,

I would have shot that sable in a second

Well done, Bill.

Thanks to those of you who offered kind words. To those who didn't like it, I can only say thanks, because guys like you left it there for me to shoot.

When I go back, I would consider shooting assymetricals. I saw some very fine animals with damaged or broken horns that I would have been proud to stalk had I not been such a greenhorn.

Jim shot this eland in Namibia. One of its horns looks like the tip of the torch that the Statue of Liberty holds. I like it better than the others he has taken just because it is different.

I once dated a gal that had hair like that. She was not a keeper like yours though.

The reason why the imp bent his horn

mad running

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I would shoot that IMpala in a second.

Very unique.