Where in Zimbabwe do you believe a hunter has the best opportunity to take a mature sable bull and at what time of the year?

Historically . . . Matetsi.

These days, some really good sable (41, 42, 43) are coming out of the conservancies, but they are really limited quota and mostly later in the year.

If an average over the past 10 years of 39/ 40" with a constant quota of 16 bulls/ year, then Cawston block would be my answer. As said before, you could not beat Matetsi in the ' old ' days....... if price was not an option,.........then I would have to say Zambia.

I would safely say matetsi two units inparticular unit 3 and unit 5 the biggest sable out of zim 2009 came from matetsi

I would agree with Martin Pieters comment, as well as those that favour most of the Matetsi blocks !

Buzz Charlton of CMS has been taking some great Sable in Makuti.

Mike

Three of us just hunted Cawston Ranch which is owned and operated by Peter Johnstone - we all took very nice bulls -- I would highly recomend this location for sable plus other plains game -- Soon as I can will post hunt report -- just to danged many things on the schedule to do justice in writing to the great hunt we had at Cawston.
G

Alas the two places in Zimbabwe I hunted sable are now in the hands of war criminals.

Lemco is not half bad for sable. I saw a couple there that were very impressive.

Second, the Lemco/Bubye Conservancy. Saw several 40+ in May/June last year. Tons of sable in this conservancy.

A third for sable at Lemco/Bubye Valley Conservancy. I would contact Brent Hein at
www.brentheinsafaris.com I believe he has one left on quota for 2010.

The Bubye/Lemco Con. is where I would like to chase my bull when I head over for sable..

I don't know how big they are, however, Gordon Duncan at doma has some good sable. I have been more interested in elephant, so, have not really pursued them

http://www.mazungasafaris.com/mazunga-species.html


Another vote for Lemco, we were there in 2005.Attached are the statistics.

Who are the PH's for Mazunga Safaris. Impressive stats.

I hunted the Lemco/Bubye Valley area for leopard in August of last year and saw some nice sable bulls. Jannie and Steve Meyer with Lowveld Hunters also hunt on the Mazunga property.

SBT, I hunted with John Sharp and be glad to give you whatever info you need.

Another + for Cawston and Matetsi 5. I hunted Cawston and you should take a 40" Sable there. Matetsi 5 has over 40" average. Give Ron Oliver a call, Africa Hunting Safaris, he books for both.

I have one sable remaining in Matetsi 5 for this year and few remaining for 2011. We normally shoot average of 42" on Unit 5. I have one buffalo and elephant remaining as well. Please visit my website or contact me if you are interested.

Ron Oliver, Africa Hunting Safaris, Inc. www.Africahs.com

I only offer this story to annoy sable hunters. I hunted in Chirisa in '93 (for buff) and while bouncing in a LandCruiser back from a pasture pick up on my way to camp(first day in the bush), my PH pointed out a sable standing in the small shade of an acacia. I looked at him as a fairly large animal with horns that were very long (and he looked black) Beyond that,guys, I was no more excited than looking at the acacia itself.(I had seen elk and moose in Canada even closer up) Yes, I do apologize to fellow hunters. I came to learn in Africa how prized the sable is and what an ignoramous I was in not being excited about seeing one.