I'm back from Namibia a week now and I think the post safari depression is gaining momentum! All I want to do is think and dream of the next trip to Africa. Not sure just yet when that will be but it may have to be sooner rather than later if my mental situation gets worse . In the mean time, I guess I'll have to relive old memories. I figured I should share the pain so this photo is the gemsbok I shot the first night out with Claude Thorburn. I was using my 9.3 x 62 with 286 gr Nosler partitions. The shot was about 180 yards or so and did not pass through. The skinners didn't find the bullet though so I don't know what the bullet performance was other than it did it's job well. The big boy went about 40 yards and called it quits.

Very Good!!! I really want to hunt gemsbok, last year I hunted hard for one but was impossible to have a clear shot.

Maybe this week I'll be able to pick up my new 9,3x62 from the gunsmith

What other animals you wack with your rifle??
Congrats
LG

Lorenzo,

All told my 9.3 bagged 3 gemsbok and 1 zebra. I love that rifle (it's a CZ 550)!

K

I'm considering Namibia for my first time. What part of the country did you hunt in? Looks like you had a great time.
Gary Thomsen

Gary,

I hunted in the central part of Namibia, about straight west of Windhoek. I went through Claude Thorburn who has some of the best prices and also was top notch service all around. Claude will definitely go the extra mile to get you into the game you want (as will all good PH's I suppose ). I'd be happy to send you Claude's contact info if you wish to check him out. I have a 2004 price list in one pile or another of all my paperwork from the trip too if interested.

Kernel

P.S. A new website is in the works because this one is a bit dated but it has some good info for you about Claude and his operation http://www.claude.iway.na/

Kernel- Very nice! What did he measure? I will be in Namibia in 3 weeks, north of where you were, near Omaruru and can hardly wait. How was the weather? How were the bugs and other nasty critters? Were all of your kills at similar range as the Gemsbok? Thanks! John

The second I seen your gemsbok I thought it wasn't a Kalahari but rather a highlands gemsbok. If you compare yours with a kalahari you will notice that the Kalahari gemsbok's horns may be large at the base but quickly thin. The highlands seem to be massive from the base and taper nicely to the end. I prefer highlands but for the 40"+ you just about need to go to the kalahari.. this at least has been my experience. I'll be in Windhoek in May and then will be moveing back to Windhoek in November... Lord willing. Great oryx!
Aaron

Kernel, that's a beautiful bull. I think the Gemsbok is one of the most beautiful plains game animals.



Aaron Rust,up in Northwest Namibia, Vaughan Fulton averages almost 38" on Gemsbok bulls. I hope to put a 40" bull in my sights when I hunt with him in May '05.

Namibia was was hot, hot, hot! A little farther north in Etosha we had 31 C in the shade at about 6:00 pm. When we left the land of FIBs it was -3 C so that was a bit of a thermal shock!!



Nothing beat a few days to cool of in Swakopmund laying around the beach and trying to catch some sharks



The gemsbok measured at just over 36 inches. SCI and W&R scores are the least of my thoughts though. I just want a good hunt with a clean shot. Of course a nice bull is always gravy!



The bugs weren't too bad actually. There were a couple evenings when the flies were a little troublesome just because they kept flying in your face. If there's any kind of breeze they shouldn't bother. The mozzies though were fairly minimal. I douced my clothes in permithrin before and wore a lot of deet during the hunt and had maybe 1 mosquito bite and never saw a tick on me.

that 9.3x62 is quite a caliber for sure, and its works amazingly well on Buffalo also...albiet with a flat nose solid...

Ooops! I made an English to Afrikans translation error. After reading the gemsbok scoring discussion I realized that the measurements I listed above were wrong. The bull scored just over 90. I crossed my wires to think that meant 90 cm rather than the actual NAPHA score. My bad and I'll just have to blame a delayed jet lag effect!!!

Or maybe I should just go back and validate the measurement before it gets shipped home