Lou Hallamore 2008 Hunting Season





The 2008 season is over, as always highs and very few lows thank goodness. Zimbabwe as we all know has had a rough passage, this year politics played a major part in the hunting season, fuelled by the networks especially the Communist News Network. The Internet has been smoking, at the end of the day I personally had no cancellations. The plot is the clients must ask the professional hunters what is going on they know what’s happening in Zim. At the end of the day flying into a major town is no hassle and chartering out to the jungle is safe. Probably the safest place in Africa is a hunting concession, what always amazes me is clients have no problem staying in Jo-burg for a couple of nights rated as the number one city on the danger list in the world.



The season started early in Feb at Riverside with a great guy Russian in fact. We got off to a horrendous start, late in the evening on the first day driving along a hunting road with grass six or seven feet tall (I had a fellow sitting on the bull bars to watch for holes) we hit the Grand Canyon, this hole was four feet wide and six deep, the guy on the front never saw it as the grass was lying over it, the impact was potent, the chap on the front kneecap was dislocated and was halfway up his leg, he was not in show room condition, the Russian put his head into my wind screen and broke that he (didn’t even dent his head) I was okay. Andy, a learner hunter on the back hurt his knee the trackers seem to have survived, the car ended up at 60 degrees we managed to get it out and limped home, the damage was bad I had bent the front axle housing but we were still mobile. The next day we drove back to the area parked the car and walked down to a pan that was not negotiable because of the wet conditions. As we came round the corner there was a bull Elephant taking a drink I couldn’t believe my eyes, we snuck up to him and put him down 42 lbs thank you very much. Every one recovered thank goodness except my cheque book.



On to the Omay for a Pac hunt this was a short hunt made even shorter by the fact that we had to only shoot an Elephant that was in the fields the previous night David Barlett had insisted on this which I respected. The problem with this is it became a morning hunt only so the original 9 days became 4 1/2, as to find an Elephant in the fields during daylight is slim, so in effect we had a short period of time to complete the aim. It worked out and we tracked Elephant from the fields straight into some thick bush. David took a frontal shot, too low but recovered very well and hit him three times as he went away; we put him down soon after. It only seemed like minutes before the first villagers had arrived. This carcass was gone in less than two hours. We continued the hunt for Buff cows but no takers all young cows nothing mature, lots of walking and tracking enjoyable hunt



Back to one of my favourite hunting areas Chete with Art Wright for Leopard. We struggled for bait initially but got it done eventually. The females started on the baits, it was just a matter of time before Jaws hit, built a super blind and moved in at three. At about five o’clock I happened to look up and nearly wet myself as I noticed a tail sticking up above the grass in front of the blind about ten yards in front of the blind, it disappeared and we waited. In broad daylight this cat appeared in the tree,. The afternoon sun was on him, absolutely magic; with the camera rolling he climbed up and pulled the bait up, at this time the local vultures took off. Jaws came straight down the tree and my heart stopped, after he worked out that it was a false alarm he climbed back up. Art smoked him and he disappeared out the tree without a sound, after the usual nervous break took up the trail, good blood and found him stone dead 50 yards from the tree, we were ecstatic, brilliant cat great client we celebrated that night. Tried for the rest of the hunt for Eland only came up with cows



On to the Omay with Jim Forzley and his son this was a Lion, Leopard hunt etc. Jim’s son was with him. We put out the baits for both which took us some time. Jim’s son shooting two Buffalo cows and a Zebra which kick started us well. Not long into the hunt a Lion hit the bait. I was concerned as not much mane hairs were showing on the bait which is normally a bad sign, anyway built a blind and settled in for the evening, at about 7 o’clock he growled right next to the blind which got our attention believe me, he never came back. We moved baits around never had another chance. As to the length of his mane we will never know. On to Leopard nothing on our baits. Had a call from Clive next door to tell me that he had two cats eating, we roared across and set up a blind, at about six clock a female arrived, we filmed her until it got dark. We sat for a long time with no result. The moon came out and I noticed the bait moving, Jaws had arrived we switched on the rheostat nothing, suddenly he appeared from behind the bait Jim smoked him and he left in a hurry, another nervous wait (no wonder I am grey) we found him stone dead, we were happy believe me. Great hunt and what a pleasure to guide Jim’s son, this guy could shoot believe me. All in all four Buffalo down two cows, two solid Dagga boys’ Leopard Kudu etc.



Back to Chirisa for another big hunt also Lion and Elephant this was probably one of the hardest hunts I have ever conducted. We had a good Lion hit the bait earlier on and the fun and games started, this is a no light area and this cat ran circles around us for 21 days, we tracked him back to some incredibly thick river line where he gave us a good growl from about 15 feet never saw him, we tried ambushing him that didn’t work either .We tracked one day for seven hours no chance. Jim Doran arguably one of the best guides in the States hung in there, it was without doubt classic Lion hunting. In my opinion tracking Lions is the ultimate. Alfreido and his brother were fantastic no result. As for the Elephant we must have looked at 40 bulls, nothing of mention tough hunt with a great client. A week later Ross driving down the road smoked a 50 pounder no justice



A small break and back to Chirisa with my old friend John Ormiston who was boss man Holland and Holland for many years for Buff ,the interesting part of this hunt that he was using Denys Finch- Hatton original rifle (Out of Africa) .We had a good shoot out with a Buff cow unfortunately lost the bull. At the end of the day with Buffalo you have to break bones with these dudes. Great company lots of stories really enjoyable hunt



Back down to the Omay for another big one with Javier Torrico from Spain. During the hunting season you always have a hunt that just rolls this was one of them, within a few days we shot our Elephant 40 plus, took a great Dagga boy good Leopard and a spectacular Sable and then to cap it Gaviers friend wounded his Leopard on one of my bait sites, we followed up and Richie Schultz the other pro put him down at point blank range 6 feet. We moved to Kariba and smoked a huge Crocodile and Hippo. This truly was a great hunt with great clients who were brilliant shots



Back to Chete Ruzi with Robbie Roberts for a short Buff hunt, the heat was really bad by then and we all suffered, however this really is a great time to hunt, visibility good even in the Jesse. Buffalo cow went down; unfortunately lost the bull clients must listen to the pro if you don’t it will ramp the horizon believe me. Equipment was also a problem as well, keep it simple you don’t need a variable for Buff 4 power is way more than you need pay attention to the pay line etc. the sad news it was a brute



Back to Chete main for Buff with Karl and Becky Evans. First day we got into 60 Buff no bull, second day we went to one of my little secret springs, low and behold two Dagga boys had drank after a short follow up we made contact and Karl smoked a great Buff, white face distinctive markings on the horn really a special trophy this was a life time dream for Karl which made it all that more special, we put up some baits this was a short hunt three out of the four hit by females and on the last night Jaws walked past. We spent our time fishing Karl caught a 10 pound Tiger. Becky tried her heart out but no takers super hunt great clients really a nice way to end the year



2008 is done and dusted. HHK suffered some cancellations but when all is said and done under the political situation clients still came and it was a privilege guiding you guys, those who cancelled I respect that. A good season as always is when you are finished and nobody has been hurt. I will be on the circuit next year, 2 years to get a passport unbelievable. To Graham boss man HHK thanks I know it hasn’t been easy. To all our friends from Jean and I have a great Xmas and all the best for 2009. Hope the recession doesn’t hurt for too long. The other exiting news is this year is that I had a camera man all season and the idea is to produce an In The Salt TV show, this is reality TV no re-enactments this is as is with the lows and the highs when we have this finished I will drop you a line once again thanks



Best regards



Lou and Jean