Back in the “Old” days in the Okavango Delta, Botswana, even before game scouts were required, the Red Lechwe populations were vast (probably just as large today), they were the game of choice for camp meat and leopard bait. Trophy animals were hunted last on safari because they were so plentiful… The only animal species of such numbers I have encountered while hunting were the Black Lechwe in Bangweuela Swamps. Simply amazing!

Recently I saw the trophy fee prices for Red Lechwe hunted in its natural habitat and I was shocked. Of course, those “Old” days’ trophy fees on all animals has certainly changed. Makes sense though, especially for Red Lechwe, as I believe they are only indigenous to places in Botswana and a few places in Zambia. With Botswana closed it now limits hunting availability to Zambia. The game farms in South Africa, Namibia and even Texas do offer introduced Red Lechwe hunting.

Just for fun (and to keep my memory bank full) here are a few photos of Red Lechwe my husband and I took in 1996 and 1997.







Best regards, D. Nelson

Awesome "back in the day" pics.

Thanks for sharing! I agree with frostbit, I really enjoy going back to the beginning posts of this forum and reading some of the older hunt reports.

Great pics and a glimpse back to the "good old days"!

Great memories. I managed to hunt Botswana for the first time the last year it was open. I've never seen such a concentration of wildlife. I was hunting elephant, but the numbers of buffalo, zebra, lechwe, impala, etc were amazing. Nothing, however, topped the number of giraffes. I wish I could have experienced it when the cats and other game were on quota. In a few short days we had two daytime leopard sightings. It is a very special place.

Beautiful trophies.
Thanks for posting these.

Great pictures. Like most people, I wish I had gone sooner, when what seemed like a lot of money was actually a lot less than you can do the hunts for now.

Thanks for the great pics.

It's nice to see pictures of safaris from the distant past. Well, two decades anyway...

quote:

Originally posted by surefire7:
Thanks for the great pics.

It's nice to see pictures of safaris from the distant past. Well, two decades anyway...

Weird! Seems like yesterday! Take heed!

Love to share my memories with AR members!

Best regards! D. Nelson

A fine lady with a beautiful smile.

Great memories and some fine trophies you have there Darin.

There is only one GMA Kasonso Busanga in Zambia that can offer Red Lechwe and they are very expensive.

They used to occur in the middle Kafue where I am and there is talk of re introducing them there.

Very nice. Special to do those trips together...

Whilst we are down memory lane do you care to share details of the rifles used and the distances at which they were taken? Only if you want to of course!

Ronnie McFarlane

Darin,

We shot one there in '04. It was so wet we went from Maun to Ivory camp by boat, we were walking around in knee deep water and you could see the bream swimming out in front of the Cruiser as we crossed from one semi dry spot to another. The lechwe were spread far and wide so I shot just a representative one and nothing like what you and Bob took. Nice trophies BTW.

Mark

red lechwe are still on quota in certain Caprivi concessions , although in small number, IIRC.

Nice photos. It reminded me of the Chobe lechwe I shot with my father back in 1983

quote:

Originally posted by AFRICAN LEADWOOD:
Very nice. Special to do those trips together...

Whilst we are down memory lane do you care to share details of the rifles used and the distances at which they were taken? Only if you want to of course!

Actually that was the only times we used our custom built .308s Ruger models 77 (Robar--Robby Barrkman) with 180 gr ammo. After that we learned we could shoot everything with .375 and .416. -- .308s only get to go deer and elk hunting now.

One day I shot 4 lechwe for leopard baits. Ranges for me were 100-150 yds. My husband's lechwe was the longest shot, about 185 yds.

Best regards, Darin

quote:

Originally posted by Safari2:
Ronnie McFarlane

Yes!!! In 1996 I booked with Ronnie, but mid-safari elephant opened up in Botswana and Ronnie arranged for Terry Palmer to finish my first safari. Ian and Vira McFarlane, Ronnies Dad & Mom, also joined us after Ronnie went elephant hunting. In 1997 Ronnie hunted the entire 14 days with us.

Do you know Ronnie or the family? Ronnie's brother, Alistar, was rather infamous.

Best regards, Darin

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
red lechwe are still on quota in certain Caprivi concessions , although in small number, IIRC.

I didn't realize that! Are they pricey?

Thanks, Darin

quote:

Originally posted by samir:
Nice photos. It reminded me of the Chobe lechwe I shot with my father back in 1983

WOW 1983!!!! You remember the "good old days" too!

Best regards, Darin

quote:

Originally posted by D. Nelson:

quote:

Originally posted by Safari2:
Ronnie McFarlane

Yes!!! In 1996 I booked with Ronnie, but mid-safari elephant opened up in Botswana and Ronnie arranged for Terry Palmer to finish my first safari. Ian and Vira McFarlane, Ronnies Dad & Mom, also joined us after Ronnie went elephant hunting. In 1997 Ronnie hunted the entire 14 days with us.

Do you know Ronnie or the family? Ronnie's brother, Alistar, was rather infamous.

Best regards, Darin

No remember meeting him at the shows in the early 90's.

quote:

Originally posted by D. Nelson:

quote:

Originally posted by samir:
Nice photos. It reminded me of the Chobe lechwe I shot with my father back in 1983

WOW 1983!!!! You remember the "good old days" too!

Best regards, Darin

Yes, I was 12 then. Terry Palmer was also our PH

quote:

Originally posted by D. Nelson:

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
red lechwe are still on quota in certain Caprivi concessions , although in small number, IIRC.

I didn't realize that! Are they pricey?

Thanks, Darin

Darin,

I hunted one a couple years in the Caprivi. They are not easy to hunt there, quite a lot of poaching pressure during the high water seasons. As I recall the Trophy fee was not outrageous, but the permits were scarce. If you like I can PM the outfitter I used there, occasionally they can offer them.

Now that's really cool!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by MikeE:

quote:

Originally posted by D. Nelson:

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
red lechwe are still on quota in certain Caprivi concessions , although in small number, IIRC.

I didn't realize that! Are they pricey?

Thanks, Darin

Darin,

I hunted one a couple years in the Caprivi. They are not easy to hunt there, quite a lot of poaching pressure during the high water seasons. As I recall the Trophy fee was not outrageous, but the permits were scarce. If you like I can PM the outfitter I used there, occasionally they can offer them.

Folks here may be interested in prices and tag availability. The "Red Lechwe" gods have blessed me with more than my fair share.

Glad to hear that there are a few natural habitats huntable. Sorry to hear the poachers are putting so much pressure on them. As I said there were literally thousands of them grazing on golf course like flats.

Best regards, Darin

Karl Stumpfe in his Bwabwata concession has 1-2 on quota. Don't know the price but they aren't cheap.

I can recall when Red Lechwe were $400. but then a 10 day two buffalo safari in Tanzania was $8,500. that included 5 PG animals.

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
I can recall when Red Lechwe were $400. but then a 10 day two buffalo safari in Tanzania was $8,500. that included 5 PG animals.

Good Old Days!!!!

Best regards, D. Nelson

So true, Darin. Congrats on your success!

I had a chance at them in the Caprivi when hunting with Vaughan Fulton in 2009. He asked if I wanted one. I said sure, I guess so.

We were primarily hunting elephant and buffalo. But a few days later, we saw a beautiful red lechwe ram on the banks of the Chobe, unfortunately on the Botswana side.

I casually mentioned how beautiful he was and how things would be different for all concerned if he was in Namibia, on our side.

Then I off-handedly asked Vaughan what the trophy fee was.

Vaughan: "$4,000 US."

Me: "You've gotta be sh#ttin' me?!"

Vaughan: "No, Mike, I'm not sh#ttin' you."

Lechwe hunt over!!!

But they sure are lovely.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
So true, Darin. Congrats on your success!

I had a chance at them in the Caprivi when hunting with Vaughan Fulton in 2009. He asked if I wanted one. I said sure, I guess so.

We were primarily hunting elephant and buffalo. But a few days later, we saw a beautiful red lechwe ram on the banks of the Chobe, unfortunately on the Botswana side.

I casually mentioned how beautiful he was and how things would be different for all concerned if he was in Namibia, on our side.

Then I off-handedly asked Vaughan what the trophy fee was.

Vaughan: "$4,000 US."

Me: "You've gotta be sh#ttin' me?!"

Vaughan: "No, Mike, I'm not sh#ttin' you."

Lechwe hunt over!!!

But they sure are lovely.

Now that is funny

Darin

quote:

Originally posted by D. Nelson:

quote:

Originally posted by AFRICAN LEADWOOD:
Very nice. Special to do those trips together...

Whilst we are down memory lane do you care to share details of the rifles used and the distances at which they were taken? Only if you want to of course!

Actually that was the only times we used our custom built .308s Ruger models 77 (Robar--Robby Barrkman) with 180 gr ammo. After that we learned we could shoot everything with .375 and .416. -- .308s only get to go deer and elk hunting now.

One day I shot 4 lechwe for leopard baits. Ranges for me were 100-150 yds. My husband's lechwe was the longest shot, about 185 yds.

Best regards, Darin

Thanks for sharing! Beautiful pictures amd obviously great memories.

There are some huge ranches in Texas that have free range or near free range Red Lechwe in far south Texas on the Yturria.

Like $4000.

About the going rate for a trophy fee in Africa and you get the meat.

https://www.wildlifesystems.co...cpricelist_20173.pdf

Peter Chipman has a $5000 deal for a 1 day hunt.

https://www.diana-hunting.com/pdf/90299-3.pdf

These guys are $3400 trophy fee plus daily rate:

http://www.africanskyhunting.co.za/pricelist.html

I had a late season hunt in 1988 with Allistair as my ph. Ronnie was supposed to be my ph but he had recently fed his arms to a lion to keep it from eating his face! If I remember the story correctly, he started off by feeding the lion his rifle first. Good story!!
Lechwe quota had been shot for the year and I wanted one badly. I remember 3 heads shot by early clients that were all over 34", absolute monsters. This was the first year the camp had opened for hunting and the game was unbelievable. I wouldn't shoot a huge kudu because I had already shot one but it was estimated to be over 70". I can still see that kudu in my dreams. He was with 9 other bulls and easily over a foot taller than the others as they eased across the floodplain. I flipped my safety off twice but knew it wasn't right so I passed. Allistair wouldn't talk to me for two days he was so pissed off. He only told me later that they had plenty kudu left on quota.
I'm still waiting on a lechwe.

quote:

Originally posted by sevenmagltd.:
I had a late season hunt in 1988 with Allistair as my ph. Ronnie was supposed to be my ph but he had recently fed his arms to a lion to keep it from eating his face! If I remember the story correctly, he started off by feeding the lion his rifle first. Good story!!
Lechwe quota had been shot for the year and I wanted one badly. I remember 3 heads shot by early clients that were all over 34", absolute monsters. This was the first year the camp had opened for hunting and the game was unbelievable. I wouldn't shoot a huge kudu because I had already shot one but it was estimated to be over 70". I can still see that kudu in my dreams. He was with 9 other bulls and easily over a foot taller than the others as they eased across the floodplain. I flipped my safety off twice but knew it wasn't right so I passed. Allistair wouldn't talk to me for two days he was so pissed off. He only told me later that they had plenty kudu left on quota.
I'm still waiting on a lechwe.

Sevenmagltd;

Which camp were you in?

And yes, I definitely remember hearing about Ronnie's lion encounter. Wounded by a client and ultimately his main tracker, Baeti, was able to pick up Ronnie's rifle and shoot it. "Good old days"!

I was told that every cat hunter in Botswana had been hit by a cat. Both Ronnie and Terry Palmer bore the scars! I related that information to a PH in Tanzania the night before he was hit by a leopard I had not shot well. I settled the score later.

I also assumed that all African countries were abundant with the herds of game like Botswana. I have certainly found out that isn't the case. I rarely passed up shooting opportunities after being enlightened. Your Kudu will stay in your dreams, as well as Alistar's reaction.

Please share some photos if you have any from that safari! We didn't take a lot of pics like we do now.

Best regards, Darin

quote:

Originally posted by Big Wonderful Wyoming:
Peter Chipman has a $5000 deal for a 1 day hunt.

https://www.diana-hunting.com/pdf/90299-3.pdf

Looks like the Kafue Lechwe are getting a good trophy fee, but are like the Black Lechwe in Banguela so numerous one day is all you need. I understand the antis want these areas closed down to hunting!

Thanks for the info, Darin

If I remember correctly Terry Palmer got nailed by an unwounded leopard as they drove underneath a tree

quote:

Originally posted by samir:
If I remember correctly Terry Palmer got nailed by an unwounded leopard as they drove underneath a tree

Sam;

I thought he was doing the leopard hunt as commonly done back then, chasing with hunting rig. The leopard focused on him and jumped into the high seat!!! Yikes!

Best regards, Darin

Hunting out of Jao Camp. All those photos were on 35mm film and they are priceless! I was in the prime of life going on my first safari! Now, I'm on extended warranty running on fumes. LOL
As a side note, I fell in love with those lechwe to the extent that I now raise them on my place here in Texas. Just had another baby a couple of weeks ago and expecting more soon. Cheers!