quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
I had a phone call from a lady a few months back and she stated that her husband was coming to hunt buffalo with me. Last time I had hunted her husband Julius was for Sitatunga some six years back and it was tough for him then as we stalked on foot and he stated that this was to be his last hunt in Africa.



However his desire had preceded his age and this is what he wanted to do.

Being just shy of 80 this was going to be a difficult one but where there is a will there is a way. Tough indeed it was and after 6 hours on the tracks of some good bulls he slipped in an elephant hole and tore ligaments in his leg and I fucked my back doing something stupid. I called in a good friend and renowned PH Leon Kachelhoffer to give us a hand and to bring in some pain killers. He arrived same day and with his bed roll and three bottles of Scotch in hand.

It was agreed to give Julius a couple of days off to recuperate but he did not and we needed to make a plan as the lone bulls were wary and walking many miles from their drinking places. Leon would walk lengthy distances to find where they lay and we would join him by car in order to close the gap. It was concluded that with support Julius could walk approx 200 metres and that is what we had to play with.

Leon was very determined to get the old man a buffalo as this very probably will be his last.

The conclusion was 4 bulls lying in the shade of an anthill and supported by stick and had Julius inched in. He started in great pain but as the adrenalin kicked in his pace quickened. To cut a long story short the first bull a terrific droopy specimen broke cover and puffing and grunting angrily tried to sniff us out. Much that we urged he did not take the shot and this opportunity was lost in the long grass. The second buff burst out and presented a perfect broadside opportunity which Julius took. This animal immediately charged and covered 50 yards before you could say it. Another shot from the .375 did nothing to deter this buffalo but a couple of shots from some heavy doubles literally bowled the buffalo over. Believe it or not the .577 knocked the buff back a bit.



Leon and I shook hands on a job well done.

For Julius a fenced buffalo or a cow was not an option and he wanted to be on his feet in the wild with creatures that were born free. He had set himself a standard.

quote:

Originally posted by bwanamrm:
Persévérance pays off nicely. Well done Andrew... hope your back is on the mend.

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
Andrew, you calling someone else a character really raises the bar to meet the description of a "character" :-) Well done.

quote:

Originally posted by Skyline:
Amazing what can be done when everyone involved works together and makes things happen. Well done.

I have to say I love the looks of so many of the bulls you take there Andrew. Just excellent trophies any which way you slice it.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
For Julius a fenced buffalo or a cow was not an option and he wanted to be on his feet in the wild with creatures that were born free. He had set himself a standard.