from the camp in bangwelulu


and the beautiful black lechwe


we took the next 14 hours driving north into the camp at tondwa. The last 5 1/2 hours was on the most horrible road you can imagine. It was night and the temperature had dropped to the high 50's. We had to stop a couple hours from camp to pick up one of the staff. Imagine crawling out of a nice warm bed at midnight and jumping into the back of a cold truck. In any case we got into camp about 1:30 am, tired and thirsty (which a couple of brews helped out). The camp at Tondwa washes out every year and must be rebuilt each spring.


We slept in the next morning. About noon or so Terry went to the lake to retrieve his boat. We had a choice to either wade across the lake in the dark to the machan or to take a boat ride. Only thing was the boat leaked like a sieve. Terry had a couple tubes of silicone sealant that he wanted to fix the boat with. When he got back with the boat, he was more than a bit excited. He had seen a big sitatunga out in the open mid afternoon. Just where it shouldn't be. We jumped into the truck and headed out across the plains to the lake.
We could see 5 sitatunga from the truck. 2 females 2 young bulls and the horns of the big one Terry had seen. All we could see sticking out of reeds was his horns, but one of the small ones came out on the edge.


The big guy was across the lake and showed no interest in moving. Terry thought that maybe just maybe we might be able to sneak up on him. Into the reeds we went. We had about 600-800 yards to cross. Wading in water up to our waist we moved as silently as we could. The water had a green scum on top, but underneath it was clear and cool. Probably spring fed. Fortunately there were no crocagator or hipposauses around.
It probably took 45 minutes to an hour to make a decent sneak. We were about 100 yards or so from the far edge where the sitatunga were, when a female came into the open and started to feed. We figured that we had been had, but she never saw us. Working our way a bit closer and getting a different angle, we could seen the horns of the big guy moving toward the female. We froze, hoping that he would come out near the female, but instead he swung over a bit and walked slowly toward an opening. We froze in the waist deep water while he fed his way into the opening. His head and upper portion of body came into view. He had no idea we were even there. Terry had the shooting sticks set up and the Beretta was resting on them, but we were standing to low to see over the reeds. Squeezing the sticks together and standing on my toes I could just see the crosshairs over the top of the reeds. Trying to control the wobble best as I could, the first 165 gr partition hit, taking out the top of the heart. He jumped straight up and the second barrel caught him in the spine. I doubt that I could have gotten the second shot off with anything but a double.
He fell straight down and it was a gleeful walk through the hippo runs over to him and then back across the lake to shore.


It was only the second time Terry had made a successful stalk on a sitatunga. Then to top it off he measured 28 3/4", making him the biggest one of his career. The long hair and markings on a sitatunga make them one of africas most beautiful animals


Quite a start to the hunt, first day lechwe, first day sitatunga. There's more to come, lots more.

I can definitely say that I have never had to shoot while waist deep in water. It can't be easy. Normally you try to stay OUT of the water but you really scored on that one.

You mentioned the hippo runs...isn't that like stepping into an underwater ditch? Sounds like something that would keep the stress high.

Looking forward to more of the story but a great start!

A good read and thanks for the pictures.

Quite a stalk though the water.

Butch- Great hunt and what a beautiful animal!! Well done.

I met Terry last year while hunting in Zambia-he's a really good guy!

Congratulations!

John

Man what a trophy, love those spiral horn, I am green with envy!

Wow! Great trophy and quite the stalk.

Congratulations!

Isn't that a beauty, both animals!

Very nice.
Beautiful animal.

Kyler

Butch, Great pictures and glad you had a great hunt. When you have time, please send to my office some pictures of your hunt so we can put in your file. Terry told me that he enjoyed your hunt and that you took some great trophies.

Super trophy and heck of a hunt! Congratulations.

Butch Lovely trophies, congratulation on a excellent hunt.

Outstanding story and pics!

Congrats Butch on two fine trophies. Your Sitatunga will make Roland Ward. I look forward to reading the rest of your report. GH, David