These photos are of me and my brother, BWN300, with our recent elephant kills. I shot mine on May 19th, the second full day of the hunt. I used my Kreighoff double 500/416 loaded with factory WR 410 grain Woodleigh solids. The shot was at about 25 yards and taken broadside after the bull had taken a few steps toward us and turned to leave. I couldn't take a frontal brain shot as it was blocked by a small tree. The first shot was at the mid line through the shoulder and because of the upward angle to where the bull was walking it clipped the spine. I followed with 3 more shots to the heart and we heard the death bellow. The native crew that complete the skinning and meat cutting recovered three of the bullets. Two are in perfect condition and one, probably the spine shot, is flattened a bit on both sides of the base. I shot the bull at about 10:00 a.m. and a crew of about 95 villagers completed the skinning and meat recovery at about 6:30 p.m. We did not weigh the tusks, but they are fairly even measuring 45 inches and 41 inches straight from tip to base and 18 inches diameter at the lip. The only comparison to elephant hunting I can think of is it must be like being in the eye of a storm. I was suprised at how calm I seemed to be on each stalk I made with my brother in his attempts to get his elephant and during my stalk and shot. However, after the shot it was a different story. What a thrill and I can see why elephant hunting is so addictive.

During the trip I was able to see a great number of elephants but not much other game and get within shooting distance of about 30 elephants. We stalked small groups of bulls, mixed herds and one group of 6 tuskless cows. The area I hunted was tribal lands, near Matsudona NP, along the bank of the Sanyati River in the Deve region. These bulls were taken on PAC permits. We were hunting in Ray Townsends concession and guided by Ganyana and Henry Prinsloo. The camp was spartan and minimal. We walked on average 8 miles a day on one good meal consisting many nights of only meat and sadza, with only coffee/tea and rusks in the morning before starting each day's endurance test. Laundry and showers were sometimes 3 days apart as we frequently moved camp, which consisted of a canvas tarp, three mixed camp chairs, a table and the most uncomfortable cots and thinnest sleeping bags I have ever seen. However, I did not want a "Coke and Bun" safair and specifically requested a hunt like the locals would do. In spite on the absence of luxuries like Coke, beer, 3 meals plus snacks, laundry, showers and decent sun downers it was a fantastic hunt that provided tons of laughs and a lifetime of memories. Both PHs are so tough they wear their clothes out from the inside, but are great guys who can certainly deliver on a hunt if the client is willing to work a bit. Thanks again guys.






Perry

Congratulations. That was a great way to do an elephant hunt.

Woo Hooo! Well done, guys!

Perry,

Congratulations on a great hunt.

Regards,

Terry

P.S.
Did you notice that I didn't say anything about your hat.

Congratulations on an excellent hunt and a real adventure! Elephant hunting is the pinnacle of experiences in my opinion. Well done.

quote:

Originally posted by PWN375:
We were hunting in Ray Townsends concession and guided by Ganyana and Henry Prinsloo... We walked on average 8 miles a day...

If you only walked 8 miles per day, it must be because Ganyana likes you.

Congratulations on a great hunt!

Congratulations Perry. Sounds like you had a great time, and experianced a good way to hunt.

Perry,
Way to go. Looks like you and your brother had a great hunt.
Only thing I would have done different is to have a couple of porters carry some Single Malt Scotch, Gin and Tonic and Ice.

It's that funny hat again.

Congratulations.

***

quote:

Both PHs are so tough they wear their clothes out from the inside

You mean Ganyana wears his undies on the outside?! Wow.

(only having fun)

That sounds like a great experience, congratulations.

I admire the way that you hunted, hats off to you guys and Ganyana, not a lot of PH's willing to work and hunt like that.

So... when are you gonna be hunting ele again???

500 - 8 miles as the crow flies is about 20 as you walk. There is very little flat ground in that area

It is always fun to actually hunt, and it IS amaising what you can live through

Terry and Nitro,

I bought a new hat after some chubby thief with a Texas accent, an aversion to leopard print undies, a facination with Prince Harry's girlfriend's boobs and a slightly feminine fashion sense was seen laughing and running from the scene of the crime.

Perry

PWN375,
Most Excellent. Thanks for sharing. Your words keep my universe expanding.

And to glean what we can from the autopsy: Any solid shot into an elephant spine could end up flattened on the base a bit. A Woodleigh round nose solid/FMJ might be tough as Ganyana, but might tumble more likely than an FN. However, putting four of them through vitals is bound to be Bedtime for Jumbo.

The fact that 2 of the 3 recovered bullets were not deformed may mean that they did not cartwheel, or at least if they did, it was in softer stuff. The Woodleigh steel jackets are stout.

Four solids tumbling through vitals can bleed'em well, eh?

"Eye of the Storm" is a great metaphor.

Ganyana - would be interested in knowing what you think the tusks weighed for the two bulls respectively.

Congratulations. Sounds like a great hunt.

Thanks! Great Pics!

PW,
welcome to th club.
I told you it was addictive, now you will be planning your next sortee.
Later,
J

quote:

Originally posted by PWN375:
Terry and Nitro,

I bought a new hat after some chubby thief with a Texas accent, an aversion to leopard print undies, a facination with Prince Harry's girlfriend's boobs and a slightly feminine fashion sense was seen laughing and running from the scene of the crime.

Perry

Chubby, CHUBBY !!! But I have a nice personality and I am a good cook.

Regards,

Terry

Tony,
You will notice that the rifle laying by my ele is a bolt action (375 H&H)... Sacriledge!!! I know, I know, but I am still among the living. Thanks for all the advice. To everyone -- thanks for the advice.

To the ele hunting brothers...welcome to the fraternity of ele hunters...we are not the same..Thrilled that the trip turned out successful and will have to hear all about it...
Next year in Dallas..

Mike

PWN375,

I left Henry on the Friday the 13th of May in the Save Valley after a 15-day buffalo/leopard hunt. He was headed back to Harare to get ready for a PAC hunt with two guys from A-Square company starting on Tues the 17th (at least that's what he said).

Are you those two guys? And how many times did Robert have to clear the fuel pump on Henry's "classic" Land Rover?

Sounds like a great hunt. Congratulations!

Congratulations on a great hunt Perry! Thanks for sharing!

quote:

Originally posted by BWN300MAG:
Tony,
You will notice that the rifle laying by my ele is a bolt action (375 H&H)... Sacriledge!!! I know, I know, but I am still among the living. Thanks for all the advice. To everyone -- thanks for the advice.

How come one of you guys didn't use a very deadly 45-70?

Hey Perry, you should be ashamed of yourself, for leading your little brother on the path od us hunting bums!

Good hunt guys, that's the way most hunting should be. That way you get down to the hunting, not the frills!

Congratulations to you both! I'm envious!

GAHUNTER,

We would be the same two, but no connection to A-Square. Who knows what stories Ganyana told Henry to trick him into coming along on a hunt with 2 rednecks from Oklahoma. Robby was a busy guy during the trip into the Mundas and for the first few days, but by the end the fuel system seemed to have been worked out. Henry gets all he can out of that old Rover and needs the after-market V-8 considering the loads he puts on it. I enjoyed hunting with Henry and my stalk and kill happened just as he predicted it would. I think I will always remember him saying..."He comes"... when the bull turned our way after we closed in. The anticipation of a charge or an actual charge no matter how short will certainly supercharge the old system, just ask my brother!

I always wondered how I would react if I ever got a shot at an elephant and if I would be able to control my emotions, execute a good stalk and make a good a shot. Having hunted and killed an elephant, I feel like when I was 13 and killed my first deer. Now I can join in the conversations with the big boys and trade elephant hunting stories around the camp fire at the next DRSS meeting or SCI gathering. Plus, it gives me the right to tote my custom ivory handle hunting knife and use elephant leather goods without feeling like a wanker.

Perry

Well done Perry.

Yes, it's a good thing that Henry is a certified mechanic. That 1972-model Land Rover needs a full-time tech just to get it through the day!

I really enjoyed Henry also. He has a very dry personality, but makes up for it in hunting ability. That .458 Lott he carries is the inspiration for a fix on my non-chambering 404 Jeffery. I don't know if you looked at it, but it has been modified so that the rounds pop up directly in front of the chamber in the middle and eliminates all misfeeds.

Did he tell you about the fright we got in the leopard blind a few night before?

Henry was the only other white person in camp on my hunt. You can imagine how laid back and quiet the evening sundowners around the mopane fire were. Fortunately, the lions, leopards, hippos and bushbucks made a lot of noise in the bush to keep one entertained!

quote:

Perry

This is what an elephant hunter should look like. I love that hat! Sounds like you had a great hunt.

Good show.

Thanks for sharing,
Kyler