Thanks for posting the pics for me T. Carr! SBT and I hunted at Ecki Meyer's place, Otjanduae Game Lodge. About 30 minutes out of Omaruru. It was a 10 day plains game hunt and we took our wives. We had the best time we have ever had! Fred Bezdenhote was my PH and SBT was with Ecki. A beautiful lodge with great meals (game meat, cheeses, wine, beer, fruit,fresh baked breads, wine, beer). I took a 30.06 and a Sako Finnbear .375 H and H. Never used the 30.06 as .375 just pounded them! Used 285 grain Speer Grand Slams. The only bullet recovered was in the Zebra as that was a 170 yard shot into the chest and the bullet was found in his gut. I would definately recommend Ecki and his staff for anyone wanting to go for the first time. I had such a good time that I am planning a trip next year, with my son, right now!
Interesting you should comment on the Hartebeest Lorenzo. I learned a lesson on that one. Fred, my PH, and I spotted a small group of them and began stalking. They knew something wasn't quite right and were a little nervous so began to move slowly away from us. The bush (all of those man killing plants) was thick and when Fred put the shooting sticks up he told me shoot. Well, the animal he saw was a different one than I saw and they were only 60 yards away. I could not see the one he saw and he couldn't see the one I saw. Anyway, I pulled the trigger and it ran for about 15 yards then collapsed. We could only hear it fall, we couldn't see it. Once to the animal Fred said "you shot the wrong one". This isn't the bull this is a cow". Well, I felt pretty bad and we discussed what happened. I am, however, very pleased with her and like Fred said, the only difference is horn circumference and most people won't even know. The moral of this story is to make sure you both are looking at the same animal!
I can tell we need to talk once I get to Cody this October. I guy from Wyoming should be able to tell a cow from a bull. Of course I'm just kidding. What did you think about trying to tell a male from a female oryx? I had a heck of a time with that. Anyway it looks like you guys had loads of fun with a nice bag of trophies. Good show!
Regards,
Mark
Posts: 13115 | Location: LAS VEGAS, NV USA | Registered: 04 August 2002
Ya, shooting the cow was a little embarrasing but I am surviving it. Oryx were a problem at this place, there were just to many of them and they constantly spooked game. Because of their numbers, I got fairly good at identifying male from female. Females have long thin horns and are not as heavy as the males either in the horns or body. The wartie was shot through the shoulders at 150 yards at 4pm by a waterhole. We left him lay there until dark before removing him hoping Elands would come in to drink but they didn't.
Hi, I had the exact same situation with a hartebeest in the Northern Province of RSA! It is quite gut wrenching when you walk up to find a female instead of a massive male, but the horns are still very long and ornamental. By the way, I think the website used to mention a lot of 60 inch kudu being shot there, how big was yours? Were there lots of large males about?
Posts: 2360 | Location: London | Registered: 31 May 2003
We found out when there that the Kudu and Eland had both been hit by rabies about 2 years ago. While tracking we came across some large Kudu bull skulls and horns apparently from the rabies infection. However, there were lots of Kudu but the bull I shot was the biggest we saw. Lots of younger Kudu bulls around. My bull measured: 53.54" (left horn), 54"(right horn) and 10.63" around the bases.
The Eland were extremely wary. We hunted them for 8 of the 10 days. Tracked and followed, sat at waterholes but never could get on them. Very elusive critters. On the 9th day I traded the cost of the Eland for the Blue Wildebeest and Hartman's Zebra (plus a little more in cash) and am very happy with them!
