I've been here every year since 1977 but this year was different. I'd never seen the zebras before and there they were.....lots of them. They was walking in the bottom of the valley with such grace as to make me feel very happy to just be there and to see them.

I had stood on the north end of this valley many times and enjoyed the view. It's almost 2,000 acres that are visible to me and this year There was zebras and eland on the western slopes.

A couple young kudu wandered up to me and stared at me. They seemed to be curious and just wanted to know who had invaded their territory. It's a real treasure to just be here and see all this magnificience.....spectacular.....worth the price of admission for sure.

But then there it was....the one I was waiting for....the one I came for...the whole reason for being there. The .404 Jeffery came to the shoulder and at the report the familiar sharp rapp on the shoulder....the looking over the sights to inspect the results....

Sure enough my Wisconsin whitetail was now ready for preparation for the freezer.

So what if the zebra and eland weren't there....so what if the .404 Jeffery was actually a .257 Roberts...so what.....This valley will always have zebras, eland, blue monkeys, kudu and a few babboons......Because once you've been there you're always there. It just feels good!!

if you start seeing hippo's while in your deer stand i highly recommend you stop smoking what your smokin and seek help

After my first trip to Africa, deer hunting isn't quite the same. Still fun, but must admit that my mind does tend to wander while sitting on stand.

Enjoyed the post!

vapodog

Great story. I have a lot of day dreams to.

Mike

Did that 470 of yours make a connection on a deer today?

James

Watched 3 doe and 4 young'ns today. Had a 41Mag pistol and a scoped 9.3x74R Chapuis DR out. Deer are moving through late at this point. Scopes help old eyes. Was looking for a young buck with a "ringer" like set of horns about 14" long. Really looks odd. Would just as soon he doesn't pass his genetics too far.

Hit a white tail with the .470 last year though. The 500 gr GCFP Ballisti-Cast design cast bullet did the job very nicely thank you! One also with the Chapuis. Didn't like the performance of 270 gr Speers. Trying 286 Noslers. Ought to be an improvement.

I usually try to take at least one white tail with each of the legal weapons ... bow, rifle, pistol and muzzle loader. Managed to do that three years in a row. Have three bow deer so far, and today was the first day of gun season here. Hope there is time left ;>

Have to join in to say since my trip to Africa in July, Deer Hunting does not stir my soul like it did. I did go out for 1 hour on GA Opening day, could not just sit in my stand after that. Good news is my wife wanted veinson in our freezer, so Sunday while I was in my Robe and slippers I saw a big doe in the woods while I was looking out from my Sun Porch. Grabbed my rifle, took out the screen in a window and BAM, 1 tender doe down. I did change into jeans to drag in in and field dressed it, skinned it ,then cut it up and freezer wrapped it. I will clarify my saying I have no one close to my home,no neighbors, no houses, no people, we live in the center of my 32 Georgia acres.