The Accurate Reloading Forums
Real time action
15 July 2007, 01:31
David HulmeReal time action
Good day
I returned to the lowveld a few days ago after accompanying an extremely challenging elephant bull hunt in Chewore, with Bob Glick of Texas and PH Richard Tabor. Believe me when I say it was an education for all. I shall be posting a report on that hunt soon - next day or two.
I am presently at my parent's home (on Hammond in the Save Conservancy), writing up hunt journals for various guys. My brother Jonathan is conducting a safari here at the moment and he came in an hour ago with some bad news. The bottom line is that a leopard is wounded and Jonny and I will be following up early in the morning. I shall let you know how it pans out. Now, how's that for real time reporting!
Dave
15 July 2007, 01:37
Aspen Hill AdventuresWell, good luck and be safe! Hopefully all will turn out well. What will Jonathan be carrying for the follow up, shotgun or rifle?
I take it you will be filming?
~Ann
15 July 2007, 01:38
Charles_HelmGood luck and be careful.
15 July 2007, 03:04
David HulmeThanks Ann and Charles
I'm sure everything will be fine - my brother is highly experienced with these type situations. No, I will not be filming - even the journalist is required to pack a piece in this instance! My brother will carry his Krieghoff .500 and I will carry his .416. We have enough firepower for sure!
Dave
15 July 2007, 04:35
Aspen Hill AdventuresAwesome, what is your client carrying and more importantly, are you letting them lead the way?
I expect a decent report tomorrow then, please post plenty of details. Though in reality, I hope Ingwe has died over night to spare you all the wrath of the chain saw.....
~Ann
15 July 2007, 06:18
308SakoBe careful out there.
Member NRA, SCI- Life #358 28+ years now!
DRSS, double owner-shooter since 1983, O/U .30-06 Browning Continental set.
15 July 2007, 06:55
L. David KeithStay frosty and good luck.
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Took the wife the Eastern Cape for her first hunt:
http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6881000262Hunting in the Stormberg, Winterberg and Hankey Mountains of the Eastern Cape 2018
http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4801073142Hunting the Eastern Cape, RSA May 22nd - June 15th 2007
http://forums.accuratereloadin...=810104007#810104007 16 Days in Zimbabwe: Leopard, plains game, fowl and more:
http://forums.accuratereloadin...=212108409#212108409Natal: Rhino, Croc, Nyala, Bushbuck and more
http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6341092311 Recent hunt in the Eastern Cape, August 2010: Pics added
http://forums.accuratereloadin...261039941#926103994110 days in the Stormberg Mountains
http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7781081322Back in the Stormberg Mountains with friends: May-June 2017
http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6001078232"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading" - Thomas Jefferson
Every morning the Zebra wakes up knowing it must outrun the fastest Lion if it wants to stay alive. Every morning the Lion wakes up knowing it must outrun the slowest Zebra or it will starve. It makes no difference if you are a Zebra or a Lion; when the Sun comes up in Africa, you must wake up running......
"If you're being chased by a Lion, you don't have to be faster than the Lion, you just have to be faster than the person next to you."
Just an FYI for all,
I would be more confident going after a wounded leopard with Dave than without. I know for sure, for real, from personal experience with Dave that Dave has the spine and the courage to stand his ground and keep his cool when the "XXXX" hits the fan!
Don't be too brave Dave.
Best,
JPK
Free 500grains
15 July 2007, 14:03
David HulmeWe followed up at dawn and it was pretty tense. There was very little blood to work with and the tracking was difficult with hard, grass covered ground to contend with. We only discovered a few drops of blood along the way. About 400 metres from the bait we found where the cat had lain down for a while. That is also where the blood dried up for good. We followed a few hundred metres further and it took a great deal of time to cover that ground. Then came the news that there is a competent dog pack and handler in the conservancy at the moment. Unfortunately, the dogs were after another leopard this morning and we have been hanging around waiting for a couple of hours. But the dogs are on the way and the best thing to do is sit tight until they arrive. The tracking is extremely tough and this leopard is wounded - probably not going to die from its wound. There is no point in disrupting the trail by blundering about at this point. The dogs should be onto this cat fast. We are expecting them to arrive at any moment. I shall keep you posted.
15 July 2007, 18:20
Charles_HelmGood luck with the dogs.
15 July 2007, 20:33
BwannaGood luck as well. Those dogs are the answer. It's a pleasure to watch them work in these situations. Please let us know how it turns out.
15 July 2007, 21:11
scruffyBack in about '92 my wife slightly wounded a big leopard. It was during that big drought in Zim and there was no grass at all !!! None . The cat just would not stop and fight. Roger Whittal showed up with a bunch of his farmyard pooches .. pointers and such that hung around his house and his pet cat. I would have been more confident if they had spent their time back at headquarters beating the hell out of the household pet cat ...
They never came close to finding that leopard ... I certainly would have spent any excess cash that I had with me plus a cheque on borrowed funds back in Canada if there had been a trained pack of leopard hounds somewhere around .. Ahh .... nostalgia is not always sweet.
I wish you luck Dave, and as I'm typing these lines I sincerely hope that the cat is in the salt and the Scotch is single malt and old.
And that you're all well !
15 July 2007, 22:13
JohnHuntGood luck. Stay safe.
John
16 July 2007, 18:54
matt ugood luck with old spots. let us know how it pans out.stay safe
17 July 2007, 03:12
<Hunter Formerly Known As Texas Hunter>Can't wait to read the next installment!
David,
I will never forget that August 2000 night when Derek Adams (Gomez) voice came over the camp radio that he had a wounded leopard out there in Chirisa and a vehicle that would not start. Your brother Johnny was quick to respond that he was on his way and he asked my husband if he would like to join him.
After what seemed like an eternity, they returned to camp with the large leopard which Gomez killed as it came from behind a tree.
I know that your brother is one of the best in all of Africa and pray that everyone comes home safely.
Kathi
kathi@wildtravel.net
708-425-3552
"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page."
17 July 2007, 05:16
308SakoI always remain optimistic when there has been a shot, and blood trail. The sad truth however is that sometimes the shot is not what we expect it to be. I had hoped for a better and quicker resolution to this saga, and still do think the dogs may well make the difference. Good luck and saftey to all.
Member NRA, SCI- Life #358 28+ years now!
DRSS, double owner-shooter since 1983, O/U .30-06 Browning Continental set.
17 July 2007, 11:11
David HulmeSorry for the delay folks - we had a 24 hour power-out, as usual. Jonny shot the leopard yesterday. We spent hours waiting for it to come out of a cave the day before, to no avail. Yesterday morning, the dogs got onto it in a big way and treed it in mopani forest. Jon was the first on the scene and it charged him. Fortunately, the dogs slowed it down and Jon got in a good shot. All's well.
17 July 2007, 11:13
Charles_HelmGlad to hear that all is well.
17 July 2007, 20:48
Dr. Tim BurkhartDavid...knowing your brother like I do....I am not surprized by the outcome. He is the ultimate PH. His ability to sort things out has become the stuff of legends. At least here in West Michigan, amoung all of us who know Jonny and have hunted with him.
Keep the stories coming!
Dr. Tim
20 July 2007, 22:32
Capt.BobDAVID I SURE AM GLADE YOU MADE OUT O.K. WITH THEW CAT AND I AM RELIEVED TO KNOW THAT I WILL BE RECEIVING MY JOURNAL.BEST OF LUCK..CAPT.BOB
21 July 2007, 15:58
David HulmeCaptain Bob
You would have loved the hounds, Sir. Poetry in motion they were - as good as the pack we hunted with. As always, the hounds carried the day.
Your journal is a winner, even if I do say so myself! And, believe it or not, you are actually going to receive it soon.
Thanks for all the humorous emails. If all the guys on this site knew you, there would be a Captain Bob's personal humour forum opened for you!
I shall be writing you today about the journal.
Regards
Dave
21 July 2007, 19:52
Bob in TXHigh pucker factor......glad everything turned out well.
Bob
