4/3 EDIT - REPORT POSTED: http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/2731047601

Just got back, some 35hrs after leaving camp. Great 12-day early-season elephant hunt with Martin Pieters in Omay North, along Lake Kariba. Lots of rain early, mud, thick bush, walking/tracking, and of course elephants.

Our group shot 6 ele, including "TR2 meat bulls", a trophy bull and a tuskless (tuskless hunting in the jungle-like Tiger Bay jesse was exciting to say the least!!!!). Also one waterbuck, a bushbuck and lots of brim.

No problems with travel or SAA, everybody friendly and helpful along the way, and everything calm on the ground in Zim particularly in the bush. Those hunting Zim and especially in the Valley and surrounding areas can expect conditions to be that of a month or so earlier (that is, if hunting August, chances are it will feel more like July). Should be an excellent hunting season.

The Ume River camp was awesome, great camp along the water, with the best food that I have ever had in Zim. Mart runs an excellent operation, is a skilled hunter with top trackers, and we got along wonderfully. We did a good amount of walking, and hunted hard every day despite the challenges of weather, we were generally on the trail by 5am and not back to camp until sundown.

I just went thru the pictures and there a ton of excellent ones capturing not only the hunt and conditions, but also the scenery and the rural people of Omay. My father-in law Bob and buddy Dylan also have memory cards from their hunts. I'm planning to do a nice report, but it's going to take some time to get caught up. Until then, here's a few picts...



















Cheers,

Bill

THANKS !!!!!
Those are great pictures.

What rifle and caliber are you carrying in the picture with the ele ??

L

Most excellent pictures.

Welcome back. I look forward to the report.

Glad you had a good hunt.

I love Zimbabwe.

IF Mugabe had not "messed things up" I might have retired there.

Very nice elephant.

Superb Bill!! Great looking PAC!!!

Russ and I were there last month ele hunting in those same conditions.. mud, heat, humidity, etc!! Definately a diff side of Africa!

Congrats Bill!

Thank for the early report. Great pics
Thanks and look forward to the rest?
What was the weight on the tusks in the pic?

Outstanding Bill! Congratulations on yet another great safari.

Congratulations Bill, looks like you had a great hunt. Your photographs are excellent.

Dave

Three elephant in twelve days! Sounds like you had a great time, Bill! Congrats and welcome home.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Excellent photos, welcome back.

Congratulations Bill!! I was actually thinking about you this week wondering how you were making out. I can't wait to read the full report.

Doug

Welcome home, great job Bill. Look forward to the full report.

Very intersting to see a "green" Africa report. I look forward to your always well done report.

Last night I was looking for a post from from BillC and now I know why he was missing...

See that Ruger 458 Lott is still working strong...
Waiting for the rest of the story, and welcome home...

Mike

Dang, for Omay, those are great Elephants ... actually, for anywhere those are good Elephants!

Great hunt. Congratulations Bill

Bill, great pics looking forward to the full report. Dirk

Same as above!

Congrats. Looked like fun.

Welcome back Bill. Great pictures and a great hunt!

Brett

Looking forward to your hunt report Bill!

Great hunt and elephants...

Makes me think more and more about Zimbabwe.

Congratulations.
Emory

Congrats Bill! Looks like a great hunt. Really looking forward to your full report, as usual!

Cheers
Canuck

When you have a moment, what ammo were you using?

thanks

Congrats!

Boy, your legs ain't any better looking than mine. Can you tell me what boots you're wearing and how they did? I am looking to change.

Welcome back!

JPK

Welcome back,looks like fun trip

Stunning photos.

Congrats on the hunt.

Looks like the jesse was real thick.

congrats. Great hunt. Thanks for sharing.

Great hunt and great photos! Lovely elephants. Thanks for sharing.

great hunt.congrats

excellent! looking forward to seeing more photos and the stories. It looks like really thick jesse. I bet the hunt was up close and personal.

Hey thanks everyone! Still trying to clear the fog, and lots of catch-up awaiting me at the office. Surprisingly, got a full night's sleep last night, so we'll see how the reentry goes.

Even lost 5lbs of winter weight!

I'll note all details in the report, but to answer a few good questions...

- The rifle is my trusted Ruger Mark II in .458 Lott shooting hand-loaded Woodleigh .500gr solids (I posted the load and related not long ago on either the Big Bore or Reloading forum).

- The tusks were all in the 35-40lb range including the wounded bull which was a shame as it was long pretty ivory, I'll detail this story as it is interesting.

- Boots were Lowa Renegades, which I used in Makuti in Aug and Cameroon last Feb, and in a hundred plus training hikes. They fit me like a pair of slippers. However, the problem was that in the rain and river crossings, they got soaked, and after walking in wet boots for several days my feet turned into ET's. When things dried out, all was fine although the they are toast now (literally, one was dried to close to the fire). I will replace them, but will eval other options for another "wet season" ele hunt. Here's a link for them: http://www.backcountry.com/sto...iking-Boot-Mens.html

- Yea, the bush was THICK, things were interesting in the jesse with ele's many times on just the opposite side of a clump of bush, and shots were 8, 12 and ~30 yards (the "long shot" was on the wounded bull).

Again, I got lots of cool pict's...

Bill

Dont take too long with that report Bill!!!
Teresa and I both send send our regards. - Robert

Great hunt, never saw the Omay or Binga looking like that. beautiful country side - soo green and what a Bull, very nice!

looks like you had a great hunt. hope to read your report soon. That is an impressive elephant.

Bill
Really nice bull ! Ivan sat phoned from the valley and said the same ...WET AND GREEN . Really enjoyed the pics. The ivory really was beautiful, a good lesson for the guy who says'' 50 pounds or nothing !'' Well done Bill.

Bill, wouldn't expect anything less. Congrats on a great hunt, wonderful pics and like the rest await your usual outstanding report. Welcome home.

Bill,
welcome home,and congratulations on your hunt,can't wait for more pictures
Matt

Thanks again guys! To be honest, the pictures are "to best advantage" but yes the ivory is beautiful and as we know, 35-40lbs is realistic for the Valley and surrounding areas.

In case I was not clear, the pict's are actually of TWO bulls, the first was the wounded one. The 2nd one was an older bull w/shorter but thicker ivory, estimated to be in his mid-upper 40's in age.