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Re: Back from Ele Hunting in the Zambezi Valley

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04 August 2004, 13:07
David W
Re: Back from Ele Hunting in the Zambezi Valley
Glad you made it back. I look forward to the stories!

BTW, nice elephant.
04 August 2004, 09:14
bwanamrm
Had an outstanding hunt with Buzz Charlton of Buzz Charlton Safaris! Toughest African hunting of my career. We walked over 100 kms. through jess and mopane scrub. I was on my bull track (very distinctive) for three days and 60 kms. (measured with GPS) before we caught up with him and two askaris in the thickest f*#@king jess you can imagine on 1:05 on the last day of the hunt! Incredible adventure and hunting at it's finest and most ethical. He wasn't the biggest bull taken from the Zambezi Valley this year, but he was an old man, huge with worn down tusks and no hair left on his tail and he will live forever in my memory. Elephant hunting has to be the pinnacle of the African experience and I can definitely recommend Buzz Charlton and his trackers...Morgan, Crispin, Royal, Tino and the indefatiguable Creighton as an outstanding team to hunt with. They know the elephant hunting business extremely well.
I'm worn out and will post a full report in a few days with all the details and pictures. Had some excitement with cow hunting as well and stopped my cow in charge at a measured 16 yards with a frontal brain shot but again the stories will have to wait for now. Cheers now.
04 August 2004, 09:31
Canuck
Sounds like an awesome time!! Looking forward to pics and stories.

Canuck
04 August 2004, 09:36
SBT
Welcome back. Sounds like a great hunt and an exciting time. Can't wait for details and photos!
04 August 2004, 12:06
ForrestB
Good news. Welcome home. I've been wondering how things were going for you. Settle in and give us the details.
04 August 2004, 12:09
CFA
bwanamrm,

Sounds like you had a great hunt, looking forward to all the details and pictures. Apparently you did not have any problems either. My hunt also went smooth, see my post re Mokore. Welcome back.

CFA
04 August 2004, 12:52
bwanamrm
Finally got a few pix uploaded. Leave you with this one of my bull.

Cheers all!
04 August 2004, 13:16
cigani2
Congrats! A great hunt and a great Ele too. Bet you were glad to get back to Africa. What rifle did you use? Thanks and all the best! John W
04 August 2004, 13:16
500grains
Very nice!
04 August 2004, 13:33
Bill C
Welcome back Russell. Shooting a charging ele cow at 16-yards, then walking 60-miles to earn the bull - way to go!!! Looking fwd to hearing all the details. That hunting in the jess is a rush, isn't it!


04 August 2004, 13:56
BigB
Bwanamrm,

Congrats, nothing more exciting than hunting elephant in the jess.

BigB
04 August 2004, 14:34
Shumba
Bwanamrm,

Great job! Is that a 45-70 you are holding in your elephant photo?

N'gagi and I leave next week to hunt with Big 5 Safaris in the Chewore North concession. I know that Buzz sometimes hunts out of that camp.

We are hunting buffalo and plainsgame. How plentiful did you find the plainsgame in the area to be? Did you leave any big buffalo for us?

Love to hear ALL of the details since we will be there next week.

Good Job!!!

Tim
04 August 2004, 15:11
rwj
bwanamrm: Congratulations. That is a stunning bull. Fill us in on the details...rifle, bullets, more photos. We can tell by the sound of your post that you had an excellent time.
04 August 2004, 18:55
ErikD
Nice bull! It sounds like you had a great time, and I hope you'll fill in the story with even more details!

Erik D.
04 August 2004, 19:30
H T
Congratulations on the hunt of a lifetime !!

I'm also sending you a private message - question on permits needed.
04 August 2004, 21:38
JefferyDenmark
They sure are BIG.
I look forward to hearing your story.

Cheers,

Andr�
05 August 2004, 05:26
eyedoc
Great looking ele.Very impressive indeed....eyedoc
06 August 2004, 00:47
bwanamrm
Jet lag is a drag! I fall asleep on my desk at three in the afternoon and wake up at 4:00 in the morning! Oh well, if it was easy, everybody would do it.

Thanks for the congrats, guys. I used my .416 Rigby shooting Federal Premium factory loads with the 410 grain Woodleigh solids. Performance was excellent. I recovered a bullet from my cow that passed through the brain, broke the spine and lodged against the skin along the back. I'll try and post a picture of the bullet later. This bullet shoots an honest inch in my rifle. Sterling Davenport of Arizona built my rifle and filed my sights in for this particular load. I tried another load but quickly shifted back to the Federals.

Shumba,
I saw lots of impala, sable, warthog, duiker and grysbok. Some zebra, kudu, roan, bushbuck and bushpig. Tons of baboons! There were alot of cats in the area and we saw lion and leopard spoor daily. We actually saw a young leopard in a tree when we were tracking elephant and it caused quite a stir with the trackers!
Lots of buff. Saw an honest 43" bull, still alittle soft but he was a horse. Saw three dugga boys along the escarpment that would measure 38" to 40" and heavy bosses. You guys should have a great hunt. Just take targets of opportunity as they present themselves and you will get your plainsgame. Good luck!
07 August 2004, 01:20
bwanamrm
Gents,
Part one of my report is posted on Hunt Reports. Cheers all.