As we don't get to see too many of these wonderful trophies, I thougth I'd post a picture of one a friend took last month. He hunted with Guy Betaille, the same outfitter I hunted with last Feb. This eland measured 47" and was said to be around 9 years old.



Here's a pict of his Northwestern Buffalo:



Here's my report from last year in case anybody didn't see it and is interested:

http://forums.accuratereloadin.../6321043/m/807101618

My Lord Derby is in the process of being mounted and will be done shortly. If anybody is attending the Lehigh Valley (PA) SCI banquet/auction on March 21, I'd appreciate a picture or two. My taxidermist is Wes Good of Wildlife Studios.

Thanks!!!

Bill

Bill, his are wonderful trophies, too. Look forward to seeing your photos of the mounted critters.

Geart pictures! Lord Derby Eland & Northwest buffalo, African hunters dream safari!

great trophies, Bill, congrats to your friend. jorge

Nice, Bill. That buff looks like a real trophy...

Bill,

Lovely! Not to take away from the eland at all but the buff really looks good. That is the one I failed on Cameroon.

Mark

Seloushunter

Fantastic trophies, the Giant Eland is possibly the greatest trophy in Africa and one of the hardest to collect. Well done

Thanks Bill love the Lord Derby Eland!

Not that I know anything, but from the mounted trophies I've seen, that buff does look good.

Great animals! The look on your friends face with his eland is in my opinion the most accurate depiction of relief and disbelief that he actually got a Lord Derby's Giant eland. I hope he remembers that moment clearly for the rest of his life. Priceless feeling!

Very interesting also that the eland horn configuration comes in a various forms from more parallel like his to wider and wider spread. It is also interesting to me that this variation has nothing to do with size or age of the animal. They are all magnificient in my view.

As to the buffalo I do not know anything about them since although I have seen them, I always had other things to hunt.

That is one happy hunter.

quote:

Originally posted by SG Olds:
Great animals! The look on your friends face with his eland is in my opinion the most accurate depiction of relief and disbelief that he actually got a Lord Derby's Giant eland. I hope he remembers that moment clearly for the rest of his life. Priceless feeling!

Isn't that the truth! At first I couldn't help but comparing the tracking to elephant, only not as much fun as there was not the prospect of peril if/when we finally found what we were following. But after about a week of hunting and walking after the buggers, I VERY MUCH wanted to kill an eland!!!

Interestingly, per the PH, he shot this LDE about a KM from where I shot mine, which was seemingly in the middle of nowhere. He wanted a roan, and they were not seeing them (I saw dozens of bulls, and my PH said that when you are hunting them they tend to not be so accommodating). So as his #2 class-A animal he shot the buffalo. Naturally, on the last day of the hunt they came across a nice roan! He did shoot a cool bushpig too.

He told me it was hot (100+) and they had several nice "sneaks" but that after 2-3 hrs he was done in due to the heat. Sounded kind of beat, the trip to/from Cameroon is a bit of an adventure, and his was made more interesting as a sandstorm grounded the planes so he got to spend a few more days "enjoying" Douala! (NOT!)

unreal trophies, Bill.. Your buddy has reached the top of the world in African hunting!! Beautiful!!

I just recieved this pict of my Lord Derby Eland from my taxidermist, Wes Good, taken at the Lehigh Valley SCI banquet the end of March (while I was in Zim). Anybody attend the banquet and see it?

I'll post some "studio pictures" later, along with a link to Wes's new website.

Wes is going to deliver the mount next week, which is a good thing as comparing it to the other mounts there, it will be a hand full. Thankfully I have one more nice corner set aside in the "Africa Room" - who needs a chair any way...and I'm sure we'll find someplace else to put the Christmas tree!!!

Bill,
It appears that Wes did an outstanding number on your bull!! Looks fabulous!!

Congrats again to you and your buddy on 2 wonderful bulls!

Oh baby, that looks good to me!

Lovely!

Congratulations to both of you! That is a beautiful mount on your LD Eland.

Very nice Bill. Wes has done a great job and the pedestal makes your LDE really a standout mount. Congrats.

Ah, some day! Reading Bill's report of his hunt convinced me that I have a new "dream hunt" to justify the purchase of lottery tickets. These pictures don't help the situation any, either!