27 April 2010, 01:24
Idaho SharpshooterISS in South Africa; Waterbuck
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Waterbuck was not on my "bucket list" for the trip.
I had come for Kudu, Gemsbuck, a Zebra, and Impala and Wart Hog. Eight days of hunting had let me harvest the first two. I guess this was meant to be "Plan B". We were following Zebra tracks when a set of smoking hot Waterbuck tracks crossed the tracks of the pinstriped pony. About two hundred fifty yards ahead of us was the telltale "ring around the rump" of a Waterbuck. By time we had cut that distance in half he had turned around facing us. This story usually ends with "a second later he barked, and all we saw after that was ringed rump disappearing into the thorn bush.". This one barked twice, and the second one merged with the sound of the rifle going off. He went down, and struggled to regain his feet. By time he did we were twenty yards away, and Reon had the sticks out for me. The first shot had hit him high in the brisket and exited from the right flank. The second, from close range; took the heart out and trashed the liver and spleen. Dead on impact.
Nine days of pleasant weather, low to mid-nineties temperatures and humidity in the low forty-percent had made for excellent hunting conditions. It had rained three straight days before my arrival, which made aging tracks and tracking easy. It had rained the day before I arrived and not again until after the hunt was over.
The Waterbuck did not quite make 26 inches, but the mass is there along with good curl and the horns are even.
I am pleased with all of my animals. They looked good thru the binoculars and scope, they looked good at the taxidermist's shop, and they will look very good on my wall in nine months or so.
Rich
Congratulations on some lovely trophies and obviously good shooting! The Waterbuck has always been one of my favorite animals to hunt. I guess I just enjoy how you hunt them being a Pennsylvania whitetail hunter at heart.
27 April 2010, 03:48
jeff hThat looks like one hell of a waterbuck
Congrat!!!!
27 April 2010, 05:52
TrophyShotPrintsHey Rich,
That's a nice waterbuck, a bit short but he makes up for it in mass

27 April 2010, 08:05
Idaho Sharpshooteryes, he did not quite make 26"; but the mass was so good I shot him anyhow. I was hunting good mature males, and he fit the criteria. Once I get the mount back I'll hang him on the wall about six feet off the floor to the bottom of his neck and tell everybody he went 27". Who brings a tape measure to someone else's trophy room anyway?
Rich
27 April 2010, 20:15
matt uquote:
pleased with all of my animals. They looked good thru the binoculars and scope, they looked good at the taxidermist's shop, and they will look very good on my wall in nine months or so.
Thats all that matters
Congratulations!!
27 April 2010, 21:18
bwanamrmquote:
a bit short but he makes up for it in mass
Where have I heard that before?
Congratz on a nice bull ISS.
28 April 2010, 23:01
Bwannaquote:
Once I get the mount back I'll hang him on the wall about six feet off the floor to the bottom of his neck and tell everybody he went 27".
Now that's a plan. Who says only fishermen can embellish their accomplishments?
29 April 2010, 03:55
Idaho SharpshooterI would prefer to think of it as creative measuring. .465 H&H is the only one in town who would know better. I could bribe him into saying 28" with the offer of a full bottle of Amarula.
Rich
29 April 2010, 05:22
465H&HTwo bottles or I post that it was only 24" on the web.
465H&H
29 April 2010, 05:30
TrophyShotPrintsquote:
Originally posted by boom stick:
quote:
Originally posted by bwanamrm:
quote:
a bit short but he makes up for it in mass
Where have I heard that before?
Congratz on a nice bull ISS.
Finally somebody got it....
