I returned just over a week ago from hunting eland with Vaughan Fulton with Classic Safaris in Namibia. Being gone from work for 15 days was great, but I’m just now digging out of a mountain of headaches, thus the delay in posting my report.

The planning for this trip began almost as soon as I returned from my 2005 safari with Classic Safaris. Listening to Vaughan and my PH Thorsten Meier talk about tracking eland during my 2005 trip caught my attention. After being home from that trip for about six months, I could not stand it any more and called Wendell Reich to inquire about booking an eland hunt. A short time later, I was booked and looking forward to my next safari. A few months before I was set to leave, I was pleased to learn that Vaughan would be my PH for the 10 days. Quite a pleasant surprise knowing how much Vaughan likes to track eland.

I arrived in Windhoek on Sunday morning, May 27th. I elected to take the Frankfurt route and glad I did so. Since 14 hours is quite a long layover I elected to get a day room at the Holiday Inn Airport North.

Monday morning we headed northeast to a cattle ranch near Otavi to hunt eland. The range is approximately 20,000 acres that features only cattle fencing. I learned over the next several days that eland have no problem crossing cattle fences (although, in a story for another day, I learned that I on the other hand am prone to problems crossing fences). The ranch is owned by a terrific family. Our hosts were Wolfgang and Juanita Falk and we were fortunate share a few days with their three children who were home from school for the weekend. The accommodations are comfortable and the meals were a treat. Much to my amazement, most of what was served was straight off the farm including wild game prepared a number of different ways. Below are the Falks and Vaughan (right).



The area we were hunting consisted of thick, thorny brush mostly. On my 2005 safari, I hunted in shorts the entire time. I tried to hunt in shorts on my first day despite warnings from Vaughan. By the end of the afternoon, my legs were quite scratched up and the pant legs were promptly zipped back on. Lesson No. 2 learned. Below are some photos of the terrain.









Eland were plentiful in the area; however, locating a fresh track and catching up to mature bulls was harder than I expected. However, this is what I came for. I got a crash course in tracking eland and soon learned that signs such as this are GOOD signs.







While even I could follow tracks and sign such as above, most tracks were partial tracks, faint, or worse, trampled by cattle. Most days were spent following seemingly fresh tracks until we discovered that they were either not so fresh, left the property or ended up realizing no mature bulls were in the herd. Below is a picture of one of two young bulls we passed on.



Since we were focused on eland, I ended up letting a lot of other game pass. Other game we saw included warthog, steinbuck, Damara dik-dik, duiker, red hartebeest, and kudu, including one or two kudu that were better than one I took last time that at any other time I might have shot. I did manage to shoot a warthog one afternoon when we were not able to locate any fresh eland tracks.



Matthew (Mateos) arrived that night and had to show all the farm workers who the real bull was on the farm now.



By day 7 I was starting to worry despite Vaughan becoming more and more upbeat. That was quickly quelled when we cut a fresh track of four mature bulls early that morning. We began on the track at about 7 AM and over the next 6.5 hours we tracked and tracked and tracked.



Unfortunately, just as we caught our first sight of the bulls, the wind shifted we were busted. Despite one hell of a march, we could not catch up in time. As Vaughan said, "That's just typical eland hunting."

There was apparently a 5th bull at the water hole where we located the tracks but he was not with the four we tracked. Later that afternoon, Vaughan wondered aloud about the 5th bull because he had not seen his tracks leaving the area. We headed back to where we were seeing most of the tracks crossing the boundary and with about 30 minutes of sunlight remaining, we spotted him about 500 yards away. After a quick stalk, we got to within about 150-180 yards and I was able to drop him.





After I got my eland, we decided to head over to Vaughan’s new concession in western Namibia and hunt for springbuck the last two days. I did not connect with a springbuck but it was not for a lack of springbuck in the area. We just set our sights somewhat high since I got a 16+†springbuck in 2005. A day or two more and I’m sure we would have connected with one. I did manage to pop a jackal stalking up on a group of springbuck with a few young ones in the herd. I paced it off at 280 yards.



For those that are interested, Vaughan’s new concession in the west is somewhat different than the Etosha concession, but still very scenic and interesting. I just regret not being able to spend more time there. Here are a few pics of the concession and camp.















All in all it was a great hunt. Hats off to Wendell and Vaughan for putting the eland hunt together. Vaughan in an excellent tracker and you can tell how much he loves to track eland. Additionally, hunting with Vaughan was like hunting with a long time hunting buddy. That’s just what kind of a guy he his and I look forward to the opportunity to hunt with him again.

George

Great report and pictures -- congratulations on your Eland.

You do seem to have forgotten your razor on the trip, though!

Man that eland is HUGE! Congratulations on a hard-earned trophy. jorge

Great report and nice eland bull... body size makes him look like a Livingstone! Do you know if they are classified as Livingstone or Cape Eland in this area?

BEAUTIFUL bull!! Big body! Congrats!!

My God , what an eland !!!!!!!!!!
You have just poisoned my soul...
L

I agree with all - that's a great Kudu. But, that's an awesome hog too!
Dave

I am going after Eland as well on June 28th in Namibia.
Great trophy!!!!!!!!
Great stories
Congrats

Ahhh, home sweet home!
That's the natural and typical Eland habitat! Great (Cape-) Eland.

George it was great being in camp with you. Man that is a big eland! I knew it was big when its cape was half as big as my zebra hide. That will look great on the wall.

That's a really nice eland and it sounds like you worked very hard for him. Congrats to you and glad to hear that Vaughan is doing well in his new concession.

Congrats on your Eland, a real train.

Thanks all.

quote:

Originally posted by bwanamrm:
Great report and nice eland bull... body size makes him look like a Livingstone! Do you know if they are classified as Livingstone or Cape Eland in this area?

It is a Cape Eland.

What a magnificent Eland!

7 days of stalking Eland to finally connect with a bull of that quality and character. That's a tall feat to beat a hunt like that.

Congratulations!

George,

Congratulations on a great hunt. 78 Days and then it's my turn to chase eland with Vaughan!

Tracking Eland Rocks!! I tracked a herd for 7 hours the first day or so of my safari and didn't connect. The rest of the week was spent looking for a good bull, so I know how you feel. It'sd amazing how such a big animal can get lost in the bush!!!

Congrats on a great bull!! You'll forget how big he is by the time he comes home then you'll have it all over again trying to find a wall high enough to hang him!!!



FB

George, super warthog and eland! Congrats!

You guys who are hunting with Vaughan and Gert this year are killing me with these reports and photos. I am turning green . . .

Nice work!

congrats on a super bull and a great looking hog.. both are trophies are something that you should be really proud of taking home with you!!

thanks for sharing the pics with us!

Cool eland. How many guys did it take to put him upright for the pics?

Looks like you had a great trip and took some really nice animals.

I just heard that Vaughn had a little girl.

quote:

Originally posted by Rhydet:
Looks like you had a great trip and took some really nice animals.

I just heard that Vaughn had a little girl.

Thanks and yes he did! Her name is Savannah. That poor boy is sadly out numbered. However, after spending nearly two weeks with Vaughan, I can tell you it will take all four women to keep him in line.

Great eland Jorge! Who is doing your taxidermy? I plan on hunting eland next year in Namibia and would love to see your mount when it's done. I have a completed mtn. zebra and a kudu at Wildlife Taxidermy in Lawrenceville- can't wait to pick them up next week.

Even with only 28.8Kbps dial-up.

These pictures are worth the wait.

What a great, old Blue bull Eland. The wart hog is fantastic.

Keith

HK, dial-up? Dude, you should at least get dsl. Believe me I know about stinking d-u. When I moved a little while back, I had a chance for dsl and the difference between the two is like night and day. I'm sure you could get dsl through your phone company.

Congratulations on a successful hunt and the very nice trophies. It is nice to see someone using a rifle with the bolt on the proper side.

Best Regards,
Muletrain

Bloody nice animals, Jorge400!

Ah, those photos brought back great memories of Namibia!

Damned nice Eland, a "Bus" as we like to say in Zim.... Great looking camp with the stones etc...

What an eland and what a trip!

I particularly like the skinner's knit cap with the Maltese Cross showing in the front.

Seriously...that guy is pretty strong.

Nice big bodied eland hunt the right way congrats.

Great picture with our Long Grass sticks. How did you like them?
We inject each set we make with our patented "good luck juju"!

Congratulations on some great trophies!

Those sticks are actually Vaughan's and I believe were a gift from another AR member. I was actually lucky enough to be the first to break them in proper.