Hunt Date: August 17-30, 2012

Hunter: Michael Fagras, observer Shon Eychaner

Safari Co.: CMSafaris

PH: Rich Schultz

Videographer: Ray Buchanan

Area: Chewore South

Tracker: Tonde, Kynosh, Noah, and the driver,
Sam.

Rifle: John Wilkes (1927) .475 No. 2 (Eley); N.L. Heineke .450 Rigby on an Enfield action.

Ammo: .475 No. 2: 480 grain (.483 dia.) Woodleigh softs and solids (115 gr. IMR 4831 backer rod filler); .450 Rigby: 500 grain Swift A-Frames (86 gr. RL 15 backer rod filler), 500 grain CEB #13 Solid (87 gr. RL 15, backer rod filler).

Steve and Susan with Travel at Guns, highly recommended.

Animals Taken: Bull Ele, Tuskless Cow, Cape Buffalo, Impala, Duiker.

Animals seen: Grysbok, Klipspringer, Eland, Kudo (albino cow as well), bushbuck, roan, wild dogs (twice), jackal, hyena, leopard (four, two at night on the road, one at 10 a.m. walking in a dry river bed, and a female on bait at morning), warthog, waterbuck, zebra, pangolin, croc, hippo.

We departed St. Louis on August 13th to spend the night in NYC after arriving at JFK. Flew SAA to JoBerg then arriving in Harare on the 15th where we were met by Buzz who was arranging our stay at Karens B&B. We flew in a day early to have dinner with Richard Harland and his wife Brita. Buzz had arranged a brie at his home with his lovely fiancée, Stephanie. Joining us would be Dan and Alan, the two Aussies who would be hunting in Dande.
I brought my copy of Ndlovu for Richard to sign. It was a memorable evening and Buzz and Stephanie were the most gracious hosts. It was great sharing a table with Richard, Brita and company along with great food, wine, and wonderful conversation.

Brie at Buzz and Stephanie’s home with Richard and Brita, Shon, Alan and Dan

sam_0487_0345 by MFagras, on Flickr


sam_0488_0346 by MFagras, on Flickr

It was fun sharing stories with Alan and Dan, getting a take on their hunting experiences and the gun laws down-under. They are memorable fun characters to share time with. Alan was also introduced to Boris, as it was my understanding.
The next day we were met by Kristy and Charmaine, the two beautiful ladies without whose contribution CMS could hardly survive! We drove to Millers for a great lunch before boarding the Cessna to Chewore. Shon and I really enjoyed their company.

Shon, Charmaine, and Kristy on, Charmaine and Kristy

sam_0514_0024 by MFagras, on Flickr

At the airfield we were net by “Dozer” the pilot. In addition to being a great pilot Dozer is working for his hunting apprenticeship. He was able to join us for a day of hunting as well. He let me take control of the wheel for a time. Coming from a family of aviators I really enjoyed that. He is a fun guy and can spot game with the best of them.

With Dozer at the airstrip

img_0579_0952 by MFagras

We were met at Chewore South’s airstrip by Richie, Ray Buchanan (videographer) and the trackers. Once we were loaded up we headed off to the Mkanga fly-camp located on the Mkanga River. We off-loaded and a got situated. After a quick bite Rich discussed strategy and his plan for the hunt. I was pleased that he covered all bases and was really looking forward to the next 14 days. Sitting at the dining table both Rich and Ray shared some experiences with Shon and I concerning their life in Zim, and it was great to listen to their perspective concerning their educational opportunities, country, hunting areas and a hopeful future. I liked the thought process and energy of these two men and knew I had made the right choice with CMS. One evening Alan Shearing and his hunter Mark, a gun shop owner from South Dakota, joined our camp as Mark and Alan were after cape buff. Alan put Mark onto a really fine dagga boy the following day.

Alan, Mark, Rich and Shon discussing hunting and politics

img_0231_0590 by MFagras, on Flickr

Day one began with a little target practice and off to check for tracks and sign of buff or bull ele. It wasn’t long before we were able to locate fresh tracks of a herd of buff crossing the road. We planned our stalk and tried to get downwind from the herd. They were moving and seemed restless. We crossed a kirongo that held some water and heard a hyena barking and kept that location in mind for a possible bait site later in the hunt. We continued following the buff tracks but they either caught our scent or were spooked by predators. Later in the afternoon we were traveling down an access road when one of the trackers noticed a duiker about 35-40 yards off the road concealed in some grass contentedly chewing his cud. (How they see these things traveling 35 mph is beyond me). I asked Shon if he would like to stalk it and take a shot. Shon and Rich crept back down the road to where the duiker was last spotted. Shon had the .450 Rigby with a CEB #13 500 grain solid up the spout. Rich put Shon on the sticks and Shon took the shot. The duiker ran just a few yards as Shon had anchored it with a perfect shoulder shot as it was seated.

Shon and I with his Duiker

sam_0618_0128 by MFagras, on Flickr

Because we were hunting in Chifuti’s Chewore South concession we went to their Chenji camp located on the Chenji River to drop off the duiker for processing. Rich’s mother Sandy and father Gary manage this camp for Chifuti. They were the most pleasant hosts throughout my stay in Chewore South with CMS. I should say everyone I met in Zim treated Shon and I like a member of the family.
On day 3 Rich spotted a small group of Impala crossing the road and the group bailed out for a look. I had Shon grab the .450 Rigby with the A-Frames and he, Rich, Ray, Tonde and Kynosh set off on a stalk. From our elevated position in the truck we held back and watched the group put a stalk on the ram. They finally disappeared through the broken ground approximately 200 yards from the road when we decided to follow up on their trail. After walking about 100 yards into the bush we heard a report from the .450 and ran the remaining way to their position. Shon had executed a perfect shoulder shot and the ram dropped in his tracks.


A well-executed shot by Shon on a large Impala ram

img_0145_0393 by MFagras, on Flickr

The next day we found buff tracks crossing one of the access roads and began a stalk that took us into some thick jesse. After approximately 30 minutes we came upon the herd and watched them eating. Our wind was favorable and we danced around this herd for about 20 minutes circling them trying to keep the wind right. We thought they had moved on when Rich and Tonde heard them moving about upwind about 100 yards. We moved quickly and Rich spotted a nice bull quartering us with his left horn and left shoulder area visible through some brush. They stood at about 50 yards or so angling up at us as we stood just a little above them. Rich put up the sticks and I was on them quickly. However, from my viewpoint I was unable get a clear area to shoot. Rich grabbed the sticks and moved them about 5 feet to my right and that gave me a better window to shoot into. Funny how a few feet can give you a more clear perspective. I lined the shot up and let fly with the .450 Rigby and the 500 grain Swifts. The bull bucked at the shot and simply ambled over to our left approximately 30 feet. The herd just stood there momentarily while we attempted to ascertain which bull I had shot. Then the herd bellowed off and the chase was on. We found blood but not enough to give me the confidence to know that I had placed the shot where I had wanted it to be. As the trackers took up the trail we found that frothy lung blood apparently blowing out both nostrils on the ground and the buff passed between brush and scrub. Rich then caught a glimpse and let go a round from his .500 but the bull had moved at the shot and it was a miss. We followed the trail further and rich saw it from his vantage point but I was unable to see it clearly. Rich fired again and hit it in the neck and he had me swing around about 20 feet to the right were I let go with another round from the .450 with a CEB #13 solid. It struck him in the rear hip and traveled through to the throat area where it was later recovered. (See photo below). The bull fell down and Rich had me grab the .475 double from Shon wherein I ran towards the bull and placed two solids through its back.
The whole scenario took 40 minutes and I was relieved that I did not lose this buff. We recovered the two .475 solids in the belly area but were unable to locate the Swift A-Frame. Having shot 4 other buff on a prior hunt I was able to examine the Swift A-Frames and their reliability on buff and am satisfied that they are the right medicine for them. Perfect mushroom and weight retention.

Woodleigh .483 dia, CEB #13 .458 and another Woodleigh .483 for the .475 No.2 recovered from the buff.

sam_0748_0258 by MFagras, on Flickr

I love hunting Buff

sam_0716_0226 by MFagras, on Flickr


sam_0724_0234 by MFagras, on Flickr

Potent medicine

sam_0719_0229 by MFagras, on Flickr

Ray, Shon and the fellows all worked hard to get a road in for recovery

sam_0731_0241 by MFagras, on Flickr

Day 5 we were eating lunch under a Red Mahogany tree on the bank of a dry river when we observed a herd of Impala feeding about 200 yards to our left. We just watched them through the glasses as we dined and never thought they would saunter our way. But as we continued eating it became apparent that they were making a slow b-line in our direction. There was no cover to speak of and we remained still at the table. Rich whispered asking if I could shoot from my chair because there was no putting the sticks up. I said yes and slowly reached behind my chair for the .450 Rigby. I could see the ewes in single file walking around a dead snag in the river that proved 95 yards. As each made it around Shon stated that the big male was the fifth in line and getting ready to appear. Rich said “Mike, that’s a really nice ram up front. At that moment the ram rounded the snag to enter the drive river bed and I centered and cut loose. It collapsed immediately and the herd ran into the sunset. I immediately heard yells behind me as they weren’t expecting me to shoot so soon but to let the ram come towards us. I was impatient. Guess that .450 makes a loud noise.

Impala ram at lunch time. Great dessert.

img_0192_0504 by MFagras, on Flickr

Beautiful old buff!

Your 'John Wilkes 475 No.2' is lovely!