Thierry Labat - 2013 Hunt Report

Obviously, I am posting this for Thierry. It should have been up 40 days ago. My apologies for being tardy.

2013 YEAR IN REVIEW

First and foremost I’d like to thank all of you who have continued to support me with my hunting endeavours. None of this would have been possible without your support, so thank you all. Thanks also to Northern Operations Africa and Zambezi Hunters for the good working relationship we have had.

As you all would’ve heard, things in the C.A.R weren’t all that rosy at the start of the year, but I did manage to conduct 2 hunts before heading back to Mauritius to meet our new born son Jake.

Steve Bridges got himself a monster Lord Derby on the 2nd morning of the hunt, which measured out at 51 6/8”. More importantly than the length of the horns the bull was an old one, with a massive, dark neck.......perfect!!!! Steve went on to get a very nice buffalo, roan, yellow back duiker and a warthog for the pot.

Dennis Letisco came to C.A.R in the hope of collecting as many species as possible and after an initial slow start to the safari, things really got going. By the end of the 20th day we had successfully hunted and collected 12 different species, including an unofficial top 10 yellow back and blue duiker.

Back to Zimbabwe, Chris and Bob Peccia were meant to be hunting elephant and buffalo on Sango, but due to the late issuance of permits to Sango we had to make a plan B. We decided to go to CMSafaris areas Dande East and Dande Safari Area for a multiple buffalo hunt. We had a great time there and managed to get 3 of the 4 buffalo we were after. The 4th buff headed to Mozambique with a leak in him. Unfortunately this is one part of the game no one likes to experience, but happens. CMSafaris run a great operation, from start to finish.

Steve and Barbra, who were also meant to be hunting Sango, agreed to plan B and we ended up in Nuanetsi for a leopard hunt. In the 12 days we spent there we had no less than 4 males feed. Steve got his very nice cat on the 12th night of the safari. It was a fine ending to 12 days of hard work and frustration. While we were there we got news that Sango and ARDA had received permits, so we dashed off to ARDA with a few days to spare and managed to get a super old ‘ Dagga Boy ‘ and an equally impressive klipspringer. Barbra also displayed some fine shooting and managed to get herself some good trophies.

Mark and Pete came to Arda in the hope of getting a good buff and some plainsgame. This was Mark’s first trip to Africa. We had a great hunt and it was all Mark had hoped for. Pete who had already been several times, was just interested in a croc. We found a very good one and Pete made a superb shot on it.

JF and his son Loic from Mauritius had come to Sengwa Reasearch to hunt a non trophy buffalo and elephant bull. We had a fantastic time and by the end of our 7 day hunt we had managed to get some fine trophies. It was wonderful to see a father and son combination enjoying themselves as much. They both displayed some fine shooting. This was my first time to guide a hunt in the Sengwa area and it is without doubt the best GVT Concession I have hunted in for plainsgame. The Duckworths run a very, very good operation.

Graham, brought his son out Sebastian, to enjoy what Sango had to offer. We had a wonderful time and Graham is certainly one of the nicest people I have ever met. 2 good buffalo hit the ground during the course of the safari, as well as some plainsgame. It was Sebastian’s first ever buffalo and certainly a feather in his young cap. He stayed calm under pressure and shot really well throughout the safari.

Dean had brought his wife Leslie and two boys out to experience the African bush, while hunting plainsgame. We hunted hard and got rewarded with some exceptional trophies. One of the highlights of this trip was a shot Jamie took at a bushbuck which was close to 400yds and moving across a sandy river bed. The first shot missed and the bushbuck didn’t even hear the shot. The second shot anchored him. This trip was a lot of fun from start to finish. Thanks also to Glen Stockil who helped with the guiding on this trip.

Pete is South African and had hunted extensively around the continent. This trip for him was mainly to accompany his friends who were hunting with Collin Van Der Linden and to try and get exceptional trophies only. Unfortunately the 40” Buff and 60” kudu eluded us, but we still managed to get some tremendous animals, including an 18” Bushbuck and had a lot of fun doing it.

JP and son Eric came and hunted with me, for I think about the 8th time in total. This was to only be a 5 day hunt and we literally had a blast. JP has always impressed me with his hunting capabilities and continues to do so. At almost 80 yrs old, JP is fitter than most people younger than him. JP hadn’t taken an eland for a while, so this was to be his primary animal for this short hunt. We connected late in the afternoon of the last day.

James had been on a couple previous hunts to try and get a leopard, but had come up short. This was the last of the big 5 he still had to get. The leopard was in the salt by the 2nd night of the hunt and the remainder of the hunt was all about having fun with his double. Without any doubt, James is the best shot I have seen with a double. Some of the shots were in excess of 150yds and may I add that it was with open sights.

Jim and his father have hunted with me on many occasions and this time Jim was interested in getting a lioness. We went to the Bubye and hunted with Brent Hein. I was cameraman for this hunt while Brent did the guiding. We had a fantastic hunt and I even managed to get myself a ‘monster’ wildebeest. Long story short, I shot the wrong one!!!! I used to think only clients did that??

Good friend Will had organised a hunt for 2 buffalo bulls’ through Aaron Nielson in the Malipati area. After having read so many positive reports about the area and seeing some of the quality buffalo that had come out of there, we were excited about the hunt. Unfortunately for us, some early rains had come and much of the buffalo movement from the National Park to the safari area had stopped. We hunted hard for 12 days and managed to get a very nice buffalo, kudu, nyala, klipspringer and grysbok. We were however, disappointed that we never connected with a second buffalo.

Chris and Bob Peccia returned to Sango in December to complete the hunt they had originally booked for June. It was interesting hunting in December to say the least. Hot, humid, lots of surface water etc, but none the less we had a good time. Chris got his elephant with a perfect side brain shot. It was the 23rd bull we had seen. Bob and Chris also got themselves a good buff each and some plainsgame.

I would also like to take this opportunity to announce that as of 2014, I will no longer be a full time, Zambezi Hunters PH. I just feel that the time is right for me to branch off on my own and try something new. I will continue to have a good working relationship with ZH and guide those of you I have already committed to guiding in the following years, who have booked with ZH. Zambezi Hunters have been good to me over the last 5 yrs, so thanks Alistair and the ZH team. My plans are to customize hunts for the hunters, working with only the top outfitters, in the best areas, suiting all their needs. I will be working closely with Jonny Hulme of Professional Hunter Services, who is well known and respected in the hunting industry.

Good luck and best to you all for 2014.

Keep safe

Thierry

Posts: 2989 | Location: Alabama USA | Registered: 09 July 2009

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