Dates : 4/17-4/26
Location: Senuko, Save Valley Conservancy
PH: Rob Lurie
Agent: TWGs - Patrick
Handgun: 500 S&W
Handload: 350 gr XP (Lehigh Defense), 41.5gr H110, Star case and CCI 250 primer
Scope : Burris 2X7 handgun scope

As many of you know, Phil passed away around Christmas. I had this hunt booked with him 2 years ago but circumstances prevented hunting before now. Leah had wanted all of Phil’s clients to still come and so Rob stepped up and guided my hunt.

I actually left my house in Washington on the morning of 4/14 to catch a flight out of Portland, OR. Then unto Seattle and Dubai where I overnighted at the airport hotel before going unto Lusaka, Zambia and ending up in Harare at Rob’s B&B for an overnight on 4/16. Flight out of Seattle unto Emirates was a bit of an issue. I did not have the proper PCR Covid test and my Emirates firearms approval paperwork had not made it to them. A quick call to Patrick and he had the paperwork sorted. Got lucky as they have a COVID testing facility in the Seattle airport and I was able to get a rapid test and make my flight out with a little time to spare. Other than that, travel there was a breeze.

We arrived in the Senuko camp after driving down Saturday morning from Harare. Shot at the range and just had a relaxing first evening.
That next morning out we came across a dugga boy track from that night before and set to following. He had joined into the tracks of a herd at one pan and we followed the herd spoor, dodging and cutting around till we finally got ahead of them. Set up on an ant hill with some tree cover, we had the front of the herd right by us. Cows bedded with 20 yards and some bulls out about 55 yards to the side. The bulls that presented were either young or not good enough as we were looking for that mature dugga boy in the 40” range. Getting up to see the rear of the herd, Rob quickly told me to get to my feet. A lone dugga boy came walking in behind us the same path we had taken and was looking to join the herd. Luckily, he veered a bit and came out about 35 yards away. Rob bawled at him and he stopped to give us a look. The 500 rang out and he dropped in his tracks. Rob said I hit him a bit forward and told me to put another in his showing armpit. Lung blood started pouring out from that shot that hit true.

We waited a few minutes and as he was still moving but down, we decided to move in and finish him off. A tracker was left on the ant hill as we would lose visibility through the brush in making our way to him and we wanted no surprises. As we came up 10 yards behind him, Rob told the tracker to get down from the ant hill and put up the shooting sticks. Literally at that moment, the bull came to his feet and eyed us. He started the charge as my revolver started a dance of its own. Too close for scope, just point and shoot. Just as my second shot of the charge broke, Rob fired his 470 NE. His entered the bull’s boss and went through into his neck as mine went down the mouth and out the back of the throat. The bull folded at those shots and I managed a 3rd as he was falling unto the shooting the sticks where we had been standing just moments ago. One final tap in the spine and that damn buff was mine. I think we were both elated it ended well. No one hurt and a proper 39” dugga boy lay there on top Rob’s shooting sticks. After loading him and getting him back to the skinning shed, we told the skinner where my first 2 shots had went and asked if he could find the bullets. He recovered both. The first had entered the bull’s neck- actually went through the spine and ended up in the off shoulder by the blade. The second was located on the off side through the lungs and in the shoulder as well. Those penetrators earned their name and did a hell of a job. Hard to believe the buff had charged knowing it had a broken neck from the first shot. Pure muscle for him to get up and move like that.

We spent the rest of the trip fishing, clearing roads and looking for that elusive 15” warthog. A proper vacation. Snakes were quite prevalent as we had some encounters with puff adders (one that 4 of us literally walked right over before it puffed and moved on) and a black mamba that came within feet as it slithered into a bush by us. Also prevalent, leopard tortoises and pepper ticks. Still scratching and trying to get over all the tick bites.

I got to see Leah and she’s looking\doing well. She appreciates all the support and the fact we’re still coming to Zim despite all the travel and COVID situations. I wouldn’t hesitate to go back and never didn’t feel safe during the travels and in town visits. Flying back was one small hiccup as right at shift change in Harare and one of the guys took my firearms paperwork and disappeared. I luckily had a photocopy of it on my phone for the ZIMRA and staff and it just caused a short delay.

Guys – Africa as a whole is calling. Get out there and support the communities as they need it. The last year was rough for many and they are in dire need of funding. Travel has opened back up and is probably safer than ever with the required testing and preventions being taken.

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Sounds like a very interesting hunt. Congrats on your buffalo.
Bruce

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1kyy...2%20%282%29.png?dl=0

A snapshot to see how close it was. That's my pistol scope in bottom left

Congratulations, sounds like a close call. Very easy to have had a different outcome! But as the saying goes all is well that ends well.

Glad you went good report. Very good to hear about Leah

Jeff

Nice buff! Well done!

Very cool

Love the puff adder