Hi All

Just got back from a hunt up in Zimbabwe yesterday, got two buffalo on the last hunt for the year.

Let me start off by saying that things were off to a strange start when the left rear shock snapped when we were on our way down from Chiredzi to camp, a 4 hour drive which is a hell of a road. then had to continue on towards camp at a snails pace, the remainder of the drive which should of been 2.5 hours took 4 hours to finish off.

buffalo movements have been good in the area and herds of 200 plus are being seen on a daily occurance, the Limpopo River has played havoc with animal movements this year and the numbers only got back up to normal about three months ago opposed to early April. the river is flowing now again and rising daily, it has been dry for only 2 months of this year compared to 8 months of the year normally.

it is hot, it is so hot that the fish are dying in droves as the high temperatures forces the oxygen out of the water and with the river being so shallow (less than a foot)the water reached very high temperatures. i tried to park off in the river to cool down but it was a good 5 C warmer than what i bath in???

things started off when a tap on the roof brought the truck to a hault "boss - your kudu is there" now that kudu is a bull that is well over 60" and i would put my left one on it that he is about 64", so i set off with my two trackers into the bush and we started stalking the kudu. i had not had a clear line of sight of the kudu but we had been following him via tracks and listening to him moving and moving with him as he went all the while being silent.

we had stopped for the 3rd or 4th time, listening to the bush on our left, and scanning the area on the look out for the kudu.

next moment the bush errupts with the kudu bull which we had been stalking in full flight, horns back.... he is gunning it man.... strange... then the cause of the bulls haste comes into focus - two lionesses chasing the bull, one on the left and behind, the group heads for a large clump with the kudu in the lead - he is about to clear the bush with a galloping leap but the lioness that was behind him is on his back forcing him down.

we stand frozen as all this has taken maybe 2 seconds, remember that a lion can cover 40 ft in a second or so when on full taps, i notice my safety has been switched off but rifle still at my side. we stare at each other in amasement. we all know that there are at least another 5 lionesses in the area - where the *#$% are the other lionesses? we stand still for another few moments listening to my kudu bull going to greener pastures. we depart the area with frequent looks back over our shoulders, the walk back to the vehicle cannot be put in words, we had to go through some really thick stuff....

we decide to leave this area alone, the lion are hammering the area and all buffalo are now pulling in downstream. we bump into a fair sized herd of 80 animals, there are a few good shooters in there but no clear shot. we stalk them for the next two hours and decide to try get onto a group of dugga boys that are in the area.

the walk through the fever tree forrest is enjoyable, i love it in there. the sounds of the trees, the birds, monkeys, baboons, bushbuck, kudu, elephant and of course buffalo wonder through the lush undergrowth enjoying the reprive from the intense heat. we reach a clump of young fever trees and just about walk past a buffalo feeding on the otherside, we look him over and decide to get closer. he is at 80 yrds and i see a tree at about 25 yrds which will give me a good angle to shoot from. i get there and realise that this is the bull that i want, he is old, rock hard, no hair....

up comes the rifle, i aim - pick my spot and the shot goes off, he bulks as if been hit square in the vital triangle, he runs towards us at an angle, i shoot again, the solid turns him, i shoot once more before he heads off into some thick stuff....

i reload and go through the whole sequence giving him time to stiffen up and expire... we follow the spoor and there is not much blood to start off with, we find pieces of bone fragments. blood spoor is not looking good - this bull is walking and waiting for us in the bushes, as my tracker said "he wants to take one of us with him", my tracker spots the bull waiting behind a tree, i put a shot through his shoulders from where we are, hit him again and its over he rolls onto his side and gives out his death below.

the first shot was a little on the low side, it blew up upon entry. it should of been a telling shot

the first bull pictured below

1st Bull


Got a second buffalo the follwoing morning literally 100 meters from where he was, must of been his cousin. textbook this time, no drama
2nd Bull

Abrey,

Do you think you could find the kudu skull and horns after the lions finish with him? Even as a pickup head, it would be a hell of a trophy to go with the story.

Very nice Buffalo!!

Nice Aubrey, very nice. Great story and you gotta love those old dagga boys.

Excellent, Aubrey

Lovely stuff. Pity that there wasn't a 'cruiser to help with the TD5. No welts, itches, ten hour cream rubbing marathons this time?

Great story, Aubrey, and great buff.

You are, indeed, a man of many parts.

- Paul

ya but most of his parts have fallen off the TD5 hey is that duct tape on your rifle!!!!!!! you could make the red neck hall of fame if it is!!!!! I think your far enough south to be a red neck

OK as usual nice buff my friend

Great adventure. Cheers.

Proper.

proper what??

Hair raising, This is one of the best.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...=470103413#470103413

Mike

Did you go back and pick up that kudu skull?

cool stuff...

thanks guys, i havent been able to pick up the horns - and my staff are hesitant to go into the area. i will however be there next week and will try and find them. will post pictures if i find them.

Retreever - no doubt that is my favourite write up to date

Nice!

Very nice!

Looks like an exciting time Aubrey - great that you can do some of your own hunting. Excellent write-up and buff too.

Really strange that you would witness the death of that kudu...think about the odds of being there right when it happened. I guess he was destined to fall to lions, not humans! And you were destined to witness it!

@scriptus -
That Woodrow Wilson quote may be the only intelligent thing Woody ever said. He is soundly loathed here in the States as the biggest progressive jack ass to have ever resided in our White House - current jack ass included.

quote:

Originally posted by almostacowboy:
@scriptus -
That Woodrow Wilson quote may be the only intelligent thing Woody ever said. He is soundly loathed here in the States as the biggest progressive jack ass to have ever resided in our White House - current jack ass included.

Almostacowboy, good day, I do hope it is not too cold. The Wilson quotation is especially apt in this country right now. The " liberal fraternity" here with their African Socialism are beyond progressive and are now regressive. As far as jack asses go, there are herds of the damn things galloping all over the country.

Aubrey, so sorry, your thread has been hi-jacked some what. Still nice S caffers though.

What kind of bullet was it that blew up?

very nice buff, great hunt . . . but a landy?? come on.
best 4x4onTAR you need a Cruiser to kick ass by FAR.

Sounds like more fun than you were looking for. Great story.

Great story Aubrey! You should go back for those horns to complete the tale!

quote:

Originally posted by ddrhook:
proper what??

prop·er
   /ˈprɒpər/ Show Spelled[prop-er] Show IPA
–adjective
1.
adapted or appropriate to the purpose or circumstances; fit; suitable: the proper time to plant strawberries.
2.
conforming to established standards of behavior or manners; correct or decorous: a very proper young man.
3.
fitting; right: It was only proper to bring a gift.
4.
strictly belonging or applicable: the proper place for a stove.
5.
belonging or pertaining exclusively or distinctly to a person, thing, or group.
6.
strict; accurate.
7.
in the strict sense of the word (usually used postpositively): Shellfish do not belong to the fishes proper. Is the school within Boston proper or in the suburbs?
8.
Grammar .
a.
(of a name, noun, or adjective) designating a particular person or thing and written in English with an initial capital letter, as Joan, Chicago, Monday, American.
b.
having the force or function of a proper name: a proper adjective.
9.
normal or regular.
10.
belonging to oneself or itself; own.
11.
Chiefly British Informal . complete or thorough: a proper thrashing.
12.
Ecclesiastical . used only on a particular day or festival: the proper introit.
13.
Heraldry . (of a device) depicted in its natural colors: an oak tree proper.
14.
Informal .
a.
excellent; capital; fine.
b.
good-looking or handsome.

Sadly, those from the ex-colonies do not understand proper English

Blame the damn colonial governments!!!

Andrews,

We know you have a varied and intereesting background, yet we didn't know that you once were an English teacher (American nomenclature). Or, did someone give you an Oxford Dictionary for Christmas?

Good show.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Sadly, those from the ex-colonies do not understand proper English

Of course not- We speak either American or Texan.

quote:

Originally posted by Cross L:

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Sadly, those from the ex-colonies do not understand proper English

Of course not- We speak either American or Texan.

Or, more correctly; 'Merican and Texican !!

quote:

Originally posted by blanco county:
Andrews,

We know you have a varied and intereesting background, yet we didn't know that you once were an English teacher (American nomenclature). Or, did someone give you an Oxford Dictionary for Christmas?

Good show.

"intereesting" ; is that an example of Texican?

Yep "intereesting " is a prime example if Texican-a highly evolved,high nosed ,snooty dialect spoken primarily by the advanced, handsome, articulate denisons of Gods Favorite place.



SSR

PS Blondes loves us too

Cross,
your still ugly but you where fun to meet in dallas

you mix English Scottish Irish Germany Swedish and a few other dialects and you get American English Grammer's and spellen's

quote:

Originally posted by Cross L:
Yep "intereesting " is a prime example if Texican-a highly evolved,high nosed ,snooty dialect spoken primarily by the advanced, handsome, articulate denisons of Gods Favorite place..



SSR

PS Blondes loves us too

If that be right, how come you chaps keep on hopping over the pond, and without the blondes too!!

Scriptus,
because that red dirt has gotten into my blood and I'm addicted to Africa. If I could find employment there I would never come back here but thats just me

quote:

Originally posted by Scriptus:

quote:

Originally posted by Cross L:
Yep "intereesting " is a prime example if Texican-a highly evolved,high nosed ,snooty dialect spoken primarily by the advanced, handsome, articulate denisons of Gods Favorite place..



SSR

PS Blondes loves us too

If that be right, how come you chaps keep on hopping over the pond, and without the blondes too!!

Cause we are going HUNTING --


SSR

quote:

Originally posted by Cross L:

quote:

Originally posted by Scriptus:

quote:

Originally posted by Cross L:
Yep "intereesting " is a prime example if Texican-a highly evolved,high nosed ,snooty dialect spoken primarily by the advanced, handsome, articulate denisons of Gods Favorite place..

PS Blondes loves us too

If that be right, how come you chaps keep on hopping over the pond, and without the blondes too!!

Cause we are going HUNTING --


SSR

GOING HUNTING IN GOD'S TRULY FAVOURITE NUMBER ONE PLACE!
[PS,you can bring the blondes over with you, just leave 'em at the door on your way out.]
Geez Aubrey, what were you saying about buffalo?

Oh my goodness! Does this look like job for Captain Cruiser?

:Clap :