Hello AR friends! I think it's good to be home, really I could have done a week or two more!
Had a great trip, didn't get the Leopard but could have. Explain: Had 4 cats feeding, 2 female (one very small & 1 med) and 2 males, ( both not that big) I was waiting for a "jaws" male, saw 2 different sets of tracks from extremly large males, no hits on the baits. I've already taken a Leopard a few years ago, a real good female so this trip I was being very fussy.
Shot a good kudu, 3 zebra, 2 Grysbok (one measuing almost 3 inches), klipspringer, Impala, Dassies, 4 genets, Duiker, porupine, bushpig, a "Black stink bull" giraffe, and lots of Baboons!

One of the highlights of the trip, Fellow AR member, GAHUNTER was hunting not to far from us with a different safari company, they came over to camp one evening and had dinner with us. Hey Leon, did you make it home ok?

But all in all, it was a excellent safari. Looking forward to the next one......

Hunted with Buffalo Range Safaris, Barry & Rob Styles. In the Chiretzi Region. PH: Brent Leesmay, who again did super work, I've hunted with him quite a few times now...

I'll post some photo's and more detail in a few days, need to get settled in here...

Anxiously awaiting the photos, my friend.

Welcome Home, Ron.

Yeah, I made it home with no problem (if you can call the torture that SAA puts you through "no problem"). I had a "touch" of what my M.D. thinks was malaria when I arrived, but kept on the malarone and got better. Looks like you laid out a few more critters after I left. What does that make now? 106? 107?

Very much enjoyed the party at the Styles lodge. I was very impressed with Brent and the other PH (what was his name -- the wildlife artist from Great Britan?). Easy to see why you keep going back to hunt with Barry and Rob.

Let's see some pixs!

GAHUNTER

Leon - - -

I did keep the skinners busy, yes. I'll tell, the were so happy everytime the Land Cruiser backed up to the skinning building!

For the record, total: 113

Brent is a good guy, he's been my PH now on 6 safaris. I always have alot of fun with him, and we put the critters in the salt. Already talking about my safari for next year! can't wait......

The other PH, Peter Gavin, is from Zimbabwe. But living in Scotland right now because of his wife going to school. did you ever see any of his panitings? he does very good work.

I'm going thru the photo's now, I'll have some ready soon.

I got lucky this trip with SAA, the flight over only had about a 1/4 of the seats filled, I had a whole row to myself both going and coming back. To top it off, Gracy travel got me the seat with no seat in front of it, so I could really stretch out.

Good to hear from you, hope your ok with that touch of malaria. I have one more pill to take. will talk again.....

Ron :was wondering when you'd be back, sorry I couldn't get together with you before you left. as you know both of us were on short time schedules. I'll be over to NJ to checkout your work soon.
till then keep in touch I believe you have my email and phone numbers here in Pa.
BTW sounds like you had a good trip, hope to get you to go along to Namibia in '06. TLM

Sounds like you had a great hunt. Look forward to a good story and photo's. We will be heading to Zimbabwe in September, so its good to hear you had a sucessful hunt.

Welcome back Ron,

You beat my Lott back from CZ, it's due Tuesday.

Sounds like you had a ball with your baboons.

Post those pictures!!!

Minkman

Come on Ron! Quit sleeping and get busy with the details and pictures of the hunt!

I can't wait to hear of your hunt with Buffalo Range.

Have you seen their new website? Check out www.buffalorangesafaris.com

Looking forward to your pictures.

RCG

Sounds like on great hunt! I hope we will see photos soon..

Widowmaker,
Glad to see you had a great trip and adventure. Look forward to your pix. I leave for Zim three weeks from today. Did you experience anything new or potential obstacles in your trip over and back that we need to be aware of? (Besides the fact SAA ain't what she used to be! ) Thanks again and welcome back.

Where are the pictures?

Ok, this will take a bit but here's the photo's

One thing I can never get enough of in Africa - - - -

Kudu Bull 53 inches

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Impala Ram 20 inch "Bait"

Dassie or Rock Hyrax. Did you know that these things are the closes living relative to a Elephant!












This Grysbok has almost 3 inch horns!!







This was the first Grysbok I ever shot, 1 3/4 inch horns

One of my 4 Baboons!! Never have enough Boons!!




female kilpspringer. i want to do a Full body mount on both male & female together on a rock



This is just some of the critters I took in Zimbabwe

Congratulations!!!! Great photos.

Ron: looks like it was a grand time. How bad did that old male long neck smell? Ain't they bad?

Kathi Thanks for the kind words! I had a grand time there! I can't wait to head back, (next year).

wynwood - - That old Stink bull did smell! the day before I shot him we found a spot where he had been lying down, the whole area had that musky ordor in the air. I really enjoyed hunting him, took 6 days before we got him, alot of walking that I completely enjoyed!! Shot him at about 80 yards with my Remmington 416, off hand with iron sights. The first shot he was quarting toward us, hit him right on the point of the shoulder. As he ran away, a bit to the left, I hit him right through the spine about a foot above the tail, didn't put him down. My PH was very surprised at that one! It
exited right behind the shoulder. the 3rd and 4th shots went through the left hind quarter and into the gut, both were within a inch of each other! I was real happy with my shots. He went a few hundred yards and piled up.

Widowmaker416,
Looks like you had a great trip. Good pictures. I especially like the "little criters" you shot.

All the great pictures only adds to the excitement of our upcoming hunt. Congrats on such a sucessful trip. When ya going back??

Well you did it with that kudu pic man.The first time I've ever wanted two months to fly by,but I gotta get one.Just gotta..Congrats,and thankyou for your help

Ron,

You must have gotten that kudu after our party at Buffalo Range.

How big is it?

Great photos Ron!

It looks like more fun than you should be allowed to have.

Minkman

Great trophies!
I just got my life size klippie back from the taxidermist... I spent those money well to say the least..

Nice trophies i like the Kudu alot.

Hamdeni

Minkman!
Yes it was way to much fun! I don't think I can do a safari again! (Believe that and I have a bridge to sell you!)

Anders,
One of my favorite critters in Africa is the Klippies! I'd like to see a photo of your mount, I'm doing mine, (male & female) together on a rock. I checked out your site, that's a hell of a big Klippie!! What did those horns measure? Congrats to you and your Klippie!!!!!

BillC,
Bushpigs? I too have a thing for them, that one there is my 6th one I've taken. Got it early in the morning, just after light. (I've taken all of mine in daylight hours) There was 5 of them together. made a short stalk on them, the .270 barked and one pig in the salt! I'm doing a full mount on him, got a idea to have 3 or 4 all together on the same mount, running pose. When I get them done I'll post photo's.

Thanks Hamdeni! Kudu's are a incredable animal! A trophy every African hunter should have....

Hi Ron - Brent says hi to you too!

I just got back (Sunday) from my trip following right behind you with Brent in Kazuma Forrest. We had a great time (him telling me about you and your two bulletproof baboons and huge stink bull ). I shot a nice buffalo, a huge 37+ inch eland, nice sable, and kudu. I also had to whack a couple of baboons for traditions' sake. Brent kept Sigrid and me laughing the entire trip with his stories. I always enjoy hunting with him.

I will post some pitures in a few days when I get the time.

Jeff

Hello Jeff,

Glad to hear you had a super trip, but how could you not hunting with Brent! Which brings me to this, Jeff I tryed real hard to wear down Brent for you but it didn't work! Shit! I don't know where he gets all his energy from! but I did try for you! We did some alsome walks and saw some really good animals, and did put some in the salt!
That's a incredible Eland! let's see the pic's!

I hope to run into you at Reno this year at Buffalo Ranges booth. (I'll be they guy that just put the finishing touchs on his safari with Barry and Rob for next year! I can't wait till next year!!

Talk to you soon............ And yes, I did have a little trouble with Baboons this year! I swear they had vests on or something like that!

Ron,

I can't get the pictures to load onto this website. You can see them on the 24 hour campfire website, or else send me your email and I will send you some.

Jeff

I recently returned from my first safari with Barry Style at Buffalo range. There has been some erroneous information regarding my hunt that posted on this forum that I feel compelled to clear up. First, it's true that the game scouts for Buffalo Range and surrounding properties do occasionally have altercations with the squatters, but only because of their anti-poaching efforts. I did see the military during some routine training exercises on a neighboring property but whenever we drove by they waved and smiled. I was never bothered by their presence, nor did I witness any violent behavior by them. We did have a skinner stay with the vehicle to watch over things when hunting in the more populated areas. I think this was probably due to my hesitancy to allow a new Searcy 470 Double out of my sight when stalking plains game.

Last, it’s true that the Style family is involved in litigation to save their property as are thousands of farmers in Zimbabwe. But as I left camp a group of new hunters were pulling in. The only foreseeable difficulty in hunting with Barry Style and Buffalo Range Safaris will be to find an opening in their busy schedule. I'm already back on the waiting list for 2007 and a chance at one of the six buffalo bulls over 40" I saw in a bachelor herd my last day on their property at sunset.

I had a great time on my first safari and couldn't have chosen a better safari operation to go with. Please fell free to contact me if you have any questions regarding hunting with Buffalo Range Safaris.

~ Lou

Lou;
All of the post I have read conerning Buffalo Range seem very positive. Your post along with the previous post regarding Buffalo Range which has since been deleted certainly depict different views of the situation on Buffalo Range. Not taking sides on this I think it is important to point out that safari companies depend on word of mouth from former clients to help promote their hunts. Information that is posted on sites such as AR that are inaccurate has the potential to cause the loss of business in a very hightly competitive field.

Peashooter,
I understand that the this forum has a large following and that is why I was compelled to set the record straight reguarging my hunt at Buffalo Range. The previously made ststement reguarding the current conditions were innacurate and thats why it was deleated. Buffalo Range Safaris is a Top Notch orginazation and I dont want they to suffer becacuse of and erroneous second hand information.
Thank You for you comment, Lou

peashooter and the rest of the AR members:

Just to clear the air a bit, I just finished my 6th safari with Buffalo Range Safaris. My last safari, (ended may 18th of this year) was one of the best ones I've been on, you'll be hard pressed to find better safari company like Barry & Rob Style's. I've spent more then 95 hunting days with them.
Their one PH Brent Leesmay is by far the best in the field! I've taken over 100 trophies with them. I'm already planning my trip next year with them!!! I'd love to go back this year but finances won't allow that. 2006! I'll be there!

The things posted earlier on this site were far from what was going on when I was there. I never once felt uneasy on my safari! Well there was the one time we had a Black Rhino staring us down & pawing the ground somewhat, I did get a little nervous at that point.
All the workers at Buffalo Range were very nice and helpful at all times. And did one hell of a job for me, from meals to skinning my trophies, everything was top of the line!!
So, if any of you are looking for a great safari company I suggest and recommend very highly you go with Buffalo Range Safaris.

their web site:www.buffalorangesafaris.com

If anyone has any questions feel free to send me a PM, please include your phone number and I'll be happy to give you a yell!!

Peashooter, Lou, Ron, and my fellow AR members. Now my 2 cents worth.....

<----guilty. I'm the one that erroneously posted the inaccurate information about Buffalo Range. Lou is a very good friend of mine (we were originally going to hunt together in Zimbabwe), and I'm the one that got the story all **cked up about Lou's hunt.

Lou and I met at the JoBerg Airport on our way back, and I guess after a 7 hour layover, and 32 hours without sleep, I got the story wrong. Lou is certainly the guy to set the record straight. Lou and Ron saw Buffalo Range first hand - I was up in Kazuma.

I'd like to say a few words about Buffalo Range and their outfit. They are a 100% class top-notch outfit. I've hunted with them twice now, and plan to hunt with them again in the future. I consider Rob, Barry, and Brent to be good friends. All 3 of them are outstanding PHs. I'm the person that recommended to Lou that he hunt with them.

In no way did I mean to paint a negative picture of Buffalo Range, the Styles, or their operation. I was just trying to shed some light on the situation in Zimbabwe.

Would I hunt again with Buffalo Range? YES, in a heartbeat.
Do I think it's too dangerous to go to Zimbabwe to hunt right now? NO.
Would I hunt at Buffalo Range right now? ABSOLUTELY.
Does Zimbabwe have problems? YES. But other African countries do too, and with a little precaution and common sense, I think it's still the best hunt out there.


I truly believe that if it was too dangerous, and not safe to hunt on Buffalo Range, that the Styles would be the first to tell you. You have to remember, they have access to a lot of hunting areas, and they can move you if there is a better place to be. I took my wife with me this time - she had a great time, and was not scared at all. The only time I've been scared in Zimbabwe is when I was tree'd by a black Rhino in 2003 - but that's a whole 'nuther story

I realize that outfitters rely on word of mouth to promote their hunts. If you are considering hunting in Zimbabwe, I'd certainly recommend Buffalo Range to you.

To reiterate, I apologize if I misled anyone on the situation there. That's why I deleted my post - there's enough inaccurate information out there without adding to it.

Widowmaker and Lou;
Thanks for cleary the air. Your accounts of Buffalo Range are consistant with all the other post I have read about this company.Hopefully no damage to their business was done.No matter the excuse to post something on the AR forum that is so inflamatory without first hand experience IMO should be thought out carefully as to the consequences prior to posting.

quote:

Anders,
One of my favorite critters in Africa is the Klippies! I'd like to see a photo of your mount, I'm doing mine, (male & female) together on a rock. I checked out your site, that's a hell of a big Klippie!! What did those horns measure? Congrats to you and your Klippie!!!!!

I`ll try to post or send you a pic as soon as possible. It may take some time because I have some difficulties with pc equipment..
Haven`t measured him properly yet. Only greenscore. Horn lenght was 11,4 and 11,2 cm with bases at 4,1cm. Altogether 30,8cm. The PH figured out it would might be number 11 in Namibia. So I`m very happy with him..

WOW! A 3" grysbok! I know the RW minimum is 1 3/8...does anyone know what the RW record is for Grysbok? I have a hard time imagining that it is much more than 3".

Best,

JohnTheGreek

My Grysbok is 3 2/8" - It is a Cape Grysbok which are a bit larger then the Sharpes Grysbok. Min for SCE is 7" Cape and 5" Sharpes.

I had a horrible experience hunting leopard with out of africa safaris and am looking for a legitimate operation for leopard. Sounds like you have a great guy here can you send me some info on hunting leopard with him. I loved zim just hated what out of africa put me thru.
thanks
mike

Great pixs, thanks for sharing and glad to hear you had a great trip!

Safari Mike

First, Welcome to AR!

Yes I had a great safari with them, (again) Really sorry you had a ruff time with OOA, (do a search on AR if you want more info about OOA)

I know there's a few AR members that would agree with me about Barry & Rob Style and their Safari Company. I've sent a few Leopard hunters to them and they've all been very happy with their trips

Web site: buffalorangesafaris.com

John the Greek - - - The record in R/W is over 4 inches! What a monster!

Die Ou jagter - - - 3 2/8 Cape grysbok! Excellent! Well done......

Khonkhon - - - Thank you and welcome to the forum!!!!

Widowmaker416

Glad you had a great trip. and thanks for all of your photos. Perhaps you could post some more when you get them all mounted.

Sorry you missed out on the big male leopard, I know how it feels to almost get a big one but that's what keeps us going back.

CFA