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Hunt report: Eastern Cape, Safari Trails Int. UPDATED with VIDEO/TRAILER
Hunt report: Eastern Cape, Safari Trails Int. UPDATED with VIDEO/TRAILER
Country: RSA, Eastern Cape
Outfitter: Safari Trails International
Professional hunter: Russell Lovemore
Tracker: Mike
Species taken: Eastern Cape Kudu, Cape Springbok, Southern Impala, Blesbok, White Blesbok, Warthog (x2), Bontebok, Porcupine, Jackal (x2)
Gun/load: Russels Ruger M77 .30-06, 150 grain JS Custom
Time of the year: May 2012
My girlfriend Sandra and I just returned from another great hunt in the Eastern Cape. This was Sandras first hunt in Africa, and it was the second time I've hunted with Russell.
Since 2006 when I visited him last time, he had made a new camp. And what a great place to stay! This camp was really luxurious, but you still had that great feeling of a personal visit to someones home.
During 10 days we had 7-8 days of hunting, and a couple of days photosafari/shopping.
The first animals we hunted was a blesbok and a white blesbok. The two nice trophies were taken during the same stalk. Sandra shot her blesbok and tossed the gun to me for a shot at the white one.

The day after we ran into a nice impala, and Sandra brought in down with another great shot.
The same day I shot a pretty decent warthog. Sandra refused to shoot it, so I stepped in

A couple of days later she had changed her mind about warthogs and took a nice sow.
We travelled a bit to the Bavians Conservancy to hunt Bontebok. An animal I've wanted to hunt for a long time. The area we hunted are appr. 100 000 hectares and without fences. The scenery was great!
Early in the day we passed on a decent bontebok in search of something bigger. He was close to the road and would have been an easy stalk and recovery. Instead I shot one that was 1/2" bigger on top of the mountain. We had to carry it down on our backs. Why, you ask?

After several attempts to get Sandra a kudu, we finally got one. We had been so close on three occasions, so it was a great feeling for all of us, when we finally got it.
Her springbok was also a bit difficult. The rain, thunder and lightning added something to the stalk. Here's Mike, Russel, Sandra and the dogs Fudge and Diesel posing with the nice ram.
Towards the end of the hunt I shot a couple of jackals and a porcupine. A little embarrasing, but I think I've become a collector
We visited the Addo Elephant Park, and it was real fun! Saw over a hundred elephants and lots of other species.
As usual Russ and his crew, and mother Africa spoiled us. A big THANK YOU!
PS! I'll try to post some videos soon. I've just started downloading 120 GB of footage. Got all shot scenes on film, and will try to put together a DVD later.
DVD "Hunting in South Africa" TRAILERLooks a great trip - look forward to seeing the videos
22 May 2012, 17:18
Nevada WapatiThanks for the report and photos. Sounds like the two of you had a great time.
Randy
22 May 2012, 19:16
Thunder HeadVery nice photos, cant wait to see the videos.
I have walked in the foot prints of the elephant, listened to lion roar and met the buffalo on his turf. I shall never be the same.
Congratulations Anders,and Sandra
Very nice trophies.
22 May 2012, 20:19
Arild IversenWaidmannsheil my friend, well done

Am getting restless looking at such pictures....
Arild Iversen.
22 May 2012, 22:23
SDSpinkCongratulations Anders and Sandra on a great hunt. I have been fortunate enough to have hunted with Russ three times. I would highly recommend him to anyone interested in an EC plains game hunt. I was especially pleased to see Chad's and Mitch's dogs Diesel and Fudge. They are the greatest springhare hunters in the entire EC as I watched them take springhare out of mid-hops. It was incredible to watch.
22 May 2012, 23:08
Use Enough GunOutstanding!

23 May 2012, 01:12
shootawayCongratulations,Anders! I like the warthog and the kudu.
23 May 2012, 03:19
pagosawingnutCongratulations on a successful hunt.
Great pics, thanks for posting.
Frank
"I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money."
- Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953
NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite
quote:
Originally posted by SDSpink:
Congratulations Anders and Sandra on a great hunt. I have been fortunate enough to have hunted with Russ three times. I would highly recommend him to anyone interested in an EC plains game hunt. I was especially pleased to see Chad's and Mitch's dogs Diesel and Fudge. They are the greatest springhare hunters in the entire EC as I watched them take springhare out of mid-hops. It was incredible to watch.
We were supposed to hunt the springhares with the dogs, but time ran out. I guess we'll just have to do it again sometime

I think maybe next year or 2014.
Thanks guys!
23 May 2012, 12:35
NorwegianwoodsCongratulations with a great hunt and many nice animals!
Thanks for sharing it with us

23 May 2012, 15:06
TorbjørnAnders,
Congrats on another great safari in Eastern Cape with Russell

Torbjorn
Thanks for the report. I particularly like the photo of the warthog being prepared for photography. It added an interesting background element to the posed final photo.
JCHB
Great hunt....
how fortunate to be able to share your passion with your better half
23 May 2012, 18:40
graybirdExcellent trophies and thanks for sharing!
I've got a bontebok on the short list on the next safari. Might also need to put one of thoes white blesboks on there too!
Graybird
"Make no mistake, it's not revenge he's after ... it's the reckoning."
25 May 2012, 06:01
bwanamrmThe Lovemore's are some of my favorite people! They have a fantastic lodge and Russ and Julie go all out for their hunters! Looks like they did excellent by you and your girlfriend, Anders! Well done and some very nice trophies... I love the bontebok.
On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of ten thousand, who on the dawn of victory lay down their weary heads resting, and there resting, died.
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch...
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
- Rudyard Kipling
Life grows grim without senseless indulgence.
25 May 2012, 21:43
A.DahlgrenLooks like time and money well spent! Grattis
Anders,
Looks like you both had a fantastic trip, congrats to you both!

30 May 2012, 00:53
Upton O. GoodWonderful report, great trophies, well done. We went through Addo on a cloudy, cold, windy, rainy day and did NOT see a single elephant, if you can believe it. How can animals that large hide like that? Amazing. Glad you had a different experience.
quote:
Originally posted by Upton O. Good:
Wonderful report, great trophies, well done. We went through Addo on a cloudy, cold, windy, rainy day and did NOT see a single elephant, if you can believe it. How can animals that large hide like that? Amazing. Glad you had a different experience.
It could have been like that for us as well. It started out a bit chilly and cloudy, but fortunatly it cleared up.
We went into the park at 10 o'clock in the morning and didn't see a single animal for quite a long time. Then it was like an alarm went off, and they all hasted to the waterholes. It looked like they ran for their life actually

02 June 2012, 02:28
D. NelsonCongratulations! Looks like you had a great time. I always like to see the ladies out hunting too.
Best regards, D. Nelson
Congratulations to both of you. It looks like a great trip.
03 December 2012, 22:09
AndersThanks everyone!
I've updated the post with a short video/trailer. Hope you enjoy

03 December 2012, 22:23
SBTVery well done video/trailer.
"There are worse memorials to a life well-lived than a pair of elephant tusks." Robert Ruark
04 December 2012, 13:16
TorbjørnNice "teaser", Anders

Torbjørn
04 December 2012, 13:22
jonherLooks good Anders!

08 December 2012, 03:33
NorthwayVery nice Anders!