Mokore Safaris, Save River Conservancy, Zimbabwe

6-13 July 2009

7 Day non-trophy Buffalo hunt booked though the highly efficient and helpful Mark Young
I flew into Johannesburg from Dubai on Emirates the previous week to attend the rugby game in which the British & Irish Lions thumped the Springboks all over Ellis Park. I was staying with some South African friends but they took it in good spirit. After a good night in Fourways it was then a simple flight on SAA to Harare, particularly as I was travelling without firearms.

Arrived Mokore Sunday evening and met Pete Fick, my PH for the duration, together with the entire Duckworth clan – all three generations. Throughout the following week they were perfect hosts, and could not have done more to make my stay more enjoyable.

The main aim was to grass a non-trophy Buffalo, in other words a fully mature, sub 35 inch bull who would be turned down by a trophy hunter. My hunting kit does not include a tape measure, I’m in it for the thrill of the chase, hence my choice for this type of hunt. An Eland and a Bushbuck were also on my list. Pete asked if I liked walking. I said yes, that’s why I want an Eland, and we did a lot of walking in the days that followed.

Day One – Check zeroed the camp 375 H&H M70 with a fixed 2.5x scope. Spent the day sneaking up on three Dugga Boys who winded us at the last moment.

Day Two – Cut spoor and stalked Dugga Boys. The opportunity to take a shot came in the last half hour of the day, after playing hide and seek with a group of three dugga boys in a 200 metre square block of really thick stuff. I only really had the animal’s boss as a point of reference, so I aimed off and hoped for the best. Frontal heart shot at 20 metres through some light cover. After the shot the buff took off out of sight immediately, so it was with some relief that the death bellow echoed through the bush a minute or so later. One shot buff, 300 grain solid through the top of the heart. So far so good.

Day Three – Spent on the spoor of Eland without success, but the day was more than compensated with the opportunity to complete the Bushveld Pig Slam, a fine Warthog and a Bushpig boar in the same afternoon.

Day Four – Spent tracking Eland bulls. I took a 100m shot at a fine Wildebeste right on last light and I’m sorry to say I misjudged the shot. The following morning revealed a light blood trail and spoor of a wildebeste going strong. Tracked it for 6km but he was long gone. Not too proud of that one.

Day Five – On the spoor of Eland Bulls. Nice encounter with Black Rhino.

Day Six – On the spoor of Eland Bulls. We saw a fine 56-58 inch Kudu, but I was not to be distracted from the Eland. Got some great video of a group of three White Rhino with very impressive horns.

Day Seven – Last Day. On the spoor of Eland bulls. We finally closed with one in the last minute of shooting light. 100 metre frontal chest shot. Looked like a pale smudge in the little scope. How I took that shot and missed the clockwork I’ll never know. The 300 Barnes X hit with a mighty THWACK! But the bull took off. By the time we walked the 100 metres it was time to get the flashlights out, so we called off the blood trailing until morning in order to avoid upsetting the local elephants.

I left Mokore the following morning and Pete and the guys tirelessly followed a very light blood trail while I was on the road back to Harare. The spoor told a story – the bull was feeding and had joined up with a group of other bulls. We reckon my shot was high in the neck/dewlap area. I guess I am out of practice having not shot a rifle since moving to Dubai 18 months ago.

Although I shot like a blind man, I cannot say I have enjoyed a hunting trip more than this one. Pete is a fine PH with over 30 years experience in National Parks and with Makore. His knowledge of the bush is quite staggering, and he can out-track his trackers. The trackers, James and Sunungai (Some Young Guy!!), could read the spoor like a book, they are like machines. The Duckworths are great company and I look forward to seeing them again, either back in the Save or in Mozambique. My thanks to all concerned.

Here are the photos....



The non trophy Buffalo...



Bushveld Pig Slam part one, Pete Fick and me...



Bushveld Pig Slam part two. James, me, and Sumungai.

quote:

Originally posted by Deerdogs:
Here are the photos....



The non trophy Buffalo...

Non trophy ????
In my book an ol'buffalo is ALWAYS a trophy no matter its spread..

Congrats

L

That bushpig is awesome. I saw one in Tanzania and I think they are awesome animals! By the way that's one hell of a nice "non trophy" buffalo! Beautiful bosses and just an old surly looking guy!

Brett

Richard,

I like this view. Like Bret said this is a heck of non-trophy buffalo.

Mark

Deerdogs, beautiful pics! I could hunt those 3 animals and make a full safari on them. Your bushpig is gorgeous

And as far as that being a "mgt. bull", I think I'm gonna inquire about mgt. hunts

Again Congrats!

Mad Dog

quote:

Originally posted by Mad Dog:


And as far as that being a "mgt. bull", I think I'm gonna inquire about mgt. hunts

Again Congrats!

Mad Dog

Absolutely!

Nice buff! Maybe non trophy hunts are an affordable option for one to increase the frequency that they hunt DG.

Nice one, I echo the comments re the quality of your buffalo. Sounds like both the wildebeest and the eland will make it to for another day.
Do you second the comments about African game being tougher?

G

Non trophy??? That has eveything i consider to make it a trophy but all the best to you for getting that bull, sounds like you had a good hunt inspite of your hiccups, well done

quote:

In my book an ol'buffalo is ALWAYS a trophy no matter its spread..

I couldn't agree more! An old, mature buff bull is a trophy regardless of spread... not because of it! Well done DD!!!

Congratulations! All are great trophies!

What a nice, mature bull! A lot of character in his face and a good hunt make him a full blown trophy!

jpj3