03 December 2015, 03:21
mejNON TROPHY ELEPHANT BULL HUNT WITH CMS
Hunt location: Dande Safari Area, Zambezi Vly. Zimbabwe.
Camp: Pedsa Pazi
Hunt dates: November 16th / 23rd 2015
Outfitter: Charlton McCallum Safaris
PH: Alan Shearing
Trackers: Mplan and Martin
Driver: Bernard
Video/Camera Brad Wroe
Rifle: CZ .375 H&H
Ammo: Trophy bonded sledge hammer
Scouts: Aron and Guts
After having said our goodbyes to the fine gentlemen at Munyamadzi (AR group hunt), we boarded Emirates for the short flight from Lusaka to Harare. Arriving late afternoon November 14th.
Myles was patiently waiting for us to appear - and while we were the first in the queue at Immigration, we ended up the last to be processed.
The new UniVisa - a visa that allows passage between Zim and Zambia for 30 days, acquired in Lusaka, caused a lot of hair scratching and partly raised eyebrows.
Off to spend the night at Amanzi - we were upgraded and enjoyed the Nigeria Suite - but not for long. One day I will book into Amanzi for 2 nights.
Alan and Brad joined us for breakfast the next morning and we then took off for the valley. Picked up our trackers and driver along the way, our game scouts were already in place at Pedsa.
Julia and I had never before stayed at Pedsa for an entire hunt. We're Mururu people! However Pedsa is a fine camp, much improved by CMS's new manager Chooks, whom we unfortunately did not meet.
First day - sighting in. Buzz Blaser was on holiday, so I opted for Myles CZ .375, a rifle I really enjoyed shooting, heavy and steady it was, much like my own Sako.
Off we went - and wouldn't you know it, not having driven very far, two bulls were spotted from the cruiser. It was overcast and windy, but the wind was with us for quite a while. We got in close, very close, the two bulls were excellent non trophy specimens and when I confirmed I would indeed hunt one of these, although it was our first day of hunting, the stalk intensified.
So did the wind - swirling in the process, and off they went.
We looked for elephant bulls and their tracks next day, all day. The third day, having driven far and close to Chewore where the rains had rained heavily, Al thought they had migrated into this area.
Wondering, where are the bulls?
Then a proper track was found at 10.00 am - sandwiches munched quickly, water downed, because it was hot hot and more hot. This fellow was obviously also hot on the trail of a female.
We worked for some hours and then let the trackers take over, since it seemed he was heading for communal lands, a no go. And that is just where he was headed.
During our drive, large numbers of vultures were seen circling above a ravine. Everyone's fears were confirmed when we found a poached young ele bull, his tusks removed, at the bottom.
DAPU (Dande Anti Poaching Unit) headed by Bongi are doing a brilliant job - if they were not present in DSA I am sure a few more poached elephant would be found.
Day four.
Up even earlier - and luck was with us this morning. We picked up fresh tracks from two bulls after a half hour.
There was not a breath of wind and while we moved steadily, we moved carefully following our trackers. There was no doubting their body language, we were getting closer and closer.
Two hours later, just as we reach the group (the bulls have joined a herd of females and young ones) the wind picks up and clouds add much needed relief from the sun.
There really is no time to worry about the wind, our two bulls are visible (to Al, not so much to me) among the females heading this rather large group.
The ashes are all over, luckily still in our favor, as we walk quickly to get ahead. We have elephants in our hair and I am scared.
I think of Julia who is somewhere behind me, I think of my other daughter awaiting her first child, I think I am crazy doing this and then I look at Alan and decide to step out of my comfort zone and get on with it.
There is very little movement now, some stand dead still flapping their ears. Alan points out the bull, he is partly hidden behind a female who luckily moves and we have him in full sight, but his head is turned and while the rifle is on the sticks, we have to wait for him to turn it. Some several hours later ( read 10 seconds ) he does just that and I shoot him with a frontal brain shot.
I see him fall over - while the rest of the group take off at speed, spurred on by shouting from trackers and scouts. He lifts his head and I rush with Al at my side up to him and end his life with a back in the neck shot.
This is my fourth elephant and my first bull. This bull hunt was a once in a life time for me. I cannot hide that shooting an elephant has an impact. Emotionally I fold - and it takes me many days before I can actually watch the video taped by my cameraman without cringing.
Elephant hunting - a never ending passion.
The recovery took hours and hours. Although not too far from camp, the bull was shot in an area thick with trees. Bongi and his crew worked so hard in the heat, I am grateful for their help.
That evening we celebrated and only went to bed at 21.30 (late). On our way to our chalet, we shone the flashlight and found a herd of buffalo eagerly awaiting lights out. They were actually bundled up between the office and the building holding the curios and washroom. We had heard them several nights right outside.
The next day we traveled to Angwe Bridge and delivered a leg of elephant to Chisunga Primary School.
A bunch of very happy children - the young ones welcomed us without hesitation. We also dropped the elephant trunk off at the Chiefs home.
Time to let Julia have fun with a rifle. Guinea fowl hunting - she is a cool shot and stalked with Alan to try and bring home snacks.
Dinosaur tracking.
Flying in on Emirates, I had watched the latest Jurassic Park movie and was excited to see some authentic tracks from these prehistoric animals.
So with Aron the game scout as our guide, we proceeded to walk a riverbed in the heat. Thinking back, it was worth it.
Huddled in the shade!
Thank you Alan, Buzz and Myles.
Jytte
