Just finishing up a 14 day plains game hunt with Jan Oelofse hunting camp with PH Steve Tors. Beautiful land with great accomadations, and lots of game to view and hunt. Game taken were Black and Blue Wildebeast, Kudu, Warthog, Gemsbock, and Springbuck.

The Kudu has taken a beating with a rabies outbreak that has decimated the Namibian Kudu population. Steve Tors said a past typical day prior to the rabies outbreak you could see 20-30 trophy bulls per day.

After three days we did not see one shootable bull Kudu.

Finally on the fourth day we jumped a herd of 7-8 bulls in thick thornbush. A good trophy bull made a quick appearance through the bush at about 30 yards and I had a quick snap shot and put a 270 Gr Northfork soft just behind his lungs.

Eddie the tracker picked up some good blood trail and started to track the Kudu. We trailed for several hundred yards when the PH decided to let the tracker go on the trail and we would wait on the perimeter of the thick thornbush and wait for the Kudu to come out.

After one hour, we met with the tracker who said the Kudu Bull had been jumped by him on two ocassions, and seemed to be hit well. He was leaving a blood trail, but had doubled back and went into another section of thick thornbush.

We joined the tracker and again started to pick up spoor, the trailing went on for several hours and on 3-4 ocassions got quick glances and a few snap shots through the thick bush, as the bull was slowing down.

After 3 1/2 hours of tracking we came upon the Kudu and a good shoulder shot was made, he got up and ran about 30 yards and finally went down for good.

The initial shot was not ideal but was made under difficult conditions. The tracking of the animal was memorable, but I wish a better initial shot could have been made.

The bull was an old Kudu Bull with 48" horns with worn off tips and big base mass.

Five of the six animals that were taken met SCI records standard, with the Kalahari Springbuck making Gold medal having 16" horns with 6" bases. Total score 44".

More animals could have been taken, but will leave them for future hunts. Excellent first hunt with a good outfit and accomadations.

Used an AHR 375 H&H magnum with Swarofski 1.7 X 10 Z6I and a 300 Jarrett with a 4X16 Swarofski scope for rifles used. I was shooting hand loaded 270 Gr Nort Fork soft points at 2650 FPS out of the 375, and 180 Gr North Forks at 3100 FPS out of the Jarrett. Both rifles and bullets performed very well was very satified with their performance and accuracy.

Leaving for home on Monday.

Looking forward to the pictures upon your safe return home. Congrats on what reads like a great hunt!

Congrats on a good hunt. Have a safe trip home.

Thanks guys, just got home on Tuesday afternoon and dealing with the jet lag. Air Namibia planes were a lot more roomier than Lufthansa jets. A long 35 hour travel period, but worth the hassle. Customs was a breeze at LAX, Lufthansa baggage assistance brought my gun case down an elevator and took me through a passage directly through to customs agents by passing hundreds in lines.

A quick check of the serial numbers of the two rifles, the 4457's and the entry form and the assistant wheeled my case to the street level. Whole procedure took about five minutes. Very pleased with the baggage assistance and the ease of the entry.

Oleofse Safaris dipped and packed my treated trophys and transported my crated horns and capes to Pam Foerster for shipping.
Very hassle free. Will try to post some pics of the hunt in the next few weeks.

470drshooter,

Sounds like you had a good hunt! My wife and I hunted Mt. Etjo with Jan and his crew twice, great hunts both times. Steve is a character and a good hunter. Cannot wait to see your hunt report and photos.

Additionally, I used Pam as well and everything was very smooth with her. Checked my own items through Customs at LAX, took about twenty minutes.

Be safe,
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