Operator: Zambezi Hunters
PH: Thierry Labat (as usual)
Save Valley Conservancy: ARDA, Hammond, Mkwasine, Nyangambe
Dates: Oct. 28 to Nov. 3, 2011 (7 days)
Logistics: Steve Turner at Travel with Guns (Delta HSV-ATL-JNB and South African JNB-HRE)
Rifles: Win. Model 70 in 375
Ammo: 300gr TSX and TB Sledgehammer Solids, factory loaded, of course

Introduction:
This hunt came about as a end of season / clean up hunt. There were a couple of buffalo that "needed" shooting as well as some plains game and a elephant bull. I made a deal to go and hunt the two buffalo and PG on a short, seven day schedule. I also had the elephant available as a target of opportunity.

The first buffalo:
On day one, we set out to explore Nyangambe to look for tracks as well as to drag the roads. The property is small by African standards (10,000-ish acres) with only one buffalo left on quota. By agreement, we are to attempt to kill a buffalo here if possible and we have set aside three or four days to get that done. Labat reports there is no permanent water on the property and that all of the seasonal water has dried up. As a result, we will not be able to be very selective on buffalo bulls, i.e. if we see a mature bull, “we pump it.”

Imagine our surprise when we bump into a buffalo bull on Nyangambe less than one hour into the hunt. He is rock solid with a tank of a body. There is no choice but to hunt this bull. We jump out and send the vehicle on. We make a stalk consisting of a short walk, a shorter run, and a final crawl into the shooting position. My soft “town boy” knees are bleeding as we get into position behind a big rock and prepare for the shot.

I can see the bull some 75 yards away. There are sticks and trees between us and him, but I am able to slip to my right – on the bleeding knees, of course – and find a lane that I can shoot through. Just then, the bull breaks into a run back toward us. He passes at 40 yards, in the relative open, and stops behind some brush for a few moments before running again. I give a couple of whistles trying to stop him, but on he runs. I am tempted to take a running shot, but I can “hear” the voice in Thierry’s head saying “Do not shoot!”

As the bull passes, we jump up and run with him. He stops, albeit briefly, and we set up the sticks only to have him bolt again. So, we run again and the bull stops again, turning to face us. When he does, at some 70 yards, the sticks go up and the lead flies.
I am shooting Thierry’s dad’s 375 with 300 grain TB solids. At the shot, the bull almost falls, but keeps his feet beneath him, turning to run just a few yards before he falls in death. I approach and place an insurance shot under his armpit, but it really is not necessary.

As we look at the bull, he is one of the finest trophies that I’ve taken. He is ancient. Smooth bosses, tattered ears, scars all over his body, and a hairless white face make this buffalo stand out from any other buffalo that I’ve had the good fortune to hunt. A proper specimen.







Buffalo Number Two:
Day three puts us back on the buffalo trail. We’ve checked some big herds and passed a 40-41 herd bull in a 200 buffalo herd. We’ve also followed a big herd in tall grass for miles and hours in 120 degree heat before losing the track in a swampy, reed-filled area.

I’m committed to not shoot “just any bull” as we still have five hunting days left. However, when we see “The Buffalo” on the morning of day three, there is no doubt that it is time to hunt my second buffalo, regardless of how much time remains.

We spot the buffalo and we are able to get a good look at him before he runs. He looks big, solid and wide to me, with a body to match his horns. As he runs, we go into hunting mode, load up, and begin following the spoor.

It takes 20 minutes or so before we catch the buffalo. Of course, he has run into the thickest stuff imaginable and he sees us and runs before we even see him and well before we can set up for a shot. So, we follow again, still in the thick bush. This stuff is so thick that I can imagine the buffalo getting perturbed and charging us. We are all on high alert. There is a danger factor.

After 20 minutes more tracking, Mudini sees the buffalo. He is standing in some thick stuff, facing left, perfectly broadside to us. We approach from downwind, and the sticks go up at no more than 35 yards. I shoot over one branch and under another and hammer the buff on the shoulder. He almost falls at the shot, but manages to wheel around and run 20 feet before he falls. We approach and place one more into the chest to be safe, but it really is not needed.

On examination, he is perfect. He is plenty wide, but also very old, heavy, solid, and smooth. My favorite buff trophy by far, but I’ll let the pictures do the talking.







Kudu:
Before this trip, I shot exactly one kudu bull. That was in RSA in 1997, quite some time ago. That kudu was really nice (57), so I was committed to not shoot another unless or until I saw something special. As luck would have it, that would happen on day two of our hunt.

We were driving along the Mkwasine River (The V&A Waterfront if you’ve been to ARDA) and spotted two bulls that came to drink. We bailed out and made a move on the kudu before setting up the sticks. The shot was long, and I just could not get comfortable with my rest, hold, stance, etc. So, instead of making a bad shot, I just held off.

To my surprise, Thierry said we could drive ahead, cross the river, drive back in the direction from which we came, and find the kudus. “Yeah, right”, I thought. Imagine my surprise when we see the kudus 30 minutes later. They run and we run after. Run, chase, run, chase until the sticks go up.

The bull is behind a tree, but his neck is exposed. I take the neck shot, missing the spine but obviously hitting the kudu. A follow up shot is not possible, and the bull disappears into the thick riverine bush. We follow and find blood, but not much. I am starting to feel disgusted with myself when the kudu barks and runs. Unfortunately, both bulls are still together, so we have to be certain to shoot the right bull if we catch the duo.

Very quickly, the kudu stop running and return to walking. They also part, and the blood spoor tells us that we are on the right bull and that we can fire as soon as we see him. With Mudini on the track, we manage to catch the bull in the open and I get a quartering away shot into him that anchors him and allows us to approach and administer the final, killing shots.

Immediately, we know that we have something special lying on the ground before us. I run my hands over his long horns and beautiful mane, and I know that this is the kudu that I waited for and hoped for since that first kudu 14 years prior. The bull is the better of the two and well worth the wait. Again, the pictures tell the story better than I can.



Duiker:
As a part of my effort to collect all of the SVC species, I wanted to shoot a duiker. When we found this guy on the way back from a failed wildebeest stalk and resulting lengthy walk, he presented a nice opportunity that we took advantage of.


Blue Wildebeest :
I once put down a wildebeest at Sango, but I never really counted that animal as a sport hunted wildebeest. So, with some wildebeest left on quota at Hammond and ARDA, we decided to try and add a blue gnu to the bag. It was not easy, and we had to work much harder for the wildebeest than I imagined. My shooting was not stellar and we had to do a long follow up before getting the bull. In the end, however, we got him and here he is.


More pictures from the bush:

Tea and coffee at the recovery . . . anything less would be uncivilized.


PH checking for ground shrinkage . . . there was none.


Trackers in the rain.


The buffalo skulls.


A trophy of sorts.


Looking for a big bull.


ZAMBEZI HUNTERS:
This is my fourth hunt in 28 months with ZH. I would not be returning so often if ZH was not an elite organization. ZH runs a highly efficient and superbly organized safari company. They are not the largest operator in Zim by far, but that lends itself to a high level of personal service and great attention to detail. In 60-ish days of hunting with ZH, I’ve not had a single concern about the logistical or operational aspects of the safari (fuel, vehicles, food, hidden costs, up-charges, surprises, changes, operational issues, theft, legalities, disputes over area, etc, etc, etc). That leaves me 100% free to concentrate on hunting and enjoying the African experience. That is how a safari should run. They have my business until further notice.

THIERRY LABAT:

I've sung Thierry's praises on more than one occasion, and that seems to be a common sentiment with anyone who's hunted with him. 100% hunter. Cool, calm, and collected. Bright future, unlimited potential. Humble. He will be one of the very top guys on the continent in short order.

POST SCRIPT:
My heart, my mind, and a considerable portion of my soul make their home in Africa. I will return every year to search for them for just as long as I can. I just hope I never find them and the search continues for the rest of my days.

Will your still living the dream. Awesome year for you. Two great bulls

OMG those are both magnificent animals. i really love the first old brute... but lets me honest, the second is PERFECT ! I would have been too busy doing to shoot Anyway, I am soo looking forward to my trip next year

Cheers
Orvar

Stellar is the word, no doubt. Excellent Will.

Top-knotch report as usual, Will, and another outstanding safari. You are really selling me on Zim and Thierry.

I just can't believe you have the report on here so quickly!! You must've just gotten in the door. Go kiss your wife or something......

Excellent WIll and incredible trophies, again! Congrats and thanks...

Very nice trophies and congrats on a great "clean-up" hunt.

Awesome report and fantastic animals! Well done

Maybe the quickest hunt report ever and certainly one of the best. Well done all around!

Tom

Will,

A couple of OUTSTANDING bulls!

When I grow up, I want to hunt just like you.

Hats off to you sir.

Very nice Will. Congrats.

Nice job Will, those old buffalo are spectacular and the kudu a monster. Congrats to you and Thierry, you guys obviously make a great team.

Will:

Fantastic buffalo bulls! Congratulations.

That is just the type I hope to get next time.

Good stuff, Will.

Will, Wonderful trophies buffalo are superb and that kudu is a keeper.

Mike

Beautiful buffs Will, congratulations!

Well done Will!

Not much else to say but "YOU SUCK!!!!!!!!!!".

And maybe congrats.....

Nicely done, Will.

TWO DAMN NICE BUFF!!! Well done.

Congratulations Will, well done.

Will:

How big was the kudu? He looks pretty large to me.

Will, with a 375? And a bolt rifle no less? I'm surprised you survived to tell about it? :-)

Will

Congrats to you and Terry on two awesome old buff! Real beauties indeed! Cheers Buzz

Cracking stuff and well done Zambezi hunters, again. Nice to see old mature trophy buffalo like those.

Thierry is not just a very fine hunter but also a good photographer.

Hey Will,

Makorokoto to you and Labat, as usual. Those 2 Buffalo Bulls are a classic example of what every hunter should try and put in the skinning shed, not the youngsters!!!

Mooshe Dagga boys!!! Cheers...

Will
Two awesome buffalo! Great kudu, but you have to love the trackers rain gear.

Welcome home Will.

Very nice buffalo and a dandy kudu !

Andy

Very nice Bulls!!
Congratulations Will

There is an interesting aside to the first buffalo we shot.

Earlier this year, a game scout patrol was charged by a lone buffalo bull and a scout was hit and killed by the buffalo. This all happened on Nyangambe not far from where we shot the buffalo. The description of the killer buff was consistent with the buffalo we killed, obviously leading to speculation that the buffalo we shot was the perpetrator.

Of course, there is no way to verify any of that, but it makes an interesting side story.

You know Will that entire area has had more than it's fair share of buff problems particularly near the sugar cane. Several people have been hammered by them.

Looks like you had another great trip.

Will,

describe the weather in October? Was it bearable, what precautions did you take or what items made the heat bearable? I see in one photo you were still wearing a jacket? Would you do an October hunt again compared to the June/July format you have done in the past?

Bret

quote:

Originally posted by zwickie1:
Will,

describe the weather in October? Was it bearable, what precautions did you take or what items made the heat bearable? I see in one photo you were still wearing a jacket? Would you do an October hunt again compared to the June/July format you have done in the past?

Bret

For the first four days, it was hot and dry. The daytime highs were 110 to 120ish. Humidity was really low despite a couple of evening thunderstorms. Personally, I liked it. It was much more bearable than Alabama in July.

Five and six were cloudy and cool, with a high in the 60s. Quite a change from 110-plus and reminicient of June - July in Africa.

Seven was back to hot and dry with a high over 100 degrees.

The Oct-Nov dates were great for buff and PG and would have been good for elephant as well had we really pursued them. The animals were coming to water all during the day and you could find game or their tracks fairly easily. Of course, the visibility was also superior since the leaves were off and the grass was grazed down.

The heat, however, would be detrimental to baiting for cats due to the rapid bait rotting and drying up of any scent drags.

With cats on the menu, I still like June - July. For buff, I think the late dates are superior.

Great dugga boys, particularly the 2nd one.

Do the Blue wildebeest usually have that white chevron? Looks similar to the Nyasaland we get in Southern Tz.

Trophies to be proud of, are they typical for the save? How do the buffalo prices compare in save versus other areas in zimbabwe? Thank you.

Also do you have contact information for zambezi Hunters ?

Very nice trophies.
Glad you had the bead on the big bad boys.

Admire that Kudu!

Outstanding Will!

Fine hunt and report. Thanks for sharing.

Congratulations on another successful safari. Those buff are fantastic!

Best regards, D. Nelson

Will- You and Thierry have done it again. Congratulations on another fantastic safari. Did you not take the 416? And was Thierry's Dad's 375 scoped? You certainly did well with what you had at hand. Did you get a chance to shoot something with Thierry's Lott? So many questions----Where was Little Earnest?