Hi Folks

Our 2016 season has come to an end and it has been another terrific hunting year. As usual the kudu hunting in the Eastern Cape has been top notch with Karoo Wild continuing its impressive record, this year with 9/9 trophy kudu bulls taken. That’s three seasons, 26/26, of every hunter with a trophy kudu on their wish list having successfully hunted at least one. A strong El Nino weather event left South Africa with below average rainfall in 2016. This made kudu hunting particularly tough this year, as all the big bulls were hiding out in thick bush and in the Karoo mountains where they could find that last bit of browsing material. Our knowledge of the area and the tenacity and patience of our clients made the difference in the end. We received good rains at the end of July and look forward to El Nino’s more attractive cousin La Nina bringing good rainfall for the remainder of the year.
It was also a year of extreme diversity of species hunted. We hunted the following trophy species over the course of the season; kudu, gemsbok, nyala, waterbuck, sable, zebra, red hartebeest, blue and black wildebeest, eland, bushbuck, red lechwe, impala, blesbok, springbok (common, black and white), mountain reedbuck, klipspringer, warthog, bushpig, caracal, aardwolf, common duiker, steenbok, chacma baboon, vervet monkey and porcupine.
The Eastern Cape is the most ecologically diverse area in Africa and it’s thanks to this that we’re able to hunt 26 different trophy species in a season.

The year began with a bang with Buddy and Lori’s visit in March. This was their first trip to Africa and Buddy took a great kudu bull early in his hunt and followed it up with impala, gemsbok, springbok and blue wildebeest. Lori hunted her first ever animal, a non trophy blesbok. We’re always pleased when we can introduce a non-hunter to hunting. Well done Lori!




We welcomed friends, Maximillien and Ludivic, from France on a cull hunt. In their week of hunting they hunted 11 cull animals including kudu, red hartebeest, impala, blesbok, springbok, duiker and several warthog.



Rob Russell, from Solihull in the UK, returned to hunt with us on his third hunt in consecutive years. Rob has hunted most of the trophy animals in previous years and this year chose to hunt a cull package and added a trophy klipspringer and white springbuck.



Nibbs (PH) hunted with Rob this year and I hunted with Blake and Patti and Mike and Bev. Blake and Patti are from Fort Worth, Texas and Mike and Bev from Colorado Springs. It was a fun week and Blake hunted a kudu, impala and gemsbok. Mike got a kudu, impala, gemsbok and springbok. Lindsay took the group on tours of the historical town of Graaff Reinet and the Valley of Desolation as well as a tour to the Cheetah Rehabilitation Centre close by. Patti decided to hunt a zebra on the last day of her stay, her first ever animal hunted. I’m told she’s busy putting a together an extensive hunting list for their next African trip.




Our much anticipated hunt with the De Haan family of Indianapolis happened at the end of May. Jake and Keith hunted with us in 2014 and this time Lauren, Jake’s girlfriend joined them on their trip. We were honoured when Jake told us of his plans to propose to Lauren on the trip. Weeks of conniving and colluding between Jake, Keith and Lindsay finally came to fruition when I took Jake and Lauren on a ‘’kudu stalk” which ended with Jake on bended knee asking for Lauren’s hand in marriage. This was hands down the highlight of the season for all of us and a moment I am sure Jake and Lauren will treasure forever. The hunting was excellent with Jake getting a sable, nyala, blesbok and warthog. Keith hunted an impala, kudu, three warthog, nyala, blesbok, common and black springbok. Lauren had the hunt of a lifetime and got a waterbuck, blesbok, red lechwe, bushpig, impala, gemsbok, black springbok and red hartebeest. She topped it off with a last afternoon, sun going down kudu. What a week to be in Africa.









We were thrilled to welcome Dan and Celina of Ohio back to the Karoo for a 3 day hunt at the beginning of June. Dan and Celina hunted with us in 2013 and this time brought their three girls, Morgan, Natalie and Abby to hunt their first ever animals. Celina hunted a cull blue wildebeest, Dan got a warthog and Morgan a blesbok. Abby got her first ever animal, a steenbok.




Bernardino, his wife and friend Jaoa joined us from Portugal for a 8 day hunt. They have hunted in Africa on many occasions and we were pleased that they chose to hunt with Karoo Wild on their first trip to South Africa. Bernadino hunted a waterbuck, nyala and mountain reedbuck and Jaoa got a waterbuck, blesbok, impala and springbok. He also got a kudu, an animal that had eluded him on previous trips to Africa.




Alaskan hunter and writer, Jim and his wife, Setsuko had a great start to their Southern African trip. Despite the cold weather we experienced upon their arrival, Jim hunted a gemsbok, nyala, black wildebeest and warthog in the first couple of days of hunting. The kudu hunting was tough and we passed on several kudu bulls before Jim’s resilience was rewarded on the fifth morning.




Our friend and 2015 client, Don, brought three Texan hunters out for a hunting safari in late July. Craig (PH) hunted 2 on 1 with Steve and Jay on their 6 day hunt. Jay hunted a kudu, blesbok, black wildebeest, impala, spring and steenbok. Steve hunted a kudu, black wildebeest, blesbok and eland.



I hunted with Buddy of Rustic Oaks Taxidermy on his 11 day hunt of a lifetime. Buddy got 18 animals all of which will be displayed in the showroom of his taxidermy studio in Anson, Texas. Among his trophies were two kudu, two blue wildebeest, two black wildebeest, gemsbok, nyala, impala, zebra, springbok, blesbok, red hartebeest, warthog, caracal, baboon, aardwolf and vervet monkey. Don hunted whenever the opportunity arose and he got a sable, eland and bushbuck.











Thank you to everyone who came to hunt with us this year. We hope you have some special memories of your time in South Africa. We look forward to welcoming you back in the not too distant future!

Yours in hunting,
Victor and Lindsay Watson

Great job Vic, It's amazing how the kids have grown!

Can't wait until our hunt with you in April. Looks like a great year victor.

Thanks guys

Great caracal. I just love those cats.

Was it taken in the day time?

Yes. It was taken early morning with a pack of dogs.

quote:

Originally posted by Nakihunter:
Great caracal. I just love those cats.

Was it taken in the day time?

Looks like a great year. Well done.

Looks like a great season, congratulations to you and your very happy clients those are some fine trophies! Thanks for sharing and lots of luck on the future!