Earlier, I posted the results of my elephant hunt in Nyakasanga from May 1 to 15.

It was a difficult hunt with less than expected or hoped for results. Still enjoyable, except three evening and mornings while a real FIGJAM stayed in camp.

FIGJAM = F--k I'm Good, Just Ask Me. This was the nickname - epitatat the PH's used for this jackass, makes me laugh even a month later.

The turd was a self taught expert on all subjects world wide from finance to monetary systems to stock investing to skinning, hyhena and leopard baiting and all hunting and fishing - oh, and also on the only sure way to travel with rifles, but then he arrived in Zim without his, they got left behind by the airlines!

Told everyone how to do everything and was rude to the PH's, especially to my PH. Was rude about the generator turning on early to accomodate our early departure in the mornings and rude about the time of dinner, set to accomodate our late arrival in the evenings, well after dark.

Made shitty a comment about the amount of beer that was being consumed one evening, but knocked off a whole bottle of cheap scotch... The list could go on and on, and he was there for only three nights. I felt sorry for his PH and what putting up with that jackass must be like for a whole day, and they moved on with 16 more days to hunt.

This FIGJAM was the poster boy for why one must give careful consideration to any shared camp, especially when hunting hard for dangerous game. The camp was supposed to be exclusively mine but a FU by the outfitter had this jerk in camp for two hunting days and another fellow who was very good company - along with his film team, also good company, in camp for five or six days.

The second fellow was Steve Scott who films African hunts and stars in them. He got some great footage of a bull and cow buff hunt and also of a very cool hippo hunt and I'm looking forward to seeing it on TV. Can't recall the channel but I'll post when and where his show airs, which IIRC is 8:30am on Sundays.

Anyway, I posted earlier on the hunt so here are some photos with some commentary:

Hyhena #1. The Scmidt & Bender 1.1x4 illuminated reticle worked great. Could not see this hyhena with the naked eye, but well enough through the scope!


Hyhena #2. This was thinning out the shallow end of the gene pool. We'd crept into the blind before light and could hear hyhenas off maybe a mile. They must have already left the bait and none were there as dawn camo on. Went down to the Nyakasanga river mouth where it enters the Zambezi to take a look at a bull ele track that Winston, our Appy PH had seen last light the evening before. As we returned to head toward the Sugar Estates area, where we'd seen some bull tracks last light the evening before, this guy was on the bait at 7:30am.


Hope I'm keeping track of which comment for which photo, if so this one is of my lower legs and feet showing ten days or so of wear and tear from up to nine hours of walking dayly.


This is me trying to catch some shut eye at lunch.


Good to see that the oldest guy in the group isn't the only one needing some rest. This PH Rich Tabor, lights out.


And our stalwart cameraman, sacked out.


Lunch. It was very thick in places!


One of the many, too many, full pans.


Coming through the jess after a long morning on our feet.


Second to last day elephant bull. Not what we we're hoping for, but as Safariman says, "any mature bull elephant is a real trophy." Tought hunt, not entirely succssful, but if nothing else, we earned this bull. (BTW, photo taken the morning of the last day since we caught this bull near last light and by the time we got the cameras out it was too dark for good photos.)


Can't wait until the next trip!

JPK

Great shots, JPK.

Hello JPK

Congratulations, you worked hard for you Elephant, in my book that is what makes a trophy special; and you got a couple of good hyenas. Thank you for sharing your experience.

Regards
Aziz

Great photos as usual, mate.
Is that a RW watch?

Thanks for the story and great pics. I really enjoy the 'atmosphere' pics with your saga.

FIGJAM, huh? Sounds similar to the SNAPs we talk about.
Sorry
No
Account
Pu$$y

JPK Congrats on the elephant, I am 380 days out on my hunt and your success and great pictures help to make that time pass a little easier...I may have missed it but did you post the weight?

Hoping Zim can have some political resolution and stabiity for everyone in the near future...

Great pictures of a tough hunt with an excellent trophy as the climax. Well done.

Also, very nice rifle, particulars?

Beautiful pictures, I am glad that you enjoy such wonderful safari. I illusion with some wild boar hunt here in Spain.

Sincerely,

Oscar.

Nice ele.You look in great shape JPK. Bet you made a GREAT SHOT!

Ozhunter,

I'm not sure what a RW watch is. The watch is a well used Seiko. Not seen in the photo is funny man Rich Tabor with a branch tickling my ear and nose. The video captures me swatting away at my face. Cruel bastards Rich and Shaun the cameraman! They claimed they were trying to keep the racket of my snoring down so we wouldn't attract attention of local cow eles or lions. Haha, haha.

Bwanamrm,

The bolt is a decade or so old Dakota 375H&H with a Schmidt&Bender 1.1x4x24 illuminated reticle scope on it. Great combination.

The double is a Marcel Thys sidelock in 458wm. The pictured elephant is its 12th for me.

JPK

John,

What was the verdict on the self defence shooting? Do you know the weight of the tusks yet??

All the best;
Brett

Zim Parks has decided not to rule on whether or not the first charging bull was shot in self defense or not. They have decided that they do not need to address the issue because we were hunting bull eles and we would have shot this one in different circumstances - like had we hunted it instead of it hunting us - and if we'd have killed it outright during the charge, we would not have minded that we had to kill it.

While disappointed, I have to say that I can't find a lot of fault in their decision not to address the issue. There is a whole lot of common sense and truth to it. Had I killed the bull in the charge, I wouldn't have had any objection to counting it against my quota. (And if we'd have tracked him up I wouldn't have given shooting him a second thought, he had beautiful and heavy, thick, long ivory and the video shows this - estimated by my PH at 55lbs+) If I were a first time elephant or elephant bull hunter, then I might feel differently, especially if it might be my one and only elephant bull opportunity. But I'm fortunate that I have bull hunted before, did after and will again.

The tusks on this bull went 38lbs for the one closest to the ground and considerably lighter for the top one. The top one had an old 375 bullet lodged in what should have been the nerve cavity, but it was a huge abscesse instead becuase of the long ago bullet wound.

I left before the tusks were chopped out, and I'm told the ivory is very nice looking and the abscesse is largely internal and not visible but for the old 375's entrance hole, but my luck this trip, eh?

JPK

John,

Congrats again on a difficult but very interesting experience. You are due for some luck, my friend!

The bull I shot in Makuti had an old .375 solid in a very old and partly healed wound on his side. I wonder how meany ele carry lead around?

Between non-fatal shots and poaching I'm supprised that charges arn't more common.

All the best;
Brett

JPK,
Could you ID the guy in the picture with you and hyena #1? He looks like an older version of a PH that I hunted with in 1996 by the name of Colin van der Linden. Thanks.
Steve

The fellow is PH Rich Tabor.

JPK

Very nice!

Thanks for the photos and additional info. I was hoping it would be ruled self-defense but I can see their point. As you said, not your first rodeo and not your last either.

Anyone care to notice what caliber bullets are showing up in these previously shot ele?

John, you ain't got no future as a foot model, I'll tell you....but nice photos and recap. Congrats on a trophy that you had to work for - I bet it makes the trophy that much sweeter.

JPK,

Great photo's.....it is always nice to see actual hunting photo's and not just trophy animals.

Thanks for sharing them.

Great photos! Thanks for sharing!

Great report.

I've never met Steve Scott, but I have met some of his old friends and I think some family. Wonderful people. He lives in Norman or OKC now, but his hometown is where I live now. I think he's even posted here before.

quote:

This FIGJAM was the poster boy for why one must give careful consideration to any shared camp, especially when hunting hard for dangerous game.

FIGJAM! I love it!



I haven't even been there, but I'm sure it's not wise to be a FIGJAM with your PH when you're going after dangerous game. After all, he's the one who's got to bail your wise butt out if you get charged. He might just be looking the other direction the whole time...

Hey JPK,

I gave you my congrats on that other forum post a couple weeks ago!

I checked back in here on this forum today and yep even for me a couple weeks later...

...that FIGJAM stuff is cracking me up just reading it all over again...

I'm glad I wasn't there or else I couldn't take it!!!

This is some funny stuff thanks a bunch buddy your story about it is just too much!!!!

JPK,

Great photo's and good stuff on a difficult hunt but with great results. Yes, it is amazing how one whining goof-up can destroy a great camp atmosphere. Thanks, for posting the hunt.

Dirk