Outstanding. Thanks for sharing.


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Congrats on very nice trophies. That was a huge blue WB. I love the Namibian countryside, and the the wide variety of terrain.

Nice Mike. Keep going! Don't stop with the pics!

Thanks, Mike. Your report is a day brightener. Welcome home and congrats!

Excellent report and pics Mike

Outstanding Mike! It looks like you had a blast!

Eland is the name and I am into the game.

I came to Namibia to hunt the eland, we tracked some animals earlier in the hunt but there were immature males and females and calves. The stalk went well if a shot presented itself I was there and ready. No mature bulls with this herd. I said to Ph no mature bulls and he responded, no. Lets walk away.
The next day we found another heard of maybe 7 or 8 animals we played cat and mouse keeping the wind and watching them for quite some time and again no luck. But my resolve was steadfast. A mature bull or go home without him.
The next day looked over many many miles of terrain but the eland eluded us. Same in the afternoon ph says Mike there are some baboons ahead and I say, the hell with them I am in eland mode only. All morning and all the way into the eventing nothing it is like the ground swallowed them up. Driving back to the lodge after coming out onto the main road I look off to the west and at the ridge line I call out eland in the open space and point. The truck stops glasses go up and yep there they are the eland this time we see the big bull for an instant and he dwarfs the immature boys with him. Ten seconds and they melt into the gloom of sunset and darkness. The Ph asks me, how in the hell did you see them? My answer I am a hunter. So we are prepared for daylight of he next day. Time became a blur and days ran together. The next morning we stayed on the wind and headed into the area where we thought the eland would go. There are three bulls together 2 immature and the big boy. To compare how big he was, my example is compare yourself to a 3 or 4th grader. He was massive his horns thick and wide, his dewlap flapped left and right as he moved like a giant rudder. The hunt was on. Mid morning we see eland and it is that herd of 7 or eight and we glassed to see of there were any add ons but nothing. Continuing the hunt we come to a high point and glass and there they are and we pile out of the truck and the chase is on. I am on the sticks but one of the immature ones crosses in front and no shot. We chase them and down the mountain across the valley cross a korongo up the other side and the Ph says we have got them now. Ever hear of Africa's go away bird, I know him personally, the two waterbucks, and baboons squealed on us and we tried but were busted. We climbed maybe a thousand feet in altitude chasing those eland. Thirsty huffing and puffing I am in the zone after eland and I am prepared to pay the price for success.
That night we plan next days hunt and the big guy keeps coming back to the area 4 or 5 miles due west of camp. So after him we go again, and lo and behold we pick put one of the small bulls and patience pays off and we see him but no shot. The stalk begins and they cut into a herd of zebra and you guessed it a go away bird. Busted and while planning what is next, the PH sees eland father west in the acacia trees. We stalk them and get to within 20 yds and they bust and I run to the open area there are over a dozen in the herd but not the big guy.
Lunch and then back out. But the wind is at our backs and the Ph says we are going to head due north and circle back with the wind in our faces. This entails a big circle of maybe 10 miles and starting to head back the head tracker says eland and points to the ground and says three heading away from us. we stop and turn around and make a wider circle and all of a sudden the tracker in the back of the truck says eland. We stop and he points to my left.
Its a leopard not a 100yds away climbing the rocks of cat country. It was a mistake of words, but it is cool to see a leopard in daylight.
The wider circle continued and again the back tracker says eland and points to my left but a bush is in my way. I quietly pile off the truck and sneak to the front and down the ravine across a small valley are eland I see 2 and Pierre says Mike shoot the left one. I know there are three and see only two, so I say the one facing us and Pierre says yes. I move to a tree right off the trail and rest the rifle on a branch. This is a long shot, that big bull does not look so big by himself. He is quartering to my right and I aim halfway up his ribs behind the right front leg. The rifle goes off and that familiar "smack" of the bullet hitting him. He runs walks behind this big acacia bush and then he comes out on the left side of rifle loaded with a fresh round I aim right on his shoulder high and boom and "smack" I see his left shoulder us broke and back he goes behind the bush and Pierre says he is finished. I am still aiming and looking and then I see his head and neck sticking out on the right side and I hold on the upper part of the neck and let fly one more shot and down he goes. Hand shaking back pats and lots of talking and I am reloading the rifle.
We get to him and the size of him, all I can say is enormous. Pics are in order after 5 hard earned days of hunting this great animal. My first eland. The amazing thing is that the bulls traveled 10 miles since we saw them in the morning.
They use a power winch to load him. His butt against the front of the box and his neck and head still off the truck. WOW!
While loading him Pierre says to me, Mike that first shot behind the right front leg was perfect. That second shot on the left shoulder was a finisher. But that neck shot just below the ear that was showing off. We all had a good laugh. But I told Pierre I did not want to chase him any more.
The distance 256yds ranged by PH.

The hoof is as big as the inside of my hat


I was in overload of excitement, I am happy.




The rest of the story see those 4 shots and that is the bullet that killed the eland. One after the other right to left in that order.


This is what we drank.



Then the appetizer before dinner it was delicious sausage patty on melted cheese and a cracker. I ate three and the wife two.

But what was it really???


Pierre then asks at dinner what are the strangest foods you have eaten and my wife says buffalo tongue in the Selous. Cherie says OK Pierre, do you mind telling us what we just ate for a snack. Pierre says no I don't mind telling you, it was eland and Cherie asks what part of the eland? Oh,it is eland testicles. No heart attacks, no vomiting. thank goodness for those shots.
This is our last dinner the day before we leave this beautiful ranch and land.









Our last sunset in Africa and Namibia at the Okarmuti Lodge



Both my wife and I had a wonderful time in Namibia. Our host Nadia was the chef, host, and owner. We had such
a great time and sure do hope to return.

Mike & Cherie

On our way to the airport, we must stop at the taxidermist.



This hunt, in retrospect was one of the finest enjoyable times on safari, not saying that any of the other were bad. It was relaxing fun and a different environment. I believe that my other experiences prepared me for this hunt. Knowing the different animals was what I wanted. To hunt them and not worry about a body count. Hard hunting is always rewarding.

Mike

Mike...this is excellent I can really see you and Cherie had a fantastic trip...I'm very happy for the both of you!
Some outstanding trophies indeed and hunted well!!!
Well done my friend

Well done Mike and Cherie! A well planned plains game hunt can be so very enjoyable and memorable! Is that a Cape Eland or Livingstone's Eland?

Vaughn it is cape eland and thank you for your comments.

Mike

Very nice report and photos Mike.
Looks like you had an outstanding safari..Congratulations.

quote:

Originally posted by retreever:
Vaughn it is cape eland and thank you for your comments.

Mike

Mike that's one humongous eland. It took balls to eat those appetizers (literally)!!

Once again Mike, fantastic story and pics. I can see now why you were so excited on the phone when we discussed your eland hunt....awesome! I just had some deja vu....I sat in that exact seat at the taxidermist about a week prior to you being there, staring at those big, mounted, kudu bulls. And those shots of Amarula.....I love that stuff! Thanks for sharing.

Michael, thank you for the great hunt report, I really enjoyed the pictures and the descriptions made me feel like I was back there again. Great trophies, and nice shooting!

Great hunt Mike. Looks like shots were flying day and night. Great fun.

My PH referred to that delicacy as "Kalahari calamari" and I have to admit those eland testicles were among the best tasting meat we had!

amazing photos!!!!!

Congrats for a beautiful trip!!!

Mike,
Great report and awesome photos.

Thank you Michael for sharing pictures, stories and thoughts.
Namibia is something special

Absolutely TREMENDOUS Mike!! We are all green with envy, but so thankful you had such a great time and wonderful hunt.

Thanks for the call this morning. I am on it!

Thank you for sharing a great hunting adventure.

Some great trophies were collected.

Very nice pictures...

Mike
Really enjoyed your report & you fired up my desire to return to "Beautiful Namibia".
Cecil

Mike, really enjoyed your report. Your wife looked like she had a good time. Always a good thing, keeping the banker happy!
Max

What a great adventure,you got me hooked

Congrats...thanks for the photos and report...

Great hunt! I haven't been back to Namibia in 7 years, but it has a place in my heart. Hope to got to the Caprivi some day.

Great report retreever. Congrats.

Looks like you and Cherie had a great time Mike; congrats on some very nice trophies! I always enjoy your pics, but do you think Pierre has been influenced by his many Dallas visits? African Cowboy or Marlboro man

Mike! you dawg! I didn't know you were over there! What a GREAT hunt! all the best my friend! j

Forgot to add this to my hunt report. So it is on the beginning and on the end.



posted 24 May 2014 21:22

Hunt Location: Okarumuti Game Lodge just west and north of Hosea Kutako International airport

Outfitter and Okarumuti ranch owner:

Nadia Savoldelli ( a great hostess)

Namibian professional hunter: Hendrik Jacobs

Congrats Mike. Some great trophies.
Enjoyed this report.
Best
Steve

Mike, just found this thread. Awesome pics! Glad you and Cherie had a great time.


Mad Dog

Mike, looks like a great hunt...what was Pierre doing with you in Namibia?

PS: Looks like you had a bout of common sense and brought a magazine rifle, instead of that 100 year-old 2-barrel beer can launcher you usually hunt with :-)

Very nice report and trophies - Congrats. AIU

What a great trip and a beautiful place and area. Also, super trophies- congratulations! I love the old Gemsbok and the Mountain Zebra.

I wonder, how were the greater kudu in the area and do they offer leopard hunts?

Any sand grouse shooting available?

Congratulations again and thanks for your help with my questions.

Retreever, thanks for a fine and inspiring report. Boy, it makes me want to go back to Namibia in the worst way. A mature eland has moved ahead of a Cape buffalo on my bucket list. I also share your enthusiasm for a big old warthog.

Great pictures and a great report

Amarula.....good stuff!