Dates: 3-9-18 thru 3-13-18
Outfitter: Numzaan Safaris
PH: Geoff Niemand
Rifle: Ruger American
Caliber 7mm-08 Remington
Ammo: Federal Premium

This was a 5 day hunt purchased at an NRA fundraiser. My 18 yr. old grandson was with me as an observer. We hunted out of Numzaan's Kamboo Camp. Food and accommodations were all first rate. I especially liked the VIP service at the airport on arrival that made the trip through baggage claim and customs very smooth. I was not bringing firearms with me and rented a rifle from Numzaan.

Day 1: After sighting in, we went out for impala and zebra. The rains had continued late into the year and the bush was still very green. Visibility was limited. A couple failed stalks for impala and a missed opportunity on a nice zebra stallion completed the day.

Day 2: The second stalk we made on impala was successful. The rams were just beginning to to start mingling with the ewes and we snuck up on a bachelor group that were occupied jousting with each other. I got a 75 yard shot from my knees using my PH's shoulder for a rest at a nice ram. The rifle did it's job and the ram dropped.Loaded the ram and dropped it off at the skinning shed and went out for zebra. Made a stalk on a mixed group of blesbok, eland and zebra. The wind was not doing us any favors and at 200 yards Geoff said that was as close as we were going to get. Kneeling under the tree branches, I set up on the sticks and waited for the zebra to step out from behind a tree. The zebra took a step to the left and exposed the shoulder and I fired. Again the rifle did it's job and the zebra dropped. This was by far the longest shot I had taken at any game. I'm a whitetail deer hunter that lives in a state that limits the hunter to shotguns with slugs.

Day 3: Started out in the morning for blesbok. After a couple hours we spotted a lone ram. We stopped the truck and I got a shot at he ram. Another trip to the skinning shed. Springbok was the last species on my "wish" list. With 2 1/2 days left to hunt I asked my PH if we could make a change and try for a kudu and forget about the springbok. Geoff made a phone call and it was agreed to go for the kudu. We hunted that afternoon without seeing any thing that was mature.

Day 4: This morning we made a 45 minute drive to another property that was holding good numbers of kudu. Hunted all day and did not see anything until very late in the afternoon. Geoff spotted a group of bulls. The bulls stood up and I was told to take the second bull. I fired from a rest at 50 yards hitting the bull square in the shoulder. The bull took off and I fired once through heavy brush, but did not connect. My PH got his rifle and he and I along with our tracker Ashton and my grandson began. The tracking ability of these guys is amazing. They can spot a drop of blood in heavy undergrowth. We bumped the bull a couple times with no opportunity for a shot. Geoff then said that the bull's leg was broken, but he was not injured in the vital organs. No lung or heart damage. He then asked if it was OK if he got an opportunity to shoot the bull to do so. I told him to go ahead. We resumed the trail and bumped him again. Geoff pulled off a round and hit the bull in the hips that anchored him. I came up and gave the bull the coup de gras. This was an old bull with over grown front feet and poor body condition. His teeth were getting smooth. Just the type of animal I had wanted.

Day 5: Took it easy. Went fishing in the afternoon. I caught a catch and release terrapin and nothing else. Just a very enjoyable day in the African bush.

I highly recommend Numzaan Safaris as an outfitter and Geoff Niemand as PH. Geoff and I got along great and I would hunt again with him anytime.

Loos like you had a good hunt. Congrats on your animals.
Bruce

Congratulations on a successful hunt!

How did you like the suppressor/silencer, on the rifle, and how much did it help noise level. What caliber was the rifle?

BTW, nice selection of animals.

If I had read the top of the article and the info there, would have seen 7mmm08. sorry

Tysue-

This was my first experience using a rifle with suppressor. The report was next to nothing. I had read how some hunters could hear the bullet striking the target. For the first time in my hunting career I experienced that. It was on the 200 yard shot that took the zebra. I definitely heard the "wump" as the bullet impacted. One disadvantage with a suppressor would be the elimination of open sights. I would have loved to had an open sight rifle when we were chasing the kudu in the thick stuff. The scope was an impediment in that situation.

Jdd51

Good job, jdd! Where's the photo of the kudu?

Frank-

The kudu pic shows up on screen for me. Anyone else having a problem?

jdd51

quote:

Originally posted by jdd51:
Frank-

The kudu pic shows up on screen for me. Anyone else having a problem?

jdd51

I don't know how I missed it, it's as big as a house.

Looks like it was a great hunt.

Congrats!