Tanzania Dream Hunt

Location: Tanzania Masia Land

Outfitter: Rungwa Safari’s, Harpreet Brar

PH: Ivan Carter, Quintin Whitehead, Dan Moore

Dates: January 31st to February 18th

Rifles: Ruger 416, Ruger 375, Ruger 300 Win. Mag.

Ammo: Hornaday

Optics: Trijicon rifle scopes and Leica binoculars.

Animals taken: Cape Buffalo, Eland, Grants Gazelle, Thompsons Gazelle, Zebra, Impala, Cokes Hartebeest, Fringe Eared Oryx, and Ostrich…

Every so often a small town country boy from Michigan has the stars line up just right and God blesses him with a chance of a lifetime. That was the case for me with 8 day’s notice to clear my calendar of work, meetings, and most importantly my family’s activities…

It all started with my short speech at DSC addressing the Thursday night banquette dinner in regards to our Corporate Sponsorship of DSC, our Team and mission here at The Wildlife Gallery. I took the opportunity to introduce a new member of our Team, Robb Gustafson. Robb spent 17 years in the Army serving 3 tours in combat as an Army Ranger in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Robb was medically retired with a closed head injury from a bullet that pierced his helmet and glanced off his head. The incident was one of his 3 Purple Heart medals along with a Bronze Star for this particular battle. As you can see Robb is an American Hero that deserves and needed recognition, and I spun his story in to the need of our DSC membership to support the 2nd amendment…


Upon landing in Michigan after the DSC convention, my phone rang with a very familiar name… Friend and client Mr. Stephen Bindon, President of Trijicon. He informed me that he was at the DSC Thursday night dinner and was inspired by my story about Robb. If I could make it work on such short notice he would like me to bring Robb to Tanzania and join him on a hunt. Stephen actually said he purchased a few 21 day licenses for some Masia Land species he needed but could only be there for 7 days himself. Therefore, Robb and I would have the camp and PH’s to ourselves, and shoot bait for his lion and leopard hunt that he had such a limited time for as well. In addition to this Stephen informed me that Ivan Carter would be the lead PH and filming our hunts for future Tracks Across Africa TV shows, that obviously Trijicon and The Wildlife Gallery both sponsor. Well my response was immediately “Yes Sir”!

With lots of jumping, running and coordination I called Robb and began the process of getting his passport sorted out for the trip and directly after SCI in Reno we met up with Ivan and began the journey to the Dark Continent…

A picture of the 747 waiting to whisk us off to Africa...



The service on the flight was amazing, but the anticipation was almost unbearable...



First evening we made a short loop and the trackers spotted these Cheetahs which were not camera shy at all...



Next morning it was hanging baits and making TV...



We were also lucky to see some wild dogs right on the boundary road to the National Park...



Robb was overwhelmed with emotions when he killed his cape buffalo. What a proud moment for Ivan and I both...



Robb admiring his trophy...



Ivan doing a recap of the buffalo hunt...



A rack full of Ruger!



Running leopard and lion bait one morning we came across 5 male lions, non of which old enough for Robb to shoot, taking down a buffalo. What an incredible experience this was!





Robb's first Cokes Hartebeest...



Robb's second Cokes Hartebeest. This one was big enough that even the trackers took their own pictures with their cell phones...



Targets of opportunity...



Robb's last light Eland...



Robb's impressive Impala...



Robb's Grants...



Robb's Fringe Eared Oryx...



Ostrich make great bait too...



One of Robb's beautiful Zebras...



After hundreds of mile traveled baiting for leopard and lion we never saw a male leopard from the blind, and never saw an old enough lion to shoot. Not sad at all about that because hunting Tanzania is REAL hunting...





We really enjoyed our coffee breaks and afternoon picnics. We leave at dawn and return 1 to 2 hours after dark most nights...







I even did some skinning myself to study up on African animal anatomy. Very helpful to take an animal apart so you know how to put him back together. Not a deal breaker by any means but it sure doesn't hurt to physically put your hands on them...



Yes I got to hunt too!





One of my 2 Impalas...





Ivan doing a sponsor tip with my biggest impala...







The pinnacle for me was tracking and killing my very first and most likely the largest Cape Buffalo I will ever kill...

A dream hunt indeed!

Beautiful pictures and fantastic trophies! Thanks for posting the report!

Congrats!

Looks like you guys had a heck of a time there!

Was that Lokisale that you were at?

Outstanding!!

Congratulations to you both!!

Congrats and well done. Nothing better than those big Cape buffalo.

As for lion and leopard sightings, just go to work on Monday. I hear my crate is headed your way with shumba, spots, and all of their friends therein.

Wow, neat hunt and some great trophies. Hats off to the Trijicon brass for allowing you and one of our Nation's finest to hunt on their ticket!

Fantastic!

Thank you for sharing your hunt with us.

Great trophies & hunt!

Thanks everyone! This was the Lokisale area I believe. To be honest it was a blur and with no time for research or preparation we could have landed in any area and I would have been lost...

Will - I received the emails that the long awaited trophies will arrive next week. Looking forward to taking very good care of you... DAN

A dream safari indeed! Congrats!!!

Sweet safari and much appreciation to Trijicon for making it happen.

Good, make that great, stuff!

Have to move Tanzania up the list a bit.

Makorokoto to all - some fantastic animals in the salt!

What a buffalo. What a spread. Classic.

Please give my telephone number to your friend mr Mr. Stephen Bindon

Great hunt

Congrats on a great hunt to the team. Awesome trophies and photos.

Congratulations on some super trophies. Sounds like a good time was had by all.

Talk about a full boss....that one looks like it was welded together!

Congratulations to all on what seems a fabulous hunt. Mr Bindon's generousity has led to what I'm sure will be a lifetime of memories!

Dan, great pictures and wonderful story. Thanks for sharing. I couldn't help but notice the new Ruger Guide Gun in many of the pictures. What was the general view of rifle? Looks like a neat piece.

FANTASTIC REPORT!
THANKS

Great pics and report - thanks for sharing

Mike - The Ruger Guide gun performed extremely well and the Hornaday ammo Ivan brought for it was amazing too. We used the new 250 grain GMX for all the animals taken, even the cape buffalo. I had originally sighted the rifle in with Hornaday 300 grain DGS and we re-zeroed it at 100 yards with the 250's. It actually shot nearly 8" different (Higher) with the 250 grain. We shot several trophies over 300 yards with no troubles at all. Very impressive rifle and ammo for sure...

I would highly recommend the Ruger Guide rifle and it's not because they gave me the gun or paid me to say that. I did purchase the gun prior to even knowing about this hunt. I was hoping to put it to good use at some point this year for DG. Mr. Bindon just made that a reality much quicker than I anticipated. He is definitely the most generous man I've ever known...

Dan,

Congratulations to both you and Robb...and your gracious/generous sponsor Trijicon Pres Stephen Bindon

This photo right here touched me and I salute Robb for his outstanding years of dedicated service

http://i644.photobucket.com/al...0650_zps5d384789.jpg

Great Job! Fantastic buff. Glad you were able to work it all out.

Dan,

I will be opening my new website service in another week and will make my announcement here on AR.

www.trophyshotprints.com

On behalf of all my supporters here on AR Forum...We would be privileged to present to Robb a Digital-Enhanced 11x14 TrophyShot Print.

Please PM me a full resolution image file of the image above and his mailing address.

lapierre.roland@yahoo.com

Superb hunt, superb photos, superb content...a dream hunt for sure. We appreciate you sharing with us.

Paul

Very well done gentlemen, very well done.
Thanks for sharing.

Awesome Hun, report, and photos!

Great stuff!

Outstanding! A great way to put some payback out there for one of our Heroes!

Great report!!!

Congratultions...Dan,Robb,and Mr.Bindon

Dan, I thought you said it was picture heavy. What a wonderful hunt and hunt company. Camera men a fine job and looking forward to the hunts.

Mike

Dan, It looks like a great adventure and hunt. congratulations to all on the great trophies!
Mark

Fabulous Dan. Congrats again!

Great trip and photos. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the pics and report..Very fond of Lokisale, hunted there several times.. Great memories of Donya Sambu, been up on top, with my buddy, Brian Van Blerk..Boy does that country hold some great animals, and big Buff. Glad you guys got to enjoy it.

Butch

Nice story of a great hunt and wonderful photos.