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7 Day Buffalo Hunt with Martin Pieters, June 2014 Omay
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Hunt Dates: June 17-24, 2014
Location: Zimbabwe, Omay
Animals Hunted: Buffalo, Hippo, Croc and plains game
PH: Chappy
Guns: Krieghoff 500 NE
Dakota 416 Rigby

After a fantastic plains game hunt in Namibia 2007, a dangerous game hunt was in order. Cape Buffalo has always been on the top of my list. My hunting bud Shoulderman thought it a good idea to do a buffalo primer in Australia. So in 2011 we booked a cull hunt with Simon Kyle Little in the Northern Territories. While in the NT’s we shot numerous buff with Bows, rifles and double rifles. Although they were not Cape Buffalo, I feel that we gained a fair amount of knowledge concerning shot placement, guns, loads and tactics. Not to mention we both shot trophy bulls over 100 inches. Simon Kyle Little is top notch and a consummate professional.

So the work began, we decided to hunt with Martin Pieters and due to time constraints and kids we chose the Omay in June. The 2 guns I would be bringing were my K-gun 500 NE and my Dakota 416 Rigby. By the grace of God, we live close Sam Rose and Michael458, both of whom were a wealth of knowledge in helping me develop loads for both of these guns. I settled on a CEB Non-Con 470 gn Safari Raptor bullet in my K-gun. With 106 grains of RL-15, it clocked 2315 fps and regulated perfectly. My 416 liked 100 grains of RL-22 pushing a 370 grain CEB Non-Con around the 2600 range. No matter, that load shot one hole at a hundred yards.
A few hundred practice rounds later.

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Joey, my 12 year old son came as an observer. We left RDU on June 15th and right off the bat we had trouble checking our guns all the way through to Bulawayo. A quick phone call to Gracy Travel and our bags were on their way. We connected in JFK and on to Johannesburg. We were lucky to have an early arrival and then quick connection to Bulawayo. We overnighted at a bed and breakfast in Bulawayo. The next morning we left for camp. That trip took a little over 10 hours. I would highly recommend either a charter or fly in to Vic Falls.

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Day 1 was kind of an exploration day. Chappy wanted to check out an area around McKenzie Camp called Mahove. It hadn’t been hunted in a while. They were building a fence up there to stop village encroachment into the hunting area. We walked all day and finally caught up with a small herd of Buffalo. We got up on them 2 times and right before dark they ran into the thick bush. We did see a couple big Bull Hippos hanging out in the lake.

Day 2 had us driving 2 hours through Bumi Hills and finally to an area called Chilala. There is a small fishing village there and the locals told us about spotting some buff the previous day. Around 8:30 we picked up the tracks of a large herd of Buff. At noon we finally laid eyes on them. The herd was close to 30 animals. We could see one good hard bossed bull in the bunch. There were 4-5 really good young bulls but they had some growing to do. We put a great stalk on the mature bull and got to 70 yards when a small duiker jumped up and ran through the herd. We chased them all day but to no avail.

Day 3 we decided to hunt near the Chifudze Camp. At 8:30 we were driving through an area called Roma when we came across some fresh tracks. Tubbs and Felix, our 2 trackers, gave the thumbs up. 5-6 Dugga Boys. We tracked them through some impossible areas but to my amazement we never lost the Buffalo. Around noon we were checking the track when all of a sudden the trackers jumped back with fear. A puff adder! Upon closer inspection, it was dead. One of the Buff stepped on it and crushed it mid body.

Things were getting tense as Tubbs, Felix and Jophet sensed that we were getting close. Around 2 PM Jophet spotted them laying in a small shaded depression. Chappy and I moved forward and I grabbed my Double. The bull Chappy picked out was laying down facing away. He said to me, “take that one”. About that time, 3 bulls to the right stood up and looked our way. Then my bull stood up and gave me a 40 yard broadside shot. I never got on the sticks, just shot him right through the front shoulder with my 500 NE. I hit him one more time crossing and then Chappy gave him an insurance shot in the back hip. He was down.

After the back slapping and high fives we looked over to where my bull went down and there was a really nice young bull standing there looking at us. Chappy and I looked at each other and reloaded. This young bull was obviously his running buddy. He was confused and a little pissed that his friend was on the ground. All of a sudden my bull let out a death bellow which seemed to infuriate this young bull. He came at us. We put our guns up and he stopped short at 40 yards or so, spun and went back to his downed companion. Chappy and the trackers yelled and waved their arms and he came at us again, stopping short and then running back to his buddy. My son was with us, so Jophet grabbed him and put him on his shoulder and ran to higher ground. This went on two more times. Felix was our Zim game scout. He told Chappy and I to go in there and shoot him if he charges again. So with our Pucker Meter pegged at 100, we readied our 500 NE’s and walked toward the bull, he spun in our direction and looked at us for a second, realized we meant business, turned on a dime and ran away. Chappy and I looked at each other in relief and went to recover my bull.

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The CEB’s worked flawlessly. My first shot hit the left front shoulder, the pedals blew off and the solid portion exited the opposite shoulder. You can see the blood stain on the right front shoulder. My second shot went through the guts. Chappy was using my bullets and he put a hole in the left rear hip that Tubbs stuck his whole hand in. Chappy was impressed with the CEB’s.

Day 4 called for a little R&R as well as some fishing. Chappy and my son love fishing as much as hunting.

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Vundu

Day 5 had us back up to the McKenzie Camp looking for some Hippo. We decided to look around the lake in the area where we spotted the 2 bulls previously swimming off a long point. Chappy and I walked to the point and didn’t see them, we circled back to the east into a small cove and there they were. They were laying in a foot of water sleeping. Chappy and I went back to the Land Rover, gathered everyone and made a game plan. I took my 416 Rigby this time as a longer shot would likely be in order. We surveyed the situation and planned a stalk to a small bush that would put us at 70 yards with a broadside brain shot. Chappy and I slipped forward, made it to the bush and set up the sticks. I centered the crosshair between the ear and eye and squeezed the trigger. The bullet hit right where I aimed, the bull’s head came up and he rolled on his side toward us. I hit him in the head one more time and Chappy gave him one through the lungs with his double to make sure. Once again the CEB’s did a marvelous job. One of my bullets passed through the bulls head. Chappy took its lungs out with his shot.

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On our way back to camp, Chappy got a call from fellow PH Pierre. He had a leopard hunter and was running out of bait. He wanted to see if we could get him an Impala or 2. My son Joey grabbed my 416 Rigby and shot this Impala at 50 yards. I asked him if it kicked and he said, “not at all”.

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The next couple days we looked for Bushbuck, Crocs and Waterbuck. We got on several animals but they all seemed to be on the young side. The Omay received quite a bit of rain this past year and things were still green and water was everywhere. I was content and quite happy with the animals we shot. My son had the time of his life. He was 5 when we went to Namibia and his memory of that trip was vague. He will remember this trip the rest of his life.

From Ume camp we took a charter to Nehimba in Hwange National Park. Nehimba is a 5 star safari lodge that Martin and Candy own. We spent a few days there on a photo safari and saw a bunch of Elephants up close. Very cool.

From Nehimba we had to spend a day at Victoria Falls and check that out. We departed from Vic Falls to Johannesburg with a refuel in Dakar (dont take this flight if you don’t have to) and then to Washington Dulles. We went through Customs without incident and finally on to Raleigh Durham.
 
Posts: 151 | Location: NC | Registered: 11 September 2007Reply With Quote
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Great report and a hunt well remembered by father and son.

Dutch
 
Posts: 2753 | Registered: 10 March 2006Reply With Quote
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Congratulations on what sounds like a great hunt. I still remember the few hunts I went on with my father.

Arjun Reddy
Www.huntersnetworks.com
 
Posts: 2585 | Location: New York, USA | Registered: 13 March 2005Reply With Quote
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Well done and a nice buff and hippo. Man you guys covered some ground looking for buff from McKenzie Camp to the Bumi Hills and then Chifudze! Great to see your son getting in on the action. I am sure he will trump everyone's elses "What I did on my summer vacation" report when he gets back to school and writes about a charging buffalo bull!


On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of ten thousand, who on the dawn of victory lay down their weary heads resting, and there resting, died.

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch...
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
- Rudyard Kipling

Life grows grim without senseless indulgence.
 
Posts: 7568 | Location: Victoria, Texas | Registered: 30 March 2003Reply With Quote
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Nice animals Joe. It was a pleasure meeting you and your son. The impala was needed and well utilized and I'm sure glad he had fun shooting bait for me.

You do cover some ground hunting the Omay!


.
 
Posts: 42463 | Location: Crosby and Barksdale, Texas | Registered: 18 September 2006Reply With Quote
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JTEX great meeting you as well. So glad you got a Leopard.
 
Posts: 151 | Location: NC | Registered: 11 September 2007Reply With Quote
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We'll done Chappy


Lin Stanton
Email: lindon@mbalabalasafaris.com
www.mbalabalasafaris.com
 
Posts: 134 | Location: Zimbabwe | Registered: 19 June 2012Reply With Quote
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Great report Joe, looks like you had a grand time!

Sam
 
Posts: 2837 | Location: NC | Registered: 08 July 2006Reply With Quote
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Great pictures, nice report! Congrats.
I never take enough pictures.......
 
Posts: 4214 | Location: Southern Colorado | Registered: 09 October 2011Reply With Quote
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Congratulations!!!
Well done and your son will never be the same...PRICELESS...Good on you folks tu2
 
Posts: 3430 | Registered: 24 February 2007Reply With Quote
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Well done!!!! From the looks on your faces, this is a safari never to be forgotten. Congratulations.

Best regards, D. Nelson
 
Posts: 2271 | Registered: 17 July 2003Reply With Quote
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Great hunt with your son...and Chap
 
Posts: 32 | Registered: 07 January 2011Reply With Quote
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Joe..........

Fantastic report and very happy you had not just a good time, but were successful in your endeavor.

Well Done..........

Michael


http://www.b-mriflesandcartridges.com/default.html

The New Word is "Non-Conventional", add "Conventional" to the Endangered Species List!
Live Outside The Box of "Conventional Wisdom"

I do Not Own Any Part of Any Bullet Company, I am not in the Employ Of Any Bullet Company. I do not represent, own stock, nor do I receive any proceeds, or monies from ANY BULLET COMPANY. I am not in the bullet business, and have no Bullets to sell to you, nor anyone else.
 
Posts: 8426 | Location: South Carolina | Registered: 23 June 2008Reply With Quote
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Great report & nice animals.

I will doing the exact trip in Sept - 7 days in the Omay with Bruce Cronje & the 2 days in Nehimba & one day in Vic Falls.

I will be using my 416 Rigby with CEB bullets as recommended by Michael!


"When the wind stops....start rowing. When the wind starts, get the sail up quick."
 
Posts: 11400 | Location: New Zealand | Registered: 02 July 2008Reply With Quote
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Nakihunter: Hope you have the same results as I did. Shoot straight and those CEB's will amaze you.
 
Posts: 151 | Location: NC | Registered: 11 September 2007Reply With Quote
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That's a switch, Chappy hunting buffalo and Pierre hunting leopard. Chappy's famous for the Leopard charge and Pierre's always hunting elephant and leopard.


Frank



"I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money."
- Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953

NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite

 
Posts: 12764 | Location: Kentucky, USA | Registered: 30 December 2002Reply With Quote
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Fantastic father and son hunt!

Your son is a chip off the old block. Mart runs a first class operation for sure.

Congrats and thanks for posting.
 
Posts: 1836 | Location: Sinton, Texas | Registered: 08 November 2006Reply With Quote
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Proper.


ROYAL KAFUE LTD
Email - kafueroyal@gmail.com
Tel/Whatsapp (00260) 975315144
Instagram - kafueroyal
 
Posts: 10003 | Location: Zambia | Registered: 10 April 2009Reply With Quote
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Way cool to see your son there. Great trip. Great pics. Well done.
 
Posts: 1355 | Registered: 04 November 2010Reply With Quote
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