Cody Malone
AH senior member
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2014
- Messages
- 98
- Reaction score
- 30
- Location
- NE Texas
- Member of
- DSC, Delta Waterfowl, Ducks Unlimited
What a day! Finished up strong!
I know I keep saying that but I truly can't believe the experiences I keep having. Today was unique, lots of safari style hunting from the Land Cruiser opposed to spot and stalking like we have been doing all week. We start of by covering the perimeter as the sun starts to light the maze of roads. We are specifically targeting big warthogs and a monster impala we have been chasing for a day and a half, he is a once and a lifetime kind of trophy as he is sure to surpass 25". As we approach one of the water holes we see several Kudu cows a young bull and a shooter bull along with a few smaller warthogs and tasebbe. As we continue to drive we spot several groups of Impala but most are female or younger buck with the occasional shooter for most but I have already taken a large one and an extremely old one so I pass. We also spot tons of Steinbok but nothing larger than I have already harvested as he was well over four inches. As we head to a small water hole where a giant warthog had been spotted several times we see him, I am shocked how big he is, looks to be 12"! We stop the cruiser and dismount and I instantly check the wind with a swift kick in the dirt road, it's perfectly in our face. We head into the thick bush to get closer as he is 400 yards away and I am still toasting the 9.3x64 firing a nearly 300 grain bullet so I only feel comfortable out to about 200 with it. We approach slowly and see him feeding closer down the road, we set up and the wind swirls and is hitting my neck, this is bad. He is facing us now alert we are there, I take steady aim from 250 yards and squeeze as I am kneeling to steady my shot, I see the bullet impact right over his back, I pop up and follow him through the thick bush but since may first shot didn't connect I opted not to shot and possibly wounding him with a low probability shot. I am bummed and highly disappointed as it was a huge warthog, just like I had been seeking. We continue to cruise around slowly looking deep into the bush for any movement. We see lots of game such as Kudu, Bushbuck, Imapala, Warthogs, Giraffe, Tasebbe, Eland, Diker, Stienbok and monkeys.
We decide to go back through an area where we had spotted a large group of warthogs earlier and they are back, nearly 1000 yards away down a road. They are feeding with a large group of Sable behind them so I have to be careful of my shot. We sneak for what seems like an hour through the thickest of bush and bump into a large group bedded in a creek bottom, they blow out and take the ones we where targeting with them.
It's about noon so we head back to the T in the road and go the other way this time, a few minutes later we see a heard of Impala and dismount once again. We instantly see the huge Impala ram. He is quartered away about to disappear into the thick bush, I take quick aim behind his last rib which will put the exit on the opposite side mid shoulder and squeeze one off, he drops!, Dead Right There! We are excited and can't believe how big he is once I get him in my hands, it's a true trophy of a lifetime as he will easily clear 25".
We load him up after a few photos and the skinners take him to the skinning shack. We decide to grab a quick breakfast and head out for the evening. That hit the spot and fueled my energy level after all the stalks we did earlier in the morning.
We obviously head straight back to where I missed the huge warthog and we see one running through the bush so I take aim quickly again and squeeze one off as he hits an opening, he drops! We get to him and he is a respectful warthog that will suite my full body lioness mount perfectly. Normally I wouldn't shoot with out knowing just how big it was but I saw 5-6" tusk on a good body and made the quick deacon, I'm glad I did because it looks identical to the one my lioness had killed before I harvested her. Plus it was a phenomenal shot that boasted my confidence after the early miss on the giant warthog.
As we are headed to the skinning shack we decide to check another waterhole and see a big warthog, he sees us and spooks but doesn't burn out as he just walks off, this is a good sign we may be able to get on him. The big problem was there was a few waterbuck that where spooked badly as we entered the bush. There is a large creek bed next to the waterhole so we know that's where the warthogs are headed, unfortunately so are the waterbuck, we expect them to ruin it but we see the hogs cross the creek, the wind is perfect so we continue on. This is where things get entertaining and in a hurry! We stalk a few hundred yards and see them again the have made a small loop for some reason, my PH, Jannie said there he is and points I get on him and kneel for a steady rest as he's 90-100 yards but as I'm kneeling I see him disappearing from my cross hairs I I see he's in a small depression, he starts to trot off so I snap up and squeeze one off as I'm holding oh his shoulder, I know it's a little high so I run towards where he was expecting to have high shouldered or spinner him, I hear him crashing through the brush so I stop and let Jannie catch up as I have covered the 100 yards and am standing where he was when I shot. We hear him crashing still so I know it was high and he's wounded back making for a dangerous situation in the thick bush. I decide to cowboy up and go after him full steam, heading towards the noise. I see him again as he is running off and quickly shoot, connecting again, he rolls and I chamber another round, as I get closer he is down and I put an insurance round dead center in his shoulder, I see he is huge tusk end and huge bodied making for a great trophy! Jannie and I start to celebrate and all of a sudden he stands up, facing me, lucky I had chambered a new round as we are staring face to face a mean 8' separating us, I am waiting for the charge as I know its about to happen, so I take one step to the side and as he charges I shoot him square in the shoulder again, dropping him only three feet from feet, he is done. What a freaking hunt! We celebrate and talk about how exciting it was and how Janine had his rifle on him to and was about to shoot to keep my out of harm only seconds before I took that last shot. That's a great PH as he knew I had it under control and didn't shoot, making this my trophy and my story.
Pure excitement is all I have had since my arrival last week and I don't want to leave but I know my lil girl and wonderful wife will be as excited to see me as I am to see them. It has been a great trip all around with great food and great people. I would like to personally thank Kobus, Mac, Madeline and the rest of the great crew hear at Hunters Creek Safairs as it has truly been the best hunt of my life and one to never be forgotten. The hunting, company, food, and whole expedia nice for my first trip abroad a truly awesome exspeiraince, one to Never to be forgotten. My plane departs Joburg at 6:50 tomorrow night so I am tagged out and ready to begin my long journey home. Which will include a 6 hour stop in Paris, France to take a look at this Eiffel Tower I have heard about.
Until next time good hunting!
I know I keep saying that but I truly can't believe the experiences I keep having. Today was unique, lots of safari style hunting from the Land Cruiser opposed to spot and stalking like we have been doing all week. We start of by covering the perimeter as the sun starts to light the maze of roads. We are specifically targeting big warthogs and a monster impala we have been chasing for a day and a half, he is a once and a lifetime kind of trophy as he is sure to surpass 25". As we approach one of the water holes we see several Kudu cows a young bull and a shooter bull along with a few smaller warthogs and tasebbe. As we continue to drive we spot several groups of Impala but most are female or younger buck with the occasional shooter for most but I have already taken a large one and an extremely old one so I pass. We also spot tons of Steinbok but nothing larger than I have already harvested as he was well over four inches. As we head to a small water hole where a giant warthog had been spotted several times we see him, I am shocked how big he is, looks to be 12"! We stop the cruiser and dismount and I instantly check the wind with a swift kick in the dirt road, it's perfectly in our face. We head into the thick bush to get closer as he is 400 yards away and I am still toasting the 9.3x64 firing a nearly 300 grain bullet so I only feel comfortable out to about 200 with it. We approach slowly and see him feeding closer down the road, we set up and the wind swirls and is hitting my neck, this is bad. He is facing us now alert we are there, I take steady aim from 250 yards and squeeze as I am kneeling to steady my shot, I see the bullet impact right over his back, I pop up and follow him through the thick bush but since may first shot didn't connect I opted not to shot and possibly wounding him with a low probability shot. I am bummed and highly disappointed as it was a huge warthog, just like I had been seeking. We continue to cruise around slowly looking deep into the bush for any movement. We see lots of game such as Kudu, Bushbuck, Imapala, Warthogs, Giraffe, Tasebbe, Eland, Diker, Stienbok and monkeys.
We decide to go back through an area where we had spotted a large group of warthogs earlier and they are back, nearly 1000 yards away down a road. They are feeding with a large group of Sable behind them so I have to be careful of my shot. We sneak for what seems like an hour through the thickest of bush and bump into a large group bedded in a creek bottom, they blow out and take the ones we where targeting with them.
It's about noon so we head back to the T in the road and go the other way this time, a few minutes later we see a heard of Impala and dismount once again. We instantly see the huge Impala ram. He is quartered away about to disappear into the thick bush, I take quick aim behind his last rib which will put the exit on the opposite side mid shoulder and squeeze one off, he drops!, Dead Right There! We are excited and can't believe how big he is once I get him in my hands, it's a true trophy of a lifetime as he will easily clear 25".
We load him up after a few photos and the skinners take him to the skinning shack. We decide to grab a quick breakfast and head out for the evening. That hit the spot and fueled my energy level after all the stalks we did earlier in the morning.
We obviously head straight back to where I missed the huge warthog and we see one running through the bush so I take aim quickly again and squeeze one off as he hits an opening, he drops! We get to him and he is a respectful warthog that will suite my full body lioness mount perfectly. Normally I wouldn't shoot with out knowing just how big it was but I saw 5-6" tusk on a good body and made the quick deacon, I'm glad I did because it looks identical to the one my lioness had killed before I harvested her. Plus it was a phenomenal shot that boasted my confidence after the early miss on the giant warthog.
As we are headed to the skinning shack we decide to check another waterhole and see a big warthog, he sees us and spooks but doesn't burn out as he just walks off, this is a good sign we may be able to get on him. The big problem was there was a few waterbuck that where spooked badly as we entered the bush. There is a large creek bed next to the waterhole so we know that's where the warthogs are headed, unfortunately so are the waterbuck, we expect them to ruin it but we see the hogs cross the creek, the wind is perfect so we continue on. This is where things get entertaining and in a hurry! We stalk a few hundred yards and see them again the have made a small loop for some reason, my PH, Jannie said there he is and points I get on him and kneel for a steady rest as he's 90-100 yards but as I'm kneeling I see him disappearing from my cross hairs I I see he's in a small depression, he starts to trot off so I snap up and squeeze one off as I'm holding oh his shoulder, I know it's a little high so I run towards where he was expecting to have high shouldered or spinner him, I hear him crashing through the brush so I stop and let Jannie catch up as I have covered the 100 yards and am standing where he was when I shot. We hear him crashing still so I know it was high and he's wounded back making for a dangerous situation in the thick bush. I decide to cowboy up and go after him full steam, heading towards the noise. I see him again as he is running off and quickly shoot, connecting again, he rolls and I chamber another round, as I get closer he is down and I put an insurance round dead center in his shoulder, I see he is huge tusk end and huge bodied making for a great trophy! Jannie and I start to celebrate and all of a sudden he stands up, facing me, lucky I had chambered a new round as we are staring face to face a mean 8' separating us, I am waiting for the charge as I know its about to happen, so I take one step to the side and as he charges I shoot him square in the shoulder again, dropping him only three feet from feet, he is done. What a freaking hunt! We celebrate and talk about how exciting it was and how Janine had his rifle on him to and was about to shoot to keep my out of harm only seconds before I took that last shot. That's a great PH as he knew I had it under control and didn't shoot, making this my trophy and my story.
Pure excitement is all I have had since my arrival last week and I don't want to leave but I know my lil girl and wonderful wife will be as excited to see me as I am to see them. It has been a great trip all around with great food and great people. I would like to personally thank Kobus, Mac, Madeline and the rest of the great crew hear at Hunters Creek Safairs as it has truly been the best hunt of my life and one to never be forgotten. The hunting, company, food, and whole expedia nice for my first trip abroad a truly awesome exspeiraince, one to Never to be forgotten. My plane departs Joburg at 6:50 tomorrow night so I am tagged out and ready to begin my long journey home. Which will include a 6 hour stop in Paris, France to take a look at this Eiffel Tower I have heard about.
Until next time good hunting!
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