NAMIBIA: BOWHUNT: Bow, Blood & Bolt Gun - Pursuing Plains Game With Khomas Highland Hunting Safaris

[Mekaniks]

I


I agree Mekaniks. Errens informed me that this is about as mature as they come. And once he breaks off the other horn while fighting for his turf of ladies he will most likely be killed by other Kudu bulls

What's you taxidermy plan for it?

 

[DoubleLunger]

What's you taxidermy plan for it?

As of right now my plan is to a shoulder mount. I think a straight mount with the headed facing straight ahead. Still debating between this and just a European mount

 

[Mekaniks]

As of right now my plan is to a shoulder mount. I think a straight mount with the headed facing straight ahead. Still debating between this and just a European mount

A shoulder mount would be really cool IMO if he was turned left to show off the broken right horn a little. Still an Awsome trophy regardless what you decide.

 

[jeff]

As of right now my plan is to a shoulder mount. I think a straight mount with the headed facing straight ahead. Still debating between this and just a European mount

As a taxidermist I would highly recommend at least a slight turn as it gives them more of a lifelike look. We call the straight ahead the Bar Room Stare LOL

 

[Ridgewalker]

Personally I like Euro mounts. Exceptions would include special animals, your kudu for example, almost anything that qualifies either SCI, or Roland Ward if not messed up like a head shot, or really damaged skins. I also like particularly cats made into rug hangings so you can see the entire pattern from one location.
JMO. Luckily we are all different and I still like seeing everyone's mounts however they decide to do it.

 

[DoubleLunger]

Congrats on the zebra, nice looking pig also!

Thanks Reedy. It was a very exciting day. Full of some great hunting

 

[DoubleLunger]

Day 8 of hunting
​

As planned we traveled to the Kalahari yet stopping at a small outdoor flea market and the taxidermy along the way. A few gifts were picked up for our wives after negotiating with the eager merchants that were trying their best to get every dollar out of us.

Then, on to the taxidermist. Trophaendienste Taxidermy was the name of the company. It seemed like a rather large operation with a series of warehouses combined with a couple of show rooms, a large unique gift shop with a coffee bar, and a few small offices. I was very impressed. Their work looked really good and the customer service was on spot. If I had even the smallest question as to what something would look like then it was shown to me as they seemed to have every type of mount in their shop that I could think of. They had just about any different angle of shoulder mount that any hunter would want in his trophy room as well as full mounts, chairs, ottomans, etc. If I ever were to win the lottery than I would go shopping for furniture right here. That is of course, should my loving wife allow it.

After leaving our skulls and hides with the taxidermist we were off to the Kalahari stopping at a small store along the way to pick up a fair amount of billtong to snack on while enroute.

After a couple hours of driving we arrived at the Okambara Lodge. It was unique in the sense that it looked like a castle from the outside. The inside was nice and well kept just like any other nice hotel or resort. My father and Dale had their own nice rooms with private balcony, bathroom, etc. My room on the other hand, not so much. My room was certainly not a dump by any means as I have definitely slept in worse. My sleeping quarters was one of a few dorm like rooms which were also lived in by the younger staff that worked at the lodge. It had a separate bathroom shared by myself and two others. My quarters were not cleaned daily nor was there a regular laundry service. But then again I was here to hunt and support my father's attempts in taking an Eland. Not to be pampered.

My father hunted with Philip that afternoon as I went in a separate truck with two trackers. One named Marios and the other named Eric. They were friendly yet did not have the same skill set of a PH. Getting within gun range of an Oryx or Impala seemed to be difficult for them. Yet we did see plenty of wildlife such as elephant and giraffe.

Eventually I told Marios that only two of us should set out on foot during our next walk and stalk. And that we did as soon as we spotted two young Gemsbok. Marios kept wanting to follow directly behind the animals as they kept walking directly away from us. I suggested we travel more to the left of the Gemsbok in better hopes of a flank shot. And sure enough, it paid off. Soon after loading up the Gemsbok the trackers let me play with the radio. I reported our harvest to Philip and he reported back that my father had taken his eland. He made me feel not happy but fortunate for my dad and I to be here in the Kalahari and taking game.

Eric and myself with young Gemsbok for the kitchen

Dad with his very impressive Eland(approx 1800 pounds)

Day 9 of hunting
​

After breakfast we headed out to a blind over looking a water hole in an attempt to take some impala. We saw plenty of game but not what we were hoping for.

We hunted again that evening in separate trucks and saw plenty of game yet no animals were taken.

Dad's Eland

Waiting patiently in blind

Dad passed out in blind

To be continued...............

 

[Ridgewalker]

At only 70, I never fall asleep in a blind!

 

[MAdcox]

What a great hunt with your dad. Been reading each of your updates and enjoying them.
Your Kudu is awesome. Mature, with the character that broken horn gives, plus he was ridiculously wide.

 

[DoubleLunger]

What a great hunt with your dad. Been reading each of your updates and enjoying them.
Your Kudu is awesome. Mature, with the character that broken horn gives, plus he was ridiculously wide.

Thanks Madcox. It was bar far one of the best hunting trips I've been on with my Dad. Glad you are enjoying my posts. Trying to keep it from getting boring yet not excluding any details that are pertinent to the quality of the trip

 

[jeff]

Really like your report and how special it is to get to hunt Africa with your dad!

 

[DoubleLunger]

Really like your report and how special it is to get to hunt Africa with your dad!

Thanks Jeff. I'm glad that other members of the forum are enjoying my report. My dad and I definitely had a good time as we always have. Enjoying time with family and friends is always a special time

 

[cpr0312]

Wow, that is a nice eland your dad was able to take!

 

[DoubleLunger]

Wow, that is a nice eland your dad was able to take!

It was huge!!

 

[DoubleLunger]

My apologies for the delay in my writing. Bow season has started here and I have been spending some time in the woods.

Day 10 of Hunting
​

We were back at Farm Heusis by the afternoon and i was happy with this move. I did not dislike the Kalahari but I liked Farm Heusis much more due to being around other hunters. While at the Okambara Lodge, we constantly felt as if we were being stared at by the non hunting tourists.

This afternoon we loaded onto the truck and headed out in an attempt for our friend Dale to take a Baboon. Yet no luck.

This evening after drinks and dinner my father and Dale went off to bed and I stayed up with the younger guys. Philip, his two brothers, Benjamin(french hunting guide), and two of the hunters from France came up with the idea to load up onto one of the trucks and go attempt to call in some Jackal. We had fun laughing and joking along the way. We got setup yet were unsuccessful at calling anything in.

G&T with Dad......in Africa!

Making friends

Boyz n beers

Day 11 of Hunting
​

My father and I headed out with his regular PH by the name of Adab and my previous tracker Hendrick. It was a great morning as we stalked in on a young Gemsbok as well as a Blue Wildebeest. My father and I took turns doing the shooting. First I took a Gemsbok followed by him taking a Blue Wildebeest. I felt very fortunate to have the privilege of hunting side by side with my Dad.

Gemsbok with Dad.....for the kitchen

Riding in truck......with Dad

Blue Wildebeest with Dad.....for the kitchen

That evening was spent by the fire sipping on Gin&Tonic followed by great appetizers until dinner was ready.

Day 12
​

On this day I had to say mu goodbyes due to my time ending on the trip. After a hug from my father as well as handshakes and brotherly like hugs from the other guides and family members in the camp, I left with the feeling that I had made a number of good friends while on this trip.

Conclusion
​

What I liked about this trip was that the hunting was top notch. I never went without a day of seeing plenty of game. The lodge at Farm Heusis was great with an every day laundry service, excellent home cooked meals and plenty of drinks. The hospitality was superb. The guides and trackers were highly skilled hard workers that seemed to thrive in putting the hunter on plenty of game as it seemed to be exciting for them as well. Philip seems to be well organized and his daily planning was on spot ensuring that all three of us were placed in front of plenty of animals.

Things that could have been different is a very short list as the operation is deserves five stars at the very least. I personally would rather hunt the Khomas area rather than the Kalahari yet I enjoyed being there in support of my father as he hunted for his Eland. also, I believe that it may be part of most European cultures to smoke while at the dinner table. I'm not one to judge anyone who makes the decision to smoke cigarettes yet I would prefer that it be done outside of the dining area. The dining area was very smoky which made it uncomfortable while trying to eat. Yet this could be that perhaps I'm just not accustomed to it.

But with only these two minor negatives all of the many other positives certainly outweighed the very minor issues.

The only thing that I would do differently on this adventure is to not use British Airways or Com Air due to the fact that they lost my bow and aren't even organized enough to be able to track it. Even after thirteen days of losing it. Every time I call I always get a different answer as to either where it is or the excuse of that their phone lines are down for their lost luggage department. And I would also do what I could to fly through Europe rather than Johannesburg since now I am told that the airport in Johannesburg is notorious for losing and stealing luggage.

Since then my bow has been returned to me three days after I returned home. No apologies, no explanation. Just someone bringing it to my front door with everything in tact.

I would certainly do this trip again with Khomas Highland Hunting Safaris...........without a doubt.

I want to thank each and every one of you on AH.com for all of your help and guidance in my preparations for this adventure. I also feel very fortunate to be a part of the online community of other supportive hunters from around the world.

DoubleLunger

 

[Mekaniks]

Thank You for the great report and sharing it all with us!

That's amazing your bow finally made it home. I figured it was gone for good....

 

[DoubleLunger]

Thank You for the great report and sharing it all with us!

That's amazing your bow finally made it home. I figured it was gone for good....

Thank you Mekaniks! I'm glad you enjoyed it. When my bow arrived I was once again a happy camper

 

[cpr0312]

Enjoyed the report, congrats again and thanks for sharing!

 

[DoubleLunger]

Enjoyed the report, congrats again and thanks for sharing!

You’re welcome. Glad you enjoyed it

 

[Ridgewalker]

DoubleLunger, thanks to you and your dad for taking the time to write your reports for us. It was so enjoyable to get to experience it through your eyes!