Noob in Kentucky

[MATTANJA HUNTING SAFARIS]

Welcome to AH!!

 

[JG26Irish_2]

Someone asked if we had a game list yet? Mine is in draft form now. We will be in for a 10 day hunt. I figured that we might not be able to bag everything on the list so, I added a few that many or may not make the cut.

• Warthog
• Impala
• Gemsbok
• Blue Wildebeest (or Golden)
• Red Hartebeest (or Zebra)
• Cape Buffalo

I have been tuning on a pair of FN/Browning hipower rifles. They are old school Mauser style actions. The little rifle is a Medallion grade in 308 with B&L Balvar scope in 2.5-8x zeroed with 180g at 200y. The Balvar is of the later design from the mid 60's using a Kuharsky mount. It is superb glass if a little clunky and out of date compared to modern optics. But very clear and stable.

The heavy rifle is a Safari Grade in 375 H&H topped with a Leupold VX 1.5-4x DG scope with MOA ring reticle. This one is zeroed at 200y for now with 300g Barnes X bullets at Woodleigh Hydro cup point solids. But, I am looking at dropping the zero to 100y with the 300g for the Buff and then switching to 250g trophy bonded Bearclaw rounds for the larger plains game since that would give it a dual application. I do have some 300g Swift A-frames but have not tried them yet. I have spent a lot of time training with 22lr on the sticks as a means to build the comfort and confidence with them. I shot off hand while hunting most of my life but in recent years have been doing a lit of benchrest and PRS style shooting and that changed my concept of what is precision shooting.

I am toying with spending the money for a higher grade Leupold or other similar scope like the VX6 but the one I have now is more than adequate.

 

[kdenn]

Save the scope money for more animals!

 

[Kenbo]

Welcome to AH! I haven't been to Africa yet but I do hope you enjoy your trip! I'm also from KY and am glad to see more and more of us on here.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Someone asked if we had a game list yet? Mine is in draft form now. We will be in for a 10 day hunt. I figured that we might not be able to bag everything on the list so, I added a few that many or may not make the cut.

• Warthog
• Impala
• Gemsbok
• Blue Wildebeest (or Golden)
• Red Hartebeest (or Zebra)
• Cape Buffalo

I have been tuning on a pair of FN/Browning hipower rifles. They are old school Mauser style actions. The little rifle is a Medallion grade in 308 with B&L Balvar scope in 2.5-8x zeroed with 180g at 200y. The Balvar is of the later design from the mid 60's using a Kuharsky mount. It is superb glass if a little clunky and out of date compared to modern optics. But very clear and stable.

The heavy rifle is a Safari Grade in 375 H&H topped with a Leupold VX 1.5-4x DG scope with MOA ring reticle. This one is zeroed at 200y for now with 300g Barnes X bullets at Woodleigh Hydro cup point solids. But, I am looking at dropping the zero to 100y with the 300g for the Buff and then switching to 250g trophy bonded Bearclaw rounds for the larger plains game since that would give it a dual application. I do have some 300g Swift A-frames but have not tried them yet. I have spent a lot of time training with 22lr on the sticks as a means to build the comfort and confidence with them. I shot off hand while hunting most of my life but in recent years have been doing a lit of benchrest and PRS style shooting and that changed my concept of what is precision shooting.

I am toying with spending the money for a higher grade Leupold or other similar scope like the VX6 but the one I have now is more than adequate.

View attachment 563142

Sounds like you have some good setups already. I wouldn't frit over needing a newer scope.

In Africa you have a lot of "opportunity animals", animals you may not have on your list.

On a 10 day hunt you should be able to get all of your listed animals plus a few more. The animals you listed as add on animals would make for a good 10 day hunt. Adding to that list: impala, blesbok, and baboon or springbok. Since it's your first time, maybe forgo the cape buff to hunt possibly an add-on bushbuck, gemsbok, giraffe, or eland, and a leechwe or water buck.

Saving half the cost of the cape buff for taxidermy and a new trophy room addition to your home.

 

[JG26Irish_2]

Thanks guys for all of the welcome messages and for the advice. To me the journey, the planning and preparation is half of the fun. We are not going over until 2025 so, I had almost two years to prep and plan and I am loving that. I love to read and have been amassing a library of Africa hunting books by Ruark, Hemingway, Capstick and others. If you have a favorite, I would love to hear about it.

I had the FN 308 before the decision to go over but I updated the scope with a new/better old optic. I will be deer hunting with it this year in both KY and WV. It shoots very well. The FN 375 H&H I acquired this year following the commitment to go to SA. It lived most of its life in Alaska killing Kodiak bears, Moose and other small varmints. I am working now training it to shoot the larger varmints. For those who asked we already have a PH and talk to him regularly. I do also have a few targets of opportunity like Baboon and Springbok in mind. I know that biting off the Buff on the first trip is a lot to chew but it was my #1 animal and I am not likely to drop it from the list. Wifey is already working to remodel the old garage into a den/game room/bar area with plans to have it all finished by the time any trophies arrive. We built a new larger garage in 2019 so we did not need to park the cars in the old one. We have room for several trophies in our main living space but the really large ones likely would not fit.

For the local KY hunters - I am toying with forming the "Bluegrass Safari Club" as a loose confederation of KY based big game hunters as a means to share experiences, bourbon, cigars and other deep BS stories. Our Logo is most likely going to be a "Wildcat", lol (sorry Redbird fans). No dues required but there may or may not be a fee for logo printed tee shirts, lol.

 

[CAustin]

Hello - I am an experienced hunter, and shooting sports competitor located in the Bluegrass State in the USA. I am planning my first Safari to Africa and really appreciate AH as a resource.

Irish

Welcome to AH

 

[jpr792]

Hello - I am an experienced hunter, and shooting sports competitor located in the Bluegrass State in the USA. I am planning my first Safari to Africa and really appreciate AH as a resource.

Irish

Dear JG26irish_2

Enjoy planning the destination for your next safari!

Happy hunting.

 

[Macduff]

Thanks guys for all of the welcome messages and for the advice. To me the journey, the planning and preparation is half of the fun. We are not going over until 2025 so, I had almost two years to prep and plan and I am loving that. I love to read and have been amassing a library of Africa hunting books by Ruark, Hemingway, Capstick and others. If you have a favorite, I would love to hear about it.

I had the FN 308 before the decision to go over but I updated the scope with a new/better old optic. I will be deer hunting with it this year in both KY and WV. It shoots very well. The FN 375 H&H I acquired this year following the commitment to go to SA. It lived most of its life in Alaska killing Kodiak bears, Moose and other small varmints. I am working now training it to shoot the larger varmints. For those who asked we already have a PH and talk to him regularly. I do also have a few targets of opportunity like Baboon and Springbok in mind. I know that biting off the Buff on the first trip is a lot to chew but it was my #1 animal and I am not likely to drop it from the list. Wifey is already working to remodel the old garage into a den/game room/bar area with plans to have it all finished by the time any trophies arrive. We built a new larger garage in 2019 so we did not need to park the cars in the old one. We have room for several trophies in our main living space but the really large ones likely would not fit.

For the local KY hunters - I am toying with forming the "Bluegrass Safari Club" as a loose confederation of KY based big game hunters as a means to share experiences, bourbon, cigars and other deep BS stories. Our Logo is most likely going to be a "Wildcat", lol (sorry Redbird fans). No dues required but there may or may not be a fee for logo printed tee shirts, lol.

View attachment 563968

I’d be interested. I’m late in replying here but I’d love one of those shirts if you get them printed.

I’m in Louisville but I would happily wear it behind enemy lines.