SOUTH AFRICA: Couples Hunt With Limcroma (Filled With Photos)

[Ragman]

My gosh those two kudu are perfect! Hoping your wife gets her gemsbok and you get your goose!

 

[crudeoildude]

In wyo where I grew up.in equines a stallion is the name of an intact male horse,it sounds comical when you said they were pregnant and ready to pop,maybe terminology is different over there,awsome story and pictures more please

 

[Josh Neal]

In wyo where I grew up.in equines a stallion is the name of an intact male horse,it sounds comical when you said they were pregnant and ready to pop,maybe terminology is different over there,awsome story and pictures more please

My excitement during typing led me to type stallion rather then mare...

 

[WMU05]

Your photos are outstanding! We'll done.

 

[sierraone]

love the pics. you have done some great work with both your camera and your bow.

I was going to ask about the camera, but you already posted. What a great hunt and photos to go with it!

 

[Josh Neal]

On the last day of hunting we finally get to target my top 3 species.... (Egyptian goose, Baboon, and Warthog).

Our PH took us to the river where we would walk about a 1 mile stretch down and back. He said this was a great spot for all 3 critters.

As soon as we get to the waters edge 2 geese take off, no shots fired... and this was my only opportunity (aside from the 2 geese that landed in the water hole as we were hunting zebra previously in the week). We continue our walk and never see the 1st Baboon. So we turn our attention to Warthogs. during the past 10 days we seen what seemed like hundreds of warthogs, but I can only recall seeing 2 or 3 males, each very small. But again on our river walk we seen nothing worthy of shooting.

So we set out on a drive at a new area where my wife shot her impala the day before. Again no warthogs, and by now my trigger finger was really etching! So I decide to grab the rifle and throw a bullet at a impala ram at around 200 yards... clean miss! maybe I should stick to my old stick and string!

By lunch time my hunt for my top 3 was over and we made our way back to camp. And of course we seen my 1st big male warthog in the parking lot of the local general store!!!

We went back to camp to relax and catch our breaths before my last shot at the giant Nyala that had eluded me near camp. I finally stalked to within range (38 yards). But as I began to draw he busted us and was long gone to forever haunt me in my dreams!!!

My father had a fairly successful last day though!

 

[Josh Neal]

The morning of our departure day my wife and I decided to get up at sunrise and do a short photo-shoot. We were able to capture some awesome pictures of the sunrise along with us and our fake smile! LOL

I also caught a decent Nyala in the morning darkness.

After photos were taken we settled up our bill... I was fortunate enough to be bringing home lots of extra money, even with paying for my wife's wounded Gemsbok. But trust me I would much rather be bringing home trophies instead. But that why they call it hunting right?

Also pictured below are some amazing giraffe and buffalo bones that were purchased from Limcroma. All hand carved with amazing details.

 

[Josh Neal]

Now for the ending summary... The Hunting with Limcroma has got to be some of the best hunting hands down! the trophy quality was 2nd to NONE!
The good thing about not taking some of the target animals is that it gives me a great excuse to hunt South Africa again!

I do wish we would have spent more time targeting my top 3 animals, but I also understand my top 3 animals were a bit unordinary, and not very profitable for Limcroma. I'm not certain but if I had to guess id say the PH's make some type of commission from each animal that is taken, because I cant count on all of my fingers and toes how many times I was asked about shooting a Sable! And it almost worked to! LOL

AFRICA THE NEAL'S WILL BE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[cpr0312]

Another great kudu!!!! Nice Nyala also!

 

[cpr0312]

Congrats on the trip and thanks for sharing the pics and memories!

 

[johnnyblues]

Great photo's. Your Kudu is great! Congratulations on all you trophies. P.S. Love hunting your neck of the woods for deer. Hunted Nicholasville area several times.

 

[buck wild]

Great report but I gotta say there seem to have been several unacceptable things happen. I agree hunting is hunting, but you were the paying client and your priorities should have been taken into account more for those in charge to include your target animals and off site plans.

 

[Nyati]

Congrats Josh, that was a great experience !

 

[PLM]

Great trophies and great photography

 

[Josh Neal]

A few details slipped my mind as I wrote these individual posts/reports.
One of which was the camp and camp staff. As I mentioned when I arrived at camp my jaw hit the ground. Oh my gosh that place was unbelievable, extremely clean, and just simply beautiful. The camp staff was just great! We hand clean room daily, clean Laundry daily, stocked drinks and beverages the entire time! I simply can not say enough about the staff and accommodations at the lodges. My wife loved the jetted tub in our room but she was always to tired to use it! Lol. Our room had a huge walk in shower, and beautiful spacious room with our bed, dresser and plenty of room for storage.

Next item I forgot to mention was the food. The food was 5star all the way. That being said my wife and I eat like 6 year old children. My rule on food is that if it is/was ever green I will not eat it. But I thrived on the meat/beard/potatoes provided each evenings. We grilled on the BBQ 3 of the 11 nights. I could have ate sable steak all 11 nights... man was it good! The other nights were pot dishes with ground game meat. Thespina was our camp chef and she was amazing, kind, funny, warm, and welcoming! After we got comfortable with her I realized I could ask her for anything... and BAM she would whip it up! I also brought marshmallows and chocolate to camp and showed her how to make s'mores In the campfire. She LOVED them!

Next item I forgot to pay my respect to was my PH Drian aka Bos Otter.
This guy worked his tail off each day, and even spent our off day with us at The lion encounter.
Not only did Drian PH for us, but he also ran the camera full time during our hunt for Bush Pro productions. He is excellent with a camera in hand! I guessed Drian to be 28 years old. He is only 22! But man his knowledge and maturity is years ahead of his age. His tracker Foster was simply awesome as well! They make a great team.

Another item I didn't mention at all is the company that we used to film our amazing adventure. We used Henk Jacobs and his company Bush Pro productions. I'm sure many of you have seen his work on this site and well as YouTube and from other hunters. He used the best equipment, and has GREAT cameramen to work with. Henk came into camp towards the end of our stay and spent some time talking with us. He really seemed to be a genuinely great guy that knows his stuff! He has been extremely quick to respond to all my emails before during and after the safari. I can't thank him enough for working with us on this trip of a life time. Henk has a hidden gem working for him by the name of Pieter Grobler. Pieter is a 21 year old man, just as Drian he is years ahead of his time. Pieter simply amazed me and my family. His knowledge of game, birds, nature, culture, archery equipment, cameras, everything, just really blew my mind. He was the most polite & respectable person that I had the pleasure of meeting. He was the sole cameraman for my mother and father. Watching him talk to my mom and dad, and explain things in ways that they understood made me very happy to have him in camp. Pieter does not have a full time PH job at the moment, but I know once he does get an opportunity he will quickly be one of the best! I know that I will make sure I know where Pieter is on my next African experience.

Pieter pictured below with his camera, and Drian pictures with his little sidekick pep-pee

 

[Shootist43]

Josh, you guys had a great hunt. Your report and photos did you proud. I hope you told your wife that all new hunters get "Buck Fever" and not be distraught over it. Besides maybe it "jumped" the string. I'm sure she will be right there with you saving and planning for your return trip. Thanks for sharing.

 

[LadyKiller]

Glad to see the ladies out hunting. You all took some truly unbelievable trophy animals and amazing photographs. Congratulations to the entire family on a great safari. Thanks for sharing your trip with us.

 

[Neale]

Beautiful photos and a great report to accompany them. Love the Kudu, congrats to all.

 

[Dr Ray]

As we watched these amazing animals all around us I quickly realized that each species was much larger then I had expected... I knew a Kudu was big, but man those legs are long! Id say each animal was about 10% bigger in person then I had imagined.

I also quickly learned how great the quality of animals were that Limcroma has to offer. There were 2 kudu bulls standing at 20 yards, each appeared to be 48"-50". I was ready to shoot!!! My PH just kept saying... "we can get you a better one."
I'm setting there thinking " I don't expect to see anything much bigger then those two"... then I look up and see spirals pushing up though the bush heading our direction. Without saying a word, I knew this was a MUCH BIGGER bull! I reached for my bow by instinct as I told my PH "I know that's a shooter right?!?!" He was awkwardly quite, I couldn't quite figure out why he wasn't saying much. The bull walked right into 30 yards. I'm nocked and loaded, shaking like a leaf! my PH, still very quite as I ask "Can I shoot this beast?" He then finally opens his mouth and tells me "that is a MONSTER".
(I presume he was talking with the owner making sure I could shoot this kudu because he did stand up quickly to snap a picture on his phone, and it appeared as if he was messaging) After 10 minutes of watching this GIANT I was given the green light. We got the camera rolling, and with my wife by my side I released my 1st African arrow and made direct contact to a GIANT at 27 yards, slightly quartering away, I stuck the arrow through both lungs and made a quick recovery at 70 yards!

After approaching the animal it really sank in that I had taken my 1st African animal, and it was the trophy of a lifetime! A Gold Medal archery Kudu. I was excited, emotional, and humbled!


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I sure like that kudu!!!!!

 

[CAustin]

Congrats on your hunt