So we go through the photo session afterward and loaded the buff on the Toyota, which shocked me as he looked as big as the truck! Then I asked if I could leave my grand fathers hunting cap where my buff fell. He was a big game hunter who hunted moose his whole life, but never made it to Africa. My PH allowed me so I hung his hat in the tree that my buff fell under. Now we were off to the skinning shed. The whole way over there I talked my PH's head off about AH.com and telling him I promised a report on how the bullets did. We skinned the buff out and the Raptor made an impressive exit wound on the far side. The peddles mostly all had their own exit wounds, though they were tiny. The skin was not trashed by all the wounds which in my opinion was a big plus. The internals were shredded such as lungs, liver, etc and it appeared as though the Raptor didn't lose it's peddles until inside the chest cavity creating tremendous damage. The solid of course had a nice neat .458 hole all the way through so it was easy determine pathways of both bullets. The raptor penetrating his leg bone and out the rib cage did exactly as advertise. My PH was very impressed as were the other PH's when they looked at my trophies later in the hunt. So now I am up to 4 boxes requested by the safari PH staff including the owner, and I was not allowed to leave with any Raptors in my possession as the owner also shoots a .458 Win. Mag. on dangerous game.
The following morning we went across the river to Kruger for the day. The amount of game was astounding! The dugga boys in Kruger were so old and many were missing one or both horns. The young bulls both in Kruger and on the concession we hunted were amazing in spread and boss'. Who ever hunts there in the next few years is sure to get a wonderful trophy. I don't remember if I put out my bulls dimensions, so due to pride, I'll tell you again. He has 15" boss' and 35" spread. The boss' are what I am most proud of!
The morning after Kruger we loaded up and drove 3 hours North to "Main Camp". There we stayed in the Buffalo lodge and it was absolutely amazing! We ate Kudu, my Steenbok, and my Impala all week long and even some of my buff! All was absolutely mouth watering, and meat in which I could get here in the States. Cape to Cairo was my outfitter and I give them an A+++ rating. Every need or desire was met on this safari and it was priced very affordably.
Well now I had a lot of time and filled it with more animals. My wife wanted a zebra, and little did I know how damn hard that would be... We were taken to a meat camp daily to hunt the zebra. Now I don't know if any of you hunted one and had as hard as a time as I did, but brother, that is hard hunting! Nat Geo is a liar, as I spent two days sweating, bleeding from thorns, twisting ankles, and only getting two 200+ yards shots, missing both as the .458 hasn't ever even tried that before! I wasn't expecting to add animals, I know should have listened to you guys, and the damn wildebeasts busted us everytime we got within Christian shooting ranges. There is nothing more demoralizing then walking through thorns and thick jess for hours just to hear the hoof beats leaving you and never even get a look. Finally my old out of shape self told my young PH, I was done with those damn zebra this trip. On the way out and back to main camp we came across an amazing 4.5" Steenbok! I got off the truck and stalked him a short way then whacked him. The Raptor once again was amazing! I didn't destroy the little guy at all! The peddles were shed and the shank made about a 3" hole on the opposite side. Once again, my PH told me he would really like me to send him some, lol.
The net day we were off and I shot an amazing Impala ram on a dried river bed not even 2 hours into that days hunt. Took him to the skinning shed, and went back out intending to get a baboon. Well, and even larger Impala came along so I took him as well. That guy measured 25.5"!!! So now I had 4 animals in the salt and my wife aand wallet said no more. That left only 1 day which we filled with shooting at the range, loved the .450 Akley, and swimming. The staff made me drinks that made the heat dye off immediately and we feasted on my game. Then back the following day.
As my first huntreport, I know I have missed a ton of info, but I hope you enjoyed and enjoy the pics. This was a long time coming and a dream come true. If you haven't yet bagged your buff, stay the course as it is so worth the wait! I am having my buff's back skin made into a culling belt, knife sheath, and rifle sling. That way my first buff will always be with me on future safari's. That is how special it is folks!
