ZAMBIA: 2018 Hunt With Strang Middleton In 2 Different Areas Of The Country

[Joe P]

Nice Lechwe! I have had a bad (good kind of bad maybe) feeling that if I see a good Lechwe when I'm over that I won't be able to resist, and now your story of the urge winning out tells me I'm probably right.

Great animals so far. Enjoying the read

 

[cpr0312]

Nice Lechwe! I have had a bad (good kind of bad maybe) feeling that if I see a good Lechwe when I'm over that I won't be able to resist, and now your story of the urge winning out tells me I'm probably right.

Great animals so far. Enjoying the read

I thought i would be able to fight off the urge, but seeing them every day got to me !!!

 

[cpr0312]

Day 10...... Looking Bushbuck and Impala

We will be going to one of his neighbors properties tomorrow to look for puku, and bushbuck if we dont fine one here. So today we will take a look for mainly bushbuck first thing, at lunchtime, and late afternoon. NO luck in the morn, so Strang asks if we would like to sit on some salt licks to look for impala. Sure thing!! He want us to take an impala. We sit on the salt licks for about 3 hours, nothing cooking for me. Mike sees lots of game at his location, but no luck.

After lunch we take off looking again for impala and bushbuck. We see a small group around 4pm, 1 ram and a few ewes. Quickly get on him, but he runs away to about 300 yards. Steady the 30-06, pick a spot and squeeze.. Well this time it was more like jerk unfortuantely. He's hit and not feeling well anyways. We get in the truck and get to where we shot and let the dogs out. They quickly find him only about 50 yards away. He was done by the time we got to him thankfully. I pulled the shot a few inches but it did the job! A few pics then I suggest lets go back to the lodge for an early afternoon since Strang still not feeling 100%

His wife made sweet and sour Lechwe tonight, wow it was fantastic!! Another round of Melva pudding with Custard, another sweet I never turn down!!

 

[cpr0312]

At this point if you don’t do anything but lounge around for the rest of the trip it’s been more than successful.

No doubt about that my friend! It had been a great trip to this point, its only going to be gravy from here on out!

 

[Bullthrower338]

Awesome story and great animals! You made my day when I received your hippo and croc pics!

 

[cpr0312]

Day 11...... Last hunting day

We head out about 7:45 and make it to the neighboring property about 9:30 after stopping for fuel and to get some lunch for the field later on. We start off on a quest for Puku. I really hope to get this Zambian species while here, and its the last day! We see a lot of oribi to start, and Strang says there are two real good rams, if only we were after oribi. This property is definitely more bushbuck type of an area for sure! So I also have some hopes for a bushbuck! Anyways, we find a small group of puku, but only with a young ram. We continue on and dont see anymore till lunchtime. We see some giraffe and after they move along we have our lunch, chicken pies and simba ships!

After lunch its back at out, Honestly I'd be happy with just puku and forgo the bushbuck (my 3 year nemesis) and still be more than happy.

Well we head back into bushbuck country and in this area they like to be out from about 12-1:30. Anyways we came around the corner after crossing a creek and there is one just standing under a tree. I quickly tap on the roof and he is identified as a shooter. Very quickly get into position, and he is now behind a brush where I can make out body but not all the details. I study it a quickly as possible, going through in my mind where to hold (shooting .375). Breath and sqeeze, ram runs off but we could tell he was hit. He runs about 40 yards and never comes out the other side of the brush. I finally after 3 tries have a bushbuck. Real heavy horned old guy, teeth worn down to almost nubs. Strang says this is a real heavy ram! I am more than happy!!

 

[jacques smith]

Amazing journey. Thanks for taking us along. Nicely done on finding old heavy horned critters, as they are special. But wish you would post a recipe for hippo lips[emoji56]cheers. Jacques

 

[cpr0312]

Day 11 continued.....

After taking the bushbuck to the skinning shed, we head back out in pursuit of Puku. Boy I hope we can find a good ram, as I said earlier, I really hope to take the Zambian species on this trip. About 2:00 we spot a big herd laying in the grass and make a plan. A good ram is identified and he is actually laying on the outer edge of the herd. Make a quick plan and get ready. Once they see us they quickly stand, but he stands a little too long. Its a hit but perhaps not great, we pursue quickly and find him standing about 50 yards from where he was, quickly put another on the shoulder, this one does the trick.! He's really cool as his ridges stop abruptly on the side of the horns!! I am very happy!! I am surprised a t how reddish/orange they actually are in person, very nice looking.

Back to the ranch for an early afternoon, a few beers, then another great dinner to finish off the hunting portion of the trip!

 

[BRICKBURN]

Nice finish.

 

[GA Hunter]

A grand trip to be sure. Several bucket list species for a lot of us here. Congrats my friend!!

 

[cpr0312]

I realize I've left out some details throughout the report. I want to include the local villages/villagers in a few. In the valley, it was cool to see the wells and schools that hunters help fund, and to see some of the faces and places the meat goes to....just look at the smiles on the kids faces

I for one enjoy interacting with them and the adults, and always saying hello and waving! All the kids in these villages wanted our used water bottles, thats it. To get a wave and get a water bottle, It touched my heart to see what a used water bottle meant to these kids, really puts things in perspective!

A few more random pics of the hunting time....

The ever loyal Rigby, hanging out with me while writing in my journal, making sure I didn't leave him for the afternoons hunt.

The outdoor eating/bar area at the ranch

And Strang and I going over the shot entry holes on Jaws

 

[cpr0312]

A grand trip to be sure. Several bucket list species for a lot of us here. Congrats my friend!!

Thanks bud, certainly a hunt of a lifetime, more than I could have hoped for!

 

[Ridgewalker]

Finally I get to see what a puku looks like! Very handsome and so is that lechwe and so is that bushbuck and...on and on! All fine trophies! What an awesome safari!

 

[buck wild]

cool deal- nice finish

 

[huntermn15]

What a fantastic experience and some great trophies top it off. Congratulations!

 

[cagkt3]

Awesome stuff sir, congrats on a great hunt!

 

[Riksa]

Thanks for sharing the story. Great read! Hope you get to hunt soon again, we are in desparate need of more hunting stories

 

[lwaters]

What a great Safari and fine report. I enjoyed it

 

[cls]

Great report and congrats on many fine trophies. Zambia is truly a special place.

 

[pacific]

Great set of trophies.well done!! Which GMA did you hunt in the luangwa?