RhodesianRifleman
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This thread takes us back to 2021, when in December, I took part in a hunt, which was my first dangerous game hunt. Previously I had accompanied a buff hunt in 2017, but I shot an impala and did not accompany the actual buffalo hunt.
During this hunt, I carried my .375 CZ 550
I will not get into the details of where and with whom I was with on this hunt, but it was to be my first dangerous game hunting experience. Our plan was to take a few plains game, with a focus on elephant- specifically a tuskless cow and a bull under 30 pounds a-side. We were also after a buffalo under 36".
We were hunting a region in the Zambezi Valley, infact on the foothills. During the first few days, we spent our time looking for elephant, and checking baits for the PH's next hunt, which was a lion hunt.
On the third full day of the hunt, after we had our lunch, we decided to head back to camp. About 1 hour into the drive back, we spotted a herd of 4 elephant crossing the boundary, into our hunting area. Low and behold, there was a tuskless cow. May I just add here that tuskless cows are known to be formidable elephants due to their stresses of being in high demand. The reason for this is because their genetics can carry through- causing a possibility of more elephants being born tuskless. (Although it is a trait that is more common in cows, it isn't restricted to cows only.) Apparently, due to poachers decimating the animals with large tusks, the tuskless gene pool have become more prevalent. Thus, hunters try to remove the tuskless gene instead of going after trophy sized elephant bulls.
Anyway- we scrambled into the riparian vegetation, and headed toward the herd. Everything happened in a flash. The herd started moving up the river bank, and into the vegetation to our left. I was backing up, and as soon as I heard the first rifle fire, I started to fire. I recall one of my shots hitting a large mopane tree, whilst trying to keep a bead on the spinning cow. I had fired 5 shots in total, and she was down. This was emotional for me, and I definitely felt a throb in my heart, but I chose not to show it. The recovery team arrived at about 5 O'clock, and after a long day in the sun, we headed back to camp.
2 days later, we had an opportunity to hunt a zebra. One gentleman accompanying me had a go, and was delighted with a beautiful stallion. I do have a photograph, and will share it here. Later in the day, again after having some lunch, we spotted a bull further upstream near the river. We immediately halted, and fortunately we were downwind. We snuck up, and used a gwasha (game path) that lead us straight to the bull. Infact, our scent blew downwards, and as the bull crossed the path, it picked up our scent and appeared to stop in it's tracks, and proceed toward us. I heard the first shot go off, and immediately fired. I had enough time to place another shot, and the PH also placed a backing shot. After about 50 meters of tracking, we found the bull.
We had been looking for buffalo all this time, but with no fresh tracks, or daggaboy sign nearby. Fast track 2 days later, we had started focusing on buffalo since our last elephant, and found some buffalo spoor. We did quite a few approaches over the 2 days, and eventually we found a herd with a bull that was within our parameters. My hunting companion was to shoot the buffalo bull. It was mature enough, and within 36 inches. It was difficult to reach a distance that was close enough to shoot, without disturbing the herd, but it was a patience game. We must have spent close to 3 hours, just keeping the herd in our view, whilst trying to obtain a clear shot at the chosen bull. At last a clear shot was obtainable- and taken. One shot was all it took. Obviously he had placed an insurance shot, just to be sure. This bull was a beaut. His right horn had a round, almost ball on the end of it, something I have not seen before or since.
During the last couple of days, we took a few helmeted guinea fowl with a 12 gauge.
Some other notable, but very brief sightings, were two leopards, on two different occasions. And a male lion.
Unfortunately I do not have great photographs from this hunt, but I will post whatever I can find.
During this hunt, I carried my .375 CZ 550
I will not get into the details of where and with whom I was with on this hunt, but it was to be my first dangerous game hunting experience. Our plan was to take a few plains game, with a focus on elephant- specifically a tuskless cow and a bull under 30 pounds a-side. We were also after a buffalo under 36".
We were hunting a region in the Zambezi Valley, infact on the foothills. During the first few days, we spent our time looking for elephant, and checking baits for the PH's next hunt, which was a lion hunt.
On the third full day of the hunt, after we had our lunch, we decided to head back to camp. About 1 hour into the drive back, we spotted a herd of 4 elephant crossing the boundary, into our hunting area. Low and behold, there was a tuskless cow. May I just add here that tuskless cows are known to be formidable elephants due to their stresses of being in high demand. The reason for this is because their genetics can carry through- causing a possibility of more elephants being born tuskless. (Although it is a trait that is more common in cows, it isn't restricted to cows only.) Apparently, due to poachers decimating the animals with large tusks, the tuskless gene pool have become more prevalent. Thus, hunters try to remove the tuskless gene instead of going after trophy sized elephant bulls.
Anyway- we scrambled into the riparian vegetation, and headed toward the herd. Everything happened in a flash. The herd started moving up the river bank, and into the vegetation to our left. I was backing up, and as soon as I heard the first rifle fire, I started to fire. I recall one of my shots hitting a large mopane tree, whilst trying to keep a bead on the spinning cow. I had fired 5 shots in total, and she was down. This was emotional for me, and I definitely felt a throb in my heart, but I chose not to show it. The recovery team arrived at about 5 O'clock, and after a long day in the sun, we headed back to camp.
2 days later, we had an opportunity to hunt a zebra. One gentleman accompanying me had a go, and was delighted with a beautiful stallion. I do have a photograph, and will share it here. Later in the day, again after having some lunch, we spotted a bull further upstream near the river. We immediately halted, and fortunately we were downwind. We snuck up, and used a gwasha (game path) that lead us straight to the bull. Infact, our scent blew downwards, and as the bull crossed the path, it picked up our scent and appeared to stop in it's tracks, and proceed toward us. I heard the first shot go off, and immediately fired. I had enough time to place another shot, and the PH also placed a backing shot. After about 50 meters of tracking, we found the bull.
We had been looking for buffalo all this time, but with no fresh tracks, or daggaboy sign nearby. Fast track 2 days later, we had started focusing on buffalo since our last elephant, and found some buffalo spoor. We did quite a few approaches over the 2 days, and eventually we found a herd with a bull that was within our parameters. My hunting companion was to shoot the buffalo bull. It was mature enough, and within 36 inches. It was difficult to reach a distance that was close enough to shoot, without disturbing the herd, but it was a patience game. We must have spent close to 3 hours, just keeping the herd in our view, whilst trying to obtain a clear shot at the chosen bull. At last a clear shot was obtainable- and taken. One shot was all it took. Obviously he had placed an insurance shot, just to be sure. This bull was a beaut. His right horn had a round, almost ball on the end of it, something I have not seen before or since.
During the last couple of days, we took a few helmeted guinea fowl with a 12 gauge.
Some other notable, but very brief sightings, were two leopards, on two different occasions. And a male lion.
Unfortunately I do not have great photographs from this hunt, but I will post whatever I can find.
