.30-06 200 gr Nosler Partition. Maybe 100 yards. Shot from a rear angle on the left side to penetrate to the heart through a gap in the trees while the animals were walking. Eland ran a few steps then stopped shaking. We ran up and I gave him another shot to the broadside raking him. He fell over and died after a few minutes.

Was actually hunting a klipspringer when the fleeing klipspringer spooked a herd of eland that crashed away. We followed, at a jog for a couple of kilometres then a fast walk, tracking job for another two kilometres. I was very pleased to spot the first eland through the bush, just a rear leg knee, but George a tracker immediately saw my look and whispered the sighting forward. We had four trackers, and the PH plus me. We then quietly followed, and the eland were slowing as feeding as they walked. We still followed for about another kilometre while the bull was assessed and the opportunity for the shot presented itself.

I remember this hunt because it was a glorious chase, stalk and perfect shot. They got to happen by chance sometimes at least!

Also the PH Wayne Jardine was happy as another PH in the camp whom was doing live game capture by helicopter said it wasn't possible to kill eland with a mere .30-06. And he wanted to prove the guy wrong.

I would prefer my .375 H&H Mag or 9.3mm now, but all I had was a .30-06 and it did the job.

This was back in 1993, at Chipisi near West Nicholson in the South, on the Halstead Ranch in Zimbabwe. A game rich free range farm, since taken over by 'warvets' and no doubt now a wasteland. Right next door Charlie Stanton of Mbalabala Safaris had a ranch where many Aussies would have hunted as well.