Schauckis,

Thanks for posting your story and photo! That's nothing to be embarrassed about in my humble opinion! I very much admire and respect your frankness and honesty. That's hunting... It doesn't always work out the way we'd like it to.

Heck, on my first plains game safari in South Africa, back in 2000, I muffed my first shot on a Gemsbok. I hit him too far back and the CHASE was on! During the pursuit, my PH hit the Gemsbok with two shots from his .458 Lott before the Gemsbok went down. I put the finishing shot into him with my .375 H&H.

Here he is:

Admittedly not the hunt that I'm the proudest of but we did follow him up and finish the job and there's absolutely no shame in that, IMHO!

Congrats on YOUR Hartebeest!!

Cheers, my friend!

-Bob F.