DAY TWO

Thank you all for your comments.

Before I get into day two, a word about yesterday's report. As I mentioned, it was a bit of a rushed report and not done exactly as I would have liked. My one major blunder was that I neglected to emphasize the role that professional hunter Lymon Chitimela played in the taking of the leopard. Lymon has a great understanding of leopard hunting and was present throughout yesterday's action, his input considerable. Lymon will be hunting with Captain Bob's team throughout this fourteen day hunt. We have also been promised the company of our very own Mr Roger Whittall himself, for a couple of days when his hectic workload allows. We are all looking forward to hunting with this African hunting legend, if only for a short while. Still regarding yesterday's report, Rick's full name is Rick Rice.

Well, I officially joined the hunt early this morning, riding with Captain Bob's team initially, and moving onto Rick's team later in the day. I have been signed on as a number two cameraman, which suits me 100%. I couldn't care if I was on the team as a water bearer, I just need to hunt!
Anyway, we did not concentrate specifically on buffalo as I mentioned we probably would - we left camp this morning with open minds. Everyone's primary objective right now is to get a good leopard for Rick, and we headed out in opposite directions before dawn, to check baits and seek out promising spoor. Everyone struck out, and by 8 a.m. we received the information that Pete and Rick were tracking some buffalo on Bedford Block. 8 a.m. is already too late to put hounds on leopard spoor, and the hunters grasped the opportunity when they chanced upon the fresh buff tracks. Whilst Rick, Pete and co tracked the buffalo, we enjoyed a very pleasant drive around Humani proper, through an area known as Jurus which is teeming with plainsgame. Although we saw a heap of game, we are biding our time for there is no rush. Captain Bob took a couple of impala baits for Rick, and whilst we trundled back to camp for lunch, Pete radiod to let us know that Rick had taken an excellent buffalo bull.

[URL=

][IMG]

Rick and his bull

Over lunch, we got the rundown from Rick and Pete, and watched the great footage that Ryan managed to capture. As mentioned, Rick's team had got onto the spoor of a small herd (roughly 15) at about 8 a.m. In that herd was a bull that left a sizeable imprint. The buff had been scared by some lions on the Turgwe and were moving fairly fast. The trail led the hunters away from the river and into a vast fever tree forest, which is one of Bedford's many scenic attractions. The tracking session lasted approximately one and a half hours, and then the hunters came up on the herd. The buffalo were strung out and moving through the trees across the hunters' front. They were walking purposefully, but the wind was okay and they were not unduly alarmed. The men assumed the buff were still trying to put as much distance between themselves and the lions as possible. What they didn't realize was that this was a splinter group and they were en route to joining up with a much larger herd which was not far off. That was only made known when the action began and the bigger herd bombshelled. Anyhow, As the buffalo passed by, Pete scanned them thoroughly until he saw what he was looking for. The bovines had no intention of stopping and so Pete brought them to a halt with a low whistle. Broadside on they stood, at about 60 yards, the targeted bull slightly angled towards the hunters with kill zone unobstructed. Rick was already up on the sticks and did not hesitate, letting drive and striking the intended point, where neck meets shoulder. The slug exited the far shoulder and the bull blundered off with its buddies into the trees. Rick employed the infamous Texas heart shot, and perfectly spined, the bull collapsed like a felled heavyweight boxer. It was a brilliant display of heavy calibre offhand marksmanship - the shot about eighty yards and many trees for the bullet to negotiate its way between. An insurance shot and it was done. The bull measured 40 inches with 15 inch bosses and a typically huge Humani torso.

This afternoon we placed a number of leopard baits in likely areas and we are hoping for a good hit tonight. Relevant toasts were made over dinner this evening. We are doing well, with two wonderful trophies taken in two days. Although everyone present has plenty of hunting experience and we understand that anything could happen during the next twelve days, we are not so quietly optimistic!

I believe that tomorrow is going to be another fantastic day. I shall keep you posted.