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DAY TEN

Good day

We have been hunting kudu and bushbuck the past couple of days. The kudu are coming into rut now and bulls are beginning to materialize from the woodwork – we are seeing more and more each day. A kudu bull is an impressive sight at any time, but right now they look most spectacular, all puffed up with engorged necks and acting hard. On a couple of occasions, we have observed bulls dueling over cows – pitting pushing strength and clattering horns. We have seen many kudu bulls but not as many bushbuck rams as we would have liked. Yesterday evening, however, Rick connected with a fine bushbuck that measured 15 inches. Unfortunately, the picture that I am posting was taken by me back at camp after dark. Rick took photos with his camera earlier, but I cannot download from his memory card. I’ll make a plan and send the better pictures ASAP. Rick was using his .270 again, and made a perfect lung-shot on the buck.

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I went out hunting with Captain Bob’s team this morning. As we were crossing the Turgwe drift at sunrise, the Captain spotted spiral horns in amongst a small group of young waterbuck bulls, on a sandbar about 500 metres upstream. It was confirmed that the horns did indeed belong to a big kudu bull and a stalk was initiated. Stalking through the head-high reeds that line the riverbank, we closed the gap rapidly. The kudu and waterbuck were across the river from us, and given no other choice, the Captain was forced to take a long shot over the water. Later we ranged it at 197 yards. The lone kudu bull knew that something was amiss and began walking towards the bush-line as Lymon set up the shooting sticks. Guy called out over the river and the kudu stopped, looking back over its shoulder at us. With the bull quartering away, the Captain let drive, hitting exactly where intended – just in front of the hips. Propelled by 300 grains, the Swift A Frame slug angled through the bull’s length, exiting the left shoulder. The bull hunched tellingly before leaping off into the brush and dying within 30 yards. In fact, that bull died as the Captain’s bullet hit it. It just didn’t realize it was dead until it covered 30 yards. It was a great shot and the Captain was deservedly rewarded – the bull measured an excellent 55 inches. Captain Bob is well pleased with his classic shape kudu trophy and so he should be. We too are well pleased with the Skipper’s trophy. I am posting a few pictures of the Captain’s kudu, from different perspectives.

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Monster waterbuck are laying low but nobody is overly concerned about it at this stage. After being led on a merry dance by that huge waterbuck a few days ago, Rick is only interested in taking something similar and something similar will be hard to find. No matter – as stated nobody is under any pressure to do anything right now. We are just cruising along, picking off the few plainsgame trophies that the Captain and Rick want. Rick took a wildebeest bull this evening with another perfect shot and high spirits are the order of the day. Actually, high spirits have been the order of this entire hunt. Rick does really want a kudu bull and the Captain may take a bushbuck if we come across a big one, but other than that and possibly a warthog or two, the hunt is concluded. There are still 5 days remaining and it is highly probable that we spend at least one of those days fishing. The Captain is the only one not too keen of the fishing. Earlier on today, he growled that he has spent 35 years at sea on a fishing boat and doesn’t really feel the need to be in another boat at this stage! The Captain is a funny man and great fun to be around. We are having a fantastic hunt.

The elephant bull taken by Richard Tabor’s client in Chewore weighed in officially at 66 and 60 pounds respectively! Think about that, all those who say Chewore no longer produces big elephant. I shall get details and photographs when I begin a hunt with Richard in about a week’s time. Probably only be able to get the photos to you a couple of weeks after that, as the hunt is in the Zambezi Valley and there is no broadband internet there! Hang on – the chances are I’ll team up with Rich in Harare the day before we drive out together and I’ll try to post the ele pictures then. And the lion pictures of course.

Throughout this thread, I have failed to mention that the Captain, Rick and Brent have another hunting buddy named Jeff who is also hunting with RWS at this time. He is hunting with PH Magara Dirapenga in Chewore. News from Chewore has been erratic and I have only had a thorough update recently. The news is that Jeff has taken a buffalo, leopard, kudu, waterbuck and bushbuck, and that they are all good trophies. Again, I shall post pictures ASAP.

This hunt is winding down, as is this thread. I shall submit another update or two and then I shall take you across the country, to the Zambezi Valley, where I will be accompanying an elephant bull hunt. Unforunately, I will only be able to post the report of that hunt upon its conclusion. I hope you are enjoying these hunt reports - I am trying to make them as bearable as possible. I should get better as time goes.

Good hunting friends

Dave

Edited by David_Hulme (25/04/07 06:54 AM)

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