Our first day of hunting was from a ground blind over looking a water hole. Time at a water hole is time well spent. You get to see many animals and have the chance to soak in the sounds, smell and feel of Africa. This is somthing you do not get all that much chance to do if you are in the back of a Land Rover bouncing over the dirt tracks, (roads). Also for me it was nice as the stitches did not pull and hurt since I was sitting in a comfy chair.
I saw probably over a hundred Impalas before I shot the one shown in my first post and this Impala though really great will always be special to me as it was my first African animal. Once he was loaded into the truck and on his way to the butchering facilities we were hunting again, this time for Warthog or pigs as the Africans call them.
We saw many, the females would come into the water hole with their tails erect like the radio antenna on a car and the little ones following in single file mimicking their mom. The old bores would walk in with the strut of a bar room brawler and the smaller Warthogs would move over giving him a wide birth. The doves cooed, and the Rhinos lounged in the shade of the Blackthorn trees, letting out an ocassional sigh which blew cloude of red kalagadi dust into the air. Finally a big old bore strutted into the water hole, he would make the Safari Club book and he had an attitude of a Sumo wrestler. Walter, my P.H. wispered that he was an excellent pig and if I had a chance to take him I should. With this said, I shot him. Walter was suprised, with the Impala he asked if I could take him so I fired and he dropped now the Warthog all he said was if I had the chance I should shoot and I did. He commented; "I do not know what it is but every time I start a sentence you seem to punctuate it by firing that rifle!" To me it was obvious he had never hunted deer in Maine. I do not know why that comes out in black and white that smiling little critter should be in color.

Great story !

If you keep this up I just might head to Africa lol .

That thing is mean looking .

I can almost feel and smell like I am there!! Great stories Jud....Impressive wart hog...Congrats.

Jud, That is a nice story and a nice photo even if it did turn out in Black and White.

On the evening of our first day of hunting some of our lugage arrived at Atherstone, a 65,000 acre consesion where we were staying in plush and very spoiled conditions. We had time to sight in my .366 DGW and my back up rifle, a 7mm Mauser built on a G- 3340 action before dark. We were still one bag short but we had the guns, ammo and most of our hunting clothes so all was fine, our last bag came the following night.
In the morning it was a wake up knock on the door to our chalet at 4:30 in the morning, breakfast at 5:30 and climb in to the Land Rover and go hunting. Today we were off to Sable Pan and we were to hunt from a high blind, (An elevated blind) When we arrived and climbed the stairs to the blind I saw the water hole and a huge expance of open ground surounding the water which during the rainy season would have been filled with water. Our P.H. Walter went back to the truck and I mumbuled to Barb that this was insane as nothing would come in here! Walter returned and the truck drove away.
Boy was I wrong, after about 15 minuits in came the Warthogs one of which was a real broot, far bigger then the one I had already taken, my trigger finger itched but Walter looked him over with the binos and found he had a broken tusk, lucky for him as a second Warthog was on my hit list. Soon after came a herd of around ahundred Impalas and while they were drinking three Eland walked in to drink. They dwarfed the Impalas and soon followed five cow Waterbucks. We were impressed at how all the critters got along and intigrated. Then, in a silly form of single file came 15 Wildibeast, slowly, with a tired hourse like gate they joined the croud Barb and I had never seen any thing like this it was some thing we will never forget.
Latter the Kudos came in, first the cows, followed by the bulls. The only way to describe this single file prosesion is the Regal walk, for their magistry is impressive. Heads heald high and with a walk of regal dignity they came to the water. One was old, he limped on a hind leg and showed the scars of battle for dominance over the years. His days were numbered but what a trophy! I shot him from 178 yards and now he lives on, his beauty and magistry I can share with others as he is a shoulder mount in my trophy room, small though it is. Many people who have seen him coment on his beauty and as Barb has said he lives on where otherwise his beauty would have been lost to the Jackals and Hyaenas in at most a year or so.
Barb does have a point That Kudo is special mto me as it is the first critter I got with the cartridge I created but more important is the fact that we can shaire him with those who may never get the chance to go and see animals like this alive and in the wild.
By the way, if any of you get up this way, give me a call, you are more then welcome to stop by, see our shop ans share our trophies with us!!! 207-938-3595

We staid in the high blind for the rest of the day and watched the critters come and go but nothing else we were after came in and the day started to cool and the sun droped in the sky casting a red evening glow over the land. Then, some thing I will always remember happened. On the far edge of Sable Pan, about 300 yards away, a family of Rhinos silently walked into view. The male came first, followed by mother and baby. The red glow of the setting sun gave the scene a movie feeling with the long shadows and fadding light.
Morning comes early when on a safari and the next day it was still dark when Barb and I got up our third day of hunting. Today we were to try to find a Gemsbok, the Ghost of Africa. These long horned critters have the blackand gray clown face with long straight ringed horns and when they see you the vanish into the bush with increadable ease. On this day the breeze swearled and constantly changed direction and the closest we could approach was about 350 yards, way too far for a shot at these tough beasts.
After lunch we decided to check out a water hole and sent the tracker to check things out. Half an hour later he returned and informed us that there were no Gemsboks there but several Eland and a dozen Zebras. Now since a Zebra was on my list this had potential! Finally after a long stalk we were behind a berm over looking the water hole and my P.H. picked out a nice Zebra. He cautioned me to place the shot well as these animals could take a hit from a .375 and still go hundreds of yards. I aimed where instructed and fired. Walter, the P.H. jumped up and ran down the berm then stoped, at first I thought some thing was wrong, then I saw the Zebra, he had taken about two jumps and piled up in a heap. The .366 DGW was proving it self!

I may be wrong but it seeme not too many people are intrested in my posts. If I am boring you people let me know what to change please because I enjoy sharing with you!!

great stories Judd .. i enjoy them

I enjoy them

Jud,

Thanks for sharing your stories, I too enjoy them and please always continue to share them.

I think for some Africa may be Unfamiliar to them as wel as this being a young and growing forum... Please continue to share your pictures and stories...

I am in the early stages of planning a 5 animal African Hunt myself... Very early stages yet and may not happen this year but im striving for it to happen this year... Waterhole binds seem to be the ticket during the dry season and Im looking to go with the Bow...well see what happens

Dan

Jud - I read every word with the interest of a little boy reading about Peter Pan. Great stories. Please keep 'em comming.

Day four nothing much happened, it was the usual cold in the morning and hot by 2:00 but since it was so dry rather comfortable. We were still looking for Gemsboks and the powers that be denied us of them. Our tracker checked out one group we were planing to ambuish at a water hole and when he came back he told us they had been to water and would not return that day. I asked how he could tell all this and Walter told me that the tracker could tell by the size of the Gemsbok's stomac. These trackers are great!!!! Towards evening a good warthog ran across our path and Walter told me to take him and I picked him up in the scope and fired. I hit too far back, it would have been a good hit on a deer but in Africa it equaled a gut shot! We got him and Walter said if it had been a lesser caliber the Warthog may have been lost but even so I regret the shot and would not take a shot at running game again!
This is my one low piont in this trip and some thing I too this day am ashamed of. I put getting the animal above making a clean kill and should have passed up the shot as I am not used to taking running shots, this haunts me to this day, tho the Warthog only went around 150 yards before we caught up to him and finished him off. This is somthing we should all keep in mind, if the shot is not right, do not pull the triger, we owe this to our game!!
Sorry about the picture that is not my second Watrhog, that is the Wildebeast I got the next day. Well I might as well tell you about him since he came up and I messed up!
It was Sunday and we went to another waterhole, and my stitches were healing nicely. All sorts of birds dipped from the trees and sang their songs as the feed on things we could not see from the blind. A fish Eagle called from a distance and then made an appearence as he swooped low droping his tallons like a airplane droping it's landing gear for a landing and with suprising grace it geabbed a fish and rose into the trees surounding the water hole. Wildibeast came and went, along with Kudos and the Warthogs. A jackel aproached the water and on tence spring loaded legs lapped up its coolness.
Finally an old bull Wildebeast entered the picture at the far end of the waterhole. He had been kicked out of the heard and his breading days were over, cast out by probably a younger, stronger bull he was a prime tryphy. My wife, Barbara said it was like he offered himself to me, for he walked along the shores and stoped offering the perfect broadside shot. At the shot he went about 35 yards before he fell, and now he graces my wall and lives on so all can see his unique beauty!

OK, here is the second Warthog, as you can see by my expression I am not happy about the was things went down!

That hog is a mean looking machine !

Monday morning came early as we were heading to the foot hills of the Drakenburg Mountains to hunt for Nyala. Nyalas are a solitary Mountain critter and the bulls tend to be loners once the reach breeding age. They like the bush and are rather hard to find and get close to since they stay in the thick stuff.
The morning was cold, in the thirties and shrouded in a misty fog that added a mysterous feel to loading up and getting on the road to head to our new home for the next three days. By 6:00 we were on the road and the morning mist burned up and it was another beautiful day in Africa. One of the things Barb and I enjoyed the most was the traveling and seeing Africa. If you asked me to describe Africa, or at least South Africa in one sentence I would say it is a country of extreems. You will see squaller and poverty like you have never imagined then a few miles away you will see the locals doing wood carving and native crafts and selling them at road side stands. Their housing traditional but neat and the people clean. Their kids walking many miles to school each day dressed in either gray slacks and a white shirt or a gray skirt and white blouse. It is a country in transition and in the future a country with lots of potential!
It was a bit after three in the afternoon when we reached our new lodging at the Byala Lodge, it was like a paridice with all the conviences you could ask for. Once we got setteled in we went for a ride to try and find some Nyalas and get a feel for the area. I was lucky as hunting is not usually allowed here as Byala is for the most part for photografic safaris but the Nyala population was getting too large since this is prime land for them. That first evening we saw several, one a shooter but he seemed to realise this and he departed over a six foot fence with ease and vanished.
The next morning, again there was the misty fog even though we were up in the mountains and we headed out at 5:30. In these foothills you drive up steep inclines and slide down 45 degree angle slopes on the other side, it takes a bit of getting used to!!!! At around 7:15 Walter saw a Nyala in the thick thorns around 70 yards off the road. At first I could not even see him as they blend in with their suroundings better then any animal I have ever hunted. Finally I saw the white on his flank in front of his hind quarters and through the scope found a hole in the brush and his front shoulder. I could not see his neck, head or horns so I was counting on Walters judgement.
Since he had given me a hard time about shooting too fast in the past, I could not help asking if the Nyala was facing to the left right before I shot. Barb said the look on Walters face was priceless as the Nyala was facing to the right and I am sure he had visions of a hit in the rump and a long trailing job. The Nyala took two jumps and piled up, He measured 27.5" and is very special to me because if it were not for the auction I could not afford the trophy fee for this majestic animal. The picture of him is in the road was where we carried him for pictures in the rear is the bush where you go to find them. Bye the way if you guys have questions, please feel free to ask them, I will do my best to answer.

Jud ,

How far are you off of 495 ? I would really like to see some of your mounts and your gun shop on my next trip to Maine .

Don

Jud - can you give us new guys a quickie run-down on the auction? What auction?

Our shop is about 11 miles from Newport Maine or about two and a half hours north of Portland depending on your driving, for me it is about 2 hours.
The auction I was refering to is the Safari Club Fund Raiser. It is a great place to get a hunt as the over seas hunts usually go for less then half the value, usually much less!!!! Get references and check out the outfitter as you never know and some are not up to the standerads the Safari Club expects.
On our most recent trip the P.H. was great when he was working with Numzaan Safaris but now that he is out on his own he is poor! Trophy quality is good but services are poor. Now compaired to a U.S. hunt he would be rather good but for South Africa he is poor. With an outfit like Numzaan Safaries you will probably have more creature comforts and stuff then you do at home unless you are very rich. With Numzaan or other such outfitters you will be very spoiled and cattered to, quite the experiance!

After I got our Nyala we went to the Indian Ocean for a day then it we on to our next outfitter, (the one where we got the ten days for one hunter and one non hunter at the SCI fund raiser). Our departure from Numzaan was a sad moment as we had had a fantastic time and made som friends we will always remember, and hunt with again! It was around a four hour drive to our meeting point and we were reluctant to go but we had to as this was the plan.
Batular Safaris was owned by Bucks Botha and he did not have the personality of either Steff or our prior P.H. Walter. Barb and I did not know quite what to make of this but we took it in stride and were soon setteled into very nice accomidations in the foot hills of the Waterburg Mountains. In the morning we went hunting and nothing that was shootiably was seen, the trophy quality of Numzaans teritory did not seem to be here but the country was beautiful. My new P.H. Richard and his assistant seemed to be a bit concerned about me testing out my new cartridge as velosity is not some thing really liked over there but on our second day we found my second Zebra and he stoped prior to crossing a road. Richard asked if I had a shot and I replied yes and fired. The Zebra tipped over and that was it. Both Hugo and Richard were quite impressed as they told me they had never seen a Zebra go down so quick, they usually took a jump or two at the least. Some times they went for several hundred yards with a vital hit. I tried to explain that a 300 grain Swift A Frame at 2900+ fps does wonders. They still liked big and slow but maby they were starting to see the light.
If all comes out this picture will be of me and my second Zebra.

I would hate to have to pay your taxidermist !

Keep em posting !!!!

Now Richard was not that much of a P.H.!!!! Being a part time P.H. he knew that once I got what I was after he was out of work. So for the next 3 days he was noisy, broke any branch that got in his way when we were stalking game and in general did all sorts of things that made me want to have him taken to the taxidermist and done as a shoulder mount! After how many people have a shoulder mount of a P.H. who was a real wild bore? All was not bad though the food was great, we had game every night and the cookiny was fantastic. So were the accomidations. Barb and I were staying in a cottage set off several hundred yards from the main house so you felt like you were out in the wilds. There were several nights that we sat outside watching our small fire in the out door fire place sipping on a sun downer and stairing up into the night sky. The stars were increadably and the night alive with the sounds of Africa, knowing morning would come early we would go to bed at around 10:00 and be woken up in the morning at around 4:30 by a knock on the door meaning that it was time to get up and that there was a basket of fresh pastry and roles out side the door to our cottage.
On our fith day here we were out looking for Blesboks. These funny white faced creatures prefered the hills and the grassy bush and we chased a heard around the hill top for several hours. There was a nice bull in the heard and he would usually stand and pose for me as I got into a shooting position and then runn off. My stitches were pulling painfully and trying to get into a prone position was also hard on my poor arthritic joints. I was really begining to dislike this Blesbok and had a very intence desire to shoot him. Finally, with stitches pulling and joints aching he hung around a bit too long. At the shot Richard said that I nailed him and Yody, another P.H. with us that day complmented me on my shot but all I saw after I fired was a Blesbok running over the ridge, I thought they were on some thing. Richard lead me up to my Blesbok and it we then that I realised that the one I shot had gone down so fast that I had taken the one off to the right as the one I shot at. Looking at the camcorder tape you can see the one I shot go down but I have never seen an animal drop that fast! Bye the way that is my wife Barbara with me in that picture.

Great stories Jud. I love the Kudo one, I just got back from an Africa safari and almost had a shot at one. He was standing broad side with a smaller one in back of him, and I couldn't get a clear shot, it was only 40 yds. Unless you see one in the wild you have no idea how majestic looking and how stately they run. A very proud animal indeed. But I do have the memory of the moment and that was only one memory of the trip along with many others. I do want to tell people to go on a hunt to Africa, it will be the best hunt you will ever go on.

After the Blesbok Richard was up to hus usual stuff. We were trying to find a Gemsbok and though we saw many as noisy as Richard was we could never get within range. Now on one stalk Barb stayed with the truck while Richard and I tried to sneak up on five of the elusive critters. As we stalked Richard broke branches and was in general very noisy the thoughts going threw my mind were not kind ones. Finally we got to where the Gemsboks had been and of course they were gone. When we got back to the truck Barb was excited about what she had seen while we were gone she opened the view screan on the com corder and showed me a heard of five Gemsboks that loitered in the road for several minuits they were joined by about six more and stayed untill they heard us returning.
Richard just shrugged and got in the back of the truck, I was not pleased to say the least. This went on for several days and both Barb and I were getting frustrated. On Saturday we got up well before day light to a foggy morning. We had a light breakfast and headed out to a new place to hunt. It was a cool ride in the back of the truck and by the time we got to this new area the sun was starting to come up and burn off the fog.
We slowly drove along a huge open area I supose best described as a plane for it seemed to go on for many miles. We stayed tight to the edges of the bush and all at once Richard stopped and slowly reversed into the brush. Getting out he wispered that he had seen several Gemsboks several hundred metters down the plane behind a little finger of bush and trees. I had not seen them but I had seen a heard of Blue Wildebeasts and scatterded groups of Blesboks.
Richard said we should try a stalk and I agreed to give it another try but expected the usual out come. After a few minuits I knew today was different, Richard was being quiet! Finally we reached the finger of trees and stalked through to the other side, no Gemsboks but many Blesboks and Wildebeasts. Richard seemed almost sincere when he said "I saw them , they have to be here!"
I pointed out to him that if they had tried to leave we should have seen them. He agreed so we decided to waite a bit and see what happened. After a few minuits a Gemsbok appeared out to our left and then turned and stopped infront of us around 175 yards away. Richard said it was a female and could be taken as a trophy but that we should waite a bit more and see if a male showed up. Five minuits went by, the female was still grazing in front of us and then the male walked out to our left about 150 away and increasing this distance with each step. On my next post I will fill you in on a really good hunting story finishing my Gemsbok hunt.

The male Gemsbok continued increasing the distance as Richard checked him out with his binoculars. Finally he said he was a shooter and told me to use his shoulder as a rest and to fire if I felt good about the shot. There were some good points about Richard. I setteled the cross hairs just behind the Gemsbok's front shoulder as he was quartering away and fired when he was at around 220 yards. As I heard the bullet strick Richard in a panicky voice said reload, top off your magizine!! This meant that I looked away from the Gemsbok which took off like a scalded cat at the shot. When I looked up again the two gemsboks were side by side, (Remember the female 175 yards in front of us?) The one closest to us had its head up high and was looking around with intrest, the one behind had it's head down and looked real lathargic, Blessboks and Wildebeasts were running all over the place. Richard said "Waite for him to clear, waite for him to clear before you shoot!!!"
I waited and when the second Gemsbok stepted clear I fired at it's neck. Richard sounded frantic as he yelled they are both hit, your bullet must have gone through and hit the second one I told you to waite!!!"
I asked him, how the bullet could of gone through to hit the second Gemsbok, that was the one I was shooting at. Well both ran off and fell within a few yards. I was amazed that the male had stayed on his feet for as long as he did as my first shot had taken out the top half of both lungs and one shoulder! The female went around 50 yards before going down, my shot at her had opened both arteries in her neck.
Now poor Richard was all up set, he was mumbling somthing about he thought I knew which animal was which and how will Bucks take this(Bucks was the outfitter) and what was he going to do. I sort of ignored his ramblings as I was elated!!!!!!!!!!! Two Gemsboks, one male and one female in fifteen seconds that was something and what a mount it would make.
When Barb arived I had a bit of explaining to do but once she understood she warmed up to the idea. It was not planed, and in reality a mistake but it was also something that never happens, one fo these critters is usually work, but two. Richard even smiled as the pictures were taken and said that no one will believe it as he had never seen two in under a minuit before.
I had both done as a pedistal mount, the female is the one on the right, the male on the left,(I think)

Since I did not log in before posting the prior post I am known as a guest and have no picture for you! I will post the picture here and maby Double Lunger can put it where it should be, sorry about that!

That was the end of our first trip to Africa and the people who told me you never go once were right as Africa becomes a part of you!

The 747 rolled down the runway leaving Johanisburg and heading for New York. The tears streamed down Barbara's face and I asked what was wrong. She said; "I have never felt so home sick in my life!" I told her that we would be home in around 19 hours. "No not that, it is what we are leaving behind!" she replied. I knew how she felt for leaving Africa is to leave a part of you behind, a part that hurts to loose, you will return.
Once home it was great to have our dog Shadow back and what a greating we got from him. I was back working in the gunshop part time as I had to go for radiation treatments every day. (Remember the cancer?) But we both had an empty spot in our lives and it was not just the stress of the cancer and other stuff. Finally we realised that we had planed for our safari for three years and that is half the fun of a trip like that. Believe it or not the planning is lots of fun, the antisipation, expitations and waiting all play a big part along with the count down. There was only one thin we could do. We had to plan another trip and we settelet on 2005 but circumstances changed that to 2004 and July but that is another story for latter.

Hay, how come I get no feed back? Do I really write and spell that bad?

Awesome stories Jud, I really enjoyed reading all of them. Sounds like the hunt of a lifetime.

I had the privledge of visiting the trophy room of Rob Trott, the host & producer of Great Lakes Outdoor Television. He has taken several trips to Africa and has the trophies to prove it. Seeing all these beautiful animals is impressive to say the least. Here are a few pictures I took.

Gemsbok.....

First:
Greater Kudu, two impalas, Gemsbok, and I can't remember the names of those smaller ones, but they look like "evil fawns"..... they have small horns that stick straight up.

Second:
Greater Kudu, this is truly a magnificent animal...... very impressive to see up close. From what he said, this is about the smallest kudu that can be considered a trophy...... It's still huge though.

First: Red Hartebeest, very abnormal skull..... it's horns seem to be part of it's head rather than growing out of it.

Second: Eland, built like a brick #$^% house. Massive animal, you could compare it to a bull on steroids.

I can't remember or find the name of this animal, but it is VERY interesting. It seems like it has the features of five different animals. I guess they are quite rare, that is why he decided to have a full mount done.

This is a klipsringer..... He said he took him at 475yds. It's coat is simlar to fleece.

That critter you were not sure of is a Nyala I think from the looks of it. I also got one and they are a really neat animal. They like the hills and the thick stuff and the bulls are usually loners and thus hard to come by.
Barbara and my life settled into our usual routine and as deer season approached I could not help but wonder if I would enjoy deer hunting as much as I used to after Africa. After seeing hundreds of animals a day when hunting and now hopping to see even one made me have some doubts. My concerns were unfounded as when the Maine deer season arrived I had some very pleasent days in the woods and even got a small buck. Snow came early and we setteled down for the long cold and hard winter. Our minds were never far from Africa and there were many times in my gun shop where customers and I talked of Africa and for them a first hunt and for me a second hunt on the dark continant.
Alex, who I have known for several years was especially intrested and wanted to go with us and thus we started our plans for our next trip. Alex was origionally planing on going to Africa with a friend but his friend after 6 months backed out. Other then comming to Maine for deer hunting, (Alex lives in Mass.) Alex had never gone on any sort of long trip and was rather apprensive to go on his own so we moved our pland ahead a year and decided we would all go togther and Alex would be my hunting partner.