Can you remember your first African animal?

[Eventually_Africa_Again]

I was thinking about all the hunters and huntresses we have on this site, some of who'm have been at the Africa Hunting addiction groups for a very long time and I was wondering if people still remembered what their first ever African trophy was, and perhaps what the circumstances leading up to that irreplaceable shot were. So if you have a mind to share and can recall, I'd love to hear it, and I'm sure other newer hunters (and perhaps some of the old hands as well) would love to hear it as well!

 

[spike.t]

October /November 1989 , Tanzania, selous, 30 day hunt, 44 inch buff taken with Rigby .470 double , that was Paul roberts own rifle he lent me as my spare heavy rifle.. ..what got me loving double rifles. ......

 

[cpr0312]

Should have been a red hartebeest, jerked the trigger and missed. Ended up being am impala and a wonderful, emotional experience. South Africa, northern cape March 2011

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Nyala, July 2010, details as vivid as if just happened.

 

[sestoppelman]

Nyala, July 2010, details as vivid as if just happened.

Well it almost did, only 8 years ago?

 

[sestoppelman]

I had to go look in my journal, so long ago! Tanzania, December 1985. Thompsons gazelle.

 

[lwaters]

I had to go look in my journal, so long ago! December 1985. Thompsons gazelle.

One animal that I don't see many people getting.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Well it almost did, only 8 years ago?

I remember my first deer in 1991 if that helps? Actually I think I can recall the details of just about every 4 legged furry critter I've taken.

 

[sestoppelman]

Tanzania was a whole lot less expensive back then. It was a 7 day 2x1 package deal with 7 animals including buffalo, for less than $5000,, RT airfare from NY included! Oh mama!!

 

[sestoppelman]

I remember my first deer in 1991 if that helps? Actually I think I can recall the details of just about every 4 legged furry critter I've taken.

First deer for me was in Alaska, 1968, two does. Sidehill salmon we called them, small Sitka blacktail, beach deer. Shot from the wheelhouse of my dads old wooden tugboat.

 

[VonJager]

Gemsbok, Namibia, May 2011

 

[Hogpatrol]

Black Wildebeest, 2013, first day of the hunt. That morning, I felt like I was in an alternate universe. Holy sheepshit, I am about to go hunting in AFRICA!
OT, first deer, top of a mountain in central PA hunting with my father, shot a small forkhorn. Father came over, gutted it for me with his pen knife, I tied a rope around it's neck to drag back down to camp. I tug on the rope, I say "It's stuck". My father says "he ain't stuck, he's heavy". That was over 50 years ago and I can still hear him saying that.

 

[kgesch]

2014 - near Kei River - Impala - shot was all of 27 yards.

 

[tarbe]

October /November 1989 , Tanzania, selous, 30 day hunt, 44 inch buff taken with Rigby .470 double , that was Paul roberts own rifle he lent me as my spare heavy rifle.. ..what got me loving double rifles. ......

Sheesh! What a way to start!

 

[spike.t]

Sheesh! What a way to start!

yup .....but first was nearly a lion we came across on the first morning.....but turned out to be a lioness....

 

[Savage Hunter]

2012 with Marius of KMG.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Namibia 2007 in the Steinhausen region, took a very nice Gemsbok. I was working in Angola and another American asked me if I wanted to go hunting in Namibia. Inexpensive flight from Luanda to Windhoek. The hunt was a short notice, 5 day cancellation hunt. Also took a Red Hartebeest. Late on the last day, we spotted a huge Kudu and when I got set up to shoot, I was looking straight into the setting sun and couldn't see anything. It took me a few more hunts before I finally got a Kudu.

 

[Graham Hunter]

97 in SA a vervet as my Outfitter wanted to see if I could shoot. Then a Cape Springbok.

 

[JES Adventures]

32 years ago - Impala in the Gwaai Valley, I hope I never forget that day!

 

[sestoppelman]

Dig that hatband!