Hi guys, thanks for the thoughts.
We had a 12 day hunt in early July with Osombehe nord safaris.. The party was made up of myself,Mark,his 15yr old son Jordi, and Lance, a property manager from near the Simpson desert in Outback Aus. Drought in both places had Lance feeling right at home, although at half a million acres, his property is rather XL.
We headed north from Omitara to near Grootfontein to hunt Eland and after we arrived and settled in to the farm bunkhouse and an outdoor lunch, we headed for three different blinds.
Within ten minutes of settling in eland cows and young bulls began wandering in to the water.We spent the next three hours watching more eland arrive until 41 were milling about. Eventually three bulls slowly emerged from the bush in single file..the first was an impressive animal with what looked to my inexperienced eye about 36 inch horns. Marcus the PH informed me that it was about a 6 year old animal.As you can expect I was rather excited.
I had been confidant that with the large number of animal present that a good bull would turn up at some stage..
As the second and third bull emerged I realised that the second bull was the taker for me. He was clearly a much older animal showing larger frame and bulk.His tuft was better than the younger bull although his horns were worn down and much shorter, they showed enough thickness to satisfy my outlook.
He was also clearly the dominant bull. Although it took 20 minutes to get a clear shot at the patriarch and the PH had suggested after about 15 minutes that the young bull was presenting a good shooting opportunity and was also a wonderful trophy, I persisted in my wish to take the old bloke.. I was using woodlleigh 180 hydro’s in a sako 300wm and was concerned with a through shot wounding another animal. It would have been an ideal situation for the 404 but I had purchased it after the permits were issued for the trip. I had also elected to leave a Schultz & Larsen in 9.3 at home as well, due to expected PG hunting at longer ranges later in the trip. South African Airways also wanted a kings ransom per firearm.
Anyway the shot eventually presented at about 90m and was duly taken.
Oddly the Hydro did not exit, but broke the near shoulder before doing extensive damage and weakening the off shoulder, which broke within 40m bring the bull down.. a finishing shot with a woodleigh 180 ppsn to the heart finished the job, although I doubt the bull would have lasted long..
Happy days, twiddling my thumbs while Jordi and Lance took their bulls over the next couple of days, one of which was the bull I elected not to take.
He went 34 1/2 and my old bloke was 26.
Pics later if I can work this out
Cheers