2011 SA Hunt

[garyleach]

I am writing a post for the 1st time , although i have been a member for over a year, it has taken me this long to get on the program, LOL. Any ways i was in SA, in Limpopo with Smith and Dunham in May of 2011 and after a few long flights and the drive from Joberg to Alldays, we were happy to arrive at the lodge and start hunting ASAP, after we had a bite to eat and checked our guns out. It was with a group of 7 hunters and we all had a great hunt, pretty well all of the guys, got their target animals, all were good representative animals and the group (only a few knew each other) got along great. I got lucky on my 1st safari and shot some very good animals, I shot a great 31 inch Waterbuck the 1st morning and then shot and lost my 1st Gemboc (they retrieved at the end of the hunt, no pictures), i then followed up with a 22 inch Impala. It was then a few days of chasing the grey ghost and after 2 days of nothing but missed opportunities and being outsmarted more then a few times, i finally connected on a +52 inch Kudu. The last 2 days of the hunt i shot a great 31 inch Nyala and finally took and dropped on the spot, my second Gemsbox that was solid 43 inches.

I met some new hunters on the safari and also became friends with the outfitter and his PH`s, it was a great safari and i was hooked by the 1st day of a 7 day hunt. So much so, that i went back this August with Smith and Dunham to Alldays and this time i took a couple friends with me, we just got back and i will send pics and probabaly a little better story on my next post. I am thinking Zim in 2014!!!!!!!!!!

After reading a lot of your messages AND BEING IN AFRICA, I GET WHAT YOU GUYS ARE SAYING, YOU JUST WONT GO ONCE AND ONCE BITTEN BY THE BUG, IS PROBABLY THE MOST ADDICTIVE THING ON EARTH!!!!!!

 

[teenhunter]

Great trophies !!! Where the first gemsbuck was shot,did it go far???

 

[spike.t]

better late than never

 

[Stretch]

Congratulations! What a fantastic hunt. Sweet!

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

Thanks for sharing your hunt and pictures Gary!

 

[BRICKBURN]

Love the mud on that Nyalas horns. I wish you could keep that on the mounts.
Incredible trophies.

Give in or seek treatment. You obviously have given in.

Look forward to the next report.

 

[Diamondhitch]

Congrats and welcome to AH. I love the shape of the Nyala! Great safari.

 

[Diamondhitch]

Love the mud on that Nyalas horns. I wish you could keep that on the mounts.

Sure you can. Well maybe not "keep" but your taxi should be able to easily replace it after mounting. I have sand that very color lined up for an Nyala base. It is just sand for pet lizzard cages from the local pet shop, no big deal.

 

[gillettehunter]

I don't know if the others got as good of trophies as you did, but yours are FAR BETTER than representative. Nice animals. Bruce

 

[BRICKBURN]

I don't know if the others got as good of trophies as you did, but yours are FAR BETTER than representative. Nice animals. Bruce

Perhaps these are just representative on this farm! If they are, WOW!

 

[garyleach]

Thxs guys, as for the mud i thought about it, but wasnt sure on what to do, thats a good idea!!! I shot the animals on various farms, all were in the Alldays area and i will say i did do a little better then the others on the quality of the animals. as for the 1st Gemsboc, it was a bad shot by me, low and back, we got on him the next morning, but do to a mix up on my part i could not close the deal, the hyenas/jackals got him and cleaned him up, they found the horns not that far where we finally lost all sign... I would agree the Nyala is my favorite, those mud covered horns and the dark coat, he is going to look very good on a pedestal mount!! I will send 2012 story/pics out this weekend.

 

[enysse]

Thanks for the hunt report and pictures. YES, that is one nice NYALA!!!!

 

[Nyati]

Congrats for a great hunt and very good trophies. Thanks for sharing !