SOUTH AFRICA: 7/25/26 3:22pm

Had a good morning

Went for Cape Buffalo first thing in the morning, got on a small herd at about 9 AM, closed to about 160 yards, got the rifle on the sticks, staring through the scope into the eyes of a nice bull, staring right back at me. Going for the safety to put one through the center of his chest and the herd shifts over about 50 yards. They know that we’re there now.

I shift over 30 yards, and the herd stops and turns and stares at us. I get on the sticks, bull looking at me. I’m looking back at him through the scope, but there’s a bull right behind him as well. The herd decides they have enough of us and they break into a run and they just keep ongoing

You definitely get the feeling that they’re looking at you like you owe them money

Will try again this afternoon

We got on a nice waterbuck, 220 yards, got the sticks, put one through his shoulders. He hopped up on his back legs, but then stumbled forward and dropped dead.

Half an hour later, we saw some red hartebeest. We used what cover was available and got within 300 yards. A nice one cooperated by standing broadside at 302 yards and I made a perfect shot. High heart/shoulder just like in the Kevin Robertson book. I had the gun steady on the sticks and the red dot in the scope perfect on the shoulder, the distance dialed into the scope and squeezed the trigger.

There was no immediate reaction to the shot and five of the six turned and ran the other way. Then from behind the trees, the one I shot stumbled out and went down in about 80 yards dead.

There are herd of spring buck everywhere. However, they are constantly hauling butt.

We had a few stop at about 280 yards and I got out and got on the sticks dialed in 275 yards, put the dot on the spring bok and squeeze the trigger. I rushed the shot a little bit and hit him high slightly behind his shoulders. Knocked out a big chunk of his spine and he was DRT. Kind of made a mess out of him. They are small animals, maybe 80 pounds.

Very pretty, I had wanted to get a flat hide of one but we’ll have to try for another one and make a better shot

This is all before lunch. They took the kudu I shot yesterday pulled the backstrap out of him and they made Kudo backstrap cutlets for lunch. It was absolutely delicious.

I’m really having the trip of a lifetime. Can’t wait to be able to post the pictures, might not be until I’m back next week. I’m able to make phone calls and text an email but trying to upload pictures of just asking too much of the service out here.

Went back out about 3 PM in the afternoon. Did not get on any buffalo,

The terrain where we are is fairly open which is why the shots are fairly long. You have to be quick on the sticks and quick on the shot. There’s lots of eyes on you when you’re on the planes chasing planes game. You spook one animal you’ve spooked all of them

We followed a pair of zebra stallions. We get close get out, sneak up and they would haul ass. This happened three times. We finally have a little cover and I get on the sticks at 310 yards lined up on the shoulder of one just in time for the other one to get in on the site picture. I have 18 inches of shoulder showing on the first one, breathe in, exhale squeeze the trigger and the safety is on

In the amount of time it took me to take the safety offf, They were running again.

On the way in, we were lucky enough to spot a small impala herd with a nice buck

I was able to take a good shot on the buck at 220 yards. Clean kill..

European mounts and flat hides are relatively inexpensive. That’s what I’m having done to most that I have harvested. Certainly was not my original plan, but the memories will be worth it

I’ll be 67 soon. I wish I wouldn’t have waited as long as I did.

Andrew NOLA said:

Went back out about 3 PM in the afternoon. Did not get on any buffalo,

The terrain where we are is fairly open which is why the shots are fairly long. You have to be quick on the sticks and quick on the shot. There’s lots of eyes on you when you’re on the planes chasing planes game. You spook one animal you’ve spooked all of them

We followed a pair of zebra stallions. We get close get out, sneak up and they would haul ass. This happened three times. We finally have a little cover and I get on the sticks at 310 yards lined up on the shoulder of one just in time for the other one to get in on the site picture. I have 18 inches of shoulder showing on the first one, breathe in, exhale squeeze the trigger and the safety is on

In the amount of time it took me to take the safety offf, They were running again.

On the way in, we were lucky enough to spot a small impala herd with a nice buck

I was able to take a good shot on the buck at 220 yards. Clean kill..

European mounts and flat hides are relatively inexpensive. That’s what I’m having done to most that I have harvested. Certainly was not my original plan, but the memories will be worth it

I’ll be 67 soon. I wish I wouldn’t have waited as long as I did.

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Better late than never. Sounds like you are having a great time. I'm over here hunting buffalo as well. Very thick bush where I am. Shots must likely will not be very long if we can get the bull to present himself.

Good luck and congratulations on your Impala. Keep posting.

7-30-26

left this morning to search for buff. we found them close to where they were yesterday . we had to do some wiggling around as the wind was against us but we worked around to get the wind in our face.

smaller group. We were able to get to 140 yards. I got on the sticks and a nice, old white faced buff faced me. I am using a 2-12 Leopold vx6 firedot . i put the dot in between the shoulders under the chin as he looked up at me and cranked it up to 12 to get a really good aiming point on a full frontal. had a good set on the sticks and squeezed the trigger. PH screams good hit and the herd runs with my buff trailing. He goes about 200 yards and stops and just sways. I am at 280 yards and back on the sticks and and put an insurance shot on his back left hip aiming for the right shoulder to break it.

Squeezed the trigger and heard the impact and he went down the the count. 38.5 inches beautiful horns with a really nice curl. Boss is hard and closed at the back and a lot of character.

In the post mortem autopsy, no need for the insurance. To misquote Bon Jovi "shot thru the heart and I'm to blame" I hit right in the heart and put a huge hole in it. Pics to follow of the buff, the heart and the bullets. The frontal lodged under the skin in the back, traveling thru 5 feet of buff and the insurance was under the skin on the right after breaking the shoulder. Also traveled the entire length of the buff, just going the other way

I love the Leuopold CDS system and the fire dot. Get a yardage, do a quick dial to the yards on the custom turret, scope on buff, bright dot on dark skin makes precise shooting easy.

I will never forget him dropping on the second shot.

Switched locations where some sable had been seen. drove thru and found a really nice sable. Not too bright. Full frontal at 100 yards. A buff and a sable in the salt before lunch.

Went back out at 3:30pm to see if we could get on the zebras that escaped me yesterday. Saw what seems like a million springbuck and impala. Sun was at our backs and the wind in our face. Saw the zebra and started a stalk only to lose them in the thickets. Continued to stalk to see if we could intercept them but no luck. Have spent a lot of time on the ground chasing these 2 and kind of have it in for them.

I shot a springbok earlier in the week but tore the hide up and I wanted another one so I would have a nice flat hide as they are quite pretty. We had one at 100 yards not running for a change and i set up on the sticks and squeezed the trigger. Unfortunately, I was not set well and as I squeezed, I rocked back and made a high shot and whacked him in the spine and made a mess out of this one too. DRT but hide was ruined. Will go for a third one and shoot very carefully

PH went to get the truck. I am standing in front of the large bush with the sun to my back and the wind in my face. A group of gemsbuck meanders around in front of me at 250 yeards, including a large, very old golden female with a single long horn. I had seen her a couple of days ago and talked to my PH about harvesting her as I love the old warrior at the end of its day feel. I set the sticks and put the crosshairs on her shoulder for a perfect broadside shot. I called the PH to see if it would be okay to take her without him but no answer. I decided on caution and to take her another day. I will euro mount her and tell my grandkids I shot a unicorn. PH made it back and asked why I didn't shoot her.

We pack the springbok in the truck and start scouting for the gemsbok with no luck. We are about to call it when we see the 2 zebra at 350. We work our way closer using some bushes for cover. The sun is at our backs and the wind in our face. They had no idea we were there. We were at 214. Sticks up, good set, slightly quartering broadside. Aimed right at the top of the chevron and squeezed, Had confidence the shot was good. Zebra ran 50 yard and piled up, stone cold dead. Right where I aimed. Nice feeling.

PH said hold on, the other one might come back. 2 minutes later the other one showed up and I put a quartering shoulder shot in to that one at 252. Piled up 25 yards from the other one.

Had springbok filet, garlic potatoes and butternut squash for dinner followed by a very delicious twinkie looking dessert.

I don't see how I will ever top this day.

Pics to follow

Wow! You have been busy! Ready for some pics.

07 31 26

Had a good morning

Went to a different property in search of a blue wildebeest

Spotted a very nice one half an hour after we went through the gate. Savannah with spots of Brush.

We stopped the truck behind some Brush and we were able to stalk jumping from Brush to Brush within 250 yards

I was able to get a nice broadside shot on it a little further back than I would’ve liked but punched through both lungs. The wildebeest went down in about 200 yards

He ran into some bushes and never ran out the other side so he was pretty easy to find

Beautiful brindle coat

I’ve been trying to get a nice hide on a spring buck so they had some nice bucks. I was on the sticks on one at 200 yards but not confident. I shot about an inch over him for a total miss.

We were able to find some others and I had another 200 yard shot that I also botched Shooting him on a full frontal shot to the left almost taking his left shoulder off

He made it about 50 yards and laid down in the tall grass. I got within 150 yards of him with his head sticking up out of the grass, and I finally redeemed myself by putting one through the center of his neck.

I hate wounding an animal

There was a golden gemsbok in the area. That was a very old female, about 13 years old, that had one horn broken off close to the base. This made her less valuable to the outfitter, but actually more valuable to me. I’m very interested in scarred survivors. I feel a close kinship to them. I’m kind of getting there myself.

We were able to find her in a group of about five gemsBuck and we were able to stock up to about 150 yards away.

I made a nice broadside hit right in front of the crease, running up from her shoulder and she went straight down

Does everyone else say a prayer of thanks when they put their hands on an animal they’ve just harvested?

Three more days here.

Having a fabulous time. Couldn’t ask for better service , food, friendlier people or better Shooting.

I am dictating these with no glasses

You might need to decipher them phonetically

Great report! Look forward to seeing the pictures!

7 31 16 afternoon

My partner and I hunted together. Took us a little while, but he got a nice copper spring book.

Late in the afternoon, we got on a nice leche buck. 82 yards. Easy shop down in 10 yards

Had red hartebeest for dinner

Was very good

Good day

August 1, 2026

Went to an joining property to look for roan

Found a really really nice one. 200 yard shot broadside shoulder spine shot. Went down like a brick.

I came back to the main property and went for spring buck and could not shoot for anything. Wounded it missed twice. Finally got it. Thank you, Erik for your awesome tracking skills. I felt terrible about it.

They had an old black Impala buck that I was super interested in. We scouted around for that

They have one with broken horns that I’m very interested in harvesting, but we have not been able to lay eyes on that one yet. We did run into an old black Impala with wonderful horns and lots of character. Iin harvesting, but we have not been able to lay eyes on that one yet. We did run into a old black Impala with wonderful horns and lots of character. I totally missed the first shot . My pH was able to lay eyes on it again and I made a 250 yard shot for dead right there.

Went and checked my rifle to make sure there wasn’t an issue with it because I’ve been shooting pretty well all week, but it is shooting dead on . it’s just nerves I think

Leg of springbok for dinner

don't sweat the misses we all do it, that is something we cannot control just make the next one better. You have been doing good so far, how many days left?

Springbok have super hearing and sight. They see you pull the trigger, they hear the hammer fall, the firing pin hit the primer and the muzzle blast. With this they can dodge the incoming round. After missing more than one of these tiny animals at their usual standoff distance, that's the only plausible excuse I can come up with.

Morning of August 2 Sunday 2026

Had a good morning. Went for golden wildebeest this morning. We found some after not too long.

Got on the sticks on a nice old bull at about 200 yards and he moved. Moved the sticks, got on the sticks again and he moved.

Moved the sticks again got on the sticks and got on him, but not a great shot. A little low broke the off shoulder. I find that when I have to move the sticks a lot I end up rushing.

We followed him in till we were able to get another shot on him. Texas heart shot at 260 yards put him down.

I would say about 800 900 yards away from my first hit

Beautiful animal, Skull Mount and flat hide. I think the height is going to be spectacular

I got a common blesbuck earlier in the trip and they had some copper blesbooks in the area.

Ph was able to find them and we had a short stalk that cumulated in a fine 220 yard shot

He had his head down eating and I hit him in his right shoulder and he went down hard. DRT. Copper coat white socks. This is gonna make a beautiful flat skin. The horns are slightly translucent and I’m going to do a skull amount of that.

They had an old black Impala with broken horn tips that I had seen earlier and wanted to harvest. I shot a very nice black impala that is a prime specimen and I’m having a shoulder made of that so I don’t have a flat skin. In any case, I wanted to harvest the old scarred veteran because I think those are actually the real trophies. PH was able to locate him after a little while searching. They would move and stop up for a short time move and stop move and stop.

Got on the sticks and he moved, got on the stick and he moved, got on the sticks and he moved. Got on the sticks and he stopped at 304 yards and I took a deep breath and let it go and squeezed the trigger, and I hit him, not a perfect hit, but forward and I broke his shoulder. He ran for a short ways and we were able to get within 100 yards and I put a finisher in him. I feel pretty good about the first shot considering it’s a small target. There was a lot of movement on my part and it was slightly over 300 yards. I caught the front shoulder and some of his lungs in the front. I’m glad that he stopped so I could put a quick end to what would have otherwise been a slower death.

I will do a flat skin and a skull mount for this one. I’m going to put him right next to the shoulder mount of the prime specimen for a comparison.

Three in the salt over the course of the morning. Pretty damn good morning.

Trying to see if we can find a Gemsbuck this afternoon.

So far I have enjoyed the Cape Buffalo the most. I made a great first shot straight through his heart and I’ll never forget the second shot. He was just standing and swaying and I wanted to make sure he wasn’t going anywhere so I shot from the back for the front right shoulder and he just collapsed at that

I shot the giraffe in the neck right under the head and it went straight down. That was also something I’ll never forget.

Weather has been outstanding, mid 40s in the morning up to early 70s midday.

PH has been great, staff has been great, meals have been outstanding. Lodge is high-end. Swimming pool, tennis courts spa

Man, what a trip! You owe us a shit ton of pictures when you get back!

How to top the day
Elephant

Lion

Leopard

Monday, August 3, 2026

They showed us a beautiful bull giraffe, nearly black with caramel striping. Probably 25 or 30 years old, probably 3000 pounds.

I went with my partner in the morning to go look for it. After a lot of driving around on a very large concession full of game and giraffe, we found the one we were looking for. Just that part of it was an awesome experience.

Stalked to with in 75 yards my partner hit him with a good shoulder shot. Likely would have killed him but the big boy wobbled away. He hit him again on a rear quartering shot and then hit him one last final time at about 150 yards with a quartering shot to the off shoulder. The giraffe fell down hard.

We went up to the giraffe and put in an insurance shot

Amazing animal

We had driven away out to this other property and so we had packed lunch. On the way home, we swung into one of the pH’s fringe property and ate lunch while watching rhinos.

Pretty cool

In the afternoon, I went out and had a nice shot on a springbok and on a copper buck. Very pretty coat on both of them.

The morning of August 4, Tuesday

We’re hunting only this morning as we have to get on a plane this afternoon

I had a good shot on a female blesbuck and on a springbok

We headed in and there were an ostrich standing about 150 yards out. I quickly got on the sticks and shot the ostrich.

It has been an unbelievable trip

All packed up and waiting in the sun to leave for the airport. It’s 3 o’clock in Kimberly.

Looking forward to going home, but not looking forward to leaving

In order of harvest

1. Kudu
2. Gemsbuck
3. Giraffe
4. Waterbuck
5. Red Hartebeest
6. Springbuck
7. Black Wildebeest
8. Impala
9. Buffalo
10. Blesbuck
11. Sable
12. Zebra
13. Zebra
14. Springbuck
15. Blue Wildebeest
16. Springbuck
17. Golden Gemsbuck
18. Lechwe
19. Roan
20. Springbuck
21. Black Impala
22. Golden Wildebeest
23. Copper Blesbuck
24. Black Impala
25. Gemsbuck
26. Springbuck
27. Springbuck
28. Springbuck
29. Yellow Blesbuck
30. Blesbuck
31. Springbuck
32. Ostrich

I will upload pics when I get back in the states

Trip of a lifetime

Andrew NOLA said:

In order of harvest

1. Kudu
2. Gemsbuck
3. Giraffe
4. Waterbuck
5. Red Hartebeest
6. Springbuck
7. Black Wildebeest
8. Impala
9. Buffalo
10. Blesbuck
11. Sable
12. Zebra
13. Zebra
14. Springbuck
15. Blue Wildebeest
16. Springbuck
17. Golden Gemsbuck
18. Lechwe
19. Roan
20. Springbuck
21. Black Impala
22. Golden Wildebeest
23. Copper Blesbuck
24. Black Impala
25. Gemsbuck
26. Springbuck
27. Springbuck
28. Springbuck
29. Yellow Blesbuck
30. Blesbuck
31. Springbuck
32. Ostrich

I will upload pics when I get back in the states

Trip of a lifetime

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Did you leave anything behind?

Sounds like a hell of a time! Until the time comes to settle up the bill haha looking forward to the photos!

Andrew NOLA said:

In order of harvest

1. Kudu
2. Gemsbuck
3. Giraffe
4. Waterbuck
5. Red Hartebeest
6. Springbuck
7. Black Wildebeest
8. Impala
9. Buffalo
10. Blesbuck
11. Sable
12. Zebra
13. Zebra
14. Springbuck
15. Blue Wildebeest
16. Springbuck
17. Golden Gemsbuck
18. Lechwe
19. Roan
20. Springbuck
21. Black Impala
22. Golden Wildebeest
23. Copper Blesbuck
24. Black Impala
25. Gemsbuck
26. Springbuck
27. Springbuck
28. Springbuck
29. Yellow Blesbuck
30. Blesbuck
31. Springbuck
32. Ostrich

I will upload pics when I get back in the states

Trip of a lifetime

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Holy crap!!! Here I thought I spent a ton of money on my last trip shooting 14 animals between my wife and I... Congrats, that must ahve been an amazing trip!!

how many are you going have sent home?