milford
AH veteran
- Joined
- Sep 24, 2009
- Messages
- 120
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- Member of
- fish and game Sci DU
- Hunted
- USA Canada south africa
Well before I even start , I have to explain my tardyness . I was supposed to write this in the beginning of June but , moving and general life got in the way . Secondly I have to thank Lorie at travel express , She made the trip over and back painless and easy , thanks again .
Well here it goes
Starting on the day we arrived ,
Picked up and transported to the lodge by My PH Stehan Dekock and his wife Maja , we were treated to a great supper and then off early to bed .
UP at 5 a quick breakfast and off to the range , a few shoots later and off we went looking for a impala , Stehan took the time to show me how to judge them before , we went by using a few that were on the wall at the lodge . We had seen tons of impala none that were what we were looking for . Just before we were going to break for lunch our driver Johnas spotted a nice one and the stalk was on . We had to skirt around a bunch of thick brush and a small hill to get into position but somehow we managed to get to about 150 yards for the shot and just like that my first african animal was down .
Next on the list of wants was a gemsbuck , but as things go in africa , you have to be prepared to adapt . we stalked all day after a herd of about 12 but could not get into a position to take a shot .Late in the day a nice blue wildebeast stepped into the clear and my second one was down .
We took a day to do some sightseeing and some side trips to the white lion park and on a elephant ride . Did I mention that my wife wanted to go on a elephant ride , people if you go make sure to get on the lead elephant you will figgure it out from there .
Next two days we spent looking for a 50 plus Kudu , I had asked Stehan at the start to find me a nice kudu , all the rest I just wanted a good representative of the species , but kudu was my dream animal and I really wanted a nice one . We passed up a large number that were small, too young or just not big enough . but on the third day we spotted one off in the distance, and as we got closer it was easy to tell he was a shooter . After waiting for what seemed forever he gave us a shot and just like that number three was down .
My gemsbuck was next and he was a product of just being in the right place at the right time .
Next up was a Zebra and this proved to be the hardest to get for me , might of helped if I could of made a a better first shot but in the end we had it on to the bakke and home for a good meal .
Mof and Minne Venter were some of the nicest people I have met in a while , they made sure our first trip was everything we had imagined , The food was awesome , the staff second to none . We had booked two more weeks of side trips to vic falls and to Kruger everything was top notch . My PH Stehan was great and my wife thinks PH stand for pretty hot , sorry Stehan had to do it .
on a side note to all you jerks out there that convinced me to go , I want to tell you my retirement is now screwed , I have allready started saving for my next trip in 2013.. Mark
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