SOUTH AFRICA: Shootist43's Participation In The 2018 Group Hunt With Pawprint Safaris

Congrats on a very nice bull!!!

Sounds like a great hunt so far. Love that Eland. Must have been fun sharing a camp with other AHers.

Congrats on a nice eland. Interesting to see if anyone finds our what the problem was with the weapons.

That is a very nice Eland. Congrats!
Bruce

MAdcox said:

Sounds like a great hunt so far. Love that Eland. Must have been fun sharing a camp with other AHers.

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It was a pleasure to share camp with a group of AH friends.

Great report so far, nice eland. Hope to hear from the rest of your crew.

Nothing like an Eland, blue grey, tan, who the hell cares. I bet it is the only one on your block!! Congrats and nice hunt!! Seriously, nice animals.

Day 3. After a hearty breakfast Johnathan and I along with Billc and his son headed out to a local farm looking for Bushbuck and Nyala. We were taken to hides (blinds) where close shots were the norm. Great for Billc and his son since they were bowhunting. I on the other hand was a bit more conflicted. Not being mobile I knew that I would very likely be spending time in a blind. Nothing new to me since that is how I'm forced to hunt white tails where I live. The minimum distance rifle shot I have at home is 65 yards but shots from 125 to 175 yards more likely. In fact I've never seen a deer at less than 100 yards from my deer blind. Today the most likely shot was a mere 20 yards away. I spent my time in that blind hoping nothing would show up, thankfully nothing did. I'm all but positive that this situation was totally impromptu. The farm we were supposed to be hunting was called the Big 5 by Pieter and the PHs in camp. However someone decided to poach one of the three rhinos there and remove its horns. The government shut that property down to investigate the crime. Billc sent me a photo of the blind that had been constructed there primarily for my use which overlooked a large pond offering a minimum of 100 yard shots. Based on the photo there was quite an expanse of broken cover beyond the pond possibly extending 250 to 300 yards.

Day 4. After an early breakfast Johnathan and I left the lodge at 6:30. Today we were looking for Kudu or Nyala. The good news is that last night my son picked up his guns so I'd be using my 35 Whelen. I'm not the type that feels "more gun is better" and decided that the Whelen was very appropriate for the animals on my list up to and including the Eland if necessary. However now that the Eland was in the salt I was even more assured that I had enough, but not too much gun. We were met at the gate by the owner and his son. The son was going to drive the bakkie while Johnathan and I looked for suitable animals. Again we drove around for several hours looking at lots of different animals but none of them stood out. Except... a Kudu that while very respectable at an estimated 52 inches seemed to be appearing again and again. Johnathan and the driver discussed the merits of this bull several times but "bowed" to my wishes for 55 inches or better. Then we came upon a cluster or group of three Nyalas that seemed to be carrying more head gear than the others we'd been seeing. Both Johnathan and the driver began glassing them in earnest. When we first stopped the group continued walking about taking a bite here and a bite there but the longer we stood still the more nervous they became. Both my PH and the driver had identified one of the bulls as being the best of the lot and that I should try to take him. As I shouldered my rifle for an offhand shot my quarry placed himself behind a bushy tree. The other two began lookin to me like they were going to bolt. I decided that as soon as the one I wanted cleared the bush I was going to take him. I wound up taking the shot at a moving animal which is something I normally try to avoid. In short I double lunged the Nyala and it went 15 or 20 yards before dropping. Even though it couldn't get up and its end near I fired another bullet into the animal which took out its heart and spine. Johnathan and the driver walked up to the downed Nyala to take a better look. When they got back to my location both assured me that this was a very nice Nyala. Later, back at camp I casually asked about the measurements of both animals. They had not been taken yet but Pieter told me that he would measure them himself. By this time the entire group was enjoying a cold beer. Pieter rejoined the group and announced that the Eland measured 98" four inches above the minimum for S.C.I. Gold and that the Nyala also qualified as S.C.I. Gold but by a much smaller margin. Needless to say I was ecstatic. Pieter Erasmus and the Paw Print crew delivered on their promise to give me a memorable hunt regardless of my physical challenges. The whole gang of AH hunters, PHs, Pieter and his girl friend joined in a toast to my success. Truth be told there were additional toasts when I shared the details of my hunt individually with the guys. Once again we shared stories around a great campfire, had a good supper and went to bed. Tomorrow is another day and I still have animals on my list i.e. Kudu, Bushbuck and maybe a Sable.

Congrats on the eland and zebra!!

how large a group can the outfitter handle at one time?

Yep you should definitely be happy with those trophies! They must have kept me from seeing them just to save them for you!
Congratulations sir!

Edward, I can't honestly answer your question. Paw Print brought in several additional very experienced PHs to help out with our group. There were eight in our group originally so at least that many.

I'm all but certain that I hunted different properties than you did. That is probably why they were still there.

Edward, I think 8 is what I recall Pieter mentioning as well. They could put up more people, but hunters, good PHs, equipment (trucks), trackers, etc. could become a logistical nightmare. In my two trips with PawPrints I know of 6 PHs including Pieter that have been around. All were very good and enjoyable to be around.
JME & O

edward said:

how large a group can the outfitter handle at one time?

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When I hunted there last year there was myself, a gent from Australia and ten sharpshooters from Singapore. Nearly 50 animals in the salt that week.

Wonderfull Nyala and in my mind one of the most desirable of the PG.

The Nyala is truly a beautiful animal! Thanks so much for sharing the pics and story.

jasyblood said:

Good luck to all and safe travels!! Looking forward to all the reports!

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Me too!

Great Eland and Nyala, congratulations! Was good putting a face to a name in Atlanta! Looking forward to more of the Safari.

Fantastic Nyala!! Congrats