gillettehunter
AH ambassador
I like the looks of that new property. Congrats on the eland. Quite the trick for each of you to get one a few hrs apart.
Bruce
Bruce
The best part of taking this particular animal is that when she saw it, she remarked that the skin might make into a perfect bed spread.
Not sure about a bedspread, but a blue wildebeest rug is something very special indeed.Ladies & Gents,
Sorry for my delay.
We’ve been super busy here at home.
Alaska summers are very short and always busy for everyone who lives here.
I’m full of more feeble excuses but, I will spare you the misery of reading them.
Back to the hunting report.
On the morning of April 17, as usual, around 6:00 - 6:30 AM, we sat down to another great breakfast of eggs cooked to order, bacon, cheese, thin sliced salamis, toast, butter and jam.
Also as usual, there was the hot coffee, juice, tea and water.
Immediately after breakfast, my wife Kelley and myself, went wandering through the hills as usual, under the much appreciated guidance of PH Isaac and PH Juan.
Both these men were born and raised there and both are total experts.
We were not searching for any specific species, just hunting.
I brought the .375 Mauser and 10 cartridges.
Better to have them and not need them than to need them and not have them.
We rode in the “bakkie” for about 20 or 30 minutes before stopping on a high spot and walking a few paces to a natural overlook, to glass.
There was a critter spotted here and there, but nothing the guys felt were “shooters”.
So we returned to the vehicle and pressed on.
We also checked a couple more places, sometimes just staying on the vehicle to glass, with the motor off to make binocular viewing more steady.
Approximately around 9:30 AM, a herd of blue wildebeest were spotted in the distance, including a few mature bulls.
It was not possible to count these guldang wilderbeasts, as they were in amongst a large area with a lot of trees covering the landscape.
But through my binoculars, I guessed there to be at least 15 or more total.
We made a plan and set out on foot.
After perhaps a bit less than a kilometer, we began to draw near.
So, we slowed down to barely moving at all.
Kelley stayed back a ways, so as to reduce the amount of motion that these animals might potentially focus on.
Many times we would stand totally motionless, for what seemed like a mighty long time, until the animals would again relax a bit.
Then, we would very slowly sneak forward a few paces, always trying to keep thick bushes between us and them.
Also at this stage, I kept my eyes looking only downward, so as to avoid giving them the stalk ruining “predator’s stare”.
And it helps me also not to trip over a stone, crunch dried leaves or snap a stick under my shoes.
Just as it seemed they all had decided to run away, suddenly one last bull walked part way out of the shadows and sort of into view.
What little I could see of his head quickly turning this way and that, made it seem like he was thinking, “Hey, where did everyone go” ?
Isaac set the sticks and I immediately placed the rifle.
I could not see very much of this bull clearly but, his right shoulder was visible (almost broadside for once), at no more than approximately 40 paces.
From the time I hastily placed my rifle onto the sticks and Isaac whispered “shoot” was perhaps 3 seconds or even a little less.
Boom and down he went.
Even though I’ve lost count of the number of blue wildebeest I’ve shot over the years nonetheless, I have never bothered to learn how people properly judge their horns.
However, this one looks good to me and I’m quite happy with it.
Refer to the below attached picture.
Kelley soon then joined us for photos.
The best part of taking this particular animal is that when she saw it, she remarked that the skin might make into a perfect bed spread.
Far be it from me to say otherwise.
“Happy wife, happy life” is a fine concept and I find comfort in it.
So, Trophaendienste Taxidermy in Windhoek will be tanning this one’s hide.
And, they will also be arranging the skull + horns onto an oval wood plack, aka: “European Mount”.
So after the photos and loading this wildebeest into the backie, we climbed aboard and rolled back to camp, arriving in time for lunch.
Kelley decided to ride now inside the passenger part of the vehicle, as she was concerned with the possibility of a tick or ticks, abandoning the carcass and becoming her unwelcome companion/s.
I was unable to convince her otherwise.
However, I have seen so few ticks (or mosquitoes) up there in the Highlands that I do not myself worry about them.
It’s midnight here where I live and so, I will close for now.
There will be more narrative and photos to follow from this most recent hunting and fishing trip to Namibia.
Thanks for reading,
Velo Dog.
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Yes thank you PARA45,You are a very lucky and blessed man to have such a wonderful wife. Congrats!
As usual, 99% of the time I agree with you Joe, including this rug vs bed spread thing.Not sure about a bedspread, but a blue wildebeest rug is something very special indeed.
Super jealous! There is nothing like a road trip in Namibia. I anticipate your full report.Greetings Fellow Hunters, Fishers and Global Wanderers,
Myself and Mrs. Velo Dog just returned from our hunting and fishing safari, including a 1,000 kilometer Namibian road trip, with @KHOMAS HIGHLAND HUNTING SAFARIS.
Fellow forum member 1dirthawker (Don Hunley) joined us for part of this grand time with Khomas Safaris.
It was epic and I soon will post detailed narratives (in segments), as well as more photos and videos.
Although so far, my attempts at posting videos have been almost always stymied, admittedly by my lack of computer skills.
Have to bounce now due to many overdue errands here at home.
But my report will resume very soon.
Cheers,
Paul & Kelley
(Mr. & Mrs. Velo Dog).
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Beautiful BW, I love how goofy they are when they run for no apparent reason. Like I said earlier, you are one lucky and blessed man to have such a wonderful wife. Please let her know that.![]()