South Africa august 2013

[mtmn35rem5]

Always wanted to hunt Africa, missed an opportunity to go a few years back and when this spring I had another chance I jumped on it. It was an august plains game hunt in South Africa, and an absolute blast. Good food, people, country and the hunting was insane. Pretty sure I’m hooked for life and already planning a return trip. Here are some pictures from the trip..







































Thanks for checkin ‘em out!

[carpsniperg2]

Looks like you took a lot of nice animals on your trip.

[h2ofowlr]

Some dandy animals.  Looks like a great hunt.  What were you shooting?  .270 WSM/ .7mm WSM/ .300 WSM?

[mtmn35rem5]

Thanks! .300wsm I got a chance to shoot at some longer distances then I usually do, it worked great. I found that it liked 165 gr better then the 180’s

I didn’t originally plan on taking this many animals but when your already there, and your not sure when you’re going to be back, well.. it was hard to say no.  One thing I liked about my PH was that he was into walking a lot. We didn’t drive up and shoot any of these guys and we spent most of the day on foot in awesome country (after getting to the spot). Actually I take that back, the wart hog ran in front of the rig on our way back to camp. I jumped out an ran after him and got a shot off.

[Natures Way]

Congrats looks like you had a great trip!

[pashok23]

 

[lhrbull]

great looking animals what part of RSA were you in

[hunting4sanity]

Congratulations, that looks like some great trophies and life-long memories.
I'm going crazy for March to get here, first trip to Africa coming up.

[Forrestrover.02]

Wow! Those are some amazing animals.

[borntoslay]

african hunting just doesn't interest me for some reason

[bowhunterforever]

Looks like a good time,congrats

[mtmn35rem5]

Thanks, we were in the east cape area, near a small town called alicedale. It was an awesome trip.

[lhrbull]

did you get both a lesser and southern greater kudu

[headshot5]

I like the frost knife. 

[mtmn35rem5]

Knife is actually a $20 Mora, I always have one or two handy. I’d lose a Gene Ingram if I had one.

Both are lesser kudu, and within two inches of each other. The one that looks smaller had a tighter spiral and measured well, and I’m sitting back a decent ways on the “bigger” one.

[Upton O. Good]

Pretty sure I’m hooked for life and already planning a return trip.

That is the biggest problem with hunting in Africa, glad you caught the "bug".  Thanks for posting all of the photos, there is no shortage of animals, is there?  Well done.

[pianoman9701]

african hunting just doesn't interest me for some reason

And yet you opened the thread and took the time to comment.

Nice animals and great pictures. Thanks so much for sharing. Hunting Africa will probably always remain a dream of mine. Well done.

[runningboard]

looks like you had a great time. love hunting in RSA and hope to return next year. gotta get me 1 of those 2 baboon mounts   

[cedarriver]

 Great Pics, and looks like a great trip. Congrats!

[mtmn35rem5]

Thanks guys! I had wanted to hunt Africa ever since I can remember, but its hard to go it alone the first time. I went with a group of guys an the one who set it up had been over about 20 times, so it made things pretty easy on my part as far as what I needed and forms etc.. It really wasn’t a hassle bringing in guns or traveling.. I spread out paying for it over a years period as well, so that helped. I sold my big diesel and worked side jobs etc to help pay for it.  The amount of animals over there is absolutely crazy! If you want to go, do it, you won’t regret it.

[Rob]

Outstanding!!

When are you headed back?  it gets in your blood...

[mtmn35rem5]

Thanks Rob! The group I went with wants to go back next year, not sure I can swing that yet or not. Absolutely the year after! I just read through your trip post and checked out your pictures, looks like an awesome trip. You took some very cool animals that I would like to next time I’m over there, especially a buffalo. I would also be interested in hunting a different part of Africa, again nice job!

[Rob]

I think I'm on the 5 year plan...  I hope to get back in 2017 for elephant or leopard. 

my dad has been wondering how he should mount his baboons.  I sent him that photo as an idea to consider.

look into Namibia for your next trip.  Great place with good price.  Be leery of Zim.  Probably ok but read "when the crocodile ate the sun" before you book anything.  Botswana would be great if they keep hunting open.

[headshot5]

Knife is actually a $20 Mora, I always have one or two handy. I’d lose a Gene Ingram if I had one.

Frost/Mora are the same company now...  I've used them plenty on elk. 

[mtmn35rem5]

Cool, didn’t know it was the same knife company!

Rob, we were looking into hunts in Nambia. Planning on going to the SCI convention and will have a better idea after that. There are to many choices and not enough time or money to hunt them all!

[Rob]

SCI is outstanding!

Just a suggestion, might want to consider doing the DCS show in Dallas instead.  Cost is way less, and the same exhibitors are present.  A little quieter and easier to get time with outfitters to talk.

DSC admission is 20-50 dollars
SCI admission is 110 to 270 (plus a required membership to SCI which starts at 65 per year)

[bearpaw]

awesome trip, congrats... 

[gaddy]

now you have me dreaming ! sounds like a great time.

[lhrbull]

just which animals are you after on your next trip

[mtmn35rem5]

Well, I’d like to hunt them all someday. The big 5 would be awesome, someday. I really liked hunting kudu, and could see myself doing a lot more of that... Eland, waterbuck, gems buck, bushbuck, reedbuck, blue wilder beast. Lot of options, makes it tough to decide sometimes.. but I guess thats a good problem to have!

[lhrbull]

my next list is all 4of the springbok, eland, waterbuck, black wildebeest, gems buck

[Upton O. Good]

I started my Africa adventures just planning on shooting birds, and now with three trips under my belt,  I've taken 20 plains game animals plus birds like Guinea fowl, rock pigeons, geese, ducks, and sandgrouse.  It really is addictive.  Then you have the decisions of whether spend money to mount the animals or just get the skulls and hides so you can save money for another trip.

 Hunting Africa will also affect your friendships, your buddies are going to get tired of you constantly checking the photos on your phone and your re-telling the stories of your hunts.  You owe it to them to go again so they can see new photos and hear new stories.

And when somebody shows you his photo of a really nice mule deer buck or his elk and then asks what have you shot, well, that is when you either let the air out of his balloon or you are kind and say "Oh, nothing like that." and leave him unblemished by those photos that phone.

Most folks start their Africa hunting in South Africa or Namibia then move on to Zimbabwe or Mozambique for dangerous game.  Given the political and economical issues of both of those countries, I think it would be a good idea to go there soon before things go bad and the hunting stops.    And those are the more affordable two countries, now, for dangerous game like Cape buffalo, lion, elephant, and leopard, not that it is cheap by any means.  Botswana has stopped sport hunting on their government owned lands and they had some of the best elephant and Cape buffalo hunting in Africa.

And don't be afraid to travel alone to hunt, you know the routine and procedures now so you can manage on your own.  Your PH and/or outfitter can also assist with any unusual situations that may arise.

Again, congrats on your hunt and welcome to the addicted Africa hunters group.

[Rob]

Hunting Africa will also affect your friendships, your buddies are going to get tired of you constantly checking the photos on your phone and your re-telling the stories of your hunts.  You owe it to them to go again so they can see new photos and hear new stories.

now that is one of the best reasons to go I have heard.

That reminds me, did I tell you the story about my zebra hunt?...

[mtmn35rem5]

I started my Africa adventures just planning on shooting birds, and now with three trips under my belt,  I've taken 20 plains game animals plus birds like Guinea fowl, rock pigeons, geese, ducks, and sandgrouse.  It really is addictive.  Then you have the decisions of whether spend money to mount the animals or just get the skulls and hides so you can save money for another trip.

 Hunting Africa will also affect your friendships, your buddies are going to get tired of you constantly checking the photos on your phone and your re-telling the stories of your hunts.  You owe it to them to go again so they can see new photos and hear new stories.

And when somebody shows you his photo of a really nice mule deer buck or his elk and then asks what have you shot, well, that is when you either let the air out of his balloon or you are kind and say "Oh, nothing like that." and leave him unblemished by those photos that phone.

Most folks start their Africa hunting in South Africa or Namibia then move on to Zimbabwe or Mozambique for dangerous game.  Given the political and economical issues of both of those countries, I think it would be a good idea to go there soon before things go bad and the hunting stops.    And those are the more affordable two countries, now, for dangerous game like Cape buffalo, lion, elephant, and leopard, not that it is cheap by any means.  Botswana has stopped sport hunting on their government owned lands and they had some of the best elephant and Cape buffalo hunting in Africa.

And don't be afraid to travel alone to hunt, you know the routine and procedures now so you can manage on your own.  Your PH and/or outfitter can also assist with any unusual situations that may arise.

Again, congrats on your hunt and welcome to the addicted Africa hunters group.

Thank you, well said!! The traveling part all went smoothly, actually easier then I imagined. The worst was the 16 hour plane ride for me.. I’m 6’5” so that was tough, but theres ways to help that!