Africa.. Day 1

[jetjockey]

I could have posted this in the water fowl forum, but since a majority of our hunting will be for upland type birds, I posted it here.  Day 1 consisted of goose hunting in the morning, with ducks in the evening.  Now, I'm not a big waterfowl hunter, so I have nothing to really compare this to, but today we shot 29 Egyptian geese this morning, more than 40 ducks this evening, and three more geese this evening while pass shooting. At one point this evening I couldn't touch my barrel, or load shells fast enough to keep up with the influx of ducks.   We also saw a spur wing goose, which is the biggest goose in the world, but couldn't get a shot.   I've been told that Africa has some of the best waterfowl hunting in the world, and after today, I can't disagree.  Tomorrow we shoot driven guinea fowl, doves, and more ducks in the evening.....  I can understand why people fall in love with Africa.  I've seen wild giraffe, wart hogs, ostrich, every kind of "boch" you can imagine, and the sign outside our lodge says "watch out for hippos."  And the sign isn't lying.  It is simply amazing here in Africa.

[Special T]

 

[AspenBud]

I could have posted this in the water fowl forum, but since a majority of our hunting will be for upland type birds, I posted it here.  Day 1 consisted of goose hunting in the morning, with ducks in the evening.  Now, I'm not a big waterfowl hunter, so I have nothing to really compare this to, but today we shot 29 Egyptian geese this morning, more than 40 ducks this evening, and three more geese this evening while pass shooting. At one point this evening I couldn't touch my barrel, or load shells fast enough to keep up with the influx of ducks.   We also saw a spur wing goose, which is the biggest goose in the world, but couldn't get a shot.   I've been told that Africa has some of the best waterfowl hunting in the world, and after today, I can't disagree.  Tomorrow we shoot driven guinea fowl, doves, and more ducks in the evening.....  I can understand why people fall in love with Africa.  I've seen wild giraffe, wart hogs, ostrich, every kind of "boch" you can imagine, and the sign outside our lodge says "watch out for hippos."  And the sign isn't lying.  It is simply amazing here in Africa.

I have to ask this. Are you planning on shipping that meat back or what? That's a lot of dead poultry. Looks like good hunting.   

[buglebrush]

I could have posted this in the water fowl forum, but since a majority of our hunting will be for upland type birds, I posted it here.  Day 1 consisted of goose hunting in the morning, with ducks in the evening.  Now, I'm not a big waterfowl hunter, so I have nothing to really compare this to, but today we shot 29 Egyptian geese this morning, more than 40 ducks this evening, and three more geese this evening while pass shooting. At one point this evening I couldn't touch my barrel, or load shells fast enough to keep up with the influx of ducks.   We also saw a spur wing goose, which is the biggest goose in the world, but couldn't get a shot.   I've been told that Africa has some of the best waterfowl hunting in the world, and after today, I can't disagree.  Tomorrow we shoot driven guinea fowl, doves, and more ducks in the evening.....  I can understand why people fall in love with Africa.  I've seen wild giraffe, wart hogs, ostrich, every kind of "boch" you can imagine, and the sign outside our lodge says "watch out for hippos."  And the sign isn't lying.  It is simply amazing here in Africa.

I have to ask this. Are you planning on shipping that meat back or what? That's a lot of dead poultry. Looks like good hunting.   

Why?  Why would you care?  I am sure there are people who need the meat there, if he isn't going to ship it back.  Cannot see why you would even ask that?

[Bob33]

What country are you hunting?

[constructeur]

Why?  Why would you care?  I am sure there are people who need the meat there, if he isn't going to ship it back.  Cannot see why you would even ask that?

Because he doesn't know. The meat will be used at the lodge, taken by the PH, taken by either of the 2 game trackers in the photo, or given to elders in the local village. Nothing goes to waste there.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Nice ...can not beat a lot of trigger time 

[JimmyHoffa]

What country are you hunting?

His other thread said South Africa.

[Bob33]

What country are you hunting?

His other thread said South Africa.

Thank you. I was there in May. Wonderful experience.

[metlhead]

Spent some time in east Africa in the early 90's and enjoyed shooting lots of birds. Francolin and sand doves I believe they were. We would give them to the Moroccan infantry in trade for smoked duiker. Love to go back one day, shoot some pirate thugs also.

[ghosthunter]

Nice

I have a question. Since it is waterfowl I assume the birds fall in some water.
How do you Retreiver them.?
Dogs ?
Or too dangerous for dogs?

[jasnt]

Sounds like a blast!

[AspenBud]

Why?  Why would you care?  I am sure there are people who need the meat there, if he isn't going to ship it back.  Cannot see why you would even ask that?

Because he doesn't know. The meat will be used at the lodge, taken by the PH, taken by either of the 2 game trackers in the photo, or given to elders in the local village. Nothing goes to waste there.

That answers it. Thanks.

If you don't ask, you don't learn.

[jetjockey]

Nice

I have a question. Since it is waterfowl I assume the birds fall in some water.
How do you Retreiver them.?
Dogs ?
Or too dangerous for dogs?

Yes, they "might" fall in water, but we do have labs to retrieve the ducks.  The "water" isn't much though. 

Today we shot driven guinea fowl, doves, and we finished with another duck hunt..  The hunt I was least looking forward to was the driven hunt.  I honestly thought it would be cheesy, but boy was I wrong.  It might end up being my favorite hunt of the trip.  Guinea fowl act like pheasants on steroids, but flock like geese.  Before I hunted them, I couldn't understand why we don't use dogs to point or flush guinea.  Then I saw them run, and run, and run.   To hunt guinea, you find the flock by watching the fields.  Once you find a flock, you come up with a game plan to have "beaters" push the guineas towards the shooters.  It's a lot like pheasant hunting with pushers and blockers, except guineas won't fly until they absolutely have to.  And when they fly.......WOW!  We had flocks of guineas up to 80-90+ birds fly right past us.  It's unreal!   Guinea fowl are s fsir but bigger than pheasants, and are grey with blue tick marks.  They are beautiful birds and are hard to get flushed in the proper direction.  They make a pheasant drive look like kids play....  Final talley for the day was 18 guinea, God only knows how many doves, 34 ducks, and another goose.

For those of you wondering, all the birds are eather stored properly for mounting, or given to the locals who will eat everything except the bones and feathers.  The doves we killed today we're going to be given to the local school.  Nothing is wasted in Africa...  This place is nothing short of amazing and addicting. 

[jasnt]

What a hunt!  The guinea hunt sounds like a blast!