Zimbabwe pics

[grayghost]

Hunting was tough. It was hot (too hot to enjoy one's self) and the foilage was on the games side. Hunted hard for three days passing up a lot of Impala (I have a 24" ram already), Waterbuck ( I finally took a heavy 27 incher), Blue Wildebeast, female Duiker, Giraffe, Eland etc. Took a nice Burchell's stallion, but the entire trip was mostly for scouting areas for Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Buff, Sable and the plains game of Zimbabwe. I covered most of the western side of Zim and found most areas to be full of game. Excellent Leopard areas were contacted, one is running 100% on trophy toms, but my personal highlight of the trip was taking this 44 SCI Chobe Bushbuck and getting to dart a 5 year old Lion. The Lion had a bad cut on his neck and needed immediate attention, so my friend who owns a Lion rehab and breeding center offered me the opportunity to dart him. I never knew how loud a Lion's growl was. Forget the roar, I'm talking about that low rumbling growl they give when their only thought is killing. I now know what their stare is all about. I now understand what being charged by an enraged Lion is all about. Even behind the safety of strong fencing it will put your heart in your throat. I stood my ground, mostly comtemplating where I would put a stopping round, but it will raise your blood pressure! Hopefully, I will get some pics of the Waterbuck and Zebra soon. I'll add them later. Good hunting, grayghost

[grayghost]

Darted Lion

[Tennessee Elkman]

One of these days when I hit the lottery:D or I sell the business, I'm going over there with you and kill all these cool animals. Great pictures.

[gd357]

Sounds like a great trip! Would be neat (in a manner of speaking) to see a lion up close like that.

gd

[Gunslingergirl]

It would be very cool to see a lion up close like that.

As long as it was darted of course.

Otherwise, probably not so much. :D

GSG

[Dom]

Thanks for the info and pics Grayghost, sounds like you enjoyed it and had fun despite the heat. I don't take hot weather well either, I had heard it was really hot!! Nice Bushbuck -- Waidmannsheil, Dom.

[grayghost]

Thanks everyone and I apologize for the BIG pics. I didn't realize they were so large. The Lion was a trip. He isn't totally grown yet, but is in the 450 lb range. Give him another 5 years and he'll top 500 lbs. His paw was 6 inches wide but if you could feel how hard and toned his muscles are.....geeezus! Trying just to lift his head was an effort. Hopefully I'll get some more pics from my bud in Zim before long. He had the digital camera. I found two lakes that were stocked with Largemouth Bass 6-7 years ago (Florida strain) and now they're topping 13 pounds! They grow year 'round in Zim. Tiger Fish are in the Zambezi River, along with Croc's and Hippo's. I posted some of the pics on my African web site if anyone would like to see them. I return June 1st to South Africa. We will hunt waterfowl (I hunted Egyptian Geese, Knob Bill Duck and Spur Wing Goose in Zim) for three days then plains game for 10 days. Hopefully, I will get on to hunt Cape Buffalo, Leopard and Lion next year. Good hunting, grayghost

[grayghost]

Here's my Common Waterbuck. They vary in facial markings and color. Some have a copper to gold forehead with russet accents, some like mine are brown. I'd like to take one of the more colorful bulls. Saw several in Zim but the one with massive bases had the upper half of his horns covered by dense brush. grayghost

[grayghost]

Here's my Zebra

[Baylian]

Grayghost,

Another great African hunt!!! Could you make the Zebra pict. bigger? What were you shooting?

Waidmannsheil, TJ

[grayghost]

Baylian, The Zebra pic's I received from my Outfitter were thumbnails and can't be enlarged without being so blurry you can't tell any detail. I have a good one on my web site but it is too large to download on HC. I used a .300RUM with 180 grain Barnes bullets. Believe me, Zebra are not as easy to hunt as one might think. Being I was there last month (their summer) it was 110 degrees that day and the bush was rather thick. Range wasn't the problem as much as picking out a Stallion. It is difficult to: A. find a Stallion, B. get them in position away from Mares & C. get a clear shot. I took mine on the third day of hunting them. They are tough animals to boot. I plan on hunting them again in the future, maybe on my next trip coming up soon. I priced a tanned Zebra skin at the gift shop (airport in Johannesburg) and they wanted more than it costs to shoot your own, send it home and have it tanned here. Doing this one as a rug. One thing about taking a Zebra Stallion: sometimes they are scared up badly. They fight all the time and Lions can rip them up too. I would say glass them carefully but the truth be known, just get lucky. Mine only had 3 small scars on his back. Behind their front and bottom teeth they have two upper and two lower separate teeth called hooks. They can do some serious damage. Good hunting, grayghost

[bsterns]

Grayghost, beautiful animals. I envy you going back to Africa so soon. I hope to go again in a year or so. I am building a 9.3X62mm rifle. I wonder if this caliber will be legal for dangerous game anywhere in Africa. I have heard conflicting stories about the use of this caliber in recent times in Africa. This caliber gun was considered an African gun used by the Dutch and Germans over there in earlier times. I understand there are a lot of those guns over there still. Does anyone have any info about that?

My trophy heads should be ready soon from last year. I bet the costs of shipping have gone up with the US dollar losing so much value in the past year. Can you comment on that, Grayghost?

[Dom]

Hey Grayghost, I also noticed that Zebra hide in Johannesburg Airport, and yes, they are darn tough critters to hunt and can take a good hit.

bsterns, I've also only heard rumors that the 9.3x62 doesn't meet the min in some countries for dangerous game, probably have to check with your outfitter, as in some countries it's only .375, even though the 9.3 is only a tick under it in horsepower, Waidmannsheil, Dom.

[grayghost]

bsterns: Not only is fuel going up, but the F&W guys are forcing all African trophies to come into the NY port. This really affects the west coast guys but recently they began a new policy where all crates have to fly into NY as opposed to sea cargo, costing about 3 times as much. 1. Where did you do your hunting? (country) 2. Did you leave your trophies there for mounting? I'll try to answer your questions, just need a little info. You can email me direct if you wish.
Dom: I may take another soon. I leave soon. Lion and plains game on this trip. Leopard/Buff and Sable next year in Zim where I took my Zebra. Good hunting, grayghost

[bsterns]

grayghost, I hunted in Namibia and left my trophies there for mounting. They should be ready anytime now. The plan was to split a shipping carton with two others. I was not aware of any rule changes.

[grayghost]

bsterns: mounted trophies are no problem for sea freight and just today I received a call from my customs broker: as of last week they now are clear to accept raw skins via ocean cargo. This will reduce raw skins shipping by 2/3. I usually have all taxidermy work done here except big cats. I send those to lifeform in Mpumalanga, RSA. 10 days and I leave again. Good hunting, grayghost