As most of you have seen, our new website is up and running with its new look. Please feel free to comment on it if we can improve something.    

The season is starting very slowly due to the world economy and the soccer world cup starting in June 2010. With flight tickets to South Africa going at double or more, than the normal rate the trophy hunting business is taking a hard knock this year and most of the outfitters are complaining about the low number of clients coming to hunt.    

Chad Gay and Frank and Ramon Hancock hunted with us at the end of May just before the world cup soccer. Frank brought his son Ramon to hunt as a graduation present. Ramon gave up the graduation walk to come and hunt in South Africa. They bought the Grand Slam package we offered on the marketing shows beginning of the year in the USA. In the end Ramon shot an Impala, Springbuck, Zebra, Blue Wildebeest, Blesbuck and the prize of his trip a 36” Eland bull pulling the scale at almost a ton. Ramons priority animal was the eland, although several good ones were spotted at the first concession none ever presented a clear shot, at the second area we knew chances would be slim to find a exceptional one so it all boiled down to the last two days in Kwa-Zulu Natal. We knew that the area had huge eland but to find them in the mountains is easier said than done. Getting up the last morning with a wind blowing from the south and cold weather that moved in during the night, chances seemed slim. Chad offered to sacrifice his hunting so that we could all focus on finding a eland for Ramon. We searched every mountain and valley without luck; it seemed as if the cold weather had swallowed the animals. Time was running out as the sun started to disappear over the hills when Frans spotted the bull feeding under some acacia trees in a small creak, Ramon did an excellent job to make sure he ended up in the skinning shed, that is what I call last minute hunting.   

Ramon had a very successful trip due to three factors, he practiced a lot on shooting and bullet placement and paid close attention to Frans regarding when and were to shoot.  

Ramon’s first African animal: Impala  

Ramon’s Zebra 

 Chad hunted with me in August 09 during which he took several trophies including a monster waterbuck, this time he was more concerned about his friend having a good hunt. All these good intentions fell away once he spotted the first impala and it wasn’t long before the skinners were at work. Day three presented the story off his trip, wile driving back to camp for breakfast we spotted three mail zebra. Chad and I jumped of the moving truck and made a short brisk stalk to where we spotted the zebra. One of the stallions presented a clean broadside shot and Chad wasted no time in putting some lead in the engine compartment. Due to the dense bush we immediately followed up on the shot to try and see were the animal would go down, as we came running through the brush a zebra appeared in front were his has just disappeared for the moment we both thought it was his that went down and got up again. Chad wasted no time in handing out some more lead. The short off the story is that we picked up two zebra with heart shots 50 yards apart, that should teach them a lesson about putting on the same sweaters that morning. 

 Chad’s two Zebra’s 

 Chad’s Red Hartebeest 

Chad’s Blue Wildebeest         

On this trip Chad hunted with Big Tom taking home two impala, eland, red hartebeest, blue wildebeest, blesbuck and two zebra.  

Chad’s new motto is to buy bulk its cheaper, therefore we plan his 2012 trip to do the four different springbuck, bushbuck, njala and cape buff. On behalf of Frans and myself I would like to congratulate this three gentleman on there trophy’s but also on the spirit in witch they hunted together, it is hunting with clients like you that makes being a PH worth it. Next news letter will include feedback on an overland trip through some of the most remote parts off   Zimbabwe known for its great tuskers. 

Till next time