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I just returned from my second trip to Africa. I went to the Northwest province of South Africa, and hunted the old Melorani place with Ken Moody safaris.

This may take me a day or two, so bear with me

Picture is the back of the chalet where I stayed. Saw impala and Nyala here everyday, but of course didn’t hunt it

Saw a great big warthog out of range, more on this later. I have a warthog curse . . .

Saw a nice old buffalo at the back of the pond as well

Now, waterbuck has never really been on my list, but I’m a firm believer that you take what Africa gives you, and my PH said he was a good one.

I don’t have much self control, so I decided to take him

I got a little cute with trying to get my arrow far up in the vital triangle, and he was slightly quartered, so I managed to hit bone and glance into vitals , but the penetration looked very weak

I was worried after the shot. But I needn’t have. He sent us on a 200 or so yard track, but we found him quick

I did manage to get many pics on my phone if the waterbuck. I’m going to get some better ones later from my PH

We had a parade of animals throughout the day, including impala, kudu, warthogs, ostriches, Cape buffalo, gemsbok, hartebeest and giraffe.

Fairly early I had a shot at a nice impala with a broken horn (not the one pictured), and managed to lose my first African animal. Again, I tried to be cute and get right up in the vital triangle and hit bone again. Except this time, zero penetration. The arrow broke off at the base of the outsert. And there wasn’t a speck of blood.

After a diligent search, my PH called it and we returned to the blind

—Jim

So I was determined not to mess it up again

Impala were coming in regularly, and finally two rams approached. Flighty and twitchy around the water. One had a nice flare, but they were about the same length and both mature. Jannie said to shoot the first one that gave me an angle.

After 5-10 minutes of the little bastards coming in, then spooking off, then coming in, I was finally given an angle at 26 yards.

I didn’t mess this one up. 80 yards and there he was piled up.

We took our pics, called in the skinner with the truck, and then got back in the blind

Jannie said “He’s fully mature, actually old I think. But not very long. It’s your choice.”

Well, you take what African gives you, and I’ve never shot a gemsbok. Mature was the key word I wanted to hear.

I drew one him, but he quickly changed the angle and walked to the other side of the water. So I let down. No angle at water. But as he left, he stopped quartering away at 30, and I was ready.

I actually thought the hit was too far back initially. He ram 100 yards one way, made a circle, and then a mad death dash straight away and out of sight. We heard a crash.

We waited a while, but wanted some light to look, and as we got out of the blind, we had to scare off this fully mature TANK!

I was positive he was dead, so I actually slept well

The tracks the next morning showed that our tracker Jacob, Jannie, and myself had walked within 5 yards of him the night before, but just couldn’t see him in the dark in the middle of this bush

Animals and animals, but not as action packed as the day before. But we saw kudu and pigs, and kept seeing multiple ostriches. 3 females and 2 males were hanging around. Displaying and chasing each other.

I’d never even considered shooting an ostrich. But, you take what Africa gives you ;). And I had an itchy trigger thumb

I took a picture of a female with my phone, and Jannie used a twig to show me proper shot placement. Just in case a male wandered by close enough . . .

Well wouldn’t you know it? A male happened to come by and give me a nice angle at 30 yards.

Boots maybe?

My wife’s first question . . . “ why an ostrich?” My response, “why not?” ;)

More tomorrow. Jet lag still crushing me

Congrats on a super trip!

The evening was wholly given over to finding a nyala bull.

Nyala has been on my wish list for a very long time. I think they are beautiful.

I got two stalks that evening on a lovely mature nyala bull. Neither was successful.

I wanted a mature animal, with a classic shape.

There were plenty of nyala around

The goal was pig, zebra or wildebeest. All which had been frequenting this pond and blind. Although not always in range.

First thing we saw a herd of 18 zebra water at the back of the pond. Maybe 60 yards away.

As the day wore on and it heated up, we expected to see some pigs.

I’m not much of a bow purist, and I’d told Jannie if we saw that big pig again out of bow range, I was gonna grab the 300 Win Mag he carried for follow ups, and I was gonna blast it.

Again, warthog curse ( more on this later)

Sure enough, the pig (who must hate me), comes in and waters at the back of the pond

I didn’t hesitate. I grabbed the 300 and blasted that pig and my heart rate rose and my hands trembled.

So the pressure was still off. We planned to leave the blind early today, because we had nyala ambush plans.

Well, what would happen to show up but a small herd of zebra with a nice stallion. My wife did request another rug . . .

Now, as I said, we had a nyala ambush plan.

It didn’t work. The little bugger didn’t walk through the gate we thought he would (like a whitetail), but instead jumped the fence and followed some females.

I made a move and managed to close the gap while he rubbed a tree and postured for the ladies.

But ultimately he picked up his head and busted me.

And I made a bad decision to shoot a decently long distance.

Long story short, I gut shot him

Nyala pictured is not the bull I shot

For a mile and a half.

After about a mile the trail was very tough. No more blood, and really hard to follow.

My PH and I had to go to town for Covid testing. So we left 3 great trackers on the trail

When we got back, two of them had been pulled off to hunt with clients, but the PHs and Ken were all armed and looking for a live bull.

We were headed to join up, and just lucked into the bull. And I finished him with a rifle to put an end to it.

I really like him. Fully mature. Cool shape. Light colored cape.

I had a male and female ostrich within 15 yards, but didn’t shoot, which I regretted later. Where did your PH recommend for you to shoot your ostrich for proper shot placement?

So the last day came, and that was the goal.

I made a dumb decision to pass an old broken tusked boar. And got to watch some old Cape buffalo bulls for a while.

Right before sundown, here comes some wildebeest.

After some maneuvering around, I finally got a shot on the bull.

Hit him about an inch lower than I wanted, but he sprinted about 50 yards and ram head long into a tree and died.

Last animal of the trip

T-Roy: basically on the line of his neck, but in front of legs. He said there’s a big area under that that is all lungs an will kill them quick

The pic is how I understand it. But please, I’m no expert by any means

I’d have never even thought to shoot an ostrich. But JTreeman shot one with Ken Moody two years ago. Inspired me ;). I’m glad I did

And I MUST hear the ostrich porno story ;)

My PH was laughing after I shot the ostrich, and said “I really like hunting with you. You’re game to shoot anything”. He said not many bow hunters shoot ostrich

—Jim

My buddy and I had a great hunt with Ken and his crew in June/July of 2019

Brings back a lot of fun memories!

Cape buffalo blackstrap is pretty dang good

Zebra and wildebeest will be full rugs.

Euro mounts of impala, gemsbok, wildebeest, and warthog.

The question now is what do you pursue next in Africa? While you are still young and have strength, I would encourage you to take on Cape buffalo.

The question now is what do you pursue next in Africa? While you are still young and have strength, I would encourage you to take on Cape buffalo.

Plenty to keep me busy ;)

I would like to hunt a Cape buffalo, but I wanna do it with an open sighted double rifle. And a bow ;)

I have no idea how to make it play in the page. . ..

Pat can't just leave the tidbit about the porno flick and not provide details.

Euro mounts are my favorite.