First time in Africa (Namibia) results.

Snoopdogg · 2024-08-14T15:08:23-0600

So I joined Bill C on his foursome to Namibia: https://www.monstermuleys.info/xf/threads/namibia-2024-group-hunt-story.208445/

This thread though, is just on my results. I had a BLAST and I have a few pictures I want to share. So, hunting in Africa has always a distant dream of mine. Since I retired, I decided I was going to investigate it seriously and finally do something about it.

I started researching after attending the Sacramento ISE show in January and gathered a bunch of info--overwhelming but informative. However, I remembered Bill posted a thread looking for a hunter to join his foursome to Namibia. Luckily, Bill still had an opening and I jumped to take it--foursome complete!

My first African animal--a Namibian Blue Wildebeest. Tagged him at about 180 yards. A couple of spins and down after about 10 yards. Holy hell--I'm hunting Africa!!!!

Next up--a red hartebeest. He ate a copper pill after sneaking up to about 80 yards. One poke with my new 7mm PRC and he runs about 20 yards and he too piles up. Seriously, I'm hunting in Namibia!

Snoopdogg · 2024-08-14T15:15:25-0600

On day four, we kept the streak of one-a-day kills up with a nice kudu. PH spots him from about 1400 yards and we waste NO time getting our a$$ in gear. After getting into about 120 yards in some pretty sparse terrain and the kudu quartering away, the PH said, "Get ready, I'm going to get him to turn." He yells "Hey!" and the kudu complies by turning broadside. I don't take long to shoot, once I put the cross hairs where I want them--BOOM! He rears, runs for a couple of yards and falls onto his face because I put the shot where my PH told me to, right on his shoulders. A quick follow-up shot square in the lungs and he died quickly. Damn, so that's what a kudu looks like in real life.

Oh, and the PH comments, "You killed a kudu with a third horn!"

Snoopdogg · 2024-08-14T15:27:09-0600

The next day, we head out to another property to go after the biggest antelopes around, Mr. Eland. However, we were unable to seal the deal. The PH led me into position on 11 bulls, but none were mature and we saw several hop the fence to an adjacent property we cannot hunt. We still hiked our a$$es off all day and seen more kudu, warthogs, zebra, etc., but we were on this property specifically for eland. Long day, but I'm hunting in Namibia.

The next day we return to familiar confines and look more intently for other animals on my list, including warthog, zebra and oryx, but no mature animals were willing to let us stalk them. What nerve!

Snoopdogg · 2024-08-14T15:49:33-0600

Up and at'em, we finally got into one of my top animals, an oryx. Good ol' Mr. Gemsbok. As with so many stalks earlier in the hunt, there were so many animals, so many eyes, so many BIG females (40") and we finally got into a position for a mature bull.

We close 600 yards to 400, 400 to 160 and my PH scoots out of the way and busts out the sticks. I'm on him, but his a$$ is in the air and I can't see horns. It's not making sense. I ask if he's on a slope of some sort. "No" is the reply. I wait some more.

"Why can't I see his head and shoulders? What's the deal?" The PH says quietly, "He's feeding and once we kill him, I'll show you what's going on." I nod.

After about 6 minutes on the sticks, the PH says he will yell to get him to stand and to be ready. I've been ready!

He does the ol', "HEY!"

Nothing.

"HEY!" He lifts his head but doesn't reposition. Back down to feed. I laugh a little. The PH yells 3 more times and finally the bull comes up and repositions for a slightly quartering to shot.

"Shoot him." I oblige. The oryx takes off running away faster than Kamala Harris from a press conference. And like Kamala, he face plants. He tries to get up and falls flat. Just down...

P.S. That was a joke, Mr. Moderator, this is NOT a political thread.

I'm happy as hell and we approach. It's dusk and we need to get a few pics. He is BEAUTIFUL. I'm 6 days in and I'm still grinning.

After, the PH says come over here, I'll show you what he was doing. He was digging in the dirt, eating a root that has a high water content. It was about 18" or more deep and he was eating it and digging with his front feet. That is why he looked like he was on a slant, but I didn't know he was basically in a hole.

On the right, you'll see indentations on top and bottom, that's where his front legs were. To the left is the root, where the oryx had his face buried, getting his grub on. The PH cut a piece and handed it to me. I tasted it and it was like jicama, juicy and bland--but this one had a hint of dirt- ha!

The next day, the skinners retrieve the only bullet recovered during the hunt, on the far shoulder of this dude. 160 grain Hornady CX worked out quite well on all the animals so far.

Snoopdogg · 2024-08-14T16:06:52-0600

It's the tail end of winter in Namibia, while the mid-day temps get to 79-86, the a.m. temps were 32-40. I left California with wildfires and 100 temps to Namibia. The early a.m.'s were cold!

After breakfast, once again, our routine continues. Let's go huntin'!

We decide to focus on zebra as we haven't really pursued them and my wish list is winding down. My PH, Danie, knows his sh*t so we go and look for them first thing. First thing we find them, but they're feeding and moving amongst eland, wildebeest and a few moo cows. Bastards!

He says, let's be patient. A big eland cow is about 40 yards in front of us, but doesn't seem alarmed. A young bull and a few other youngster are within a 100 yards. Very cool. Too bad there wasn't a mature one there, he'd have been toast!

Finally, the herd of 50-60 or so slows, but is still bunched up. Danie, my PH, whispers to me, "You're looking to make a flat rug, yes?" Yes, I reply. He directs me to a specific zebra and says, "Once the back one clears, shoot him."

Always looking to accommodate, I wait. Above a wildebeest and under the far stallion--BOOM, old Mr. PRC reaches out at about 160 yards or so. All hell breaks loose and a dust cloud engulfs everything. I don't see the stallion on the ground, but my PH has him. "He's hurt, but your shot may be a bit low."

The zebra lags behind his homies and stops at behind a bush, because of course he does. Danie says, "Let's go now." We hustle and Mr. PH does the PH thing. "Stop, get ready. He'll clear the bush and shoot him again." Sure enough, the zebra walks into the opening and again I light him up. Down goes Mr. Black and White. F*cking awesome. I'm a happy bastard.

Here is the pattern on his back. We both agreed it was cool and worthy of taking for a flat rug.

Snoopdogg · 2024-08-14T16:31:21-0600

We go another day without a kill, but not because we don't see our quarry, but because we don't find a "mature" one. We're after warthog and I see plenty to shoot, but my PH keeps saying, "Female, young female with youngsters, young male," or blah, blah, blah to me.

Now, I don't know jack sh*t about these animals and we did that routine a lot, even though I was knocking animals down. However, trust the PH....

We go the same property from a couple of days ago to pursue the eland again specifically. We're there at first light and we see gobs of kudu, like 20 or so with a couple of shooters. However, my PH reminded me, "Once we kill your kudu, we'll see them everywhere." Ha! Sure did seem like it. We get off the high rack and get into the bush to where we had seen the 11 bulls a couple days ago. Justin from our group, had killed a fatty mature bull the first day. We know they're around.

The PH and tracker cut tracks, "Fresh, we're just behind them." And we're off to the races. Although we can't see them through the bushes, the PH hears them and asks me, "Can you shoot that off hand?" "That" being my 12 pound Savage .338 Lapua Mag. I tell him I hunt California, I only get off hand shots. Kidding--well sorta.

We hear them, they hear or smell us and they bolt for a ridge. Danie glasses them at 700 and he tells me there are 7 in this particular group. He says there are 3 shooters, but 2 mature ones that will be our target. "How far can you shoot that?" I told him a killed a rock, deader than sh*t at 646 and blew it up! However, the furthest animal killed with it was at 400. "Let's get closer." I'm good with that.

We do a lot of this:

And I hear a lot of this, "We're about 1.5 to 2 hours behind them." During this all-day affair, we saw baboons, a cheetah, more kudu and we also bounced them twice and then sneaked in on them at 60 yards throughout the day, but no good shot was available to me. FRUSTRATING.

Soj51hopeful · 2024-08-14T16:37:17-0600

good stuff snoop!

Snoopdogg · 2024-08-14T16:41:01-0600

The boys are tracking and I'm hoofing behind. Walking in sand sucks as it does when it's the height of the mid-day heat. Ugh.

We keep on trudging and yet again, the tracker and PH keep leading me through every thorny bush and tree in Namibia. But I'm hunting.

Tracker up in the tree, trying to see if we can spot them.

The day is really long and hot and I have a blister and the dog ate my homework and I miss my wife and babies, blah, blah, blah...

That's 17.94 miles walked this day looking for this group of eland. But, while investigating the tracks, scat and piss, the boys keep me going with, "We're about 30 minutes behind them."

They say it like they mean it!

Snoopdogg · 2024-08-14T17:05:38-0600

It's about 6 now, it gets dark about 6:20 ish. We are still hoofing and the boys are looking a little worse for wear, but no one is quitting and we keep getting on them. I spot 2 of them (I have no clue if they're young or whatever and react only when they seem to react). They really had no reaction to the two and we worked in a circle to get around them (I think). Nonetheless, the sun is low in the sky and I know we're minutes away from having to call it and start heading to the truck. I'm a little down, but heck, we keep getting on them, but with no shot.

Just as we're getting to another fence to hop, my PH stops and looks down the fence line. "Get behind me." What do you see I ask and he says, "eland." Okay, I'm excited because we may have a shooting lane. I slowly get my glasses around his head and ask where it is. He says on the right, behind the bushes. How in the f*ck he seen it is beyond me, but that's why he's the PH.

I see a young bull chewing his cud, looking at us. The PH gets me on the sticks. "Stay ready." Finally, Mr. Lapua may be able to get some work in as the 7mm PRC has had all the fun. I brought this big b*tch specifically for this animal.

Looking the scope, the bull is at 244. He's not a shooter, but I'm hopeful his homies are around because the PH has me on the sticks. It's exciting. For about 5 minutes, the bull keeps eating and looking directly at us. He leaves cover and walks towards us a few feet, still 240 yards away. Just looking and chewing. I start laughing at this sorry som'b*tch because if he was mature--BOOM!

I whisper to Danie the PH, "Is he alone?" Confidently, he tells me no. But there's nothing around. We are on the fence line, open and exposed, but standing still just watching this big bastard eating. It was kinda cool after all that walking, to just marvel at the size of it. Mature or not, seeing a 1000+ pound "youngster" in my sights was cool after all that bullsh*t and walking today.

HikeHunt61 · 2024-08-14T17:05:49-0600

Wow, what an adventure! Beautiful animals, cool country. Thanks much for sharing...

Snoopdogg · 2024-08-14T17:28:18-0600

After a few minutes more, the PH whispers, "Oscar, big bull on the left." I see nothing other than Mr. Fat Youngster and respond, "I don't see any other bulls."

I'm still on the gun, looking through the scope.

"He's on the other side of the fence."

I come off the scope and look. I immediately adjust and get him in my scope picture. I see a what appears to be a big bull.

He facing me, chewing, but looking in our direction. I knew that in those moments that the PH was directing me to him, I had no time to waste, nor did I because he could just step right back into the bush--and we've been on them ALL DAY.

"Oh, sh*t--I see him. Is he a good one?"

"Yes, shoot him." was the reply.

At about 240 yards, I put the crosshairs square in his chest and touch it off. As usual, I waste no time and light his a$$ up.

I'm off the scope at the recoil, but jack another in and reacquire him. That big bull is off to the races, but headed right towards us. He looks like a freight train headed right into my scope.

Boom, I send another 250 grain pill his way. He veers from the fence line and stumbles into the bush. I got him.

I turn to the PH and tracker, exhausted. Danie extends his hand, "Congratulations, you have a mature bull."

That, my friends, is the face of one tired-a$$ mofo with a rejuvenated spring in his step. Walking up on a animal that weighs more than a moose is amazing. Biggest animal I'd ever killed was a bull elk. No comparison.

Snoopdogg · 2024-08-14T17:47:26-0600

PH turns to me after we walk up to the bull and I have a sh*t-eating grin like you can't believe. "You just had a proper eland hunt."

Who's tired--not me!

The bull went only 30 yards or so into the bush. My PH thanked me for that. He was very happy I hit him a second time because he said he knew after the first shot that he was dead. However, the second shot undoubtedly dropped him faster and we wouldn't have to cut a road deep into the bush.

Two heart shots:

We heaved and ho'd and got him into position for pictures. No turning him for the best light, we did what we could and photoshop will have to work. After we took a slew of pictures, the guide and tracker hoofed to the truck. Glad they know where it is, cuz I was twisted from all that walking.

I got to whacking and cutting and stomping as best as I could. When they returned, a few trees/bushes had to be whacked. Then, they used a winch to load him up whole. Loved it.

Snoopdogg · 2024-08-14T17:50:48-0600

One more, just cuz.

Rie bread · 2024-08-14T18:01:19-0600

Way to go snoop!

Snoopdogg · 2024-08-14T18:02:15-0600

The next day, day 9 maybe? We went easy, strictly looking for the last animal on my list, a mature warthog. We did some driving, some glassing, and ultimately passed on several piggies. A blessing in disguise, we all needed a "day off."

Tomorrow would be my last hunting day and would have to produce a mature warthog. Earlier in the hunt, during the first attempt at an eland, we had a chance at a mature warthog and closed the distance to about 130 yards, however, the wind swirled--momma ran and took the babies and daddy with her. B*tch.

No one had killed that warthog from our group, so our plan was to head back at midday and sit for him to come to water. After about 6 hours of sitting in the hot-a$$ sun and passing on a sh*tload of various piggies, finally a mature one showed up, at last light.

Off to the races and we quickly closed the distance. My PH knows his sh*t and we're at about 140 yards. He gets out the sticks and says take him when you're ready. He was quartering to and I didn't really want to shoot, but realized the wind may betray us again as it seems slight off. I rushed a chip shot and shot low, between his neck and front shoulder (the PH told me afterwards). I jacked another round in and got back on the piggy. He moved at the shot but had no idea we were there. He didn't get a second chance. BOOM!

The PH got some great shots in the fading light.

2lumpy · 2024-08-14T18:02:29-0600

Huge…….. Congratulation Snoopy.

RookieWYhntr · 2024-08-14T18:06:43-0600

Dang. Congrats man! Thing is a beast!

Snoopdogg · 2024-08-14T18:07:01-0600

Then I flew home on a series of long-a$$ flights. The end.

Best hunting trip of my life. Happy as hell that Bill C had room for one more. Bill C seems to know everything about hunting in Africa and has quite a taxidermy bill to show for it. Hell, he's killing animals of different color variations that I didn't know even existed!!!

So, to summarize--I had quite the memorable trip to Namibia. Most likely, not my last. Thanks for bearing with me on this long-winded thread, but I hope I threw enough pictures in here to convey the thrill and success of my hunt accurately. It was great!

LIK2HNT · 2024-08-14T18:08:21-0600

Great story, thanks for sharing.

2lumpy · 2024-08-14T18:16:32-0600

Snoopy……. were you working in Tomestone, Az back in 1993, hanging out with these Kurt Russell, Sam Elliott, Bill Paxton, Powers Boothe, and Michael Biehn? You look familiar…..

2lumpy · 2024-08-14T18:20:18-0600

Snoopdogg said:
Then I flew home on a series of long-a$$ flights. The end.

Best hunting trip of my life. Happy as hell that Bill C had room for one more. Bill C seems to know everything about hunting in Africa has quite a taxidermy bill to show for it. Hell, he's killing animals of different color variations that I didn't know even existed!!!

So, to summarize--I had quite the memorable trip to Namibia. Most likely, not my last. Thanks for bearing with me on this long-winded thread, but I hope I threw enough pictures in here to convey the thrill and success of my hunt accurately. It was great!

I would love to hunt Africa again but I’ll never do another flight to get there again.

No way, no how.

Great report and beautiful pictures of your hunt.

Snoopdogg · 2024-08-14T18:20:43-0600

2lumpy said:
Snoopy……. were you working in Tomestone, Az back in 1993, hanging out with these Kurt Russell, Sam Elliott, Bill Paxton, Powers Boothe, and Michael Biehn? You look familiar…..View attachment 154193

HAHAHAHAHA---one of my favorite movies.

I'm your huckleberry...

2lumpy · 2024-08-14T18:23:19-0600

Snoopdogg said:
HAHAHAHAHA---one of my favorite movies.

I'm your huckleberry...

The cops could easily arrest you for Val Kilmer.

Snoopdogg · 2024-08-14T18:28:27-0600

2lumpy said:
I would love to hunt Africa again but I’ll never do another flight to get there again.

No way, no how.

Great report and beautiful pictures of your hunt.

Thanks lumpy. I knew what I was in for, but willing to do it. I had the luxury of flying all the way back to the West coast

while Bill C was basically home after landing in Newark--BASTARD!

Let's see--butt crack of dawn from Sacramento to Houston, couple hours layover--no biggie. Then Houston to Newark, wrapped up a long day of flying and waiting. Short layover, then off to Johannesburg for an almost 16 hour flight. That was kinda rough. Overnight in Johannesburg then a.m. flight to Windhoek, Namibia. Yeah, long ass trip.

Then reverse it 11 days later, but with longer layovers in Newark and O'Hare, I finally made it Sacramento for the hour plus drive to home. I did not sleep for any length of time during the flight home so I can crash at the correct time in California. It's a 9 hour difference in time. Been back since last Friday night and I've done well because of that move. Wifi and in flight movies helped a LOT.

Soj51hopeful · 2024-08-14T19:27:38-0600

Did you take the hog with the 7 or the .338?

Never mind I looked back at the pictures. Looks like the 7.

Soj51hopeful · 2024-08-14T19:29:38-0600

What did you guys eat in camp?

Rie bread · 2024-08-14T19:39:29-0600

2lumpy said:
Snoopy……. were you working in Tomestone, Az back in 1993, hanging out with these Kurt Russell, Sam Elliott, Bill Paxton, Powers Boothe, and Michael Biehn? You look familiar…..View attachment 154193

lol I knew you were a gangster but assumed the wrong century !

Snoopdogg · 2024-08-14T21:32:35-0600

Soj51hopeful said:
What did you guys eat in camp?

The usual for dinner: steak, veggies, rice or potatoes, drinks of your choice (beer, hooch or sodies). A couple of times, we had oryx and wildebeest, first time for both and they were quite tasty.

Lunch was usually the same, but lighter on options.

Breakfast was typical as well; including eggs, toast, jam/butter, bacon/sausage links, coffee and juice.

Unfortunately, my fat-a$$ gained about 5 pounds due to overeating. I had the "eff i, I'm on vacation" mentality.

Snoopdogg · 2024-08-14T21:33:28-0600

Rie bread said:
lol I knew you were a gangster but assumed the wrong century !

Hahahaha---I've been a good boy for a long time. Honest, just ask me.

Snoopdogg · 2024-08-14T21:36:00-0600

Soj51hopeful said:
Did you take the hog with the 7 or the .338?

Never mind I looked back at the pictures. Looks like the 7.

The Lapua was strictly for the eland. I had both rigs set up to dial long distance if I needed to; however I never had the chance to hold up or down on either rifle. Okay, I held slightly up on the eland (240 yards), but otherwise--PH got me in close that it was unneccessary.

Rie bread · 2024-08-14T22:17:32-0600

Snoopdogg said:
The usual for dinner: steak, veggies, rice or potatoes, drinks of your choice (beer, hooch or sodies). A couple of times, we had oryx and wildebeest, first time for both and they were quite tasty.

Lunch was usually the same, but lighter on options.

Breakfast was typical as well; including eggs, toast, jam/butter, bacon/sausage links, coffee and juice.

Unfortunately, my fat-a$$ gained about 5 pounds due to overeating. I had the "eff i, I'm on vacation" mentality.

Iv adopted the notation that it not a vacation unless you gain weight!

Rie bread · 2024-08-14T22:21:07-0600

Snoopdogg said:
The Lapua was strictly for the eland. I had both rigs set up to dial long distance if I needed to; however I never had the chance to hold up or down on either rifle. Okay, I held slightly up on the eland (240 yards), but otherwise--PH got me in close that it was unneccessary.

That’s awesome you were able to hunt so close! That’s hunting! Funny enough I alway envisioned it be a hot place to hunt, nice to know it’s not scorching hot.
As a former Cali hunter the off hand shot is certainly the majority!

Bushwack · 2024-08-15T04:19:38-0600

Snoopdogg said:
So I joined Bill C on his foursome to Namibia: https://www.monstermuleys.info/xf/threads/namibia-2024-group-hunt-story.208445/

This thread though, is just on my results. I had a BLAST and I have a few pictures I want to share. So, hunting in Africa has always a distant dream of mine. Since I retired, I decided I was going to investigate it seriously and finally do something about it.

I started researching after attending the Sacramento ISE show in January and gathered a bunch of info--overwhelming but informative. However, I remembered Bill posted a thread looking for a hunter to join his foursome to Namibia. Luckily, Bill still had an opening and I jumped to take it--foursome complete!

My first African animal--a Namibian Blue Wildebeest. Tagged him at about 180 yards. A couple of spins and down after about 10 yards. Holy hell--I'm hunting Africa!!!!

View attachment 154070

Next up--a red hartebeest. He ate a copper pill after sneaking up to about 80 yards. One poke with my new 7mm PRC and he runs about 20 yards and he too piles up. Seriously, I'm hunting in Namibia!

View attachment 154071

Bloody nice...well done!

Bushwack · 2024-08-15T04:22:00-0600

Snoopdogg said:
The next day, day 9 maybe? We went easy, strictly looking for the last animal on my list, a mature warthog. We did some driving, some glassing, and ultimately passed on several piggies. A blessing in disguise, we all needed a "day off."

Tomorrow would be my last hunting day and would have to produce a mature warthog. Earlier in the hunt, during the first attempt at an eland, we had a chance at a mature warthog and closed the distance to about 130 yards, however, the wind swirled--momma ran and took the babies and daddy with her. B*tch.

No one had killed that warthog from our group, so our plan was to head back at midday and sit for him to come to water. After about 6 hours of sitting in the hot-a$$ sun and passing on a sh*tload of various piggies, finally a mature one showed up, at last light.

Off to the races and we quickly closed the distance. My PH knows his sh*t and we're at about 140 yards. He gets out the sticks and says take him when you're ready. He was quartering to and I didn't really want to shoot, but realized the wind may betray us again as it seems slight off. I rushed a chip shot and shot low, between his neck and front shoulder (the PH told me afterwards). I jacked another round in and got back on the piggy. He moved at the shot but had no idea we were there. He didn't get a second chance. BOOM!

View attachment 154189

The PH got some great shots in the fading light.

View attachment 154190

do like a lot, nice pics!