This was my 10th trip, but it was not for me. My very close friend, Mitch, died 3 years ago at age 48. He and I mentored his son, Jesse, since age 5. Mitch promised Jesse a elk hunt when he got out of college. That's done and Jesse is a deputy sheriff in my county.
This year the PH from my last 3 African hunts, Andrew Renton- keiriverhuntingsafaris.co.za- had a deal. Springbok, impala, blesbok, warthog, Cape kudu for $3995. I gave Jesse the choice of a CO elk hunt or Africa. He chose wisely.
Jesse is an excellent shot with all my handguns (401 yd. whitetail, 6.5/.284 XP), but I insisted he take his .280 rifle. He still wanted to take something with my XP. He did this blesbok at 318 yds.
Not bad.
I had already taken all the animals listed. I wanted to make it challenging by using my FA .454. It was not to be. We hunted in the East Cape, free range, no fence. Never got close enough for revolver shots. I figured this, so I at least tried a bullet I've never used in Africa, the 6.5mm 125 gr. Nosler PT.
My first animal was a springbok. The ram had around 15 ewes with him. We chased him for hours. Finally got a shot a 160. Dropped from the PT. 1 1/2" of internal damage.
Next was a warthog Andrew had been watching for me. Got to 202 yds. Bog Pod PSR, XP, NPT. DOA. Did a shoulder/neck shot. Never moved. The photo doesn't do him justice. He was massive
Next came an impala. They were everywhere, but Andrew had one staked out for me. It was an old ram with a harem of 20+ ewes. We saw him on the side of a mountain. Couldn't get any closer than 268 yds. Dropped at the shot. The PT was flying true with its blunt nose
Next was a special animal Andrew had been watching-blesbok. It was on a very flat high mountain. English solders had been massecred here in the 1800s by Africans. The bull had around 30 females with him. We chased them for a long time. I even missed one shot at 434 by 1-2". Finally got to 160. Dropped again with the PT.
What a stud! Notice the spread and length of his horns compared to Jesse's. Looks like he'll be top 10 or better.
Now the final animal-kudu. The week before we came Andrew took the new #1 Cape kudu. He knew where the next 2 biggest one's he'd seen were. Jesse went first on a 4 mile marathon chase that ended with a 310 yd. shot with a 140 NAB in the .280 that I had loaded.
Later in the day we saw the next biggest kudu at 4 miles with 19 cows. Saw him mating with one. We backed out. Andrew said he'd be there the next day.
We glassed from 4 miles the next day. Only took 10 minutes to locate him only 500 yds. from the night before. Andrew drove 1 1/2 miles farther so the old guy (me) didn't have to walk so far.
We walked the next 2 1/2 miles SLOWLY in high grass and 8-10 feet high trees. When we got to the ridge where they were we made space for the ambush
A few cows came from right to left about 20% below the ridge top. I ranged them at 360. Oh. Would my 6.5/.284 have the power? Would the PT shoot flat enough? I moved my back against a tree to get really steady
I was rock steady. The BogPod and PSR have paid for themselves a thousand times over.
We watched cows cross the next 20 minutes. Suddenly, Mr. Big was there. I was mesmerized by his sight. Majestic, regal, huge. I quickly ranged. 368 yds. Double Oh. Held the second Plex below the crosshair (my 350 yd. mark) behind his left shoulder for a penetration to his right shoulder on the quartering shot. He simply froze at the shot. I quickly reloaded and put another PT at the shoulder neck junction. He dropped. Wow! What a rush!
He looks huge. He is, but my #2 Cape kudu is 6" longer than this one. The PT did great. 1 1/2" of damage on both shot. The PT hit where I aimed. It proved to be as accurate as my beloved ABs. That's 2 800# kudus with my tiny 6.5/.284. I wouldn't hesitate to use this on elk.
The hunt part of this trip was not super exciting for me. But the look in Jesse's eyes on the first class cabin of the plane, the look at both out 5* lodges, the excitement of each animal taken was priceless. It was his hunt. I wouldn't have missed it for anything. Wish Mitch may have been here. Maybe he was.
Anyone wanting info on hunting with Andrew, the ins and outs of hunting Afrca, the "easy way" to do it (our trip was hastle free due to proper planning) feel free to contact me. If there is a next time I go to Africa, it will be with Andrew Renton- a gentleman and class act professional hunter.
