Back from Africa

[bigtusker]

I'm home. What a trip! It will take some time to post the photos and tell the story so relax and enjoy.

1st bad thing that happened: 1 chip in digital camera corrupt. lost about 200 pictures.

Here's a croc I met on our first day on the Zambezi river.

[bigtusker]

We spent 4 days fishing for tigerfish on the Zambezi at Msuna, a fishing resort. Here is a local in a dugout setting nets with his little home in the background(which is in Zambia).

[PIGIG]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bigtusker @ Nov 6 2006, 10:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=774126)</div>
We spent 4 days fishing for tigerfish on the Zambezi at Msuna, a fishing resort. Here is a local in a dugout setting nets with his little home in the background(which is in Zambia).[/b]


does he sell time shares http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-hitting-self.gif

[bigtusker]

On the 2nd day of fishing, we were in a small lagoon when I drug my Mepps #5 Black Fury across the back of a 500 pound croc and sunk the treble into his side just behind the left front leg. After a long and exhausting fight, we were forced to cut him loose.

[bigtusker]

Msuna is actually an Island, this is the tip of the island just above the boat launch.

[bigtusker]

Here&#39;s a critter that was on the menu, but I just couldn&#39;t.

[bigtusker]

Here&#39;s a beautiful sunrise. I lost all the sunset photos on the corrupt disk.

[bigtusker]

The moment you have all been waiting for............................................... ..............................
................



Here&#39;s the first thing I shot in Africa, besides the target we used for zeroing our rifles.


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[bigtusker]

O.K. Here it is, the first animal I harvested while on Safari in Zimbabwe. One shot at 170 yards did the job just fine.

[Little Woman]

Welcome Home Chopper
LW

[PIGIG]

this is going to be a long one http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-gunfighter-yellow.gif

[oregoncritters]

Keep em coming!!!

[bigtusker]

My impala.

[bigtusker]

A jackal

[PIGIG]

Only you would go to Africa to shoot a coyote http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-faces-toast-beers.gif looks like a good time

[Speckmisser]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bigtusker @ Nov 6 2006, 01:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=774232)</div>
The moment you have all been waiting for............................................... ..............................
................



Here&#39;s the first thing I shot in Africa, besides the target we used for zeroing our rifles.


.[/b]
Hey! I think I killed some of those over at your place last time I was there!

Looks like you had a great time! No surprise of course... Welcome home!

[bigtusker]

And my first one of the "little five"

[PIGIG]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bigtusker @ Nov 6 2006, 03:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=774312)</div>
And my first one of the "little five"[/b]


tell us you did not use the STW on that?? i still see fur

[bigtusker]

They run very fast and I didn&#39;t lead him enough. You cant see his back legs can you?

[bigtusker]

We travelled to another property to look for kudu and baboon. There were lots &#39;o baboons in these rocks.

[bigtusker]

On our way there, we ran into a little mudhole.

[bigtusker]

What can I say here?

[bigtusker]

This was a bonus critter that I was able to harvest. 40 6/8 inch Sable.

[Arrowslinger]

Sweet http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-faces-toast-beers.gif Welcome home and some great shooting, the kudu & sable are great lookin&#39; trophy&#39;s.

keep the pics comin&#39;.

[bigtusker]

After 7 days of looking, I was finally able to connect on a nice warthog.

[bigtusker]

1 more

[Rick]

Great, Chopper! I am SO looking forward to my first trip there next May! How long were you there?

[PIGIG]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bigtusker @ Nov 6 2006, 04:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=774382)</div>
After 7 days of looking, I was finally able to connect on a nice warthog.[/b]


NOW thats the one i was waiting for http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-faces-toast-beers.gif NICE http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley_git_r_done.gif

[PIGIG]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bigtusker @ Nov 6 2006, 03:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=774316)</div>
They run very fast and I didn&#39;t lead him enough. You cant see his back legs can you?[/b]

reminds me of a coyote or two http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-faces-toast-beers.gif

[Duknutz]

WOW!!!,
Those were some awesome pic&#39;s.That&#39;s a beautiful Kudu Bull and i&#39;m jelious of your Sable.They say it&#39;s a trip of a lifetime,But you know you&#39;ll be back.I really did&#39;t have a great desire to go there myself,but my buddy and I bought a hunt at our SCI dinner and went.Now im hooked,I can&#39;t wait to go back in 2008.I talk to my outfitter at least once a week and that keeps me fired-up also.Great pic&#39;s and cant wait to see more....

[Backcountry]

That&#39;s an incredible Kudo... SWEET! Everything else ain&#39;t bad either. You need to book some more hunts as it looks like the mother of all taxidermy bills is coming.

[Orso]

Wow!! Great photos, I can&#39;t wait to here the stories. Welcome home.

[Speckmisser]

Awesome sable, Chopper! That&#39;s one beautiful animal. Glad you got your kudu too... but mostly just because I like to say, "kudu."

[oregoncritters]

The Warthog is right at the top of my list. You killed a monster it looks like. Congrats...Now i see where all that money your making is going:) Couldn&#39;t think of a better way to spend a little....Hope to see ya soon...

[antlrcolectr]

Man that would be a trip of a lifetime for me. I hope you enjoyed it enough for all of us too. I am envious. Those are some nice trophies, I can&#39;t imagine the dime you&#39;ll drop on a taxi now... But it will be worth it.

AC

[BOWUNTR]

What an awsome trip. Congrats. The taxidermy bill is gonna hurt!! Ed F

[bigtusker]

Just getting the heads and hides to the U.S. is gonna hurt!

Taxidermy will be done over time.

[Lurediver]

Awesome photos so far! http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley_10sign.gif


That croc deserved a bullet, can you hunt them?

[One Track]

That is incredible! Your photos are outstanding. Congrats on putting together the perfect trip. The sable and the kudu are awesome. At least those are the two that got my attention.

Let me ask. How did you feel about shooting the zebra? Was it a good hunt, or an easy kill? Just curious. I understand the part about wanting to collect all the plains game. Just curious what you thought. JJ says it&#39;s a tough animal to hunt.

I can&#39;t wait. I&#39;m headed there in &#39;08 with SDHNTR. We have yet to pick an outfitter.

Great post.

Thanks.

[Rancho Loco]

Awesome photos. That kudu would be worth the price of admission for me.

[Franklin3]

Welcome home and cant wait to hear some of the tales by the fire and a cold drink.
the cabins definatly gonna need another wall!
I just got back to walking this week and should be driving by next week, Shooting in another 6wks!
Another miracle of modern medicine.

[Duknutz]

Chop,
I just finalized the power of attorney&#39;s for my mounts from Jhoburg,and YES it&#39;s going to hurt.Seven shoulder mounts and backskins and it&#39;s $!%$#! alot.Oh well,I&#39;ll have them for a long time,if they come in one piece.
Show us more pic&#39;s.........Gemsbok,Springbok,Waterbuck,More.... ..more....Please!

[bigtusker]

Although the zebra was the first critter I took, We didn&#39;t see many and they were pretty skittish. They were not easy to get close too. I got lucky and found a herd in an area where a fire had come through a few weeks earlier. I made a 170 yard shot quartering to me and the bullet exploded in the shoulder. I was very lucky that 2 small fragments of the bullet made it into the heart. I would not recommend Nosler Accu Bond bullets to anyone in search of large heavy boned game.

As far as the whole safari experience goes, some people go once and it gets in their blood.
For me, been there, done that, wont go back. I had a great time but dont see a need to do it again.

Here&#39;s a pic of a couple sable that were running away from us.

[bigtusker]

A closer shot

[bigtusker]

After a couple days there, this guy kept following me around!

[PIGIG]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bigtusker @ Nov 8 2006, 05:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=775557)</div>
After a couple days there, this guy kept following me around![/b]


i bet you looked at him often http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-cool-shades-down.gif

[YoungBlood]

Cool picts and story. Glad you made it back and sounds like you had a good time. Can&#39;t wait to see those mounts in the future.

[One Track]

Thanks for the answers. Glad you enjoyed it.

[BDB]

Holy crap Chopper are you selling half the ranch to pay for the taxi work ? http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-wnk-yellow.gif Great pictures looks like you had an awesome time, congrats on all the great animals. http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-faces-toast-beers.gif

[Kentuck]

Sounds like a good time Chopper. Congrats.

[copperjohn]

Great pics. Sounds like you had a blast. We might be able to fix that memory chip so dont throw it away.

[bighorn67]

Great shots Chopper.

I figured you couldn&#39;t be down there without shooting a hog.

Dave

[bigtusker]

Dave, I never got around to filling out the questionaire you sent me. Do you still need it? If so, send me another copy.

[Shay Mann]

Nice work Chop !!!

[oneshothunter]

kool pics man

[hntnnut]

Thats awsome. congrats. I love that Kudu. Someday.


Richard

[Zimm]

NICE Bro!!!!!! Where are the Tigerfish pic&#39;s?

[BGH831]

AWSOME JOB!! Great Pics nice trophys. Congrats. And yeah don&#39;t toss that memory stick drop it by the house my wife has a guy that does that kind of work.

[John Paul]

Great pics!


I love the Duiker.

[THE ROMAN ARCHER]

sorry on the belated congrats Chopper, i havent hit this topic in a while and i just rememberd the photo album you showed us at your place a couple of weekends ago http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbs-up-ani.gif . those are all very impressive african big game animals, i really like the Kudo and Sable too, but what i really like is the Warthog, what would it take to get some of those imported to your place? http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-idea-blu.gif http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/hog.gif http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/archer-green.gif .........tra

:merryxmasbanner: :happy_new_year_ribbons:

[EL CAZADOR]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bigtusker @ Nov 8 2006, 05:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=775539)</div>
As far as the whole safari experience goes, some people go once and it gets in their blood.
For me, been there, done that, wont go back. I had a great time but dont see a need to do it again.[/b]

Hey Chopper

You&#39;re right, I&#39;ve always heard that once you go, you can&#39;t wait to go back. Why was it different for you?

[Hitechhunter]

Outstanding photo&#39;s!

I&#39;m in the research phase of my first African hunt. Can you enlighten me about the actual costs?

[bigtusker]

Total cost to date is just over 10 grand. I have not yet paid for shipping my critters to the U.S. or any taxidermy. Had I not shot the sable, I&#39;d be at $7500 right now. Here is a picture of my wildebeast and a big rock python we saw.

[7mm RM]

Outstanding pics, what a trip... http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley_10sign.gif http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley_10sign.gif

[Cal hunter]

Congrats on the hunt of a lifetime chop!

[Hitechhunter]

Thanks for the info. I might take a year to research and plan it, but I&#39;m going!

How do they ship the capes back, tanned or frozen or ???

I have a brochure from one outfit that also does the taxidermy work for you in Africa and ships back the heads all crated up.

[bigtusker]

You can have them shipped tanned (processed) or salted/dip and pack (unprocessed). JJHack would know more about this process. I am having all my taxidermy done in the states so I chose dip and pack.

[Lurediver]

Is the python coming out of the hole? How long? Can you shoot it?

[Duknutz]

hitech,
I just got my mounts back from RSA about two weeks ago.And yes you can have them mounted there and shipped back to the states in a crate.Got one in my backyard,girls want to use it for a fort.For the money it cost to get this from RSA,the girls can live in it if they want.I had seven shoulder mounts and backskins and the crate probably cost me about 2k or 2.5k to get from the broker in San Francisco.So it may be cheaper to dip and ship your animals.The crate only weighed about 300lbs and was packed awesome,one small forklift cut on my gemsbok,but that was fixable.My partner had 13 animals and backskins shipped also with no problems(just expensive).This was aircargoed and not shipped by ship,so we had the mounts in a matter of days after they left and not weeks(months)....Maybe more expensive,but probably safer.

[upper]

Is that 10 grand port to port? If so that is not bad at all for all the animals you got to take. Upper

[bigtusker]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (upper @ Jan 23 2007, 06:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=808889)</div>
Is that 10 grand port to port? If so that is not bad at all for all the animals you got to take. Upper[/b]

yep, the plane ticket was 1800, daily rate was $350 a day x 7 days, trophy fees were

Wildebeest 750
Warthog 300
Impala 250
Duiker 100
Kudu 900
Zebra 900
Jackal 100
Sable 3000

Dip and pack for 10 animals(my partner shot 2) $550

I think thats a little over $11000

I still have to pay for shipping and taxidermy!! http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-ren.gif

[Hitechhunter]

Thanks for the info. This is an awesome website - great folks, great shared experiences. I have learned a lot.

[Hitechhunter]

Cheaper than a lot of North American guided hunts, but you get 5+ animals!

[Duknutz]

hitech,
That&#39;s one great thing about hunting in Africa,is that you could be hunting one species of animal and run into 6-8 other species of animals.And they may be of trophy quality,so now you have to decide what you want to do....Pretty cool...

[bigtusker]

All my critters are back here in the U.S. I will get to look at them tomorrow at the tannery.
Shipping for 8 critters unprocessed was almost $1300.

[Rick]

This is the first time I looked at your post since I came back from RSA. Now I know just how nice your kudu is!!! I am just having the warthog mounted over there, a wildebeest rug and the rest euro-mounted over there. I expect it will be year-end before I see them.

[Duknutz]

Chop&#39;
Glad to hear you got your skins and skulls back.Did you use Maria Europa from Hunters International at San Francisco?Her and her husband are pretty cool and they got a pretty good deal going.....Ron...

[bigtusker]

I did use Maria. Quite effortless on my part. Just shy of $1600 to get 10 critters shipped from Bulawayo to Turlock.