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Main Boards => The Dark Continent => Topic started by: Dsturgisjr on September 09, 2005, 07:16:00 AM

Title: Melorani
Post by: Dsturgisjr on September 09, 2005, 07:16:00 AM
Had a good hunt at Melorani. Shot another eland, a beautiful sable, jakal, tsessebe and a huge waterbuck. Ran out of $ and stalked birds the last 2 days. My buddy, Rich Niblock, was very successfull also. We felt like kings for 14 days - back to reality now. I'll have my son post some pics.
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: BillW on September 09, 2005, 11:16:00 AM
Very neat Denny. I am hoping you got some good video footage. The BW Africa Dreams you guys did got me really interested in Africa.

I posted a question to you on the "Where is DS" thread.

Bill
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Joseph on September 09, 2005, 03:13:00 PM
Reality is hard to take after a trip like that.  Congratulations!  I would really like to see the Sable.  Is this the trip that you were going to look for an Nyala?  Joseph
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Dsturgisjr on September 09, 2005, 06:04:00 PM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/Dsturgisjr/4fc77340.jpg) Waterbuck
  (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/Dsturgisjr/97d8c2cd.jpg) Tsessebe
  (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/Dsturgisjr/8094040e.jpg) Sable
  (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/Dsturgisjr/d5a3a827.jpg) These monkeys attacked me and scared away the nyala bull I was after.
  (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/Dsturgisjr/232636a1.jpg) Jackal
  (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/Dsturgisjr/c67ca303.jpg) Eland
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Brute killer on September 09, 2005, 08:00:00 PM
Great animals all!
  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Al Kidner on September 09, 2005, 08:05:00 PM
Well done mate, good to see you had a top trip.


How was Oz, ?


Alan.
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Shawn Burke on September 09, 2005, 10:12:00 PM
Dang that waterbuck is a freaking monster, looks like you had a great trip.  I watch the african dream video every other day and dream about going......some day I will be there. Do you plan on going back? Also did you get it on video?
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Joseph on September 10, 2005, 12:33:00 AM
Those are some good looking animals!  Joseph
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Rick McGowan on September 10, 2005, 08:11:00 AM
Denny awesome animals!
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: dirtyleg on September 10, 2005, 04:20:00 PM
denny that is a fine waterbuck. which hide did you kill him at? looks like some awesome payback for that first trip, how is stewart and bronwyn? i here marco is still there also. great hunt!
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Dsturgisjr on September 11, 2005, 12:31:00 PM
dirtyleg, Stewert, Bronwyn and the boys were doing well. Marco is the proud new owner of a BW PLX and also doing well. We had a good time stalking and hunting birds together.

It was payback time for the waterbuck for sure. I don't remember the names of the blinds. The one I shot the waterbuck at was a big dirt pan. One blind was made of brush at ground level. On the other side was a blind that looked like a termite mound. I shot from the brush blind. He came in at last video light and I had to shoot to the far side of the waterhole. He ran about 150 yards and piled up. He is nicer than the one that got away 2 years ago. Waterbuck give me the willies!

Shawn, I shot the waterbuck, sable and some guineas on video. Darryl and I will probably include the footage in a DVD for next year.
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Ray Lyon on September 12, 2005, 07:24:00 PM
Congratulations Denny! It looks like that training (whuppin) session Ron put on you at the DSturgis corral improved your shooting.   ;)  

Great looking animals.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Ron LaClair on September 13, 2005, 08:46:00 AM
Ray...stop trying to start something    :notworthy:
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Ray Lyon on September 13, 2005, 10:43:00 AM
Sorry Dad, do I still get supper?    ;)
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Dsturgisjr on September 13, 2005, 01:19:00 PM
The challenge has been made! Ron, when you come down bring Ray along. We'll see if he can shoot as good as he can type.  :knothead:
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Ray Lyon on September 13, 2005, 06:07:00 PM
Oh crap, now where did I put that humble pie recipe......let's see, tart apple-nope; sweet apple in a cast iron skillet-nope(oh that's right I can toss that one out); tart cherry with real vanilla-nope; peaches and cream, nope; ah here it is, filed under the open mouth insert foot dummy tab.   :help:
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Roger Norris on September 13, 2005, 07:11:00 PM
Ray - take it from a life-long cocky guy...never back down once you piss 'em off....thats when they shoot the worst! How do you think I won that turkey shoot? I asked that final competitor if he was wearing his wifes shirt! Go gettem Ray!!!!

oops...never mind....them fellas are good shooters and BIG...sorry pal, your on your own!

;0)
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Ray Lyon on September 13, 2005, 07:20:00 PM
"I asked that final competitor if he was wearing his wifes shirt!"

Well Roger, I can't find fault with your line since you won. Imagine if you had said "I'm wearing your wifes shirt to him?!"    :eek:

Ron and Denny play tough though. No talking or distractions while the other guy is shooting, no range finders and they've got score cards (a bean counters nightmare)!   "[dntthnk]"
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Roger Norris on September 13, 2005, 07:52:00 PM
No badgering the shooter? Well there goes MY skill set....

Roger"Porchlight" Norris, 90% cocky, 10% skill...;0)
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Guru on September 21, 2005, 10:50:00 PM
Denny, Congrats on a fine hunt bud.Now go whoop some butt!!!
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Dsturgisjr on September 22, 2005, 10:30:00 AM
Thanks Curt.

Ron, You might as well bring Roger along with Ray when you come down. There is no way I could wear my wife's shirt, but don't worry Roger.... We'll leave the light on for you. DUH! LOL
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: ron bergeron on September 23, 2005, 06:40:00 AM
ouch!!,  this is starting to get good 8^) I want to know whos going to keep score???  :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Ray Lyon on September 23, 2005, 09:46:00 AM
I'm the bean counter of the group, so I guess I'll take on the scoring duties. I've got a special calculator I'll bring along too.   ;)  

When I first started out bean counting I used a pencil and a big eraser.

After I got my feet wet a little I graduated to a mechanical pencil with a little eraser.

Then I got a little smarter and more experienced and switched to a bic pen.

Finally, I got real smart and the top of the heap, so now I use a feather quill/ink well and a little sand dust. NO ERASERS ALLOWED.   :D
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Roger Norris on September 30, 2005, 04:22:00 PM
Ron, Ray,.....how thr hell does Denny know about the porchlight incident!!????

  :bigsmyl:  

Ok Denny, you don't have to wear your wifes shirt, but would it be OK if I wore Ron's underwear just for good luck??
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Dsturgisjr on October 17, 2005, 08:02:00 PM
Roger, Are you going to wear the ones with the brown stripe?
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: zwickey2bl on November 05, 2005, 11:19:00 PM
Great animals, Denny. Sable are my favorite - what a beautiful animal they are. I've been to Africa a few times but not hunting yet. Hopefully some day...
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: JC on November 08, 2005, 02:52:00 PM
Wow, just dropped in to look around and see you had an awesome trip! That waterbuck is astonishing....those and nyala are my dream animals. Can't wait to see the video.
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Mooseman on November 18, 2005, 10:09:00 AM
:thumbsup:  Very nice Denny. One day when I grow up I hope to hunt Africa a little.

Could you do any stalking?
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Dsturgisjr on November 29, 2005, 08:36:00 PM
Mooseman, Stalking, you bet. I spent several mornings stalking. Always get into animals, but not always what I was after. Sometimes too many animals also, just have to lay there and wait for them to move. We bird hunted with the bows after I ran out of money and walked up on a bunch of animals then also. They don't care if you see a critter you want from the blind and go after them either. On some of the larger water holes this works pretty good.
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Mooseman on November 30, 2005, 01:34:00 AM
Denny that would be the way I think I would like to hunt Africa. Too bad you can't call them in. Or could you?
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Dsturgisjr on December 06, 2005, 06:49:00 PM
Here are some pics of my hunting buddy, Rich Niblock, and some of the animals he collected on our hunt.

  (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/Dsturgisjr/rich5.jpg)

   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/Dsturgisjr/rich4.jpg)

   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/Dsturgisjr/rich3.jpg)

   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/Dsturgisjr/rich2.jpg)

   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/Dsturgisjr/rich1.jpg)
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Ray Hammond on December 08, 2005, 03:53:00 PM
if that first one is an nyala, its a big one! If you were to have to choose between Melorani and Ombengu, Denny..which would you pick for your first place to book to? I'm thinking about 2007
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Dsturgisjr on December 08, 2005, 06:43:00 PM
Ray, Isn't that a cool nyala? They usually bell back out on top when they are that big. Rich's bull just grew straight. Ombengu isn't booking any hunters next year so I guess I'd choose Melorani. I've really enjoyed myself at both locations.
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Wile E. Coyote on December 16, 2005, 11:32:00 AM
That is one serious Nyala!
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Ray Hammond on March 31, 2006, 05:21:00 PM
that Hartebeest is no slouch, either! and the mass on the impala! Whew....I think I just decided where to hunt.

How are the kudu there, Denny?
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Dsturgisjr on March 31, 2006, 06:34:00 PM
Ray, I never shot a kudu there because I already have a 55.5" and a 59". I saw some nice ones including a monster that I estimated at 60". Larry D. Jones shot the SCI, bow, world record kudu bull there several years ago.
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Roger Norris on April 01, 2006, 11:39:00 AM
Can you imagine that monster porcupine in your outhouse?!
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Dsturgisjr on April 01, 2006, 12:55:00 PM
Roger, That would be scary. Maybe Ron could wire up a switch for the Shrewhaven Outhouse especially for YOU! LOL LOL  :)
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Roger Norris on April 01, 2006, 03:41:00 PM
:banghead:  ..I walked into that one! ;O)
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Ray Hammond on April 03, 2006, 11:08:00 AM
as long as you wiped the "right" way you'd be fine!
Title: Re: Melorani
Post by: Tilzbow on August 19, 2006, 03:55:00 AM
TTT