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Main Boards => The Dark Continent => Topic started by: R. W. Mackey on August 28, 2012, 04:39:00 PM
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Just got back from my first African trip, for those of you that have been you know how I am feeling, for you that haven't gotten an opportunity to go, there is no way to describe it. Two years ago I started researching different Outfitters in Africa, some of you I contacted about trips you had made, finally decided to go to Makalaan, Antonie Lowe is the P.H. there and actually owns the land as their home is on the property. I couldn't be happier with the outcome, very nice people, good accommodations and lots of trophy game. All this at a very reasonable price. You may go someplaces where you stay in a fancier lodge and drink wine out of crystal glasses, but you wont find better hunting anywhere.
I'm not a big story teller, so here are a few of the Hero pics. I shot a total of 10 animals in the 10 days and ended with the Zebra on the evening of the last day, a special end to a special trip. RW
(http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss37/RWMACKEY/DSC_0318.jpg)
(http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss37/RWMACKEY/DSC_0541.jpg)
(http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss37/RWMACKEY/DSC_0356.jpg)
(http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss37/RWMACKEY/DSC_0198.jpg)
(http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss37/RWMACKEY/DSC_0154.jpg)
(http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss37/RWMACKEY/DSC_0069.jpg)
(http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss37/RWMACKEY/DSC_0014.jpg)
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The feeling you describe.....it's infectious isn't it? looks like you had a great time.
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Nice shooting Roy, looks like a Morrison ILF with Max 1 limbs
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congrats on some great trophies.
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congrats on some great trophies.
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Very nice animals. Congrats!
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Every time I see a Warthog my mouth waters. Good job!
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Congratulations on a fine hunt. This is still on my "Bucket List."
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Very nice Roy, but you gotta have some stories to tell.
doug77
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If my math is correct, there's 3 pics missing?
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Doug: There are always stories, way too many to tell here, but I will tell one. I came very near getting a shot at an Eland, here's how it happened.
I was setting in the Impala stand very North end of the property, Don't know how it got it's name the Impala stand, but I did shoot my Impala there 3 days earlier. We were in the middle of a cold front, still cant get used to having cold wind blow from the South, and the game had been moving very late in the evening as the wind would lay some. It was a good evening sit, had several Wart Hogs in as usual, they always help you pass the day, and will definitely let you know when the wind switches. Had one small group on Impala in at about 5:00 pm, then things started to pick up, 2 Gemsbok and a lone Kudu cow came in around 5:30, it was gettin dark around 6:00 so if a shooter was coming in it would be soon. I was in a tower blind overlooking the water hole, these stands have been here for a very long time and the animals are very much aware that smetimes bad things happen from them, so any noise at all and everything is gone before you can even look up. So, knowing this I knocked an arrow and stood up in a shooting position facing the opening in the blind, all I had to do was draw and shoot. A Geraffe came from my left and started eating leaves from a tree just 20 yards from me. Good decoy, I thought. Then I saw it, huge animal coming from my right, I said to myself, Lord be with me on this shot, I don't know if I can make it by myself. It's definitely an Eland, 5:45 plenty of shooting light, then I remember Antonie had said that the Bulls made a clicking sound when they walked, no noise. A cow, she came in, non stop, stood broadside at 15 yds. and drank for about 5 min., she was huge, very large horns, but straight up and down not in the V shape of a bull and not as heavy as the pair that Antonie had hanging in the logde. She walks off, wow was that close. Then I heard it, the clicking sound and it was steadily heading in my direction. The bull was following the cow, now that she had came in and drank, the coast was clear. I was going to get a shot at a Bull Eland, then there he was, standing at the very edge of the clearing, 40 yards, looks around here he comes, 30 yards, 25 yards, Lord guide my arrow, 20 yards, then all hell breaks loose. Tem Big Blue Wildebeest come storming into the water hole, right in fromt of the bull. He just stands there, by now it's gettin very late, just a few min. of shooting light left. The Wildebeest drink, play with each other and then it's dark. A few min. later Antonie pulls up, I told him the same story.
Even without an Eland, by far the best hunting trip of my lifetime, if there is anyway any of you can ever go, do it. You will never be dissapointed. Roy
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JeanPaul: Your math is good, I shot 2 wart hogs, 2 Red Hartbeest and 2 Jackel's, didn't see the need of repeating the pics. Roy
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Great story Roy, it's a dream but I don't think I'll ever be able to afford it.
doug77
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Really like those trophy pics. Very well taken.
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I took a few Hundred more, I will share with you.
(http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss37/RWMACKEY/DSC_0071.jpg)
Hows this Warthog, JeanPaul
(http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss37/RWMACKEY/DSC_0228.jpg)
Nice WaterBuck Bull
(http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss37/RWMACKEY/DSC_0240.jpg)
(http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss37/RWMACKEY/DSC_0423.jpg)
Droop Horn Gemsbok
(http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss37/RWMACKEY/DSC_0375.jpg)
(http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss37/RWMACKEY/DSC_0415.jpg)
Hit Zebra
(http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss37/RWMACKEY/DSC_0470.jpg)
Going Down
(http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss37/RWMACKEY/DSC_0474.jpg)
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Yep, that warthog a shooter.
Great action shot. thanks for sharing.
if you got more, keep em coming.
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Great stuff. I love that droop horn gemsbok! Very cool.
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Nice pic's Roy but we need more please
doug77
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OK guys, here are a few more. glad you are enjoying them. Roy
Cheeta Mount in the Lodge.
(http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss37/RWMACKEY/DSC_0565.jpg)
Horns at the Lodge
(http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss37/RWMACKEY/DSC_0560.jpg)
Eating and Cooking area
(http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss37/RWMACKEY/DSC_0009.jpg)
Picture from Blind
(http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss37/RWMACKEY/DSC_0411.jpg)
Some more bent horn Gemsbok
(http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss37/RWMACKEY/DSC_0404.jpg)
What happened to him???
(http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss37/RWMACKEY/DSC_0193.jpg)
Blue Wildebeest
(http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss37/RWMACKEY/DSC_0057.jpg)
Cheap Hotel Airline put 70 of us in because of Overbooking
(http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss37/RWMACKEY/DSC_0583.jpg)
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Magical, congrats.
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How about one more set of pic's Roy
For us dreamers
doug77
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What was your set up for all those animals? Looks like some border limbs???
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I used two bows, Morrison ILF Risers on both, one was 58" for shooting out of some of the tight pit blinds, the other 62", used Border HEX 6H Limbs and Morrison MAX-1 Limbs. You can't tell the difference between the two from a distance, and you can't tell the difference in performance either. Both were 56# at my draw. Used both Aboyer Wapiti and Grizzly Kodiak heads, both performed brilliantly. Used Victory HV 350 Shafts, 100 grain brass inserts, 125 gr. BH adaperts in each head, Aboyer head weighed 300 gr. and the Kodiak head weighed 325gr. Total arrow weight 660 to 685 gr., both set-ups had an EFOC of over 30 and Momentum of over .5 slug lbs.
Had full penetration on everything except the Blue Wildebeest, shot him quartering away and hit off shoulder. No animal traveled over 200 yards and all but one droped within sight of the blind. Completely satisfied with all the equipment, and even my shooting didn,t let me down. RW
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That droop horned Gemsbuck is to cool looking! That would be a great pedestal mount. I really need to get back to Africa someday. Congrats.
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Great trip !!! Wonderful photos .... I'm already trying how to pull off another trip myself :)
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Truly fabulous pics and adventure, Thank you for sharing!!
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WOW! Who needs a story when the photos are that good :)
Every time I write off going to Africa one of you goes and does something like this! Beautiful animals Roy :campfire:
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Awesome! I've heard good things about Makalaan.
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Looks like a dream hunt!! some day!
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Awesome photos!
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Some great animals and looks like some excellent shooting :thumbsup: