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Posted By: JGRaider Confirmed A Few Things - 04/30/15
Sitting in Atlanta, reflecting on a few things I confirmed, at least in my mind.

1. In order of superiority......Tafel, Windhoek Lager, Castle
2. Yes, Amarula is great stuff
3. Once again, from best table fare to almost best......oryx, springbok, kudu/mtn zebra steaks, blue wildebeest, hartebeest/Impala. They're all great, some just "more better".
4. A Leupold VX6 is a helluva hunting scope.
5. An 8x32 Cabelas Euro//Meopta Hd is a super great hunting binocular.
6. Namibia has great hunting, great people.
7. Africa Sky Guest House rocks
8. A 160 gr 7mm Nosler Accubond is a fantastic hunting bullet.
9. Gotta give it up to Atlanta......their customs, immigration, gun clearing process is very efficient and painless.
Posted By: elkhunternm Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 04/30/15
Take it you're back from your safari?

Posted By: hatari Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 04/30/15
Originally Posted by JGRaider
Sitting in Atlanta.....



If you had picked up the phone, we could have made your wait a lot better! smile
Posted By: JGRaider Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 04/30/15
Hell Jeff, I didn't want to take a Chance of getting in trouble !

Oh yeah, forgot one......hunting kudu bulls is extremely addicting.
Posted By: jorgeI Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 04/30/15
10. YOU SUCK! smile
Posted By: EvilTwin Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 04/30/15
Originally Posted by jorgeI
10. YOU LUDICROUS SUCK! smile


grinFixt grin
Posted By: JGRaider Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 04/30/15
Originally Posted by jorgeI
10. YOU SUCK! smile


I look like a complete dolt sitting here in ATL laughing my assss off,
Posted By: EdM Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 04/30/15
My then 13 year old son used that bullet out of his 7x57 on all manner of African critters in 2011.
Originally Posted by jorgeI
10. YOU SUCK! smile


Hahaha....where's the "Like" button?
Posted By: ingwe Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 04/30/15
11. You Mega-Turbo-Uber SUCK!
Posted By: JGRaider Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 04/30/15
11. The support from the 24HCF enablers is heartwarming.
Posted By: Dirtfarmer Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 04/30/15
Good to have you back.

Do we get a great moment by moment narrative with outstanding photos as we've become accustom...??

DF
Posted By: JGRaider Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 04/30/15
Thanks DF. Mucho jet lag at the moment....will try to do a quick write up as soon as I can.
Posted By: Dirtfarmer Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 04/30/15
You set the bar pretty high, last time... cool

DF
Posted By: Labman95 Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/01/15
Amarula is good stuff. Try it poured over vanilla ice cream.
Posted By: ingwe Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/01/15
Its also GREAT in your morning coffee..... wink
Posted By: CharlesL Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/01/15
Originally Posted by Labman95
Amarula is good stuff. Try it poured over vanilla ice cream.


Originally Posted by ingwe
Its also GREAT in your morning coffee..... wink


+1
Posted By: Dirtfarmer Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/01/15
Originally Posted by ingwe
Its also GREAT in your morning coffee..... wink

Or in coffee out of a Thermos on a cold morning in a duck blind...

DF
Posted By: FOsteology Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/01/15
Welcome back Johnny, now get off your butt and get to posting pictures.
Posted By: JGRaider Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/01/15
Haha! Ok Fost!

First and foremost I cannot say enough good things about the folks at Kowas Safaris in Namibia. First class people in every way. They are people you can trust, and between themselves and the neighbors have huge amounts of land to hunt. The crew is made up of people just like most of us. In fact, you may not be able to pick me out from amongst them.........

[img:left][Linked Image][/img]

I've become fond of the management/cull hunts that Kowas offers, which is what I did last year, as well as this year. I wound up killing a couple of hartebeest like this one......

[img:left][Linked Image][/img]

The neighbor's 35,000 acre place is overrun with oryx ( I hate when that happens). An aerial survey they did at the beginning of the year counted almost 900 of them on his property alone. I wound up shooting 5 of them, 4 of which were of the size shown in the pic below, and one a slightly smaller, immature female.

[img:left][Linked Image][/img]


I also managed to take a couple of springbok. I will fess up and say that a small target like this, from the sticks, at 200 yards, is not an easy task for me. It will suffice to say that I made a one shot kill.......after totally whiffing the first try. I don't even know where that first bullet went, but the ram ran off another 1/2 mile before I could take another crack at him. Both springbok looked like this when I killed them.......


[img:left][Linked Image][/img]


......but eventually wound up looking like this! You talk about mouth watering, tender meat.......these medallions were off the chart great fare.

[img:left][Linked Image][/img]

I'll post some more pics when I get them downloaded.
Outstanding. Keep them coming.
Posted By: Hancock27 Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/02/15
Welcome Back, I am glad Georgia welcomed you in our typical southern hospitality and not the Big City Atlanta rudeness!!

The worst part of my travels has been returning to an International Airport, glad to hear ATL got it together!

Beautiful photos, my next trip is with Marius to Namibia
Posted By: 163bc Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/02/15
Dayum that looks like fun. Welcome back.
Posted By: tedthorn Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/02/15
Glad you had a great time

Also glad you picked African Sky over Afton
Posted By: mrfudd Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/02/15
I see that Mattheus is still with Daniel and Ansie. He is an excellent hunter. Did you try for steenbok- Kowas has some real trophies.
Posted By: JGRaider Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/02/15
I saw loads of those steenbok but didn't shoot one. I wholeheartedly agree on Mattheus....he is an amazing hunter, spotter, tracker.

Following the same plan as last year, we would hunt for a big kudu near the hills. Mattheus told me that since the camel thorn trees were dropping their pods, something kudu absolutely love, that we could probably get away with hunting the lower country where the trees and hills met. It looked like this........

[img:left][Linked Image][/img]


and this.....notice how easily you can see the cow in the photo below. Look closely just above her........

[img:left][Linked Image][/img]


We were slowly still hunting through areas like these when we stumbled into a honey badger approximately 20 yards from us, with a small skunk hanging from his mouth! What a cool sight to see, another first for me. We watched him for probably 5 minutes before he took his food into a big hole.

Going another 1/2 mile or so, we jumped 3 kudu cows with a nice bull tagging along. They made it to the top of a hill about 300 yards away, giving us a glimpse of the bull as they scampered over the top and out of sight. Since I only had one full day and a few hours left, we decided to go after him again. We went to the exact place the kudu topped the hill, glassed a couple of minutes, and Mattheus saw the top of a bush moving violently at 800 yards. We waited a minute and sure enough that same kudu bull cleared a small opening at that distance, so we were off again. As you can tell the brush is relatively thick, and actually he got us right in amongst them, having a cow walk by us at 20 yards. One of the most amazing things about Mattheus was that he could see the animals through the brush, which was what he was doing at this time. After spending almost two cumulative weeks hunting with him, I could tell when he was serious just by his mannerisms. He was "on point", staring through a huge thorn brush thicket only 40 yards in front of us. I couldn't see squat quite frankly. After what seemed like about 5 minutes of this standoff, he slowly set up the sticks, motioned for me to slowly get ready, and had me focus on a small opening about 50 yards in front of us. I got ready, Mattheus grunted as the bull stepped into it, looked at us, and I drilled him through the neck (all I could see was neck up), and he folded like a lawn chair, crumpling straight down. All we could do was smile, and I had a big one. What an adrenaline rush that was, as kudu bulls are an addicting creature to me, and I never tire looking at them or for them.

[img:left][Linked Image][/img]

I never measured him, and didn't care (although Mattheus said he would go about 50). Even though I had killed a 55" bull the year before, and knew this one wasn't that big, I still didn't care. He was a heavy horned bull with deep curls. What a hunt!!

[img:left][Linked Image][/img]

The 160 Accubond, once again, performed perfectly, held together well, and was found near the bull's stomach, a full 3 ft penetration. All of the 6 bullets recovered from the 11 animals I killed looked very similar.

[img:left][Linked Image][/img]
Posted By: ingwe Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/02/15
Cool beans Jim! Keep them coming!
Posted By: FishN4Eyes Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/02/15
Congrats!

Sounds like a great hunt.

Looking forward to hearing and seeing more.
Posted By: sactoller Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/04/15
I'm getting that urge again!

OK...Poobs I'm going to lay down the gauntlet again! grin

JG great pictures....major suckage! laugh
Posted By: jorgeI Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/04/15
Excellent pics and stories, nice bull JG!
Posted By: ingwe Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/04/15
Originally Posted by sactoller
I'm getting that urge again!

OK...Poobs I'm going to lay down the gauntlet again! grin

JG great pictures....major suckage! laugh



Get me a direct flight from the states to Windhoek...and I am there!
Posted By: hatari Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/04/15
That is a seriously happy hunter. Love to hunt kudu and would do it every year if I could!

[img:left][URL=http://s156.photobucket.com/user/JGrimes_2007/media/20150427_082515_resized_zpstf3jnuht.jpg.html][Linked Image][/img]
Posted By: sactoller Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/05/15
Originally Posted by ingwe
Originally Posted by sactoller
I'm getting that urge again!

OK...Poobs I'm going to lay down the gauntlet again! grin

JG great pictures....major suckage! laugh



Get me a direct flight from the states to Windhoek...and I am there!


Working on that as I type!

cool
Posted By: JGRaider Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/05/15
Hey sactoller, if nothing else, at least talk them into a quick stop/dropoff in WH on that ATL to JB flight please.
Looks like a great time, JG!
Posted By: ingwe Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/06/15
Originally Posted by JGRaider
Hey sactoller, if nothing else, at least talk them into a quick stop/dropoff in WH on that ATL to JB flight please.



No kidding...they gotta fly right over it anyway...
Posted By: luv2safari Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/08/15
Originally Posted by JGRaider
11. The support from the 24HCF enablers is heartwarming.


BLOW IT OUT YOUR A..! smirk

...and welcome back wink
Posted By: hatari Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/13/15
Originally Posted by JGRaider
I saw loads of those steenbok but didn't shoot one. I wholeheartedly agree on Mattheus....he is an amazing hunter, spotter, tracker.

Following the same plan as last year, we would hunt for a big kudu near the hills. Mattheus told me that since the camel thorn trees were dropping their pods, something kudu absolutely love, that we could probably get away with hunting the lower country where the trees and hills met. It looked like this........

[img:left][Linked Image][/img]


and this.....notice how easily you can see the cow in the photo below. Look closely just above her........

[img:left][Linked Image][/img]


We were slowly still hunting through areas like these when we stumbled into a honey badger approximately 20 yards from us, with a small skunk hanging from his mouth! What a cool sight to see, another first for me. We watched him for probably 5 minutes before he took his food into a big hole.

Going another 1/2 mile or so, we jumped 3 kudu cows with a nice bull tagging along. They made it to the top of a hill about 300 yards away, giving us a glimpse of the bull as they scampered over the top and out of sight. Since I only had one full day and a few hours left, we decided to go after him again. We went to the exact place the kudu topped the hill, glassed a couple of minutes, and Mattheus saw the top of a bush moving violently at 800 yards. We waited a minute and sure enough that same kudu bull cleared a small opening at that distance, so we were off again. As you can tell the brush is relatively thick, and actually he got us right in amongst them, having a cow walk by us at 20 yards. One of the most amazing things about Mattheus was that he could see the animals through the brush, which was what he was doing at this time. After spending almost two cumulative weeks hunting with him, I could tell when he was serious just by his mannerisms. He was "on point", staring through a huge thorn brush thicket only 40 yards in front of us. I couldn't see squat quite frankly. After what seemed like about 5 minutes of this standoff, he slowly set up the sticks, motioned for me to slowly get ready, and had me focus on a small opening about 50 yards in front of us. I got ready, Mattheus grunted as the bull stepped into it, looked at us, and I drilled him through the neck (all I could see was neck up), and he folded like a lawn chair, crumpling straight down. All we could do was smile, and I had a big one. What an adrenaline rush that was, as kudu bulls are an addicting creature to me, and I never tire looking at them or for them.

[img:left][Linked Image][/img]

I never measured him, and didn't care (although Mattheus said he would go about 50). Even though I had killed a 55" bull the year before, and knew this one wasn't that big, I still didn't care. He was a heavy horned bull with deep curls. What a hunt!!

[img:left][Linked Image][/img]

The 160 Accubond, once again, performed perfectly, held together well, and was found near the bull's stomach, a full 3 ft penetration. All of the 6 bullets recovered from the 11 animals I killed looked very similar.

[img:left][Linked Image][/img]


]Just wanted to look at Jughead's photos again. Jealous here!!
Posted By: rost495 Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/13/15
Good job, nice pics!

I've got the same fever for you, but its in the US and called Alaska.
Can't get enough of it.

Know how you must feel about Africa then.

Have no desire or urge for it though for some reason, different strokes as they say, so I appreciate the photo threads from the hunts. Nice to see the differing terrain and such as we'll never see it in person.

Booked for next year?

Jeff
Posted By: JGRaider Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/13/15
Jughead........LMAO!

Jeff, I left another deposit with them when I left, so I am planning to go next year. The following year my daughter heads to college so I'm trying to get it out of my system before then......hopefully.
Posted By: ingwe Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/13/15
Left a deposit!


laugh



I feel like an evil enabler. whistle
Posted By: JGRaider Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/13/15
Yeah you bastid.........you knew what you were doing.
Posted By: Biebs Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/13/15
I've sat around that same firepit at Kowas, BS'ing with Dannie and Ansie. Great place.
Posted By: JGRaider Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/13/15
I remember you telling me that before I booked with them the first time. You were not wrong brothuh!
Posted By: ingwe Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/14/15
So, what are you gonna hunt next year? Any specific animals you'd like to get?
Posted By: JGRaider Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/14/15
Have you ever hunted an eland over there Poobah????
Posted By: ingwe Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/14/15
Yes. They will usually give you a real hunt....very spooky and can go a long ways. Killed one on my first trip, so here is a young Poobs...manchild in the bundu.

[Linked Image]


Notice the scope on the rifle wink
Posted By: maddog Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/14/15
Hey Tom, was the earth still warm when the above pic was taken? whistle grin


maddog
Posted By: JGRaider Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/14/15
Cool pic. I saw some while I was there. Absolutely amazing how agile they are to be so big...ran like a horse, jumped like a deer, and 1700-1800lbs....Wow!
Posted By: ingwe Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/14/15
Originally Posted by maddog
Hey Tom, was the earth still warm when the above pic was taken? whistle grin


maddog


You should know...you're in the same age bracket! grin
Posted By: CharlesL Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/14/15
Originally Posted by JGRaider
The following year my daughter heads to college so I'm trying to get it out of my system before then......hopefully.


Good luck with that one! smile
Posted By: GRF Re: Confirmed A Few Things - 05/15/15
looks like a grand time. Congrats
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