firstcoueswas80 Report post Posted May 16, 2010 Just got back a few hours ago. Had a AWESOME time with Kei River Safaris. Thank you so much Andrew Renton and all of his PH's This is just a quick overview. A few pictures and some short snippets. One thing is I shoot a heck of alot better in the southern hempisphere.... 10 animals in 12 shots!! First night... Good bushbok, 200 yards DRT. Second day. Cull Impala, mid day. Andrew called the guy who owned the property we were on, got the go ahead and it was game on. 180 yards, 40 yard death run. About 45 mintues later Andrew and I are eating lunch and getting ancy... We decided to continue our search and stumble across this very large "non-typical" Impala. He offers me a 80 yard shot, but facing almost straight away. I tuck it tight to the shoulder and he drops DRT. Myself, Sutu, and Cameron, the PH's son Next up was the Black Wildebeest and the Red Heartabeest. We set up on the B.W... Sutu, the tracker went over the hill and spooked them down to us. Andrew and I were caught on the wrong side of a dam.. When the group of 7 bulls were all out of sight, Andrew and I snuck around the dam and got on top. He told me which one, and at 126 yards he was a dead bull walking. The 300 WSM barked, and the 168 TTSX hit the bull perfect behind the shoulder, breaking a rib on the way in and out. 100 yard run and it was all done. Later in the day, we spotted the Red Heartabeest... We went after a nice bull that was by himself. While stalking him, we found the herd and stalked into shooting position. After Andrew spent a good 30 minutes looking over the herd to find the old, mature bull he picked one out. The problem was the 30 MPH+ cross wind at 320 yards. I gave the bullet about 4 feet of wind drift... It took about 6 foot... The bull ran 20 yards and stood still. At 340 yards I gave him the proper 6 feet of wind drift, but concentrated more on that than the drop. Hit him right, but low. He stubmled another 15 yards and laid down. I worked my way down to 225, and put the TTSX right where it needed to be. This is the only animal I shot at more than once. Here is the TTSX pulled from the last shot. The next day Andrew, Sutu and I were off nice and early to his buddies ranch where he has tons of free range true, pure Eastern Cape Kudu. We hunted all day and saw a ton of bulls, just not one worth shooting. About mid day, we decided to make a Coues hunter like move, and move high in the hills and put ourselves where we thought they would come out. Immediately it paid off as we had a beautiful, old mature but short bull bed down and 360 yards. I was frustrated, and was about to drop the hammer on him, but Andrew had he hold off. Good thing too! About 20 minutes later, "my bull" stepped out. After a SHORT discussion, we were on the move. I had this bull, with a slight cross wind, but mostly a head wind at 343 yards. I lined up the cross hairs of the Kimber 300 WSM and squeezed the trigger. I saw the bull hunch, holding his near-side shoulder and I knew it wouldnt take long. Before I could put another round in the chamber, Andrew told me he was down. This shot couldnt have been placed any better! (I am not used to doing that, so I went into a mild case of shock) (Notice the hat) The next day I ran into one of the toughest/best shots I have made. Not because it was a long way, but because I have never seen a animal of the size/shape of this next animal. Andrew and I are driving one of the many roads that are cut into the sides of the many mountains on his property. He calmy stops the truck and says "Grab your rifle." I immediately know BABBOON!!!! We slowly and quietly get out of the truck and I lean across the hood. This big mature male stops at 374 yards and I smoke him, again with one shot. Andrew and I had looked over quite a few Mountain Reedbok (The Bushbok I shot was about 10 yards from a Mtn. Reedbok we were going to shoot). After seeing another guy in camp with his Ram, we knew one of the ones we looked at and passed on was a shooter. We went to where we had seen him, and I set up on a nice rock, shooting heavily uphill at 250 yards. These little dudes are tough! This 75 pound Animal took the 168 TTSX through the heart, with a 1" exit and STILL ran 100 yards, 50 of them uphill! Next up and my last animal was the Black Springbok. Andrew and I did another "drive". Sutu pushed the rams to within 83 yards, but none were shooters so we packed up and went to another area. Another drive revealed a nice ram. 183 yards facing on and the Kimber dumped him on the spot (TTSX was recovered from this ram) The .257 wby also made the trip, and Scott killed some nice animals with it. I wanted to also whack something with it, so Andrew and I went looking for something. This old babboon was all by himself. I felt bad for him as he was at "only" 350 yards which is a slam dunk with El Chupacabra! The fruits of the whole trip: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest 300ultramag. Report post Posted May 16, 2010 sweeet! that is a good way to spend ur off days when ur not protecting the border! way to go casey Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gr8 White Jr Report post Posted May 16, 2010 Congrats on some great animals Casey! Looks like you had a blast. Love the pics! -Tracy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Coues Report post Posted May 16, 2010 Awesome!!!!!!!! Just Awesome! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ehunt Report post Posted May 17, 2010 Awesome man!! Sounds like a great trip!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GameHauler Report post Posted May 17, 2010 Happy for you my friend and welcome home. Now apply for some overtime. You have a Hugh taxi bill coming up. Look forward to more. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coues 'n' Sheep Report post Posted May 17, 2010 Congrats Casey!! That is a great bag you got there! They manage their game well there on the SA ranches and it shows! I think I we probably saw half the game you did, but in part due to how thick it was.... and they look at plains game where we were as "Bait"...LOL.. so you can imagine how that works... Huge congrats on the Eastern Cape Kudu... That is certainly on my list if I go back! Hope to trade some stories with you sometime. Congrats again! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted May 17, 2010 Wow!! Congratulations Casey on some fine shooting on some great looking animals. I have been looking forward to your report of your trip! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rag Horn Report post Posted May 17, 2010 Well the animals are obviously dead…however I am skeptical that it only took 12 shots to get them there… are you sure it was not a type-o and supposed to be 21 shots…. Ha ha just kidding nicely done… Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PSEps Report post Posted May 17, 2010 Congratulations. That is awesome. Derek Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GameHauler Report post Posted May 17, 2010 Well the animals are obviously dead…however I am skeptical that it only took 12 shots to get them there… are you sure it was not a type-o and supposed to be 21 shots…. Ha ha just kidding nicely done… and no scull shoots. Attaboy Casey. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DesertBull Report post Posted May 17, 2010 Well the animals are obviously dead…however I am skeptical that it only took 12 shots to get them there… are you sure it was not a type-o and supposed to be 21 shots…. Ha ha just kidding nicely done… and no scull shoots. Attaboy Casey. that last monkey looks like he took one in the ear hole. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DUG Report post Posted May 17, 2010 Wow, nice shooting man! Those baboons are scary looking. Do they attack you if you get too close? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Schmitty Report post Posted May 17, 2010 Man, That's alot of critters right there! Are you going with all European mounts? Looks like a heck of a good time! take care, Craig Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
firstcoueswas80 Report post Posted May 17, 2010 Well the animals are obviously dead…however I am skeptical that it only took 12 shots to get them there… are you sure it was not a type-o and supposed to be 21 shots…. Ha ha just kidding nicely done… and no scull shoots. Attaboy Casey. that last monkey looks like he took one in the ear hole. Nope! In the neck, just above the shoulders. I hit the other babboon in the same spot... It turns their lights out very very quickly. Those African animals did not like the TTSX at all! I could not believe how the southern hempishpere has some sort of automatic cruise control for the bullets! I kept explaining to Andrew how I dont usually shoot like that... He was surprised! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
