Waterbuck of a lifetime

[ErnieBishop]

Waterbuck of a lifetime. Double kneeling off of Bog Gear. Tried both prone and sitting, but there was too many limbs in the way. Even with double kneeling I had to thread the needle so to speak. Relatively short shot at 176 yards I think (Could be 167). One shot and 40 yards later he was done. Thanks to Thinus En Sanet Steyn (Big Water Safaris) and Philip! Had a hunting/shooting buddy with me too, Todd Fischer. Another very good friend, Darrell Holland had hunted with me on my first day. 7mm Dakota XP-100/180 Grain Berger. It will be measured tomorrow. He weighed 750 pounds.

[bluelund79]

Congrats! That's one heck of a fine animal Sir, excellent shot too. What kind of bullet/powder did you use, and did your load development change much from the US to Africa? I had a heck of a change from South TX to Central KY with my sons 243.

[ErnieBishop]

Congrats! That's one heck of a fine animal Sir, excellent shot too. What kind of bullet/powder did you use, and did your load development change much from the US to Africa? I had a heck of a change from South TX to Central KY with my sons 243.

83.5 grains Reloader 33 using a CCI benchrest primer. The elevation and where I'm hunting's maybe 50 ft./s different than where I live in North East Wyoming.
180 grain Berger Hybrid, right at 2900 ft./s

[bluelund79]

Excellent, thanks for sharing. Good luck on the rest of your trip Sir.

[54bore]

I'm no Waterbuck expert that looks like a DANDY!! CONGRATS ON HIM!!

[ErnieBishop]

I'm no Waterbuck expert that looks like a DANDY!! CONGRATS ON HIM!!

My PH says it's the largest Waterbuck he's ever seen outside one of their federal parks.

[tarbe]

He's a snorter, for sure.

These critters are deceptively heavy, and tough.

And the smell...you'll never forget the smell. They secret an oil into their hair that repels water. To me, it was a minty smell.


Tim

[Shuz]

Congratulations!
Question....what do you do with the meat? I'll bet that animal would make some fine jerky!

[texasnative46]

ErnieBishop,

CONGRADS!!! = Beautiful.
(How many inches??)

yours, tex

[wddodge]

Ernie, to be truthful I've never heard of a waterbuck before. That's an awesome beast. I'd hate to have one come sneaking up on me with that set of horns.. Talk about being goosed......

Denny

[ErnieBishop]

ErnieBishop,

CONGRADS!!! = Beautiful.
(How many inches??)

yours, tex

Weighed 750 pounds

Thinus (PH) says he never tapes/measures horns, but he wanted to know on this one.
Horn length 29.5" and 30". Bases both 10". Green score SCI 79.5"

[LSCG]

congratulations! that's a fine trophy for sure.

[Rick R]

Nice Waterbuck!
They are a grand animal. The owner of the property we hunted on in 2009 said that the problem with big Waterbuck is that the males fight and once they get big they are prone to horn breakage. Once that happens no one wants him as a trophy.
I seem to remember being told that the meat is pretty oily too.

[Oklahoma Rebel]

CONGRADULATIONS!!!

[shoot-n-lead]

Congrats!

He is a beaut!

[ErnieBishop]

Congratulations!
Question....what do you do with the meat? I'll bet that animal would make some fine jerky!

Big Water Safaris http://bigwatersafaris.com/index.html is also part of a Bengal Tiger Reserve. Approximately 80% of the meat goes to the tigers (26 I believe), and the other 20% goes to staff and some area churches. We ate wild game every day including jerked meat and Biltong.