PULL THE TRIGGER!!!!!

CircuitRider · 05-13-2009, 12:42 PM

PULL THE TRIGGER!!!!!

A symphony of sound flooded my ears as the sun broke into view illuminating the sky and reflecting off the lake. With beams of brilliant light shooting through the trees and baboons scrambling above me on the branches. The road was dusty and this dust was like silt and nothing was safe from its intrusion. It got in our rifle actions, clothes, caked in our nostrils and found its way into everything in our possession. Yet, the wonder of the place consumed my attention and over whelmed my senses. I was totally mesmerized by the Tanzanian nights and exciting days that were filled with game. You would have thought I was traveling through a fenced in refuge but it wasn’t, it was the wilds of Tanzania.

I came to Tanzania by way of plan to Arusha and then traveled south, then west some beyond Lake Manyara National Park and then south west for a while. Lake Manyara Tanzania is a beautiful park that is at the base of the Great Rift Valley. We continued on until we came a ways west of an area called Mtowambu. Flies and mosquitos were at times tough to deal with and we slept under mosquito nets. I was excited to go on my hunt and the terrain and landscape was so diverse from flat open plains farther than my eye could see across to heavy bush and thick forests that lead right up to the mountains. What a place to capture the imagination of some one and it had my full attention.

I was hunting with a resident of Tanzania who was a friend of mine. Getting a game license was a real trick in Tanzania in the early 1990’s. Especially if you are not hunting with a professional out fit. My friend was able through personal connections in the government to obtain the needed paper work for Imapla and Buffalo. He was also able to get a friend of his who was a professional hunter to clear my rifles at the Airport. I brought with me two rifles, my 30-06 Ruger Mk II using a 180gr A-Frame and Ruger 458Win Mag using a 450gr A-Frame. I was going to use the 30-06 for the Impala hunt and of course the 458Win Mag for the buffalo.

The buffalo hunt was much easier than the Impala hunt. We located the buffalo first along a small body of water with 300yds are so clearing from the thick bush to the lakes edge. We found three big old boys by themselves just lying there taking up the sun. Now I don’t know about you but I did not want to be any closer to the buffalo than 50yds. I wanted time to have a follow up shot. Well, we worked our way on hands and knees through the knee high grass till we were close to one of the bulls that was about 75 to 80 yards from the other two. He was not the biggest of the three but two of the bulls were between our approach and the biggest bull. I opted for the second biggest. We must have waited in that grass on our knees for an hour as the wind was in our favor before the closest bull to us decided to stand.

Finally he stood and was facing us, what a picture and I will never for get it. I took the kneeling position instead of standing so I would not be seen before I shot. Taking careful aim with my heart racing, I think it was fear trying to over come me. I had not seen any animal this large, this strong, looking at me, while knowing their reputation and how mean and dangerous they are. I let that 450gr A-Frame go and like a runaway freight train running straight down the track the A-Frame struck home in the middle of his chest. He buckled some and took off for about 35 yrds and hit the ground kicking. His back was facing me and I put another A-Frame right between the top of his two shoulders and it was over. What a rush to say the least. The other two got up when I fired that first round and ran a good three hundred yards away from us, stopped looked back at us and then left the area.

Now I said to myself, "it does not get anymore intense than this!" Boy, was I ever off base! I would find out soon that intense can be defined on another level. We hunted for three more days trying to get close enough to take a good buck Impala. We hunted in an area that had open spots of knee to waist high grass, short trees and tick bush. After three days I thought we would not be able to get close enough to a good buck. Trying to get close to the impala was not the reason I did not get one.

On the morning of the fourth day of pursuing an impala we came to another open area that had grass just above our knees. It was about 200 yards deep and 320 yards are so wide. We had not stepped into that open spot and gone 20yds when one of the two trackers said, “a lion, a lion is attacking”.

I could not believe my ears as I looked up and 75 to 80 yds out a big female lion was charging us. I threw up my 30-06 and said to myself, “this is it, man don’t miss, take your time, PULL THE TRIGGER!!!!!”. At least that is what I think I said to myself. To tell you the truth I really don’t remember for sure if that conversation with myself actually took place. All I can clearly remember is that I noticed the lion was not coming in a straight line but in a slightly curved arch as I put my sights on her. I fired and hit her in the front chest area at about 25 yards. That's right, she covered a little over 50 yards in the time it took me to throw up and fire.

I was frozen, could not move my legs as I bolted my rifle and put another round in the chamber. Fortunately for me that 180gr A-Frame did it’s job as my friend immediately put another round from his 458Win mag in that lion for security. I let out my breath and sucked in a big gulp of air. For the entire event I had held my breath. I was light headed and almost lost my balance. My hunt ended that day because I was done. Emotionally done and my desire to hunt anymore was gone for the meantime. What stood out most in my mind as I think of it was the moment where I yelled at myself saying, “PULL THE TRIGGER!!!!”.

CircuitRider · 05-14-2009, 11:24 AM

Here is the buff mount that is in my den. It is not a real large one and it is not a very well done mount but I could not afford the professional mounts in Tanzania back then so my friend got a local to do it and then shipped it to me. If I had to do it all over again I would do it with a professional outfit. Of course back in 1991 I was operating on a shoe string with some money borrowed from my dad and brother for the trip. Also my friend seemed to have lots of confidence in his abilities to provide me with a good experience in hunting along with some good fellowship and memories of when we were in grad school.

As I think back on that time, it could have cost me my life. My camera then was a 35mm manual single lens reflex and I have not conquered scanning the few photos I have left and getting them to my computer. Back then I didn't even own a computer. Sure would have been nice back then to have digital cameras and computers like we have today.

FISHPOND · 05-14-2009, 11:35 AM

Good story, I guess the picture is wrong, the mount looks fine.

ArkansasHunter · 05-14-2009, 11:41 AM

WOW !!!That's all I can think to say is Wow. Great story and the Buffalo mount looks excellent and life like. That Lionest put you in the same situation as that Big Hog LOL
But I bet with the lion you did poop in your breatches LOL

Windwalker · 05-14-2009, 11:59 AM

CircuitRider, I just lived two African hunts through your story. I will never be able to go hunting in Africa but thank you for sharing your wonderful stories. What an experience.

CircuitRider · 05-14-2009, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArkansasHunter

WOW !!!That's all I can think to say is Wow. Great story and the Buffalo mount looks excellent and life like. That Lionest put you in the same situation as that Big Hog LOL
But I bet with the lion you did poop in your breatches LOL

I truly can not explain how every fissure and hole on my bodied puckered up real tight, except my eyelids and I could not even hear a thing, even my buddy calling my name and asking if I was ok. I truly had tunnel vision and that cat looked two or three times her size.

From time to time after I got back my wife said I talked in my sleep and stiffen up holding my breath while breaking out in a sweat. I haven't had an event like that for over ten years. If it never happens again that would be fine with me, but if it does I will stand there in the breach and pull the trigger, because to freeze or run is no option at all. I am trying to go back one more time but might go to South Africa this time with Sadaka Safaris if things come together.

CircuitRider · 05-14-2009, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windwalker

CircuitRider, I just lived two African hunts through your story. I will never be able to go hunting in Africa but thank you for sharing your wonderful stories. What an experience.

Your welcome Windwalker. I plan on writing some more of my hunting stories of places I have been through the years just because my grandson loves to read them and he is my hunting buddy for the last 6 years.

ArkansasHunter · 05-14-2009, 01:01 PM

CircuitRider if you do go back to Africa to hunt will you take the 35 Whelen or the 358 win. ?
It seems the 35 Whelen would be ideal for some game animals...Mike

forestgleaner · 05-14-2009, 01:43 PM

you are a very lucky man. Not just cause you got to go to those places and hunt, but because you have a grandson who loves the stories, and is willing to hunt with you.
I am 45, and my oldest child is only going on 4. I hope that when she is really old enough to enjoy hunting, that I get the chance to take. So far she loves the woods, and enjoys learning about everything, so if I can do my part, I think she will be a fine hunter. My son he turns two on Saterday, and does everything his sister does, so maybe I will get two for one deal out of them as hunting buddies.
I bought my daughter one of those cricket rifles, with the pink stocks in a single shot. I haven't taken her to the range yet, when she and I can go, I also have the little guy, and I don't think he is ready yet.

CircuitRider · 05-14-2009, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by forestgleaner

you are a very lucky man. Not just cause you got to go to those places and hunt, but because you have a grandson who loves the stories, and is willing to hunt with you.
I am 45, and my oldest child is only going on 4. I hope that when she is really old enough to enjoy hunting, that I get the chance to take. So far she loves the woods, and enjoys learning about everything, so if I can do my part, I think she will be a fine hunter. My son he turns two on Saterday, and does everything his sister does, so maybe I will get two for one deal out of them as hunting buddies.
I bought my daughter one of those cricket rifles, with the pink stocks in a single shot. I haven't taken her to the range yet, when she and I can go, I also have the little guy, and I don't think he is ready yet.

It sounds as if you are a lucky man indeed and one who cares about his family. I bet she will be very charming with that cricket rifle and that would make for some great pictures and memories as well.

CircuitRider · 05-14-2009, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArkansasHunter

CircuitRider if you do go back to Africa to hunt will you take the 35 Whelen or the 358 win. ?
It seems the 35 Whelen would be ideal for some game animals...Mike

I will take my 358Win and 30-06. The outfitters said for the game I will be hunting which will not be any of the big five my rifles will be fine. I will go 180gr A-Frame in the 06 and 225gr A-Frame in the 358Win. That is all I will need to hunt the game I have in mind and anyway, this time I will have a professional with me.

moosemike · 06-11-2009, 02:02 PM

Incredible story. Africa is a dream of mine and I love reading this stuff.

dman24 · 06-19-2009, 12:56 AM

We need to read stories like that in school. That was great. What did yall do with the lion after you killed it though. Do you have to report it or anything.

CircuitRider · 06-19-2009, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dman24

We need to read stories like that in school. That was great. What did yall do with the lion after you killed it though. Do you have to report it or anything.

Yes, he did tell someone but I am not sure who it was.

Dakoma · 06-24-2009, 12:24 AM

I have several movies I watch every once in a while one is an old Robert Redford OUT of AFRICA and the other Michael Douglas & Val Kilmer The Ghost and the Darkness there is one more I Dreamed of Africa,and maybe I will go there someday I hope I can while I'm still able before my disability becomes to where I'm unable .Thanks for shareing your experiences.

GlockMeister · 06-24-2009, 12:57 AM

I don't see anything wrong with the mount? What, is the other end sticking out on the other side or something? lol J/K'

But seriously, great story and a very nice looking memory of it all hanging on your den wall...

05-13-2009, 12:42 PM	#1
CircuitRider Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: USA Posts: 265	PULL THE TRIGGER!!!!! PULL THE TRIGGER!!!!! A symphony of sound flooded my ears as the sun broke into view illuminating the sky and reflecting off the lake. With beams of brilliant light shooting through the trees and baboons scrambling above me on the branches. The road was dusty and this dust was like silt and nothing was safe from its intrusion. It got in our rifle actions, clothes, caked in our nostrils and found its way into everything in our possession. Yet, the wonder of the place consumed my attention and over whelmed my senses. I was totally mesmerized by the Tanzanian nights and exciting days that were filled with game. You would have thought I was traveling through a fenced in refuge but it wasn’t, it was the wilds of Tanzania. I came to Tanzania by way of plan to Arusha and then traveled south, then west some beyond Lake Manyara National Park and then south west for a while. Lake Manyara Tanzania is a beautiful park that is at the base of the Great Rift Valley. We continued on until we came a ways west of an area called Mtowambu. Flies and mosquitos were at times tough to deal with and we slept under mosquito nets. I was excited to go on my hunt and the terrain and landscape was so diverse from flat open plains farther than my eye could see across to heavy bush and thick forests that lead right up to the mountains. What a place to capture the imagination of some one and it had my full attention. I was hunting with a resident of Tanzania who was a friend of mine. Getting a game license was a real trick in Tanzania in the early 1990’s. Especially if you are not hunting with a professional out fit. My friend was able through personal connections in the government to obtain the needed paper work for Imapla and Buffalo. He was also able to get a friend of his who was a professional hunter to clear my rifles at the Airport. I brought with me two rifles, my 30-06 Ruger Mk II using a 180gr A-Frame and Ruger 458Win Mag using a 450gr A-Frame. I was going to use the 30-06 for the Impala hunt and of course the 458Win Mag for the buffalo. The buffalo hunt was much easier than the Impala hunt. We located the buffalo first along a small body of water with 300yds are so clearing from the thick bush to the lakes edge. We found three big old boys by themselves just lying there taking up the sun. Now I don’t know about you but I did not want to be any closer to the buffalo than 50yds. I wanted time to have a follow up shot. Well, we worked our way on hands and knees through the knee high grass till we were close to one of the bulls that was about 75 to 80 yards from the other two. He was not the biggest of the three but two of the bulls were between our approach and the biggest bull. I opted for the second biggest. We must have waited in that grass on our knees for an hour as the wind was in our favor before the closest bull to us decided to stand. Finally he stood and was facing us, what a picture and I will never for get it. I took the kneeling position instead of standing so I would not be seen before I shot. Taking careful aim with my heart racing, I think it was fear trying to over come me. I had not seen any animal this large, this strong, looking at me, while knowing their reputation and how mean and dangerous they are. I let that 450gr A-Frame go and like a runaway freight train running straight down the track the A-Frame struck home in the middle of his chest. He buckled some and took off for about 35 yrds and hit the ground kicking. His back was facing me and I put another A-Frame right between the top of his two shoulders and it was over. What a rush to say the least. The other two got up when I fired that first round and ran a good three hundred yards away from us, stopped looked back at us and then left the area. Now I said to myself, "it does not get anymore intense than this!" Boy, was I ever off base! I would find out soon that intense can be defined on another level. We hunted for three more days trying to get close enough to take a good buck Impala. We hunted in an area that had open spots of knee to waist high grass, short trees and tick bush. After three days I thought we would not be able to get close enough to a good buck. Trying to get close to the impala was not the reason I did not get one. On the morning of the fourth day of pursuing an impala we came to another open area that had grass just above our knees. It was about 200 yards deep and 320 yards are so wide. We had not stepped into that open spot and gone 20yds when one of the two trackers said, “a lion, a lion is attacking”. I could not believe my ears as I looked up and 75 to 80 yds out a big female lion was charging us. I threw up my 30-06 and said to myself, “this is it, man don’t miss, take your time, PULL THE TRIGGER!!!!!”. At least that is what I think I said to myself. To tell you the truth I really don’t remember for sure if that conversation with myself actually took place. All I can clearly remember is that I noticed the lion was not coming in a straight line but in a slightly curved arch as I put my sights on her. I fired and hit her in the front chest area at about 25 yards. That's right, she covered a little over 50 yards in the time it took me to throw up and fire. I was frozen, could not move my legs as I bolted my rifle and put another round in the chamber. Fortunately for me that 180gr A-Frame did it’s job as my friend immediately put another round from his 458Win mag in that lion for security. I let out my breath and sucked in a big gulp of air. For the entire event I had held my breath. I was light headed and almost lost my balance. My hunt ended that day because I was done. Emotionally done and my desire to hunt anymore was gone for the meantime. What stood out most in my mind as I think of it was the moment where I yelled at myself saying, “PULL THE TRIGGER!!!!”. Last edited by CircuitRider; 05-13-2009 at 05:37 PM.

05-14-2009, 11:35 AM	#3
FISHPOND Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Arizona Posts: 983	Good story, I guess the picture is wrong, the mount looks fine. __________________ You only have the right's your willing to fight for......

05-14-2009, 11:41 AM	#4
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas. Posts: 16,943	WOW !!!That's all I can think to say is Wow. Great story and the Buffalo mount looks excellent and life like. That Lionest put you in the same situation as that Big Hog LOL But I bet with the lion you did poop in your breatches LOL __________________ IN GOD WE TRUST NRA MEMBER

05-14-2009, 11:59 AM	#5
Windwalker Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 6,020	CircuitRider, I just lived two African hunts through your story. I will never be able to go hunting in Africa but thank you for sharing your wonderful stories. What an experience. __________________ America: Love it and protect it or leave it In God I Trust

05-14-2009, 01:01 PM	#8
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas. Posts: 16,943	CircuitRider if you do go back to Africa to hunt will you take the 35 Whelen or the 358 win. ? It seems the 35 Whelen would be ideal for some game animals...Mike __________________ IN GOD WE TRUST NRA MEMBER

05-14-2009, 11:24 AM	#2
CircuitRider Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: USA Posts: 265	Here is the buff mount that is in my den. It is not a real large one and it is not a very well done mount but I could not afford the professional mounts in Tanzania back then so my friend got a local to do it and then shipped it to me. If I had to do it all over again I would do it with a professional outfit. Of course back in 1991 I was operating on a shoe string with some money borrowed from my dad and brother for the trip. Also my friend seemed to have lots of confidence in his abilities to provide me with a good experience in hunting along with some good fellowship and memories of when we were in grad school. As I think back on that time, it could have cost me my life. My camera then was a 35mm manual single lens reflex and I have not conquered scanning the few photos I have left and getting them to my computer. Back then I didn't even own a computer. Sure would have been nice back then to have digital cameras and computers like we have today.

05-14-2009, 01:43 PM	#9
forestgleaner Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 268	you are a very lucky man. Not just cause you got to go to those places and hunt, but because you have a grandson who loves the stories, and is willing to hunt with you. I am 45, and my oldest child is only going on 4. I hope that when she is really old enough to enjoy hunting, that I get the chance to take. So far she loves the woods, and enjoys learning about everything, so if I can do my part, I think she will be a fine hunter. My son he turns two on Saterday, and does everything his sister does, so maybe I will get two for one deal out of them as hunting buddies. I bought my daughter one of those cricket rifles, with the pink stocks in a single shot. I haven't taken her to the range yet, when she and I can go, I also have the little guy, and I don't think he is ready yet.

06-11-2009, 02:02 PM	#12
moosemike Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Lebanon PA Posts: 219	Incredible story. Africa is a dream of mine and I love reading this stuff.

06-19-2009, 12:56 AM	#13
dman24 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 236	We need to read stories like that in school. That was great. What did yall do with the lion after you killed it though. Do you have to report it or anything.

06-24-2009, 12:24 AM	#15
Dakoma Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Southeast Tennessee Posts: 1,119	I have several movies I watch every once in a while one is an old Robert Redford OUT of AFRICA and the other Michael Douglas & Val Kilmer The Ghost and the Darkness there is one more I Dreamed of Africa,and maybe I will go there someday I hope I can while I'm still able before my disability becomes to where I'm unable .Thanks for shareing your experiences.

06-24-2009, 12:57 AM	#16
GlockMeister Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 9,578	I don't see anything wrong with the mount? What, is the other end sticking out on the other side or something? lol J/K' But seriously, great story and a very nice looking memory of it all hanging on your den wall... __________________ "The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion." "Edmond Burke"