A Problem Animal Which Made A Dream Come True

I have hunted a few giraffes with clients before but never one for myself. It is one of those animals which many people, including some hunters ask “why would you want to shoot one of those?”

They are a symbol of Africa like the zebra and the lion. They are incredibly graceful and once they get running, cover the ground surprisinglyquickly. With some big bulls being six meters tall,it makes it incredibly challenging to sneak in on them due to being able to see the predator coming from a long way away. Weighing in at close to two tons they are certainly a challenge to bring down.There are two target points when shooting them, one being in the head which requires accurate shot with a decent caliber as the head is incrediblyhard. I would not recommend anything smaller than a 300-win mag and preferably the trusty old 375H&H would be my choice. I am sure some will come back and say that they have managed it with smaller calibers, but this is only my opinion. The other shot is that for the vitals which confuses many as the heart is not in the usual spot of other African species. Don’t be surprised when your PH tells you to shoot much higher than you expect. Have a look at the shot placement in The Perfect Shot book before you arrive. If you get it wrong,you may be following that long neck from a distance for a very long time.

Not having many predators in our area theirnumbers can get out of hand and they do need to be managed, especially on game ranches where man is basically their only threat.

When hunting my first one with a client I was told to make sure you shoot it in the morning and as close to a road as you can. This we did manage to do and when we got up to the fallen bull I could see why I was given such valuable advice. Do notbe surprised to see a number of big vehicles such as tractors, front loaders and trailers being utilized on recovery. As I mentioned earlier, some bulls stand six meters tall. The skin is thick and takes its toll on any blade used to cape it. Often a skinner is put in charge of sharpening knives through the process of skinning. Axes and even chainsaws are brought in as part of the recovery process and not just for clearing a path to the animal.

I have always wanted to shoot one myself. It may be because it is so tall, and I am slightly shorter than pretty much all the other PH’s in camp but I enjoy them as a challenge. 

This came true a few years ago when I got a call from a neighbour telling me he had a problem. The problem was that a large bull had decided it was great fun to push down the power line poles to his farmhouse. Even though his family was ready to disown him for the thought of shooting this bull he had had enough. We came to a deal which worked for both of us. I would take charge of everything. I would dispatch the bull, organize skinners, sell the meat, sell the skin and do it as quickly as possible.

A phone call to a local butcher sorted the meat. He would take the carcass which he would sell at a lower price to those less affluent ensuring 100% use.

Another call to a good friend of mine at Karoo Taxidermy sorted out a team of skinners and also the sale of the entire skin, which would be caped as a full mount.

Now it was my part of the deal. I would use my 458Lott with a 500-grain bullet for the job. Due to the rifle only having open safari sights I would be going for a body shot rather than a brain shot.

A good friend Will and I met with the team early in the morning. Discussing the whereabouts of the bull with the property manager, we made our way towards a small dam surrounded by a piece of dense bush. As we drove towards the dam, we could see some giraffe browsing in the thicket through our binoculars. We stopped a little wayaway and asked the manager if he could see if the problem bull was in the herd. He had a good look through the binoculars and confirmed he was the big dark one towering above the others. 

With this being confirmed Will and I moved forward. The giraffe had seen us but remained very calm. We used the thick bush to close in on the bull keeping in mind that if he ran it could be a long day of walking. 

Eventually, keeping the wind in our favor and the thick bush to our advantage we were within fifty meters. We could see him just the other side of the dam wall but we could not get a good shot where he was. Then suddenly, he walked towards us and stood broadside on top of the dam wall. 

This was my chance, I stepped out and as I did so he began his escape. It was now or never. I had to put in a broadside running shot. 

I fired. The bullet struck him with all its force. Knocking him clean off his feet. He crashed down to the ground amongst the fallen trees. I quickly chambered another round. Rushing to the front of the bull I put another shot in as a security shot. 

He was down, and a long-awaited dream of mine was fulfilled.

Will and I spent some time looking over the bull and admired his size and the beauty of his dark skin. 

Then the skinning team arrived, and the real work started. Six well-trained skinners with all the equipment necessary, started their work. Skillfully working their way around this huge animal, it took close to three hours to get him skinned off and the carcass to be cut into manageable pieces. As the process came to a endall that was left was a slight blood stain on the ground as everything else would be used.

The four shin bones and the skull were to be bleached for my hunting room to bring back the memories of this amazing day. Everything else went on its way to its designated place. 

Nearly seven hundred kilograms of meat headed to the butchery and the  full cape to the taxidermy, with all of the offal going to the skinning team which included a heart the same size as my chest.

Will and I talk about that day often and I would like to thank a truly kind neighbour for this opportunity and Karoo Taxidermy for their amazing assistance in the recovery.