Hunting Buffalo in Southern Africa

January 24, 2018 By Fort Richmond Safaris

“Hunting buffalo with your son is an incredible experience.” Richard Mann

“We hunted hard, made several stalks and walked for 7 miles on our Buffalo hunt. Finally, we got the wind right. At 100 yards, Geoffrey told me it was time to take the shot. I collapsed into a seated position and shouldered the rifle. Then the training that I received from my dad (Richard Mann) and at Gunsite academy took over. I cycled the action instantly, and then I fired again. I’ve scored go-ahead goals in soccer, I’ve hit buzzer-beaters in basketball but none of the above compares to hunting a Cape Buffalo in Africa.The 100-yard walk to the Buffalo felt like another mile.

He was massive. Beautiful! He was a gift, from my father and from my friend.

He was a gift from Africa. Africa is a special place. It’s where you become a Buffalo Hunter. And it’s a fine place to grow up.” Bat Man

A Boy and a Buffalo

South African Buffalo Hunt by Empty Cases

Trophy Hunting Buffalo

The term Big Five game was coined by big-game hunters of old and it refers to the five most difficult animals in Africa to hunt on foot.

Cape Buffalo (Syncerus Caffer) is the most popular to hunt from the Big Five and will give a hunter a challenging and dangerous hunting experience. It is also referred to often as the most dangerous of all the Big Five to hunt. Although it appeared docile when grazing in a herd this animal can be extremely aggressive when agitated or wounded.

Buffalo are heavily built & bulls are black while cows have a reddish brown tint with the black. Bulls have heavy horns with well developed Boss. Cows’ horns are much lighter – they have broad muscle and large ears situated behind the eyes.

Size: Mass 750-800kg. Shoulder height: 140cm. Habits: Buffalo move around in large family units. The old bulls group together in bachelor groups and in the dryer season they tend to graze near water. They reached puberty at three years of age. Gestation takes 330-346 days i.e. +/- 11 months.

The Buffalo is a non-selective grazer who drinks every day. It occasionally will browse. Buffalo will lick termite mounds and will also lick the mud stuck to their coats from wallowing in mud pools, off each other in order to get the nutrients lacking from their diet.

The horns of a bull can be quite spectacular in spread with a deep curl and a solid boss which covers the forehead.

Buffalo are found in southern Africa in herds which varies in size.

As with all hunting, shot placement is paramount when hunting the Cape Buffalo – a rifle of .375 caliber is adequate. To succeed a hunter needs to have put in the necessary preparation to be comfortable with his rifle as well as practicing on the shooting range. Trust the judgment of your Professional Hunter with shot placement and the selection of rifles and bullets when hunting the Buffalo.

Buffalo and you by Peter Flack (African Outfitter Magazine)

Buffalo may be done with you but you are never done with them, not even if you have never hunted them. They loom so large in the hunter’s lexicon, they can simply never be ignored. Even if you are a committed plains-game hunter, you know they are out there waiting for you. They are the buffalo in the room, even when never mentioned in polite hunting company. You know that some day, if and when you can afford it, you are going to want to measure yourself against this ultimate game animal.

Why is it that your first Buffalo, for those of us that have been lucky enough to experience this right of passage, this double-edged opportunity to measure ourselves against this ultimate hunting challenge, is the one we all remember with the utmost clarity? We can remember that we saw, heard, smelt everything with our senses on such high alert they were almost supernatural. It was almost as if we were in our innermost beings and at the same time to the tip of our fingers and the nails of our toes. Certainly, up until then, we had never experienced anything similar.

And it is this two-stage reaction to the number one of Africa’s Big Five, which is primarily responsible, I believe, for the whole variety of differing results from a fair-chase hunt for this incredible animal that some people still argue is no different to cattle, on the one hand, and Africa’s most dangerous, four-legged beast, on the other hand.

To some, the experience is just too much. I remember a Zimbabwean PH telling of a wealthy Arab hunter haring off through and over the bushes in his white, flowing Arab robes when he came face to face with his first buffalo at 40 paces. A good friend and one of the most highly experienced buffalo PHs in Africa today, nearly came to a premature end when his American lawyer client wounded a big bull at a range so close that it is just about impossible to imagine how he could have placed the bullet where he did – centre Mrs Venter! I can go on and on, including the case of the very nice man who accompanied Derek and me to Mozambique for his first buffalo hunt, and who wounded two, one after the other, never to find either one no matter how long and hard he looked.

I suppose these and other similar stories ( and you can read about any number of them in my book, Hunting the African Buffalo by Peter Flack) serve to keep the buffalo legend alive and well in Africa. They also confirm the challenge that these magnificent beasts have always offered and always will.

Basic Lessons learned on a Buffalo Hunt by Derek Carstens:

Clarify at the beginning of the hunt with your PH precisely what you expect of him, come the time to shoot. Once on the shot, it is no time to enter into protracted negotiations, clarifications or discussions.
If you are close, comfortable and confident on the animal of your choice, take the darned shot. Just let your PH know which animal you are drawing a bead on.
Don’t hamstring yourself in search of the perfect shot. Optimize.
Know your ballistics. This was a big lesson for me as I do a lot of hunting back home with a flat-shooting 25-06 and seldom have to compensate for bullet drop. In this sense the .375 is not in my muscle memory and the 300 gr solid would have dropped by at least 3” to 4”.
Improve your knowledge of the animal’s anatomy that you are hunting to ensure a well-executed, imperfect strategy.
And then critically remember it is all about the last hundred yards. All the sweat and toil in the tracking kilometers leading up to that point count for naught if things fall apart in the home straight. So be close to your PH at all time, and be ready when the action comes, as it tends to be faster than you may be used to.

Many stories are told by hunters – men and women who glorified the African Safari. The one aspect they all have in common is that these hunters and conservationists all loved to hunt buffalo and wrote books and stories about the Buffalo safaris they enjoyed so much. As said before it is the Cape BUFFALO that is hunted the most of the Big Five, the most sought after trophy on safari.

The Scout Rifle Safari – Day 10, 2nd Group of Hunters

December 8, 2017 By Fort Richmond Safaris

Nick Rukavina from Ohio arrived on the tenth day of The Scout Rifle Safari for his Scout Rifle Safari in South Africa. He brought two Scout Rifles for his safari, a Brockman Packer Scout and a Steyr Scout.

Nick Rukavina arrived for The Scout Rifle Safari very confident and with great expectation…

Nick wrote the following:

My Scout Rifle Safari with Fort Richmond Safaris

South Africa is an almost mystical country after leaving behind the hustle and bustle of Johannesburg and its airport. It’s a place that seems almost timeless and gives us a close look at nature in the raw.

Even now, six months after my hunt with Fort Richmond, so many days and experiences are still very vivid in my memories – a few do stand out. I am sharing my most memorable hunt, which took place on the first day.

First of all, is the typical day, if there really is one. After a light breakfast, just the freedom of driving through the countryside with Leon, my PH, was an education in itself. He introduced me to so much more than I had encountered on my previous visit to South Africa in 2005.

The afternoon of the first day’s hunt was challenging but worth it. We followed a few herds of Blesbok. The animals were extremely spooky and a wind of 20 mph with higher gusts made it even more difficult.

Finally, Leon stopped a long way from the herd that we were following. I would have guessed the range at 500 plus yards, but my rangefinder showed that it was “only” 337. My excellent PH pointed out, by counting the number of animals from the right, a very respectable white Blesbok. Leon positioned himself behind a pair of binoculars. With the scope on my custom .308 Brockman Packer Scout set on 4x, I settled in to get control of my breathing, racing heart and trembling trigger finger. The herd was partially obscured by brush and I could barely make out “my” white Blesbok among the other white and common Blesbok, which are brown in color. I held a foot high and a body length to windward to compensate, I hoped, for the wind and distance. When the shot rang out, I lost view of the animal, but Leon was very excited. I just prayed that I hit the right animal in that wind!

After what seemed like an interminable time wandering the area, we found “my” Blesbok – the right color and everything. The bullet hole was not evident until Leon turned it over, showing a perfect shot just above the heart. I was elated.

I don’t think that I have ever experienced a more dramatic moment of both relief and triumph in my life.

It was the first day of my Safari, and while many more great days followed, it will always stand out as extraordinary among my hunting memories. Nick checking zero and shooting eight-inch steel plates at 350 yards very successfully, in preparation for hunting. The Brockman Packer Scout got the attention of everyone at the range.

“After over 8000 miles of travel, the Leupold on my Brockman Packer Scout held its zero.” Nick Rukavina.

T H E E X C I T E M E N T
T H E H A R D W O R KT H E E X H A U S T I O N
Red Hartebeest taken by Nick with his Brockman Packer Scout. A Warthog taken on The Scout Rifle Safari.

“Thank you for a wonderful week! I will be back soon.” Nick Rukavina

Nick is returning for another safari with us and bringing his wife along as well, next year.

Photo Credit: Bat Mann

Father and Son on The Scout Rifle Safari

November 21, 2017 By Fort Richmond Safaris

The two Father and Son teams who did the Scout Rifle Safari were: Richard Mann (the author of The Scout Rifle Study and whose brainchild the Scout Rifle Safari was) and his son Bat Mann, who was the photographer on the Scout Rifle Safari and Jim Jeansonne and his son James Jeansonne.

This blog is about Jim Jeansonne and his son James’ Scout Rifle Safari.

From the start of the safari it was evident that this father and son have a good relationship and were here to have a great time. And as always when you arrive with an expectant heart and a positive attitude, you will have the best time. They worked incredibly hard for their animals and at first took some time to get into the hunt, but had great fellowship and fun all the way.

‘Africa is amazing and inspirational.’ Jim Jeansonne (father)

“What an awesome adventure, especially when a father and son can share the hunting experience of a lifetime in beautiful Africa!” Jim Jeansonne (father)Jim’s rifle was one of the most important rifles of the Scout Rifle Safari – an original Gunsite Scout #2. It was an honor to have an original Gunsite Scout Rifle as part of the Scout Rifle Safari. Thank you, Jim! Jim and his Gunsite Scout #2. Jim’s Rifle – 1985 vintage Gunsite Scout from the Gunsite gun smithy. Scout Rifles in Africa – Jim Jeansonne with his original Gunsite Scout Rifle #2. Michael Bane with his Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle. James Jeansonne with his Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle. Jim Jeansonne and his son, James with their first take of the safari, a nice Black Wildebeest taken after a mile and a half stalk, shot taken at 326 yards, single shot with Hornady 178. James Jeansonne with his hard won Gemsbok. Warthogs – a favorite of those who participated in the Scout Rifle Safari at Fort Richmond Safaris.

‘What an adventure! Both boots blown out on Kudu Mountain, brush scratches everywhere, but an absolutely beautiful country shared with 8 Gunsite graduates.’ Jim Jeansonne (father)

‘Great week! Many thanks to all involved… It was the trip of a lifetime.’ Jim Jeansonne (father)

Jim Jeansonne wrote the following: “We were hosted in grand style by Geoffrey, Victoria and Annamarie Wayland in a fashion that bespoke of how family would be treated. The PH, tracker, accommodations, food, camaraderie and, in general, the atmosphere that they provided were some of the high points of our trip. The hunting was everything we expected and challenged us both mentally and physically. In short, we can’t express enough, our admiration and appreciation to this wonderful group. We WILL be back next year! THANKS!”

“Africa is amazing and inspirational!” Jim Jeansonne. Jim hunted on Fort Richmond Safaris during The Scout Rifle Safari with his son James and is the proud owner of an original Gunsite Scout #2.

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The Scout Rifle Safari 2

October 22, 2017 By Fort Richmond Safaris

T H E S C O U T R I F L E S A F A R I – T H E H U M A N S I D E

Many emotions are experienced during a hunt – even more so when it takes place on the African continent. When the hunt is coupled with a book, makes history and almost all the hunters are Gunsite graduates, the excitement, joy, exhaustion and more reach new heights.

Enjoy the pictures as they capture these emotions.

‘A picture is worth a thousand words.’

Great images convey meaning and essence always more effectively than a description does. Well done, Bat Mann – photographer of the Scout Rifle Safari in South Africa.

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T H E I N T E R A C T I O N

T H E E X C I T E M E N T

T H E F U N

T H E C O N C E N T R A T I O N

T H E M E D I T A T I O N

T H E J O Y

T H E L A U G H T E R

T H E C A M A R A D E R I E

T H E F E L L O W S H I P (Father & Son)

T H E E N J O Y M E N T of the S C O U T R I F L E

T H E E X H A U S T I O N

A T T E N T I V E

T H E F O C U S

T H E R O M A N C E

T H E A P P R E C I A T I O N

T H E D E L I G H T

T H E H A P P I N E S S

T H E G L A D N E S S

A N D M O R E were experienced by the participants on The Scout Rifle Safari that took place at Fort Richmond Safaris earlier this year. An event that will be remembered not only for its historical value but also for the fun, fellowship and adventure shared by all the participants.

To read more about it follow these links:

The Scout Rifle Safari – Scout Rifles in Africa

The 2017 Scout Rifle Safari

The Scout Rifle Study

The Scout Rifle Safari – Scout Rifles in Africa

July 24, 2017 By Fort Richmond Safaris

Versatility is the word that best describes the Scout Rifle. This was the main purpose behind Gunsite academy founder, Jeff Cooper’s idea… a rifle in the hunting field as well as one to be used in a military scouting situation.

A strict criteria was established which included specifications on the following:

the rifle’s length
the rifle’s weight
the sighting arrangement
the accuracy and
the accessories.

What is a Scout Rifle?
‘Jeff Cooper defied a scout rifle as a bolt-action carbine chambered for the .308 Win., no longer than 39 inches, no heavier than 7.7 pounds and outfitted with a low power extended eye relief scope. It also had to have back up ghost rings sights, be capable of two MOA or better accuracy and have a Ching, CW, or similarly styled shooting sling.’ Richard Mann

Remington Arms Company Custom Shop M7 Scout used by Richard Mann during The Scout Rifle Safari. The first animal taken with this Scout Rifle, a fine Springbok at about 230 yards.

‘I relied on them for 30 days in Africa and they never let me down.’ Richard Mann Remington Arms Company Custom Shop M7 Scout and Hornady Precision Hunter ELD-X ammo. Knife built by Len Waldron after his first safari as well as my first safari with Fort Richmond Safaris.

Bill Mazelin with his Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle checking his zero on the range at Fort Richmond Safaris.

One of the most important rifles of The Scout Rifle Safari – an original Gunsite Scout no.2.
Jim Jeansonne and his original Gunsite Scout Rifle #2.

Geoffrey Wayland of Fort Richmond Safaris with the Steyr Arms, Inc. Scout Rifle connecting 8 inch MGM Targets steel plates as far as 350 yards.

Nick Rukavina and Professional Hunter Leon du Plessis holding the Brockman Packer Scout that Nick used on safari. Nick shot the eight inch steel at 350 yards with the Brockman Packer Scout.

Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle and Black Wildebeest.

James Jeansonne with his original Gunsite Scout Rifle #2. Michael Bane with his Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle. James Jeansonne with his Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle. Listen to Michael Bane’s video podcast: Bane’s masterpiece of a Scout Rifle on Down Range TV.

Scout Rifles in Africa!

Scout Rifles in Africa! The Scout Rifle – the one rifle to have if you could only have one.

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Husband and wife on the Scout Rifle Safari

June 30, 2017 By Fort Richmond Safaris

The second Scout Rifle Safari in Africa took place at Fort Richmond Safaris.

The first one was by Col Jeff Cooper in 1998, to conceptualize the Scout Rifle in action.

Seven Gunsite Academy graduates participated in the first week of the Scout Rifle Safari, which included a husband and wife team and two fathers with their sons.

This blog post is about the first 2 hunters – a couple – Bill and Carrie Mazelin from Las Vegas.

‘What a wonderful experience. When Richard first posted the idea of the Scout Rifle Safari on Facebook, and there was room left, I asked Carrie if she’d like to go to Africa on a plains game hunt. She said “yes” and we were off to the races. New rifles, a class at Gunsite, additional practice on our own and constant dreaming about what else we wanted to do and where else we wanted to go whilst in Africa. Then the trip took on a life of its own… Ammunition and the vests from Hornady, the Rifle-Mann Slings from Galco, Michael Bane and his crew filming for the Outdoor Channel. It just kept getting bigger and bigger, and it was great fun to be a part of it.’ Bill Mazelin

A romantic glance while on safari. The only woman on The Scout Rifle Safari on making it count.

‘I just wanted to be able to make my shots count each time and work the skills I learned at Gunsite Academy in February. I had been practicing to about 200 yards, and on most of our past hunts my shots were under 150 yards, but at Gunsite we shot at ranges of 300 and even 400 yards. I expected that I would be shooting at greater distances and that the animals would be very skittish, and all of that was true. I liked getting to the range on the first afternoon, and that the range facility had a variety of distances and targets for us to practice. I felt confident, but reserved because this was different than anything I’d done before. Of course, everyone made me feel very comfortable and I was excited to start hunting.’ Carrie Mazelin

Carrie and her Black Wildebeest. She bagged him at 284 yards with a single shot from her Scout Rifle.

Bill Mazelin, very proud of his wife’s hunting wrote the following: I’ve watched Carrie’s evolution as a hunter since the first time we took to the bush together; it’s been great fun to watch her confidence and skill build season after season. This hunt was no different, her confidence continue to grow with each passing day. One of my favorite memories of the hunt was when she shot her black wildebeest. I was able to call the range (284 yards) and tell her where to hold the cross hairs. Leon (our professional hunter) and I then simply waited a few seconds for the shot to ring out. A perfect hit, and that was the longest shot she’d ever put on an animal. Another one was how over the course of a couple of days, she was able to shoot a warthog on the move, not an easy task and she did great.

Bill Mazelin with the Blesbok he took on the second day of The Scout Rifle Safari at Fort Richmond Safaris.

A Black Wildebeest also taken at Fort Richmond.

“All the participants of The Scout Rifle Safari put in a great deal of effort, and we were all handsomely rewarded.” Bill Mazelin

“We will take what Africa gives us.” – Leon du Plessis.

“We all took some great trophies, but the friendship and camaraderie that the hunt camp and the bush offers is always the best trophy.” Bill Mazelin

“Thanks to all of you for a wonderful experience! It truly was the Safari of our dreams. We can’t wait to return for another adventure.” Carrie Mazelin

“It was the trip of a lifetime. We can’t wait to go back!” Bill Mazelin

The Scout Rifle Safari in Africa

June 5, 2017 By Fort Richmond Safaris

‘The Scout Rifle Study’ by Richard Mann includes a Scout Rifle Safari taking place in Africa, more specific on location at Fort Richmond Safaris, South Africa. Richard Mann we look forward to welcome you back on your 4th trip to Africa with Fort Richmond Safaris. This time for a very exciting 30 days of adventure on the African plains with various Scout Rifles. We are very excited to be the location for the Scout Rifle Safari in Africa and to be a part of this exceptional experience.

“People are finally beginning to realize Cooper was mostly right; the simplest one-rifle solution for the world is a Scout Rifle.” Richard Mann

Richard Mann chose the free-access web format for his book, The Scout Rifle Study which will contain thousand of images and hundreds of videos.

After a review done by Field & Stream editor, David E Petzal, he comments as follows:

“I own two Scout rifles, have been a lifelong Jeff Cooper reader, and thought I had a pretty thorough knowledge of the subject. I don’t. Richard Mann does. Compared to him, I’ve barely scratched the surface.” David E Petzal; Rifle Editor Field & Stream.

Richard is thorough and like Petzal commented there is material in the book he never dreamed existed. In his words: “I have no idea how and where Mann got it.”

We are no doubt going to eat, sleep and spend many hours in conversation about the Scout Rifle and the many other things. Knowing Richard as a thorough researchers who does not leave any stone unturned to get to the bottom of it all, we are in for the adventure of a lifetime.

Thank you Richard for the vision. We look forward to make it a marvelous and unforgettable adventure for every hunter with his Scout Rifle.

To read more about ‘The Scout Rifle Safari’: Click here

Richard Mann’s Scout Rifle: ” This is the rifle I will be using during the Scout Rifle Safari. If you are interested in the build information, it was assembled by the Remington Arms Company Custom Shop to my specifications as follows: Model 7, Chromoly action. In house tapered Recoil lug. Larger rear tang screw. Douglas Barrels Inc. #3 Remington contoured air gauged 1-10 twist Chromoly barrel. Threaded muzzle w/thread cap installed. Fluted barrel. Plated Magazine Box. Polished follower. Model 7 aluminum hinged floor plate (Remington). Manners Composite Stocks Elite EH-8 stock. Painted in house, custom camo 4 color. 4 flush cup sling attachment points installed. Fully bedded using Marine-tex and 1/2” aluminum pillars. Recoil pad. Custom in house made picaitiny scout scope rail. XS Sights front and rear sights. Timney Triggers trigger. M-16 extractor. Dual ejectors. Fluted bolt. Timed for Primary extraction bolt handle. Triple taper pinned bolt handle. PTG Speed Lock Aluminum firing pin. Aluminum bolt shroud. It will put five shots into about an inch with most loads, is less than a meter in long, and weighs less than 7.5 pounds with a Burris Optics Company 2-7X Scout Scope, Galco Gunleather RilfeMann Sling (attached in the three-point configuration) and with a magazine full of ammunition.” Richard Mann

Richard is joined by his son, Sabastian Mann and arrives on the location Wednesday, June 7.

The Scout Rifle: The One Rifle To Have If You Could Only Have One

Hunting the Grey Ghost of Africa with a Scout Rifle

May 28, 2017 By Fort Richmond Safaris

To celebrate the release of Richard Mann’s book “The Scout Rifle Study”, the Scout Rifle Safari in South Africa will be taking place during the month of June on Fort Richmond. 11 Hunters will be using various Scout Rifles to hunt game on the African plains. The Kudu antelope is among the game that will be hunted.

Richard Mann with a Kudu taken at Fort Richmond.

Kudu

Being part of the Spiral-horned antelope, the Kudu is not only the grandest but also one of the most sought after plains game trophies in Africa. It is at the top of the list for most hunters doing an African safari.

The Kudu is stately in appearance with its long spiral horns and proud bearing and therefore it is no surprise that it is such a favorite with hunters. Kudu come with their own unique camouflage, perfectly suited to the African bush. Their ghost-like reputation can partly be credited to their ability to blend so well with their pale-grey to brownish-grey coat as well as for being extremely elusive with exceptional senses. Combined this makes for a challenging hunt.

“The “gray ghost,” ubiquitous cliche that it is, is still about the best description anyone has come up with to describe the greater kudu. A kudu doesn’t emerge from the bush, it materializes; they do not walk into deep cover, they vanish like smoke in a stiff breeze. …there is no more impressive single trophy to be had than the horns of a mature greater kudu.” Terry Wieland, Spiral Horn Dreams

Kudu are browsers who feeds in the early morning and late afternoon. Kudu drink regularly and therefore will never be far from water.

Kudu lives in small herds – family groups consisting of 6 to 12 animals, mostly cows and calves but large numbers can sometimes be seen at water holes. The bulls only join the herd during their mating season. The bulls form bachelor herds or become solitary.

Kudu are difficult to spot for various reasons. They are very alert and nervous animals who spend nearly all their time in thick bush. They usually stand very still (freeze) for long periods when suspicious. When it gets disturbed in the bush habitat, the animal will move away quietly or dash off after giving a loud, sharp alarm bark. They move surprisingly quietly through dense bush. This majestic animal is so graceful in flight and extremely athletic, jumping very high considering the size of its body.

You might get a close up shot at a Kudu but chances are the light will be poor or the bull will be in dense cover. For these reasons a rifle scope with magnification of 4x or more will allow you to better resolve this beast that sometimes seems almost invisible.

As with the hunting of all species, shot placement is paramount. The high heart/lung shot is the most effective for hunting Kudu. Concentrate to bring your sights directly up the foreleg, about one third into the body and squeeze.

This is a very exciting and rewarding hunt.

It is difficult to assess a Kudu trophy because the depth of the curl of the individual bulls’ horns can vary a lot. A good representative of the specie is a 45 – 50 inch set of horns with nice ivory tips.

Richard Mann and PH Geoffrey Wayland with the Kudu Richard hunted on his first visit to Fort Richmond in 2013.

The following is an article Richard Mann wrote on this hunt in Cabela’s Outfitter Journal. The Fence – Hunting free-range Kudu in South Africa by Richard Mann.

Read more here:

Richard’s son, Bat Mann took this Kudu hunting with his dad in 2015. Bat is also joining his dad on the Scout Rifle Safari

To read more about Bat’s hunt at Fort Richmond: click here

“There is something about this lovely beast that makes him a hunter’s grail. Perhaps it is the tremendous sweep of those double-curling horns, as brown and clean as rubbed mahogany, heavy-ridged from the base around the curls, and ending in polished ivory points. Perhaps it is the chevron on the nose, or his clean, gray, white-barred hide, the skin thin as parchment. Perhaps it is the delicacy of his long-legged deer’s body, slimness of his deer’s legs, the heavy-maned swell of his neck, the enormity of his ears that pick up whispers at radar range. …The kudu is just under your hand, and yet he always manages to escape you. Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter