MCKAY'S TRAVEL, OUTDOORS AND PHOTOGRAPHY
Trophy Room - Big Game
This is my digital trophy room, all of the big game animals I have killed come with great stories and adrenaline. While not everyone can see my trophy room at home, this is a way anyone can see what I have harvested.
Rocky Mountain
Elk
2013
Northern Rockies BC Canada
One of the coolest hunts I’ve ever been on - some of the most beautiful country, and we had it all to ourselves. My grandpa, dad and Caleb along with Ethan, Nolan and Jared packed horses and rode six hours into the remote mountains of BC. Day one of hunting, after settling into camp, we went looking for elk. We made it to a great spot and took a lunch break and midday nap, hoping to wait them out. When we woke, we spotted a nice bull on the far side of the valley and began our stalk. A long walk and what felt like a 100-yard crawl got us into position for about a 250-yard shot. I fired, and my dad followed up - one of us hit it right in the lungs, the other smoked its rear leg. We still joke and debate who actually landed the kill shot, but I honestly dont think it was me. Regardless it was an absolutely fantastic hunt and my first big game animal.
Rifle: 7mm Remington Model 700 LSS (Dennis - Russell Jensen)
Mule Deer
2014
Vanderhoof British Columbia
During one of our fall evening drives, we spotted a nice buck out on Deer Ridge late in the evening. It was just me, Mom and Dad, and a couple of the boys. I made a quick decision to take a shot. We drove to a ridge overlooking the field as the buck moved toward the tree line. Just before he disappeared into the brush, he paused for a second, and I took the shot. At 231 yards, I dropped him right there on the edge of the tree line. This was a pretty classic Vanderhoof hunt - drive around after school, spot a shooter, and put meat in the pot.
Rifle: .30-06 Weatherby Vangaurd (Georgia)
Impala
2025
Limpopo South Africa
This was a pretty straightforward hunt. Grandpa, our PH and I spotted this guy from the road out of our safari hunting truck, our driver stopped the truck, my PH got the sticks out, and we found a clean shooting lane. He paused about 100 yards out, quartering toward me, so I held on the chest and took the shot. It was a solid hit, but he took off and ran about 15 yards before crashing into a tree. The impact broke his neck and skull, and he went down right there. Even with the rain coming down all morning, we found some success.
Rifle: .30-06
Warthog
2025
Limpopo South Africa
This was a pretty straightforward hunt. Grandpa, our PH and I spotted this guy from the road out of our safari hunting truck, our driver stopped the truck, my PH got the sticks out, and we found a clean shooting lane. He paused about 100 yards out, quartering toward me, so I held on the chest and took the shot. It was a solid hit, but he took off and ran about 15 yards before crashing into a tree. The impact broke his neck and skull, and he went down right there. Even with the rain coming down all morning, we found some success.
Rifle: .30-06
Impala
2025
Limpopo South Africa
My second impala of the trip wasn’t planned. We were sitting in the blind, waiting for a gemsbuck, when this guy quietly appeared with a massive herd of impala. He flaunted his horns and chased males and females around for a bit before I decided to take the shot. I hadn’t planned on it, but he was a very nice impala in terms of trophy score, so I couldn’t resist. It was a simple 50-yard shot with the oversized gun. When I pulled the trigger, I could feel the recoil unlike anything I normally feel while hunting. The loud boom echoed through the blind, and a massive cloud of dust erupted in the blind and behind the target. It was wild - you could clearly see the layer of dust that settled on my legs after everything finally settled.
Rifle: 416 Rigby
Oryx / Gemsbuck
2025
Limpopo South Africa
A gemsbuck was a big reason I went to Africa. My guide and I spent three days solely hunting one. We stalked a few young males, but I passed each time - they weren't big enough. We moved to an area with a waterhole we thought they would use. When we arrived that morning, we found fresh tracks and waited until dark without seeing a single animal. Unlike most species, gemsbuck don’t need to drink every day. With no new tracks the next morning I knew I had a real chance. After another long, slow day in the blind, a lone oryx emerged. My heart started pounding - it was a monster. She walked straight to the water and began to drink, but spooked and walked away when she heard the dirt shift as I moved into position. We hoped it might return, but I spotted her slipping back into the bush. We snuck out of the blind and saw it about 65 yards away, quartered away. I didn’t have much time. I took the shot with iron sights. My legs were shaking with nerves and adrenaline. I now had my trophy.
Rifle: 416 Rigby
Duiker
2025
Limpopo South Africa
This duiker was an elusive animal, and over the course of the hunt we only ever saw a few of them. We were actually posted at a different waterhole, waiting on a warthog for someone else in our group, when this guy sent his lady in first to check the water. That gave me just enough time to get set and ready for when he stepped out. He never ended up drinking - instead, he stayed cautious and kept walking past the waterhole. I had a feeling he wasn’t going to hang around. As he moved through my narrow shooting lane, I took the shot. He dropped right there, exactly as he crossed the opening.
Rifle: .30-06
