Blue Duiker - A Small Obsession

[Red Leg]

Although at very little risk I suppose except when going up or down, I always worried the barrel might scrape the earth just enough for a slight barrel blockage. I noticed Europeans, especially the Germans, carry the rifle with a shoulder sling but forward of their bodies. I am still at a loss of how it comes up to a ready shooting position. If I slide it under my shoulder that has the sling, would it not be upside down ?

I carry my rifle upside down on the weak side as well. It’s a very quick ready up position. You grab the forend with your weak side hand and lift up and roll it into position using a curling motion (your wrist has to roll it right side up). Done just right, you can even have your sling already under your elbow for stability.

@BourbonTrail describes the technique exactly. The only thing quicker is port arms without a sling. It is much faster than the over the shoulder “safari carry.”

The European method uses a longer sling length and the barrel is upright (45 degree angle) under the weak side arm with the barrel grasped by the weak side hand. It is slow to mount , but very safe because the muzzle is always controlled by the left hand.

As I noted Len Taylor uses the technique that I do, and he is one of the most successful dangerous game PH’s in Africa.

 

[spike.t]

@BourbonTrail describes the technique exactly. The only thing quicker is port arms without a sling. It is much faster than the over the shoulder “safari carry.”

The European method uses a longer sling length and the barrel is upright (45 degree angle) under the weak side arm with the barrel grasped by the weak side hand. It is slow to mount , but very safe because the muzzle is always controlled by the left hand.

As I noted Len Taylor uses the technique, and he is one of the most successful dangerous game PH’s in Africa.

In Austria employing a German/Austrian carry.

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You doing that from the plane....or landed?

 

[Red Leg]

You doing that from the plane....or landed?

Just south of frigging Greenland - fortunately in the plane. The forever day.

 

[spike.t]

Just south of frigging Greenland - fortunately in the plane. The forever day.

Jeez still aways to go then...

 

[buck wild]

Greenland is on the downside of the trip!!

 

[Wheels]

Congratulations on getting such a monster small!

Interesting how you consolidated so much of the Zambian AH community into one hunt. Sounds like fun times.

Looking forward to the rest of your report.

 

[Spearhead]

Like most who went to Africa for the first time, I was interested in the traditional antelope and completely puzzled by the apparent fascination some had for the tiniest. That, gradually changed as I began to encounter them over several years and hunts. The most challenging soon became the Blue Duiker. Over three safaris in two countries, I crept through thickets early and late trying to get the crosshairs on one of the little ghosts. I occasionally saw a twitching tail or a faint shape disappearing into the dark brush, but never came close to firing a shot.

Finally, at Mike Taylor’s magnificent Takeri Reserve in Zambia that quest came to an end. I was fortunate to have the services of one of Africa’s most experienced PH’s, Andrew Baldry, and apprentice PH Peter Goneos. We all benefited from the eagle eyes of our tracker Earnest. Early and late we crept along paths in the densest parts of Takeri and over two days glimpsed shadows of shapes and flickers of movement. At last light of that second day, Peter and Earnest both froze. As the sticks came up and I settled the red dot on the beautiful little animal standing broadside deep in a tangle of vines and brush, Peter glanced at Andrew who gave an enthusiastic but very careful nod of the head.

He is a magnificent male that will easily score well in both the SCI and Rowland & Ward - one of the finest animals I have ever had the privilege of taking - made more special by the great guys with whom I shared the hunt.

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Congratulations Thibodaux,
respectfully,
Boudreaux