Free Range Fallow Deer are always fun to hunt. Fallow Deer arrived with the British on ships in the late 1800's. After docking here, they released a few and the rest took care of itself. Have to say, we don't mind having them at all. My personal opinion is that out of the rut, they are as touch to hunt as Kudu.
Proper White Blesbuck which made us work right until the end. After using some dead ground to close the distance, we managed to crest at around 220 yards. He was very active, rounding up females out of this herd of around 100 animals. Eventually, he gave us a shooting lane with no animals behind him. Best shot of the trip in tricky conditions.
If ever there was a thing such as a smash and grab Bushpig, this was it. From bait, to camera to completion. 8 days. Taken at a mere 22 yards, no blind, this boar made for an interesting follow up, until we realised it was the rest of the sounder hanging around. Rather safe than sorry. They bring their own blades to a fight.
See you in Dallas 8-14 January '24. Drop us a message if you are planning on being there.
This pig beat me on three different occasions, on three different safaris. From the first time I saw him, until we could finally end the saga, took 5 months. He had figured out when the cattle start moving in a certain way and making certain noises, that there was human presence and would high tail it to the neighboring reserve. On the second occasion, he started trotting from 700 yards away. With every failure, a lesson was learnt.
And so we started the quest for a special Springbuck grand slam. As long as I can remember, the four color variants have been around, namely Common, Black, White and Copper Springbuck. There are also records of each area where each color variant originated from. On the start of day one, and as can be seen in the photo, we were met with some heavy fog. Experience have taught me that animals are always calmer in these conditions. We managed to spot this ram crossing through the fog without being seen as he was angling towards us. After getting our hunter onto the shooting sticks, we allowed the ram to walk to roughly 110 yards before stopping him.
We will be in Dallas 8-14 January '24.
Please feel free to message us if you would like to discuss hunting Africa.
Next up in our quest for the Grand Slam for Springbuck was the Copper Springbuck. Since the Black Springbuck ram was by himself, paired with the fog, it made the stalk a bit easier. The Copper Springbuck was probably in a group of around 150 animals. Trying to beat so many eyes is a challenge in itself. In the wide open spaces, trying to close the distance to a fair shot distance is extremely hard. Some innovation was required. Better to be lucky than good.
Next up in the slam, was to try and get a White Springbuck. Notoriously, White Springbuck are much smaller than the other three color variants. After seeing this ram, he kept his distance and watched our movements as we passed him with the truck at a distance. We continued with a big loop around a mountain, and left the truck to move on foot. The little kopjes gave us some dead ground to close the distance to around 270 yards. As we moved into the shadows, we managed to find a big, flat top rock to have a decent rest on in order to make the shot. For anyone who has hunted White Springbuck, I'm sure will agree that this is a proper ram.
We will be in Dallas 8-14 January '24. Please drop us a message if you would like to discuss your next trip or just so say hello!
On day 3 we were met with gale force winds which made shooting conditions extremely difficult. After having a go at one or two other rams during the morning, we were on our way back for lunch when we noticed a little bachelor herd feeding in a favorable spot for a stalk. With the heavy winds, they never herd the truck ducking off into the nearest valley from around 400 yards away. The herd consisted of around 5 or so rams, with the mass and big hooks on this one drawing my attention immediately. Once we got onto the bipods over a ledge, the rams were feeding away from us, almost as if they had somewhere to be. At 140 yards, the ram that we had identified as the one turned slightly quartering on in his walk and stopped long enough for us to make it count. Simply a magnificent specimen.
After we completed our Springbuck slam, we were due to hunt some new terrain and area with Kudu on the list. I already had an idea of where I wanted to start, but this was disrupted by my frantic tracker signaling to stop. By the time I slid out from behind the wheel, the shooting sticks was already open a mere 10 yards away. Without having seen any bull yet, my tracker signalled that a bull had walked into the ravine below us and we should just give it a few minutes. With our hunter already on the shooting sticks and ready, within a minute a bull showed himself coming out the other side at 185 yards. He turned almost broadside and looked back. Our hunter placed the bullet perfectly.
Sometimes we don't always get the fairytale stalk and story to go with it, but experience has taught me to not look a gift horse in the mouth. He'll kick you in the minerals.
We will be in Dallas 8-14 January '24. Please drop us a note or Whatsapp if you would like to meet.
All herds needs to be managed. This Cape Buffalo cow took one shot, but the long grass made finding her quite a challenge with some hair raising moments. Just couldn't see her, and of course all of a sudden there are many black things in the shadows of the thickets. Rather safe than sorry.
(cont'd)
Rockies museum,
CM Russel museum and lewis and Clark interpretative center
Horseback riding in Summer star ranch
Charlo bison range and Garnet ghost town
Flathead lake, road to the sun and hiking in Glacier NP
and back to SLC (via Ogden and Logan)
Good Morning,
I plan to visit MT next Sept.
May I ask you to give me your comments; do I forget something ? are my choices worthy ? Thank you in advance
Philippe (France)
Start in Billings, Then visit little big horn battlefield,
MT grizzly encounter,
a hot springs (do you have good spots ?)
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