Once in a "Blue Moon". Actually, it's a true Blue Moon.
Do you think hunting during the Full Moon effects anything?
July 31 we got up and drove to the concession after breakfast.
We would be hoping the wind and the weather would help us out today. Maybe some sunshine to warm up the slopes and create some sun bathing opportunities.
Sure enough, at
10:38 I took this picture.
The Silver Ghost was resting low in the drainage on a sunny slope out if the wind.
I had just blown an opportunity on a decent Bushbuck up the slope. He jumped the string at 27 yards. Incredible. Marius did not believe it. But, the Ram was watching me and we were in close proximity. After lots of circling and tracking with the dogs, zero blood found and it was off to find this fellow.
With a rifle it was all over from this photos vantage point 114 yards. However, with the bow it was another matter.
Straight down the slope through the thick junk, trying not to make too much racket as I went. In this stuff you have to fight your way down hill and up hill. Ducking, getting stuck, etc.
I finally made my way through to the bottom and came out in the open on the other slope. I was now about 15o yards away and moving slowly into the wind on paths without any leaves or sticks.
Marius could see me and he let me know where the Ram was. Still in the same place.
As I moved ever so slowly in the rams direction I was warned which path might be better. This is where vantage points conflict sometimes. What appears heavy from up on high is not so from down in the junk. For the most part we were spot on with direction and suggested paths.
As I came closer I slowed down, knocked an arrow and slowed my breathing. Waiting.
I heard in my ear that the Ram had arisen from his bed and was moving my direction. I was within 50 yards and I could not see him. I just froze behind a fairly thin bush.
At about thirty yards I could finally make him out as he moved toward me. As soon as he moved beyond a slightly thicker part of the bush I would draw the bow and wait....
At this instant the Ram decided to freeze. SOB, he knows something is up. I have not moved but the Ram has seen something he did to like. It's a freeze off!
I do not move a muscle for I have no idea how long. A painfully long period of time. Literally.
Finally the Ram starts to move back to where was bedded. I get the warning he is facing away and I can move. I can no longer see him, so I move slowly.
He has gone an extra twenty yards relatively quickly and I am moving around the bush about to draw. I am however focused at the thirty yard distance. He is at fifty plus and when I move around the bush we both surprise each other. He spooks and beats a retreat into the bush. He is not really too scared.
Marius watches him and lets me know where he is heading. Straight up the slope about 150 yards and he starts to feed and eventually beds down. Perfect. I wait. Nothing. There is no use trying to get closer as he is looking at his back trail and I can not see through the bush he has entered.
Finally, after a long wait, he moves up the hill on his own. Marius knows where he is and I now start making my way down wind and up the hill to head him off. There are no paths through this stuff in a straight line, you just have find your way.
I make my way in, at Marius' direction and come to a small opening and pause. "He will be coming past that hole!" OK.
I wait, the Ram goes behind and bush. Marius cannot see him. I can't see him. Where did the Ghost get to??
I move up the slope to the last known location and decide to move into the open. Nothing.
WHAT!!???
"He has to be there somewhere". At this point Marius suggests throwing rocks into the most probable bush and scare him out and we will be able to start all over again. I'm in for that plan.
I am within 5 yards of this bush. I take five large rocks and throw them into various sections of this is not a very large bush.
NOTHING! he must have gone through and made his way out the back where neither of us could see him.
I nock the arrow and move through a small tunnel in the bush right beside where I have been throwing rocks.
As soon as I made my way through into the open on top of the bush and I am peering around. I hear on the radio in my ear; "He is sneaking out the bottom of the bush and heading down hill."
No bloody way!!
I have now been within three yards of this guy and he held his ground with me lobbing rocks at him. That is one gutsy animal. I got beat by a very smart animal.
I head down hill across the contours and away down wind and hope to cut him off if he tries to make it out of the drainage to the east. Marius helps me pick my way through. There are spots that are impossible and you have to back track repeatedly to get anywhere.
Marius sees him slow down and stop.
I have swung quite far over and downhill and start to make my way back along some paths and then Marius says he is going to come out on the path in front of me.
I get into a position for a shot at a path that I think he is going to come out on. However, there are two paths and I can not tell where this guy is coming out.
I decide I am way too close and back up ten yards and get behind some cover. The bush is not thick, but at least it will provide some cover. I have one shooting lane where he will appear from up hill and one at about 40 degrees to my right that would have him slightly down hill. Perfect quartering away.
I am so glad I moved back. If not, I would have had been in a knife fight with a specialist. He came out the closer path. Damn. Way too close. I freeze and do not move a muscle. He does not see me. There is no reaction and he continues slowly walking down hill.
I am now going for my number two window. When he is behind the bush I start to draw my bow.....
This little notation tells it all.
He bolted out of there like he was on a rocket.
I was so frustrated I threw my hat on the ground. I was quite impressed I did not scream at the top of my lungs and scare everything out of the valley.
I sat down for a minute and collected myself. I then told Marius I would meet him at the bottom to be picked up.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
This is hands down one of the smartest critters I have ever encountered in my entire hunting career.
As Marius said if this were anyone else he would have pitched a fit.
I nearly did myself.
We were both frustrated.
Just to give you an idea how long I had been stalking this guy.
It was now 15:00.
Four and half hours of stalking on this session.
This is about as intense as it can get.
The Silver Ghost is still there. Growing bigger by the day. He does not have to have gotten any smarter. He has that down.
I hope someone tries to bow hunt this guy.
Great Bushbuck Wayne. Even after spending a week in camp with you, this was the first pic that I've seen of him.
