lcq
AH elite
I just returned from a successful hunt with Scott Van Zyl SS Pro Safaris. To say that this was the best hunt and experience of my life is an understatement. Scott runs a very professional operation and you are not treated as only a client but like family. Scott has his own farm but hunts multiple concessions depending on what you are looking for.
I arrived May 1 knackered after the trip from Montreal and was promptly met by my PH Marcel Van Heerden. I didn't use a permitting service (read bribery for SAP) and Marcel helped me through the process of collecting my gun. Five people sitting around looking important and doing little, TIA. After clearing the gun we set off on the 4hr trip to the farm and the F250 felt like a Rolls compared to the sardine can I just got off. We had some excellent biltong and snacks on the drive and we discussed my expectations for the hunt. Arriving at around 10pm I just went to bed, slept in a bit late then after breakfast we check sighted the rifle and made plans for the first day.
Marcel is a young PH but experienced and a very enthusiastic rifle and bowhunter and produced a shot placement guide before we set off (very professional). He suggested that we try for the bushbuck first but they would be very difficult to get during the day and are generally hunted at night. I have issues with night hunting so off we went trying to stalk the skittish little bushbuck. We saw two that morning but never got a shot through the thick stuff they inhabit so we decided to try and hunt them like whitetails from a blind in the afternoon. While waiting for the bushbuck a solitary and very large old zebra stallion came out of the brush. Marcel whispered he is a monster and take him if I got a shot. The remington barked, he reared and bolted into the brush. After about 25 yds of good blood trail there lay the beast. The 160gr remington A-Frame a complete passthrough. His teeth were extremely worn but the hide almost perfect, very unusual for an animal his age. Thank god for a winch and four helpers getting him into the truck.
That afternoon we went out to try another bushbuck stalk and were rewarded by being busted by the local grouse, crap. At about 5:00pm while crossing a field Marcel spotted a very good impala so we stalked within 175M and put the binos to him. Another solitary male with an enormous set of horns and a truly unique shape. It goes without saying I was going for it. At the shot he bolted for the brush and was gone. We called for the dog and Sokkie hit the ground running and within 5min had the impala. What a great start to my hunt.
I arrived May 1 knackered after the trip from Montreal and was promptly met by my PH Marcel Van Heerden. I didn't use a permitting service (read bribery for SAP) and Marcel helped me through the process of collecting my gun. Five people sitting around looking important and doing little, TIA. After clearing the gun we set off on the 4hr trip to the farm and the F250 felt like a Rolls compared to the sardine can I just got off. We had some excellent biltong and snacks on the drive and we discussed my expectations for the hunt. Arriving at around 10pm I just went to bed, slept in a bit late then after breakfast we check sighted the rifle and made plans for the first day.
Marcel is a young PH but experienced and a very enthusiastic rifle and bowhunter and produced a shot placement guide before we set off (very professional). He suggested that we try for the bushbuck first but they would be very difficult to get during the day and are generally hunted at night. I have issues with night hunting so off we went trying to stalk the skittish little bushbuck. We saw two that morning but never got a shot through the thick stuff they inhabit so we decided to try and hunt them like whitetails from a blind in the afternoon. While waiting for the bushbuck a solitary and very large old zebra stallion came out of the brush. Marcel whispered he is a monster and take him if I got a shot. The remington barked, he reared and bolted into the brush. After about 25 yds of good blood trail there lay the beast. The 160gr remington A-Frame a complete passthrough. His teeth were extremely worn but the hide almost perfect, very unusual for an animal his age. Thank god for a winch and four helpers getting him into the truck.
That afternoon we went out to try another bushbuck stalk and were rewarded by being busted by the local grouse, crap. At about 5:00pm while crossing a field Marcel spotted a very good impala so we stalked within 175M and put the binos to him. Another solitary male with an enormous set of horns and a truly unique shape. It goes without saying I was going for it. At the shot he bolted for the brush and was gone. We called for the dog and Sokkie hit the ground running and within 5min had the impala. What a great start to my hunt.
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