First full day of hunting and it was everything you could hope for, culminating in my older boy, SJ, getting his first big game animal!
We arrived late last night. A quick rifle check, loads and scope good, and off for dinner. A very nice chicken dish with a very pleasant wine.
The next day started early with a nice continental breakfast, a few cups of coffee to warm us up and we were off. Today SJ and I were off with Marius to look for my Kudu.
@nuval.J2711 was off with Graham to try spot and stalk with the bow, and my father was off wing shooting in the afternoon (he wanted to have a leisurely morning. At 80 years old he is entitled to his mornings off!).
We drove out along one of the more exciting trails I have had the pleasure of enjoying! I soon found out how capable these Land Cruisers are as we went up and down grades usually reserved for amusement park rides. I told Marius he should sell tickets for this drive
After getting out of the Cruiser it was off on a short hike to the side of the hill. We were glassing across a valley at the opposite slope. As the sun warmed the slope the bush slowly came to life. First there was a Kudu cow, then another, some Duikers made their debut... Then this very nice but young bull appeared. We watched him for a while. Every so often we would move along the ridge to get a better view of the opposite slope.
While we were glassing for my Kudu, a bachelor group of four Blue Wildebeest appeared to our left in the valley below. We watched as they slowly grazed their way along in our direction. It was then that SJ asked if he could take one. He told me he loved the look. We discussed it for a bit and then it was decided we would try if the chance presented itself. However, Marius wanted to give priority to the Kudu this morning. Around this time a very nice Kudu bull appeared on the slope browsing his way along. He was near a couple of cows but seemed to be moving down towards the valley. The plan was to take him if he descended enough as it would be about 140 yards shot from us to the opposite slope if he came down to our level. While we waited for the Kudu, the Wildebeest made their way below us along the valley until they were almost directly below. The four of them stopped and calmly enjoyed the sun and food the valley provided. The Kudu kept moving downward gradually but we lost sight of him in the bush. We had a guess at his location as his horns caught on the branches while he ate. Suddenly, something caught the attention of the Wildebeest. They all stood facing the direction they had come. We waited to see what was up. Eventually, a love struck Duiker bull was seen pursuing a reluctant female along the path, dodging in and out amongst the trees. By now it was about noon and the Kudu was still too high. We considered the Wildebeest but Marius was concerned that the angle was too steep to reliably put a good shot on one. We decided to go back for lunch and return in the afternoon. The hope was that Kudu bull would have moved down to a spring in the valley and we would get a shot.
We returned to the valley after a great lunch of warthog burgers and fries. We approached from a different angle, lower down, to get a better shot at the Wildebeest if the Kudu did not cooperate.
Nothing
No Kudu, no Wildebeest. We slowly moved along a ridge line but to no avail
We spotted a absolute monster of a Waterbuck sunning himself in a clearing on the valley floor. I seriously considered him but the budget, and a desire to try for several animals, made my decision
. Folks, there is a beautiful specimen in that valley!!
But no Kudu and no Wildebeest. As light faded so did our hopes...then things changed! The four were spotted by Lloyd, Marius' tracker, in another part of the valley. We had to double-time it back the way we came. Then we plunged into the bush that grew along the slope as we clambered down at an angle. Moving along like three spooked goats we found ourselves on a ridge overlooking the bachelor group. Marius set SJ up on a bipod with Marius' 308. A long wait as the sun dropped looking for a quality shot.
Then the one turned broadside.
CRACK
The herd reacted to the shot. I thought it was a good hit but the bull, after an initial jump, seemed to relax and just milled around. It walked away from us slowly. The other three also just started milling around. Crap, I thought, he missed!
I watched for what seemed like an eternity. I was expecting another shot..
Nothing...then I saw the bull get unsteady, he staggered to one side, then the other. He lay down and that is where he stayed!
It was a challenging climb down the hillside through the thorns! At one point I put my hand on something very prickly ugh. Marius got down much faster and actually became concerned we got lost as we were so slow navigating the terrain! We got to the bull and I saw SJ had put his shot right on the shoulder! The GS Custom had gone diagonally from the shoulder and exited near the rear leg on the opposite side. Perfect
After the pictures (sorry, I will have to upload them later) we got the bull on the cruiser. By now it was dark and home we went.
While we were playing mountain hunter, Dad was in a field trying for geese. He was presented with a few opportunities but the flocks stayed too high for most of his time out today. He will try again later this week and I hope he gets more opportunities. Yes Dad, you may have to rouse yourself early
And
@nuval.J2711? Well, he had quite am exciting day but I will leave that tale to him
. they ran off. frustrated by amazed that we stalked so close to such skittish animal, we ventured on. When driving in the direction of camp, i was looking out the right side of the truck and noticed a light brown decoy standing in the bush, i though to myself, what is this decoy doing out here. Then he moved. his horns were the biggest set i have ever seen on an Impala. Graham turned the truck around and he moved in on foot. He stood all alone in the corner of the reserve just before the breeding grounds. He was magnificent. As we came closer, he became more aware that someone was watching him. We stood behind a bush 40 yards from the beast. I picked my head up after hooking my release to the D-loop, and he was starting into my soul. He moved slightly to the left and i could see his entire body. He came to 15 yards and when he looked away, I stepped out and froze. before i had the chance to draw he had scurried behind a massive plant. after chasing him for what seemed like decades, we finally had him. now this time he was the one behind the bush. Graham told me to draw and as I lifted my bow, it rubbed my pants and squeaked
. The monster bull let out this high pitched grunt and he was gone
. We saw a bushel of pigs alone the opposite ridge so we headed down the ridge to the road where we good get a better look. The monster was nowhere to be seen. As we started to walk, Marius slammed on the breaks. There he was, on the hunt for a female. He lined up nicely so we set the sticks and mounted the rifle. As i looked down the scope, he was gone. Marius watched him go over the crest so we made a game plan. There was a hole in the fence that we crawled through very slowly. As the ground is super rockey, he said we had to take off our boots
. We left the boots and the short sticks behind and crept our way up the mountain. we came to where the pig was last and he froze. Just over the crest was this beauty pig. We setup the sticks and i drew a bead on him. He turned perfectly broadside, only to have a smaller pig walked in front. No shot. We slid the sticks left of where the pig was and there he was, his head tucked down without a care in the world. As i squeezed the trigger, his head came up. BANG. he spun the dropped like a bag of rocks! We waited for him to stop spazzing then moved in. Thanks to Marius, I had just dropped my first 4 legged animal ever!
