Yesterday as we were driving around I spotted this big old black impala with two busted off horns. A fighter for sure that was still running all his does. A perfect trophy to take and mount. I told my fiancé about it and she was all for it.
So this morning we contacted the farm (ranch) owner and he said before it had broken off its horns he was really big, and sure we could hunt it. So we started.
We drove the roads cut thru the bush veld for about 30 minutes until we spotted a herd of about 20 female impala in dense cover. Figuring there had to be a male with them we positioned ourselves to watch.
We glassed them for about 20 minutes. No make. We moved the bakkie a bit to watch from a different angle. No luck. As the herd moved back into the thick bush we started driving again and that’s when I spotted him. My fiancé got on the gun. Initially he was facing away from us. My fiancé could see his head, neck and about 2 inches off the top of his back. Now most of us could interpolate where the shoulder was and take the shot through the grass. This being the first animal she’d ever hunted other than a rabbit she refused to take the shot unless she was certain she could kill it. Even after it turned to face her she didn’t feel comfortable. Of course eventually he ran off to join the women.
Back on the hunt we went. Never found the females but there he was about 20 yards off the track looking at us. Seemingly waiting for my fiancé like he knew it was his time and wanted someone who appreciated him to take him, and that was my fiancé.
She lined up for a chest shot. A shot on her first big game animal, her first African animal. She was so excited I saw her get within a half inch of the scope, but knowing the suppressed 308 would have almost no kick, and knowing she was wearing ballistic shooting glasses I said nothing.
She squeezed the trigger and the impala exploded onto gyrations indicative of a heart shot going only about ten feet.
The PH and tracker checked to be sure he was dead, then we went over. She got down with the impala embracing him while her emotions flooded out. The PH and tracker walked away to leave her to her feelings. She stayed with it for about five minutes. A truer sportsman I have never met. She chose him, and took him the way she wanted, on her terms. I couldn’t be prouder. What a gift I have in her.
Once in the skinning shed she watched the whole process, even getting down to hold the heart and lungs in her hand to see how the bullet had done its work.
Excellent morning.