Day 4.1:
Drop off Roan to skinners and ask them to save the heart and lungs.
Back out for Blesbok. We get into the area where there are significant heards of animals to include: Gemsbok, Impala, Red Hartebeest, Zebra, Springbok, Blesbok, Black Wildebeest, Wildebeest, and Lechwe, so we start glassing. The area is considered Savanah hills. Glassing from the truck, Lechwe are spotted near a small tree on a ridge and there appears to be 10 or so and 2-3 are shooters. We decide to close from 600 yards to 400 yards and they start moving. We stop and dismount. Lechwe join another 8 or so 150 yards away. We get to the uphill side of the ridge and cut them off. They push back by the tree. Still around 400 yards. We stop and glass from 400 yards. They settle and we find the big bull.
I want to get closer, but as we do, they stir and push up. After some time they settle and we slowly get to the uphill advantage at 310 yards. Set up and get a rest on my small pack. Henk says Range is 309, I dial for it on the Nightforce -my DOPE for the .243 is in my Zeiss RF Bino's. A little bit of movement until the big bull stops. Keep him in the scope the whole time. Let first shot off and a good hit. Henk tells me great shot! The shot sends the small heard away from the tree and down, but not away from us. The big lechwe slowly walks toward the others and at about 20 yards he is still up, blood runs down from the hole, near the leg, and blood is in his nose. Henk, says to send another just above the blood spot but still behind the shoulder. Same side is showing, he takes a minute or two to get broadside. Angle is not much different. I Get a good rest, check bubble, rifle not canted, I send the 2nd shot. A good shot and he rears up and turns 180. He takes several steps, shakes his head, and goes down. Henk likes the shot, but thought the first was low. We get there, it wasn’t low and both bullets passed though.
An exceptional mature bull with a great set of horns and likely 7-8 years old. Absolutely beautiful and I share my appreciation with Henk and the landowner who brings the truck over. After a couple pictures and we are back to the skinning shed. I request the heart and lungs. Both lungs are shot as well as the heart…
After lunch and a little celebration, we head back out for Blesbok…
More to come..