Day 7..... First day on the family ranch
We start off later than normal this morning in order to catch up on some sleep. His ranch is much higher in elevation that where we were in the valley, and cooler as well. This mornings temp was in the low 40's. The country is beautiful here, with a mixture of open grasslands, thicker brush, and rolling hills. Strang says his family has been on the ranch since the 1940's. A view of the chalets and the pond right out the front door of the chalet.
We head out with impala, hartebeest, sable, zebra, warthog, and bushbuck on the list.
We get on a large group of impala (which there is no shortage of on this place), and Mike gets into position with the rifle..... Anyways his part of the hunt and I'll let him tell you about it. We carry on and see lots of game including many sable! About 10:30 we spot a few Hartebeest bulls laying in some long grass. Get off the truck and plan a stalk. Once we make our way through the trees about 200 yards, we identify a good old bull laying by himself. The problem is we also see a herd to our left about 75 yards and we are out of Cover. We actually get to within 50 yards of the bedded bull and get on the sticks, but thats when the herd busted us.
The bull takes off to catch the herd, but Strang says be ready because he will stop. Sure enough he stops about 100 yards broadside, then takes a step quartering to us. I acquire him in the scope, get advice from Strang on where to hold, then squeeze... Its a good hit, he staggers and makes it about 30 yards!! We get to him and I cant believe how thick and stout these things are, they seem bigger than their red cousins to the south. Good old bull with polished horns, I'm ticked with him!!
Back to the lodge for lunch.
We head back out about 2:30, see lots of game but no luck today. We see a sable we would like to pursue, but the wind and our position wasn't great, so we let him go for another day.
Strang says, I hope we dont regret not taking a chance on him today.... We joke about it and hope its not a true statement.
Dinner tonight was great, beef stroganoff, cheesy potatoes, creamy cauliflower, and melva pudding with real cream!!!
, what are you planning on doing with your croc ? That will be a monster of a mount !
