Zebra #2
After the shot on Zebra #1, the entire herd of various beasts disappeared deep into the brush.
We knew we had some work to do with #1, but after those duties were finished, we set about making a plan to try for #2, understanding that this was going to likely be difficult.
One thing we learned about Zebra was that when one of the herd is missing, the others will call for it. It was sad to hear...knowing that these animals actually notice that one of their own is missing. I certainly don't want to ascribe human emotion to a Zebra, but I had no idea their social interaction was this developed.
We left the landowner and Kathy in the Bakkie up on high ground in the pasture, where they might be able to see the Zebra moving through the brush on the mountain to the north. Deon, Loodt and I would hike up to the top of this hill, on the down wind side, then make our way into the wind, hopefully getting in position for a shot on a mature Zebra in the process.
The landowner and Loodt kept in touch via radio. It seemed like whenever our lookouts spotted the Zebra, they managed to be long gone by the time we got to where they used to be. Cat and mouse at its best!
There was a time or two during the next few hours that we even spotted Zebra ourselves, and sometimes Eland, too. But never a shot on Zebra. There was one point where I had a near shot across a drainage - we were on one slope and the Zebra were across a valley on the other slope in heavy brush. I did get on the sticks at one point but between the range, the wind, the brush and the constant movement of the animals, I declined to try a shot.
Eventually we hiked to a boundary fence of the property, then followed the fence up the long hill that the Zebra had been using to lose us, looking to catch fresh tracks. At this time we had Lammie's tracker Attie with us and he and Deon were amazing to watch. Honestly, I was just following. If it had been strictly up to me, the second Zebra would have been very safe, indeed!
We were well into the afternoon by now, and I think it is safe to say that I was fully prepared for this second Zebra to take us into another day. But when we got to perhaps within 100 yards of the top of the hill the track led into deeper, thicker brush. All of a sudden, and unexpected (to me at least!) we busted Zebra at short range!
I don't know about everyone else, but my heart sank. I figured we had blown it, allowing ourselves to get this close without being in position for a shot, then spooking them.
Perhaps they never winded us? Maybe they did not get a clear look at us? I don't know how to explain what happened next, but it happened. After a couple minutes to put our hearts back in our chests we continued on the track with Attie and Deon in front, followed by Loodt and then finally myself.
We hadn't gone another hundred yards at most when all hell broke loose. It was like being in the middle of a horse stampede in thick brush. Attie, Deon and Loodt all knew what they were doing...they dropped to the ground. As Loodt was going down he yelled "shoot if you can".
First the Zebra ran essentially down the ridge, more or less in the direction they had come from. They should have stuck with that plan.
Instead, they reversed course and went back up the ridge in the direction they had been moving. This allowed me just enough time to get my rifle up (fortunately the scope was already on 2X) find a spot that I could shoot through, then go back to the rampaging Zebra and find what I thought was a mature animal and hope it cooperated by going through the clear spot.
A large Zebra cooperated and I swung on him like a grouse. I had the crosshairs on the shoulder and fired while still swinging.
All of this happened in perhaps 6 - 8 seconds? The sound of all those hooves pounding the ground, the dust flying, the brush moving, the flashing of Zebra stripes. Talk about sensory overload!
I honestly believe if I had been given any time to really think, I never would have taken the shot. It is not the type of shot I feel comfortable with...and I
almost regret taking it.
I did regret taking it for a moment though. After the shot Loodt jumped up to get his glasses on the rapidly departing animals. His only comment was "I think you hit it in the rear leg". I don't know what I looked like on the outside at this point, but on the inside I was dying.
Fortunately, the dying turned to smiling very quickly, as we soon saw the stallion lying dead in the brush perhaps 100 yards or so from where he was hit.
A pic with the two guys who really made this happen; Attie on the left, Deon on the right.
Then the obligatory Boddington pose, in honor of the namesake to the rifle;
And finally, the Barnes must get its press. Bullet in center is from the Stallion hit at about 50 yards, impact velocity about 3,000 fps. Notice the greater expansion due to the higher impact velocity, compared to the bullet on right from mare at long range.
