Tau Wilderness
AH member
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2024
- Messages
- 49
- Reaction score
- 341
- Member of
- SA Hunters,
- Hunted
- Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa.
The final day.
If you hunt or fish enough you will know that sometimes it is your day and sometimes it is not. At this stage of the hunt I had made peace that I would not get my Buffalo. I was loving being in the bush with my Father. The camp and food was brilliant. My only complaint was that we didn't walk enough, because we just didn't find the correct Buffalo to track.
We had a strick no shooting in herds policy and also this was a management hunt so we were looking for those weaker gentic old animals.
Big Buffalo and herds there was plenty so at least we were seeing lots of Buffalo.
We started at 05:00 giving ourselves the biggest opportunity possible on the last day.
The morning session went past in a blur we drove the Western boundary of the Save conservancy, it is really sad to see the difference between protected and non protected areas. It was a unmissable devide of barren red soil flats waiting to be planted on the west and lush dense Mopanie forests on the eastern side of the jeep track roads. The importance of conserving these areas for our children is immense and without hunting funds it will not be possible. We covered most of Hammond in the morning session. However no Dugga boys was found only big herds of Buffalo.
We had a brilliant lunch, swim in the little pool under the tree and a siesta.
We woke up determined, yet slightly dulled. That feeling you get before a test that you know you didn't learn enough for, but you are hoping for the best.
As we left camp the Anti poaching guys told us they had seen 7 Dugga boys on the northern side of the Neyangumbe conservancy, they suspected it was the same group we had stalked the previous evening. We drove to the spot and got on the tracks immediately at 15;20. It was screaming hot and slow going staying on the tracks in the dry thick grass and Rhodesian teak seeds making crackling sounds under our boots.
We track and backtracked numerous times. You know when you do not have time.....it fly's past.
Our tracker trust stopped after 2 km and said the Dugga boys has joined a herd. At this stage Sean was not convinced and said he has lost the tracks and the fuzzy feeling of being on fresh tracks left the group. We returned to the bakkkie and started driving away at 16;00.
We only had 2 hrs left of hunting time on this hunt. It was over.
You know that break up drive after you leave your girlfriend or she leaves you. The disappointment takes over and you just drive, no reason or destination just away from the disappointment. Your friend ask if you are ok and you say yes, but actually you mean no. You will never find love again.... however that is not true. You meet a nice lady at the gun store a week later and you Ex girlfriend is forgotten and the pain only a 18 year old boy knows is replaced by that "new love " feeling.
We made a loop in our drive towards an area where I told Sean I wanted to camp in future. The talk was light and nobody showed that we had a little disappointment in us. As we crested the hill on our left was a massive herd of 60 -80 Buffalo. Unfortunately a family herd so we didn'y even stop to have a look. As we passed the herd we drove smack bang into the herd of 7 Dugga boys. They had not joined the big family group but trailed them by 100meters!!!!!
We drove past them and jumped of the bakkie. My Dad took one look at me and said I must shoot first. I wanted to decline, but he said no you shoot first and I will take the second Buffalo
OI just laughed how after 6 days of hunting and multiple stalks would we now in the last two hours of the hunt take a Buff let alone 2. I am however a toxic positive person so I agreed and for the first time in my life I was the second guy in the walking line with just Sean Infront of me.
We made our first stalk inline with a big anthill....wait a minute I have been here. It was the exact anthill my Dad was on on day 1. At this stage I had never seen the Buffalo from up close with every stalk i would hang back to give my Father and Sean the best chance at getting a shot. As we glanced of the anthill Sean said it was the same 7 Dugga boys from day one and the evening of day 5!!!! There was two no shoot trophy bulls in the group, 3 soft bulls and two older bulls.
Our first opportunity was at 100meters. I was flat on my stomach with a very good sight of one of the younger bulls. I wanted to shoot I will admit. Sean said no he was not the right one. How did my Father stay so cool being on the sticks 10-15 times during this hunt and not getting the "take the shot" line from Sean!!!
We backtracked and came in with the wind in our faces towards another anthill. No more than 80 meters away!!! I got into an even better position than before.
It is here that I must mention that Sean asked me if I can take a brain shot so that we could get a chance at a second Bull for my Dad when we started the stalk.
The Dugga boys now moved closer and closer to the herd . I was so ready to take the shot at the first Dugga boy that stopped, poor Sean just had to keep me in line. I am just flesh and bone.
Once again Sean declined and said we must get closer... I always listen to Sean. So we back tracked again and came towards the Buffalo with the wind in our faces for the third time.
Yes to another ant hill....I kid you not this time the branches on the tree was perfectly positioned. The Buffalo was no more than 60 meters way. They now knew of us, but with the strongest wind we have had the entire 6 days blowing towards us they where happy that we didn't threaten their safety as a herd.
I could hit the tick on the Buffalo I told Sean with my Aimpoint red dot. I even told him about the Warthog and Blue Wildebeest I hunted in June in Northern Namibia with brain shots and this rifle...
Proof of said Warthog taken at 100meters in Namibia with my red dot
More proof of headshot with same rifle.
Another Warthog with rifle and anther head shot.
Sean wanted to hear nothing. This is Buffalo hunting we needed to get closer.
We backtracked again.... we did a bigger loop and came in towards the Dugga boys. As they came into sight again the front of the large family herd and the 7 Dugga boys joined... Sean immediately said he needs to be certain we do not shoot one of the herd bulls.
I got in position on the shooting sticks for the first time on the hunt. The Herd and teh Duggaboys was now sniffing and bellowing as they greated each other.
We had received some luck or a blessing. The Herd bull was still at the back of the herd and two of the Dugga boys was taking chances sniffing at some of the better looking Buffalo cows. We knew that if the two big Herd bulls noticed thiis they would chase them away so our time was limited.
Then it happened the entire herd turned towards us and started feeding towards us!!!! How was this possible. The herds fear lions, but in these numbers they felt safe. Sean was glassing and for 5 minutes he went from animal to animal and telling me no too young, no herd bull, not female( trust me you need guidance sometimes).
And then at a bull decided to walk straight towards us. His Boss appeared a little soft to me, but Sean said get ready.... Sean I was ready 20 minutes ago at Anthill number 1. The bull Walked straight at me at no more than 25 meters. I had the red dot in the middle fixed on a frontal brain shot. To me he looked a little young, but I trusted Sean on his call.
As Sean lowered his bino's he said those three words every man loves being whispered to them.
" Take the Shot'
My faithfull Ruger exploded with all its fury.
The Buff dropped like value of the Zim dollar in the 2000's.
" You shot, you shot it in the head, I am deaf!!!!" Sean yelled at me.
"Yes you said I must shoot!!! I replied laughing at him.
Poor Sean was deaf. Before he could lower the binos and get his fingers in his ears, my little 20" barrel .375 Ruger barked and the Buffalo dropped to it's knees. The Buffalo had lowered his head to graze as he gave me instructions to shoot. I took the shot as close to the bosses of the Bull to still hit the brain.
I reloaded like I had trained hundreds of times and was ready for shot number two. What I witnessed next I will never have believed. The bull got up!!! He had blood squirting from his nostrils like a fire house. I immediately fired and hit him with a perfect broadside heart shot. He collapsed where he fell the first time. Head folder back, dead no death bellow nothing.
" Why are you shooting dead Buffalo!!! Now I am deaf in my other ear" Sean yelled at me clutching his other ear.
" Sorry Sean I watched lots of Youtube videos and they say not to stop shooting till the Buffalo is down" I replied with a smile.
Sean was happy I was happy my Dad was ecstatic. Sean looked at us and said lets get number two.
I wanted to go look at my Bull, but Sean said It was dead I ensured of that twice. I glanced at my Bull and though, sucks that boss looks soft, well at least I got my first Buff.
We walked 50 meters and here the Dugga boys stood waiting for their friend that some bold bloke just shot, twice.
My Father got on the sticks and geuss who was looking at him??? The same Bull from the previous night. My Dad made a perfect frontal chest/ heart shot. I looked at my watch it was 16:55.
We gave the bull 5 minutes. The herd had not moved much just the Dugga boys ran of this was interesting to experience how the two groups reacted differently to danger.
We walk in closer and the bull was staggering from side to side. I could see it was a very old hard bossed bull, Iwas so happy for my Dad.
The only shot he gave my Dad was the quartering away on the left side shot. He took the shot and the bull started running away. As any good son would do I followed up his shot hitting the Bull on the left rear ramp. The bull collapsed.
" John can you stop shooting at dead buffalo" Sean yelled at me holding his ears again.
It was 17:05 on the last day of our hunt and we had two bulls down!!!
The ecstasy and happiness that was felt in the next 20 minutes was so rewarding.
Sean could not partake in any conversation as my 20" barrelled Ruger had now destroyed the last of his very poor hearing.
I am very Sorry Sean. We took plenty of pictures of my Fathers bull. It was the perfect management animal. Small body not great horns but old. It would and probably have never been the herd bull. There was even jokes of its resemblance to Nkonkoni ( Blue Wildebeest)
If you hunt or fish enough you will know that sometimes it is your day and sometimes it is not. At this stage of the hunt I had made peace that I would not get my Buffalo. I was loving being in the bush with my Father. The camp and food was brilliant. My only complaint was that we didn't walk enough, because we just didn't find the correct Buffalo to track.
We had a strick no shooting in herds policy and also this was a management hunt so we were looking for those weaker gentic old animals.
Big Buffalo and herds there was plenty so at least we were seeing lots of Buffalo.
We started at 05:00 giving ourselves the biggest opportunity possible on the last day.
The morning session went past in a blur we drove the Western boundary of the Save conservancy, it is really sad to see the difference between protected and non protected areas. It was a unmissable devide of barren red soil flats waiting to be planted on the west and lush dense Mopanie forests on the eastern side of the jeep track roads. The importance of conserving these areas for our children is immense and without hunting funds it will not be possible. We covered most of Hammond in the morning session. However no Dugga boys was found only big herds of Buffalo.
We had a brilliant lunch, swim in the little pool under the tree and a siesta.
We woke up determined, yet slightly dulled. That feeling you get before a test that you know you didn't learn enough for, but you are hoping for the best.
As we left camp the Anti poaching guys told us they had seen 7 Dugga boys on the northern side of the Neyangumbe conservancy, they suspected it was the same group we had stalked the previous evening. We drove to the spot and got on the tracks immediately at 15;20. It was screaming hot and slow going staying on the tracks in the dry thick grass and Rhodesian teak seeds making crackling sounds under our boots.
We track and backtracked numerous times. You know when you do not have time.....it fly's past.
Our tracker trust stopped after 2 km and said the Dugga boys has joined a herd. At this stage Sean was not convinced and said he has lost the tracks and the fuzzy feeling of being on fresh tracks left the group. We returned to the bakkkie and started driving away at 16;00.
We only had 2 hrs left of hunting time on this hunt. It was over.
You know that break up drive after you leave your girlfriend or she leaves you. The disappointment takes over and you just drive, no reason or destination just away from the disappointment. Your friend ask if you are ok and you say yes, but actually you mean no. You will never find love again.... however that is not true. You meet a nice lady at the gun store a week later and you Ex girlfriend is forgotten and the pain only a 18 year old boy knows is replaced by that "new love " feeling.
We made a loop in our drive towards an area where I told Sean I wanted to camp in future. The talk was light and nobody showed that we had a little disappointment in us. As we crested the hill on our left was a massive herd of 60 -80 Buffalo. Unfortunately a family herd so we didn'y even stop to have a look. As we passed the herd we drove smack bang into the herd of 7 Dugga boys. They had not joined the big family group but trailed them by 100meters!!!!!
We drove past them and jumped of the bakkie. My Dad took one look at me and said I must shoot first. I wanted to decline, but he said no you shoot first and I will take the second Buffalo
OI just laughed how after 6 days of hunting and multiple stalks would we now in the last two hours of the hunt take a Buff let alone 2. I am however a toxic positive person so I agreed and for the first time in my life I was the second guy in the walking line with just Sean Infront of me.
We made our first stalk inline with a big anthill....wait a minute I have been here. It was the exact anthill my Dad was on on day 1. At this stage I had never seen the Buffalo from up close with every stalk i would hang back to give my Father and Sean the best chance at getting a shot. As we glanced of the anthill Sean said it was the same 7 Dugga boys from day one and the evening of day 5!!!! There was two no shoot trophy bulls in the group, 3 soft bulls and two older bulls.
Our first opportunity was at 100meters. I was flat on my stomach with a very good sight of one of the younger bulls. I wanted to shoot I will admit. Sean said no he was not the right one. How did my Father stay so cool being on the sticks 10-15 times during this hunt and not getting the "take the shot" line from Sean!!!
We backtracked and came in with the wind in our faces towards another anthill. No more than 80 meters away!!! I got into an even better position than before.
It is here that I must mention that Sean asked me if I can take a brain shot so that we could get a chance at a second Bull for my Dad when we started the stalk.
The Dugga boys now moved closer and closer to the herd . I was so ready to take the shot at the first Dugga boy that stopped, poor Sean just had to keep me in line. I am just flesh and bone.
Once again Sean declined and said we must get closer... I always listen to Sean. So we back tracked again and came towards the Buffalo with the wind in our faces for the third time.
Yes to another ant hill....I kid you not this time the branches on the tree was perfectly positioned. The Buffalo was no more than 60 meters way. They now knew of us, but with the strongest wind we have had the entire 6 days blowing towards us they where happy that we didn't threaten their safety as a herd.
I could hit the tick on the Buffalo I told Sean with my Aimpoint red dot. I even told him about the Warthog and Blue Wildebeest I hunted in June in Northern Namibia with brain shots and this rifle...
Proof of said Warthog taken at 100meters in Namibia with my red dot
More proof of headshot with same rifle.
Another Warthog with rifle and anther head shot.
Sean wanted to hear nothing. This is Buffalo hunting we needed to get closer.
We backtracked again.... we did a bigger loop and came in towards the Dugga boys. As they came into sight again the front of the large family herd and the 7 Dugga boys joined... Sean immediately said he needs to be certain we do not shoot one of the herd bulls.
I got in position on the shooting sticks for the first time on the hunt. The Herd and teh Duggaboys was now sniffing and bellowing as they greated each other.
We had received some luck or a blessing. The Herd bull was still at the back of the herd and two of the Dugga boys was taking chances sniffing at some of the better looking Buffalo cows. We knew that if the two big Herd bulls noticed thiis they would chase them away so our time was limited.
Then it happened the entire herd turned towards us and started feeding towards us!!!! How was this possible. The herds fear lions, but in these numbers they felt safe. Sean was glassing and for 5 minutes he went from animal to animal and telling me no too young, no herd bull, not female( trust me you need guidance sometimes).
And then at a bull decided to walk straight towards us. His Boss appeared a little soft to me, but Sean said get ready.... Sean I was ready 20 minutes ago at Anthill number 1. The bull Walked straight at me at no more than 25 meters. I had the red dot in the middle fixed on a frontal brain shot. To me he looked a little young, but I trusted Sean on his call.
As Sean lowered his bino's he said those three words every man loves being whispered to them.
" Take the Shot'
My faithfull Ruger exploded with all its fury.
The Buff dropped like value of the Zim dollar in the 2000's.
" You shot, you shot it in the head, I am deaf!!!!" Sean yelled at me.
"Yes you said I must shoot!!! I replied laughing at him.
Poor Sean was deaf. Before he could lower the binos and get his fingers in his ears, my little 20" barrel .375 Ruger barked and the Buffalo dropped to it's knees. The Buffalo had lowered his head to graze as he gave me instructions to shoot. I took the shot as close to the bosses of the Bull to still hit the brain.
I reloaded like I had trained hundreds of times and was ready for shot number two. What I witnessed next I will never have believed. The bull got up!!! He had blood squirting from his nostrils like a fire house. I immediately fired and hit him with a perfect broadside heart shot. He collapsed where he fell the first time. Head folder back, dead no death bellow nothing.
" Why are you shooting dead Buffalo!!! Now I am deaf in my other ear" Sean yelled at me clutching his other ear.
" Sorry Sean I watched lots of Youtube videos and they say not to stop shooting till the Buffalo is down" I replied with a smile.
Sean was happy I was happy my Dad was ecstatic. Sean looked at us and said lets get number two.
I wanted to go look at my Bull, but Sean said It was dead I ensured of that twice. I glanced at my Bull and though, sucks that boss looks soft, well at least I got my first Buff.
We walked 50 meters and here the Dugga boys stood waiting for their friend that some bold bloke just shot, twice.
My Father got on the sticks and geuss who was looking at him??? The same Bull from the previous night. My Dad made a perfect frontal chest/ heart shot. I looked at my watch it was 16:55.
We gave the bull 5 minutes. The herd had not moved much just the Dugga boys ran of this was interesting to experience how the two groups reacted differently to danger.
We walk in closer and the bull was staggering from side to side. I could see it was a very old hard bossed bull, Iwas so happy for my Dad.
The only shot he gave my Dad was the quartering away on the left side shot. He took the shot and the bull started running away. As any good son would do I followed up his shot hitting the Bull on the left rear ramp. The bull collapsed.
" John can you stop shooting at dead buffalo" Sean yelled at me holding his ears again.
It was 17:05 on the last day of our hunt and we had two bulls down!!!
The ecstasy and happiness that was felt in the next 20 minutes was so rewarding.
Sean could not partake in any conversation as my 20" barrelled Ruger had now destroyed the last of his very poor hearing.
I am very Sorry Sean. We took plenty of pictures of my Fathers bull. It was the perfect management animal. Small body not great horns but old. It would and probably have never been the herd bull. There was even jokes of its resemblance to Nkonkoni ( Blue Wildebeest)
