SOUTH AFRICA: RIFLE: BOWHUNT: A Month In RSA!

buck wild said:

Your google search suxs 7 kgs is more like 15 pounds. I had same issue with Emirates so I unpacked some things out of my backpack, handed them to my wife, reweighed bag, it made weight and I proceeded to load items back into backpack with agent watching and no one blinked Looking forward to your report.

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I thought I typed 15 but yes you’re right. I don’t really know what difference it made. It’s all going on the plane somewhere. Plenty of overhead bin space.

Nice steenbok!!! Congrats!

I am so jealous of that fine steenbuck! Haven’t taken one yet!

Monday August 5th. Happy 16th anniversary to the best wife in the world. How about a giraffe? I know people have different opinions on shooting a giraffe but it’s been on my bucket list for some time. Especially with a bow. If a blue wildebeest is a poor mans Cape buffalo then a giraffe is a poor mans elephant hunt. Lots of people involved, skinners lined up. Much excitement. Everyone’s along for this one. This is Pieter’s first hunt in months. Colleen, Pieter’s fiancé, actually spotted the bull from the main road as we were headed to the property. Once we arrive we get all lined up and go looking for the giraffe. After an hour or so we find tracks and put on a stalk. Those suckers can cover some ground! After a couple hours one of the other PH’s has spotted the bull. He’s hooked up with a group of cows and calves. Pieter says in country like this you could go a week without finding him. They can really hide which is surprising to me. The stalk is on. We find the bull and sneak to within 50 yards but he has us figured out. We can’t get any closer. Pieter explains they all have a comfort zone and this ones is apparently 50 yards. Decision time. Take a 50 yard shot with the bow or resort to the rifle. I’m not at all comfortable with that far a shot with these heavy arrows. For one I only have enough arrow clearance to set my pin at about 40 so I’d be somewhat guessing and don’t want to chance it. I finally decide I’m willing to take him with the rifle. The cows are in the thick trees and he’s about to follow. Pieter puts the 375 on the sticks and says, take him in the neck a foot below his head. At the shot he drops like a demolished building! Really an incredible sight. Amazingly you can’t see him in the brush. We rush up and Pieter instructs me to put another one in him for good measure which I do. The size of these animals is crazy and the whole experience seems surreal. Barb is excited and the twins are unfazed. They rarely get excited. I guess when you have a full body brown bear outside your bedroom door since you can remember it takes something special to get ramped up for. But it is a giraffe!!! Positioning for pictures is a whole ordeal on its own. Once that’s done the four skinner start the hard part. Riaan and I are off to hunt bushbuck while all the girls go with Colleen into the big town of Darby for some shopping. The bushbuck has been spotted this morning and is hanging out on a fairly small property of maybe 30 acres. See kudu and impala but no bushbuck. Return at 4 to try for the bushbuck again. Riaan and I position ourselves on the fence line and a couple trackers attempt to see if they can flush him are way. As we’re standing there we see three different kudu bulls with one being really nice. All of a sudden we hear the bushbuck. Grab the bow and get ready. He hits the road and is 5 yards from the fence. Surely he’s going to stop and give me a shot. Nope. Plows head onto the fence at full speed! Had to of broke its neck. Nope. Jumps up and takes off where he came from. Riaan and I look at each other in disbelief and laugh. He ends up coming out again by the fence farther down and that’s the last we see of him. We inspect the accident scene and see that he has bent the 1/2” rebar with his head. He’s a nice bushbuck and I want another crack at him. He will be referred to as the crazy bushbuck from now on. Tomorrow mountain Reedbuck and springbuck. What a day!

jpomazi said:

the twins are unfazed

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They were so calm all the time at the lodge and with Barb’s zebra too! You two have done well raising such polite, sweet young ladies!

Woke up at 4:30 but was able to fall asleep again. Woke up to the alarm for the first time this trip. Off to a farm near Koster for Mountain Reedbuck. Pick up P.H. Endrih and we’re hunting. Lots of blesbuck. Regular, white and yellow. Blue and gold wildebeest as well. Just really get started driving and I spot a female Nyala up on the cliffs. Endrih looks interested and has Riaan turn the truck so it’s facing that way. Apparently there is a nice Mountain Reedbuck standing right behind her. Endrih says take him and he drops in his tracks. The Nyala doesn’t budge until we start walking towards her. That was quick. Take some pictures then Pieter and Colleen who have come along take it back to PawPrint. They say Mountain Reedbuck can slip hair fast so the quicker to the cooler the better. Meanwhile Riaan, Endrih and I head to another property for springbuck. Saw some warthogs running through a cornfield and Endrih gave them something to hurry them along even more. Saw a ton of blesbuck, impala, oryx, one golden and springbuck but no rams. Returned to camp and there were a couple new guys! Some fella named Phil and Toby. Just returning from a lion hunt in the Kalahari with their P.H. Johan. Toby was settling his account and then off to the airport so I never had a chance to introduce myself. This Phil character was hanging around for a few more days and we got to talk often. Went after bushbuck again on one property then went after the crazy bushbuck for the last hour of light. No luck.

Wednesday August 7th. Halfway through are time with PawPrint. Went to the crazy bushbuck property. Saw him briefly by the fence for a second before he disappeared. Also saw a kudu bull and had an audience of monkeys critiquing are hunting prowess. Bushbuck is back and trotting at us down the fence line. Decide the rifle is in order. Have the rifle on his chest just waiting for him to quit veering and stop for a second. He doesn’t and just jumps sideways into the brush. Ugh! Saw another glimpse of him later but that’s it. Went to another property with Phil and Johan that afternoon and evening. Fairly uneventful until Phil took a nice blue wildebeest right before dark. Always great to be part of a harvest even if it’s not yours. Went on a night hunt with everyone and saw our duiker from the first night hunt but he was out of there and not interested in sticking around. Saw some other plains game but nothing we were after.

Is the sign in the picture a bowhunting property that Pieter has?

Up at 4:30 to the alarm and then off with Riaan to Swartruggens. Headed to a bow only ranch for bushbuck. Amazing country prime for kudu. Riaan says the biggest kudu he ever shot was in this country and measured 64”. The owners name is Pieter and it’s a first class operation all the way. We are in the roomy blind by 7am. Doesn’t take long and a very nice sable strolls in and acts like he owns the place. Later on a good Nyala bull shows up followed by a herd of kudu. The difference between rifle and bow properties are fairly staggering. I’ve only been to bow only concessions in the past and don’t know any different until this trip. From my brief experience on this trip, you’ll see animals early in the morning and right before dark on rifle properties. No real surprise there I guess just the nature of the beast. At first I was thinking there just aren’t very many animals. Not the case just more secretive. Bow hunting properties on the other hand will give you relaxed animals who you can see all throughout the day. Hard to comprehend until you’ve been to one. Anyway 9:30 arrives and no bushbuck so we pack it up and head back to PawPrint. Side note. South African drivers are terrible.....

jeff said:

Is the sign in the picture a bowhunting property that Pieter has?

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Yes

After lunch everyone is off to a new property. Phil is after blesbuck and Red heartebeest. I’m after springbuck and if everything goes right Barb will get a crack at a zebra. About an hour drive. Another fabulous property. Beautiful lodge and 100’s maybe 1000’s of acres of flat grasslands. Herds of blesbuck, zebra, Springbuck, blue and gold wildebeest, eland, Black wildebeest, red heartebeest and impala. Barb has never shot a rifle! I’m not worried. I’ve seen her shoot a handgun and bow. She’s a natural. Better shot then me if she practiced even a little. We go to where we can shoot and she’s good after 3 shots. Start driving and manage to find an old Springbuck. Riaan and Endrih are in the cab and say shoot. Give him one at maybe 100 yards and down he goes. Drive up to him and they’re telling us to hurry off the truck. Don’t really see the rush as he’s clearly done. Apparently once they die the hair stands up on their back for awhile. I’m sure someone will have the technical term but essentially that’s what happens. Get some quick pictures during this phenomenon and load him up. Hear a couple shots in the distance and figure Phil has connected on something. After zebra for Barb. Now we have Endrih, Barb, the twins and myself in back while Riaan drives. We probably set up 25 times for zebra with no shot. They are either clumped together, running or joining up with all the other herds in a big mass. Barb is getting frustrated and wants to give up. She’s not use to manipulating the rifle or scope and it’s a lot to ask her to pick out the sixth one from the left at 300 yards. I tell her just be patient and don’t force it and it will eventually happen. Finally we get to about 150 and get a clear shot at one. I see it react at the shot but lose it. Charlee later says she saw it go down but the silent twin didn’t feel like it was noteworthy at the time. We drive up to where they were and Endrih and I spot it almost simultaneously. She dropped it in its tracks! A very exciting moment. Johan and Phil swing by to offer congratulations. I have an ulcer over the ordeal but am otherwise very proud. Take the customary pictures and head back to PawPrint with all are animals including the blesbuck Phil had taken.

Barb did great! Your family all came together with that trophy! Very nice to see!
Sorry to interrupt, but I had to add this photo I took. Very cute family.

Up at 5:10 this morning. Very windy. Going after the elusive crazy bushbuck. Got there and set up on the sticks down the fence line. Trying to push him again. Saw an impala ram then one of the kudu bulls way down at the corner. All of a sudden the bushbuck shows up next to the kudu and starts running towards us. He’s zig zagging as he runs. He gets to within 20 yards and flys into the brush without ever stopping. This is getting personal. Apparently this guy never just stops and stands still. I’m kicking myself for not just shooting. I had it on his chest a couple times but was waiting for a better shot that didn’t materialize. Not making that mistake again. Stay until 9:30 but can’t find him again. Riaan is going home to spend some time with his family so it will be a relaxing day. Eat brunch and say goodbye to Phil. It’s his 72nd birthday and he’s headed back to Colorado. It’s been nice talking to him and reinforces my belief that for the most part hunters are the greatest people on the planet! Take a 3 hour nap and then a shower. Feel like a million bucks. Colleen makes us dinner and we have a great evening.

Sorry this is so drawn out but going off my journal which was day to day.

Saturday August 10th. Normally we would be going home about this time but not on this trip. Still have two more weeks and am completely spoiled thinking this is the only way to do it from now on. Up at 5:30 and again focusing on the crazy bushbuck. It’s windy and kind of misty. Go set up on the fence line again. Have some impala with a nice ram almost run us over but no bushbuck this morning. Go over to Dries property and see lots of tracks but just can’t seem to stir one up. Did find a dead genet that was interesting. Back to the lodge for some delicious burgers and an afternoon of rugby. I know sports but zero about rugby. Feel like the nerdy brother in law who is completely out of his element. We are off to Koster tonight for a night hunt with Endrih. They usually get jackals, porcupines, Steenbuck, duiker, caracal and maybe an African wildcat. The girls are all bundled up and ready to go. Acres and acres of cornfields. Some still standing but mostly cut. Unfortunately it’s quite windy tonight and that coupled with the almost full moon means limited activity. Finally did get a shot at a duiker and he was a cool broken horned warrior. Ended up packing it in about 1:30 am and made it back to the lodge by 2.

Woke up around 10. Took a shower and feel rejuvenated. Local hunting farms here mostly so no hunting on Sundays. Watched rugby for the day. Went out around 4:30 and drove around the farm hoping for a bushbuck. Saw a gemsbok and red heartebeest but that was it. Had a great meal of chicken, steak, sausage and salad. A very relaxing day. Brought a ton of dvds to entertain the girls so I watched The Mule and off to bed.

To late now, but if I had a day off there, I would have been at the lake fishing for some of Pieter’s 5+lb bass! Oh, but I would have kept a rifle close just in case Mother Africa made an offer!

Monday August 12th. Last day of our hunt with PawPrint. What are we doing? Chasing the crazy bushbuck of course. Saw a kudu bull and impala ram but no bushbuck. Hasn’t been seen for a couple days now. Probably tired of are shenanigans and moved on. Went over to Dries property. Forgot to mention that the ten or so times we went there this female ostrich was always at the gate. Seems she was tired of the place and wants some new scenery. Lots of bushbuck tracks and ended up bumping one but didn’t get a good look at him. Back to lodge. Said goodbye to Colleen and hi to a young German hunter who arrived on his first ever hunt. I’d probably butcher his name so I won’t even try to spell it. He came in the lodge with earmuffs on along with a mosquito headnet ready to zero his rifle. Riaan and I were going to an adjoining property that had lots of bushbuck for are last evening hunt. Until then he was off with the German lad. When he returned Riaan was laughing and ready for our hunt. It seems they came across some ostrich that are always around on the farm. Now I can just imagine the English conversation between Riaan with the heavy Africans accent and the German accent. I gather it went something like this though. The German wanted Riaan to leopard crawl and see how close he could get to the ostrich. Riaan says if you want to shoot the ostrich he’s only 200 yards. We can do it from here. No, I don’t want to shoot it, just want to see how close you can get leopard crawling. You want to leopard crawl towards it? No, I want to watch you. Anyway, you get the point. Funny stuff. We head off for bushbuck. Not a hunting property but supposedly the landowner at one time had seen 13 mature bushbuck in the same area. Gave it are best try but once again no luck. Told Riaan we gave it are all and it’ll be that much sweeter when we get him together on the next trip. Hopefully in 2 years. Had a great dinner and stayed up late with Riaan drinking and reminiscing about the great time we’ve had.

Tuesday August 13th. Moving day. Up at 6:30 but basically already packed and ready for the next adventure. Said goodbye to Riaan and settled up with Pieter. Told him I think he lost money on this deal? Can’t say enough good things about the whole experience. Charged me for trophy fees and that was it. No rifle fees, arrival/ departure days, liquor etc. I know he wasn’t feeling well but him and Colleen were great hosts. Can’t thank him enough for making it possible to bring the family to RSA for the month. He runs what he advertises. A working mans Safari. If you want plush accommodations probably better off going somewhere else. If you want down to earth people that make you feel like family and do everything they can to make your Safari a success then this is the place! Thanks for coming along. Part two coming soon.

Congrats, that was nice and heavy steenbok!