morioc
AH fanatic
Hunting Trip
by Bernard Andries
This is a story by my client Bernard Andries who hunted with me in C.A.R.
This story has been translated from French to English by Google translate. The original French version can be found below.
Central African Republic (C.A.R.)
First Day
From 6 to 22 February 2008 We returned yesterday before I left C.A.R., where February 6 for 2 weeks.
With my wife, CDG TGV LILLE in the afternoon of 06 with bag and baggage to arrive at Roissy 3 hours before scheduled departure in 23 hours.
The registration of weapons is done without problems for wildlife club had said taking the ticket all identifications of arms cal and marks and No and the number and size of bullets (which I urge you, because as we were dealing a neophyte in this area, as everything was clear in his computer, there was no problem.
Boarding time and departure with an hour late (too many people had multiple bags hand ...
Good finish to Bangui where Felicity KO (mandated by the various organizations) responsible for receiving the hunters showed professionalism and this has enabled us to quickly retrieve weapons and ammunition.
An aircraft (20 seats) waiting for us to go into the bush: a Dornier with pilot and co pilot.
Departure to 9 hours for 3 different areas of hunting: a hunter who wanted to hunt leopard TIRAN at Marcel, then we leave to file another at Fécomme who also wanted to hunt the leopard finally Sangbé direction where we were 4: 2 hunters for camp held by C. LEMEE waiting with guides JP Leroux and P. Clerota, one to hunt the lion and eland and the other only because the buffalo was his first contact with Africa and the great hunt and end my wife and me in the camp run by Matthew LABOUREUR for hunting leopard, eland, buffalo, bongo antelope, and if the quota allowed.
At each landing on bush tracks, guides were present and still very warm welcome. A cool drink was welcome. Each camp also took its refueling plane for our stay. A perfect organization! They were still waiting for the plane takes off before leaving.
Our guide Christophe Morio and his team of 3: driver, tracker and carrying handles make and load our luggage and we noted the need to hurry because the bait he has to watch the leopard had been visited and that the trace (> 6mm) promised a handsome male and that if we wanted lunch, we change, target, pull a bait, to install and we install in the boma (he had built the previous day) for 17 hours he had to go. So en route to runway 30 minutes to reach the camp BANGORAN.
Arrival at camp shower, hunting clothes, lunch followed by a short siesta we started since yesterday afternoon and departure for 14 hours for the camp FHO is a satellite camp of BANGORAN better situated for most central to leopard and eland.
We target in a box hanging on a tree 50 meters (1 centimeters above: perfect).
En route we passed a red duiker flank with a beautiful trophy Christopher said "it should be removed for leopard bait because if we do not find bakouya (baboon) we will always have something I jumped out of the land, it is behind a tree 80 meters, well I'm trying to stall and wait for it beforehand.
I pull the center to avoid damaging the wrapper, with 375 HH NP Federal.
Arrive FHO where the taxidermist and the cape cut way to the boma on the path I remove a bakouya male (we can keep the red side to eat), the baboon is best for bait.
16 hours, we arrived on the spot: the last bait is completely eaten very promising. The team installs the baboon on the branch with the son of the iron front and rear legs, it drags the hose a few dozens to the bottom of bako up the tree, the tree is rubbed with guts; During this time my wife (because it is this year draws Leopard, I had the chance to make last year) moved into the boma and hold the 375 on the tripod, the muzzle flush hole of 10 centimeters is in the straw, another hole is made for me and one for Christopher.
I checked the lunette (a S and B 2, 5 x 10 with illuminated reticle) and put it on X4: The boma is 35m: and see that the center of the cross lights up well.
Everything is ready, it is 17 hours; Christophe team returns with the vehicle than 1 mile away with orders to come to us 20 hours in the absence of fire, we say hello and leave: it seems that it misleads leopard who hesitates to climb?
Vers 17 heures 30 odd roar left followed by a cry of the leopard feature: all of our senses are on alert for 20 minutes the noises of the bush (cries of birds, guinea fowls, monkeys, bees or wasps, big buzz, we wrap c It is magical.
I scan with my binoculars around, nothing, I began to branch: IT IS THE full through, we heard nothing: it is 17 hours 50; Christopher sees the same time I tremble with my binoculars and experiences difficulty breathing, I had not felt this when I saw him go last year and I understand the feeling that the guide can feel what I am confirmed Christophe but soon all is quiet. My wife is very calm, she framework in the glass; Christopher tries to judge the animal, male or female, who quickly puts face on his stomach on a perpendicular branch so that only the head and front legs are visible .
After a few minutes Christophe says that it is a male, given the size of the head and earlier.
My wife clearly seen but always my face: I discourage the shooting, as too random and asked to wait until he moves and after 15 minutes like always, it starts to get dark, we decided to light the torch red it will do may be moving: it is ready: switch on, it leaves him indifferent and he continues to bite your teeth bait his back on the industry to be more comfortable. We try to whistle for it rises, nothing to do after 10 minutes the torch begins to weaken. I will draw well in my head told my wife whispered, Christopher replied that if she feels well, she can go there soon because the battery is flat and we are in a fairly dark bako ... PAN! At carbine for 1 to 2 seconds and then nothing happens the animal falls away gently from its branch and fell in a heap.
Christopher and I each take a 12 cal charge of 21 grains with torch attached and I put my big jacket barbour and we go on; sound of dead leaves, I see him move, I shoot, click and I had not initiated cartridge in the barrel, Christopher did not see hidden by a tree, I pointed him to take what he does at the same time.
It was directly above the branch, a bullet in the left eye, emerged on the right, he turned his head at the time of the shooting: the upheavals marked the end and I do not think he could have it go even without the 12 cal ... to report that he had also broken right leg to shoulder height.
It was 18 hours 30 of our first afternoon safari.
Back at camp with the vehicle design with leafy branches, firing a rifle at 400 meters from the camp and the team sings a song in Sango (glorifying the hunter for being clever and having to get rid of this predator) quickly relayed by the camp staff, women and children who come in singing to greet us a leafy branch to shake the hand they danced in good humor and joy around the vehicle. What atmosphere.
General meeting and tour film and photos.
Meals and to bed about 21 hours.
Second day of hunting
Sunrise 6am to start at 7am.
The next is the eland of interest.
Christopher explains that we will try to locate the area causing more than 600 000 hectares, not to walk too far on the first day and adapt to the bush and heat.
The morning, we drive 77 kilometers of track by selecting squares.
An hour after sunrise, we are attacked by tsetse flies for 1 / 4 hours and there is even 1 / 4 hours before dark (it will happen every day): the repellents n do not act on the tsetse fly, only the clothes with slightly closed, but many are biting through clothing (appearance and itching like big mosquito bites).
Back to 11 hours 3O seen only 1 female buffalo and antelope in the distance and 2 warthogs.
Shower, swim in the little river that runs through the camp where miniminipiscine infinity is installed (which is nice in this heat !!!). Meals, naps and departure for 15 hours.
In the afternoon, 33 kilometers of track, the 110 miles driven we can locate some herds so the tracks and saline where we can monitor from early morning departures and trace them back.
The team would also like to burn the straw when necessary.
Return 18 hours after dark, cocktails around the campfire followed by dinner and sleep in 20 hours.
This will be a few that rate schedule we adopt for the entire stay.
Third day of hunting
Sunrise 4 heures 30 Start 5 heures 15 we come across a herd of buffalo that we allow to lead us into our areas identified: to 6 hours.
Traces on the runway, the smile of a child tracker Norbert, I feel that the tracks are very fresh and equips There we go, after 1 hours 30.
Eye Contact: 1 male and 3 females including one sees us and they leave Uninterruptable: Christophe said "the male is not terrible, it leaves".
Back to the car, walking herd of hartebeest Lelwel with a beautiful male (trophy estimated at 60 centimeters) stopped at 60 meters, it is not part of our program, we leave.
New traces taken about 10 hours after 1 hour contact, the wind turns, elk are the wind, we leave as it is very difficult to trace the impulses that you have felt more and said Christophe, it could force therefore of them out of the area and scaring them.
Back at the camp.
The afternoon will be devoted to the search for traces of buffalo RAS.
Tomorrow we know which areas in search of fresh tracks to track the ghosts of the bush: eland.
Fourth day of hunting
Out 5 hours, a saline control: many fresh tracks, we take a walk alone, after 1 hour very fresh droppings, the track is mixed in a herd of important runs in all directions and we shall not to unravel to find our feet or the exit signs to the resume: abandonment, return the vehicle several miles during which we see momentum: approach Sioux visibility: it is a Male and a second but too young. Back at camp 12 hours.
Afternoon: grand tour to find Buffalo koba but nothing concrete, and we go way back: large herd of elk in the saline we ascend the herd 1 and 2 handsome males but not seen in good condition shooting Far too many kékés and over 100 meters and light down a lot: Christophe said, "we'll take them back tomorrow morning, the males I have seen are beautiful."
Fifth day of hunting
5 hours Departure Ngoutéré direction where we left them last night. It shows the traces of yesterday and after 10 minutes you can hear them (it must be said that it was dark when we left them and the day is just beginning to dawn). The wind is not favorable, Christopher decides to make a big loop to precede and to be fair wind while trying to maintain eye contact but also by hearing the trackers who have a sight and hearing incredible, after 1 hour walking in step, or more than its image, the contact is lost. We try to go gently, still nothing. With trackers, Christopher decides to resume the last trace of eye contact, another 1 hour walk, we find the trail and ascend: surprise, we recroisons our own tracks, the maneuver was so good, but the elk had stopped much earlier and had resumed the march when we set the record for once we were before the flights.
After 2 hours of tracking, eye contact again at 80 - 100 meters, an opening parade where the elk and the stick is installed, removed security, no good male over 20 to 30 animals, we continue the approach following the elk new hole, and stick new parade, I am ready but nothing about thirty animals that pass, Christopher believes the herd to 60 to 80 elk.
New approach opens the field for the straw is burned off, we let the team and stick and crawl to 2: Christopher and me in the burned about 200 - 250 meters, Christophe forbids me to combine and remove the head!
We're almost in the herd before us in range of 50 meters it took us 1 hour 30 because of ramping females constantly looking in our direction. I was hidden behind a termite fungus than 40 centimeters high, while Christophe twinning with caution to find a good male that I wanted quality (1 meter right).
"Bernard lifts you gently by supporting without sudden movement, there are 2 animals left in profile, 2 right profile: a female and a young, right before a male but it is full face, I think it is good if you can draw on when it presents itself well, but extreme caution as we look and can spin. "
Cautiously, I straightened me fondant chick before me, I check what Christopher told through the telescope and identifies the animal in question that concerns us and this is my face: I put the cross between the 2 earlier, not too high because the animal is high and I want to avoid neck, I fall a little and takes heart, he accuses, and stumbles across the herd gets carried away in a race.
We rushed to the Anschluss: a few drops of blood, then nothing, traces of deep running.
Trackers rush, take the trail they found among others with a few drops of blood for 100 yards and Christophe said "you have perhaps brushed" but I felt confident as well positioned to take , not far from 60 yards away and NP in 375 HH, it should work.
About 150 meters, a blood stain slightly higher on a leaf, my eye scans later and I see a gray mass on the side: the momentum is dead, the ball came back his face, so non-citizens, that they explains the lack of blood after measuring, it is 1 meter O7 and 51 inches 1 / 4: good hunting, beautiful conclusion.
Sixth day of hunting
As expected, we start the morning around 6 hours for Batou located 60 kilometers on the road, little thing we stopped 3 times to try to find the blue duiker appelquand we passed a little tight bako The hunter stands in front on one knee, rifle loaded with 12 cal, 4 nickel-supported because it must be extremely rapid, the guide behind to identify the male and the tracker behind calling, producing a nasal sound a bit like a meow that imitate the sound of the injured duiker. Nothing came to the 3 times I can tell you however that it works because last year we had one done this way.
Around 10 hours 30, we arrive at camp very rustic with two bedrooms and bathroom outside like the shower, all located near a river Manovo the edge of which was the dining room very nice. Electricity from solar panel and gas refrigerator containing cold beer! Coke and mocaf, CHWEPPES ...
Meals, naps and short way to the lookout with mattresses for the night, seats and battery for the lamp, the Bongo will hunt mainly on the lookout, the bakos being too tight for tracking and hunting dog not practiced in RCA as too intrusive because it is not forest but gallery forests in savanna.
In 15 hours we have in place, the bongo can come day or night.
The watchtower is located 7 m high with a plain face forming a bay surrounded by bako, centered bay bordered by a swamp of salt to 130 meters in front and another at 60 meters on the right.
Wonderful places to watch birds: sacred ibis, comb duck, heron, grebe, white knight ass, green pigeons by ten, doves shouldered purple martin and martin hunter hunter Pygmy swarm green and scarlet touraco, forètsetc of hornbill. .. a real treat but no antelope.
Vers 17 heures 30 a sitatunga female shows up and the day begins to decline, a blue duikers to the edge of the salt, but we expect the bongo ... vers 19 heures 30 Surprise: 8 elephants arrived on the salt bottom and remain a half hour (the same evening at 30 kilometers away, another hunter, one American had 40 elephants at the foot of his viewpoint that rubbed on pillars supporting it, fear it! to report that he had spent the previous week three days and three nights without seeing anything Batou.
I right binoculars and see a clear format without identification, we light: a leopard whose form is fine enough we think of a female, she limps forward right, probably a snare, frequently used by the poacher customary.
I told myself after a leopard, it is quiet nothing will sell anytime soon and I lie on the mattress where my wife is already, I dozed for 3 minutes when I hear a sort of barking at 2 times: Christophe me tape shoulder "we just heard a bongo barking, do not move, I check" 2 to 3 minutes later, "it is there," I twin: wonderful vision that striped antelope. Christophe I can not certify that it is a male, then we decide to light the torch with red and immediately, he confirms that he is a male: the reticle 375 with light roared: I seem to see return the ball to the target location behind the front leg, we hear the sound of broken branches: quickly down the ladder toward the salty and we fall on the bongo 20 meters before the point of shooting.
Indeed what a magnificent animal, color, stripes: we have 13. Christopher said "this, you must naturalizing whole, otherwise!
Up for the photo session, we try to position it well when all of a sudden I feel a tingling in the legs and a few bites, fire ants exclaims the tracker, we get away with bongo and I look at the Torch: a trail of ants in the pants in 3 seconds I'm in my underwear and trying to kill the insect while the tracker lighting a fire to keep them away, all is quiet quickly, OUF. A strong odor is felt: we thought it was a smell of bongo but Christopher tells us he is formic acid released by stressing that the ants!
As for the eland and leopard, Bongo and only three animals you give this back to camp with the jeep decorated with foliage, a rifle shot approach to the camp and home with songs by all the camp staff He must live at least once to feel pride and happiness that it gives you.
That evening we went to bed about 23 hours.
Seventh day of hunting
Sunrise 5 am 30, starting at dawn to 6 hours. A few unsuccessful calls to the blue duiker during a walk in a deep baco 3O for 2 hours when we identify a multitude of traces of pota and giant forest hog, but no pets ... Lunch and nap.
The afternoon will be devoted to the blue duiker, yellow back. Going control a new salt that Christopher was discovered in the scanning area on the internet with google earth when he returned to France after last season, by taking the gps point on the map, which allowed him on the ground find: magnificent spectacle of 10 giant forest hog with a beautiful male tirable easily but not in our program that allows us some pictures of these swine unobtrusive and rare contrast to what we think, Christopher said he is animals there that day and the best time for the meeting is to 15 hours on the salt or in bakos (he has never seen at night).
In return, the tracker who walked in front stops suddenly: he almost stepped on a snake that was cut in half with his machete: to report that we saw the second day, beside a pond a python 3 m 50 was busy swallowing a heron and we shall see a puff adder or similar on the airport road to Sangba the last day she crossed the jeep and went rolling over.
Eighth day of hunting
Despite the absence of yellow-backed duiker, we will return to the main camp of Bangoran free to leave the camp at Batu American hunter who was there for a period of 4 weeks with the program: eland, bongo - sitatunga _ bush pig, he spent 2 ½ weeks and had reaped the eland to date.
60 kilometers of rough track over which in turn, I see a tail, "fly in the green" Bamara "said the tracker: the lion! actually a big lion track follows the track to indicate that there is 1 lion quota in the area mainly driven bait or appeal.
A little later a group of fifteen bushpigs 50 meters from the vehicle quickly, chase to bako, difficult to choose a good male in the straw out of sight, we continue the trail and suddenly a red spot: a young pota caught in a cable (neck) still alive but in a bad way: we are completing a knife. The cable is a standard technique of poaching of native customary local diamond like many on the area (during our stay, we will find a dozen collars and another vegetable garden in the same place a few days later by another team hunting).
Arrive BANGORAN to 12 hours.
Christopher complains of headache and fever will, he will rest in the afternoon and the next day.
We seek the afternoon and morning and afternoon with a possible Hippotrage another guide Alex circulating prone areas near the plains, but we'll see many antelope but no antelope.
RDV therefore the tenth day of hunting
Tenth day of hunting
Christopher is cocked, the program is looking for the buffalo. Every morning we look in vain for fresh tracks of buffalo, but nothing at all, where are they gone? They are probably in the square where there are many small water points.
In the afternoon, about 15 hours: Christopher decides to walk within a square propitious, since the traces do not go out on the slopes, we must go get them.
Just 30 minutes walk, bars for ... Small curve to put to good wind and approach to about 60 meters and we are looking for a good male, but that young people, following several approaches, a male a little better off as well but Christopher tells me we can find much better for it male is not finished, the center of the strip apparently still soft. He decides to call them by imitating a bellow of youth in difficulty incredible herd rushes to literally stop at 15 not fully exposed, a very large female sees us but wondered what it takes then the herd suddenly the flight: "someone has moved," said Christophe, a fact melliponne me back in the eye and I instinctively put his hand in his face, which was enough ... Back at camp because it is late.
Another day white!
Eleventh day of hunting
Start 5 hours 30, we passed a magnificent male eland solitary trotting to 40 meters from the vehicle ...
We quickly track of buffaloes and go back, after 1 hour 30 walk, touch, approach, overlaps:; buffaloes marched slowly in a small plain: we find the male: almost the same type as that of yesterday, so that Christopher believed that the same herd that we took! We drop.
In the afternoon to 14 hours 30, CAMP FHO of returning this afternoon.
We track that we had identified returned in the afternoon near the camp FHO although it seems to date in the morning. After 1 hour 30 minutes walk: contact approach which inthe perfect.
We see a trail of urine forming an S on a yard sign that the presence of a male said Christopher. Many difficult to find this male from a fifty animals rather scattered: Finally, we find ourselves well placed at 50 meters, but once the trophy does not satisfy us, it's a trophy last day said Christophe, we can do better because we still have 3 days. We return; 5 days without firing a shot, but the start of the safari was tellemnt intense that it does not weigh me at all.
Twelfth day of hunting
Morning, starting at 5 am 30 with Priority Management Ngoutéré buffalo and then Ndiri which are 2 very humid plains where the buffaloes are often before dawn. During the trip 6 heures 30: a solitary buffalo on the runway, a male correct: Christophe stops and offers to my wife to pull, but it lags because it does not tell him to take the car or without action research (especially she has one in tracking last year) which allows the buffalo to sea, we are following at full speed in climbing 2 small hills and on top of the second, we find it "parked" in 70 meters behind a tree, but the race exhausting climb to my wife requires a recovery of breath that allows the animal time to escape, I might try to run, I was ready but I don 'have not hooked.
Click on thumbnail to view the video of Roan Antelope in CAR
We return to the vehicle, we had (with) ran nearly a mile.
At 7 o'clock 30 fresh tracks of a herd on Ndiri, we take them; connect to 8 hours, they are very nervous and number 80, they split into small groups of a dozen heads that we based the but the wind dispersal of animals facts fan us with their nervousness and, after 2 hours, we leave ... Christopher said that during the previous safari every day.
2 or 3 flocks were observed in the jeep: cete week, galley, maybe it is because of bushfire or harmattan?
Click on thumbnail to view the video of Roan Antelope in CAR
Given time, more than 10 heures30, the heat will be conducive to finding the "yagé or antelope near the Great Plains, arrived at 1 kilometer from the plain, we leave the jeep and walk and be more discreet.
With the approach of the plain, Fidel Demayo one of our trackers freezes and scans in the distance there, 3 yagés 600 meters, we let the team approach to our Christopher and me, trying to enjoy each field advantage, a bush, a termite mound, the tall grass, because they are fully exposed: we are 150 meters, Christopher said a proper male and two females and most can be approached without risk. I position myself against a chick and wait for instructions "that right is the male, he pursues the female, this is full right profile: I take it shrinks but remains standing, females continue to graze, then left profile: I withdraw it falters but remains standing, females still graze, then lies down on the spot, head high. I think this attitude reflects a mortal wound. He is lying his face and difficult to remove, after 5 minutes, we decided to approach in order to remove if necessary under good conditions, came to 80 meters, but he is wavering backwards, we see the ball coming in the thorax where does a lot of blood, then it definitely falls on the side to die is a beautiful male 70 inches.
As can be seen: the entry of the bullet is a little behind on the left side, the first ball is completely symmetrical to right and 2 balls remained under the skin of the other side: Federal NP 375 HH .
Afternoon, starting at 15 hours: Christopher decides to go up a canyon on foot. We meet several female bushbuck, and a handsome male who fled to the bottom of the canyon. We continue, thinking to find in a cul de sac at the bottom of the canyon without relying on a flaw in the stone where it went as we show in his footsteps to return by another flaw in the initial location. We continue our tracking to reach the top of a rocky outcrop where we perceive in our cons-low beautiful male 40 meters to stop, but on the alert: Christopher makes me take, I put it in my telescope but does not shoot and let him go! Why? Perhaps because I had not programmed, having already collected a fine specimen in Benin! or because he had so well defended in this canyon? we return to camp after 3 hours of walking in a surprising landscape of rocks and holes in the bottom of which flows a small stream.
In this canyon, Christopher was firing a beautiful yellow-backed duiker male 3 days ago.
Thirteenth day of hunting
Start 5 heures 10 because it is our penultimate day and we still have not harvested the buffalo.
About 6 o'clock 30 feet buffalo on the trail, seem fresh dung, Christopher decides to take: we remove jackets because it is already good and I am taking the 375 and HH 416 Rigby gives the tracker because it is quite heavy, second it is the tracker 458 to Christopher Lott.
We follow these traces at least 1 kilometer on the track as they return to the bush and emerge on the track, then to sink in an area not burned: the herd is therefore at least 60 animals from our Hassan I. tracker not tracking problem. After 30 minutes of walking, but Hassan smiled and finger in my ear I hear the boss, try to listen but I receive nothing, but soon we see them, they seem very many. Christopher tries to select a male correct, we cut 2 times, we identify at least 3 males, but they are 70 and the habitat is dense, we approach cautiously wind shift, stampede, they spin to the big full open NDIR which at least 1 kilometers 5 kilometers: they will pass through said Christophe, quick, but good wind. We arrive at the edge of the plain where our herd is relatively quiet at 200 meters. The scroll bars on the left rather tight, we approach yet to the overdraft limit and I prepared to stick with the 416 Rigby, it scrolls from right to left between 2 small mounds forming 2 groves 3 to 4 meters wide. But animals are so tight that when we see a male: not possible to draw without risk of injury to others as they walk more: the whole herd has grown and now is over 200 meters ... when suddenly 60 meters behind, we see a latecomer all gray by the matrix of land that covers the back, it definitely sign the male and often an old male, he walks toward the others: I am focusing and when the front of the chest back into my cross I release my ball he accuses.
Suddenly the whole flock takes the wind and jump right over us, my wife quickly rise to 416 and prepare: they are 40 meters but at full speed, and very tight, "the penultimate one fine male": Christopher tries to call for slow, but nothing was done, 60 to 70 buffaloes spend very tight, "fully fund" only 30 yards but the shot is too uncertain and difficult injury!
But what a sight and what emotion! All this took only a few minutes and we hear the roar of the feature buffalo die: he had only 10 yards away and was lying near one of the 2 groves.
We are moving forward despite all rifles shouldered, but he died lying on his side: the twig on the eye shows no reaction, it is 8 hours, a fine old male here that 80 centimeters of width and a band of 27 centimeters of wide witness with bursts of advanced age.
In looking up my sleeve ejected during the reset, I measurement: 186 not so about 160 meters, some would say too far to draw a buffalo, but we did not have much choice.
Photo shoot an hour of cut and we return. It was a beautiful morning.
The ball is back behind the left foreleg, through everything to stay under the skin of the other side. They fell on top of the heart by cutting the large vessels which caused a large internal bleeding: the right to ball 416 NORMA TXP is retrieved from the buffalo left the Nosler Partition in 375 FEDERAL HH recovered on the Koba (the Onthe lead was shot, but posted on the photo).
Below the heart of the buffalo with the impact of the ball is where the blood clot.
Returning with the buffalo, we came upon a herd of twenty cattle: it takes remaining in visual contact with the cattle egret and the accompanying flight which gave us the position: after 2 kilometers no race, they are 50 meters my wife prepares with the 416, the bush is dense, difficult Christophe calls but a whirlwind makes flee these 3 kilometers on the run at noon we were tired and must return the vehicle, another 3 miles and often return to is not fast ... we decided not to pursue the animals we have seen, is unlikely to succeed, we returned to camp 13 hours.
In the afternoon, we went up a canyon back to yellow, but the wind was contrary, we have been burned and film and photos.
Fourteenth day of hunting and last
The morning departure at 5 pm for the DA area conducive bako back yellow and blue duiker.
We make several stops at places that seem conducive to chase the blue the call, but nothing at all. When marauding jeep: equally desert many traces on a bike across the tracks and even a scooter that seems to have lost because the trail will turn back regularly ... finally, we find convergence traces to an area Research diamonds where the natives dig and sift in search of rocks, they are numerous and often family-all this perhaps explains the lack of movement of animals today. We therefore decided to return but Christopher wants to take me on the road on a tray suitable for Oribi: we will cautiously actually border, about 120 meters 3 Oribi waiting for us there is a male, I pulls the 375 and now it is nevertheless a very male way.
In order not to kill the cape, it is better to take heart.
The afternoon final opportunity to find the buffalo for my wife, we go to 15 hours we Maraudon around the plains, but no traces of buffalo or after 1 hour and 30 Circuit, 2 warthogs surprised in the plains run to regain the covered, we decided to cut: I try to put it in the telescope: no way to find them, must say that I stayed at a magnification of 10 for the Oribi, they are already far, but the spurs us on 200 - 300 meters and meet again, I reduced the magnification they advance slowly to 150 meters, I took a chick (for nth a hurry and running, we did not stick) I draw, but it took a little behind, he continues, second bullet missed the third shot missed, it must be said that it is now 2OO yards and fourth bullet that gives this.
It is far from being exceptional, but he is wearing.
I take this opportunity to introduce the team: left Fidel De Mayo tracker in the center Luke was the driver, but also bearer and right tracker and the tracker Norbert Hassan has an ear and an eye that the we would like to have: they were of a kind, friendly, polite and competent in a word that a team would usually have and I thank them.
In return, a herd of buffalo vers 17 hours 30, we quickly coupons at a run, but when we arrive where he spent nothing, he had fled we have seen, but mostly because the wind n That was not good... was the last day ...
In conclusion, I actually think it's a good safari: one lacking the yellow-backed duiker that I have not seen or last year or this year.
During our return trip to Bangui, we met 4 hunters: 2 of them went for the leopard everyone in a different camp and after 2 weeks, one has seen anything and after 8 days had the opportunity draw plus 1 eland: then he saw much the first week, he has not seen then and therefore returned empty-handed except for baboons bait.
The other hunter leopard has seen 3 different females but no male: empty-handed also.
The other two hunters were together: one was confirmed to eland - lion: he was a lion and eland àl'appel which I saw the picture: a thick black mane worthy of the finest Tanzanian when that which the accompanied him, he came first in Africa and only the buffalo hunt.
He had no experience and went directly to the gun rifle without having trained before leaving! Review: A beautiful brand of shooting glasses on the front, a dozen bullets, 2 buffaloes missed a wounded buffalo never recovered.
Nothing is gained ...
Weapons: I went with a 375 HH BLASER R93 bezel with S & B with illuminated reticle and Nosler Partition bullets and a FEDERAL HEYM BIGBORE in 416 Rigby bezel SWAROSKI 1 5/6et NORMA TXP: last year I ' had taken only the 416 but the illuminated reticle is still very useful for shooting in low light (Leopard - Bongo), secondly the blazer is much lighter and more manageable. However, for the buffalo I have more confidence in the efficacy of the 416 but perhaps it is more psychological than real but confidence in my opinion is a major asset in the success of the shot. This is also on my first safari in Benin, guides and hunters incense 416 and the 375 was a little limited in some time. I have so far taken 6 buffaloes with 6 bullets with my 416 Rigby; target and I rule my own glasses and I shoot several bullets at 100 meters this 1 time per week for 4 weeks before my departure.
I fired a shot with the 416, everything else to 375.
To achieve its safari: the first thing to go with a guide that is well known (either oneself or by other hunters who have practiced) and do not walk ... Starting with a known organization (which has a reputation to uphold).
- To make sure that quotas exist! able to take our animals coveted but especially repatriate the trophy.
- In order to be indemnified in case of problems and / or be supported by France when political or other problem in the country where you go, especially in Africa (a few days ago a group of 5 hunters was found in slip by highwaymen in Senegal in Casamance in the relay camp flourished: they took everything: even the weapons). I recall a forum where they said basically that had to be stupid to go on RCA in recent years, the risk is actually falling on the Sudanese but we must remain cautious ... The risk is not zero.
Starting with his weapons, physical fitness and weapons training, because the firing tax is very bitter for a wounded animal not recovered.
It is also, I think I have some experience because nothing is innate and we learn by doing (to correct errors, they must have done).
For safaris closed area (like parts of Namibia and RSA) does not hesitate to refuse an animal based on the advice of local guides while it does not match what you wanted originally (animals too young or too trophy small)
And above all: the largest St. Hubert have with you.
by Bernard Andries
This is a story by my client Bernard Andries who hunted with me in C.A.R.
This story has been translated from French to English by Google translate. The original French version can be found below.
Central African Republic (C.A.R.)
First Day
From 6 to 22 February 2008 We returned yesterday before I left C.A.R., where February 6 for 2 weeks.
With my wife, CDG TGV LILLE in the afternoon of 06 with bag and baggage to arrive at Roissy 3 hours before scheduled departure in 23 hours.
The registration of weapons is done without problems for wildlife club had said taking the ticket all identifications of arms cal and marks and No and the number and size of bullets (which I urge you, because as we were dealing a neophyte in this area, as everything was clear in his computer, there was no problem.
Boarding time and departure with an hour late (too many people had multiple bags hand ...
Good finish to Bangui where Felicity KO (mandated by the various organizations) responsible for receiving the hunters showed professionalism and this has enabled us to quickly retrieve weapons and ammunition.
An aircraft (20 seats) waiting for us to go into the bush: a Dornier with pilot and co pilot.
Departure to 9 hours for 3 different areas of hunting: a hunter who wanted to hunt leopard TIRAN at Marcel, then we leave to file another at Fécomme who also wanted to hunt the leopard finally Sangbé direction where we were 4: 2 hunters for camp held by C. LEMEE waiting with guides JP Leroux and P. Clerota, one to hunt the lion and eland and the other only because the buffalo was his first contact with Africa and the great hunt and end my wife and me in the camp run by Matthew LABOUREUR for hunting leopard, eland, buffalo, bongo antelope, and if the quota allowed.
At each landing on bush tracks, guides were present and still very warm welcome. A cool drink was welcome. Each camp also took its refueling plane for our stay. A perfect organization! They were still waiting for the plane takes off before leaving.
Our guide Christophe Morio and his team of 3: driver, tracker and carrying handles make and load our luggage and we noted the need to hurry because the bait he has to watch the leopard had been visited and that the trace (> 6mm) promised a handsome male and that if we wanted lunch, we change, target, pull a bait, to install and we install in the boma (he had built the previous day) for 17 hours he had to go. So en route to runway 30 minutes to reach the camp BANGORAN.
Arrival at camp shower, hunting clothes, lunch followed by a short siesta we started since yesterday afternoon and departure for 14 hours for the camp FHO is a satellite camp of BANGORAN better situated for most central to leopard and eland.
We target in a box hanging on a tree 50 meters (1 centimeters above: perfect).
En route we passed a red duiker flank with a beautiful trophy Christopher said "it should be removed for leopard bait because if we do not find bakouya (baboon) we will always have something I jumped out of the land, it is behind a tree 80 meters, well I'm trying to stall and wait for it beforehand.
I pull the center to avoid damaging the wrapper, with 375 HH NP Federal.
Arrive FHO where the taxidermist and the cape cut way to the boma on the path I remove a bakouya male (we can keep the red side to eat), the baboon is best for bait.
16 hours, we arrived on the spot: the last bait is completely eaten very promising. The team installs the baboon on the branch with the son of the iron front and rear legs, it drags the hose a few dozens to the bottom of bako up the tree, the tree is rubbed with guts; During this time my wife (because it is this year draws Leopard, I had the chance to make last year) moved into the boma and hold the 375 on the tripod, the muzzle flush hole of 10 centimeters is in the straw, another hole is made for me and one for Christopher.
I checked the lunette (a S and B 2, 5 x 10 with illuminated reticle) and put it on X4: The boma is 35m: and see that the center of the cross lights up well.
Everything is ready, it is 17 hours; Christophe team returns with the vehicle than 1 mile away with orders to come to us 20 hours in the absence of fire, we say hello and leave: it seems that it misleads leopard who hesitates to climb?
Vers 17 heures 30 odd roar left followed by a cry of the leopard feature: all of our senses are on alert for 20 minutes the noises of the bush (cries of birds, guinea fowls, monkeys, bees or wasps, big buzz, we wrap c It is magical.
I scan with my binoculars around, nothing, I began to branch: IT IS THE full through, we heard nothing: it is 17 hours 50; Christopher sees the same time I tremble with my binoculars and experiences difficulty breathing, I had not felt this when I saw him go last year and I understand the feeling that the guide can feel what I am confirmed Christophe but soon all is quiet. My wife is very calm, she framework in the glass; Christopher tries to judge the animal, male or female, who quickly puts face on his stomach on a perpendicular branch so that only the head and front legs are visible .
After a few minutes Christophe says that it is a male, given the size of the head and earlier.
My wife clearly seen but always my face: I discourage the shooting, as too random and asked to wait until he moves and after 15 minutes like always, it starts to get dark, we decided to light the torch red it will do may be moving: it is ready: switch on, it leaves him indifferent and he continues to bite your teeth bait his back on the industry to be more comfortable. We try to whistle for it rises, nothing to do after 10 minutes the torch begins to weaken. I will draw well in my head told my wife whispered, Christopher replied that if she feels well, she can go there soon because the battery is flat and we are in a fairly dark bako ... PAN! At carbine for 1 to 2 seconds and then nothing happens the animal falls away gently from its branch and fell in a heap.
Christopher and I each take a 12 cal charge of 21 grains with torch attached and I put my big jacket barbour and we go on; sound of dead leaves, I see him move, I shoot, click and I had not initiated cartridge in the barrel, Christopher did not see hidden by a tree, I pointed him to take what he does at the same time.
It was directly above the branch, a bullet in the left eye, emerged on the right, he turned his head at the time of the shooting: the upheavals marked the end and I do not think he could have it go even without the 12 cal ... to report that he had also broken right leg to shoulder height.
It was 18 hours 30 of our first afternoon safari.
Back at camp with the vehicle design with leafy branches, firing a rifle at 400 meters from the camp and the team sings a song in Sango (glorifying the hunter for being clever and having to get rid of this predator) quickly relayed by the camp staff, women and children who come in singing to greet us a leafy branch to shake the hand they danced in good humor and joy around the vehicle. What atmosphere.
General meeting and tour film and photos.
Meals and to bed about 21 hours.
Second day of hunting
Sunrise 6am to start at 7am.
The next is the eland of interest.
Christopher explains that we will try to locate the area causing more than 600 000 hectares, not to walk too far on the first day and adapt to the bush and heat.
The morning, we drive 77 kilometers of track by selecting squares.
An hour after sunrise, we are attacked by tsetse flies for 1 / 4 hours and there is even 1 / 4 hours before dark (it will happen every day): the repellents n do not act on the tsetse fly, only the clothes with slightly closed, but many are biting through clothing (appearance and itching like big mosquito bites).
Back to 11 hours 3O seen only 1 female buffalo and antelope in the distance and 2 warthogs.
Shower, swim in the little river that runs through the camp where miniminipiscine infinity is installed (which is nice in this heat !!!). Meals, naps and departure for 15 hours.
In the afternoon, 33 kilometers of track, the 110 miles driven we can locate some herds so the tracks and saline where we can monitor from early morning departures and trace them back.
The team would also like to burn the straw when necessary.
Return 18 hours after dark, cocktails around the campfire followed by dinner and sleep in 20 hours.
This will be a few that rate schedule we adopt for the entire stay.
Third day of hunting
Sunrise 4 heures 30 Start 5 heures 15 we come across a herd of buffalo that we allow to lead us into our areas identified: to 6 hours.
Traces on the runway, the smile of a child tracker Norbert, I feel that the tracks are very fresh and equips There we go, after 1 hours 30.
Eye Contact: 1 male and 3 females including one sees us and they leave Uninterruptable: Christophe said "the male is not terrible, it leaves".
Back to the car, walking herd of hartebeest Lelwel with a beautiful male (trophy estimated at 60 centimeters) stopped at 60 meters, it is not part of our program, we leave.
New traces taken about 10 hours after 1 hour contact, the wind turns, elk are the wind, we leave as it is very difficult to trace the impulses that you have felt more and said Christophe, it could force therefore of them out of the area and scaring them.
Back at the camp.
The afternoon will be devoted to the search for traces of buffalo RAS.
Tomorrow we know which areas in search of fresh tracks to track the ghosts of the bush: eland.
Fourth day of hunting
Out 5 hours, a saline control: many fresh tracks, we take a walk alone, after 1 hour very fresh droppings, the track is mixed in a herd of important runs in all directions and we shall not to unravel to find our feet or the exit signs to the resume: abandonment, return the vehicle several miles during which we see momentum: approach Sioux visibility: it is a Male and a second but too young. Back at camp 12 hours.
Afternoon: grand tour to find Buffalo koba but nothing concrete, and we go way back: large herd of elk in the saline we ascend the herd 1 and 2 handsome males but not seen in good condition shooting Far too many kékés and over 100 meters and light down a lot: Christophe said, "we'll take them back tomorrow morning, the males I have seen are beautiful."
Fifth day of hunting
5 hours Departure Ngoutéré direction where we left them last night. It shows the traces of yesterday and after 10 minutes you can hear them (it must be said that it was dark when we left them and the day is just beginning to dawn). The wind is not favorable, Christopher decides to make a big loop to precede and to be fair wind while trying to maintain eye contact but also by hearing the trackers who have a sight and hearing incredible, after 1 hour walking in step, or more than its image, the contact is lost. We try to go gently, still nothing. With trackers, Christopher decides to resume the last trace of eye contact, another 1 hour walk, we find the trail and ascend: surprise, we recroisons our own tracks, the maneuver was so good, but the elk had stopped much earlier and had resumed the march when we set the record for once we were before the flights.
After 2 hours of tracking, eye contact again at 80 - 100 meters, an opening parade where the elk and the stick is installed, removed security, no good male over 20 to 30 animals, we continue the approach following the elk new hole, and stick new parade, I am ready but nothing about thirty animals that pass, Christopher believes the herd to 60 to 80 elk.
New approach opens the field for the straw is burned off, we let the team and stick and crawl to 2: Christopher and me in the burned about 200 - 250 meters, Christophe forbids me to combine and remove the head!
We're almost in the herd before us in range of 50 meters it took us 1 hour 30 because of ramping females constantly looking in our direction. I was hidden behind a termite fungus than 40 centimeters high, while Christophe twinning with caution to find a good male that I wanted quality (1 meter right).
"Bernard lifts you gently by supporting without sudden movement, there are 2 animals left in profile, 2 right profile: a female and a young, right before a male but it is full face, I think it is good if you can draw on when it presents itself well, but extreme caution as we look and can spin. "
Cautiously, I straightened me fondant chick before me, I check what Christopher told through the telescope and identifies the animal in question that concerns us and this is my face: I put the cross between the 2 earlier, not too high because the animal is high and I want to avoid neck, I fall a little and takes heart, he accuses, and stumbles across the herd gets carried away in a race.
We rushed to the Anschluss: a few drops of blood, then nothing, traces of deep running.
Trackers rush, take the trail they found among others with a few drops of blood for 100 yards and Christophe said "you have perhaps brushed" but I felt confident as well positioned to take , not far from 60 yards away and NP in 375 HH, it should work.
About 150 meters, a blood stain slightly higher on a leaf, my eye scans later and I see a gray mass on the side: the momentum is dead, the ball came back his face, so non-citizens, that they explains the lack of blood after measuring, it is 1 meter O7 and 51 inches 1 / 4: good hunting, beautiful conclusion.
Sixth day of hunting
As expected, we start the morning around 6 hours for Batou located 60 kilometers on the road, little thing we stopped 3 times to try to find the blue duiker appelquand we passed a little tight bako The hunter stands in front on one knee, rifle loaded with 12 cal, 4 nickel-supported because it must be extremely rapid, the guide behind to identify the male and the tracker behind calling, producing a nasal sound a bit like a meow that imitate the sound of the injured duiker. Nothing came to the 3 times I can tell you however that it works because last year we had one done this way.
Around 10 hours 30, we arrive at camp very rustic with two bedrooms and bathroom outside like the shower, all located near a river Manovo the edge of which was the dining room very nice. Electricity from solar panel and gas refrigerator containing cold beer! Coke and mocaf, CHWEPPES ...
Meals, naps and short way to the lookout with mattresses for the night, seats and battery for the lamp, the Bongo will hunt mainly on the lookout, the bakos being too tight for tracking and hunting dog not practiced in RCA as too intrusive because it is not forest but gallery forests in savanna.
In 15 hours we have in place, the bongo can come day or night.
The watchtower is located 7 m high with a plain face forming a bay surrounded by bako, centered bay bordered by a swamp of salt to 130 meters in front and another at 60 meters on the right.
Wonderful places to watch birds: sacred ibis, comb duck, heron, grebe, white knight ass, green pigeons by ten, doves shouldered purple martin and martin hunter hunter Pygmy swarm green and scarlet touraco, forètsetc of hornbill. .. a real treat but no antelope.
Vers 17 heures 30 a sitatunga female shows up and the day begins to decline, a blue duikers to the edge of the salt, but we expect the bongo ... vers 19 heures 30 Surprise: 8 elephants arrived on the salt bottom and remain a half hour (the same evening at 30 kilometers away, another hunter, one American had 40 elephants at the foot of his viewpoint that rubbed on pillars supporting it, fear it! to report that he had spent the previous week three days and three nights without seeing anything Batou.
I right binoculars and see a clear format without identification, we light: a leopard whose form is fine enough we think of a female, she limps forward right, probably a snare, frequently used by the poacher customary.
I told myself after a leopard, it is quiet nothing will sell anytime soon and I lie on the mattress where my wife is already, I dozed for 3 minutes when I hear a sort of barking at 2 times: Christophe me tape shoulder "we just heard a bongo barking, do not move, I check" 2 to 3 minutes later, "it is there," I twin: wonderful vision that striped antelope. Christophe I can not certify that it is a male, then we decide to light the torch with red and immediately, he confirms that he is a male: the reticle 375 with light roared: I seem to see return the ball to the target location behind the front leg, we hear the sound of broken branches: quickly down the ladder toward the salty and we fall on the bongo 20 meters before the point of shooting.
Indeed what a magnificent animal, color, stripes: we have 13. Christopher said "this, you must naturalizing whole, otherwise!
Up for the photo session, we try to position it well when all of a sudden I feel a tingling in the legs and a few bites, fire ants exclaims the tracker, we get away with bongo and I look at the Torch: a trail of ants in the pants in 3 seconds I'm in my underwear and trying to kill the insect while the tracker lighting a fire to keep them away, all is quiet quickly, OUF. A strong odor is felt: we thought it was a smell of bongo but Christopher tells us he is formic acid released by stressing that the ants!
As for the eland and leopard, Bongo and only three animals you give this back to camp with the jeep decorated with foliage, a rifle shot approach to the camp and home with songs by all the camp staff He must live at least once to feel pride and happiness that it gives you.
That evening we went to bed about 23 hours.
Seventh day of hunting
Sunrise 5 am 30, starting at dawn to 6 hours. A few unsuccessful calls to the blue duiker during a walk in a deep baco 3O for 2 hours when we identify a multitude of traces of pota and giant forest hog, but no pets ... Lunch and nap.
The afternoon will be devoted to the blue duiker, yellow back. Going control a new salt that Christopher was discovered in the scanning area on the internet with google earth when he returned to France after last season, by taking the gps point on the map, which allowed him on the ground find: magnificent spectacle of 10 giant forest hog with a beautiful male tirable easily but not in our program that allows us some pictures of these swine unobtrusive and rare contrast to what we think, Christopher said he is animals there that day and the best time for the meeting is to 15 hours on the salt or in bakos (he has never seen at night).
In return, the tracker who walked in front stops suddenly: he almost stepped on a snake that was cut in half with his machete: to report that we saw the second day, beside a pond a python 3 m 50 was busy swallowing a heron and we shall see a puff adder or similar on the airport road to Sangba the last day she crossed the jeep and went rolling over.
Eighth day of hunting
Despite the absence of yellow-backed duiker, we will return to the main camp of Bangoran free to leave the camp at Batu American hunter who was there for a period of 4 weeks with the program: eland, bongo - sitatunga _ bush pig, he spent 2 ½ weeks and had reaped the eland to date.
60 kilometers of rough track over which in turn, I see a tail, "fly in the green" Bamara "said the tracker: the lion! actually a big lion track follows the track to indicate that there is 1 lion quota in the area mainly driven bait or appeal.
A little later a group of fifteen bushpigs 50 meters from the vehicle quickly, chase to bako, difficult to choose a good male in the straw out of sight, we continue the trail and suddenly a red spot: a young pota caught in a cable (neck) still alive but in a bad way: we are completing a knife. The cable is a standard technique of poaching of native customary local diamond like many on the area (during our stay, we will find a dozen collars and another vegetable garden in the same place a few days later by another team hunting).
Arrive BANGORAN to 12 hours.
Christopher complains of headache and fever will, he will rest in the afternoon and the next day.
We seek the afternoon and morning and afternoon with a possible Hippotrage another guide Alex circulating prone areas near the plains, but we'll see many antelope but no antelope.
RDV therefore the tenth day of hunting
Tenth day of hunting
Christopher is cocked, the program is looking for the buffalo. Every morning we look in vain for fresh tracks of buffalo, but nothing at all, where are they gone? They are probably in the square where there are many small water points.
In the afternoon, about 15 hours: Christopher decides to walk within a square propitious, since the traces do not go out on the slopes, we must go get them.
Just 30 minutes walk, bars for ... Small curve to put to good wind and approach to about 60 meters and we are looking for a good male, but that young people, following several approaches, a male a little better off as well but Christopher tells me we can find much better for it male is not finished, the center of the strip apparently still soft. He decides to call them by imitating a bellow of youth in difficulty incredible herd rushes to literally stop at 15 not fully exposed, a very large female sees us but wondered what it takes then the herd suddenly the flight: "someone has moved," said Christophe, a fact melliponne me back in the eye and I instinctively put his hand in his face, which was enough ... Back at camp because it is late.
Another day white!
Eleventh day of hunting
Start 5 hours 30, we passed a magnificent male eland solitary trotting to 40 meters from the vehicle ...
We quickly track of buffaloes and go back, after 1 hour 30 walk, touch, approach, overlaps:; buffaloes marched slowly in a small plain: we find the male: almost the same type as that of yesterday, so that Christopher believed that the same herd that we took! We drop.
In the afternoon to 14 hours 30, CAMP FHO of returning this afternoon.
We track that we had identified returned in the afternoon near the camp FHO although it seems to date in the morning. After 1 hour 30 minutes walk: contact approach which inthe perfect.
We see a trail of urine forming an S on a yard sign that the presence of a male said Christopher. Many difficult to find this male from a fifty animals rather scattered: Finally, we find ourselves well placed at 50 meters, but once the trophy does not satisfy us, it's a trophy last day said Christophe, we can do better because we still have 3 days. We return; 5 days without firing a shot, but the start of the safari was tellemnt intense that it does not weigh me at all.
Twelfth day of hunting
Morning, starting at 5 am 30 with Priority Management Ngoutéré buffalo and then Ndiri which are 2 very humid plains where the buffaloes are often before dawn. During the trip 6 heures 30: a solitary buffalo on the runway, a male correct: Christophe stops and offers to my wife to pull, but it lags because it does not tell him to take the car or without action research (especially she has one in tracking last year) which allows the buffalo to sea, we are following at full speed in climbing 2 small hills and on top of the second, we find it "parked" in 70 meters behind a tree, but the race exhausting climb to my wife requires a recovery of breath that allows the animal time to escape, I might try to run, I was ready but I don 'have not hooked.
Click on thumbnail to view the video of Roan Antelope in CAR
We return to the vehicle, we had (with) ran nearly a mile.
At 7 o'clock 30 fresh tracks of a herd on Ndiri, we take them; connect to 8 hours, they are very nervous and number 80, they split into small groups of a dozen heads that we based the but the wind dispersal of animals facts fan us with their nervousness and, after 2 hours, we leave ... Christopher said that during the previous safari every day.
2 or 3 flocks were observed in the jeep: cete week, galley, maybe it is because of bushfire or harmattan?
Click on thumbnail to view the video of Roan Antelope in CAR
Given time, more than 10 heures30, the heat will be conducive to finding the "yagé or antelope near the Great Plains, arrived at 1 kilometer from the plain, we leave the jeep and walk and be more discreet.
With the approach of the plain, Fidel Demayo one of our trackers freezes and scans in the distance there, 3 yagés 600 meters, we let the team approach to our Christopher and me, trying to enjoy each field advantage, a bush, a termite mound, the tall grass, because they are fully exposed: we are 150 meters, Christopher said a proper male and two females and most can be approached without risk. I position myself against a chick and wait for instructions "that right is the male, he pursues the female, this is full right profile: I take it shrinks but remains standing, females continue to graze, then left profile: I withdraw it falters but remains standing, females still graze, then lies down on the spot, head high. I think this attitude reflects a mortal wound. He is lying his face and difficult to remove, after 5 minutes, we decided to approach in order to remove if necessary under good conditions, came to 80 meters, but he is wavering backwards, we see the ball coming in the thorax where does a lot of blood, then it definitely falls on the side to die is a beautiful male 70 inches.
As can be seen: the entry of the bullet is a little behind on the left side, the first ball is completely symmetrical to right and 2 balls remained under the skin of the other side: Federal NP 375 HH .
Afternoon, starting at 15 hours: Christopher decides to go up a canyon on foot. We meet several female bushbuck, and a handsome male who fled to the bottom of the canyon. We continue, thinking to find in a cul de sac at the bottom of the canyon without relying on a flaw in the stone where it went as we show in his footsteps to return by another flaw in the initial location. We continue our tracking to reach the top of a rocky outcrop where we perceive in our cons-low beautiful male 40 meters to stop, but on the alert: Christopher makes me take, I put it in my telescope but does not shoot and let him go! Why? Perhaps because I had not programmed, having already collected a fine specimen in Benin! or because he had so well defended in this canyon? we return to camp after 3 hours of walking in a surprising landscape of rocks and holes in the bottom of which flows a small stream.
In this canyon, Christopher was firing a beautiful yellow-backed duiker male 3 days ago.
Thirteenth day of hunting
Start 5 heures 10 because it is our penultimate day and we still have not harvested the buffalo.
About 6 o'clock 30 feet buffalo on the trail, seem fresh dung, Christopher decides to take: we remove jackets because it is already good and I am taking the 375 and HH 416 Rigby gives the tracker because it is quite heavy, second it is the tracker 458 to Christopher Lott.
We follow these traces at least 1 kilometer on the track as they return to the bush and emerge on the track, then to sink in an area not burned: the herd is therefore at least 60 animals from our Hassan I. tracker not tracking problem. After 30 minutes of walking, but Hassan smiled and finger in my ear I hear the boss, try to listen but I receive nothing, but soon we see them, they seem very many. Christopher tries to select a male correct, we cut 2 times, we identify at least 3 males, but they are 70 and the habitat is dense, we approach cautiously wind shift, stampede, they spin to the big full open NDIR which at least 1 kilometers 5 kilometers: they will pass through said Christophe, quick, but good wind. We arrive at the edge of the plain where our herd is relatively quiet at 200 meters. The scroll bars on the left rather tight, we approach yet to the overdraft limit and I prepared to stick with the 416 Rigby, it scrolls from right to left between 2 small mounds forming 2 groves 3 to 4 meters wide. But animals are so tight that when we see a male: not possible to draw without risk of injury to others as they walk more: the whole herd has grown and now is over 200 meters ... when suddenly 60 meters behind, we see a latecomer all gray by the matrix of land that covers the back, it definitely sign the male and often an old male, he walks toward the others: I am focusing and when the front of the chest back into my cross I release my ball he accuses.
Suddenly the whole flock takes the wind and jump right over us, my wife quickly rise to 416 and prepare: they are 40 meters but at full speed, and very tight, "the penultimate one fine male": Christopher tries to call for slow, but nothing was done, 60 to 70 buffaloes spend very tight, "fully fund" only 30 yards but the shot is too uncertain and difficult injury!
But what a sight and what emotion! All this took only a few minutes and we hear the roar of the feature buffalo die: he had only 10 yards away and was lying near one of the 2 groves.
We are moving forward despite all rifles shouldered, but he died lying on his side: the twig on the eye shows no reaction, it is 8 hours, a fine old male here that 80 centimeters of width and a band of 27 centimeters of wide witness with bursts of advanced age.
In looking up my sleeve ejected during the reset, I measurement: 186 not so about 160 meters, some would say too far to draw a buffalo, but we did not have much choice.
Photo shoot an hour of cut and we return. It was a beautiful morning.
The ball is back behind the left foreleg, through everything to stay under the skin of the other side. They fell on top of the heart by cutting the large vessels which caused a large internal bleeding: the right to ball 416 NORMA TXP is retrieved from the buffalo left the Nosler Partition in 375 FEDERAL HH recovered on the Koba (the Onthe lead was shot, but posted on the photo).
Below the heart of the buffalo with the impact of the ball is where the blood clot.
Returning with the buffalo, we came upon a herd of twenty cattle: it takes remaining in visual contact with the cattle egret and the accompanying flight which gave us the position: after 2 kilometers no race, they are 50 meters my wife prepares with the 416, the bush is dense, difficult Christophe calls but a whirlwind makes flee these 3 kilometers on the run at noon we were tired and must return the vehicle, another 3 miles and often return to is not fast ... we decided not to pursue the animals we have seen, is unlikely to succeed, we returned to camp 13 hours.
In the afternoon, we went up a canyon back to yellow, but the wind was contrary, we have been burned and film and photos.
Fourteenth day of hunting and last
The morning departure at 5 pm for the DA area conducive bako back yellow and blue duiker.
We make several stops at places that seem conducive to chase the blue the call, but nothing at all. When marauding jeep: equally desert many traces on a bike across the tracks and even a scooter that seems to have lost because the trail will turn back regularly ... finally, we find convergence traces to an area Research diamonds where the natives dig and sift in search of rocks, they are numerous and often family-all this perhaps explains the lack of movement of animals today. We therefore decided to return but Christopher wants to take me on the road on a tray suitable for Oribi: we will cautiously actually border, about 120 meters 3 Oribi waiting for us there is a male, I pulls the 375 and now it is nevertheless a very male way.
In order not to kill the cape, it is better to take heart.
The afternoon final opportunity to find the buffalo for my wife, we go to 15 hours we Maraudon around the plains, but no traces of buffalo or after 1 hour and 30 Circuit, 2 warthogs surprised in the plains run to regain the covered, we decided to cut: I try to put it in the telescope: no way to find them, must say that I stayed at a magnification of 10 for the Oribi, they are already far, but the spurs us on 200 - 300 meters and meet again, I reduced the magnification they advance slowly to 150 meters, I took a chick (for nth a hurry and running, we did not stick) I draw, but it took a little behind, he continues, second bullet missed the third shot missed, it must be said that it is now 2OO yards and fourth bullet that gives this.
It is far from being exceptional, but he is wearing.
I take this opportunity to introduce the team: left Fidel De Mayo tracker in the center Luke was the driver, but also bearer and right tracker and the tracker Norbert Hassan has an ear and an eye that the we would like to have: they were of a kind, friendly, polite and competent in a word that a team would usually have and I thank them.
In return, a herd of buffalo vers 17 hours 30, we quickly coupons at a run, but when we arrive where he spent nothing, he had fled we have seen, but mostly because the wind n That was not good... was the last day ...
In conclusion, I actually think it's a good safari: one lacking the yellow-backed duiker that I have not seen or last year or this year.
During our return trip to Bangui, we met 4 hunters: 2 of them went for the leopard everyone in a different camp and after 2 weeks, one has seen anything and after 8 days had the opportunity draw plus 1 eland: then he saw much the first week, he has not seen then and therefore returned empty-handed except for baboons bait.
The other hunter leopard has seen 3 different females but no male: empty-handed also.
The other two hunters were together: one was confirmed to eland - lion: he was a lion and eland àl'appel which I saw the picture: a thick black mane worthy of the finest Tanzanian when that which the accompanied him, he came first in Africa and only the buffalo hunt.
He had no experience and went directly to the gun rifle without having trained before leaving! Review: A beautiful brand of shooting glasses on the front, a dozen bullets, 2 buffaloes missed a wounded buffalo never recovered.
Nothing is gained ...
Weapons: I went with a 375 HH BLASER R93 bezel with S & B with illuminated reticle and Nosler Partition bullets and a FEDERAL HEYM BIGBORE in 416 Rigby bezel SWAROSKI 1 5/6et NORMA TXP: last year I ' had taken only the 416 but the illuminated reticle is still very useful for shooting in low light (Leopard - Bongo), secondly the blazer is much lighter and more manageable. However, for the buffalo I have more confidence in the efficacy of the 416 but perhaps it is more psychological than real but confidence in my opinion is a major asset in the success of the shot. This is also on my first safari in Benin, guides and hunters incense 416 and the 375 was a little limited in some time. I have so far taken 6 buffaloes with 6 bullets with my 416 Rigby; target and I rule my own glasses and I shoot several bullets at 100 meters this 1 time per week for 4 weeks before my departure.
I fired a shot with the 416, everything else to 375.
To achieve its safari: the first thing to go with a guide that is well known (either oneself or by other hunters who have practiced) and do not walk ... Starting with a known organization (which has a reputation to uphold).
- To make sure that quotas exist! able to take our animals coveted but especially repatriate the trophy.
- In order to be indemnified in case of problems and / or be supported by France when political or other problem in the country where you go, especially in Africa (a few days ago a group of 5 hunters was found in slip by highwaymen in Senegal in Casamance in the relay camp flourished: they took everything: even the weapons). I recall a forum where they said basically that had to be stupid to go on RCA in recent years, the risk is actually falling on the Sudanese but we must remain cautious ... The risk is not zero.
Starting with his weapons, physical fitness and weapons training, because the firing tax is very bitter for a wounded animal not recovered.
It is also, I think I have some experience because nothing is innate and we learn by doing (to correct errors, they must have done).
For safaris closed area (like parts of Namibia and RSA) does not hesitate to refuse an animal based on the advice of local guides while it does not match what you wanted originally (animals too young or too trophy small)
And above all: the largest St. Hubert have with you.
Original French Version.
Voyage de Chasse
by Bernard Andries
Republique Centrafricaine (RCA)
Premier jour
Du 6 au 22 Février 2008 Nous sommes rentrés avant hier de RCA où j'étais parti le 6 Février pour 2 semaines.
Avec mon épouse, TGV LILLE CDG dans l'après midi du 06 avec armes et bagages pour arriver à Roissy 3 heures avant le départ prévu à 23 heures.
L'enregistrement des armes se fait sans problèmes car club faune avait précisé en prenant le billet toutes les identifications des armes: cal et marque et n° ainsi que le nombre et calibre des balles (ce que je vous conseille vivement car comme nous avions affaire à un néophyte en la matière, comme tout était précisé dans son ordinateur, il n'y a eu aucun problème.
Embarquement à l'heure et départ avec une heure de retard (trop de personnes avaient plusieurs bagages à mains...
Bonne arrivée à BANGUI où Félicité KO (mandatée par les différentes organisations) qui s'occupe de recevoir les chasseurs a fait preuve de professionnalisme et cela nous a permis rapidement de récupérer armes et munitions.
Un avion (20 places) nous attendait pour partir en brousse: un DORNIER avec PILOTE et Co pilote.
Départ vers 9 heures pour 3 zones de chasse différentes: un chasseur qui souhaitait chasser le léopard chez Marcel TIRAN, puis nous repartons pour déposer un autre chez FECOMME qui souhaitait également chasser le léopard, enfin direction SANGBA où nous étions 4: 2 chasseurs pour le camp tenu par C. LEMEE qui attendait accompagné des guides J.P LEROUX et P. CLEROT, l'un pour chasser le lion et l'éland et l'autre uniquement le buffle car c'était son premier contact avec l'Afrique et la grande chasse et en fin mon épouse et moi pour le camp tenu par Matthieu LABOUREUR pour chasser léopard, éland, buffles, hippotrague et bongo si le quota le permettait.
A chaque atterrissage sur les pistes de brousse, les guides étaient présents et l'accueil toujours très chaleureux. Une boisson fraîche était la bienvenue. Chaque camp prenait également son ravitaillement dans l'avion pour notre séjour. Une organisation parfaite! Ils attendaient toujours que l'avion décolle avant de s'en aller.
Notre guide Christophe MORIO accompagné de son équipe de 3: chauffeur, pisteur et porteur s'occupe de faire prendre et charger nos bagages et nous signale qu'il faut se dépêcher car l'appât qu'il a mis la veille pour le léopard avait été visité et que la trace (>6mm) promettait un beau male et que si nous voulions déjeuner, nous changer, cibler, tirer un appât, l'installer et nous installer dans la boma (qu'il avait construite la veille) pour 17 heures il fallait y aller. Donc en route pour 30 minutes de piste pour arriver au camp de BANGORAN.
Arrivée au camp: douche, habits de chasse, déjeuner suivi d'une courte sieste: nous étions partis depuis la veille après midi et départ vers 14 heures pour le camp de FHO qui est un camp satellite de BANGORAN mieux situé car plus central pour léopard et éland.
Nous ciblons en accrochant un carton sur un arbre à 50 mètres (1 centimetres au dessus: parfait).
En route, nous croisons un céphalophe à flanc roux avec un très beau trophée: Christophe me dit "il faut l'enlever pour l'appât léopard car si nous ne trouvons pas de bakouya (babouin) nous aurons toujours quelquechose: je saute de la land, il est derrière un arbre à 80 mètres, j'essaie de bien me caler et attends qu'il avance.
Je tire plein centre pour ne pas abimer la cape, avec 375 HH N P Fédéral.
Arrivée à FHO où le taxidermiste découpe la cape et en route pour la boma; sur le chemin j'enlève un bakouya male (nous pourrons conserver le flanc roux pour manger), le babouin étant meilleur pour l'appat.
16 heures, nous arrivons sur la place: le dernier appat est complètement mangé donc très prometteur. L'équipe installe le babouin sur la branche avec des fils de fer par les pattes avant et arrière, on traine les boyaux sur quelques dizaines de mettre du fond du bako jusque l'arbre, on frotte l'arbre avec les tripes; Pendant ce temps mon épouse (car c'est elle qui cette année tire le léopard, j'ai eu la chance de le tirer l'an dernier) s'installe dans la boma et cale la 375 sur le tripod, le bout du canon au ras du trou de 10 centimetres fait dans la paille, un autre trou est fait pour moi et un troisième pour Christophe.
Je vérifie la lunette (une S et B 2, 5 X 10 avec réticule lumineux) et la mets sur X4: la boma est à 35m: et vois que le centre de la croix s'éclaire bien.
Tout est paré; il est 17 heures; Christophe renvoie l'équipe avec le véhicule à 1 kilomètre de distance avec ordre de venir nous trouver vers 20 heures en l'absence de tir, nous dire bonjour et repartir: il parait que cela trompe le léopard qui hésite à grimper??
Vers 17 heures 30 rugissement bizarre à gauche suivi du cri caractéristique du léopard: tous nos sens sont en alerte pendant 20 minutes les bruits de la brousse (cris d'oiseaux, pintades, singes, abeilles ou guèpes, gros bourdonnements, nous enveloppent; c'est magique.
Je scrute avec mes jumelles les alentours, rien, je remonte vers la branche: IL EST LA plein travers, nous n'avons rien entendu: il est 17 heures 50; Christophe l'aperçoit en même temps: je tremble avec mes jumelles et éprouve des difficultés à respirer, je n'avais pas ressenti cela quand je l'ai vu monter l'an dernier et la je comprends la sensation que le guide peut ressentir ce que me confirme Christophe mais bien vite tout se calme. Ma femme est très calme, elle le cadre dans la lunette; Christophe essaie de juger l'animal: mâle ou femelle, qui se met rapidement de face à plat ventre sur une branche perpendiculaire de sorte que seulement la tête et les pattes avant sont visibles.
Après quelques minutes Christophe nous dit que c'est un male vu la taille de la tête et des antérieurs.
Ma femme le voit bien mais toujours pleine face: je la dissuade de tirer, car trop aléatoire et demande d'attendre qu'il bouge; après 15 minutes toujours pareil, il commence à faire sombre, nous décidons d'allumer la torche rouge, cela le fera peut-être bouger: elle est prète: j'allume, cela le laisse indifférent et il continue à croquer à pleines dents l'appât qu'il a remonté sur la branche pour être plus à l'aise. Nous essayons de siffler pour qu'il se lève: rien à faire après 10 minutes la torche commence à faiblir. Je le tirerai bien dans la tête me dit ma femme tout bas, Christophe lui répond que si elle le sent bien, elle peut y aller car bientôt la batterie sera plate et nous sommes dans un bako assez sombre... PAN!!! Au coup de carabine pendant 1 à 2 secondes rien ne bouge puis l'animal se décroche doucement de sa branche pour tomber comme une masse.
Christophe et moi prenons chacun un cal 12 chargé de 21 grains avec torche attachée et j'enfile ma grosse veste barbour et nous y allons de suite; un bruit de feuilles mortes, je le vois bouger, je tire; clic: je n'avais pas engagé de cartouche dans le canon, Christophe ne le voit pas caché par un arbre, je lui signale de tirer ce qu'il fait en même temps.
Il était à l'aplomb de la branche, une balle dans l'oeil gauche, ressortie à droite, il avait tourné la tête au moment du tir: les soubresauts marquaient la fin et je ne pense pas qu'il aurait pu s'en aller même sans le cal 12... à signaler qu'il avait également la patte droite fracassée à hauteur de l'épaule.
Il était 18 heures 30 de notre première après midi de safari.
Retour au camp avec décoration du véhicule avec des branchages feuillus, tir d'un coup de carabine à 400 mètres du camp et l'équipe entonne un chant en sangho (glorifiant le chasseur pour avoir été habile et pour les avoir débarrasser de ce prédateur) vite relayée par le personnel du camp, les femmes et les enfants qui accourent en chantant pour nous accueillir une branche feuillue à la main qu'ils agitent en dansant dans la bonne humeur et la joie autour du véhicule. Quelle ambiance.
Tournée générale et séance film et photos.
Repas et au lit vers 21 heures.
Deuxième jour de chasse
Lever 6h pour départ à 7 heures.
Le prochain c'est l'élan de derby qui nous intéresse.
Christophe m'explique que nous allons essayer de les localiser sur la zone qui fait plus de 600 000 hectares, pour ne pas trop marcher le premier jour et s'adapter à la brousse et à la chaleur.
La matinée, nous roulons 77 kilomètres de piste en sélectionnant des carrés.
Une heure après le lever du jour, nous sommes attaqués par les TSE-TSE pendant 1/4 heure et il en est de même 1/4 heure avant la tombée de la nuit (il en sera ainsi tous les jours): les répellents n'agissent pas sur les tsé tsé, seuls les vêtements fermés protègent un peu, mais les piqûres sont nombreuses à travers les vêtements (aspect et démangeaisons comme de grosses piqûres de moustiques).
Retour vers 11 heures 3O vus 1 buffle femelle seule et un hippotrague au loin ainsi que 2 phacochères.
Douche, petite baignade dans la rivière qui traverse le camp où une miniminipiscine à débordement est installée (que c'est agréable par cette chaleur!!!). Repas, sieste et départ vers 15 heures.
L'après midi 33 kilomètres de piste; ces 110 kilomètres effectués nous permettent de localiser quelques troupeaux donc les pistes et salines où nous pourrons contrôler dès le matin des départs de traces et les remonter.
L'équipe profite aussi pour brûler les pailles quand il le faut.
Retour 18 heures quand il fait noir, apéro autour d'un feu de camp suivi du repas et coucher à 20 heures.
Ce sera un peu ce rythme d'horaire que nous adopterons pour tout le séjour.
Troisième jour de chasse
Lever 4 heures 30 Départ 5 heures 15 nous croisons un troupeau de buffles que nous laissons, pour nous diriger vers nos zones repérées: vers 6 heures.
Traces sur la piste, au sourire d'enfant du pisteur Norbert, je sens que les traces sont très fraîches On s'équipe et on y va; après 1 heure 30.
Contact visuel: 1 male et 3 femelles dont une nous voit et ils partent en courrant: Christophe me dit "le male n'est pas terrible, on laisse".
Retour au véhicule, en marchant troupeau de bubale de Lelwel avec un très beau male (trophée estimé à 60 centimetres) stoppé à 60 mètres; cela ne fait pas parti de notre programme; nous laissons.
Nouvelles traces prises vers 10 heures, après 1 heure contact, le vent tourne, les élans prennent le vent; nous abandonnons car il est très difficile de remonter des élans qui vous ont sentis et en plus me dit Christophe, on risque de les forcer donc de les faire sortir de la zone et de les effaroucher.
Retour au camp.
L'après midi sera consacrée à la recherche de traces de buffles RAS.
Demain nous savons dans quels secteurs rechercher des traces fraîches pour pister les fantômes de la brousse: élans de derby.
Quatrième jour de chasse
Départ 5 heures, contrôle d'une saline: beaucoup de traces fraîches; nous prenons un pied de solitaire, après 1 heure crottes très fraîches, la trace se mélange dans celle d'un troupeau important qui circule dans tous les sens et nous ne parviendrons pas à démêler pour retrouver notre pied ni la sortie des traces afin de les reprendre: abandon; retour au véhicule à plusieurs kilomètres au cours du quel nous voyons un élan: approche de sioux, bonne visibilité: c'est un Male et un deuxième mais trop jeunes. Retour au camp à 12 heures.
Après midi: grand tour pour rechercher buffle et koba mais rien de concret, nous rentrons et sur le chemin du retour: grand troupeau d'élans à la saline: nous remontons le troupeau 1 puis 2 beaux males vus mais pas de bonne condition de tir, beaucoup trop de kékés et plus de 100 mètres et la lumière baisse beaucoup: Christophe me dit: "on va les reprendre demain matin, les males que j'ai vus sont magnifiques".
Cinquième jour de chasse
Départ 5 heures direction Ngoutéré, là où on les a laissés hier soir. On reprend les traces de la veille et après 10 minutes on les entend (il faut dire qu'il faisait nuit quand on les a quittés et que le jour commence à peine à poindre). Le vent n'est pas favorable, Christophe décide donc de faire une grande boucle pour les précéder et être à bon vent tout en essayant de conserver un contact visuel mais surtout auditif par les pisteurs qui ont une vue et une ouïe incroyable, après 1 heure de marche au pas cadencé, plus de son ni d'image, le contact est perdu. On essaie de remonter doucement, toujours rien. Avec les pisteurs, Christophe décide de reprendre la trace du dernier contact visuel, encore 1 heure de marche, nous retrouvons les traces et les remontons: surprise, nous recroisons nos propres traces, la manoeuvre était donc bonne, mais les élans s'étaient arrêtés bien avant et n'avaient repris la marche quand nous avions repris la trace: pour une fois nous étions avant les élans.
Après 2 heures de pistage, nouveau contact visuel à 80 - 100 mètres, une trouée où défilent les élans; le stick est installé, sécurité enlevé, aucun bon male sur les 20 à 30 animaux, on continue l'approche en suivant les élans: nouvelle trouée, stick et nouveau défilé, je suis prêt mais encore rien sur une trentaine d'animaux qui passent, Christophe estime le troupeau à 60 - 80 élans.
Nouvelle approche, le terrain s'ouvre car la paille est brûlée: nous laissons l'équipe et le stick et rampons à 2: Christophe et moi dans le brûlé sur environ 200 - 250 mètres, Christophe m'interdit de jumeler et de lever la tête!!!
Nous sommes presque dans le troupeau devant nous en éventail à 50 mètres; cela nous a pris 1 heure 30 de ramping car des femelles regardaient sans cesse dans notre direction. J'étais caché derrière une termitière champignon de 40 centimetres de haut pendant que Christophe jumelait avec prudence pour dénicher un bon male que je souhaitais de qualité (1 mètre en droit).
"Bernard lève toi doucement en épaulant sans mouvement brusque, il y a 2 animaux à gauche de profil, 2 à droite de profil: une femelle et un jeune et droit devant un male mais il est pleine face, je crois qu'il est bon, si tu peux tire le dès qu'il se présente bien, mais extrême prudence car il nous regarde et peut filer".
Prudemment, je me redresse en me fondant au kéké devant moi, je vérifie ce que m'a dit Christophe au travers de la lunette et identifie l'animal en question qui nous regarde et se présente pleine face: je mets la croix entre les 2 antérieurs, pas trop haut car l'animal est haut et je veux éviter le cou, je baisse un peu et tire plein centre; il accuse, trébuche et tout le troupeau s'emballe dans une course effrénée.
Nous nous précipitons à l'anschluss: quelques gouttes de sang puis plus rien, des traces de course profonde.
Les pisteurs accourent, prennent la trace qu'ils retrouvent parmi les autres grâce à quelques gouttes de sang et ainsi pendant 100 mètres: Christophe me dit "tu l'as peut-être brossé" mais je me sentais confiant car bien en position pour tirer, pas loin à 60 mètres à peine et une NP en 375 HH, ça doit travailler.
Vers 150 mètres, une tache de sang un peu plus importante sur une feuille, mon regard scrute plus loin et je vois une masse grise sur le flanc: l'élan est mort, la balle est rentrée pleine face, donc non ressortie, ci qui explique le peu de sang; après mesure, il fait 1 mètre O7 et 51 inches 1/4: belle chasse, belle conclusion.
Sixième jour de chasse
Comme prévu, nous partons le matin vers 6 heures pour BATOU situé à 60 kilomètres, sur la route, peu de chose: nous arrêtons à 3 reprises pour essayer de trouver un céphalophe bleu à l’appelquand nous passons près d’un petit bako serré: le chasseur se place en avant, sur un genou, fusil cal 12 chargé avec du 4 nickelé et épaulé car il faut être extrêmement rapide, le guide derrière pour identifier le male et le pisteur derrière qui appelle en produisant un son nasillard un peu comme un miaulement qui imiterait le bruit du céphalophe blessé. Rien n’est venu aux 3 reprises; je peux vous dire cependant que ça marche car l’an dernier nous en avions fait un de cette manière.
Vers 10 heures 30, nous arrivons au camp: très rustique avec deux chambre et les WC dehors tout comme la douche, le tout situé près d’une rivière la manovo au bord de laquelle se trouvait la salle à manger bien sympathique. Electricité par panneau solaire et réfrigérateur au gaz renfermant des bières bien fraiches!!! Coca et mocaf, chweppes...
Repas, courte sieste et en route pour le mirador avec matelas pour passer la nuit, sièges et batterie pour la lampe; le Bongo se chasse principalement à l’affût, les bakos étant trop serrés pour les pister et la chasse au chien non pratiquée en RCA car trop dérangeante car il ne s’agit pas de forêts mais de galeries forestières dans la savanne.
A 15 heures nous sommes en place, le bongo pouvant venir de jour comme de nuit.
Le mirador est situé à 7 m de hauteur face à une plaine formant comme une baie entourée du bako, baie centrée par un marécage bordé d’une saline à 130 mètres en face et une autre à 60 mètres à droite.
Merveilleux endroits pour admirer les oiseaux: ibis sacré, canard casqué, héron, grèbe, chevalier cul blanc, pigeons verts par dizaine, tourterelles à épaulettes violettes, martin-chasseur et martin chasseur pygmée, guépier vert et écarlate, touraco, calao des forètsetc... un vrai régal mais aucune antilope.
Vers 17 heures 30 un sitatunga femelle se montre et le jour commence à baisser, un céphalophe bleu au bord de la saline, mais nous attendons le bongo... vers 19 heures 30 surprise: 8 éléphants arrivent sur la saline du fond et restent une demi heure (le même soir à 30 kilomètres de là, l’autre chasseur, un américain a eu 40 éléphants au pied de son mirador qui se frottaient sur les piliers le soutenant, qu’elle frayeur!!! à signaler qu’il avait passé la semaine précédente trois jours et trois nuits à Batou sans rien voir.
Je jumelle à droite et vois une forme claire sans pouvoir identifier; nous éclairons: un léopard dont la forme assez fine nous fait penser à une femelle, elle boite de l’avant droit, sans doute un collet, fréquemment utilisé par les braco coutumiers.
Je me dis après un léopard, on est tranquille rien ne vendra de sitôt et je m’allonge sur le matelas où mon épouse se repose déjà, je somnole depuis 3 minutes quand j’entends une sorte d’aboiement à 2 reprises: Christophe me tape l’épaule «on vient d’entendre un bongo aboyer, ne bouge pas, je vérifie» 2 à 3 minutes plus tard, «il est là», je jumelle: merveilleuse vision que cette antilope rayée. Christophe ne peut me certifier que c’est un male; nous décidons alors d’éclairer avec la torche rouge et immédiatement, il me confirme que c’est un male: la 375 avec réticule lumineux rugit: j’ai l’impression de voir rentrer la balle à l’endroit visé derrière la patte avant, nous entendons un bruit de branches cassées: vite en bas de l’échelle en direction de la saline et nous tombons sur le bongo 20 mètres avant l’endroit du tir.
Effectivement quel magnifique animal: la couleur, les rayures: nous en comptons 13. Christophe me dit "ça, il faut que tu le naturalises entier, sinon!!!
En place pour la séance photos, nous essayons de bien le positionner quand tout d'un coup, je ressens des fourmillements aux jambes et quelques piqures; les fourmis rouges s'exclame le pisteur, nous nous éloignons avec le bongo et je regarde à la torche: une trainée de fourmis sur le pantalon, en 3 secondes je suis en slip et tente d'éliminer les insectes pendant que le pisteur allume un feu pour les éloigner; rapidement tout se calme, OUF. Une odeur forte se fait ressentir: nous pensions que c'était une odeur du bongo mais Christophe nous dit qu'il s'agit d'acide formique dégagé par les fourmis qui stressent!!!
Comme, pour l’éland et le léopard, le Bongo et seulement ces trois animaux vous donnent ce retour au camp avec la jeep décorée de feuillage, coup de carabine à l’approche du camp et accueil avec des chants par tout le personnel du camp: il faut le vivre au moins une fois pour ressentir cette fierté et ce bonheur que cela vous procure.
Ce soir là, nous nous sommes couchés vers 23 heures.
Septième jour de chasse
Lever 5 heures 30, départ au lever du jour à 6 heures. Quelques appels infructueux au céphalophe bleu lors d’une marche dans un baco profond pendant 2 heures 3O où nous repérons multitudes de traces de pota et d’hylochère, mais pas d’animaux... Repas et sieste.
L’après midi sera consacré au céphalophe bleu, dos jaune. En allant controler une nouvelle saline que Christophe a découvert en scrutant la zone sur internet avec google earth quand il est rentré en France après la dernière saison, , en y prenant le point gps sur la carte, ce qui lui a permis sur le terrain de le retrouver: magnifique spectacle de 10 hylochère dont un très beau male facilement tirable mais pas dans notre programme cela nous permet quelques photos de ces suidés relativement discrets et rares contrairement à ce que l’on pense, Christophe me dit qu’il s’agit là d’animaux diurnes et que la meilleure heure pour les rencontrer est vers 15 heures sur les salines ou dans les bakos(il n’en a jamais vus de nuit).
En rentrant, le pisteur qui marchait en tête s’arrête brutalement: il a failli marcher sur un serpent qu’il a coupé en deux avec sa machette: à signaler que nous avions vu le deuxième jour, en bordure d’une mare un python de 3 mètres 50 était occupé à engloutir un héron et que nous reverrons une vipère heurtante ou similaire sur le chemin de l’aéroport de sangba le dernier jour, elle a traversé et la jeep est passée dessus en roulant.
Huitième jour de chasse
Malgrè l’absence de céphalophe à dos jaune, nous allons rentrer sur le camp principal de Bangoran pour laisser libre le camp de Batou au chasseur américain qui était là pour une durée de 4 semaines avec le programme: éland- bongo – sitatunga _ potamochère, il avait passé 2 semaines et demi et n’avait récolté que l’éland à ce jour.
60 kilomètres de mauvaise piste au cours desquels dans un virage, je vois une queue «s’envoler dans la verdure» «bamara» me dit le pisteur: le lion! effectivement une grosse trace de lion suit la piste: à signaler qu’il y a 1 lion au quota sur la zone principalement chassé à l’appât ou à l’appel.
Un peu plus loin: un groupe d’une quinzaine de potamochères à 50 mètres, vite hors du véhicule, course poursuite vers le bako, difficile de sélectionner un bon male dans les pailles, perdus de vue, nous poursuivons les traces et soudain, une tache rousse: un jeune pota pris dans un cable(collet) encore vivant mais bien mal en point: nous l’achevons au couteau. Le câble est une technique classique de braconnage coutumier des indigènes locaux comme les diamantaires nombreux sur la zone (pendant notre séjour, on retrouvera une dizaine de collets ainsi qu’un autre pota au même endroit quelques jours plus tard, par l’autre équipe de chasse).
Arrivée à BANGORAN à 12 heures.
Christophe se plaint de maux de tête et fera de la fièvre, il se reposera l’après midi et le lendemain.
Nous chercherons l’après midi et le lendemain matin et après midi un éventuel Hippotrage avec un autre guide Alex en circulant sur les zones propices près des plaines, mais nous verrons de nombreux bubales mais aucun hippotrague.
RDV donc au dixième jour de chasse
Dixième jour de chasse
Christophe est retapé, le programme est donc la recherche du buffle. Le matin, nous cherchons vainement des traces fraîches de buffle mais rien de rien, où sont-ils donc passés?Ils restent vraisemblablement dans les carrés où existent beaucoup de petits points d’eau.
L’après midi, vers 15 heures: Christophe décide de marcher à l’intérieur d’un carré propice, puisque les traces ne sortent pas sur les pistes, il faut rentrer les chercher.
A peine 30 minutes de marche, buffles en vue... Petite courbe pour se placer à bon vent et approche à environ 60 mètres; nous recherchons un bon male, mais que des jeunes, après plusieurs approche, un male un peu meilleur car bien large mais Christophe me dit que nous pouvons trouver beaucoup mieux car ce male n’est pas fini, le centre du bandeau paraissant encore bien mou. Il décide alors de les appeler en imitant un beuglement de jeune en difficulté: incroyable: le troupeau accoure littéralement pour s’immobiliser à 15 pas en plein découvert, une très grosse femelle nous voit mais se demande ce que c’est puis le troupeau prend brutalement la fuite: «quelqu’un a bougé »dit Christophe, effectivement une melliponne m’est rentrée dans l’oeil et instinctivement j’ai porté la main au visage, ce qui a suffit... Retour au camp car il est tard.
Encore une journée blanche!
Onzième jour de chasse
Départ 5 heures 30, nous croisons un magnifique éland male solitaire qui passe au trot à 40 mètres du véhicule...
Nous prenons rapidement une trace de buffles et la remontons; après 1 heure 30 de marche, contact, approche, recoupe:; les buffles défilent lentement dans une petite plaine: nous trouvons le male: pratiquement le même type que celui d’ hier, à tel point que Christophe pense que c’est le même troupeau que nous avons repris!!! Nous laissons tomber.
L’après-midi vers 14 heures 30, CAMP de FHO en rentrant ce midi.
Nous prenons une trace que nous avions repérée en rentrant le midi près du camp de FHO bien qu’elle semble dater du matin. Après 1 heure 30 de marche: contact, approche parfaite aucours de laquelle.
Nous voyons une traînée d’urine formant un S sur un mêtre ce qui signe la présence d’un male me dit Christophe. Beaucoup de difficultés pour trouver ce male parmi une cinquantaine d’animaux assez éparpillés: enfin, nous le trouvons bien placé à 50 mètres; mais encore une fois le trophée ne nous satisfait pas, c’est un trophée de dernier jour me dit Christophe, on peut trouver mieux car il nous reste encore 3 jours. Nous rentrons; 5 jours sans tirer une balle, mais le début du safari fut tellemnt intense que cela ne me pèse pas du tout.
Douzième jour de chasse
Matin, départ à 5 heures 30 avec priorité: buffle direction Ngoutéré puis ensuite Ndiri qui sont 2 grandes plaines très humides où les buffles passent souvent avant le lever du jour. Au cours du trajetà 6 heures 30: un buffle solitaire sur la piste; un mâle correct: Christophe stoppe et propose à mon épouse de le tirer mais elle traîne car cela ne lui dit pas de tirer de la voiture ou sans action de recherche (surtout qu’elle en a fait un au pistage l’an dernier) ce qui permet au buffle de prendre le large, nous le suivons au pas de course en gravissant 2 petites collines et au sommet de la seconde, nous le trouvons «garé» à 70 mètres, derrière un arbre, mais la course exténuante en montée nécessite à mon épouse une reprise de souffle qui laisse à l’animal le temps de s’échapper; j’aurais pu essayer à la course, j’étais prêt mais je n’ai pas accroché.
Cliquez sur la vignette pour voir la vidéo de Roan Antelope en RCA
On retourne au véhicule, nous avions (par) couru près d’un kilomètre.
A 7 heures 30 traces fraîches d’un troupeau sur Ndiri, nous les prenons; contact à 8 heures, ils sont très nerveux et en grand nombre 80, ils se séparent en petits groupes d’une dizaine de têtes que nous prenons en fonction du vent mais cette dispersion des animaux nous faits éventer et avec leur nervosité, après 2 heures, nous abandonnons... Christophe me dit qu’au cours du safari précédent, chaque jour.
2 ou 3 troupeaux étaient observés de la jeep: cete semaine, c’est galère: peut-être est-ce à cause des feux de brousse ou de l’harmattan?
Cliquez sur la vignette pour voir la vidéo de Roan Antelope en RCA
Vu l’heure, plus de 10 heures30, la chaleur sera propice pour trouver le «yagé» ou hippotrague près des grandes plaines; arrivés à 1 kilomètre de la plaine, nous quittons la jeep pour marcher et ainsi être plus discret.
A l’approche de la plaine, Fidel Démayo un de nos pisteurs se fige et scrute au loin: là-bas, 3 yagés à 600 mètres environ: nous laissons l’équipe pour faire notre approche Christophe et moi, en essayant de profiter de chaque avantage du terrain, un buisson, une termitière, des hautes herbes; car ils sont en plein découvert: nous sommes à 150 mètres, Christophe me dit un male correct et deux femelles et là plus possible de s’approcher sans risque. Je me positionne contre un kéké et attends les directives: «celui de droite, c’est le male», il poursuit la femelle, se présente plein profil droit: je tire, il se rétracte mais reste debout, les femelles continuent à brouter, puis profil gauche: je retire, il vacille mais reste debout, les femelles broutent toujours, puis il se couche sur place, la tête haute. Je pense que cette attitude témoigne d’une blessure mortelle. Il est couché pleine face et difficile de retirer; après 5 minutes, nous décidons d’approcher afin de pouvoir retirer si besoin dans de bonnes conditions, arrivés à 80 mètres, il se relève mais vacille à reculons, nous voyons l’entrée de balle dans le thorax d’où sort beaucoup de sang, puis il tombe définitivement sur le flanc pour mourir C'est un beau mâle de 70 centimètres.
Comme on le voit: l'entrée de la balle est un peu en arrière sur le coté gauche, la première balle est tout à fait symétrique à droite et les 2 balles sont restées sous la peau de l'autre coté: Federal NP 375 HH.
Après midi, départ à 15 heures: Christophe décide de remonter un grand canyon à pied .Nous rencontrons plusieurs guibs femelles, ainsi qu’un beau male qui s’enfuit vers le fond du canyon. Nous le poursuivons, pensant le trouver dans un cul de sac, au fond du canyon sans compter sur une faille dans la pierre par où il est passé comme nous le montrent ses traces pour revenir par une autre faille à l’endroit initial. Nous continuons notre pistage pour arriver au sommet d’un escarpement rocheux d’où nous apercevons en contre- bas notre male magnifique à 40 mètres à l’arrêt mais sur le qui vive: Christophe m’incite à tirer; je le mets dans ma lunette mais ne tire pas et le laisse filer!!! Pourquoi? Peut-être parce que je ne l’avais pas programmé, en ayant déjà récolté un beau spécimen au Bénin! ou parce qu’il s’était si bien défendu dans ce canyon? nous rentrons au camp après 3 heures de marche dans un paysage surprenant de failles et rochers au fond duquel coule un petit ruisseau.
Dans ce canyon, Christophe a fait tirer un beau céphalophe à dos jaune male il y a 3 jours.
Treizième jour de chasse
Départ 5 heures 10 car c’est notre avant dernier jour et nous n’avons toujours pas récolté le buffle.
Vers 6 heures 30 pieds de buffles sur la piste, les bouses paraissent fraîches; Christophe décide de les prendre: nous enlevons vestes car il fait déjà bon; je prends la 375 HH et donne la 416 Rigby au pisteur car elle est assez lourde, le deuxième pisteur lui porte la 458 LOTT à Christophe.
Nous suivons ces traces au moins 1 kilomètre sur la piste, car elles rentrent dans le bush et ressortent sur la piste, pour s’enfoncer ensuite dans une zone non brûlée: le troupeau est conséquent; au moins 60 animaux d’après Hassan notre Ier pisteur donc pas de problème de pistage. Après 30 minutes de marche, Hassan sourit et mais le doigt à l’oreille je les entends patron; j’essaie d’écouter mais je ne perçois rien, mais très vite nous les voyons, ils paraissent très nombreux. Christophe essaie de sélectionner un male correct, nous les coupons 2 fois, nous repérons au moins 3 males, mais ils sont à 70 et le biotope est dense, nous approchons prudemment: saute de vent, débandade; ils filent vers la grande pleine ouverte de NDIRI qui fait au moins 1 kilomètre sur 5 kilomètres: ils vont la traverser me dit Christophe, vite, mais à bon vent. Nous arrivons au bord de la plaine: notre troupeau est là relativement tranquille à 200 mètres. Les buffles défilent sur la gauche assez serrés, nous approchons encore à la limite du découvert et je me prépare sur le stick avec la 416 Rigby, ça défile de droite à gauche entre 2 petits monticules formant 2 bosquets de 3 à 4 mètres de large. Mais les animaux sont tellement serrés que dès que nous voyons un male: pas possible de tirer sans risque d’en blesser d’autres d’autant plus qu’ils marchent: tout le troupeau est passé maintenant et se trouve à plus de 200 mètres... quand tout d’un coup 60 mètres derrière, nous apercevons un retardataire tout gris par la gangue de terre qu’il porte sur le dos, cela signe incontestablement le male et souvent un vieux male, il marche en direction des autres: je me concentre et dès que l’avant du poitrail rentre dans ma croix: je lâche ma balle: il accuse.
Soudain tout le troupeau prend le vent et fonce droit sur nous, vite ma femme prends la 416 et se prépare: ils sont à 40 mètres mais en pleine course, et très serrés: «l’avant dernier, un beau mâle»: Christophe essaie de les appeler pour les ralentir, mais rien n’y fait, 60 - 70 buffles passent très serrés, «à fond la caisse» à peine à 30 mètres mais le tir est trop aléatoire et difficile: dommage!!!
Mais quel spectacle et quelle émotion!!! Tout cela n’a pris que quelques minutes et nous entendons le beuglement caractéristique du buffle qui meure: il n’avait fait que 10 mètres à peine et s’était couché près d’un des 2 bosquets.
Nous avançons malgré tout carabines épaulées, mais il est mort étendu sur le flanc: la brindille sur l’œil ne montre aucune réaction: il est 8 heures: un beau vieux mâle que voici 80 centimetres d’écartement et un bandeau de 27 centimetres de large avec des éclats témoins d’un age avancé.
En allant rechercher ma douille éjectées lors du réarmement, je mesure: 186 pas donc environ 160 mètres, c’est trop loin diront certains pour tirer un buffle, mais nous n’avions pas beaucoup le choix.
Séance photos, une heure de découpe et nous rentrons. Ce fut une belle matinée.
La balle est rentrée derrière la patte avant gauche, a tout traversé pour rester sous la peau de l'autre coté. Elles est passée sur le sommet du coeur en sectionnant les gros vaisseaux ce qui a provoqué une volumineuse hémorragie interne: à droite la balle de 416 NORMA TXP récupérée sur le buffle, à gauche la Nosler Partition FEDERAL en 375 HH récupére sur le koba (le plomb était surla balle, mais détaché sur la photo).
En bas le coeur du buffle avec l'impact de la balle là où se trouve le caillot de sang.
En rentrant avec le buffle, on tombe sur un troupeau d’une vingtaine de bêtes: on le prend en restant en contact visuel grâce à des hérons garde boeufs qui les accompagnaient et dont le vol nous donnait la position: après 2 kilomètres au pas de course, ils sont à 50 mètres: ma femme se prépare avec la 416, le bush est dense, difficile: Christophe les appelle mais un tourbillon de vent les fait fuir: ces 3 kilomètres au pas de course en plein midi nous a fatigués et il faut rentrer au véhicule, encore 3 kilomètres et souvent le retour se fait au pas rapide... on décide de ne pas poursuivre, les animaux nous ayant vus, c’est peu probable de réussir, on rentre au camp à 13 heures.
L’après midi, nous avons remonté un canyon pour le dos jaune, mais le vent était contraire, nous avons donc brûlé et fait film et photos.
Quatorzième jour de chasse et dernier
Le matin départ à 5 heures pour le DA zone de bako propice au dos jaune et au céphalophe bleu.
Nous faisons plusieurs haltes dans des endroits qui nous paraissent propices pour chasser le bleu à l’appel, mais rien de rien. Lors de la maraude en jeep: tout aussi désert: beaucoup de traces de vélos partout sur les pistes et même une mobylette qui semble s’être perdue car les traces vont régulièrement demi tour…pour finir, nous trouvons la convergence des traces vers une zone de recherche de diamants où des indigènes creusent et tamisent à la recherche de cailloux, ils sont nombreux et souvent en famille: tout cela explique peut-être l’absence de mouvement d’animaux ce jour. Nous décidons donc de rentrer mais Christophe veut sur le chemin m’amener sur un plateau propice pour l’ourebi: nous y allons prudemment: effectivement en bordure, à environ 120 mètres 3 ourebis nous attendaient, il y a un male, je le tire à la 375 et voilà, ce n’est cependant qu’un male très moyen.
Pour ne pas trop massacrer la cape, il vaut mieux tirer plein centre.
L'après midi dernière possibilité pour trouver le buffle pour mon épouse; nous partons vers 15 heures: nous maraudons autour des plaines, mais pas de traces ni de buffles après 1 heure 30 de circuit; 2 phacochères surpris dans la plaine courent pour regagner le couvert; nous décidons de les couper: j'essaie de les mettre dans la lunette: pas moyen de les trouver, faut dire que j'étais resté au grossissement 10 pour l'ourebi, ils sont déja loin, mais nous les coursons sur 200 - 300 mètres et les revoyons, j'ai réduit le grossissement: ils avancent doucement à 150 mètres, je prend un kéké (car dansl a précipitation et la course, nous n'avons pas pris le stick) je tire, il a pris mais un peu derrière, il continue, deuxième balle ratée, troisième balle ratée, il faut dire qu'il est maintenant à 2OO mètres et quatrième balle qui donne ceci.
Il est loin d'être exceptionnel mais il est bien coiffé.
J'en profite pour présenter l'équipe: à gauche Fidel De Mayo: pisteur; au centre Luc: c'est le chauffeur, mais aussi porteur et pisteur et à droite Norbert HASSAN le pisteur qui a une oreille et un oeil que l'on aimeraient avoir: ils étaient d'une gentillesse, aimables, polis et compétents: en un mot une équipe qu'on aimerait souvent avoir et je les remercie.
Au retour, un troupeau de buffles vers 17 heures 30, nous le coupons rapidement au pas de course, mais quand nous arrivons là où il devait passer, rien, il s'était enfuit nous ayant vus, mais surtout à cause du vent qui n'était pas bon. C'était le dernier jour...
En conclusion, je pense effectivement que c’est un bon safari: seul manque le céphalophe à dos jaune que je n’ai pas vu ni l’an dernier, ni cette année.
Lors de notre voyage de retour à Bangui: nous avons rencontré 4 chasseurs: 2 d’entre eux allaient pour le léopard chacun dans un camp différent et après 2 semaines, l’un n’a rien vu et après 8 jours avait l’opportunité de tirer en plus 1 éland: alors qu’il en voyait beaucoup la première semaine, il n’en a plus vu ensuite et est donc revenu bredouille sauf les babouins pour appats.
L’autre chasseur de léopard a vu 3 femelles différentes mais pas de male: bredouille également.
Les deux autres chasseurs étaient ensemble: l’un confirmé venait pour éland - lion: il a fait éland et un lion àl’appel dont j’ai vu la photo: une crinière noire épaisse digne des plus beaux tanzanien quand à celui qui l’accompagnait, il venait pour la première fois en Afrique et ne chasserai que le buffle.
Il n’avait pas d’expérience et passait directement du fusil à la carabine sans s’être entraîné avant de partir!!! Bilan: une belle marque de lunette de tir sur le front, une dizaine de balles tirées, 2 buffles manqués, un buffle blessé jamais retrouvé.
Rien n’est donc acquis...
Armes: je suis parti avec une 375 HH BLASER R93 avec lunette S & B avec réticule lumineux et balles Nosler Partition FEDERAL ainsi qu’une HEYM BIGBORE en 416 Rigby lunette SWAROSKI 1, 5/6et NORMA TXP: l’an dernier je n’avais pris que la 416 mais le réticule lumineux est quand même très utile pour les tirs en luminosité réduite (Léopard – Bongo), d’autre part la blaser est beaucoup plus légère et plus maniable. Cependant, j’ai pour le buffle beaucoup plus confiance en l’efficacité du 416 mais peut-être est-ce plus psychologique que réel mais la confiance est à mon avis un atout majeur dans la réussite du tir. Cela vient aussi que lors de mon premier safari au Bénin, les guides et chasseur encensait le 416 et trouvait la 375 un peu limite dans certaine occasion. J’ai à ce jour tiré 6 buffles avec 6 balles avec ma 416 Rigby; Je cible et règle moi-même mes lunettes et je tire plusieurs balles à 100 mètres ceci 1 fois par semaine les 4 semaines avant mon départ.
Je n’ai tiré qu’une balle avec la 416, tout le reste à la 375.
Pour réussir son safari: la première chose: partir avec un guide que l’on connait bien (soit soi même soit par d’autres chasseurs qui l’ont pratiqué) et qui ne vous promènera pas... Partir avec une organisation connue (qui a donc une réputation à défendre).
- afin d’être certain que les quotas existent!!! our pouvoir tirer l’animal convoité mais aussi et surtout rapatrier le trophée.
- afin de pouvoir se faire dédommager en cas de problème et/ou être soutenu en France en cas de problème politique ou autre dans le pays où vous allez, surtout en Afrique (il y a quelques jours un groupe de 5 chasseurs s’est retrouvé en slip par des coupeurs de route au Sénégal en Casamance au camp du relais fleuri: on leur a tout pris: même les armes). Je me souviens d’un forum où on disait en gros qu’il fallait être débile pour partir en RCA ces dernières années, le risque existe effectivement de tomber sur les soudanais mais il faut rester prudent... Le risque Zéro n’existe pas.
Partir avec ses armes, une bonne condition physique et un entraînement au tir, car la taxe de tir reste très amère pour un animal blessé non récupéré.
Il faut aussi, je pense avoir un peu d’expérience car rien n’est inné et on apprend en faisant (pour corriger des erreurs, il faut les avoir faites).
Pour les safaris en zone fermées (comme certaines zones de Namibie et RSA) ne pas hésiter à refuser un animal tiré sur conseil du guide local alors qu’il ne correspond pas à ce que vous aviez souhaité au départ (animal trop jeune ou trophée trop petit)
Et surtout: le plus important avoir Saint HUBERT avec soi.
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