Day 7 (cont)
After lunch, same ridge as Gemsbok last seen. Glassing for him or that giant waterbuck. Spent 20 minutes glassing opposing hillside. the plan was if we didn't see him, we'd hike across and check every hillside over there.
We had about decided the waterbuck was nowhere to be found.
Then, he appeared in the bottom of the valley. Wind blowing from him to us. marius and I head down the hill slowly, looking for a place to set up. The others on the top of the hill watching intently. Marius is obviously excited about this animal. I say "He looks nice." I have no idea, I'm sure he'd be the biggest Waterbuck in Mississippi.?.?!
We got to 170 yards and I sat down and the short sticks went up. I feel comfortable. He is perfectly broadside.
I aim, squeeze, hear the thump, think I see where it hits him.
What does the buck do? nothing, not a flinch, didn't fall, didn't kick. nothing. It's almost like he said, "That was a good shot, but is that the best you got?"
He walks about 12 steps and lays down. He is obviously hurt bad and will surely die from the shot. But, a 2nd shot was decided, but while we shifted for the followup, he stood up, walked 10 more steps and laid down again facing us.
I aim at the front of the chest on the right side (his left). Squeeze off the trigger, thump.
No reaction. No flinch. no falling over. no panic on his part.
Almost feel him saying "OK, you hit me again, but watch this."
His only reaction was to stand up, walk 10 more steps and turn and look in our direction.
I squeeze off the 3rd shot and he falls down.
It turned out my first shot was a double lung shot just behind both front shoulders (entrance and exit). He was going to die right there, but the insurance shots put him out of his misery sooner.
It turns out he was something quite marvelous. I had no idea. I knew he was big. I knew Marius was excited about him, but I didn't know anything about Waterbuck horns really.
It turns out he was 30.5 inches.
Redemption. The best trophy on the last afternoon of the last day.
I had spent 2 days of feeling like a failure, depressed, only to soar right up to the top of the mountain again just in time.
I thought about pride and humility again while sitting there staring at this Waterbuck. I thought of failure and success. misery and joy. hopelessness and restored hope. defeat and victory. error and redemption.
I thought about how this is exactly what Christ did for me many years ago. He brought me out of a pit and made me whole again. He restored me.
After taking the Waterbuck back to the camp, our hunting done, we went back to search for the Gemsbok even again until dark. We retraced every area we had already covered well. Was it too much to ask that we find him? Would the only ugly detail be wiped away? It was not to be. I feel sure it is still alive, will heal, and go on about it's life.
Even with that, God reminded me of something. When I came to Christ with all of my mistakes, sins, moral failures, and problems that I alone had caused..... He forgave me, He redeemed me, He restored me, but the memory of those past failures were still there. Time continues to fade my pain, just as time will wane my anguish over that errant shot.
In both instances, though, these past failures will make me diligent to be less careless concerning my thoughts and actions and, certainly, less prideful.
Guess what I will be preaching on tomorrow?
Thanks Marius for a wonderful time and a wonderful hunt. God-willing, Lana and I will see you as soon as possible.
I'll post some other pics of the scenery, etc.
Maybe next time.
