Well here it goes.Gerrit and his Dad show up where Frikkie and I are taking pics of my Nyala and help the team with pics and loading before sending the Nyala to the salt. I was and still am very happy with the bull sturdy and worn tips with the flare hell what's not to love I’m in SA hunting!! Well this leaves me and Frikkie free to keep hunting. Well my PH had an idea and off we go. Well before you know it we have a blue beast in front in front of us and I’m ready to go. He has a goofy horn and that’s OK with me let’s do this. Some maneuvering and I’m off with Frikkie.Before you know it I’m on the sticks and this guy is broadside,I settle in on the sticks and let it rip a solid thwack and a very up and down beast. Of course I figure a little follow up and recovery easy right? Not so quick we can’t find blood it’s late and I’m getting that feeling. Well the entire team shows back up including Gerrit still in his work duds and shoes to help,that’s commitment right there. I try my best to keep my spirts up I’m tired haven’t slept in over 24 hours and the best decision is made leave him overnight and get after it in the am. I slept well considering had a great meal and Frikkie was nothing shy of positive. I learned a lesson here putting bullets into a blue beast is like giving them a vitamin shot!! We started early and did our best till 11:00am to no avail I just shot and did not recover a beautiful animal and inside Im disappointed and mad at myself. This has only happened to me twice in 47 years of hunting. I know it’s part of the game but dam it hurts. Frikkie and Gerrit were pretty easy on me but that doesn’t help when your own self doubt sets in. I contemplated leaving this out but thought about it and decided with my brothers on AH was probably the best place to shed some light on one of the things we fear the most losing an animal. Believe me when I tell you it’s not about the trophy fee but a plethora of other feelings we all know the drill. On our way to the lodge I got to witness 2 Impala rams hard at a good tussle what a sight!! We worked our way onto the sticks for a crack at a very wide flared out ram but the wind jammed us up but one heck of a show for sure. A great lunch and off again but no blood was drawn today. Rainy and chilly and a great day afield with a fun PH. As an added bonus Frikkie got to watch me slip and fall into the mud today and didn’t laugh at least out loud A lot of different emotions today up and down but we stayed on the up hill side. I know after a couple safaris it’s not about how many trophy’s but the quality of the hunt and the people you are with and this is a great place to be even on a less than stellar day. The effort was tall results were short my shooting huh but that’s a part of the experience...so far a fantastic time on the ground with Bosendal and it’s gonna ramp up I promise you that!!!
