SOUTH AFRICA: BOWHUNT: Bushmans Quiver Hunt

[Kyle]

Day 6 had us up and leaving at 4:30 headed to a place a little north of Lephalale close to the Botswanan border. We arrived and picked up a tracker familiar with the concession we would be hunting. We drove into a cattle farm and unloaded some of our overnight gear into a old cargo truck that was broken down to keep it away from the cattle and out of our way while we hunted. It didn't take long before we saw our first animals a group of kudu cows. It seemed like there were kudu moving everywhere. The temp was in the low 60s and it was overcast. We pulled up to one of the water holes and 3 what I thought were nice kudu bulls took off from it. F.C. And Sampie told me they were nice but to young. A little later we spotted 2 huge bulls that spooked very easy. One of them was narrow but supper tall and massive. We continued on a short time later we were on him as we slipped through some brush F.C. Said very nice kudu a quick glance and I shouldered the 100 year old .303 and fired a great hit breaking both front shoulders and sending him down. What a emotional moment. This was the animal that had visited me in so many dreams the "GREY GHOST". Here I am in the motherland with my hands on my most sought after trophy my emotions were overwhelming. He is a great bull around 55" with good mass and character and no doubt a perfect bull in my eyes not to wide not to narrow perfect for me. After a short celebration and a vicious drag out we were back under way.
Driving back out we spotted several nice impala Rams which Nita and Sampie made a unsuccessful stalk on. The impala were giving Nita a hard time to say the least. While they were stalking they pushed several kudu cows out which I got some good photos of. We stopped at a water hole and a discussion was had to build a blind and sit for midday while they took my kudu to the skinning shed. It was said that there was a big warthog using this area. We blinded up and sat for a couple of hours no warthogs but several kudu and some Guinea came around.
Once the trackers returned they said lets go look around at a couple of other places. We looked at a few and made several stalks but nothing to shoot. When we arrived at a spot there was a bunch of talk about a big warthog who always gave them the slip out the back of this one waterhole. It was decided that we would approach from his escape route and see what happened. As we were slipping through the bush I could see warthog and kudu running from the waterhole in the other direction and thought it was not going to happen when all of the sudden the tracker said here, here he comes. I could make him out in the brush and F.C. quickly placed the sticks in front of me. I mounted them but was still unsure of the quality of the animal for I hadn't been able to see his head. I told F.C. To talk to me let me know and when he stepped out facing straight at us at 40 steps F.C. Said shoot and I honored his words a shot to the head and he dropped. As we we're celebrating a couple of feet from him the warthog decided he was not done and was on his feet again Ina split second. We all broke in A run and all I could here was him behind me grunting as I turned he went through a fence and I was able to turn and get another shot through the shoulders ending that escapade. As all this was happening The truck was coming and Nita and Sampie were in the back in tears laughing at our fiasco. Although we didn't find it very amusing they found nothing but humor in it.
Nita needed to take her a Impala to complete our trip and the hunt was on. We headed back to a big open area and saw several warthogs but no impala. Stopping and glassing at several locations we finally spotted a very nice ram and her and Sampie were out and on the stalk. After about 20 or so minutes we heard a shot followed by Sampie saying well done Nita and our trip was complete.

 

[Kyle]

 

[Kyle]

My nuwe broers dankie vir die maak van dit alles het ek gedroom van goed wense tot ons weer ontmoet.

 

[cpr0312]

Nice kudu and warthog!! Congrats on a great safari

 

[kathy]

Great Job to you both, all beautiful trophies. thanks for taking us along on a great adventure.
Pop did good on killing the pig too. Forrest

 

[thriller]

Congrats on a great trip and thank you for a great report.

 

[BRICKBURN]

You have some great pictures of your experience.
You had a lot of fun and it is evident.

 

[Sand Rat]

Great report and like the spread on your kudu! I passed on a bull that was in the high fifties in 2013 because he was too narrow and settled on less length with more width. Yours will make a beautiful mount.