In short, the trip was fantastic! (My shooting was not so good!) I asked Pieter for a walk and stalk hunt and that is what was provided. I was paired up with PH Jonathon. I didn't really have a trophy list other than blue wildebeest and warthog. Unfortunately, as with my first trip last year, the warthog were illusive.
Day one, we were on the search for blue wildebeest. We hunted hard, both morning and afternoon but just couldn't get a shot at a good bull. On the morning of day two, our luck changed. A couple of hours into the hunt, a bull presented a fairly short shot, but was obstructed by brush. He moved slightly creating a small window to shoot. I hit him a little far back, and off he went. There was a good blood trail and we found him quickly. After a quick follow up shot, he was down.
After a trip to the skinning shed and an excellent lunch, we were off after blesbok. We weren't out long when a pair wandered by at less than ten yards. Jonathon whistled to stop the bull, and the shot was good.
Day three was a repeat of day one. I mad a clean miss on an Impala ram, but nothing in the salt. The next morning, I was presented a shot at a Red Hartebeest at about 100 yards. The shot was terrible, leading to a long tracking job. Jonathon and the tracker, Joe, did a fantastic job on a track with little blood. They showed me the bull four times, but I couldn't get a shot. 2 1/2 hours later, they led me to the bull, which had stiffened up and laid down. He stood as we approached and presented an easy Texas heart shot which put him down. He attempted to get back up, so I put a finisher in his neck. I was thankful for a great PH and tracker!
The morning of day five, I took a break for a little shopping. I was discouraged by my poor shooting and needed a break. That evening, we drove around looking for zebra. We stayed on the truck at my request. We saw some, but did not attempt a shot. The morning of day six, we were back after zebra. We drove a bit, then went back to walk and stalk. We got on a trio pretty early, and lost them a couple of times. We came on them again, and Jonathon told me to get ready. I decided to pass on the shot as it was longish, and my poor shooting of the prior day was in my head. Fortunately, they decided to move across the field and presented a closer shot. My first shot, once again was a little far back. I made a second running shot that connected and they disappeared into the brush. We found a lot of blood in a ravine. Joe, the tracker pushed through, while Jonathon and I moved to the top to see if he could push them out. When we got to the top, the two mares that the stallion was travelling with were standing in the field. A few seconds later, the stallion started walking out of the ravine and I put a finishing shot into it's neck.
Despite my poor shooting this week, no animals were lost. Pieter and his team provided exactly the experience I was looking for. @Pawprint Safaris hit a home run with the new lodge. The chef, Claudius provided fantastic food at every meal, and the comradery was amazing. I couldn't have asked for a better PH than Jonathon. After I hone my skills from the sticks, I will definitely be back! I see a beest slam in my future.
Day one, we were on the search for blue wildebeest. We hunted hard, both morning and afternoon but just couldn't get a shot at a good bull. On the morning of day two, our luck changed. A couple of hours into the hunt, a bull presented a fairly short shot, but was obstructed by brush. He moved slightly creating a small window to shoot. I hit him a little far back, and off he went. There was a good blood trail and we found him quickly. After a quick follow up shot, he was down.
After a trip to the skinning shed and an excellent lunch, we were off after blesbok. We weren't out long when a pair wandered by at less than ten yards. Jonathon whistled to stop the bull, and the shot was good.
Day three was a repeat of day one. I mad a clean miss on an Impala ram, but nothing in the salt. The next morning, I was presented a shot at a Red Hartebeest at about 100 yards. The shot was terrible, leading to a long tracking job. Jonathon and the tracker, Joe, did a fantastic job on a track with little blood. They showed me the bull four times, but I couldn't get a shot. 2 1/2 hours later, they led me to the bull, which had stiffened up and laid down. He stood as we approached and presented an easy Texas heart shot which put him down. He attempted to get back up, so I put a finisher in his neck. I was thankful for a great PH and tracker!
The morning of day five, I took a break for a little shopping. I was discouraged by my poor shooting and needed a break. That evening, we drove around looking for zebra. We stayed on the truck at my request. We saw some, but did not attempt a shot. The morning of day six, we were back after zebra. We drove a bit, then went back to walk and stalk. We got on a trio pretty early, and lost them a couple of times. We came on them again, and Jonathon told me to get ready. I decided to pass on the shot as it was longish, and my poor shooting of the prior day was in my head. Fortunately, they decided to move across the field and presented a closer shot. My first shot, once again was a little far back. I made a second running shot that connected and they disappeared into the brush. We found a lot of blood in a ravine. Joe, the tracker pushed through, while Jonathon and I moved to the top to see if he could push them out. When we got to the top, the two mares that the stallion was travelling with were standing in the field. A few seconds later, the stallion started walking out of the ravine and I put a finishing shot into it's neck.
Despite my poor shooting this week, no animals were lost. Pieter and his team provided exactly the experience I was looking for. @Pawprint Safaris hit a home run with the new lodge. The chef, Claudius provided fantastic food at every meal, and the comradery was amazing. I couldn't have asked for a better PH than Jonathon. After I hone my skills from the sticks, I will definitely be back! I see a beest slam in my future.
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