Shootist43
AH ambassador
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2015
- Messages
- 7,149
- Reaction score
- 8,788
- Location
- Grosse Ile, Michigan
- Media
- 28
- Member of
- NRA
- Hunted
- Michigan, Texas, Missouri, Limpopo Province South Africa
Day 5. We are going after Kudu and Bushbuck on a different farm. This location featured a lot of "riverine" areas i.e. a gully that no doubt in wet weather contained a creek. But for now it was dry, although the steep banks were covered in greenery. It looked like good Bushbuck country. Johnathan drove up and down both sides of the riverine features and we saw a couple female Bushbuck. We then went to a very large hide overlooking a one acre pond. From my vantage point there were two shooting lanes one about 80 yards the other about 120. The wind was blowing our sent towards the pond. A couple of Gemsbok picked it up immediately and hurriedly took off. Johnathan began looking around and found some tinder and a pile of dried Zebra dung. He placed both on a small rock and lit it. Once on fire the dung gave off a masking sent that covered our own. We sat for several hours and saw several groups of Nyala, Kudu cows and young males along with more Bushbuck cows. The smoldering dung did the trick, none of the animals were aware of our presence. About 4:00 we got back on the truck and began driving around again. We saw Zebra and Blue Wildebeest but nothing that we were looking for. Back at camp I wiped the dust off the Whalen and the scope and headed for the bar for a cocktail and to hear how the other guys made out. Johnathan told me at supper that he would be leaving the following day for the East Cape where Pieter had recently purchased a farm that was being converted into a lodge and game ranch that he was to manage.
Day 6. I would be going out with my son and PH Carlos. We split the morning hunting for Kudu and Waterbuck. We went to a different farm where large Kudu were known to be. After driving around for several hours we stopped for a drink. Then we saw a group of Kudu cows cross the road about 500 yards away. Slowly we drove towards that group hoping that a nice bull might be traveling with them. We stopped at about 300 yards and just waited. After about twenty minutes a possible shooter showed up and both Carlos and the driver began glassing him. My son had him ranged at 308 yards and the second circle down on my Nikon BDC was centered squarely on his chest just waiting for Carlos to give me the go ahead. After a couple of minutes both Carlos and the driver decided that while nice this one would not make 55 inches. Shortly thereafter that group of Kudu vanished into the bush. We drove to another farm looking for my son's Waterbuck. Once again no luck. Later that afternoon we drove back to the farm with the large Kudu and waited in vain for them to come down for an evening drink. Close to dark we spotted another nice Kudu, but he didn't measure up either. I'd spent the day hunting with my son which was one of my primary goals for this trip. We discussed hog hunting in Texas next year with my youngest grandson who will be turning nine by then and eager as all get out to go hunting with his Dad and Opa. All in all a very good day.
Day 6. I would be going out with my son and PH Carlos. We split the morning hunting for Kudu and Waterbuck. We went to a different farm where large Kudu were known to be. After driving around for several hours we stopped for a drink. Then we saw a group of Kudu cows cross the road about 500 yards away. Slowly we drove towards that group hoping that a nice bull might be traveling with them. We stopped at about 300 yards and just waited. After about twenty minutes a possible shooter showed up and both Carlos and the driver began glassing him. My son had him ranged at 308 yards and the second circle down on my Nikon BDC was centered squarely on his chest just waiting for Carlos to give me the go ahead. After a couple of minutes both Carlos and the driver decided that while nice this one would not make 55 inches. Shortly thereafter that group of Kudu vanished into the bush. We drove to another farm looking for my son's Waterbuck. Once again no luck. Later that afternoon we drove back to the farm with the large Kudu and waited in vain for them to come down for an evening drink. Close to dark we spotted another nice Kudu, but he didn't measure up either. I'd spent the day hunting with my son which was one of my primary goals for this trip. We discussed hog hunting in Texas next year with my youngest grandson who will be turning nine by then and eager as all get out to go hunting with his Dad and Opa. All in all a very good day.