I've just returned from a great hunt in the south of Bots with a group of great guys at Ian McFarlane's 16000ha (40 000 acre) ranch!
Below are photos of my eight year old, Christopher

1) With Fred Everett (Ra Da Phiri) in April getting some sound advice.



2) With my Gemsbuck shot after a short stalk with my 375 H&H GSCustom 200gr.



3) His first buck! Springbuck taken at 176m after a short walk & stalk. He had walked 3 hard days before bagging this on the morning of the fourth day with a .223

That is one happy young man, I hope this is the first of many.

Stephen;

Congratulations to you and your son.

I hunted with Ronnie McFarlane in 1996 in the Okavango Delta, Kubu Camp. Ian and Elvira spent 5 days in our camp. They are both fascinating people with great stories of the early years.

If you have photos of Ian or the ranch please post more!!!!

Best regards, D. Nelson

Watch this space!

Still getting all the pictures sorted amongst the group and catching up with family & work issues, but I'll add more asap.

Ian & Elvira are indeed facinating people, and wonderful hosts. We could not pass their home through the week without an invite in to enjoy a scotch, be shown a rifle or two, and entertained with great tales.

Turns out Ian went to the same old high school as I and my dad before me! He was in fact 3 years ahead of my late dad. Jeppe High School, Joburg certainly has past pupils spread the world over !!!

Congrats to you and your son...

His picture with his springbok trophy is worth a thousand words!

Good on you dad...

Looking forward to viewing more pics soon...

Here are some further pictures:

Just to tease here is a Perfect Kalahari Sunset...



We were asked to keep an eye out for this wild brahman that had been running with the eland for four years and seemed invincible. Anton Coetzee (aged 14) made a hunt of it and bagged it after a 10km walk.



Christian VD Westhuizen (aged 8) applied his usual "Ernie Els Big Easy" approach to bag this hartebeest.



Typical terrain in the area.......



These kudu must have known this was a "NO SHOOT" zone!



Likewise, these cows knew females were off limits........



Our wonderful host & mentor Oom Ian McFarlane.

Congrats,

That Kalahari veld looks awesome.

Look like you guys had an awesome hunt and a lot of lekker biltong.

Geniet dit

Stephen,

What suppressor is that? GMS? Is it a reflex or single attachment?

What cal rifle?

Great hunt!
Cheers

Kayaker

I'm no boffin on silencers. The rifle is a Sako .223 belonging to my buddy Coenie VD Westhuizen who is currently on his farm near Britstown, peacefully far from any communication. When he's back in touch I'll ask all those technical questions and get back to you........

Hi Zorba et al
Looks awesome! Really sorry I missed the trip, but next time....
Just glad I am not one of you guys (BlouDaan, Coenie or you Zorba), whose sons had this kind of experience shooting big game at such tender ages. Imagine what it will cost you keeping them supplied with the right kind of hunts and animals...
This is the kind of trip that generate memories for life. Your sons have no idea how blessed they are!
Happy hunting!
Mbogo

What caliber did Anton use for that Brahmaan?

Kayaker,

Contact Truvelo and ask them about silencers.

They build a mean silencer for their 50 cal Sniper rifle system.

Stephen;

THanks for the photo of Ian and the property. Again, congrats on a great hunt.

PS Ian looks great!

Regards, D. Nelson

Palos, very concerned about you posting that picture of the Brahman. Darn Yanks will think we're too tame to hunt Buff. They already know we're too poor. Alternatively, they could all rush over here to start shooting our cattle.

It really was a pleasure being on the hunt. I've shaken the Kalahari dust out of my boots but it still lingers in my soul. I want to go back. Let's make the trip back soon.

Jakkals, it was a good old "Boer Mauser" (7x57) The kid couldn't put a foot wrong with it the whole week! He is a truly great little hunter and fine camp companion.

Ignoblis, it makes me think of the scheme some guy had to import fighting bull embryos from Spain and plant them in those wild brahman cows the guys farm with in the bushveld! I think that would make a great pseudo-buff hunt, only more dangerous; they won't wait to be wounded before turning nasty!

D.Nelson, Ian is indeed in great shape; the day before we departed he was making a new bracket for his high-lift jack on his cruiser....the way he was clamouring arround on the railings was like an eight year old on a jungle gym. I think that the life of a top notch PH, just the right dose of good scotch and years of mixing with good chosen company have worked well for him and his missus.

Jakkals/Stephen, Anton did hunt with the 7x57 all week, but he took the Brahman with my .375 H&H loaded with 200gr Impala bullets. It went about 30m before expiring.

the silencer is a custom one made by Ralph's gunsmithing in Uitenhage. it is a lot smaller than most and fits partialy over the barrel, it certainly helped a lot to get the youngsters hunting and not make them gun shy from the start. a great confidence builder to get the kids shooting from this age.

quote:

Originally posted by Stephen Palos:
Kayaker

I'm no boffin on silencers. The rifle is a Sako .223 belonging to my buddy Coenie VD Westhuizen who is currently on his farm near Britstown, peacefully far from any communication. When he's back in touch I'll ask all those technical questions and get back to you........