I am aware that the majority of people frequenting these forums are from across the pond but if there are any South Africans or anyone that can recommend a good place for a voorsit shoot that can accomodate 10 hunters please can you post a reply with the details.

Thank you

PM sent. I need a little more info.
LDK

Phone or email Charl.

+27 78 444 7661
info@infinito-safaris.com

PM sent with URL of place that I would go to for my own hunting if I need to accommodate 10 hunters.

Hope you get what you are looking for.

Andrew McLaren

Excuse my state side ignorance....what is a "voorsit shoot"?
Robert

quote:

Originally posted by RVL III:
Excuse my state side ignorance....what is a "voorsit shoot"?
Robert

RVL III,

A "voorsit shoot" could perhaps be translated into "an ambush shoot". Some will call it a 'hunt', but perhaps it is better described as a 'shoot', where numbers of springbuck are shot in a very specific manner.

Usually the shooters are spread out in a single paddock where the land owner needs to harvest some springbuck from. The shooters are allocated positions in the area where they hide behind any cover available and just lie low. Remember springbuck are true plains game and often occur in areas where there is very little trees and mostly only grass and low growing bushes. In some areas it has become custom for the land owner to provide 'shooting chairs' of some sort for the shooters to sit on. These shooting chairs are of varying design and sophistication. They are often able to be rotated through at least 90, but sometimes by up to 360 degrees. The shooting chair is usually provided with adjustable arm rests and rifle rests to give the shooters a steady resting but low sitting position from which to shoot. Some are provided with camouflage netting, and some are just set up behind some bush or shrub.

Any number of shooters can be used, but it is usually some larger number, say 10 shooters rather than just a few, that are spread out at strategic positions; either along a fence line or along the crest of a ridge, but it could also be in the open on a very level area.

When properly organized each shooter will know exactly where his "field of shooting" is and in which direction(s) he may not shoot at all so as to not endanger the other shooters! Once all the shooters are properly in position the springbuck herds are slowly moved in the paddock to get to within the shooting range of the shooters.

Traditionally farm workers mounted on sheep working horses were used; but nowadays the land owner in his bakkie and/or some sons/workers on scrambler motorbikes and or quad bikes may also be used to move the herds. Please note that I do NOT use the word 'chase' but 'move', because on a properly executed voorsit shoot the animals are most definitely not chased at all! When properly done the springbuck herds are just, well call it 'irritated' by the horsemen slowly walking their horses towards the herds and sort of 'nudged' or 'herded' to set off at a walk or at most a slow trot towards the waiting shooters. Once within range - and if the animals are in the shooters allocated shooting direction - the springbuck or the agreed on sex, age or size are shot at by the shooter. Naturally the herd usually then run off on the first shot. Sometimes, particularly when the lead ewe is shot first the whole her just stand or mill around a bit and one shooter can get one or more shots from a single passing of the herd. But they are most unlikely to turn around and run back towards the horsemen that were 'herding' them towards the shooters. But if the land owner, or Professional Hunter who arranged the shoot, knows his business well the herd is likely to start slowing down and stop to look back at the fallen comrade just about when they are in range of the next shooter down the line.

When properly done it is a real pleasure to be on such a shoot and the kill to miss or wound ratio for shots taken can be very good. Shooters are rested, waiting, usually have a steady rest of some sort and the animals often stand when the shots are taken. When properly done, and with a group of experienced shooters who can really shoot well, it is usually a once a year affair. There need to be only one such shoot in each paddock every year to harvest the required number to ensure good herd management. Then the springbuck do not get wild and there is really a minimum of disturbance on the herd.

Unfortunately there are also the cowboys in this game: Stories of wild chases on horseback, motor cycles and quads [fired on brandy and coke] and animals chased to dead tiredness, wounded animals on three legs, or with jaws shot off or with entrails dragging behind them and other untold horrors also happen.

By asking for suggestions on this forum Scott450 is merely trying not to be suckered into such a disaster.

I know of a few PH's who can and does get involved with the yearly culling of some herds of springbuck in this manner. When properly done the shooting may start about by 8 o'clock in the morning and you may have 100 dead springbuck shot by 10 or so hunters shortly after noon. In my younger days I often took part in such shoots. Nowadays I prefer to rather hunt them individually. But it may be nice to become part of a responsible group of good ‘voorsit skietters’ again!

Blesbuck can also be shot in the same manner, but IMHO the term "voorstit shoot" is usually only used to refer to events where springbuck are the targets. I may be wrong in this but would like to hear the accuracy of my assessment that the term "voorsit shoot" is only used for springbuck?

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren

Andrew, a good assesment of a voorsit skiet / shoot. One aspect that you touched on but maybe not highlighted, it is rather like a bird shoot, in other words a much more social event, and less of a trophy hunt. I have done it with South Africans, Namibians, French and Spanish hunters, and if properly done as Andrew states, it is a real fun event, and actually very affordable.

Andrew i could not have described it better myself if i had tried. For our group it is a social occasion where we get to catch up with friends from around the country, do a bit of low pressure shooting and full the freezers with arguably the finest venison in Africa. The shooting is normally relatively easy (provided the wind is not howling)as you have plenty of time to settle in and use all the rests, tripods, shooting chairs available to you. As you are shooting from a fixed position it is also easy to range markers around you which allows for some precision shooting and minimal meat damage. It is also nice in that the older folk who are no longer up for a long walk and the younger guys who are cutting their teeth get to go out into the field and share some valuable time together. Lunch is normally liver, kidneys and heart done on a fire in the veld, accompanied by a local bread. Blue Karoo sky, a few buck in the bag and the company of good friends is hard to beat.