I started my split hunt in Africa with Andrew McLaren Safaris. I planned to hunt free range Springbok with Andrew but a lack of recent sightings and no spoor sign at their previous locations required a change in plans. I guess my own impatience played a part in things but I requested Andrew arrange a hunt on a 5,000 acre local game ranch. This property had recently turned from trophy hunting to meat hunting and Andrew secured a very good price for an older male.

We drove out with a very fine young P/H called Hannes Bekker (How Afrikanes is that name ?). Hannes is Gen Y, univerity educated, articulate and as fit as can be. He has a background in animal capture and is presently manageing Auch Macoy game reserve. I don't know what his ambitions are but he would make a wonderful P/H for foreign clients.

Hannes soon located a nice Springbok and it was off the truck and into stalk mode. One thing I like about Andrew McLaren Safaris is that he likes to 'walk it up', not shoot from a vehicle and Hannes had those clear instructions.

We slunk into some dead ground and worked parralel to the Springbok herd until we entered a small grove of trees. We placed these behind us and began the slow and painful crawl through the long grass to get closer to the herd. They must have sensed something as they started to graze off to our left. The range was approx 150 metres.

I was useing Andrews .308W Lyttleton (Musgrave) commercial mauser 98 with my 165 Woodleigh PPSN handloads left over from last year. The range stretched out past 200 metres as I struggled to calm my breathing for a sure shot. The range grew to 300+ and we new we would have to start over.

Back to the dead ground , up to and across the road and into the culvert on the other side. The Springbok had crossed the road and we duck walked up the culvert and out into longer grass. My breathing was steady and the Springbok were in range again.

I placed the 8x56 Zeiss cross hairs on the shoulder of the lead Male Springbok and the instant he stopped grazing I let off the shot. For some reason I dropped my eyes from the scope as if in prayer, willing the round on to find it's target. I was rewarded with an almighty THWOCK and Hanness screaming 'you did it, great shot, magnificent shot'. We paced the distance at 220 paces.

I had hit the old Male through both shoulders and the spine and he was DRT. While capeing him out the skinners found bruiseing under his chin where he had hit the ground so hard.

It was the end of a three year dream and the 13.5" Free State Springbok will be a shoulder mount above the TV I watch the Rugby on.



Hannes later said that he often spent all day with clients chaseing Springbok around the 5,000 acreas of Grassveldt as they constantly missed the target.

Our next hunt was for a herd management Black Wildebeast. We again left the Bukkie (ute) at the front gate and 'walked it up'. I saw a magnificent trophy Impala Ram during our walks and I hope Alex, the winner of Andrew's free hunt will have the opportunity to hunt that animal with Andrew.

After 9km I was in range of an old female herd management Black Wilderbeast. Range was again 200+ and again I used Andrews .308 and my handloads. I pulled the shot too far right. The animal was quartering towards me and I did not hold far enough to the Left.

It took off at Warp Speed 10 and dissapeared with its herd over an escarpment. Andrew followed the spoor for another 3km before we lost it. No sight of the animal. The farm game scout was summoned and he too lost the spoor at the same spot Andrew did. We searched till dark and it was a very quiet night back in camp.

We were up before dawn and back on the property with additional help searching for a non-existant animal. I was glad that I was with the worker who found the animal just after lunch a bare 150 metres from where we had lost the spoor the previous day. Stiff as a board it had clearly expired before dark the previous day or we would have seen it. The Woodleigh took off the top of the Left lung, mashed the Liver, penetrated the complete stomach and was found in the meat of the groin.

I have to hand it to Andrew. He is a P/H of mature years and experience and he did not once faulter in his tireless efforts to locate the Black Wilderbeast. As I tired, he pressed on and his tracking was superb.

It was very cold on the Free State areas where Andrew hunts so we had to stay warm. I did a number on Andrew the last night with the best drink in the world.



Yes, Poofta Hill Rum had arrived in the Free State.

Andrew offers ethical hunting on the Free State Grassveldt and has a modest yet comfortable set up centrally located for hunting, wingshooting and varminting.

Last year my son took a Rowland Ward Steenbok close to Andrews centre of operations.



Andrew McLaren Safaris can customise a budget hunt for any of the mentioned activities.

wow. Fantastic shot and congrats

Nice springbuck. I'm glad you found the bwb

quote:

Originally posted by Buckshotaz:
I'm glad you found the bwb

Not as glad as we were. What a bad feeling.

Thanks for the report and pics. That is a great Springbok. Springbok is now a "must have" for me.

Thx Charles. IMHO the Springbok Gazelle is THE animal that says: 'South Africa'.

Nice Springbok. It's going to make a nice trophy.

Outstanding report, mate. Glad you scored! Nicely done.

ChetNC

quote:

Originally posted by ChetNC:
Outstanding report, mate. Glad you scored! Nicely done.

ChetNC

While hunting the bwb I saw a magnificent Impala Ram, which I left for you.....

26 days to go my friend.
ChetNC

Well done mate

Good shooting John!!!.

By seing your pictures there, I already miss the Grassveld around Andrews place.

I believe the very Good mr CHETNC will have something to look foreward to

I really got to like Blandfort too
...neet little place

My dear wife is now teaching my afrikaans.." Goeie more meg frou..hies er sweinkie vir jou"