If my clients are bird hunters and are not pressed for time, I like to take them bird hunting in SA prior to their main hunt. This allows bags to catch up, clocks to adjust, and legs to stretch before the "real" hunting begins. It's also better to discover your boots don't fit or you forgot your toothpaste here in SA than when you get to camp in Zimbabwe.

The problem with bird hunting in RSA, or should I specifically say "guinea fowl hunting", is that one needs 10 to 15 guns to hunt these birds effectively. The hunting method is more like a military exercise than a bird hunt. The only effective methods are a drive (requiring many beaters), or a surround, where the hunters attempt to quickly surround a flock and then tighten the noose. Unless they are really stupid, these birds are almost impossible to hunt otherwise.

This is where Andrew comes in. He is a past master at outwitting the smartest guineas; and most importantly, he can round up a half dozen or so local hunters to make up the necessary hunting party. The resulting "cultural exchange" makes the hunt all the more enjoyable. Anyone who is curious about politics, history, and culture of RSA will enjoy the informal banter over a beer or in the bakkie.

Andrew operates from Brandfort, about 3 hours south of JNB on good roads (well the last 20km are gravel and the last 2km is a poor excuse for a road). The area is flat grassland and cropland with "pans" of water and the odd "koppie" or small rocky hill. He has access to a vast acreage so you will see plenty of country.

The hunters set out in several vehicles with radios. Someone spots birds, or Andrew relies on his local knowledge of their roosting and hangout spots to located them. Andrew then draws up a battle plan and deploys the hunters to strategically surround the flock. Sometimes this works spectacularly, with birds flushing in small groups from the surrounded cover. Sometimes the birds flush en masse, which is when you understand the reason for ejectors; and sometimes they escape by sneaking or flying through gaps in the line. Needless to say, this style of hunting is not for the unfit. On a typical day, you will walk (or run) 10km and make 4 or 5 surrounds. You can expect to shoot a box of ammo a day. So this is not "high volume shooting" (Andrew can arrange Rock Pigeon high volume hunts in April/May if you like your barrels hot.)

The home cooking by Celia, Andrews wife, is superb. On the last day you will enjoy a whole lamb on the spit.

The accommodations are dorm style in rustic stone cabins, not the typical deluxe tourist lodge.

Andrew will rent you a shotgun if you don't want to bother with the SAPS.

I have done this hunt twice with clients and enjoyed it both times. We rent a car at JNB (this costs about $150 for 3 days) and drive down to Brandfort. Andrew and the local hunters provide the "hunting" vehicles while in camp. Based on these experiences, I reiterate: the clients must be reasonably fit and able to negotiate barbed wire fences.

This hunt is best planned for a long weekend, as the local hunters in the party are weekend hunters for the most part.

Andrew also offers blesbuck and springbuck hunts in this same area, if you arrive during the week. There are also many steenbok and duiker but I got the sense that the landowners don't allow hunting of those species.

If the season is wet, the local duck hunting is as good as anything anywhere in the world. But that's a definite "IF" as this is not a high rainfall area.

If you want to contact Andrew, he posts on AR a lot.

I did this trip with Andrew a couple of years ago .... Very interesting and his lady can really cook !!! Great experience !!! Nice people ... It was very tough to whack a duck while I was there, however ... got lots here in Alberta, ...

Sounds like a fun hunt.

here is from a hunt from 2009 at Andrews place in Freestate.

Are guinea fowl good to eat? I have heard and read varying reports, and they vary A LOT.

Thanks.

I was in Mervilla two weeks ago and had great time hunting with Andrew - I will try to post a short report soon.

By the way, Cecilia, Andrew's wife, cooked guinea fowl pie - they tasted great!

Daniel

I hope there will be a a couple of guinea fowls,when we will visit Andrew and Cecilia again in may-june 2014. We are looking forward to the hunt, and also to meet a good friends.
Tove and Leo

Looks like all involved had a great time.

Guineas are great eating and a very welcome change of pace on safari, as much as I like game.

Well GF are rather tough birds, all that running builds muscle. If you want to eat them, you have to hang them in a cool room for a week or so. Or grind them up to make pie (which is what Celia does). I suppose a young one would be OK to roast like a chicken but the meat is dark and dry.

Hello Jens, I think we hunted together at Andrew's in 2010 or so. Or maybe it was 2009. Time flies.

quote:

Originally posted by Russ Gould:
Hello Jens, I think we hunted together at Andrew's in 2010 or so. Or maybe it was 2009. Time flies.

"It´s just an old rigby" Remember?....

Yes we hunted together along with your client Ernest, whom I enjoyed having good conversations with!. I am happy you have again been in Andrews care. The good thing about Andrew is just about anybody comming down there is treated as a guest of the house and never as a client or customer. Much more privileged...!!.
My next trip will again will be with Andrew.(I hope Andrew lives to become 110!!.(Then I can retire)

Looks fun!

quote:

Originally posted by mauser93:
Are guinea fowl good to eat? I have heard and read varying reports, and they vary A LOT.

Thanks.

i don't know abut the rest of the bird( we gave them to the staff) but the livers wrapped in bacon and braiied were delicious!

Andrew and his lady sure did not believe in eating guinea fowl while we hunted with them ... so I went out and shot one at the end of the trip, took the breast meat and did the ol' egg wash coat in flour, season and fry in butter ... ( an old bird one might wish to beat on it for a while to tenderize it ... ) ... absolutely fricken' scrumptious !!! I will certainly try to whack a few for supper next month in Namibia ... (not as confident on those sand grouse, however ...)