My 11 year old son's first African hunt



The first thing that my 11 year old son, Rizal, did after I told him that he could accompany me to Namibia was to announce to his mother, "Mom, I'm going to get you springbok for your wall." That did it. His mother told me not to spare any amount of time or money, just make sure that her son gets her that springbok trophy. Where I was always limited to a tight hunting budget my young son was now being given carte blanche to go on his first African safari.

The instrument he chose to take a springbok was my Remington Model Seven chambered in .308 Winchester. This particular firearm had accounted for many deer and coyotes and it has been a trusted companion whenever I would go on extended hiking trips in remote regions of the Pacific Northwest. As soon as I let him handle it he immediately laid claim to my beloved little rifle. Up until then, Rizal had not fired anything other than .22 LR rifles and pistols so I took him with me a couple of months before our departure for Africa to a rifle range to get proficient with the gun.



Bare-bones, the rifle weighed 5 3/4 pounds, and with a 4x German No. 1 post scope that I originally had on it, the thing came to about 6 1/2 pounds. When he got to firing it with 165-grains leaving the muzzle at about 2700 fps, the light weight of the gun began to tell on his shoulder and his marksmanship. Although he said that he did not mind the recoil I did not like seeing my son being battered by the gun. I took over to see if it was the gun, the scope, or the load and found that the Model Seven kicked me harder than my .375 H&H that weighed scoped over 10 1/2 pounds. This wouldn't do so I took the rifle home and put on a slip-on recoil butt pad and a recoil cheek pad to absorb the kick and also to add weight to the gun. I also changed the scope to a 2x7 with a firefly reticle in case I wanted to use the gun for low-light hunting. After we got to Namibia, Rizal shot the rifle at 100 yards to confirm his zero and found it more manageable with the added weights and recoil absorbing pads. He was ready for his first safari.

We spent several days just playing around Namibia and doing touristy things before heading for Etemba Hunt and Safaris farm to hunt. Even after we arrived at the hunting area Rizal and the Fietz children, Sven and Laura, would roam the veld around the hunting lodge, finding it great fun in sneaking up on wildebeest and warthogs and jumping up and scaring them away.



Finally, on the eleventh day, Rizal decided it was time to take the springbok for his mother. We went out into the veld and glassed the herd of springboks for a decent buck. 12-year old Sven, a fledging PH, suggested a big one that was grazing with a few bachelor bucks about 150 yards away.



The Armin told Rizal to chamber a round and put the rifle on safe. We began our stalk into the open field, my son first, me behind him, and PH last. The bucks watched us warily but kept grazing. When we got to about 120 yards the springboks began to show signs of nervousness and readiness to take flight. It was as close as we dared to get to the bucks. I made a field expedient rifle rest with my camera case, jackets, and hat. Rizal acquired his target and held steady on the lower third of his chest where the black meets the front leg. He had to wait until all the animals around the targetted buck were clear of him so that there would be no possibility of taking two animals with one shot. I asked my son if he was ready and he replied he was. I told him to take the safety off and begin his trigger squeeze whenever he had a clear killing shot. Sensing now a danger, the bucks were in full alert. I watched Rizal as he panned his rifle with the now moving target.




I saw the buck drop at the spot. The .308 round had entered the buck in the left shoulder and exited at the neck. With one shot, my 11 year old boy got his trophy.



Notice the flared dorsal. This is the condition of a springbok when it is pronking away from danger. It serves to confuse a pursuing predator. A downed springbok with a flared dorsal indicates that it has been freshly hit. After a few minutes the dorsal muscles relax and hair over the rump reverts to the normal smooth position.



Rizal called home to his mother that night, proud as could be that he got her her springbok trophy. I was proud as could be that I am his Dad.



Trophy: Springbok (Antidorcus marsupialis)
Hunter: Rizal del Rosario, 11 years old
Rifle: Remington Model Seven, .308 Winchester
Place: Etemba Hunt and Safaris, Namibia
Date: March, 2008
Professional Hunter: Armin Fietz armin.fietz@africaonline.com.na



A flame-sky over the Kalahari, March 2008

Thats a great trophy.You must be very proud of your son.Congrats

Great story

What a fantastic Springbok. That is definitely one I'd proudly have on my wall.
And that rifle looks like it was custom made for your son. Congrats to both of you.

Way to go Rizal! Congratulations on a fine trophy.
David

Congratulations to both of you.
Rizal, for enjoying every moment of this great opportunity offered to you by your parents and keeping calm when taking your trophy;

namibiahunter, for giving your boy this experience and taking him on such a trip. More than most things during his youth - he will remember this forever.

And what better place to offer part of education than in the open spaces and beautiful nature of Namibia. I can tell... !

Beautiful springbok. May there be many more!

Is there any greater joy in the hunting world than watching a child take their first big game animal? Not from where I've been.

The photo of sunlight on the clouds is fantastic. Congratulations to you and your son.

Fantastic! What will he proclaim to his mother next time?

quote:

Originally posted by yukon delta

Fantastic! What will he proclaim to his mother next time?

When we got back, Rizal told his mother that he would like to eventually get the Big Five for her. So, in 2010, if he's capable of handling a 9.3x62 by then, he'll be going to try for a Cape Buffalo (at 13 years old). Guess what he'll probably get for his birthday or for Christmas? I was lucky to get even a second-hand Red Ryder when I was 11.

Namibiahunter

Namibiahunter and Rizal, congrats!!!!

This is indeed a very special moment for you and your son.

Hunting is now much more special to me since my 13 yrs old son started accompanying me. I really understand your feelings.

Regards.

My son is in his forties now and we still hunt together. I have fond memories of our hunts together when he was young.