Hunting period 27. march to the 4. of april.
At PH and Outfitter Andrew McLaren.
Hunting at Mervilla and nearby farms.



It was my wifes (Tove) and my first real hunting trip to South Africa.
We had our own rifles with us. Tove with her .270 Weatherby Mag and 130 grain Nosler Partition ammu loaded with 68 grain Norma MRP.
And my .300 Weatherby Mag and 180 grain Nosler Partition loaded with 80 grain Norma MRP.

It was our intention to hunt non trophy game. But on the first hunting day Tove shot a very nice Blue Wildebeast. Distance 180 yards. Perfect shot through the body just over the heart cutting aorta

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Next day I would like to shoot a Kudu. We drove to Tshuduku game resort and searched for kudu. We saw a lot of different animals, but no kudu.
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I then decided to hunt a Black Wildebeast. There were lots of them. But the shooting distance was to far. I missed 2 shots clean. The Tshuduku PH said the distance was 200 yards. But the bullet hit the ground before the animal. I think the distance was 350 yards.
The third shot hit the Wildebeast but it ran away on 3 legs. We searched for it in the mountains a couple of hours but found only 1 tiny drop of blood.

After a short break, 3 afrikaans on horses rode into the mountains. They found the bull and were able to press it out. I were lucky to give it a Texas Heart Shot that took it down immediately.

The next days we shot Blesbok and Gemsbok

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A very amusing hunt was hunting for dassies



In 3 days I were up in the morning at 4.15 and went to a hide to get an opportunity to have a Springbok. No luck.

The 4th morning I tried my 3D tactical CAMO suit and lay on the ground at a fence.
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At sunrise I saw a lot of Springboks at a distance of ca 200 yards. I tried to get closer, but 4 crows made a terrible noise over my head. I think they believed I was a sort of a ½ dead animal that only could move very slowly.
The Springboks were all looking in my direction, so I had to try a shot. I tried to clear my optics for dew with a finger and aimed at the nearest Springbok. I didnt hear the bullet smash so I thought that I missed. I sought after blood and hair but couldnt find anything.
A little disappointed I went back to the lodge and told Andrew it was a miss.
After our return home Andrew wrote to me:
"Found a large [but non trophy] springbok, naturally by now quite spoiled and eaten by jackal, with a complete vertebrae destroying high neck-shot that would have caused a “drop on the spot instant death” about 300 yards from the drinking trough where you were hiding. Congratulations! You did indeed shoot and kill a free range springbok!"

My mistake: I didnt search good enough.
Fortunately it was not suffering a long and painful death.
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Congratulations!

For non trophy hunting,You sure took some great Trophies.

Congratulations!

Nice hunt you all had.

Andrew McLaren is a good chioce for free range hunts and everything else

Your choice of calibers(.270 & .300Wea) for hunting on the open grasveld could not have been anymore taylormade for the job. Long shots are often needed in that terrain.

A little dassie adventure is always adds a an additional fun to the hunt.

Great entry to this forum. Your huntingbattery leaves nothing but for serious business
Welcome..

Ps: Hunting free range springbok on the open grasveld is about as much challenge a hunter can get. Not many want to take the time it actually takes. Glad you have experienced it

Hunting old South Africa with McLaren. Where are the non trophies? The blue wildebeest is superb.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Hunting old South Africa with McLaren. Where are the non trophies? The blue wildebeest is superb.

Maybe this Steenbok I shot

Congratulations. Nice hunt.
The layout of the land looks like it's .600 country!
Cheers,
Cal

quote:

Originally posted by cal pappas:
Congratulations. Nice hunt.
The layout of the land looks like it's .600 country!
Cheers,
Cal

It sure is .600 land.
Aim 1,5 m high on a 300 yards away Springbok, and you will sure hit
Besides thank you very much for your personal dedikation to me in your last book.

Congratulations on having a great hunt.

The McLaren's are great folks huh!

Great hunt. I am thinking of doing a similar hunt with Andrew.

Its my birthday today, reading your report invokes a lot of lovely memories.

Our hunt

I will also give a thumbs up for hunting with Andrew in SA.

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2duer;

Congratulations to you and your wife! You surely had a wonderful safari. THanks for the report and photos.

Best regards, D. Nelson

From vergeleê..



Home at mervilla..


Breakfast..


Kudu..

Warthog..

Congratulations; real plains-game hunting!

Aren't Blesbuck fun to watch. I had so much fun watching the young bucks prancin'/dancin' at the front of the herd I could barely bring myself to shoot one.

Thank you for all the nice response.
We have already made a reservation for next year at Andrews. Hope to get a Kudu and my wife hopes to get a Warthog

2 a fine time and good shooting.

Mike