24 December 2011, 22:29
Singleshot03My first hunt in Africa: 30 years since I read "Death in the Long Grass"
Outfitter: Motschwere Safaris/ Werner LewiesTravel Agent: Lori Travel Express
PH: Barend Swart/ Werner Lewies
Area Hunted Lephalale, Limpopo, RSA
Date of Hunt: December 2011
Rifles: Sako AV 375 H&H; stocked by Clifton Arms (out of business)
Browning A bolt 270 Win
Optics: Redfield 3x9 on 375
Nikon Monarch BDC 2.5 X 10 on 270
Ammunition: 375: Federal Power-Shok 300 grains Soft Points purchased here on AR
270: Federal Vital-Shok 150 grn Nosler Partition
Wish List: Kudu, Gemsbuck, Impala, Zebra, Blue Wildebeest, Blesbuck, Springbuck, Warthog and 1 of either a Tsessebe, Nyala, Reedbuck, Waterbuck, or bushbuck
Animals Seen: Kudu, Gemsbuck, Impala, Zebra, Blue Wildebeest, Blesbuck, Warthog, Tsessebe, Nyala, Reedbuck, Waterbuck, Bushbuck, Duiker, Eland, Jackal, Baboon, Giraffe, Red Hartebeest, Mtn. Reedbuck, Sable, Vervet Monkey
Animals Taken: Tsessebe, Kudu, Eland, Bushbuck, Nyala, Gemsbuck, Impala, Blue Wildebeest, Warthog
I would like to thank Saeed for sponsoring this site and everyone who gave advice and answered questions the last couple of years especially Trey B and Jason P for advice up to the last minute. I would also like to thank elk88101 who shared his experience and knowledge in camp with me. My daughter and I would like to thank him for his generous gift of two of his elephant hair bracelets. Of course Richard Venola who heard me talk about wanting to go to Africa for over 20 years and kept putting a boot in my but to go.
We had a great hunt and saw plenty of game and good trophies but I now understand why people hunt the winter in South Africa versus summer:
1. Rains caused animals to hunker down and no reason to move to water.
2. W/i 48 hours of rain foliage turned green providing more camouflage for animals
3. Heat and humidity. (bearable)
Reality:
1. Somewhere I heard or read that you have 5 seconds to shoot an animal that seemed to way to long. When spooked, winded or spotted or just moving through the brush there only seemed to be a second or two to make a shot let alone judge trophy quality.
2. When spooked the animals did not run 30 or 50 yards and stop and turn around. They ran and kept running.
I will try to be brief
Day 1 hunting
Saw numerous Impala and kudus. Tried several stalks at impalas but was unsuccessful due to wind or branches in the way to make a shot. Plus the animals weren't standing around to get their picture shot.
Saw 4 Kudu Bulls broadside at about 50 m. Largest bull was a 47" according to PH. I hope I wouldn't regret passing on the shot but it was only my first day.
Later in evening staked out waterhole. Pretty slow except for a female Mtn Reedbuck. No activity for a couple of hours when I saw a set of moving Kudu horns above the thorn encrusted bushes. A picture I have etched in my memory. The PH said he was a good one. The kudu came in from a direction that we did not expect and I was angled in the blind in another direction. As I tried to readjust my rifle was canted; with the stock of the 375H&H in the middle of my chest the PH turned my rifle vertical. I could not get the butt of the rifle in my shoulder. The reticle of the scope was on the shoulder so I pulled the trigger with the butt stock in my chest The round hit the shoulder and passed through. The Kudu was about 60 -80 yards away and ran about half that distance when it collapsed.
Winch broke on truck and the 4 of us unable to load the Kudu. PH made a call and about 5 other guys arrived and loaded the Kudu.
Day 2
The morning was chilly and overcast; we saw fewer numbers of warthog, impala, nyala and kudu. We set up blind over larger waterhole. Sat for about 3 hours and saw baboons, Kudus, Warthogs, Steinbuck and smaller Bushbucks.
Bushbuck came into the water hole on our left. I was shooting offhand and waiting for the shoulder to clear branches. Scope clear of vegetation took shot at shoulder with 375H&H. Bushbuck jumped and ran off. My bullet cut a moon shape into a limb a few feet from where I shot the Bushbuck from.
We saw a little blood and it seemed like the Bushbuck was hit or nicked in the leg from the deflected bullet. PH, tracker, skinner and I began a futile search. Outfitter, two dogs and another 4 tracker/skinners continued the search. Very little blood was found other than on our arms from the thorns. The thorns ripping the front and back of our shirts. The bushbuck circled over it tracks a number of times. Approximately five hours + of searching through the thorn bushes, and coming back to the same area three times we called it quits on finding the bushbuck.
I was tired and demoralized and getting dark so we headed back to the camp. The outfitter saw a nice impala so we dismounted and stalked to within 100 yards. The impala was just staring at us. Tired, it took me about three tries to steady my aim - fearing the bushes would ruin my shot. The shot was a little further back but the impala dropped.
I understand Elk88101 took a great Nyala and Bushbuck today.
We had Kudu filets for dinner.
Day 3
We hunted in the morning and early afternoon seeing the usual impala, warthogs, kudu.... I did not take any animals. My daughter and I went to the White Lion Project which was a good opportunity for her to play with lion cubs. We went out hunting for the last hour of light seeing zebra, jackal and a few other animals that I can not recall.
An Impala I wanted to take the last day.
Day 4
Saw about 6 younger male bushbucks, impala, kudu, female Nyala, Waterbuck and warthogs. I passed up a shot at two mountain Reedbucks because I wanted to hold out for Nyala, Gemsbuck... something on my list. ( I should have taken one) Warthogs were not high on my list but I decided to take one none the less.
Later in the evening I was able to connect with a good Nyala. I shot and it ran off about 40-50 m. It was getting late and I was afraid of another bad hit but we quickly found it and took pictures.
I am really amazed all the work the PH takes in posing the animal, washing the blood off. They take a lot of pride in their animals, trophies and photo.
Day 5
Early start hunted most of the day seeing the usual variety of animals but nothing I wanted to shoot. We moved to another part of the concession and did some scouting. We set up about 150 meters from a waterhole. A baboon came in and sat and screeched for 30 minutes warning everything that we where in the area. I would have shot the baboon if I had a silencer. Later some warthogs, and impala ate there way to the waterhole.
Close to darkness a herd of Wildebeest came through the grass. What appeared to be the largest separated himself from the herd. The herd moved in front of us. Light was limited and the PH said it was a 80% chance that that was a good bull if I wanted him. I turned up the magnification to allow more light in my scope of my 270. I held at the shoulder and tried to squeeze the trigger - nothing happened. The safety was off but I had the bolt half cocked so I missed the shot.
As it got darker I watched the bull go toward the water and in a few long minutes work his way back to us. When he came in close enough 50+ meters I fired. The flash blinded me so I couldn't see if I hit him. The PH who was to my right said it was a good hit. We found the Blue Wildebeest down about 30 meters from where we shot him.
Day 6
We bounced around a couple of waterholes and their was not much action. We moved to another waterhole where the trackers cut some fields of fire since I am paranoid about branches.
After sitting for about 40 minutes we saw two female Bushbucks in the brush. They did not approach the water. Another 20 minutes passed when a good Bushbuck joined them. The PH said he was a good one so I waited for him to clear some bushes and shot. The 375 found its home and he ran about 10 to 20 m. I never thought I would have another opportunity at another good Bushbuck. A wait was lifted off my shoulders.
Also that afternoon we saw two nice Kudus jump the 2.5 m fence. I only wish I had my camera ready. The PH also saw a leopard run across the dirt road while I was looking in another direction. We stopped to look at its tracks.
Days 7, 8, and 9
The weather brought rain and the animals ceased moving. We would see a fresh track and follow it for and hour and a half and ended up pushing the animals be it Gemsboks or Zebra's. Passed on some Steenboks. If we saw the Zebra or Gemsboks they where 2-300 m away and would spook before I could get in position and steady for a shot.
Chasing herd of Blesbuck can't get a good shot through the brush and they are easily spooked
During this time also missed an easy shot at a Duiker.
Took one afternoon off and spent it with my daughter in town.
Day 10
Rains stopped but saw fewer animals. Eventually we got a Gemsbuck to stand still long enough to shoot it. It dropped but took off again but was found within 40 m of where we shot it. The brush prevented me from getting a second shot.
My camera broke so I had to run back into town and by another one. I can't find my images for the Gemsbuck
Continuing the hunt we saw a small group of Eland at about 200 meters. The outfitter pointed out the mature bull and I shot into its shoulder. He said it was a good hit but it was off and running with us in pursuit. I was able to get a second shot into its shoulder again but it did not stop moving. I fired two more times while out of breath missing the animal. My fifth shot did not have any impact. Out of ammo for my 375; I switched to my 270. My lungs crying out for air I was able to put two 270 shots into it. It finally gave out and I put another round behind its ear fearing that I would hit the horns. I could not believe the size of the Elands
About 1/2 dozen farm workers came out to help load the Eland.
Day 11
We spent the morning and early afternoon hunting with no success. We saw the typical warthogs, impala, blue wildebeest.... We then spotted some Tsessebe which was one of my priorities for the hunt and this was the first time we have seen any. They where all females. We continued to hunt and came across a male. My first shot missed and I figured that would be the last time I would see him. Within 30 minutes we saw him or another male and this time my shot dropped him in his tracks. I was very elated and this was the pinnacle for my hunt.
Continuing to hunt we came across a small herd of Zebras. As I line up on the largest one and began pulling the trigger the Zebra moved forward and I was uncertain where my shot hit him. We spent the next two hours until darkness tracking with no success.
Day 12.
We continued the search from the previous evening. Most of the morning was spent covering last nights tracks. Did not find any blood. We continued to search as they mixed in with other zebras. Did have a chance at another Gemsbok but I did not want to shoot any more animals until we found the Zebra.
In the afternoon we changed tactics and had the tracker pursue the Zebras and we would try to get ahead and ambush it if they came out. Of course the Zebra's where moving at a fast pace and it was difficult to get a shot off quickly. I did fire again but my round was short. As the afternoon wore on the Zebra showed no signs of wear. The other reality was that if the zebra rubbed against another zebra that zebra may have a blood stain and we could shoot the wrong zebra. Not seeing any stain at all we still might mistake the wrong zebra.
After about 8 1/2 hours I called it quits on the pursuit. I did not feel good about the situation or my shooting. For some reason I was aiming low when I only had a second to shoot. Secondly, the Zebra was showing no signs of being hit or slowing down. Thirdly, I did not want to shoot a wrong zebra and have to pay for another zebra. It was a bad ending to a great hunt.
Looking back this was like a dream. The hunt went by very quickly. I had a great time; we hunted hard; I only wanted representative animals and sometimes I got a little better. Motschwere had a good farm and additional concessions providing some great quality animals. Werner's wife, Stephanie, took my daughter under her wing and made her part of the family. Dinners were better than eating out back home; my daughter loved the Kudu. We met some great people and my dream of hunting Africa was fulfilled. My daughter and I are ready to go back.
Day 13/14
We went to Pilansberg National Park and saw a lot of animals who were standing in the open. Also went swimming at Sun City and next day shopping for souvenirs.
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