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Part 8
Day 6; July 18th. We headed for Dikkop Flats this morning to hunt Gemsbok. The day before Louis had taken a fine 38" cow but I would be looking for a bull. We walked a long way across the plains until we found a bend in the creek Denham had told Meyrick about. This area was a bottle neck for game and the Gemsbok would most likely appear in the area sometime during the day. We saw Black Wildebeast, Blesbok and Springbok during the morning and had one Blesbok walk within 50 yards. Later a herd of Springbok came within 20 yards without noticing us. The wind was in our favor. About 10 am we saw the Gemsbok coming around a ridge to our front. We were going to have to close the distance rapidly if I were to have any chance at a shot, so when they went into a deep depression, we were up and fast walking towards them. We were almost to our predetermined spot when they suddenly appeared coming over the ridge. I immediately sat down and readied my Bipod. They were in single file and Meyrick said: "Fourth one from the back." I quickly single out the bull and let him walk into the cross hairs. At the shot he reared up and ran forward, disappearing into a deep dry creek bed. I readied another round but he never came out. We slowly went into the high brush and found him expired. My shot had passed through the inside of the right shoulder and broke the left shoulder. Top performance from the 160 gr Accubond. Range was 203 yards. Time was 10:30 am. Nice, heavy symmetrical horns measuring 35 inches. A fine bull Gemsbok. After taking some pictures, we loaded up and took my bull for skinning. This was accomplished in short order by Jackson, Meyrick and another skinner. They were finished in less than 30 minutes. We packed up and headed off to hunt Black Wildebeast and Blesbok....continued
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