Three weeks in RSA

[grayghost]

I won't drag this out into a novel, but instead give a very brief report and accompany with pics.

Dates: May 27-June 16, 2007

RSA Provinces hunted: North West (Kalahari), Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape.

Noteworthy areas: Kalahari (Botswana border), Stormberg Mountains/Karoo, Coastal region of the Indian Ocean, "Suur Veldt" various bush riverine to canyons.

Species hunted and taken: 1-African Lion, 1-Cape Bushbuck, 3-Common Duiker (also called Grey or Bush Duiker), 1-Black and 1-White Springbok, 2-Common and 1-White Blesbok, 2-Baboon, 2-Impala, 1-Steenbok, 2-Blue Wildebeast, 1-Mountain Reedbuck, 1-Oribi, 1-Caracal Cat (African Lynx), 2-Warthog, 1-Cape Kudu, 1-Cape Grysbok, 2-Genet, 1-Jackal and Waterfowl (Yellow Bills, Shelduck, Egyptian Geese).

Species hunted but not taken: Waterbuck, (hunted a 31-33" class bull relentlessly but he stayed one step ahead. I passed on several 27-29 inch bulls), Klipspringer & Vaal Rhebok. I swear some of the most difficult hunting I've ever done. Similiar to hunting Sheep and Goats. Rheboks eyesight surpasses Pronghorn Antelope IMHO.

Rifles used: .280 Weatherby Mark V synthetic/stainless with a Leupold VX-L 3.5x10x50. Remington .223 Varmit Special w/Weaver (1973 model) 4x12x40. CZ-550 .375 H&H w/Leupold VX-III, 1.5x5x20

Ammo: Swift 300 grain A-Frame (Lion). All others: Nosler 160 grain Accubond (.280) Nosler 60 grain Partition (.223). All bullets performed flawlessly with no failures. All large plains game even the Wildebeast were taken with one shot. Ranges: 60 to 311 yards.

This hunts highlight was the Lion (posted previously) but was a hunt in the true sense. I do not book myself "package hunts" although some of my clients choose to do their first African hunt in that style. Rather I prefer to meet with my PH every morning and tell him: "Let's go hunting." We always have a great day. Even on the few days we take no game. Some game requires a permit (Oribi/Grysbok, etc) which is requested well in advance. We're already seeing a "sell out" for next years Red Duiker and Suni permits.

My hunt opened with the taking of my Lion. This is one of his tracks we tracked across the Kalahari:

To the end result:



Then onto some plains game and other species.
Cape Bushbuck @ 179 yds. w/.223 Rem. We stalked this ram from a distance of 859 yards.


Having taken a female Common Duiker near Groblersdal, my chance for a male came early one chilly morning while glassing for Kudu and Warthog. Remington .223 was just the ticket for a 260 yard shot.


While looking for ducks, we came across this dandy of a Black Springbok. Again, the .223 @ 140 yards.


Trophy Blesbok...it wouldn't be my best! .280 @158 yards.


Finally! Baboon's are extremely wary and intellegent (for the most part). We had a troop run across the top of a bluff. The Alpha male stopped to sort things out...bad mistake. I dumped two of them in rapid succession with the .223 @170 yards.


Impala cull. 60 yards with the .280

Nice trophy ram I took in Gauteng Province


Super trophy Steenbok. We saw lots of them. .223 @ 100 yards. What can I say: it was raining and I like hunting Steinbokkie