SA Hunt - Day 4

Gemsbok was the objective for day 4.  The property selected was about a 2  hour drive toward Craddock. Gemsbok like a little bit different ecosystem.  Arnold also told us that there is a tick based heart disease in the coastal areas and some species such as gemsbok and eland are more susceptible to it than kudu, wildebeest etc. This property is over a mountain pass and in a more arid savannah type climate.  The ticks don't like it there.

On the way out of the lodge, I spotted this profile against the sunrise.

It was the resident giraffe standing near the driveway at the skinning shed. 

He's a cutie and Kerneels has purchased three young ladies to join him.  We were hoping to see them delivered but it happened a day or two after we left.

After our long drive, we pulled into the farm and the first thing we saw was a herd of springbok.

We drove down the driveway to the farmhouse and were met by the owner's tracker and his brothers.  As we were standing in the farm yard talking, Arnold spotted some warthogs moving a couple hundred yards away.  We took off on foot after them immediately

Joan caught this picture of us stalking the warthog.

We had a little confusion between Arnold and the local tracker as to who was giving me direction.  We got it worked out and I made the shot.  He disappeared from view but didn't go far.  Fourth good shot with Arnolds gun and another single shot kill. 

He was a really impressive hog for this area.  Of all the fine trophies that I collected, this one got the most attention from the locals. 

Joan really thought this critter was ugly.  She made some comment about not eating it - little did she know. 

After picking up the hog, we loaded up the trackers and went for a drive around the property.  We saw these kudu on the move. 

We also spotted this duiker. Or is it a steenbok?

We saw two different herds of gemsbok from quite a distance.  It is difficult to pick an animal since both the males and females have horns. 

We made several stalks and they busted us and cleared out.  We chased then several times and tried again.  One time as they were getting ready to move, I got a shot off.  It was a clean miss and Arnold told me I was either shooting at the wrong animal or I missed very badly. 

The land was wide open with little cover.  When we bumped them, they would cover a lot of ground before settling back down.  We used up some shoe leather chasing them. 

We also encountered blesbok and springbok who would sometimes raise the alarm.  It was not easy getting in range.

When we did get somewhat in range, Arnold would have to evaluate the animals and pick the one that he wanted me to shoot.  Then I would have to get on the sticks and find it in the scope.  They would keep moving which complicated things as a cow would walk in front of the bull etc. On about the 6th stalk, I took a shot and hit the bull. 

 Arnold said that I took out a leg - he was right.  I hit him in the upper left leg just below the chest.  I tried a follow up shot and missed - he was on the move.  We started tracking him and Arnold was worried about his dog, Jack, tangling with a wounded gemsbok.  In the past, he had witnessed another dog riding speared on a horn across a field. Arnold grabbed the rifle and took a long shot at a moving three legged gemsbok - miss.

Jack was on the trail and took off running after the animal.  Arnold was concerned about Jack and took off running after him.  The rifle only had two bullets left in it.  I followed but couldn't keep up with their pace. After several hundred yards of chase, Arnold spine shot him and put him down.  He was still alive when I arrived and found Arnold and Jack sitting by him panting.  Arnold gave me the rifle and I put the last bullet in his heart from 15 feet.  It still took an amazing amount of time for this tough animal to die.

No problem getting the truck close in this country.  We pulled it right up and set up the photo op. 

I'm told that he is a respectable bull but not a huge specimen.  The bulls have thicker horns and the cows have longer thinner ones. 

They really are pretty animals. 

Jerry and Jack having some fun at the photo op. 

The most appropriate photo for the team effort on this animal. 

 

I'm rationalizing the shot by telling myself that the range must have been long.  If (big if) it was a 300 yard shot, an extra 8" of bullet drop would be expected. We definitely had trouble getting close.  Arnold had me shooting without holdover since he expected to get me close. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

We got the gemsbok in and reloaded the warthog on top of it. 

Back to the skinning shed where work progressed on both animals. 

When Jack wasn't playing with the bull testicles cut off for his amusement, he stalked the farm yard chickens. 

A picture from the mountain pass on the long drive home. 

As we were driving past Addo National Park, we saw these elephants just inside the famous Armstrong fence. 

Dinner that evening started with broccoli soup. 

Bushbuck sirloin for main course.

Dessert was a local favorite called malva pudding.  It's like a bread pudding - very good. 

Jack had a long day and rested by the fire.

 

Only one animal left and two days to get him.  Blue wildebeest.