we were talking about my escapade with the Nilgai
where he drowned in the pond at the HHC. That was a humbling experience and one that enforces the point that we never know everything. The morning of that hunt was raining hard and I took a couple of shots off the hood of my truck to check the scope. I was shooting at a piece of paper on a flat board at about 25 yards. I thought sure I saw the holes where the bullets hit but it was raining so hard I took it for granted that everything was OK. Stupid move #1.
Later on that morning when we went out the Nilgai was standing there broadside, close enough that I could have used the 429 GNR revolver on my hip but I opted for the 41 GNR G-2 that I have used on so many other hunts. Stupid move #2.
Aiming at the upper neck which is the spot I normally try to put the bullet and that has been a one shot kill for me on so many big 1500 lb critters at the HHC, I hit 18" low. Nate, who was standing there by me said I hit him low in the brisket. But now the Nilgai was on the run. I took a couple more shots with the 41 GNR and finally noticed a branch fall about 2 feet over the animal where my bullet hit. It finally dawned on me that the scope was blown. The Nilgai was now at about 75 yards or a bit more across the open field trying to see where I was. Using the 429 GNR revolver I took a 3 more shots at him and could see at least 2 hits. That was when the Nilgai ran toward the pond and jumped in. He didn't get even half way across the pond before he went under. When we got him out we saw why he drowned. He had 4 holes in his neck and chest and one in a front leg. The air was pumping out of his chest and the water coming in.
That was a humbling experience. For so many years I had prided myself on one shot kills and not making any animal suffer but I had blown it big time on this one. Back at the lodge I shot the 41 GNR some more and no two shots were even within 2 feet of the others. The scope was blown completely. Since then rain or no rain I make sure my guns are sighted in before they go out in the field.