my thanks to gary Lindholm and Ian McVeigh for the pictures

Colleen's story about that humongous Water Buffalo she got!

stalking. Until then here are a few pics and observations from the many miles of walking done on the property.

The bird on the sign is the Secretary Bird. They stand 2+ feet tall and are named for the quills on their head that look like pens a secretary may have put in their hair.

They put out the flag of the country of hunters they host

The place was an active sheep farm until around 2015 (if I recall correctly). The main lodge has a musuem showing some of the history and activities done at the lodge.

During one of our walks and stalks we ran across a few farm relics while going after Gemsbok. Here is an old sheep collar and bell. The bell works. We left it on top of a termite mound.

We found an old Springbok skull. Interesting enough the animals over there have horns not antlers - they don’t shed the horns. I asked why the one “horn” was off the skull. My PH said there is a skin type layer between the bone and horn. He noted that if a skull was bad for a mount then the “horns” could be put on a duplicate skull.

They have about 400 water tanks on the property, with windmills to provide water to the animals on property.

There used to be an old diamond mine on the place and a diamond trading shed. The property was a diamond exchange on the trail between Capetown and Johannesburg.

On Saturday, they provided lunch under some shade trees by a natural spring on the property. The spring has dried up in the last couple of years but relief from the sun was welcome.

After lunch we could tour some Bush People rock paintings marked on the hillside. Here are just a few....

Some pics of the local terrain. Some slight rolling plains, a few hills, and a rocky nob that looks like a moonscape.

We got busted on one of our stalks because the giraffe looked “down” on us and took off. Typically when one animal runs, they all run. If you think fight or flight, evrything there choses flight. Springbok eat at 40 mph and run even faster.

We had a dung beetle fly in as we were wrapping up some field dressing. The interesting tidbit there is they will take the seed from the grass in the stomach and propogate grass growth by moving the grasses throughout the terrain. They sound alot like a bumblebee buzzing when they fly by.

A Tseseebe’s hoof. Each side of the hoof can atriculate rather than act as a single unit like a horse.

Definitely watch out for the ant eater holes or porpupine holes while driving, walking or stalking, Falling into one may be hazardous ( you feeling better Deb and Jon? )

Back at the lodge our PHs gather to discuss the day’s activities


The well mainted fleet of Toyota Land Cruiser pickup trucks outfitted with high rack seats.

As Gary says, everything in Africa is tough but nothing more than the terrain. I don’t think AAA would provide roadside assistance so we’re on it.

More lodge photos, Sable

Roan

Waterbuck

Steenbok

Gemsbok

Kudu

Cape Buffalo

Get away from the lights of the lodge and you can see the Southern Cross

What an experience! And yes, planning the next trip. It gets to you.

I’ll work on a hunt report.

Gear:
TC Encore rifles in 300 WM and -06. Sorry my buddy doesn’t have any GNR calibers so I chose common calibers with him based on the possibility luggage may not arrive for a few days.

Bullets:
300 WM, 180gr Accubonds & a handfull of 180gr TTSX. No TTSX were shot.
-06, 165gr Accubonds & a handfull of 168gr TTSX. Only 1 fired at the range to verify zero.

Day 1:
Gary after a Blue Wildebeest. Located a lone bull in the scrub. Jumped out of the truck and put the stalk on. Probably stalked a mile from bush to bush closing the distance. PH said get on the sticks, 150Y shot. I thought that meant get on the sticks and take a look and see if you want to shoot. Nope. Get on the sticks equates to put the gun on the sticks, hammer cocked and locate the game in the scope. Wait until he says take him and shoot. Got busted by the Wildebeest and he ran. Another stalk on him but he joined up with a Sable for more eyes to see. Sable on the right, blue on the left, 125Y shot. I was on the sticks hammer cocked but couldn’t see which animal was which. I had the scope cranked up from the range still. Rookie mistake. Keep the scope dialed down and you can zoom up to make the shot. Sable ran, blue ran. Another stalk and PH setup the sticks and 150Y, take him. I went on the sticks, but pressed too hard setting the gun in the “V” of the sticks and kicked out one leg out from under me in the sand. Reset the sticks and shot him on the trot before going behind a bush. I went for a lung shot but got the spine. He dropped and a follow-up finished the job. Once back on the truck the PH showed me an anatony chart of a blue wildebeest and the spine goes down to the front shoulder fire and aft of the shoulder so the shot is best on the shoulder or lung. The total stalk was about 2.5 miles out and back to the truck. I kept my cell phone in my pocket for pics along the way.

Ian went after Gemsbok. PH located a small herd on the skyline. We learned quickly what the phrase, “We must go have a look” means. Translated is were walking gents, saddle up. Generally a mile each way to have a look. If good more walking/stalking. We topped a rise and the PH set the sticks and said 180Y, take him. Ian set the rifle but pulled the shot, maybe a bit quick. PH verified no would, picked up the sticks and scanned the skyline. We found 3 black wildebeest and a small herd of Eland. PH asked Ian if either interested him. We’re on the wildebbest. We started toward them but ran out of cover way off, probably 400Y away. PH said we could try close the distance by zig zagging closer to the wildebeest but not a direct stalk. The wildebeest got twitchy about 230Y away. PH asked Ian if he could take the shot. He said yes as we had practiced 100Y and 200Y shots off sticks at our range prior to going. The wildebeest picked by the PH as quartering to us and he explained the bullet’s exit was more important than the entry. Based on the position to the animal he recommended a far shoulder shot. Ian got on the sticks , low on scope power (learning from my mistake) and executed the shot perfectly. But as Gary mentioned, everything in Africa is tough to put down, the wildebeest took off with a broken shoulder. The PH started tracking the three as they ran. We tracked off the beaten path as the rain started moving in. We found where our wildebeest broke off from his buddies and the PH recommended Ian get ready for a quick shot if he find the animal bedded. Back off any scope magnification and prepare for an offhand shot. Sure enough just as he predicted, we found the animal , he jumped and Ian sent one back to front as the rain started. We were so far off any roads the PH went to radio for the big truck based on the rocky terrain. Once back, he waited in the rain and sent us toward the truck near two trees 9n the skyline. We waited in the truck soaking wet for them to arrive. We discussed our shots for the day and reflected that either you feel good on the sticks or not. Forcing it makes the shot harder. Found that if I gently placed the rifle in the “V” of the sticks and moved to the rifle with little pressure, the shots were better. We found it better to watch /control the amount of downward pressure on the sticks. We got back to the lodge well after dark drenched.

Day 1 complete with 6 miles of walking/stalking independent of the ground covered in the truck.