Another a fine breakfast met us in the morning at the main lodge Rick and Kathy were headed to another farm for three animals that were in there Internet Special Hunting Package Blesbok, Red Hartebeest, common Springbok. It was just one of those days Rick harvested all 3 animal with some very good shooting.
Cody an I were staying on Du Toit's farm to see if we could stalk up on the Zebra in the thick bush before he moved out into the open fields. Since it is winter in South Africa, an yes it gets cold, 30 degree F at night but it warms up during the day, the animals will go into thick bush at night for warmth an shelter from the cold winds. After about 20 minutes we had located the Eland an behind them we could see stripes of the Zebra heard milling around in the bush.
I had bought a camo umbrella at a hunting show a few years back but never used it, but I decided to get it ready an bring it with me on this trip. It has that 3D leafy look an screws onto the stabilizer. I cut out a shooting hole for my Easton ACC arrows tipped with 75 grain Muzzy broad heads. I also cut out a small hole to see my sights pins an than I practiced with the set up until everything was comfortable.
When we spotted the Eland at about 125 yards all huddled together to keep warm I put up the camo umbrella and with Cody my son behind me we started to sneak closer. The Eland new something was unnatural but we had the wind in our favor and they were just not sure about the "new" moving bush that was getting closer to there space.
Now the Waterbuck that we could not see in the tall grass stood up between us and the Eland, I used my Nikon Laser Rangefinder to range them at only 45 yards, they made a nice target with two very nice bulls in the group. But they were not the target animal I was after as I had taken a record book Bull out of this same head a few years back. Now the Waterbuck were getting nervous an moving around keeping a close eye on the "new" walking bush.
The Zebra were behind the Eland an we had the Waterbuck in front of them an getting very nervous, an they finally figured tings were not right and started to get some distance between me and them. When they moved the other animals moved also an we got a good look at them as they moved off. Cody was very excited as he had never been his close to so many big animals. When the Eland started to move Cody was looking at them through his Nikon binoculars and said "Dad they are huge", I told him wait until the heard bull steps out from the bush. When it finally did at about 60 yards an him looking through his Binoculars he said something that his Mommy would not be proud of. I told him that is the largest antelope in the world and will weigh over 1200 lbs.
When the animals had moved off an headed to the open fields I figured they might go for water an I knew from hunting here over the years where the nearest water was. Cody an I ran to the water before they could get there to set up an ambush. We got there in time and could see the Zebra, Waterbuck. an a single Red hartebeest Bull which was very nice an bedded down next to the grazing Zebra.
The wait was on, me at the waterhole and them out about 200 yards. The Zebra stopped grazing and just stood there like statues, the Waterbuck bedded down under some trees an the Red Hartebeest got up moved a few yards an bedded down again. After 1 hour and nothing happening I decided I could "leopard crawl" through the tall grass an maybe get in shooting range. So the stalk was on which took about 1 hour or so, an the animals never moved an were pretty relaxed. When I got to 65 yards which I checked with my Nikon laser Rangefinder there was a 20 yard wide bear rock area between me an the other side, on the other side of the open area was a tree an some brush, an just 30 yards past that was the big stallion and his heard.
Now What do I do???
After 30 minutes hoping they would finally decide to go to the water an pass me I decided to try the umbrella trick and move across the open rock area staying close to the ground. It seemed to be working, I was half way across an could see the tree only yards away and my Zebra just 30 yards past that in the open, broadside.
Than a cow waterbuck stood up which was about 30 - 40 yards to the left of the Zebra an started walking around looking at me an this "new" bush in the the middle of the open rock area. She had me an gave me a couple of the head bobs our whitetail doe do when they know you are there but not 100% sure to see if you move or not. Now she had the rest of the waterbuck on there feet moving around, I knew the only thing I could do is stay still an hope they settled down, which did not happen.
They decided to start running pass the Zebra to the open range an took the Zebra with them. The stalk was over as they had moved out to the open area which had no cover. We walked back to the Lodge for lunch an figure a new plan.
In the afternoon when Louie Du Toit's son return from town we went to another section of the farm an tried for Cody's white Blesbok. These animals just take off an run for no apparent reason sometimes and we were not able to get within Cody's shooting range with his 270. We also we never saw any of the Blue wildebeest this time, they must have been in the bush or on top of the mountain. Well tomorrow is another day.
Africa's Only Bowhunting Magazine Africa's Bowhunter is a bimonthly magazine aimed at a world wide readership interested in bowhunting in Africa. The magazine is a complete guide on how, where and when to bowhunt in southern Africa, with articles such as how to track and hunt African game, what gear to use, and what to steer clear off.
Larry C. Reese, Wildlife Artistry Taxidermy 215 Lands End Road Centreville, Maryland 21617
