South African Mixed Bag

Been meaning to post a few pics from my South African bird hunt. Don't have any great stories, nor the story telling abilities of CB. Al Stewart, Michigan's Upland Game Bird Biologist, and I hunted for 2 days in the Durbanville area of the Western Cape. All told we harvested 7 different species: Helmeted Guineafowl, Cape Francolin, Rock Dove, Cape Turtle-Dove, Egyptian Geese, Spur-wing Geese, and Hottentot Teal.

Will try and post some more information later this evening.

SJ

The One, True, Correct Way to Hunt Big Game

I have this video on recommendation of Mr. Michael Miezzzzzzhak, of "Mr. Mike" fame. Enjoy.

Only the Fight

The bushbuck did not feel the crosshairs on his shoulder. He did not think about his future as he came to water in the tumbledown creek. Nor did he seem to notice the twisted wire, the snare around his neck. The shackles of his past. He had battled packs of dogs, lynx and leopard. His sinister horns, like spirals with sharp edges, twisting menacingly towards the sky, had some how found their way through a trap, the metal noose slipping over his head and tightening around muscle, bone, jugular, and esophagus. He was magnificent, and scarred.

The mature buck, enraged, had battled his invisible captor, straining against the tension, the unseen restraint. The snare dug into the strong neck muscles like a cruel saw, but still he fought, summoning all his primordial wildness and resisting this fate, this sudden oppression, this entrapment. Violently he refused this destiny, knowing nothing of his potential death, knowing only his anger, knowing only the fight. His rage unabated after hours, but tiring, he gave a great shake of his head finally pushing the tensile strength of his noose to the limit, snapping the tether line.

He did not contemplate his victory. He did not immediately rest. He lowered his curved dagger-like horns briefly towards the snapped tether wire, now wearing the necklace shackle embedded slightly under his skin. He walked away.

Over time his wounds healed on his neck, yet still he wore his cruel cravat. As more days passed the skin grew over the wire. He continued to court his females, he continued to turn his rage toward all challengers.

He came down the side of an embankment to drink, lithely and stealthily, both slow and quick. He stopped briefly and felt a searing hammer strike him, knocking him to the earth. Again he was pinned, this time by lead and not steel. The more he fought, the more his life pumped out of him and spilled onto the dust of the bush veldt. Again he shook his head violently, hoping to slash and pierce this new unseen captor. Quickly he tired, his long horns making a neat and perfect arc in the fine soil.

The unseen, the unknown had invaded his home, had stolen into his sanctuary and burst his heart. He blinked once more, his head and body, though grounded, still in combat posture. He knew nothing of his death, or after. He knew only his anger, until the last embers of his warring were extinguished. Until the end, he know only the fight.

Trailer for future Cagey stories...stay tuned

Could have easily been flattened!

OK - so we're out on a bushwalk in an area along the Selinda spillway, just east of the Okavango Delta, which had previously been hunted. The local animals were a bit skittish of humans, because of the association. Our guide carried a .375 just in case. We were having a really nice walk. Heard a cheetah "bark" and baboons alarm call because of the cheetah. Watched impala, kudu, and lots of different birds. About 2 hours into the walk we were going through some fairly thick shrub, when the guide spotted a bull elephant about 75 meters ahead of us. We stopped and watched him forage for while. The guide figured we were on his game trail, so we back tracked a bit and went around so we could see him from a different angle and then watch him go down the path we were on. After we got into position, the elephant did exactly that. After he finished eating he started down the path were we previously on. BUT, for whatever reason he stopped, turned and came right at us. As soon as he turned the guide told everyone not to move. We were in a spot where we had very little protection, just some scrawny shrubs in front of us for camouflage. The bull didn't show any aggressive behaviors - no head shaking, no throwing dirt, no bluff charges - but he just came right at us. At 20 ft, yes 20 feet, he stopped. About this time I heard the guide put a round in the chamber of the rifle. Needless to say everyone in the group all thought "OH SHIT" to themselves (some even said it loud enough to hear) when he did this. The bull extended his ears out as wide as he could, drew his head back so his tusks were pointed right at us, and brought his trunk up to check us out. This stare down lasted about 2 or 3 minutes. He then started to walk off just to our left. One of the guys in the group snapped the above pic when he did (that's my head on the right). Sure looks like he was within 10ft at that point. He continued to walk off and then started foraging again. This was definitely a highlight of the trip, even though it could have gone so very differently.

SJ

Reporting in from South Africa

Hello Gentlemen!

This is Safari Jim reporting on location in South Africa.

We just finished our first week in the bush and are back in civilization in Pretoria. Rains have been heavy and the vegetation is thick. Viewing has been difficult. No big cats as of yet, but lots of other great criiters to see. We've had a couple run ins with elephants that would have most of you check your shorts for significant deposits! Wish I had the dogs with, the francolin and quail populations are doing real well!

Got to sample - Hippo, Eland, Impala, Ostrich, Buffalo, and Wildebeest the other night. Concesses was hippo was the perferred choice!

Cabin Boy - Fannie and Lesley pass along their hellos. Today was their last day at the College. Fanie is going to become a Stihl chainsaw salesman south of Durbin. It already obvious that the College will need several months to recooperate from their departure.

We're headed for Pilanesberg National Park for the next 3 days. Hopefully we'll be able to pick up the Big 5 there. So far we've along seen 2 of the Big 5. Then it's on to the Kalahari.

Will try and check in again when we get to Cape Town.

Hope you're all doing well.

SJ

...the sum of my African Hunt experience

here are some brag shots... apologies for being so "far afield"











Springbok, Kalahari SA 2001
30-06










Impala, Eastern Cape, SA 2004
.270










Kudu, Eastern Cape, SA 2005
.270