The Hunt Continues
Trip Start
Apr 24, 2006
1
11
23
Trip End
May 22, 2006
Kimberly,
South Africa
Tuesday, May 2, 2006
I want to start by wishing my son Stockton a happy 13 birthday and tell him that I am thinking about him. I know he understands as a young hunter himself with a Cnadian Moose and a Black Bear to his credit already.
I phoned Stockton to wish him a happy birthday and when I did he said what have you shot. I told him a Zebra and he was very happy for me.
We awoke at 6:30 am in our tent it had rained (Yes in the Kalahari Desert) since 12:30 am. It was the most rain they had in the Kalahari in 95 recorded years. The Kalahari Desert is not covered with the typical red dunes that make up the landscape, but is covered in prairie grass much the same as South West Saskatchewan or Montana
Shawn's Roland Ward Record Blesbok
.Me and the two Tony's discussed that we should go back to Boeta's 200 kms away where it, by the weather forecast, was not raining. We loaded up the truck and headed back.
We arrived at Boeta's at 11:30 am. We went into the house for a quick tea than loaded the pipe truck for the afternoon hunt. We boarded the pipe truck with our guns and went out to the field. We immediately spotted a Kudu bull.
Tony Vause, Boeta and I went on a walk and stalk. We walked for about 6 km to try and get Tony a shot at a animal. We seen Gemsbok, kudu, Zebra and Blesbok but could not get close enough for a shot. We decide to return to the truck.
As we moved on we came across a herd of Blesbok I was positioned for the shot at 178 yards. I waited as Boeta glassed the herd and told me which one to take. He told me to take the second ram running behind the trees. I took the shot and heard the smack immediately. Boeta said "flippin' hell nice shot". As we approached the animal for retrieval and photos Boeta was saying something in Africaans
Tony Drain's Roland Ward Record Hartebeast
. I asked him what he was saying and he said "your in the book". I had my first record book African animal a Blesbok ram that would measure 17.5 inches.We continued on and came across a herd of Red Haartebeest it was Tony Drain's turn to shoot. Boeta instructed him on which one was the big one and Tony pulled the trigger the Haartebeest was down. Boeta looked at the animal and said "Flipin hell nice shot this ones in the book". Tony had downed three animals and had three trophies. We were truly amongst some of the best animals you could ask for. We started calling Tony Drain Mr. Record Book.
We continued on hunting and after about 2 hours we decided to walk and stalk it was Tony Vause's turn we walked in chasing Zebra and came across Blesbok and Impala.
It is a funny thing hunting Zebra you always loose them and come across something else. Boeta spotted some Implala from the top of a coppie and got Tony Vause in position for the shot. Tony had a down hill shot at 278 yards. He took the shot and dropped the Impala with the 7MM. It was a great shot and to quote Boeta nice filppin' shot.
Tony Vause's Impala
After about 1 hour Boeta and I decided to walk and stalk for Eland Tony Vause decided to come as the camera man. We walked for a couple kilometers and had seen the Eland had moved. They are so quick for a big animal.
We went back to the truck and came across a herd of Zebra. It was Tony Vause's chance at his Zebra. Tony took the shot and we heard the smack but knew it was a little back of where it should be. Boeta and the rest of the guys went to track the wounded animal. I stayed with the truck and signaled where they had to go to look for blood.
Tony Vause and Boeta tracked the animal as we continued on in the pipe truck to see if the herd had moved. I seen the herd and glassed for the wounded one I told Tony Drain which one to shoot and he put another one into the wounded Zebra. We tracked the animal and found it down. Tony Vause had his Zebra.
It was now dark and we had to return to the Lapa's for the evening. It was truly a fantastic hunting adventure today. We are all so lucky to be here pursuing our dream.
Shawn
