The Hunt Continues
Trip Start
Apr 24, 2006
1
12
23
Trip End
May 22, 2006
Kimberly,
South Africa
Wednesday, May 3, 2006
Pieter Jenson PH woke us at 6:30 am to start the day. Just after first light we went to the low field in the area we were hunting. Upon arriving at the area we immediately seen a herd of Black Wildebeast. The herd scattered as we approached in the truck.
Boeta and I walked and stalked towards the bachelor herd to with in 250 yards. I had the front quarter to shoot at. I took the shot and missed low to the right which was surprising as I had a perfect shot resting on the shooting sticks.
We followed the herd for another km and positioned myself for a shot again the same result low and to the right. Something was definitely wrong
Shawn's Roland Ward Record White Blesbok
! We continued hunting and came across a herd of white Blesbok I took the shot again a clean miss. I told Tony Vause to shoot next because something was wrong.Prior to returning to the Lapa's for lunch we came across a herd of Red Hartedeest. It was quite treed and Tony had to wait for his shot. Tony rested the rifle on Boeta's shoulder and took the shot. The shot returned the smack of a hit animal. We went to the spot where the animal was hit but could not find any blood. We tracked the animal from the hoof prints in the soil. We continued to track the animal when we herd Timmy Boeata's Jack Russell Terrior barked non stop. Boeta said Timmy found him! We followed the barking and came across Timmy and the Hartebeast. The Hartebeast was laying down as it had been hit in the guts. Tony Vause out another one into him to finish the job. Tony had his Roland Ward Record Red Hartebeast.
We returned to the range at lunchtime so I could try a couple of shots on paper. I took a shot with the BArnes XLC's I loaded at 100 yards. Two inches high dead centre, Perfect. I had loaded some Accubonds before I left home. I took a shoot with one of these at 100 yards 10 inches low 7 inches to the right. I found the problem my 338 didn't like the Acubonds so I switched to my 25-06
Tony Vause's Rolan Ward Record Red Hartebeast
.After lunch Boaeta and I decided to walk and stalk for Eland. We moved through the African Black Thorn and rocky terrain trying to follow the herd for an opportunity at a shot. Boeta na d I walked most of the afternoon covering about 15 km. We didn't get a quality chance at the Eland.
We went back to the truck and joined up with the others. We were loosing light fat as it was approaching 6:00 pm. We decided to make our way back and look for the bachelor herd of Wildebeast we had pursued in the early morning. As we travelled back in pursuit of the Wildebeast we cam across the White Blesbok. I had a shot at the ram Boeta instructed me to take at 160 yards. I took the shot and the animal was down immediately. When we went to the animal for pictures Boaet put a tape on the horns and said" your in the book my man". The White Blesbok measures 17.5 inches book is 16.
It was now dark and we loaded the animal and returned to the Lapa's for the evening. It was another fantastic day filled with great hunting experiences.
Shawn
