The Hunt in Namibia
Trip Start
Apr 24, 2006
1
21
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Trip End
May 22, 2006
Koes,
Namibia
Friday, May 12, 2006
We awoke shortly after 7:00 am to start our day. We went outside and picked oranges from the tree. The skin was tough but the oranges taste was fantastic.
We waited for our guide on the front porch of our accommodations for our guide. At about 9:15 am Johannes our guide showed up which gave us time to sight in our guns.
Tony Vause and I went on the same truck to hunt Gemsbuck with Christoff from Worster, while Tony Drain went on the other truck to hunt Springbuck. After about 30 minutes we spotted the Gemsbuck herd running in the distance. We moved towards the herd of about 100 Gemsbuck. AS we approached we glassed the herd looking for a trophy Gemsbuck.
We had shot bulls in South Africa and were now looking for cows. It is mostly cows that make the Roland Ward Record book. To make the book you need a Gemsbuck to score 40 inches.
It was Tony Vause's turn to shot first. CHristoff and I picked a nice cow out of the herd and instructed Tony on which one to take. As we positioned ourselves to within 100 yards Tony took the shot and immediately the cow fell. Tony had his first Namibian animal.
We went over to the animal to take pictures and measure the Gemsbuck. I measured the animal at 38.25 inches. It was a 1.75 inches short of the book but still a great Gemsbuck.
After pictures we jumped back on the truck and pursued the herd. It was now my shot. I was excited to be hunting in Namibia as was the rest of the crew.
As we approached the herd we were glassing for another long horned cow.
Eitienne's Roland Ward Namibian Gemsbuck
I measured the horns of Tony's Gemsbuck along its back to try and get an idea of where the horns should be in relation to body length to help with the field judging.As we looked at the herd we spotted a nice cow with long horns that when laid back across its back would reach out to the area where the hind quarters meet the mid section.
This Gemsbuck in my opinion was going to be close to book. I took the shot and hit the Gemsbuck at 150 yards in the lungs. We watched the animal as it went down and moved towards the animal. Upon arrival the animal was laying underneath a tree. We pulled the cow out and I measured the horns my Gemsbuck measured 38.25 inches the same as Tony's. Oh well, it was close and a beautiful Namibian Gemsbuck.
We went back to a treed area for lunch as we arrived we herd shots in the distance. At about 1:20 pm the other hunting truck had showed up. They had three Springbuck tied to the side of the truck. It had been a very successful morning.
We relaxed under the shade of the tree until 3:00 pm when we returned to the field. I decided to go back on the Gemsbuck truck to film Tony Drain's pursuit of Gemsbuck. Tony Drain, a dentist from Cape Town named Eitienne and myself jumped on the truck together for the afternoon hunt. As we found the herd Tony Drain and I glassed the herd and picked out a nice cow that we both thought would make book.
We informed Eitienne on which Gemsbuck to shoot. As he pulled the trigger at 125 yards the animal fell immediately. We went over for pictures and to measure the horns. I measured the first horn 39 7/8 inches (1/8 inch short of the book). I measured the second horn and it scored the magic 40 inches to make Roland Ward. We all congratulated Eitienne and took some very nice field photos of the trophy animal.
We pursued the herd again so that Tony Drain could harvest a Gemsbuck as well. We spotted a very thick horned bull in the herd. Tony really liked the looks of the bull and was willing to forgo a cow that would have a better chance of making book. At 150 yards he took the shot and hit the animal hard on the shoulder. We watched as the animal struggled and went down. Tony had downed a very thick horned bull that measures 36 inches. It was a very nice bull indeed.
As we loaded the animals we were all happy with the days hunt and looked forward to returning to our accommodations for the barbeque and the nights festivities.
Shawn
