18
DIE BONTEBOK
letting myself be seen at distance from the herd, they became just uncomfortable enough to feed away from where I was. By moving slowly and keeping just far enough away to keep them unhappy but not panicked, I gently nudged them towards Ron’s position. Once they were headed in the right direction, I left and recovered my Springbok. I dropped my buck off at the farm for the guys to get skinning and had just left the bakkie back at the dam to continue hunting when I heard a shot from the direction of the open plain. The radio in my pocket crackled to life and Ron reported that he had shot a Springbok. I was impressed. On arriving at his spot, Ron was standing admiring the beauty of the Ram he had dispatched with a perfect heart shot at about 120m. Recovery done we continued to hunt. I managed to get two nice Blesbok during the course of the afternoon. Late afternoon, Wes and Mac arrived back and as we had already had a great days hunting we called it a day and headed back to the farm. While Ron relaxed with a well earned glass of cabernet, myself and Wes took his trophy wildebeest through to the taxidermy studios outside of Cradock. On
our return, Ron was a changed man. He was happily regaling Mac with a blow by blow re-enactment of his days hunting. I swear the old man had dropped 30 years off his age. A delicious braai around the lapa with hot coals shovelled under your old style metal garden chair to keep the winter chill from your behind rounded off a perfect day in one of South Africa’s most beautiful areas. The next day Wes was also looking for Springbok and as I had already shot my quota on the previous day, I decided that I would just hunt along with Wes for the fun. Ron was dropped off in another spot with potential, only now with a flask of warm coffee to keep the chill of the approaching cold front from seeping into the old bones. We ran a similar plan as to the previous days, hunt into the wind and at the same time be aware of where Ron was and if possible encourage the herds to move in that direction. Wes shot a beautiful Springbok ram and Ron once again poleaxed a Blesbok with a perfect heart shot at about 140m. As is always the case when hunting is successful, one is tempted to go for
another buck, this temptation weighed heavily on the old Bullet, but in the end common sense prevailed and Ron decided that he had come for two buck, had got them both and had got them in an ethical manner and that was enough. We called an end to the hunt. With hunting over and not having to keep a clear head for the following day, we gave it a good bash the evening. I must say there is nothing nicer for me than sitting in front of a roaring fire, sated after a delicious meal, a good drink in hand, a sleepy dog tucked up against your hip for warmth and the company of like minded hunters. I guess nobody promised us it would be easy in Africa, so you take what you can get. Hunt over we headed home stopping to overnight outside Beauford West at Teri-Lemveli Lodge, a really nice half way stop to break the tedium of the long road. The only problem we with the hunt caused was that now Lorraine, Ron’s wife, is going to have to try keep up with her new found young man. Well until we can give her a break again and get the old Bullet out into the veld again. Ron said he is ready when we are.
Greg with one of the Springbok shot on the hunt