I did spot and stalk for the first couple days, and had numerous close calls, but after wounding a black springbok on day 1 due to poor range estimation, I shrunk my effective range significantly.
We spent the next 2 days hunting Kudu over oranges, pretty entertaining to watch a kudu eat an orange. Weather and wind didn't cooperate, and while we had a number of cows and 'Harleys' (Curl and a half) bulls, the big boys stayed back in the brush.
Spent the next 2 days hunting bushbuck on a large ranch near the Wild Coast and had a blast. Spot & stalk morning and evening, sitting water during the middle of the day. Dad had over 30 bushbuck come into his waterhole tucked away in the bush, but none presented a good shot (they drank on the far side of the water) once we brushed it in, it spooked the bushbuck. I on the otherhand had a blast stalking them, and had a few come into water, including one 13 in ram with only a couple front teeth remaining that gave me the shot I needed. 50 yrds and he was down.
I also hunted bushpig on that ranch and that was probably the most exciting hunt of the trip. Stalking in on bait in your socks at night with bushpigs feeding was a kick in the pants. Got my shot, but due to some mis-cues on the lighting, and a rushed shot, spent the next day crawling 2 miles thru pig tunnels in the thickest brush you could imagine. Pig had a sore shoulder, but apparently none the worse for the wear. I actually had an encounter with him later in the hunt, but that's a different story.
Spent the last part of the hunt on the home ranch (Imvani), the weather broke, and we started to stack up the trophies. I ended up with a nice Black Wildebeest, Zebra, and a world-beater red hartebeest that should be top 10 if I decide to have it officially scored. Dad ended up with a fallow, blesbok, zebra, black wildebeest and a big male baboon. I can only imagine what it would have been like if the weather had cooperated for the whole hunt. This ranch is loaded with game, and I had a true parade of black wildebeest bulls come in after I shot mine - definately tempted me to shoot another, there were some monsters.
The hunt was put together by Gary Sutton of Imvani Safaris, a low-volume outfit that doesn't advertise much over here, but he put together a great hunt. We were referred to him by a friend who lives over there and he knows his bowhunting. He has some awesome setups, has limited the water available on his place (drained old dams and fenced in a couple holes back in the bush). Most waterholes have 2 hides on each to be able to play the wind, and you could practically live in his pit blinds. Would definately recommend it to anyone looking to go over on a strictly bowhunting trip. Accomodations were in an 1800's farm house that has been renovated, and an additional laupa built outside. Family run outfit, and good people. Pictures to follow.
Eastern Cape also has waterfowl hunting,snow and we had white rhino around the lodge we stayed in eating rose bushes. The Jack Russels would run down and bark at the rhino, but were ingnored. Place also had 350 Cape Buff that were never hunted, and I saw one in 18 days!
Eastern Cape also has waterfowl hunting,snow and we had white rhino around the lodge we stayed in eating rose bushes. The Jack Russels would run down and bark at the rhino, but were ingnored. Place also had 350 Cape Buff that were never hunted, and I saw one in 18 days!
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www.albinovest.com
I was stuck in that same cold while hunting in the northern Cape at the end of June. Not very nice but it sure beats sitting in the office.
