......The Lodge
When we arrived at Farm Heusis, it was great. We stayed in a separate cottage that was well kept with a kitchen, four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and just about anything we needed. It was perfect for what we were there for.
That evening we all met up at the fire pit for what they call a "sun downer" with cold beers and I caught the vibe that we were within great company. Appetizers were served with some local wild game, etc. and it was by far comparable if not better than any appetizer I've ever had in the states.
We were then invited into the main farm house for dinner where we were served some of the best food I've ever had. Zebra was on our plates and it was fantastic! we washed it down with a fine red wine followed by dessert and a shot of whiskey.
Soon after dinner I was privileged to meet my guide, "Errens". He was extremely friendly and seemed very knowledgeable and confident about hunting. And even better, he was a bow hunter. I was also delighted to see that he had brought a bow for me to use and already had it adjusted to my preferred draw weight and draw length. Already I was impressed.
After dinner, drinks, and meeting everyone, Dad, Dale, and I were back at the cottage. Perhaps were were so excited to be together in Africa that we continued to enjoy the evening with some more Gin & Tonics.
The next morning we all met up in the breakfast room for coffee and breakfast. All three of us were hungover, or at least I was. dad stated that he felt fine, and if so, I was amazed that he wasn't hungover.
After breakfast we split up with our guides. Errens and I met up at the truck where I was also privileged to meet our tracker, "Hendrick". I handed him a survival bracelet as a token of appreciation for all of the good work I knew he was about to do. We then drove down the road a bit and got the bow sighted in.
Then, onto the hunting.......
Day 1 of Hunting
We first spotted an Oryx from the vehicle and it seemed like we were only five minutes into the hunt. We put a stalk on the beast but he must have seen us and away he ran. I couldn't believe how soon we were into the hunt and already had some action.
Driving further down the road I was amazed at how much game we were seeing. We attempted a stalk on a male Steenbok but he got away. We then got out on foot and did some walking. soon enough two male warthogs were chasing each other and coming our way. Being hidden behind a bush, Errens told me to draw back as the large male was coming right towards us. The warthog saw my movement as I drew back the bow and immediately ran away from us yet stopping at forty yards and broadside. I placed my forty yard pin on him and let a smooth clean release. He must have heard the arrow release. He turned and ran, dodging my arrow resulting in my first target hit in Africa being a nice solid rock. The broadhead was chipped and better to be placed aside. "That's one lucky Warthog", jokingly stated Errens.
Some more animal sightings. Zebra, Steenbok, etc. And before we knew it, it was time to head in for lunch.
It was routine to meet up at three in the afternoon for cake and coffee and then to go hunt the evening. After our cake and coffee, we met up with Hendrick at the truck and away we went. As we stopped at a fence we had a good view of the lower land as we glanced with our binoculars for any sign of game. With nothing to be seen we decided to move forward. But first, a quick leak due to all of the water I had been drinking. As I was finishing emptying my bladder, Hendricks spotted a large male Warthog working his way towards us. "Danny! Come quickly! Get your bow!" Errens loudly whispered with enthusiasm. Fastening my pants as fast as possible I hustled to the truck, grabbed the bow and got setup for the Warthog. Suddenly he changed direction and ran off into the planes of Namibia.
Back into the truck we go. Before we even moved the truck, two black Wildebeest were spotted lying down in the open valley below. We grabbed our gear and put on the stalk. After low crawling through thorns, gravel, thick brush, etc. we were spotted by the beasts and away they ran for their own safety.
More driving and glancing brought us to the end of the evening which delighted us with more fine food and beverage.
Day 2 of Hunting
After breakfast we met up at the truck as usual and proceeded slowly down one of the many dirt roads until we spotted a large Oryx feeding off in the distance. We geared up and proceeded with our stalk. Slowly moving, one behind the other, we came to forty yards of the Oryx. He looked amazing as I could finally see what African game looked like up close. This is what I came here for.....experiences like this! Hidden behind a tree with many with many branches for cover, I took position and clipped on my release. Errens ranged the beast at forty yards. as the animal stopped where branches were no longer in my way of a clear shot, I drew back the bow. With everything in place I let the arrow fly with a nice clean release. The arrow missed the animal's underside by nearly an inch. And of course, he bolted never to be seen again. "I don't know what happened, I said to Errens with disappointment.
Hendrick picked us up at the nearest roadside and further more we pushed for more game. We stopped by a bait site so they could retrieve one of their trail cameras. On our way to the site we found fresh Cheetah tracks with drops of blood. This finding gave me a true feeling of being in Africa. The bait site was nothing more than a trail camera strapped to a tree with what looked like the hind quarter of a Zebra hanging from a large branch of the tree in view of the camera.
While checking the bait site, Hendrick spotted another Oryx from his regular perch atop the truck. gathering the bow and range finder, into the position we went in an attempt to get within bow range. Creeping slowly like a lion sneaking up on it's prey, we came to forty yards of the large Oryx. Errens called out the range and right away I drew back the bow. Placing the forty yard pin right where I wanted the arrow to go and then let off a nice clean release of the arrow. Just under the beast again! He trotted a short distance and stopped as it wondered what had just happened. By the time I knocked a second arrow he was gone into the unknown. We knew at that point that something was wrong. We busted out the foam block target and got setup to shoot. But first we compared rangefinders and mine kept on coming up short and inconsistent. I then informed Errens that it's time I either retire my old backup rangefinder or give it to someone I don't like.
The rest of the morning was spent driving in search of more game as well as attempting to stalk in on some prey with no success of getting within bow range due to the animals being smarter than us.
Before we knew it we were back at the house for lunch and laughs as well as my father and his friend Dale sharing stories of their great hunting success. And once again, at three o'clock in the afternoon we were off making dust on our way to the next hunting area. We stalked in on three separate herds of Blue Wildebeest and actually were within thirty yards of one group without even knowing it which led us to spooking the herd.
That night was once again spent drinking beverages by the fire pit for another sundowner. While sipping a cold one, Philip in all of his efforts to retrieve my bow from the shady airline company had told me that after talking to the airline company, that it does not look like they were going to be sending me my bow. He also offered to let me use one of the guide service's rifles for free. The offer was a kind one and was somewhat tempting. But I couldn't get past the fact that I came all this way to take African game with a bow. I made the decision as encouraged by the great company sitting around the fire when they encouraged me not to give up, that I would still hunt with the bow for at least two more days. And if I was not successful then I would take Philip up on his kind offer.
That night I couldn't sleep as the frustration was overwhelming. I couldn't stop thinking about how much work, time, and money I put into this rare opportunity just to have the airline company screw me. I even prayed that things would get better. I asked myself "Why me? And what have I done to deserve this?". I began to think about how I qualified with that bow to hunt with a particular hunting program this fall and what was I to do about hunting at all this fall if the airline company had lost my expensive bow and arrows?
I began to text my wife about the situation. She told me not to worry about this fall as we can always get another bow and to just borrow a rifle and take some animals so that I can enjoy my time with my father as this opportunity can not be so easily replaced. As my wonderful wife is so talented with, she made me feel better and with less worry. I truly believe that I am extremely lucky to have her in my life and that she was placed in my life for a reason.
Day 3 of Hunting
My alarm clock went off and I was extremely tired due to the not sleeping well the night before. After breakfast we were off making dust. Errens drove us out to another farm about twenty to thirty minutes away. While driving and glancing we spotted a couple of Warthogs. We set out and once again crept in like a wild stealthy cat in pursue of it's prey. Two adult female Warthogs were ranged at twenty eight yards. And when I had the shot, I drew back, aimed, and released just to have the weary animal duck as the arrow head nearly gave her a haircut. Errens said that the look on my face was priceless yet I felt slightly frustrated with myself for not making a good shot.
The good thing about my lack of success so far on the trip was that I was still having fun. Not only because I was stalking in close to African game but because I was in great company. Errens was not only a great guide but he knew how to keep your spirits high. Within moments of hunting together, you'd think that we were a couple of high school buddies chatting and laughing it up as we talked about everything under the sun from hunting to drinking beer, etc. I could not be more thankful than what I am for this hunting guide.
We stalked on and came across several Gemsbok which seemed to know that we were there before we did. We also jumped a large female Blue Wildebeest that was bedded down with her calf. Shortly there after, Baboons were aware of our presence and one of them began to bark which echoed throughout the entire valley alerting any potential game that we were there. So back to the truck we go with the feeling of failure.
Errens and I sat in an elevated blind for the lunch period. The blind was certainly unique in it's own way. It was a box blind mae of plywood that overlooked a water trough and a large salt block. He informed me that the ladder rungs were made of old rifle barrels which I found to be very unique. As soon as we stepped in we noticed that the Baboons had taken a dump inside the blind. What a bunch of disgusting bastards.
We sat inside the blind and saw many birds as we silently joked back and forth. A large Marshal or Black Eagle came to the water to drink and soak his feet.
At least a couple of hours had passed by and the valley seemed to have settled down since the Baboon had stopped barking across the valley. Soon then after three warthogs were headed towards us from the right side of the blind. They approached with caution, stopping every so often to determine if the water site was safe. The lead Warthog stopped once again approximately thirty yards from where we sat patiently. And of course, the wind changed and blew our scent straight into the Warthog's direction. And off they ran back into the direction they came from. They were no trophies but it would have been nice to see them up close and perhaps put an arrow in one just to break the ice on my streak of bad luck. But it didn't bother me even the slightest. I mentioned to Errens that perhaps if I did take one of these younger warthogs then we probably would have lowered our chances of seeing something bigger and better.
The wind began to pick up in the complete opposite direction of what we wanted so, out of the blind we go. As we were loading up into the truck Errens and Hendrick pointed out a lone Blue Wildebeest, probably a bull, standing way off into the distance. Errens asked me "Do you think he will look good on your wall?" "Why yes", I replied. "Then lets go get him" he replied.
To be continued..........
