Since I could walk, I have always found myself hunting. From the early days of shooting dragonflies and grasshoppers with my Red Ryder, only to pull off their heads and place them on board; later graduating to birds, squirrels, and rabbits that my mother would prepare for me, I have always been a hunter. After I received my first real bow, a Christmas present when I was 8, I quickly became an addict to the stick and string. After harvesting my first big game with my bow I began looking for the larger, trophy sized animals and then became an exclusive bowhunter. Like most individuals I continued to evolve and even went back to my roots with traditional archery to add even more of a challenge to the sport I love so much. In short, I am a bit of an adrenaline junky and that adrenaline works like a drug in my system and I am an addict to it. Consistent with drugs, it takes a continual revisit to maintain the euphoric state that you desire so much, and like most drugs, the first high is never quite achieved again in its entirety, leaving you to pursue it inevitably. As I’ve grown older, my view and pursuit has changed as I have gained more of an appreciation for the quality of the hunt and the animal as opposed to the weapon used or the score that someone may give it.
Ever since my first look into Africa as a child, I have been fascinated with the “King of the Jungle” - the majestic beast that brought fear into the hearts of many, the animal that sat at the top of the most horrific food chain in existence in the modern world. This fascination built one hunt that was atop of my bucket list: an African Lion with my bow. Admittedly, I never thought it would be possible (unless I won the lottery that I never played) to actually go on this hunt, but then again that is why they call them dreams. Countless hours researching African hunting only lead me to believe further that I would have to wait until retirement to ever pursue this dream, if ever, and by that time there would be no guarantee that importation or even hunting the great cat would still be possible – besides what inflation might have done to the ever-increasing prices of this hunt.
2014 was my first visit to the Dark Continent where I traveled to Botswana, along with my wife, to do a plainsgame hunt lasting 10 full days. The hunt was phenomenal yielding an unbelievable 21 animals in 10 days, almost all of which fell to our archery equipment. That trip ignited what proved to be no small flame, but a raging wildfire of addiction to the place I had previously only been able to visualize from the works of Ruark, Hemmingway, Roosevelt and Capstick. My “once in a lifetime trip” served only as a “first of many” mentality.
Upon my return home, I quickly began planning my return trip targeted for 2016, a full two years after my first. Strictly for my own personal edification, I began researching not only new plainsgame species, but with the possible addition of lion or buffalo into the mix. While I never thought I would actually be able to add the lion, the buffalo might be a possibility with a small bag of plainsgame. After speaking with several outfitters that I had researched previously, they all shared the same concern for the direction that lion hunting was headed and that if there was any way for me to do it, I should do it now. I was particularly interested in the Eastern Cape not only for the beauty, but for the buffet of animals that it provided that I had not yet placed to my credit. By targeting this area, I was able to narrow down my search of outfitters and both of my final picks were active members on Africahunting.com. A couple of phone calls to each and I quickly made my decision of Tootabi Hunting Safaris with Loodt Buchner. Not only did Loodt have some amazing deals listed, but there was just something about his attitude that emotions toward what he was doing that clicked with me. After deciding that I was going to have him put together a quote for me and we could begin to put a plan together, I casually threw out the idea of a lion and was very surprised with the outcome of the conversation. After some deliberation on both sides I found myself to be entertaining the largest financial decision I had ever made outside of the farm that my wife and I had bought and the new car we purchased in 2013. Not only did I jump on the offer of the lion, but I moved it forward to August 2015, only 8 months away. HOLY SHIZNIT……….. This is actually happening. And I have a strong list of other animals on the menu as well!
Fast-forward through the many conversations, facebook messaging, social media sharing and emails, all of which Loodt maintained excellent response time with a positive attitude and constructive feedback and we arrive at August 01, 2015. I was to fly out at 1255 from the SDF airport in Louisville, KY to Atlanta, GA. This only one week after the famed Zimbabwean lion Cecil was plastered all over the world proved to provide a challenge of its own. Everywhere that there was camouflage and rumors of hunting in Africa, the immediate question followed from the ignorant – “You’re not going to hunt a lion are you???” This question asked with eyes that were already filling up with the amount of water consistent with the great lakes over an animal that no one had even heard of a week prior. “Yes, I am going to kill a lion and hopefully many other game in the process!!!”
My wife dropped me off at the airport nearly 3 hours early to avoid any problems that might arise with traveling with a firearm. I had my .375 and 40 rounds of Norma Oryx 300 grain ammunition tightly packed in my SKB case, along with my bow, arrows and other bare essentials. This was to be my only checked bag and my carryon consisted of my backpack that I would have in the field that currently contained all of my clothes and one pair of extra shoes and my camera case with lenses would serve as my personal item. I tend to over-pack, so I was very proud of myself for only taking the bare-essentials. (It still proved to be more than I needed). I had previously done my 4457 form and everything went even smoother than expected.
With a 5 hour layover in Atlanta, I had plenty of time meet everyone that even looked like they might pull the trigger while in Africa. After speaking in depth with one group of 4, another of 3, and two groups of 2, I confirmed that I was apparently the only non-Texan that ever hunts in Africa...............WTH???? I grew particularly fond of one group, a retired couple that were taking their maiden voyage to Africa to hunt together in the Limpopo. They shared with me many of their hunting adventures and I reciprocated with my previous experience in Africa in hopes of providing what little insight I had as to what they might expect. A quick add on facebook and now we could track each other’s success while on safari.
The plane flight into Johannesburg was uneventful and was quite comfortable. I was able to finally take a quick 15 minute power nap to add to the 4 hours I had slept on Friday night/Saturday morning so that I was now up to 4 hours and 15 minutes for the last 48 hours…………. Needless to say, I don’t sleep a lot. After unloading from the plane shortly after 5pm, going through a very long wait in the customs line, and grabbing my checked luggage, Loodt met me at the commons area at about 6:30 with all smiles! We quickly made our way into the SAPS office and I presented my SAPS 520 form that I had filled out on my own before leaving and the copy of my 4457. In 20 minutes we were out of there and on our way to the truck – Who needs services when you can do everything yourself!
We were now on our way to the concession in the NW province, a 5 ½ hr drive from JoBurg. Loodt contacted the PH’s that were assisting with this leg of our trip as we would be hunting Lion first and it requires at least two licensed DG PH’s to be present on any hunt. A quick bite to eat and a fill up of petrol and we were on our way.
As we entered the concession at 12:30am, I couldn’t help but think that even in the darkness of night, this place looked just like Botswana from my previous trip. Camp was completely quiet as everyone else had long been asleep. We quickly unloaded our items and agreed to meet in the morning at 6:00 for breakfast, greets and plans.
I am still yet unaware if it was the excitement or something else, but by 4:00, I was back awake and felt as rested as ever! Maybe it was the comfortable bed, perhaps the confidence and excitement about the day to come, but either way, I was ready to go! After a quick introduction with Pieter and Seun, a hearty breakfast, and an overall game plan for the day, I was again confirmed that I definitely made the right choice. Our first stop was at the range where my .375 proved to be right on target, but my bow showed to be nearly 10 inches from my POA. In all of my traveling, I have yet to ever have to make adjustments to my archery equipment, so I was a little concerned. Inspection showed that nothing was out of line from the rest, string or loop, so I adjusted my sights and the game was on………….. with Lion on the menu!
As we drove into the lion area, I was overly excited and found myself doing a reality check to ensure it was real. All of the waiting and anticipation had finally produced me at this very day. While we had planned on 3 days dedicated toward the lion, we were prepared for less, or more if needed. I was honestly hoping for less, not so that I could rush the situation, or because I was in any hurry to get away, but that any days less than 3 would provide more time dedicated to the Eastern Cape which was an area that I hadn’t seen and would provide more time for my long list of EC species.
I was not expecting the first animal that we see to be a GIANT kudu. Previously, I had shot two kudu and one was a real snorter, and I had kudu on my list again – but planning on taking the Eastern Cape variety. Without any thought of pursuing him, I admired him through the binoculars and quickly provided my own estimate that was confirmed with the team of 55”+. He was an old kudu with his hip bones starting to show through and his loose skin beginning to sag somewhat from his sway back and neck. Loodt looks at me and says if you are going to take a kudu on this trip, you probably aren’t going to find a better one than that! I know I must have had a disturbed look on my face like “I thought we were hunting lion” and “can I really shoot that monster here?” Loodt quickly confirmed and we watched him for a few minutes as I talked it over to myself. He was so beautiful with his shape and size that I finally convinced myself (okay maybe it wasn’t that difficult) and we put a plan together to parallel him down the road, approximately 40 yards in until we could intercept him. After about 250 yards, we quickly realized he was coming back toward us so we positioned the best we could in the brush and waited for him to walk in front of us.
This plan sounded easy, and honestly, it was………… for a bit. What seemed like forever went by until I spotted those large horns coming down the road. He was already within bow range but as so often happens, I felt that ever cold feeling on the back of my neck. It wasn’t fear, nor rain, nor snow, but the wind that shifted from a cross wind, to directly at him. Instantly he stopped and began to look. I could see his nostrils flaring was wishing that there were a shot through all of the brush. Now that he knew we were there, he began looking and found us. BUSTED and away went what may have been the most beautiful kudu I had yet to lay my eyes on. None of the team seemed hopeful that we would be able to get back on him with a bow at this point so I was now questioning if I should pull out the old boom stick and just start the safari off with a bang, or wait patiently for another opportunity at another kudu that would sure come in the next two weeks. As a bowhunter, I had already accepted that several of the animals on this trip would need to be shot with a rifle because of the locations being hunted either not being currently set up for bowhunters (which was one of the items that Loodt and I were consulting with each other on for future plans and developments), or because of the terrain, herd numbers, or animal habits.
My next action was one that any serious bowhunter would question, and I did for a brief instant, but I have yet to regret it since – I grabbed the gun and said “Let’s go get him!” I do believe it was as much of refusing to let an animal that I pursued get away as it was anything else in play. Besides, my previous two kudu had been shot with a bow, so now it was more about ensuring it was a great, mature animal.
Within a few minutes we found him standing in a road 200+ yards away and my view was through the crosshairs. What happened next I am still in a little shock about today – As the shot rang out, he slightly squatted and took off running. I knew I had hit him, but that is a 300 grain Norma Oryx – Why the Hell is he running (and quite well I might add) A very distant follow up as he came back into the road produced nothing, but I wasn’t shocked, nor disappointed as I knew it was a very slim chance of actually connecting with the tool in hand and a shot facing dead away. The truck soon pulled up and as we followed the tracks, we could find no blood although I was sure of a hit. It felt good, I observed it and I refused to believe that I missed. Following the tracks for better than 400 yards yielded not a single drop of blood and I was seriously questioning if I was only dreaming on the plane and that this was not reality. SPOTTED! My kudu standing in the brush in front of us. At approximately 40 yards I was not about to let him just stand there without letting the lead fly. Pieter said to just mow through the brush and had I not been shooting the .375, I could not have taken the shot. A frontal shot produced a very high jump and crashing through the brush. SERIOUSLY??? AGAIN??? We could all hear him running for quite a ways. We quickly followed the tracks and this time there was blood. Soon into the trail it produced blood from both sides, so I was now relieved that I knew I had hit him both times, but silently thinking that he has taken 600 grains of lead and is still going.
I cannot say how long the trail was, only that it was about 5 times longer than any trail should have been with those shots. Easily we followed it for another 400 yards or so when finally we walked up on him. As is the case when we are hunting, things do not always go according to plan and this was one of those times - he was still alive. Completely broken down in the front end, bleeding from his left side and from his front, I quickly provided a finisher. It was hard to be as excited as I wanted to be as I was still in disbelief. I had fired way more shots than it should take to put down any animal and honestly felt some embarrassment. Loodt, Pieter nor Seun seemed to care as they have apparently seen much worse shooting and the end product of 1 shot or multiple is the same – Meat on the Table!
Everyone was excited to see the size of the kudu. It is always a real credit when you see the scouts, along with the PH’s wanting to take their picture with an animal. I quickly forgot my embarrassment and began to take it in and admire the beautiful animal that I had just collected. After a very thorough Hollywood Glamour Shot session, we then loaded him up, drove to the skinning shed and proceeded out after lion again!
To be continued!
