The start of a new season…My nerves are killing me.
The start of a new season, excitement fills the air, my nerves are killing me. Why you may ask? From the trackers to the camp staff, and even the PH’s, all are steering well clear of one another. Everyone waits in anticipation for the first arrivals.
We’ve been through this a hundred times, to be more exact, since 1983, we have one of the best teams in the business and know what to expect. Surely you’d think after 33 years we’d have got used to it, but no, until the first skin hits the salt and the first smiles are met with satisfaction around a crackling campfire, we will not rest.
We have done the leg work, the hard yards in scouting, our teams have checked, re-checked and just to be certain, checked again. Every detail has been covered – there’s nothing else we can do. It’s time to hunt. Let’s get out there and get our season off to a good start – that’s all one can ask for.
The guys are in the north, Greg and Rusty,together with Bless and Ou John. With them they have second time returnees Paul Matson and Tom Skelly.
The rest of the team are only due to start in a couple of weeks time on their first hunts, and already the jealousy of not being out there is killing us. Big summer rains have turned the Great Karoo into a wonderland bursting with life from horizon to horizon.
One can only imagine the familiar sounds and smells that fill the air. The game will be in peak condition.
Paul is after Cape Eland with Greg, I can clearly see the mountains they’ll be climbing in my mind. Greg and I have on numerous occasions discussed those north facing slopes where the old bulls like hiding out. At this time of year they’ll be after the fresh summer growth around the springs, their old teeth to worn out to take on the harder woodier vegetation. The hunters will be working the high ground wary of the numerous groups of Vaal Rhebuck and Mountain Reedbuck who frequent these towering mountains. An Eland bull on the trot is a different beast – don’t let him know you’re after him. As big as he is, he’ll disappear on you for weeks.
The ever enthusiastic Rusty together with an excited Tom will make for one exhilarating safari. They’ll be after Red Hartebeest and a bunch of others. They’re a hard-working team with an impressive success rate. They’ll master those wary Hartebeest and any opportunistic trophy along the way, just let them be – let them hunt.
Each morning starting at 5am I start checking my phone, still no word from the teams in the north. I wait patiently, continuously preparing for the season ahead. There’s so many great hunts in store – so much to look forward to. I wait. Patiently…
They called this afternoon, finally, both Tom and Paul have been successful.
From all accounts it has been an adventure to remember. It seems Tom and Rusty got off to a flying start with a great Cape Hartebeest, Burchells Zebra, and Impala. Paul on the other hand hunted hard for a Cape Eland, putting in early mornings and long days in the pursuit of these magnificent beasts. His quest for an Eland proved unlucky at first making the most of opportunities on Gemsbuck, Cape Hartebeest and a couple of Impala, with perseverance paying off some days later.
“It took a village in the end – They sure are big!”; was all we could get out of Paul throughout the excitement.
Tom on the other hand had to dig deep and replay a similar scene from his first hunt with John X Safaris. The guys spotted a Kudu bull feeding on a distant slope, deeming it was a shooter, the hunt was on and the guys set off on foot. Soon they had stalked into position, the bull would hopefully give them the desired opportunity. Tom got prone as he often does and when the bull presented a shot, Tom let him have it with his 300 Win Mag.
A great Kudu bull went crashing down to a well placed shot, but not after yet another “french kiss” from Tom’s rifle on exactly the same specie as last time round. Like the saying goes; “Everything in Africa bites”, even the scopes. A quick minute or two of first aid in the field got the blood flow stopped, but most certainly not the laughter from there on in.
Wow – So many great stories to look forward to with a group of happy hunters arriving back at base camp this evening. Hearing their personal accounts of their adventures is often the most enjoyable part of any safari. Their anticipation and trust placed in John X Safaris for a second time in three years reiterates our belief in what we’re doing as a team. Receiving word from the guys of plans of a 3rd safari with their boys in a couple of years time on a “Dads and Lads” hunt, is undoubtedly the greatest compliment of all. Hats off to the guys who started us off on the right foot – Here’s to an exciting season ahead!
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