The over cast wether and wind looked like rain was imminent. I checked what I could on our family farm as I had a off weekend from PH’ing. The maize has all be harvested and the disc is working to clear the lands.
All my watering point are working well as there is no other water in the veld at this point as the rain has not come, the trailcams are picking up lots of Porcupine, Warthog and Jackal among other interesting critters that move between crop lands.
As I start to make my way to the game camps, I have been checking for snares as we have had someone put up snares over the porcupine den holes again but all the inspection is good and I think this poacher has the message as I left him a gift where he last left a snare.
While driving through the game camp the green flush of grass transforms the tawny North West province colours into a vibrant pastel painting and it is really beautiful to look upon. The new life coming through after a fine rain shower 5 days prior is a real treat.
As I move between the Blesbuck, I see a very thin ragged looking one. The only ewe not showing signs of pregnancy. Her movement is hampered and she falls behind the others. I watch here through my Leica 8X40 Geovid bino’s and I know it have to put her down.
On my ATV I carry my . 44 Remington Magnum Marlin lever action shooting 300gr solids at approximately 1400fps. My dogs sit next to me and I use the seat as a dead rest knowing I am shooting solids I wanted a quatering away shot which took her far back in front of the back leg. At the shot I saw the bullet kick up dust on the far side of her as it passed through, at the shot she was gone.
Having my dogs with me we followed the blood and found here 100 meters away down, Gypsy was barking and I knew she had it. I walked back got the quad and rode through to load her.
After a look into why she was ill I found a horn puncture hole in her belly a nasty hole, it might be from the rams that have been fighting or some kind of sharp instrument and I thought about that poacher again I went quick and left him another present at an old snare sight.
As I am writing this I am packing to leave for a few days in magical Limpopo with Bowhunting clients and I cant wait to get them out into the field.
Stand by for the story…
PH, Jono Joseph
