Little animals can be the hardest to hunt
- Bob Hanna: Someday
- August 25, 2021
- 830
More on our African safari …
After the euphoria of getting my sable and my wife Taryn’s gemsbok, anything from here on would be just “icing on the cake.”
I don’t want to forget to mention the staff at Kuvhima Safaris. You have to remember these people also have been through some tough times in the past year or so. With travel restrictions to Africa having been cut off, they have had to find other sources of income.
The camp began raising forage and corn, grinding it up and selling it to local farmers, both wildlife and domestic, on a fairly large scale. I’m sure they don’t enjoy that as much as hunting, but tough times require tough decisions.
The maid/cooking staff was the best I’ve ever had. Elizabeth and Dreka had our clothes washed and pressed every day and waiting for us when we got back from the hunt. The meals were awesome as well. You had to fill out a form before you go over there to let them know what foods you like or don’t care for. No paper plates here — all the meals were on good china and crystal glasses. The meat was usually from the previous day’s kill, prepared to perfection. Being for the most part the only hunters in camp, we felt like royalty.
On April 30 we loaded up the truck under cloudy skies, and our guide Hannes said we weren’t going very far. We were after one of the smallest of trophies, the steenbok. The adult steenbok is generally about 20-25 pounds and only 10-12 inches tall. Taryn had mentioned she would like the challenge of hunting them, which is exactly what it was, a challenge, with the thick brush still having green foliage. And you talk about fast — most of the time, if you saw one, it was only for a few seconds. It would be like trying to shoot a running rabbit with a .22.
So we made a few passes through the area where Hannes said he had seen them before. When we did finally see one running alongside the truck, we still had to identify if it was a male (horns) and if it was an older buck.
In the few seconds that we had to see him, the skies opened up in a downpour, and we had to rush back to camp. In reality this was a blessing in disguise as we actually had a few hours to rest and relax. Relax? You would think we were on vacation. Sometimes we forget we are here to enjoy time away from everyday life.
After lunch we took a long nap, and the skies cleared enough to try again. It also was a lot cooler after the rain.
You have to again realize some people try several times to hunt the steenbok without success. As our blessings would once again arise, we were out maybe 15 minutes when a beautiful, full-grown male jumps up and runs about 50 yards, and just as he got to the thicket, he stops and looks back. Hannes said the little guy doesn’t think we can see him.
Once again Taryn tries to acquire the buck in her scope, but he is camouflaged pretty good. She slowly pulls the trigger, but the .22/250 won’t fire. In her haste to line up the shot, she had only clicked the safety part of the way.
We knew she had only seconds left before he disappeared, but like the seasoned hunter she is, she realized her mistake, clicked the safety off and dropped him in his tracks. Once again we give God the glory.
Hannes said he was 5 or 6 years old and over 20 pounds, and we were all amazed at Taryn’s patience and the calmness it took to hang with the shot even under stress.
You know no matter how tough times come for you, there is a Heavenly Father who’s waiting patiently for you to call his name and ask for his guidance. That’s all it takes.
We send our blessings from Sanctuary Hill.