Over the years I have hunted many species of wild game.
On some occasions I get asked to shoot something different. These hunts don’t include the typical game species, but involve domestic stock that have gone wild.
Due to the remoteness of the farms in the area I live in it is difficult to gather all the animals every time you try. Because of this some have very little contact with humans and over time become more uncontrollable. Eventually becoming as wild as the kudu and other game species in the area.
I have had sheep, which have escaped and become part of a blesbuck herd, acting in exactly the same way. Retreating to the high ground when approached by people. The same has happened where they have joined a herd of zebra too.
On this particular occasion the domesticated animal is cattle. They did not joined other species like the sheep did, but just made small herds and remain in the deep valleys away from any human contact.
We first saw the wild cattle whilst hunting a waterbuck, which was in a previous blog. We saw a herd of eight animals which the farmer announced to us were wild and had run there for many years. In the evening of that hunt he offered it to me that they should be shot, as they could never be gathered with the other herd. I said I would see what I could do, but it may take some serious planning.
The following week I contacted him and said I was going to see if I could get in on one of them for a shot as I had a couple of people interested in the grass-fed, organic beef.
He said I was welcome to visit and he would inform the two staff members I would be coming. The plan would be to try to herd them with horses to an area where I could hide away. I would wait for them and aim for a head shot so that we could recover them easily with the vehicle. However, the cattle had other plans! On first glimpse of the horses the cattle headed through the stock fence and down into the deep canyons.
A new plan would have to be devised.
The following week the farmer phoned me to tell me that the staff had come up with a plan. They would move them into another area, which they believed would work better.
I arrived on the farm ready to see where we would be heading to. The staff were waiting and told me that they had been keeping a track of the cattle to see which way they moved in and out of the canyon. They also told me that the original figure of eight was now eighteen. Just goes to show how illusive they can be.
I was to wait in the one spot at the top of a ridge overlooking the canyon and the staff would circle around behind them in the hope that the cattle would try escape in my direction. Giving me the opportunity of a shot as they passed on their escape.
I chose a decent sized bush to sit under while the guys headed off in their designated directions. With good visuals into the canyon I would be able to manoeuvre into a good spot well in advance of them reaching the high ground.
Looking through my binoculars I saw duiker and kudu below me going about their daily business oblivious to me observing them from my vantage point. I find it very relaxing to watch over areas like this and learn the habits of the game to aid me in future hunts for them. Both the duiker and the kudu were very aware of their surroundings and constantly stopped to listen and smell the air for any signs of danger.
Suddenly both animals stopped and looked down the canyon. They could obviously hear something. Then they moved into the thick undergrowth and were gone, not to re-emerge into view again.
A few minutes later over the top of the mountain on the opposite side of the canyon a herd of nine cattle appeared. Heading away with a determined speed. Not stopping for anything as I watched them. Fences were jumped and from my view point they did not stop running while in view, which was at least two kilometres away.
But where were the others? Suddenly down in the canyon I saw a flash of white going behind a bush. Out of nowhere they appeared crossing an open section. Through my binoculars I counted them. Nine cattle. Five large animals which I guessed to be around the 400kg mark and four younger ones possibly weighing in around 200kg.
My only thought now was that I should stay out of site but keep them in view hoping they would continue up the side of the canyon to the ambush site.
Suddenly they were gone. They had crossed the river underneath me and vanished. I moved quickly along in the same direction trying to relocate them, but nothing.
Then all of a sudden and to my horror there they were. They had stuck to the plan and were coming straight up as expected. The next problem was that I was too exposed. I moved quickly away from them keeping as low as possible in the hope I would reach the bush line before they saw me. Reaching the bush line I looked back to see them still heading up. I sighed with relief.
I quickly worked out where I had to get to for a shot and moved briskly to a small tree. As I reached it the first beast appeared. A big black cow boasting an impressive set of horns. Getting my rifle onto the shooting sticks I picked her up in the scope. As she went passed me at about sixty yards I realised she was not going to stop and I would have to chance my luck on a moving head shot. Moving the cross hairs to her head I waited for her to be slightly passed me, giving me a shot behind the ear. I squeezed the trigger and she collapsed in the run. The others startled and ran passed her not giving me another chance of a shot.
As they ran I scanned through them and chose my next target if they gave me the opportunity. At about one hundred and sixty yards they stopped as if waiting for their companion to join them. This was my chance. I extended the bipod on my rifle and steadied over a rock. The cow I had chosen earlier stood facing away, also giving me that preferred shot of behind the ear. I steadied the cross hairs again and squeezed. She dropped on the spot while the others charged away to higher ground leaving their fallen comrades behind.
The staff suddenly arrived and the field preparations began. As is usual in Africa, nothing is wasted. The animals were quickly gutted and everything bagged for later consumption. I brought the vehicle, and with the help of the staff and my winch the two animals were loaded without any issues.
We drove back to the farm house, which took about an hour with the mountainous dirt tracks. We skinned the carcasses and they were ready to be taken into town. Within two hours we had both cows in the cold room with instructions being forwarded on what the buyers required. One wanted biltong (jerky) and the other was to be butchered for the table. So steaks, mince and all the other delicious cuts would be done.
This ended very successfully with everyone involved being winners and now it is time to start planning the next trip, which I hope ends just as successfully for us all. (Except for the cows that were shot)
Hunting and Outdoor Adventures 