Hunts, Past tense. - AllGunStuff Forum

First hunt for 2026

Treeman — Sun, 17 May 2026 08:33:22 +0000

We had no meat left, some mince and that was about it, been that way for 2-3 months actually. I even bought some lamb.
So Cody and I shot out to the farm, he bunked school, and I, well I just said "no work today". A retaliation for my staff not coming in recently.
We managed to get to the farm at 12.00, set up and be at first hunt spot by 14;00. Cody saw nothing, but I spotted a huge hog down below in the valley and called Cody. I have found I hunt as enjoyably through Cody these days as I did shooting myself. Cody again expressed shock that I would give my chance to him but did not argue much. The pig did not give us a side on shot, just facing us all the time. This is not a problem, as Cody does mostly head shots now for the market, but still prefers a good behind shoulder if not for market.
As, As as, the shot went of the pig twitched its head as a dog does for a fly bothering it, split second thing. I saw the bullet hit the ear and the impact high on body behind ear. The angle meant behind ear in down to behind last rib at sternum - one lung, maybe two, perhaps heart as well. The pig took off and I said again ! We could not risk it not really certain of shot. Cody shot it again, and again, still it ran ??????
Huh ?
It slowed down and Cody called head and dropped it. One tough pig. Skinning revealed first shot was between both lungs destroying most of both lungs.
But as pigs do, it just raaaaan.
https://flic.kr/p/2scXtYK

The following day we had a quick morning hunt.
A headshot dropped this one, Cody doing a lot of headshots recently - He Can.
https://flic.kr/p/2sd4oRq

This Impala stepped out facing us and is now in wors format.
https://flic.kr/p/2scXxN3

We needed one more Rooibok

But I did not get a photo, So here is the end of the day.
https://flic.kr/p/2sd41iZ

The wife went with.

Treeman — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 06:58:02 +0000

Wife tagged along for the last open velt hunting season hunt. The bush, and the birds and the weather were perfect, just absolutely perfect. The air was that certain time of year still and clear, every bird had something to say and things like badgers, mice and big bugs were all out. Just sitting under the tree watching was almost good enough, but no kudu, none - zero warthog, none.

Stunning time, place, but kakkeragge hunt.
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-31 at 14.43.59_1710749c by David Frank Allen, on Flickr

Tea time Saturday coffee, who recognizes the tin mug ?????
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-31 at 14.44.00_deeaf605 by David Frank Allen, on Flickr

The accommodation was very cheap, almost free, but there is always a catch ..................
double click to video
WhatsApp Video 2025-08-31 at 14.43.59_7c4ae2a7 by David Frank Allen, on Flickr

We hunted 4 walks from 06;30 to 15;00 and went home for lunch, saw nutting, nutting at all, not even a duiker. Between 16:20 and dark I got frustrated, and made a dash for the faaar corner of farm, like 12 -13 gates away. Sometimes I relize why my bakkies always need wheel alignment and new bush's, shocks, but we got to the other spot in like 35 minutes.
The spot is called the pantry and is a raised hill edge that affords one the chance to see over a huge area and then if you see something, walk your moer off to try find it in area 30, 40 minutes later after last visual.
We saw absolutely nothing, the son went down behind the far hills, the day shift clocked out and the dead silence of that between time, before night shift clocks in for sound affects duty.
As we stood up to leave a waterbuck stepped out about a km away and I moaned about how unfair life is while glassing the beast. The area we were hunting has a straight line of untouched Cape coastal forest on the one side of a cattle fence and used farm land on the other. The animals like being in the thick stuff by day and coming out onto the grass lands by night, the best hunting in these dense forest, open patch's areas is when the animals are heading back for cover in the morning or last light when the over eager first movers head out before its properly dark.

While watching the far of water buck, another W/buck stepped out right next to us, almost too close, but with bush's between us and a good shot. I got into a better position , but the shot was that typical W/Buck quartering stance and I wanted a full side shot for meat hunting reasons.
Unfortunately the little dog got just too excited and could not keep still - the W/Buck bolted.

I was furious and jumped up down, swearin very foul ways, wanting to kick my lil boy, but he knew he had made kak , and sat there with beeeg sad eyes, sorreeeee !
I told the wife that we were done, bladdy dog is still too young, still to excitable, hunt over.
No kudu for us.
Wife chirps, " there stands a buck", I look up and ya!, there stands a kudu cow, just checking us out.
A small step to one side and shot sent, thud returned and kudu bolted to my right back into thick stuff.
The little dog found the cow in the dark after a few false starts, dunno how I ever hunted without the dogs.
I carry about 200 m of 250 kg rope with me when I hunt alone or 2 up, that rope really saved us this week end. Forced my poor bakkie in deep and got the rope onto the kudu head and had wife low range out of the thick stuff with me steering the animals head till we got to a open patch. The cow was then gotten closer and closer by reversing and shortening the rope over and over.

Next was getting it onto the bakkie.
With the wife turning the winch and me lifting as best I could we got it onto the bakkie about 20 minutes later making for about a hr and 15 minutes for recovery.
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-31 at 14.44.00_e2bd6c54 by David Frank Allen, on Flickr

Shame, the wife weighs less than 60 kg and that winch beat her, both arms, both legs, 2 - 3 clicks and rest, repeat, repeat. Push handle away, climb over rope to get behind handle and push again, repeat, repeat. Really admired her for that.

We were late, farmer had been waiting at base camp since 17;00 to have a braai with us, she been sitting alone for close to 3 hours.

When we got back her and Anita hit it off and Cody I gutted the animal. The farmer said she had brought a steak and that we could all have some of it. Funny that, me sharing a steak ? And Cody?
Then I saw the steak.
Double click to see video.
WhatsApp Video 2025-08-31 at 14.44.00_27d7cede by David Frank Allen, on Flickr

We then went to bed, I was rather on my ear, the beer and being dead tired went straight to my head.

Next day
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-31 at 14.44.00_669adfce by David Frank Allen, on Flickr

Decent cow I would say

WhatsApp Image 2025-08-31 at 14.44.01_c2d8c4fb by David Frank Allen, on Flickr

Hunted with the nicest people ever this week end.

Treeman — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 03:36:30 +0000

The youngster hunted with Cody and I went with the 67 year old, first time in years that I come home from a hunt not broken, dead aching tired. The old boy shoots very poorly, and flinch's jerks shots. Been a long time since I seen someone ACTUALLY miss a buck, like you see the dust 6 ft left of animal. Nice thing is that he was open about battling, and was absolutely receptive to any input or help. Some dry firing and stance correcting sommer in the bush did wonders. We practiced and walked practiced on stones and walked.
In the end we saw another buck and I spoke him through stance, squeeze, and eye - brain, forget trigger. He got a 21 " ram that he saw before me.
But really nice people, really was a pleasure. Cody's guy got 2 of his wish list, but no pigs seen.
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-29 at 12.18.04_6b8a38fe by David Frank Allen, on Flickr

As can be seen shot was real bad, but it fell on spot. We practiced all ammunition finished later.later.
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-29 at 12.18.04_96df9b74 by David Frank Allen, on Flickr
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-29 at 12.18.05_9c52e4c4 by David Frank Allen, on Flickr

My son has outgrown me.

Treeman — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 23:02:32 +0000

Some photo's of last hunt I did. Decided on just my family and a walk about, turns out cody beat me 4 -1. Although this was a competition of sorts, there was also a job needing doing, had 6 buyers for animals and a farmer that want herds 30 animals reduced.
20250412_114914 by David Frank Allen, on Flickr
20250614_113300 by David Frank Allen, on Flickr
20250614_141748 by David Frank Allen, on Flickr
20250614_172706 by David Frank Allen, on Flickr
20250614_172606 by David Frank Allen, on Flickr

5 year old and going with.

Treeman — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 06:22:25 +0000

One of the guys that hunts with me and has been there for all of Cody's life, a part of Cody's growing up.
Well this guy and his wife could not have children, and it was a shame, he was a natural father and of so much need to be a father. Well 5 years ago there was some miracle and his wife had a medical mishap, her periods stopped and there was fears about the condition she has having caused further female issues.
Turns out she was pregnant ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
There were a lot more people ecstatic than just him her.
Well that was 5 years ago, that little boy is going on his first hunt with me this week end.
Will keep you posted.

Went for a quick outing

Treeman — Sun, 08 Dec 2024 01:40:47 +0000

We call it a outing when the wiff comes along ;D
It was hot, hot as hell by 09:00 as predicted, but luckily we were we were nearly 4 hours into morning walk (we call it a walk when the wiff comes with ;D ).
This is the end of the third year that Cody has been trying to get his One Horn, a very special animal to him, VERY. Cody saw a Impala about 3 years ago with one horn only and a huge body, I must say I agree he is huge. This one horn got named, and became legend, it was all he spoke of for a long time. In year two of trying he sold some of his stuff to buy that animal, paid the poor farmer for that one horn and TOLD the serious looking farmer that no one else can shoot his animal. Imagine the 14 year old looking up to the big bearded farmer, handing him a fist full of cash and telling him how things are gonna work ::). Well we were there for One Horn only and if we got him the wiff knew its, bang. load, pack up, and straight home because of the heat.
She also knew that we would likely have a kill free day because finding that one animal would be a needle in a haystack kinda thing - its a big piece of land.
We found One Horn 120 m from where we parked bakkie for start of walk about, and as before, Cody could not shoot because he is just too nervous about this animal, he wants it to be standing dead still, perfect broadside shot with absolutely no grass or twigs visible in scope picture. He has thought of everything that could go wrong and then added "take no chances"
So after I shot one horn at least 5 x mentally, One Horn wandered off and was gone.
We did a 16 km walk about and saw lots of nice things, flowers I had never seen before, flowering after the drought, true - I still see new stuff. We also saw the most ever number of other game, but we were not there for other game early in the day, just too hot.

We slept and dozed and lay about till 16:30 and then went back into the bush, this time to get an take home animal. We saw many animals, but all were too good for what I needed, I wanted a undersized animal that needed taking off, or a bad horn genetic animal that would be better on a plate than on a ewe. I was hoping for a big bad horn animal.
These little tracking dogs, never knew it, but they can not handle the heat, we really have to nurse them in the bush, they just get too hot. We actually pre plan water trough points for them.
20241207_171424 by David Frank Allen, on Flickr

At about 18:00 we spotted a huge herd of Impala, and then saw that there were like 4 herds on the lower ground before us. We chose a likely animal and stared to stalk it, but it was 330 m away and needed some open area planning.(Jan Fred- the spot we called Warthog Valley where you likely bumped your scope)
Between us and the target was a valley we would have to get into, somehow ? When we got to drop off and open to herd area we could see the floor of the valley and :o a huge lone bad horned ram - 120 m. I told Cody he could take the shot and it was worth the look on his face, he knew One Horn was his animal and assumed then I would claim the meat animal.
Not much to say, bang, the ram jumped, ran the length of a car and stopped. It stood there looking about before walking off another cars length to the shade under a tree and lying down gently. It held its head up for a while and then lowered it as if really tired and expired.
20241207_184820 by David Frank Allen, on Flickr

My new cooler room that I am so exited to use now had a function ;D ;D ;D ;D
I really never thought I would ever have an cooler room.

Tired? Who's tired ?
20241207_214536 by David Frank Allen, on Flickr

Cody got his Fallow Deer

Treeman — Sun, 18 Aug 2024 20:06:04 +0000

Its been basically since Cody could remember that he wanted a "like you dad". A "like you" was a Fallow deer, like the one on my garage wall. It is hard if not impossible to get Fallow Deer down these parts, bit easier 2 - 300 km inland - but they all booked for foreign hunters and priced in dollars.
There is another way,find a farm where there are not enough deer to bring clients out with a reasonable chance of success, but enough chance to actually get one if you hunt for days on end.
but then , these farms usually have the deer reserved for the sons, perhaps family.

I have been trying to get a fallow deer farm for about 8 years now.

I found one, eventually I found a farm with fallow deer and permission to hunt. The farm is really, really hard terrain (third visit smashed my bakkie). The Fallow deer are there, but as per photo's, its hard long hunting.
You need to click on photo to see photo or video properly.
20240817_081257 by David Frank Allen, on Flickr
There are flat spots down there, but they farmed, the deer are up here.

20240817_084056 by David Frank Allen, on Flickr
We tried hunting them from the top, because they would be midway up mountain, generally looking down.

The gearbox seems to have overheated ? dunno, took 500 ml oil easily. Not sure what the problem is here.
20240817_110300 by David Frank Allen, on Flickr

The boy was tired,if you look in background, that long valley ? We had come all way down over that mountain around that round hillock above Cody"s head.
20240817_162849 by David Frank Allen, on Flickr

Quick day hunt

Mohamed — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 14:21:07 +0000

On my yearly hunt this yea at the end of June I shot a blesbok. It was late Saturday afternoon and the only opportunity we had for the day. The blesbok ran off and we couldn’t get another shot in due to the other animals around. We trekked it and it got dark so it was decided to carry on in the morning. We found it the next morning less than 100m from where we stopped. It sat down next to a tree and passed on, however, during the night the jackals had a feast and all we found was what was left of the carcass. We seen a lot of tracks when we were walking and could hear them inviting all their buddies to the feast that night.

Between Saturday and Sunday we did around 40km walking, but didn’t get any more opportunity’s to shoot anything.
As usual, the time spent in the bush was excellent.

Around 2 weeks ago a friend suggested I go for a day hunt. After thinking about it, I started looking for a place I could go to not far from home. I settled on a farm in the Brokhorstspruit area. While chatting to a friend, it so happened that he knew the farmer. I asked him to join me and after checking if he could get the day off, he decided to come with, along with his father and a friend.

We left early Wednesday morning as we had to be there by 7:00am. As we approached the farm, we saw a huge jackal cross the road. We reached just as the sun was beginning to rise, what a spectacular sight.

After having coffee and rusks, we headed out to the range to sight in our rifles. Due to the flat open terrain, shooting distances are between 150m and 250m on average. We sighted in at 200m.Lately my scope has been having issues which was also evident at the range. I had already ordered a new one and should get it soon.

We headed off to hunt. I missed my first blesbok, shot over it. We came across a group of springboks and followed them until they stopped. We waited for an opportunity on a female springbok. There was one,standing broadside.Took the shot at 132m and she dropped on the spot.

Next we went looking for a female blesbok. Came across a herd and waited for one to move away. There was one facing us, took a shot at 143m. She ran off and we followed it, till it stopped and I took a broadside shot and she fell where she stood. The first bullet was recovered under the skin at the rear end.

We then went on looking for 2 blesboks for the other hunter. He shot one huge female at around 210m. Not sure what distance he shot the first one at. We seen many species of game on the farm, which I really enjoyed.

I used SBC 150gr which worked very well on this hunt. Need to improve on the velocity a bit, but happy with its performance overall. First hunts using reloaded ammo, first year reloading rifle ammo thanks to a few members on the group.For the previous hunt I loaded 165gr Norma Oryx which also performed well. Seen the entrance and exit on what was left of the blesbok carcass.

Late afternoon approached and it was time to go. It was an excellent day hunt, filled with wonderful memories.

My previous hunting experience

janfred — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:47:04 +0000

First, a short preamble.
I work at sea and have a very non-fixed schedule. Supposed to be 2 months on, 2 months off, but I could be away for 4 months or 1. I cannot predict what it will be more than perhaps 3 months into the future. And then it can all change with one email. This makes it extremely difficult to book a hunt. All the hunting trips I tried to organise in the past requires booking and payment well in advance. They also do prefer groups over single hunters unless you want to pay a lot of money for the privilege. I do not have a group of friends or co-workers that want to hunt so that option is off the table. The "well in advance" booking and payment also throws a spanner in the works. Not knowing where you will be in 6 months to a year's time makes it extremely difficult to plan.

I have only gone hunting once before, back 2008. A shooting friend asked if I would go on the hunt with them. One of the group got sick hence the opportunity. I asked him what I must take along as was told just my clothes, rifle and ammo. Also, at that time I have never used a scope never mind own one. Thankfully my friend gave me a 4x Tasco which we fitted to my trusty "bulldog" .303 No1 MkIII*. Zeroed the scope with my 174gr target ammunition. Then bought two boxes of PMP brown box 174gr soft point ammo. Took around 5 shots to confirm the scope zero 50mm above point of aim at 100m. All set.

Monday morning around 03:30 a Hyundai Sonata and trailer stops at my house, the ou omie got out and opened the boot for my bags then got into the passenger seat. Apparently he did no see well in the dark, I had to drive. He'll pay for the fuel up and I pay for the fuel back. Bit lopsided arrangement, but at least I had transport. That was quite an exciting drive. If the car was traveling over 108km/h, the whole back-end started to swing alarmingly left and right. My first time with a trailer, but that felt rather dangerous. And I think the speedo was a bit generous. Actual speed was probably 10km/h less. Trucks overtaking us made me fear for my life.

Anyway, 12 hours and change later we arrive at the hunting farm. Some koppies, very few trees and low bushes. Moved into our chalets, unpacked and off to the range to check our zeros. When everyone was satisfied we went to the lapa and started the fire. This was the first bit of trouble. Apparently, "just bring your rifle, ammo and clothes" has an unspoken component that includes food and drink. Thankfully my loving wife packed some instant oats in my bag against my wishes, so I didn't go hungry. While everyone was drinking their beer, brandy and what not, I had to be content with Frisco, black.

Next day, bright and early with a feast of oats, rusks and Frisco we set off. First the farmer took us on the bakkie looking for eland. I couldn't afford to shoot an eland, but the two old men wanted them with a passion. My friend and I were after blesbok. They were reasonably priced and the farm had "plenty". The plan was to take the eland hunters to the eland then drop us off to stalk some blesbuck. And, like most plans, it did not quite work out like that. The eland showed us the farm. We could not get close enough for the old guys to get a shot until around 11:00. One shot later and a death dash of +- 100m one eland bull was ready for the chiller. The other old man had his chance around 17:00 as it was getting dark. 5 shots later and a coup de grace to the back of the head the second eland was ready for the chiller. Until this time, we have not seen anything else except swartwildebees (white-tailed gnu). The 5th member of our party couldn't be arsed about bakkies and stalked off at day break to the closest wildebeeste he could find. By noon he already had his 3 heads for pick-up. he spent the afternoon and the next day processing his carcasses. That night we ate eland liver and onions. At least old omie no2 knew how to cook it and it was great. There was also alot. Eland liver is huge! I didn't even mind the Frisco, black.

Day 2 dawned bright and cold again. The farmer agreed to drop us off at a camp that definitely had blesbuck, then took the old men off searching for more eland. We stalked that camp and saw a herd of rooi-hartebees and a lonely gemsbok. We got to within 80m of the hartebees and 150m of the gemsbok, so our stalking skills weren't too bad. Not a blesbok in sight anywhere. Around midday the bakkie picked us up again. After a quick lunch the farmer told us they saw some blesbuck and will drop us off close by again. Finally, a chance! off we went. Not long after, we saw two standing off into the veldt. The bakkie stopped about 350 m away. As soon as the bakkie stopped, they looked up and started running. And so we set off after them on foot with hope in our hearts. The bakkie left us again in search of eland. We stalked and tracked and listened and watched; to no avail. We did not see another blesbok again. Just before 6 we heard the bakkie and made our way there. Off to the camp for warmed up liver left-overs and Frisco, black. The old men could not get near another eland either.

I went for a shower. when I got back to the lapa everyone was in their chalets?! Apparently my friend and his other friend was getting pissed off at the old men for hogging the bakkie for the whole 2 days so far and let the old guys know. This caused a bit of friction and the old farts pissed of in a huff and a puff. That put me in a bit of a quandary. Old omie no2 was my ride home.

Day 3 was the last hunting day. Last shots to be no later than 13:00 so that there was time to slaughter the carcasses to a manageable size. Once again, after the abominable oats and Frisco, we set out. This time we had wildebeest on the target list. And of course that was when the damn things decided to play hide-and-seek. And once again the old omies went off in search of eland! My friend and I went walking again. What we did not know at the time is that the farmer got his workers to herd the wildebeeste towards us. We saw the lonely gemsbok again, but that was not on the approved list. Suddenly the herd of wildebeeste appeared to our left coming over the hill. I kneeled, found one running outside the main group, aimed for the chest, breathed in then out and jerked that trigger so hard that it was a complete miss. Bokkoors! One of the reasons that the Lee Enfield was such an excellent bolt-action battle rife is that a trained person can run that bolt very fast while in the aim. Any members that have shot the "mad-minute" in the army can attest to that. That is exactly what I did. One and a half seconds later the second shot went and no mistake with that one. The animal just summersaulted and came to rest legs in the air about 70m away. And that was when the excitement started.

When the first shot went, the herd changed direction straight towards me. One lesson I learnt that day is that swart wildebeeste are not very smart. If one starts running, the all run. The direction they run seem very random and unpredictable. And they were all running in my direction. There was a bush close by that I hid behind, praying that the herd run around it and not through it. The herd passed by to my relief. As they crested the hill behind us, two more shots were heard. The old farts gave up looking for eland and shot two wildebeeste. And yes, they were shooting in our direction.

Anyway, recovered the animals to the slaughter shed and here is another point that showed my lack of preparedness. I was asked how to cut up the carcass. As someone that has no meat processing knowledge, this question stumped me. Point was moot anyway, By the time they came to process my carcass there was only enough time to take the skin and head of and quarter the beast; boude en blaaie. And once again my unpreparedness was thrown in my face. "Where are your plastic bags to put your meat in?!" The farmer was nice enough to give me four bags with a flowery fragrance. Beggars can't be choosers. Later that afternoon we paid our dues and prepared for the long road back.

Next morning packed the car and trailer again and was on the road by 05:00. Old Fart no 1 left much earlier. Apparently he tried to convince no 2 to leave me behind. The trailer was around 3/4 full with one eland and 2 wildebeeste, That made me wonder where the second eland would have been packed if old omie no 2 managed to perforate another one? Anyway, I was driving again.* The extra weight in the trailer did not make it handle any better. No matter how we adjusted the balance, it now started to sway at around 102km/h on the clock. At an estimated 90km/h, Cape town was very far away. We got stopped a Worcester and almost got a ticket for a smooth trailer tire. I suspect that the swaying issue was caused by bad wheel alignment of the trailer which also accelerated the wear on the tires. I arrived home around 7 at night. As I proudly carried my prized meat into the house the wife got a sniff of the plastic bags and promptly kakked me out for putting meat in a perfumed bag...

*This is where it dawned on me that the only reason I was invited along was to drive Mr Daisy. If they couldn't find a driver, the whole trip would have been cancelled.

Epilogue
Apparently there were a lot of blesbuck on the farm in March that year. Every hunting party that went, shot more than a few and nobody used silencers. When we got there end of July, there weren't many left. The few left were alive by making sure that they were nowhere near humans. Lekker wild geskiet. All in all, the experience left a bad taste.

Another lesson I learnt the hard way. Unless you want to make mince with all the meat, do not shoot an animal in the run. That meat was really tough. We had to boil it to bits to make it edible. The biltong it made was very chewy.

Second hunt of this season

Treeman — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 13:37:11 +0000

Took out 2 guys this week end, nicest guys you can imagine - But!, they both about 70 and both as deaf as the average rifle. Now I am kinda short tempered and I do not do speak twice well, soooooooooooooooooooooo....................... it was trying to say the least.
When I say nice guys, I mean rarity nice.

I found it so hard talking to a bloke for 5 mins only for him to turn to you and start a conversation about something which leaves you realising that he had no idea you were talking :o

Getting a man onto an animal :-X , "stop, keep still". nothing happens, chap just keeps going. " STop!" , STOp!!", finally, "FKN STOP !!!!!".
"Huh ?", ::) "Oh don't worry, they gone" Was trying, but yet so much of a wonderful time was had with these two icons of real men.

I finally got John his first buck, two years after we started trying, like 7 hunts later, and best part was he used the old original other than scope mounts condition .303 I got for him. Made the same year he was born and a sad, difficult moment for me to part with it. John is one of the men that helped me get to where I am, a legend to me.
I will post pictures and storey tomorrow, verrry, verry tired.

Here is a picture of "youth", Cody found out its easier to carry the Impala than to drag it, the boy is getting real strong now.
20240623_110922 by David Frank Allen, on Flickr