Got a call some time back from a chap that has watched Cody growing up, 'want my boy to grow up like that". "Thing is Dave I am a black guy and know nothing or no one in the regard to hunting, will you consider giving that to my boy?"
;D ;D ;D All grins my side.
Took a year to put it all together, money allocated and schedules set.
It was decided that Cody would team up with the youngster of 10 yrs old and I would guide the father of about 46 yrs old. We talking of Friday first time shooting, Saturday first time hunting, some challenge could be encountered me thought.
Ag man!, guys it was awesome. The want, the willingness to learn, to experience, it was awesome indeed. It has been some time since I realized how much I have in the sense of pleasures, how lucky to have grown the way I did. To sit in the velt with a person who keeps saying," Wow!" "amazing", "awe man this is great"
Look at the photos.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/54726970126_63163edc5b_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ro32ys)WhatsApp Video 2025-08-17 at 16.45.15_aabbcad1 (https://flic.kr/p/2ro32ys) by David Frank Allen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/183810052@N07/), on Flickr
So proud of my boy, his patience and willingness is so great to see.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54727310840_2ac057299b_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ro4LQQ)WhatsApp Image 2025-08-17 at 13.03.06_8e88229e (https://flic.kr/p/2ro4LQQ) by David Frank Allen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/183810052@N07/), on Flickr
Cody is so patient, understanding.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54726136642_0b30bd51a2_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rnXKN3)WhatsApp Image 2025-08-16 at 20.30.14_8553c99f (https://flic.kr/p/2rnXKN3) by David Frank Allen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/183810052@N07/), on Flickr
The kid hit the buck low on the front shoulder and it bolted, Cody had his work cut out tracking it and getting it. It went down and jumped again at 80 -90 m over and over, Cody needed nine free hand shots and 3 hits to drop it. The father was just over awed at Cody's ability, gave Cody R500 there and then :o >
I must say, seeing my boy running down a mountain stop, shoot, run stop shoot was rather incredible, even one hit was very very impressive. They were all good hits, but angles were difficult and the animal was adrenalin pumped. Last shot it was 80 odd meters heading straight away from him - back of the head as it stopped for a moment.
We were watching from about 800 m away across a valley, it all played out like a movie on a hill side.
Click on first photo to see the video.
I will post dads story tomorrow, tired now.
Started here (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54727237709_b0e47b8b2d_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ro4p6X)WhatsApp Image 2025-08-17 at 16.45.01_80e78c35 (https://flic.kr/p/2ro4p6X) by David Frank Allen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/183810052@N07/), on Flickr
ended here double click on video
(https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/54727355450_6407a6d678_w.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ro516Y)WhatsApp Video 2025-08-16 at 20.30.12_4e310553 (https://flic.kr/p/2ro516Y) by David Frank Allen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/183810052@N07/), on Flickr
resulted in at like 2 in afternoon
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54727310835_3eda4527f9_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ro4LQK)WhatsApp Image 2025-08-17 at 13.02.10_5c25cc92 (https://flic.kr/p/2ro4LQK) by David Frank Allen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/183810052@N07/), on Flickr
I battled with dad being to slow and not following instruction clearly, he was keen, willing but kinda made me feel like I was just making a noise when I spoke. That moving tight against each other when stalking and staying very tight when walking was a battle, leading to a few times I sighted something stopped and turned to find a empty space where the hunter should have been, repeating the instruction only to find the same thing next time >:(
;D but its been the same with every newbie, its just how it usually plays out the first few learn hunts. The second battle was the time taken getting onto the sticks, once again no negative about my friend, just a newbie thing. We got onto animals a few times, but the follow up of second person who had fallen behind caused a run off, then when we got that part right, there was the matter of on sticks , bring cross on, fire ---- 1 2 3 4---5 6 bang - done, or they off again.
Mr M, how ever, gotta give it to him, when he did squeeze the trigger, it was true every time - perfect shots.
End of travel first night, there was a Pad stal at farm entrance, we had a venison buy and a beer to start the week end.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54727237704_b509c6caed_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ro4p6S)WhatsApp Image 2025-08-17 at 16.24.50_c3b1ba27 (https://flic.kr/p/2ro4p6S) by David Frank Allen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/183810052@N07/), on Flickr
The first animal that Mr M got a shot at went straight down, he shoots much better than he gets into shooting position.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54733930885_aac1916611_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2roDGKx)WhatsApp Image 2025-08-17 at 13.02.38_673f3f32 (https://flic.kr/p/2roDGKx) by David Frank Allen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/183810052@N07/), on Flickr
Then the tradition
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54733927035_8dc595b273_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2roDFBa)WhatsApp Image 2025-08-17 at 13.02.35_3870cab0 (https://flic.kr/p/2roDFBa) by David Frank Allen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/183810052@N07/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54727222558_d53ee281ce_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ro4jAJ)WhatsApp Image 2025-08-17 at 16.24.50_dfc45bf5 (https://flic.kr/p/2ro4jAJ) by David Frank Allen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/183810052@N07/), on Flickr
LITTLE DOG LOOKING BACK AT THE HUNT - she can't believe its over, poof, just like that hunts over.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54733781678_71ce6ff849_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2roCWp1)WhatsApp Image 2025-08-18 at 21.05.15_5ba0d71a (https://flic.kr/p/2roCWp1) by David Frank Allen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/183810052@N07/), on Flickr
Fantastic pics.
Looks like a fun and memorable trip. Well done to the new hunters.