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It was early August 1993, as you can see from the photo also very dry with almost no leaves left on the trees and very sparse and dry grass and shrub. This is still my best trophy from all the animals that I have hunted scoring the most points. Especially in SCI that I have seen in a record book I think it was the 2000 edition it would have made no. 8 or 9.

Anyway here is the story behind this bushbuck. Since I have shot a couple of good rams before I decided to get one mounted as for me the bushbuck is one of the most handsome animals. Also I have noticed that there are two different colouration types with one being almost black in colour with very defined white markings and then the one like above more brown. So yes I decided to finally get one mounted but it must at least have horns of 15” or bigger that will qualify for “Roland Ward” as I didn’t have any money to throw around at the age of 17 to get any good one mounted. So off I was on my quest to find a bushbuck for a trophy as well as for meat. By the way even an old ram is tasty as bushbuck meat doesn’t get tough as they are very lazy and I’ve never seen bushbuck run further than 50 meters into thick stuff before stopping again so basically they spend their whole lives hiding in the thick stuff or nearby and if they do get disturbed they rush into the thick stuff. With the intent that you cannot go after them that easily, with their famous bark going off and the sound of him running even further away into the thick stuff. I’ve tried it once running after one in full pursuit but after the third bark and his third stop I decided to let him win the day as, every time I was about to put my old trusted “303 lee enfield mk iv” to my shoulder he would run off again even though we were only 20-30 meters apart. And I couldn’t risk a shot with all the bush and trees in the way that was one battle with a cunning bushbuck which I lost but it was in this way that I also learned that they never rush or run very far away and if your quick enough you could catch up with him and maybe get in a shot.

The week before I shot the big ram I was out on a steep side of the mountain where I know the bushbuck will move up after coming down to feed next to the river at night. The wind was just right and the feeling was just there that I would get something either a kudu or a bushbuck. Sitting on a nice rock underneath some shade and a low bush I was very nice camouflaged and had a proper tunnel gap of about 8 meters wide looking at the path they usually used to move up and down. On a fast moving animal that would almost give me no time for a proper shot but I heard a rustle of dead leaves and there appearing out of no where was one of the nicest looking bushbuck rams I have ever seen it was one of the dark coloured ones with a very nice set of horns slowly I picked up my 303 and took aim when he was in the middle of the gap I took the shot. At the shot he ran forward on his death rush crashing down 30 meters further away and rolling down for a while. I was exalted a perfect plan with a perfect ending it wasn’t for nothing that I have spend the last 4 days getting into position before sunrise and the struggle to move in almost dark up the mountain side.

Taking my time as I knew it was a good shot and he was down and I could see him where he was lying I picked up the empty case and made my rifle safe putting the round that was chambered back into the 10 shot magazine. It was also a great feeling to know that everything went according to plan and I thanked the Lord to give me a chance to hunt this wonderful animal. Walking closer I tried to judge the horns they were sure bigger than the other rams I’ve shot before the norm being between 13-15” on the others with the exception of a young ram that I shot for rations with 11” horns. Using my hands as a rough guide I knew the horns were well over 15” closer to 16 and maybe a bit more. I placed the ram on the path that would easily be followed and also be used to carry him off the mountain. Previously I use to gut the animals and carry them off on my own but after a couple of complaints from the staff that I have left some good food for them up the mountain to rot I always went back empty handed to get some help to carry off the animal. It took around an hour for us to be back with a pole and some rope, tying the bushbuck to the pole and putting the pole onto my shoulder I took the front as I knew the part of the mountain so well that I knew almost every stone that would make a noise or move when stepped on it took us another 35 minutes or so to get down.

Alas I didn’t have the camera with me but it didn’t worry me too much as I would get the ram mounted anyway. After measuring again properly with some tape It measured out 16 ¼”, I have obtained my goal a nice ram that easily went over “Roland Ward”. After gutting it I started on the cape and it was my first attempt at caping an animal, I decided to only cut it up to where the neck meets the head as I wasn’t sure how to cut the skin over the face and I will put it into the freezer until we could make the trip to the local taxidermist about 80 km away. That same night my father said that he would come along for the ride to the taxidermist as I only had a learner’s license and couldn’t take the trophy on my own. Around 8pm that night we arrived at the taxidermist Hein de Bruyn he owns Bundu taxidermist and does a good job for the price it would have cost me R400 to get the shoulder mount done and as he knew me quite well he didn’t ask me for an deposit but did remark that it was a very good looking bushbuck and he doesn’t get that many of that size. Walking in his studio we had a look at the other animals that was finished and ready for pickup there were a couple of other bushbuck there as well, one a very nice full mount but none with horns bigger than mine obviously I was very proud.

The following week I was asked again to get some meat rations as we were building a house and the staff of 6 quickly went trough the bushbuck as I took some home as well and made an excellent pot roast with it. I must say the best was the thinly sliced meat on sandwiches at school was even better with some hot english mustard. Maybe it was because I could brag around at school of my fine bushbuck where it sparked more stories about how big of bushbuck their fathers , older brothers or themselves have shot. I only told them to prove it as I was getting mine mounted for more than enough proof. It was Friday again when we took to the road again to see how the house was coming on and of course I took my 303 with me again to see if I could get something else for rations and I was hoping this time to hopefully bag a kudu that would keep the meat rations for a long time. I went up the mountain around 4pm taking some water and 5 rounds with me and of course my hat. Didn’t see anything except tracks and some fresh dung, the kudus were sure moving up and down the path where I shot my bushbuck the previous week. I came back just as it was getting almost too dark to walk over uneven ground in the mountain. I went to bed early that night to get up early to go and wait at the same favorite spot now because it worked so great for my bushbuck.

Up before sunrise again and slowly working my way up the mountain’s side I was stunned to see a whole herd of kudu running away from me and I rushed after them in hope to get them running up on the other side of the valley where I could take my time and pick one out for a good shot as they moved up on the other side. I was too late and was just in time to see the last cow go over the ridge. Breathing heavily I decided that it would be a waste now to go down and sit on my spot and decided to let things quiet down and sit where I was and then see if I could get that small herd of kudu again. I also owned a very intelligent Stafford shire terrier I just never let him come along on a hunt as his breathing was to loud and I use to lock him away in a room until I got back otherwise he would track me down even if I was gone for 2 or more hours. I got him trained in such way that he would never walk further in front of me than 2 meters always on my right hand side. He used to love the walks into the mountain and we went up just to have a look and just see what was going on he used to accompany us or me.

After sitting and scoping the valley for about half an hour the sun was raising quickly and it was almost high enough to shine into the valley. I deiced to see if I could track down the kudus and maybe get a chance at a bull that I didn’t even know was with the herd or not. Slowly moving my way up the valley they same path they did I hoped they didn’t run too far as it was not so far from our boundary fence. Slowly taking my time to look at the tracks and not trying to make any noise it took me a while to get up on the other side. On top it was quite flat with thick bush and trees leaving some gaps where you could see 30-40 meters away but obviously the kudu wouldn’t be waiting for you in those gaps. Slowly following their tracks I saw that after about 20-30 meters or so they stopped and started to spread out again to go feeding again and it made it very difficult to generalize in which direction they moved. Trying my best to follow the tracks I suddenly saw two feet under a bush in front of me not 10 meters away from me and looking up I was looking straight into the kudu cow’s face. With a loud bark she turned around and put great speed to get away from me with the rest of the herd which I could only hear thunder off. That was it I wouldn’t be that lucky to stumble upon them again and moved back to go home but not before sitting at the ridge of the valley and have a rest and just enjoying the view and the bush.

As I sat down not even for a minute or so I heard something rush trough the bush thinking wow can this be another bushbuck I herd the familiar panting of “Jock” my dog. Someone must have opened the door to where he was kept and he must have tracked me down all the way which was quite a distance scaring everything on his way to which made it even a better excuse to sit and have a relaxing time so that he could rest as well. Enjoying his company and having a good look at the trees and the bush and the valley below me, I finished my water bottle and gave some to Jock as well and we finally decided to go back but not before we go past a spot where I knew the bushbuck loved to lie down during the day. It was usually a great idea to move back that way as the wind was perfect and I could look down on the small flat spot where I know they use to frequent. It was also my point to get up to that spot in the afternoon when going up. Taking a leisurely walk back we soon got to the spot and I took more time and moved slower but with Jock panting I didn’t expect to see anything but you never know.

And there he was a bushbuck ram lying down and just when we looked over the small ridge he picked up his head and looked in our direction. I picked up my 303 too aim and fired it, it was more point shooting than aiming properly as I know bushbuck rush quickly when they know you have spotted them. At the shot he ran at full speed and Jock for the first time seeing him ran full speed after him. The range was around 45 meters. He ran around the ridge out of my sight but I heard a large thump as he fell. I ran as fast as possible in case he could still get up and injure Jock. I saw the brown body of the bushbuck lying there and Jock running in circles around him and sniffing at this strange animal. Then I saw it, those horns sure I saw it was a ram but I didn’t have enough time to think about the horns or not I just shot by instinct as bushbuck didn’t give you any time to waste. The horns were huge taking a quick measurement with my hands again I was shocked that they went for 17”.

What am I going to do now I can’t get this one mounted as well as I didn’t have enough money. Should I cape it and keep it in the fridge until I had enough money or just take a chance and take it to the taxidermist and ask him if he could rather do this one and maybe sell the other. I deiced to take a chance with the taxidermist how many times in your life will you get a chance to shoot two rams that measure that well in a time period of 8 days ? He was of the brown coloured type and was by far the biggest in body size and even gutted I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to carry him down on my own. Getting back an hour or so later we started carrying down and I was wondering if my dad would again agree to take me to the taxidermist ? Also maybe I could ask him for some money imagine two bushbuck mount’s one brown and one black with excellent horns that would be so great ! But that didn’t realize he did however say that he would take me to the taxidermist again. Getting at the taxidermist at around 8pm again he looked at this bushbuck and asked how the hell did I get a even a bigger one on the property 8 days apart ? I told him I don’t know but I made it even worse for him as I shot him just before noon and that with a bushbuck which you are lucky to see in proper daylight ! He said that he already started on the other mount so he couldn’t keep it aside until I had enough money but did say that he wouldn’t have a problem selling the mount and agreed to do this one. Well I suppose I couldn’t be that lucky to keep both and get both trophies in such a manner anyway. But at least I have my 17” bushbuck on my wall proudly displayed. But I wish I could get hold of the guy who bought the other mount so that I could buy it back from him.

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"Sleeping under the African sky I can see nothing wrong with this world!"