Hunting the Blue Wildebeest

Slipping Through the Thorn Bush

A typical hunt at Eden involved driving at a walking pace, perched on the high bench seat of the Land Cruiser, glassing for movement far down the miles of dusty lanes that criss-crossed the concession like a maze. If we saw something ahead Allan would hiss to Tsissiba to stop (often as not the diminutive bushman spotted the game through a dirty windshield with his naked eyes before we did with our expensive German optics!). Tsissiba would hide the truck in the shadows beside the road and we would dismount and begin sneaking up through the bush.

Road March to the Next Water Hole

Most stalks ended without success, so we often just walked the rest of the way ­ a mile or so ­ to the next water tank or salt lick to see if anything was there. We did a lot of walking like this.

Steve Takes the Shot

On this occasion we were after a blue wildebeest. Steve was hunting and I had decided to capture the event on film if possible. We were just walking to the next clearing when my brother suddenly dove into the bush on the side of the road. An instant later we all did the same as a huge bull emerged from the opposite side of the road only sixty yards away. Steve crawled on his belly out into the road to take his shot. The bull stopped to stare but didn't know what he was, since he was so low to the ground. I missed getting a photo of the bull because I was crouching in the cover, but I caught Steve as he fired his shot.

The Hunters Gather to Examine the Sign

Our PH, Allan Cilliers, and the bushmen gather where the wildebeest stood to study its sign before beginning to track it. Notice that the sand is literally plowed by tracks. This presented no special difficulty for the bushmen, but they always started at the first sign of the game to learn its character.

Good Blood

Shortly after we entered the bush we saw copious amounts of bright pink blood, indicating a solid lung hit, an excellent sign. This is a lot of blood. Most animals we trailed left little sign, even when hit well, and often as not the blood that fell was turned into little brown pills on the sand that looked nothing like blood. After a while watching the master trackers I learned to spot these too, but this particular trail was comparatively easy.

Tracking the Wildebeest Through the Bush

G!o and Old K!ao in the lead, we all follow the trail. You can see how thick this stuff is. They are only a few yards in front of me (it looks farther through the wide angle lens).

The Bull is Down

Only forty or so yards from where he was hit, the bull is down and already expired after just a few seconds. Once again the X-Bullet has exited, leaving a small wound but doing quick work.

The Bushmen with Steve and the Trophy

A gratified hunter with his fine trophy bull. The bushmen pictured are: G!o, Young K!ao and Old K!ao. The rifle is a Winchester Super Grade Model 70 Limited Edition, chambered in .300 Win Mag, with the stock refinished by my brother.