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Why the name 8shots?

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8shots View Drop Down
Optics Jedi Knight
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Lord Of The Flies

Joined: March/14/2007
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    Posted: March/26/2007 at 12:37

This story I tell at my own peril.

 

The Barbary sheep was standing on a rocky ledge, the valley stretched out far below, when I saw him for the first time. At a distance of about 75 meters I had a perfect shot and I carefully aimed the crosshairs at the spot where his chest and neck joined. I squeezed the trigger, and the early morning silence was broken by an explosion that echoed up the cliff face. The shot sounded extra loud as I was acutely aware that my hunting partner, Mauritus Coetzee, was busy with his own stalk up the steep mountain not too far away.

 

As the picture reappeared after the heavy recoil of the 300 H&H, I expectantly looked for the first sight of my downed Barbary sheep. Having never hunted one before, I was very keen to examine it from up close. Then I heard those heart sinking words from my guide “You missed”.

We had started off early that morning, before sunrise. The winter morning was cold and crisp, but not as cold as it can get in the Winterberg near Tarkastad. We had driven to the foothills of this enormous koppie and as we prepared our gear, the guides urged us to take the shots quickly and cleanly, as we may only have one opportunity. We were also warned that this was going to be a difficult hunt, most probably even an unsuccessful one. We were further told that quite a few hunters have left the farm without being able to fill their Barbary sheep quota. Furthermore, if the sheep spotted us and bolted, they would climb to areas that we could not follow. So, with much trepidation and resolve, we started the climb. Mauritus moved off at a tangent and soon disappeared into a distant kloof.

At first I was climbing with my head up, eagerly scouting the mountainside, but as gravity took its toll all I could do was stare at the feet of my guide, which was almost at my head height due to the steepness of the incline. I had to concentrate on where to put my feet so that I did not fall or loosen rocks. Not far behind us followed our two carriers who would help to bring the sheep down, should the hunt be successful.

We were about three quarters to the top when I called for a rest, as it was pointless to attempt to shoot while shaking with exertion. My guide scouted the area above us and then gave us an urgent, whispered command to stay down and not to move. We all froze and then I slowly crawled to my guide. Despite all his pointing and explaining, I could not see any Barbary sheep. I became concerned that we would be seen with all this commotion going on, so I instructed my guide to start the stalk. I would follow closely behind him, hoping to spot the animals before they spooked.

After a further agonizing crawl up the mountain the guide again pointed for me. Suddenly a family of about six sheep came into focus, all within a range of 70 to 80 meters. The ram was standing on a rocky ledge, the valley stretched out far below...…….

After the noise abated all I could think of was that now I had spoilt my only chance at taking a Barbary ram and probably spooked every sheep this side of the mountain. My luck held, for the sheep had run through a small kloof and now stood looking at us. Again the crosshairs found the ram and the shot boomed up the face of the cliff. Now I would be able to examine this exotic specimen. Again I heard those words “You missed”.

The family turned, and started running up the mountain. At about 200 meters they stopped, with my ram in the rear. Again my 300 H&H boomed, and I heard my guide say “You missed” for the third time. This time however there was an edge to his voice, and he made no attempt to speak softly. For him this part of the hunt was over. We would have to hike around the mountain and find a new family.

Unbelievably the ram stopped once more and gave that last look back that most hunters are familiar with. With the distance at about 300 meters, I decided to take the shot. As the picture sight returned, I saw that the ram had dropped. My guide was stunned into silence, for up till now he must have been thinking that I had been shooting with blanks.

I nearly sprinted up the mountain in my eagerness to examine this exotic species, leaving my speechless guide far behind. However, as I got to within 25 meters, the ram suddenly jumped up and headed at an angle higher up the mountain. I quickly brought the rifle back into my shoulder and released the safety catch at the same time. (This action has been ingrained in me through many years of hunting bushbuck in the Eastern Cape). As I picked the ram up in my scope I could see a fair amount of blood and knew that my (fourth) shot was good. I tried a snap shot, but missed. The ram continued running and hid between two huge rocks.

I quietly approached the rocks, but as I peered around them, he saw me and bolted. This time he ran along the contour, directly away from me. I could not shoot as it would have been up the rear. I angled up to higher ground and waited for the guide and his helpers to catch up. They followed the spoor and soon put him up. I took another snap shot but missed. Again I searched for the higher ground as I moved ahead of where we saw him go down the second time. When the guide put him up I was ready. The rifle was in my shoulder and the safety catch was off. As he came broadside below me I fired and heard the bullet slap. Still the ram carried on going…

I climbed down to where he was when I had fired. Against a rock that he had passed was silver lead from my bullet and a sp

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jonbravado View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jonbravado Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/26/2007 at 12:46

that's a good read - tahnks for the post!!!

 

and a fine looking beast.

 

J

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Bigdaddy0381 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bigdaddy0381 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/26/2007 at 13:50

8shots,

Very nice Sounded like a great hunt other than the barbary kept ducking the first 7 shots .

 

Awesome pictures also

 

Big

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Optics Jedi Knight
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Joined: March/14/2007
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 8shots Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/26/2007 at 14:03

Thanks for your kind comments. Yes, we have a lot of varied hunting available to us in South Africa. If a person shops around it is also not too expensive. I have subsequently had a new left hand stock fitted to the rifle.

 

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Duce View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Duce Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/30/2007 at 17:43

Great story and pictures I hope you have more stories of hunts in Africa for us

 

Duce 

Duce
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Optics Jedi Knight
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Lord Of The Flies

Joined: March/14/2007
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Points: 6253
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 8shots Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/01/2007 at 04:47

Thanks for the kind words Duce. I have lots of hunting pictures, each one with its own story. I'll try to make some time and post some more at some stage.

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