A3 Trophy Hunts LLC : Day 2 Finale! Springbuck Slam!!

Who's got an appetite for a plate full of springbuck? Well Joe and Heather sure had their fill on Day 2. Joe and Heather had a different hunt planned for our Safari. Their main goal was to harvest the four color phases of the springbuck, the Kalahari, black, white, and copper. After that, they did not have a specific list to pursue as Dad and I did. They would simply hunt and see what happened each day out.

Heather poses with the 30 378

Joe and the 30 378

Day 2 started early as Joe, Heather, Andries, and Jim left the ranch house around 430 am. They had several hours of driving to get to the area they would hunt the springbuck. Loaded with gear, clothes, and a live animal trailer, the group was prepared to stay several days to collect all phases of the spring buck. The area that Joe and Heather would hunt is known as "The" place to be. I believe the top 10 SCI springbuck have been taken here and by the owner's estimates, the next top 10 still live there. Arriving at their hunting area, the group was greeted with the same winds that we were dealing with. Not the best conditions for shooting at such small targets. However, Joe hauled a 30.378 all the way to Africa for his weapon of choice. This long distance, flat shooting, canon-like rifle was an excellent choice for energy and accuracy. These factors would play a big role today, and in the near future. This rifle also had much sentimental value as well. Joe's friend, Pete, asked him to bring the rifle in memory of his recently passed son. His son, Cheech was involved in a vehicle accident last hunting season and the thought of Joe using his son's rifle on this special trip brought tears to his eyes. Its what his son would've wanted.

Joe was first up. After locating a herd of black springbuck, Joe and Andries were able to close the distance in the wide open country down to 180 yards. From this distance, Joe's shot would not be as affected by the strong winds. Andries sized up the herd and picked out an absolute brute of a ram. Joe was able to down the ram with one well placed shot and as they walked up to the fallen ram, they were suprised at the size of Joe's ram. Scratch that brute part, this thing was enormous. The owner of the ranch, Julian, was hunting with the group and estimated Joe's ram to be in the top 30 ever harvested!!

Joe and his giant black springbuck, 1 of four color phased for the day

Joe and Heather

Not to be outdone, Heather stepped up to the plate. Heather would hunt the next color phase encountered which happened to be the Kalahari. These are basically the same genes as the common but their bodies and horns are far bigger than the common springbuck. It's like the our mule deer south of the Colorado compared to the the Strip or Kaibab Plateau. Heather and Andries were able to get within 200 yards of this herd and once again, this herd also held a magnificent ram. One shot and the couple had half of the color phases. Another giant of a ram as well!

Heather and her Kalahari springbuck

2nd color phase for the day

By the afternoon, the group was in search of either the white or copper phase. As it turned out, the white phase was up next and Heather was back in the hot seat. Lady Luck was smiling on this group today as Heather and Andries crept up to 150 yards and picked out a ram in the herd. One more shot and now they were 3/4 of the way through the springbuck.

Heather and her white springbuck

3rd color phase for the day

Of course, now would be the difficult part. Andries has never taken all four species in a single day. This is why the group packed for several day. Wouldn't you know it, as evening set in the group sat watching over a herd of copper springbuck. It's hard to imagine the sheer number of springbuck they encountered but to be able to find and hunt all four species was incredible. Joe was batting clean up today and as they located a shooter buck, the hunt was on... again. At 220 yards, Joe steadied the canon and depsite the day long strong winds, one last shot anchored and completed their springbuck slam. What an accomplishment! All four in a single day and all were Gold caliber rams!!!

Joe finished the day with a copper, the 4th and final color phase

Since the hunt was over in a single day, Julian invited the group to particpate in a springbuck round up the following day. Remember I mentioned the live animal trailer?? Andries brought this trailer along in order to haul back some of the Kalahari springbuck back to his neck of the woods. Having the blood line from these springbuck would help strengthen his herd. Joe and Heather described this roundup as a scene straight out of Mad Max movie. There was alot of helpers on hand and the drivers used trucks, horses, motorcycles, and ATVs to help push herd after herd towards the nets. Joe was able to jump in and help capture and load springbuck. In this round up, Joe got to hold a live ram that was measured last year that would surpass the current SCI world record. Fortunately for this guy, he has learned to outwit hunters but when pushed with the entire herd, he ran into the trap. He was let go but over 200 were captured and loaded on trailers. Joe said this was similar to how antelope here in the states are captured and transplanted.