Namhunts
Member
The background....
As per my introduction where I mention I grew up on a farm in Namibia and I was accustomed to hunting from age 10. The only reality was that because our farm(s) was more in the northern parts of Namibia, longer shots was limited as it is more dense bush type vegetation. You could have a fence line clearing corridor shot that could be longer, but most hunting shots were well in the 200 yards range and more often than not 100 -120 yards, and thus we used a 308 WIN calibre(cheaper ammo). Some years later we got a 30-06 and that helped with the heavier 180-200gr bullets and the bump up in velocity. Some of the oryx could let you discover new parts on 20 000 acres farm, when the shot placement was just off. As I realized at a young age with a guest hunter, the fastest buck in Africa is the 3 legged buck. (the buck on 3 legs)
Most of the game we hunted was for the pot and the jerky like delicatesse called Biltong or Drywors/Dried sausage.
Years passed and I wanted to tick of a bucked list item of hunting (maybe more culling) Springbuck in the Kalahari. In the bush areas of Namibia there is not much Springbuck as its more a open planes type game, so I looked for another area to find a hunting ground. I found it ... o boy and did I. I came across Beenbreck a hunting farm south of Windhoek that was on the edge of the Kalahari and Springbuck was ample and then some. Very quick I became friends with the Van Wyk family of Beenbreck. Waldo senior van Wyk one of the owners of Beenbreck is a SOLID marksman and caused me great financial self inflicted harm. He caused me the sickness of ammo reloading and the continious pursuit of not wasting meat.... how so you may ask?.... the episode of dinner table salt on your ego, in the evening that is, so as we have dinner after the day's hunting Waldo would reflect on the days challanges and outcomes. So I hear that evening the comment of concern " You came a long way to come waste meat" says Waldo. "How so?" I said, and Waldo says " I will show you tomorrow." After dinner I am thinking what's this comment about .. The next morning after coffee Waldo says" Lets walk to the meat processing room/area so I can show you something." As we walk into the cooler room Waldo pulls a Springbuck carcase I shot closer and show me the meat damage cause by the 243(win) bullet... then the second and third. Then I was asked "do you now understand what I mean by the waste of meat and meat damage?" Seeing this I nod and the question comes " Waldo, so what's the solution?" The answer comes "you need to shoot for the neck and head"..... Talking of jumping into the deep end in the dry cold Kalahari on a winter morning! Shooting head and neck shots on the rather smaller size buck at 250-400 yards was rather intimidating at that point. "Lets go waste some more meat" Says Waldo.
PLEASE NOTE ....THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO TROPHY HUNTERS >>> HEAD SHOTS DESTROYS TROPHIES!
And so, I go get my gear/ammo and rifle and head for the hunting vehicle aka "bakkie" (Pickup). Off we went with Waldo at the steering with his binos. First Springbuck of the day, 280 yards.... Aim, pull the trigger, it runs a short bit and its goes down. We take the pickup and go load it. Second Springbuck Waldo nominate .... "its 480 yards", Waldo says "go for the head now" my answer " That is 480! Let me check again" using my Leupold TBR1400 "482" I think to myself how do I get me out of this one, and I answer " Waldo, maybe you can show how its done?" Waldo reply" If I shoot it do you still take it for the meat?" I answer " For sure seeing there will be no meat damage, and I get a lesson how to do it" I hand my Savage 243 VLP to Waldo... he aim and the shot goes. The Springbuck drops in its tracks...I swallow, mind racing... what the...did I just see! Waldo comment... "What a "lekker" (sweet) rifle, I will swap you 3 oryx for it" .... and that is how my persuit for accurate hunting tools started and a great friendship.
Here is a video link of the ADG guys hunting at Beenbreck Namibia last year for second time. (o and by the way, I really think ADG makes excellent brass)
As per my introduction where I mention I grew up on a farm in Namibia and I was accustomed to hunting from age 10. The only reality was that because our farm(s) was more in the northern parts of Namibia, longer shots was limited as it is more dense bush type vegetation. You could have a fence line clearing corridor shot that could be longer, but most hunting shots were well in the 200 yards range and more often than not 100 -120 yards, and thus we used a 308 WIN calibre(cheaper ammo). Some years later we got a 30-06 and that helped with the heavier 180-200gr bullets and the bump up in velocity. Some of the oryx could let you discover new parts on 20 000 acres farm, when the shot placement was just off. As I realized at a young age with a guest hunter, the fastest buck in Africa is the 3 legged buck. (the buck on 3 legs)
Most of the game we hunted was for the pot and the jerky like delicatesse called Biltong or Drywors/Dried sausage.
Years passed and I wanted to tick of a bucked list item of hunting (maybe more culling) Springbuck in the Kalahari. In the bush areas of Namibia there is not much Springbuck as its more a open planes type game, so I looked for another area to find a hunting ground. I found it ... o boy and did I. I came across Beenbreck a hunting farm south of Windhoek that was on the edge of the Kalahari and Springbuck was ample and then some. Very quick I became friends with the Van Wyk family of Beenbreck. Waldo senior van Wyk one of the owners of Beenbreck is a SOLID marksman and caused me great financial self inflicted harm. He caused me the sickness of ammo reloading and the continious pursuit of not wasting meat.... how so you may ask?.... the episode of dinner table salt on your ego, in the evening that is, so as we have dinner after the day's hunting Waldo would reflect on the days challanges and outcomes. So I hear that evening the comment of concern " You came a long way to come waste meat" says Waldo. "How so?" I said, and Waldo says " I will show you tomorrow." After dinner I am thinking what's this comment about .. The next morning after coffee Waldo says" Lets walk to the meat processing room/area so I can show you something." As we walk into the cooler room Waldo pulls a Springbuck carcase I shot closer and show me the meat damage cause by the 243(win) bullet... then the second and third. Then I was asked "do you now understand what I mean by the waste of meat and meat damage?" Seeing this I nod and the question comes " Waldo, so what's the solution?" The answer comes "you need to shoot for the neck and head"..... Talking of jumping into the deep end in the dry cold Kalahari on a winter morning! Shooting head and neck shots on the rather smaller size buck at 250-400 yards was rather intimidating at that point. "Lets go waste some more meat" Says Waldo.
PLEASE NOTE ....THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO TROPHY HUNTERS >>> HEAD SHOTS DESTROYS TROPHIES!
And so, I go get my gear/ammo and rifle and head for the hunting vehicle aka "bakkie" (Pickup). Off we went with Waldo at the steering with his binos. First Springbuck of the day, 280 yards.... Aim, pull the trigger, it runs a short bit and its goes down. We take the pickup and go load it. Second Springbuck Waldo nominate .... "its 480 yards", Waldo says "go for the head now" my answer " That is 480! Let me check again" using my Leupold TBR1400 "482" I think to myself how do I get me out of this one, and I answer " Waldo, maybe you can show how its done?" Waldo reply" If I shoot it do you still take it for the meat?" I answer " For sure seeing there will be no meat damage, and I get a lesson how to do it" I hand my Savage 243 VLP to Waldo... he aim and the shot goes. The Springbuck drops in its tracks...I swallow, mind racing... what the...did I just see! Waldo comment... "What a "lekker" (sweet) rifle, I will swap you 3 oryx for it" .... and that is how my persuit for accurate hunting tools started and a great friendship.
Here is a video link of the ADG guys hunting at Beenbreck Namibia last year for second time. (o and by the way, I really think ADG makes excellent brass)
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