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Trophy Game Safaris – September 2009 Newsletter
Mid September, a cent of spring in the air with the dry powder dust blowing in the wind a sign of need for rain as we drove through the skeleton dry Mopani trees in the Limpopo valley today on the look for leopard signs. It is our driest time of the season and there are many weak animals around falling easy prey to a hungry cat. It is a time of feasting for the predators. As the saying goes, the ones fate is the others gain.
The season have fast gone buy and the year has been full of surprises. Unexpected cancellations, being one of them. We have October and November left before we close down. If all goes by plan we will have yet a full schedule over this period. Much has happened as always since our previous newsletter in May.
June brought a tuff and hard leopard hunt with extreme cold temps and no large spotted cat touching the baits. Floyd Brown from Midland TX had bought his safari originally as a donated hunt from the local RMEF chapter after which it was upgraded to a full leopard and buffalo hunt. We waited for six months in anticipation to hear if we were awarded a tag in Limpopo. Once this was confirmed all was sealed and the excitement started building for Floyd. We briefly met in Midland during Feb ’09 to get acquainted and from there it was anticipation till June. We have seen a few buffalo during our bait trips and waited on acting in the hopes that a cat will be the first to come giving us more time on buffalo….. To no avail, day eight arrived and we had a natural kill which was dragged out of our reach. We placed and kept a local bait going close by water hole where we knew the cat had to drink after feeding on his hidden left over. We caught him on trail camera checking out our bait, but no interest came from his side. We replaced the bait once more and on day 11 got some action the same night just after dark as our trail camera caught him. We came in the next morning and were happy to find the bait with the vital signs we were waiting for!
We wasted no time and got a blind set up about 65 yards out. 4pm….. Floyd, myself and Arno got ourselves comfortable in the blind not expecting any signs till last light or after. I was still moving in my chair to make last adjustments on the microphone when I had a tap in the ribs from Arno, whispering through his lips in great excitement, hisss thereee! Not making another move my eyes quickly searched the bait where the cat was standing, right there! Searching his surroundings to ensure he was comfortable before feasting on our bait which was now claimed by him. As soon as the cat started eating I had Floyd move in on his gun and it was seconds feeling like hours before the big bang came! The cat flew in to the air and flew out to the right into some heavy brush. Branched were snapping and what seemed like thunder came with the cracking sounds and then it was quiet.
I called for Tom my head tracker on the radio to come in, we meanwhile got out of the blind and as we stood waiting on him a growl came out of the thickets some 150 yards away. That was definitely not a good sign. It has been about 30 minutes and it should have been all over by now. We had about another half hour of light left, the sun was already on the horizon and the thick brush swallowed most of the remaining light by the time we started tracking.
From the bait there were only a few blood drops as we started to follow the direction the cat took. Arno and I were trying to stay side to side covering each other, but it was almost impossible. We had to make turns covering over the others head as the other crawled under the brush. We were just at the point where we had to look for the track for a minute when Tom pointed he went through a heavy thicket to our left.
I went down on my knees to break through some heavy thorns when a shot fired from Arnos shotgun on my right shoulder, I instinctively fired into the brush ahead of me to cover myself for the moment the cat will broke through. After what felt like a short battle zone I could just make out a few spots in the heavy brush about 10 paced ahead of us where the cat turned and waited on us. Arno’s first shot did end it all right there. When he caught the glitter of the eye he fired and it was all over before the charge could ever come!
1st Visit
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On the bait
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3rd Time Lucky
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Relieved and happy moments of joy arrived! Floyd was a happy man and we let out a sigh of relief. Past days were reflected on and celebration followed that night. Floyd’s memory of Africa was to be that of a lifetime! This one nailed us close to the wire.
Below is Floyd with more of his trophies, one of which is a beautiful buffalo he took in the Limpopo valley.
Trace Davis has been coming over to visit us for the past three years. This year has offered some great opportunities on Tsessebi and we planned on hunting Nyala with White Blesbuck in addition. There is no slowing this great young white hunter down. If hunting is all he can do….he will probably never rest! Hall his father has allowed Trace to hunt a small bag of animals every year since 2007. His trophies are becoming quite a collection now and we are teaching Trace that with such great God given opportunity comes great conservation responsibilities.
For me, every hunt on every animal you ever hunt needs to be with a great deal of respect that will in return leave you with a memorable adventure! With this we need to understand the importance of conservation as it is hunters, who has lead the way for conservation in the private industry. We need to teach our sons and daughters the true skill and appreciation of hunting. 30 years ago I have seen first hand what no value to wild animals did to the private industry. If it was not for the hunter who was paying his way and creating this great industry today would not have seen any of the great private reserves the holds the most game in our country.
Terry Lechinger, a new friend of TG Safaris from Houston TX was alone on his seven day safari taking 5 animals, some of which can be seen above. One of his trophies, the kudu was hunted in the Southpansberg Mountains (Princess Hill). For those who know the area knows it takes a lot of dedication to hunt in this area. Being a physical hunt it is always a very rewarding and special experience.
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Left: Tino and Arno fixing lunch while the truck is covered with branches to protect the fresh kudu meat we just carried of the mountain.
Right: Terry standing with one of the large Baobab trees @ Princess Hill.
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These mountains also hold a very special spot in my heart. I had all my first hunting experiences here growing up. My dad always said this is where he caught me as a baby baboon, cut my tail to become their youngest of his four children.
Terry also had his bow on the trip here with him and took a beautiful Eland which went down less than 20 yards from where he was shot. With a bit of patience just minutes later he added a very nice Blue Wildebeest.
Leigh & Debra - Kudu
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Leigh - Impala
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Leigh - Warthog
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Leigh and Debra are from Bemidji MN, being their first trip and not having the privilege to have met me or the team before their safari made it unsure venture to the dark continent for them.
After their Safari they joined my parents Andre and Ria for a photo safari through the Drakensberg mountains and Kruger National Park. In spite of having her beloved husband Leigh with her, Deb fell in love in Africa, Yes, with Bullet the African hunting dog!
Thank you for becoming such great friends to us! |
Leigh & Debra Sovde ….. OH and don’t forget Deb’s new African baby BULLET!
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Blue W/Beest
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Red H/beest
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White Blesbuck
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More adventure followed when Tom Meads, his daughter Laura with friends Ron & Jeanne Arthur joined us to also become part of the TG family. With 2009 being a tuff year for us on cancelations and low currency exchange rates the guys decided to support us big time and took 19 animals between them in seven days of hunting. They took some exceptional trophies.
They planned the Safari 18 months ahead of time and with their early commitment they were well prepared. I think Rochester NY is continuously producing more friends through past friends. Ron, Tom Jeanne and Laura…. Amanda and I would like to thank you for your patience and understanding with Tianda being sick. You all became a part of our family while here and we hope that you have returned to the states with memories to cherish! The Sand River Hills Fireplace will definitely recall your memories many times around future fires!
Some Personal News
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In the family life we had a big scare when Tianda fell ill during August in our safari with Tom Meads and Ron Arthur. Amanda was back and forth between doctors in the course of a few days and the situation just kept getting worse with Tianda pushing a fever of 40C. Eventually they started running more and more tests including x-rays, sonars, blood tests and urine tests. After a scope they finally made the prognosis “Interstitial nephritis (or Tubulo-interstitial nephritis) which is a form of nephritis affecting the interstitium of the kidneys surrounding the tubules. This disease can be either acute, which means it occurs suddenly, meaning it is ongoing and eventually ends in kidney failure.”
She was in a lot of pain and very sick. After a few days in hospital she was her old energetic self. She is now on antibiotics for a few months as they monitor her to determine if she will need an operation to rectify the problem. Needless to say she now hates nurses and doctors! |
Ruan is doing great at school and also looking forward to the summer holiday that starts early December. His knife collection is getting to be a very nice and asked me to remind everyone about it. Below he receives yet another one from Leigh!
Note Arno and Tom in the photo below showing a Mahindra truck can load a Eland and a Wildebeest at once if anyone was wondering. Total, well over 2000 lbs.
Our planned family trip to the USA in Jan/Feb will still happen as planned. By December we should be able to post a final itinerary on the website for everyone that would like to get together with us.
Closing Word
Here at Trophy Game Safaris every client becomes a true friend, this has always been such a big reason I have never wanted to get corporate with TG Safaris. I need to always keep my passion for this alive and I am growing it through my family and Arno for the future to keep this dream alive. Amanda and I both are very thankful for what the Lord has given us in life and we work hard with our team to enjoy this privilege. It is now time for the late bookings for 2010 to come in, so if you are one of the guys who has been thinking about that big trip, now is the time to give me a shout!
You friends and family in hunting!
Tino & Amanda Erasmus
The TG Team
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