EAST CAPE ELAND
“Use enough gun!”
DURING THE PAST fifty-five years, I have been fortunat e to hu nt a considerable variety of game. However, it has always been on my wish list to hunt the largest of all antelo pe – t he eland. In August 2012, an opportunity arose wh en I w as invit ed to h unt an eland on a game farm in a very picturesque, mountainous part of the Eastern Cape, between Somerset East and Pearston.
I had been very privileged to grow up in the Okavango Delta which, in those days, was in the Bechuanaland Protectorate (now Botswana). During trips into the countryside with my father, we occasionally came across eland, but they were categorised as Royal Game and thus protected, so we could not hunt them.
While I was thankful now to have the opportunity to hunt an eland, I approached the hunt with some measure of trepidation. I was concerned that my rifle, a .308, was perhaps marginal for such a large animal. Consequently I spent a considerable amount of time studying the anatomy of eland and shot placement.
I was to hunt an eland cow, together with Gareth Diesel, who was overseeing the hunt, and Dale King, a friend of mine, who came along as a back-up. After enjoying an early morning cup of good strong coffee, we set off for an area of the farm known to be frequented by eland. Once dropped
off, we took a slow walk along the game path, looking for these grand beasts, and after some time, sighted a small herd on the opposite side of the valley.
To see an eland in a photo is one thing, but to be so close to them in the veld is quite another. This really was an exceptional experience, especially when viewing them through my 10x42 binoculars. Describing these antelope as huge and majestic just doesn’t say it.
WE STAYED UNDER cover and carefully studied the herd through our binoculars. Then, making sure that we remained downwind, we began the stalk. Keeping well hidden behind the bushes, we avoided making any noise to alarm the eland, and slowly but surely managed to creep to within 200 metres of the herd.
Gareth needed to ensure that we selected the correct animal – above all, we had to avoid shooting a bull by mistake. After carefully studying all the eland in the herd, he quietly indicated a
To see an eland in a photo is one thing, but to be so close to them in the veld is quite another. Describing these antelope as huge and majestic just doesn’t say it
specific cow. As always, I had my shooting sticks with me, which double as walking sticks, helping me to prevent falls, especially in rocky terrain. I quickly found an appropriate place to set up my sticks and prepared to take the shot. Finding the cow in the sight picture, I aimed slightly behind her shoulder, and at the shot, I heard the distinct thump of the bullet hitting its mark. The herd took off and, to my surprise, the cow I’d shot ran uphill – in my experience, most wounded animals ran downhill.
Immediately, Gareth said, “The shot was good! Should I put in a follow-up shot?” I too, felt that my shot had been good, and did not reply. He took that as a ‘no’, and left it to me to carry out. The herd disappeared over the rise, leaving the cow I had shot on her own. She stopped about 325m from us, whereupon I followed-up with another two shots into the same target area and she went down for good.
The bulls are very much bigger and heavier than the cows, and had the offer been to hunt a bull, I would have declined, or requested a postponement until I could borrow a rifle of larger calibre
AFTER SKINNING, AND on inspection of the carcass, we found that the first shot had indeed been lethal. Of the two follow-up shots, one had gone into the same area, and the other into the neck. The follow-up shots were for insurance, and perhaps not entirely necessary.
Gareth, however, stated that he would have done the same thing. The carcass revealed minimal meat damage and very little wastage.
Gareth then summoned the tractor and trailer, and extra hands to help load the very large, heavy carcass and transport it to the slaughter shed. The dressed carcass would be taken to a butcher in Port Elizabeth where it would be made into biltong, minced meat and dry wors. I am very partial to venison liver so I retrieved the huge liver from my eland for a braai we had planned.
By the time we got back to the farmhouse it was already getting dark. We enjoyed a wonderful braai in the boma, and everyone remarked how delicious the eland liver tasted. There was a large piece left over, which I took back to Port Elizabeth.
On my arrival at home, I proudly presented the liver to my wife, who, after closer inspection, noted that it had minute speckles on it. She refused to cook any of it until an expert had given us the go-ahead to eat it. I was devastated and protested! How could there possibly be anything wrong with it? It was from a healthy animal, and we had all eaten some of it at the braai, with no ill effects. I had been looking forward to freezing it, and in the weeks ahead, enjoying eating it with a glass of good red wine.
My wife contacted a veterinarian and gave him a full description of the liver. It turned out to be infected with liver fluke, and he recommended we not consume any of it. I got a second opinion from another vet, who confirmed this, and advised me to discard the liver. I reluctantly took his advice. Apparently liver fluke can be transmitted to humans who eat infected liver, especially if it is not cooked properly. Liver fluke is an infection caused by a group of parasites that occur in various mammals, including game, domestic livestock and humans. We were told that it is transmitted by snails through the animals’ drinking water such as farm dams.
MY HUNT FOR the largest antelope in the world was everything I had hoped it would be. Readers planning to hunt an eland, please ensure that you “use enough gun”, to quote Robert Ruark. I most certainly would have been a lot more confident if I’d been using a .375H&H. The bulls are very much bigger and heavier than the cows, and had the offer been to hunt a bull, I would have declined, or requested a postponement until I could borrow a rifle of larger calibre.