The .404 Jeffery and the wildebeest stampede
Sometimes danger finds you when you least expect it...
It was the beginning of the 2010 hunting season and we were in the Breslau district near Alldays, happy to once again be on our favourite hunting farm. Nico, the farm manager, was on holiday and had asked us to keep an eye on the farm for a few days. We were graciously received by Monday, a Zimbabwean national, who was officially responsible for the farm in Nico’s absence. Fortunately we know the layout of the farm better than the layout of our local shopping mall and could not wait to get into the veld.
A few months earlier I had a serious lower back operation and needed to be careful not to hurt myself during the hunt. Much easier said than done, to say the least. This was also the first opportunity for me to hunt with my brand-new, custom- built .404 Jeffery rifle. Fitted with a McGowan barrel, it was built on an original 1941 Oberndorf Mauser action, with double-set triggers. For me it was the culmination of a nostalgic dream of many years, to be hunting in Africa with such a classic African calibre. A measly back operation was definitely not going to keep me lounging around the hunting lodge all day.
INTO THE BUSH
Albie, my hunting companion, and I, therefore eagerly seized the first possible opportunity to go for a drive. Unfortunately, my sore back and the rough terrain allowed for a short drive only before I had to stop and stretch my legs. We decided that taking a leisurely stroll through the bush to the nearest watering hole might just be what the doc-
tor ordered. Just to be on the safe side, I took along my new .404 rifle, while Albie grabbed my trusty old .30-06. To be hunting again after such a traumatic back operation, gave me a great sense of achievement. I had always been a very active sports- and outdoorsman and was extremely frustrated by my limited mobility during the previous few months. I enjoy the great outdoors very much and that was also the main rea- son why I became a geologist. Geology sometimes really tends to give you wings, albeit only in your head!
With Albie also being a geologist, we got somewhat detached from our immediate surroundings while walking along the game path. We started talking about the potential of finding diamonds on the farm as it was only about 30km away from the world-renowned Venetia diamond mine. The farm was with- in the right geological setting and with Albie’s experience as a diamond exploration geologist, a whole new world of possibilities opened up in our minds and we got completely sidetracked.
However, we were jerked back to reality by a commotion in the bushes a stone’s throw from us. Something big was running and it was running straight towards us! The visibility through the dense bush was pretty poor, but it sounded like a whole herd of animals crashing through the branches. Hoping that it was a herd of oryx, I got ready to take a shot at the first possible opportunity. The next moment, about 30 metres in front of us, a blue wildebeest galloped into view. It was running along the same game path that we were on. It was closely followed by two others. Disappointed that it was not an oryx, I remained stationary, lowering my rifle again.
A second later I realised that both Albie and I were wearing full camouflage gear. The wildebeests were oblivious to our presence and they were about to plough straight into us. From that moment on everything happened in slow motion and it felt as if I had become the star in my own action movie. From the corner of my eye I saw Albie jump out of the way behind me and being so close to him, I realised that I was in serious trouble. The terrifying thought that there would not be enough time to shoulder my .404 flashed through my mind. I would probably be going down in Bushveld history as the first hunter ever that got trampled by a wildebeest whilst carrying such a large-bore rifle. I knew then that my brand new .404 was going to be destroyed and that I would be back at the hospital for more back surgery. »
» CLOSE SHAVE Luckily Albie’s movements had spooked the wildebeest and at the last moment the bewildered animal changed direction and crashed through a young mopane tree right next to me, breaking off its trunk cleanly. The danger however, was not over yet! The next wildebeest to come crashing through the trees had not seen either of us, but fortunately by this time, I had a chance to dive out of the way. Although taking a nasty tumble, I managed to keep my .404 from hitting the ground. Getting up again was another story. I looked over my shoulder at Albie and saw his face turn from pure terror to near hysterical laughter. I looked back at the broken mopane. It could have been me and my beloved .404 rifle. Where the third wildebeest had gone, I will never know. Everything happened so fast that it took us quite some time to recover from this close encounter.
Curious to find out what had spooked the wildebeest, we continued along the game path and soon spotted a number of very nervous giraffes. They must have seen us from some distance away and had most likely spooked the wildebeests. Maybe I need a bigger calibre rifle, I thought... something in the .500” range. Who needs to hunt buffalo or elephant if plains game animals charge you in the middle of the Bushveld?
Thinking back on other hunts I realised that narrow escapes seemed to be the norm when I hunt with my two friends, Wikus and Albie. These events usually happen spontaneously and without us provoking any game species. Maybe some cause for concern? Fortunately however, it usually ends up with a good story to tell and with me considering the purchase of a yet another rifle.