Hunting in the Drakensberg region of Kwazulu Natal is an amazing adventure and one unique to this region. The huge souring mountains, deep valleys and large mountain plains make it a scenic and beautiful area for the hunter to visit. Added to this the animals of the area, free roaming Eland, Common Reedbuck, Mountain Reedbuck, Bushbuck and Grey Rhebuck are abundant. As well as Chacma Baboons and Grey Duiker. The list continues with the flora and bird species all making this area of South Africa unique in every way.

Gry Vikor from Norway is a good client of ours at Lowlands and great friend, she has hunted with us on three occasions and has out performed the men on most of these hunts. She has taken Blesbuck, Zebra, Impala and Gemsbuck with us. She is extremely proficient and has shown her skill on many occasions. She is a great archer and hunter.

On this trip Gry had brought some new hard wear, the new PSE Super Short X Force in a 50 pound rig. Her choice of arrows was Easton Epics with Rocky Mountain, 2 Blade Mechanical Broad heads. Ideal for the hunting she would be doing.

One of Gry’s requests was to hunt in the Drakensberg. This too me was a tall order as the Drakensberg was rifle hunting terrain not bow!! However Gry insisted that she wished to hunt the Drakensberg with bow and arrow. I explained the difficulties of hunting in this area, the terrain was very open and very little or no cover existed to stalk. Occasional rocky out crops and bush thickets existed but they were very few and far between. The deep valleys and high mountains would make finding animals in stalk able positions difficult. However if nothing else the day would be a scenic adventure!!

I had never imagined what would happen…..

Gry and I were up early and bundled into the Land Cruiser, bows, rifle, lunch box and drinks all packed and ready. Bhegi my tracker was to join us with Tex and Turkish my tacking dogs. We were soon meandering up the passes into the mountains. We arrived at Mt Le Saux Farm owned by the Laurens Family. We greeted the farmer Justin and got the low down on the area. We also collected the farm keys and headed off on our adventure. We were met with bad news however the one part of the farm would be totally inaccessible to us as the floods had made the river crossing impassable. This was yet another difficulty we would have to over come.

Our quarry this day would have to be fairly open, anything we could get close enough to would be in danger, however we had discussed that ideally a Common or Mountain Reedbuck would be ideal. A Eland cow could also be considered but it would be marginal for the rig we were shooting. A Eland Bull was not considered as there huge body and hefty price tag had put a damper on Grys enthusiasm for this animal. Also it was doubtful if her equipment would be up to this the largest antelope in Africa.

I chose to head up to a region known as Snowden. I knew of some Mountain Reedbuck that resided here and may provide us with a stalk. This we did and as we got out the vehicle the majesty of the Drakensberg was all around us. We parked on a raised hill top over looking two large dams, with the Mountains as a back drop. We were in for a hell of a day if this was the start. We strapped on our camo and set off into the open plains ontop of the Mountains. We soon located the Mountain Reedbuck. We stalked them and long story short did not get a shooting opportunity. The disappeared around the mountain and across the plain. We sat ontop of the hill and started to glass two herds of Eland. There were 42 of them but none of which were on the property we had access to. They were out of bounds! There were two huge bulls and the rest females with young. We admired the herds as they moved across the open plains.

Suddenly the radio crackled to life, it was Bhegi who had been left on another Mountain top to glass for huntable animals. He had been given strict instructions: do not call us in if the animals would not be approachable with a bow and arrow. So it needed to be near cover or in an area with terrain suitable for a stalk. Bhegi informed me that he had a Eland Bull accompanied by three cows heading towards a thicket of dense shrubs. I informed Gry and with lunch closing in on us we decided to head back to the vehicle, we had a quick lunch and then started to meander down the mountain and up the next to where Bhegi sat. We found him over looking four animals. However they were not as he had thought it was one huge old bull and three younger bulls.

Well we know had to think as with the day disappearing fast and not too much in the way of opportunities coming our way what were we to do here?? Gry had no hesitation she wanted to try hunt the bulls!! I was the one with hesitation. I was worried about the 50 pound X Force doing the job on a animal as large as this. We began to discuss our options. I was certain the BIG Eland bull was out he would weight in the 700kg range and this would require too much penetration for our 50 pounder. However the smaller bulls were in the 500kg range and they we could do some thing with. We would have to be accurate and get close. Something easier said than done in the Drakensberg. The bulls were headed toward some “inchichi” trees and this might provide us with a ambush opportunity. We hurried down the steep hillside and settled into what cover we could find. We watched the bulls as they moved closer to us. Then for no apparent reason the bulls started walking away and seemed headed to a small drainage line. We grabbed our gear and used the topography to close the gap. We were stuck in a small patch of bramble( a god forsaken weed with nothing but thorns) and the closest bull was 48 meters away!! Grys excitement was visible and she was keen to launch an arrow. I stalled as I wanted to keep it under 40. We would have to be patient and see if the bulls moved.

After a lengthy wait the bulls seemed to sense danger and moved off into the open grass veld. They were not alarmed but merely uncomfortable. However that was our cover finished and our only chance disappeared into the grass veld.

We turned and walked back up the mountain to where Bhegi sat and the vehicle was parked. Our hopes were fading fast now as we had little time left to find some new animals to stalk. Over a cold drink I considered my options and then discussed it with Bhegi. I thought of trying to MAKE something happen. I knew this farm well and knew were the Eland would walk to leave the valley. My idea was for Gry and myself to set up there and let Bhegi bring the Eland to us. With the time remaining we decided this would be our best shot. Gry and I jumped into the vehicle and made our way down and around the mountain to our position were we would set up. There was a heavy well used path, this is where I thought the Eland would walk. We found ourselves a spot in the stream bed and radioed Bhegi to let him know we were in position and ready.

Bhegi tried to move the Eland and they would have nothing of it, they turned and wanted to head across the river and away from our position. Bhegi informed me of this over the radio. I knew now we had no chance. I told Bhegi to pull out and leave the Eland. His final sentence caught my attention, “Inkosana they are near the cattle.” I got up from our position and with the Eland only about 250 meters from our position I walked up the ridge to see for myself were they were. Sure enough the Eland had joined up with a large herd of Bonsmara cattle. They seemed very relax and secure with the cattle.

I emediately believed we had a chance, I had done it on an occasion before with zebra were I stalk to within a close distance with the use of the cattle for cover. Could it possible work on a 600kg Eland Bull?? As I always say nothing ventured nothing gained!!! We had to try.

The terrain was dead flat and open with only knee high grass to conceal our approach. We had to cover 200m. I lined up with the cattle and started to stalk fast toward the Eland always keeping the cattle between us and them. It seemed to be working the Eland remained relaxed, however the Eland were far taller than the cattle so we dropped to our hands and knees and continued. The cattle saw us and became very inquisitive as to what we were. This was the first time there food had stalked them!! They began to huddle around us and mock charge and play. Gry did not find this amusing and asked “ Are they going to eat us??”. Trying to keep a straight face I could feel her anxiety and she pushed closer and closer to me until I think she was under my arm pit. We were closing the gap fast. We were inside 80m and closing. I was worried the Eland would pick up on the change in the cattle’s behavior but they did not. They just carried on grazing. We kept moving and before you knew it we were inside 40 meters, they were still dead calm so I closed the distance further, 28 meters!! Good to go.

Right then the bull closest to us turn broadside to the right slightly quartered away. PERFECT. Gry came to her knees and drew her PSE X Force, her hat got stuck in the string and she had to let down. HEARTS WERE POUNDING AND SWEAT RUNNING, now pressure!! Gry ripped her hat off and made ready to shoot the bull looked at us and we froze. Seeming for ever.. He then put his head down to graze. “OK GRY TAKE HIM!!”

Gry came to full draw and I watched the arrow float in mid air and then strike hope with a strong crack. Perfect the arrow sunk in too the fletchers. Perfect!!!

We lost sight of the bull as he ran over the ridge. I was concerned as I could not see the bull and were it was going. I grabbed Gry immediately and started heading back to the vehicle. She was very confused as the bull went left and we were heading right back to the truck. I explained we needed to get high and ahead of the animals as a wounded Eland in the Drakensberg Mountains is no joke. We quickly drove to where we first saw the bulls jumped out of the vehicle and ran to the top of the ridge. I was on the radio to Bhegi who had seen the bull go down. We confirmed his position and he was down and out. Gry had achieved something amazing. AGAIN!!

The rest of the afternoon was spent photographing and extracting the huge bull. One arrow from a 50 pound bow had been his undoing. A true Drakensberg bow hunt and one none of us will forget too soon.