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The decision was to keep after him for our last day. But we all agreed that if it doesn’t happen then so be it. I kept my fingers crossed for one of my famous 'last-day' miracles. Just like yesterday, the tracks were very confusing. The roads had tons of tracks in them, some old, some new. Some were from the buff and some were from an eland bull who has a track very similar to our buffalo. We spent most of the morning scouring the roads where we last saw the buffalo. We thought we had him figured out, and we did, but then we lost his track in the grass and never found it again. I had a much more relaxed mood today. If it worked out and we got a stalk, that would be great. But I was past the frantic and frustrated pace we had been going at the last few days. I don’t think Jimmy was there, he, Jacques and the trackers were giving 1000%. Their pressure was derived from their desire to help me get this bull. Not once during this trip do I feel like I put them under pressure. That’s just not my style. They just were doing what good Professional Hunters and Outfitters do. They work extremely hard for the client right to the bitter end. A better outfit I could not ask for. We tried all of his old haunts but by 4PM there was no track to be cut. We simply spent the last hour pushing the bluegum trees and thickets in a hope he would bust out and give us one last chance. He had vanished today. By 5:30PM I called everyone back to the truck. I spent the last hour filming a magnificent sunset on my video camera. This was on my list of things to do and I ended my trip with that photography and memories of that cool old bull. The bull won. And nobody took shortcuts. I am proud of that. This was a very challenging hunt. We wanted to do it the hard way and we did. I have zero regrets. Jimmy, Jacques and I have unfinished business. There is a strong possibility that you will see this hunt continued next year. Talks are underway now. It won’t be for this bull however, but some other buffalo(s). In some strange way I hope this bull makes it. There will be other hunters after him for sure. But we all felt a strange connection to this old duggaboy. Somewhere on that mountain that bull is resting right now, probably in the bluegums. He has no idea how close he came to being biltong. And I now have a new “favorite” animal to bowhunt. I'll never forget this Old Bull and the thrill we had trying to outsmart him.
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Our Professional Hunters for this safari is: Madiakgama Safaris |