HUNTING
Hunting
time!
The change of the season brings a sense of excitement in the hearts of all hunters. As
the days grow shorter and colder, the excitement increases. It is almost hunting time!
The time of the year when hunters can plan their hunting trips and have a once in a life-
time experience!
By Jan-Lodewyk Serfontein
Weapons expert and Sales Clerk
Hinterland Kroonstad
J
ust the thought of hunting raises
a number of new ideas. Sitting
around a camp fire, looking at the
stars, listening to the noises in the
veld early in the morning and to hunt your
buck. However, hunters are careful not to
think of some aspects. We don't like to be
reminded of the long distance shot which
did not work out last year, and the short
distance shot after a long day's walking,
which just made the day so much longer.
What can we do to prepare better, to
prevent such ideas haunting us next year?
Are the mistakes we make in the hunting
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SENWES SCENARIO | WINTER 2018
field just part of the hunt, or can we pre-
vent these mistakes?
Of course we can prevent most of the
mistakes with the necessary training and
planning.
The choice of a rifle and bullet is
probably one of the first decisions to
be taken before we go on a hunt. If the
hunter knows a specific rifle and calibre,
half the battle is won. The best calibre is
always the one with which you shoot best.
Choose a bullet with which you can kill
the animal as fast as possible. An accu-
rate rifle and a bullet which does what
you want it to do, most of the ghosts are
banished.
Shooting practice before the hunt does
not have to stop at shooting the rifle in at
certain distances. Practice to shoot from
different positions which you may require
to do. Don't shoot from a concrete table if
you are going to the Eastern Cape. Don't
shoot from the back of a bakkie if you are
on your way to Limpopo. Adjust your rifle
and practice your shots as you would use
them in the veld. If your fire enough shots
from hunting positions, you will soon learn
the furthest distance you will be able to
shoot in the veld.
Planning a successful hunt does not
have to stop with hunting your buck.
Standing next to the buck after the hunt
is the most valuable time. There in the
veld, next to your buck, you understand
that God gave you power to take a life.
The responsibility which goes with this
power, is huge. Hunters want to carry this
moment with them for a very long time.