Success In The Field

In a previous post, I highlighted my first South Africa trip. I had this great photo with a common and a copper springbok. My PH told me I couldn't tell this story until today due to their "Immunity moment" during the outfitters end of the year party where they can admit anything without repercussions. I mentioned his name in another article but not the outfitter

We are 2 of 5 animals down by morning of day 6 of an 8 day hunt. Keep in mind, the last half day was spent driving back towards the airport. The impala was all I bagged so far with the 7-30 waters. The impala dropped instantly on impact. It did not make it through, which concerned me, but I did hit the thickest part of the shoulder. Bullet went from 120 grains to 62. At this point, I wasn't concerned, but I wasn't excited about the Nosler 120 BT

Shot the gemsbok (.375 JDJ) late morning while working our way back to camp, the chef calls to tell us to hurry because lunch was getting cold. We load the gemsbok, take a slow 3 mile ride to the camp because the skinner is hanging on the back of the truck

The road makes a slight bend and I snap my fingers at the same time my PH does. Ranch manager was driving and he stops. There are 6 springboks under a random tree bedding down. To the right is a decent shooter (All look decent at this point). My PH tells me to look at him but keep eye on the fork in the tree and check first. That one looks at us and no doubt he's way bigger.

We go back and forth: “Fork?” “Yeah.” “Yardage?” “140”. “Shooting between the fork..” “Shoot now”. All of this from sandbag to shot happens in less than 8 seconds.

The common leaps, runs forward about 30 yards, makes a circle and I see a huge red spot on the exit. Perfect, I'm just watching. He goes down and as we start to move, I see him stand up. I turned to my PH to tell him to hold and when I look back, I see a springbok walking away. I'm confused but he says to get moving. We double time it to the tree and he points 30 yards past the tree....wait, he ran right...I don't know, he's the PH.

He points and I can barely see horns sticking out the 14" tall grass patch. He tells me to shoot and I line up, splitting the ground and base of the horns. We approach and he gets pissed quick. It's a copper. I'm excited because, as many of you know, the copper is much more rare and expensive (List here was $600 for a common and $1850) for a copper. He told me to shoot and that's on him. What confused me is, there was no hole in its side. Finish shot was in his chest.... as we are discussing we hear the manager call out and we notice the common laying down 35 yards away....

The skinner picked up the copper and we immediately see the back legs and it all becomes clear. The copper was behind the common but not one of us ever saw it. The bullet when through the ribs, deflected and when cleanly through both ankles on the back so that is why he didn't run away when we approached. Springboks don't hide, they are the fastest animal in that area.

What's funny is, I missed a springbok the first day on this property. I was beating myself up a bit since we were behind. My guide told me to keep my head up and that everything happens for a reason.

While setting up for pictures, we all calmed down and had some laughs, but I heard my PH say something under his breath, I asked. He said these were the 2 biggest he has seen all year and I got both in one shot. I said "Hey, you said everything happens for a reason, right?" If looks could kill...

A bit more confidence in the bullet. I wont aim for the thickest part of the shoulder now if I use on whitetail. Still worked, but not great. I wish Nosler would make the partition in 7mm/120grain. It did support my research that the bullet obviously slowed after going through the ribs, but it was slow enough not to be destroyed when going through the ankles. Now, the bullet did already deform, based on the exit hole, but still, it broke more bone that time than the impala shot. Still want to play with it more but it makes you think.