Las Auras Ranch-South Texas hunting for exotics, whitetail deer and wild hogs.

Dirt , Dust, Cliffs and Long range shooting

I still remember the stories of many hunters after a safari. How the shooting and the skill need to bring down the many African game was what every hunter needs to do to be fully seasoned. Having seen many African Plains game and breeding several species at our ranch I was very skeptical about going to South Africa to Hunt.

I have hunted Blue Wildebeest , Sable, Gemsbok, Zebra and several other antelopes at our Ranch. So hunting what we have was not my idea for a good reason to go around the World for. I felt a strong desire when a friend of mine said would you like to hunt in South Africa this year. That friend of mine is David Marks owner of Safari S.A.

David and I talked about hunting with a pistol several animals and he understood my situation . I told him What I would like to hunt, animals that I do not have and the Ranch or can acquire in Texas. I would like to be able to hunt a black wildebeest or any of the springboks since they are extremely rare to find in the US.

In fact I told him lets start booking a hunt for the fall of 2005 for hippo, black wildebeest and a good kudu.

Later in September David calls me and says, how would you like to hunt with our pistol to see if you can bag a black wildebeest. I told when. He says you have to go before 2005 We are filming for out company and Would like you and your Father to go.

We were greeted by two professional Hunters or Safari S.A. Conroy Hilgren and John Kelly at the Port Elizabeth Airport and drove towards Gramstown for the hunting concession. We talked about what we were going to shoot the calibers of the pistol a 457 Limbaugh and the rifle 45-70 Govt..

The next morning we drove with Conroy to test our rifles and practice a bit shooting. Then we decided that we would try for some springbok and have a look around to see what game we would try to harvest.

We drove around and spotted several herds of springbok running about 40 to 50 miles per hour. Conroy tells me, "I have a rifle that will shoot a bit flatter that that 45-70." I said well it looks like we will. Since the majority of the shots are over 350 yards. While driving back to have lunch, we saw huge monitor lizards in the middle of the roads.

We talked about hunting bushbuck , impala, mountain reedbuck and Hartebeest if we saw any. We took some time of and John Kelly talked about the sizes of the trophy animals and what we should look for on the color variants of each animal. Things that a good guide would tell you. While driving the terrain t resembled a lot like Texas but with some of the plants is different format. The aloe Vera plants were trees the succulents were now the mesquite but other wise you would think of a combination of Texas terrains mixed together.

While driving that evening we saw a group of bontebok and several white springbok . We ended up by stalking a group of very good sized common springboks and literally they never gave a chance.

The following morning we left to look for Blesbok and while driving we spotted around fifty common springbok. Conroy says you see that one out there that's the one. I told him how about the ones around 250 yards of so. He laughed and said no that one about 370 to 400 yards. If you say so , the next thing I know is that I missed the first shot like a champ, it ran for another two hunderd yards but we drove a bit as well and placed it around 300 to 350.

I saw how the bullet hit below and I adjusted the shot to have an excellent common springbok . I realized one thing about Conroy his careful selection of the game. I realized that I was not with a stop-n-pop outfitter, but with one that is hunting for you.

As we drove we saw several blesbok up on the hills. We decided to take a look and glass the area. We saw several good males and again Conroy says none of those, we are looking for better. We decide to head back for lunch and while driving we spooked up a very nice Impala . As the say "the game was on" . this time I told Conroy that I will like to try the 45-70 if its around 150 to 200 yards. After a good while we drove around that distance. After that hour of pursuing the Impala I had shot one with my 45-70.

After lunch we headed of to the hills where the blesbok where and we stalked a excellent blesbok. It was worth every second of that stalk . Again with Conroy's expert eye he had spotted the best out of a herd of 30 and a second herd of 20.

We had a great time with Mr & Mrs Bowker there ranch is a magnificent place with virtually plenty of game everywhere. During our stay we saw duiker, steinbok, Bushbuck, Zebra as well as antelope that I had only read about. Heck, I was in heaven to see game in there natural environment.

During the remainder of our hunt we saw several good warthogs and again Conroy said not that one . Until we were glassing the side of a cliff when we spot a boar eating below us around 250 yards or so. We waited for about 40 minutes for him to show tusks. When Conroy says, "that's the one, get ready."

After bagging the warthog we drove and shot a Black Springbok and off we went to rest for the day. The following morning we decided that it was our last two days and we should try for the Black wildebeest.

The following day we search three herds of black wildebeest. To decide that the best one and the largest bull was in the first herd . After waiting in the middle of the field for well over two hours, the herd runs past us and returns to look for a bit. Around 250 yards was the massive bull and I shot the 45-70. with a well placed shot the took about twenty minutes to do its magic. I needed to putt two more into the dying beast. I never knew how tough they really are.

At Camp we talked about the facts of hunting, the different game that are at their reach and decided that next year we will try for Kudu and Hippo.

There is one thing that I liked about Safari S.A. is the fact of a well trained crew. the camp staff, trackers and above all the Professional Hunter. I have hunted on many ranches and with plenty of outfitters. I found many good traits with several guides but the majority are only concerned with one thing there commission.

Here with Safari S. A. I noticed the only reason that I would go back and more so take clients to hunt with. Is that there main concern was that you harvested not a good trophy but an exceptional trophy. I repeat they had no signs of a stop-n-pop outfitter. I will be setting dates for several safari's from plains game to dangerous game between the months of July and October For those interested in Hunting in South Africa contact me at 956-206-0106.