Very young springbok lamb.

[TStone]

Funny, one day I nearly stepped on a very young gemsbuck calf, before it darted from underneath my feet. Lost at least 10% of my still functioning brain cells.

During this past season I was stalking kudu in a stretch of very thick riverine bush, when I surprised a youngish, but big, buffalo bull. We stood eyeballing each other from much too close, for what felt like hours, before the buffalo left. An hour later, in a different stretch of riverine bush, two half grown warthog burst out from under a bush within kicking distance. I nearly wet myself.

[GameFarmer]

Did you get "scared out of your wits" or did you just crap yourself? :)

Both. Blush.

[Digby]

During this past season I was stalking kudu in a stretch of very thick riverine bush, when I surprised a youngish, but big, buffalo bull. We stood eyeballing each other from much too close, for what felt like hours, before the buffalo left. An hour later, in a different stretch of riverine bush, two half grown warthog burst out from under a bush within kicking distance. I nearly wet myself.

A few years back while hunting mountain ribbok with 2 mates on friends farm in Burgersdorp, one friend wounded one and went off in search. I had just shot one on another koppie and went off in their direction to go help. I went to where I had last seen them before the went over the hill. I was almost at their last spot when i tripped and fell on my hands and knees. Low and behold a foot away from my face were a few drops of fresh blood. I get up and follow the blood for about 4 metres when all of a sudden the wounded animal jumped up out of nowhere from literally beneath my feet, scaring the living daylights out of me. To this day i cannot believe it was that close and I couldnt see it. It had backtracked behind my mates who went in search after it had been wounded. Divine intervention I tripped and spotted the blood or else there is a good chance I would have gone right past and followed my friends, but thankfully put the animal out of its misery while it ran away 3 legs.

[Digby]

Really awesome images btw TStone and Gamefarmer...thanks for sharing!

[pdh]

Great photos

All the stories remind me of the annual springbok hunt where almost always there is one rabbit/haas destined to scare the shit out of me while I am walking and stalking