At the start of a hunt PH and hunter should be relaxed, taking in each moment, not feeling pressurized at all in the anticipation of the availability of time that they have. And that is the way it should be. The PH always attempts to get the hunter to be at ease and confident to be able to perform at his/her best. It was no exception on Rich Ehrlich’s hunt. His wish list was not too long and the whole team thought that they did not need to rush at all. He started off by shooting a nice warthog.
When all the adventure happens on the last day of your hunt
Time passed too fast! After spending 2 days trying to locate the Buffalo herd on a big property with challenging terrain without success and with a Zebra and a Kudu still on his list, things were changing, and the pressure was on. The last day approached much faster than we wanted. With the help of a helicopter we were able to locate the Buffalo to save time and after a short stalk, things happened fast. Our tracker walked straight into the Buffalo and when he started running back, we knew we were on them. Rich stayed calm and placed a perfect shot to bring the Buffalo down.
Rich also shot a Zebra and a Blesbok. He said he will be back for more.
As the sun set on the last day there was joy and excitement in the camp amongst all the staff when we received the message that it was a successful day. Everyone knew that there was a lot of pressure on the hunter as well as the whole team.
The whole Fort Richmond Safaris team went all out to make the last day the most memorable of a great week.
Scout Rifles that were used
Rich used a Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle for his Scout Rifle Safari at Fort Richmond Safaris. The Ruger Gunsite Scout was easily able to handle the plains game. One warthog was taken from approximately 50 yards, out to the Blesbok, which was approximately 200 yards. The short barrel and compact size of the Scout Rifle also made the hike up and down Kudu hill that much easier.
The Grizzly Custom Marlin in 45-70 Government, which he used for the Buffalo hunt is also configured like a scout rifle. The forward-mounted scope allowed Rich to quickly acquire a front facing, center mass shot on the Cape Buffalo.
This is why it meant so much
My father’s mother, Elsie, had a FORMAL, white living room, with a zebra rug in it. The rug came from one of my grandfather’s business partners as a gift. Back then, the only way to get a zebra rug was to harvest it.
Well, I have very clear memories of sitting on that rug, playing with my toys when I would visit. And believe me, NO ONE else was allowed to even put a toe near that rug. I was the only person allowed to sit on that rug. Well, my grandmother passed when I was 13, and my grandfather remarried, and he passed, too. His new wife fell off the Earth, and I have no idea what happened to her, or the rug.
I always wanted that rug. It was one of the few things that really linked me to my father’s parents. But, it was out of my reach. While I could certainly order one, it’s not the same. So, part of my decision to go on safari was to get my very own zebra skin rug.
It was my last hunting day, and I had yet to get a shot at a zebra. We pulled up to within 150 yards (137.16 m) of the herd. This stallion stopped, framed between the V of a tree. He looked over at me, and turned sideways, standing in a perfect broadside. I made one, perfect shot, and the zebra made it one step from where he was standing before it was all over.
I know my grandmother was watching. She asked Africa to help me, and it did.
As soon as I get the rug from Karen Hoffman at African San Taxidermy Studio, it will be put in my Library.