Friday, December 23, 2011

Diurnal bushpigs on Blaauwkrantz




Hunters often pose the question: "Do bushpigs move during the daytime on Blaauwkrantz?"
The answer is a resounding yes!
However, bushpigs are masters of stealth due to their extreme wariness and excellent senses they are not easily seen by humans during daytime on  Blaauwkrantz.The immensely dense habitat that they live in doesn't make things any easier for the sight-reliant human hunter either.

Put simply on Blaauwkrantz : "To humans, bushpigs are practically invisible" -Long may their legend live!

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Bushpig report 2011: It's not just the about the lucky hunters.



The 2011 season on 85 000 acre Blaauwkrantz is officially over. During the season the size of the mainly contiguous private property grew another 5000 acres adding even more refuge for our bushpigs and other wildlife alike.

One of the main reasons for our ability to continually reinvest and add habitat for our wildlife is the fact that we can entertain paying hunters who we responsibly guide to enjoy the outdoors in the form of  hunting.
Bushpigs  have proved to be a really sought after trophy and I am happy to declare that they too are thriving on Blaauwkrantz with its fantastic bushpig habitat - Our indigenous East Cape Valley Bushveldt.

The baiting process is tedious and complicated but bushpig hunters understand this,and then actually getting into position to succesfully shoot one is the other half of their pursuit.

A number of hunters were successful this year and a number were unsuccessful.

We often only talk about the successes but often forget those times we tried hard and failed. Hunters like Doc Meyer from Kansas, Bob Debowski -USA, Jose Sodiro-Argentina, Jeff Hogan-Utah, Linda Bell-Texas, Philip Basset-Michigan, Larry Muck-Missouri, Dr Ted Pawlias-Illinois and Jose Mercada-Bolivia all tried hard, but the Hunting Gods weren't with them and I am sure they will return to continue their pursuit of these hard-to-see animals in the future.

In the pictures are some of the lucky thirteen (!) hunters who successfully hunted 18 bushpigs on Blaauwkrantz in 2011. Randy Bell -Texas, John Blaine-Montana and Karl Evans-Texas are all very experienced African hunters who chose Blaauwkrantz as their bushpig destination.

Thanks to our habitat, Blaauwkrantz Safaris is arguably the leading bushpig Outfit.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Benji Boyd:Another Blaauwkrantz hog record holder!

The Panamanian Jungle Hunter, Benji Boyd, returned to Blaauwkrantz just five months after his very successful safari in April this year.In April Benji hunted no fewer than 3 bushpigs at three different baits in four evenings of ambush hunting. Benji who is a master at this type of hunting, that requires patience and stamina, saw that bushigs were something special. He immediately re-booked for September this year and wanted to complete a Blaauwkrantz Hogslam. Benji again indicated to me before his arrival that he would like to try for more than one bushpig.We were well prepared for the Jungle Man. I gave ourselves a good chance to take at least one bushpig and one warthog, but little did I expect Benji to be successful at taking THREE bushpigs and FOUR warthogs! (The one bushpig weighed just two pounds short of 200lbs of fantastic tasting wild meat)That meant that Benji completed a triple hogslam in 5 days of hunting!!

On his departure, Benji said: "I'll Be Back".....who knows what records will be broken then by this very determined hog hunter.

Thank-you for helping us provide plenty wild, free ranging and organic meat Benji!
Well-done also to Janine Joubert from iGala Productions for filming this epic hunt.(Janine is in the photo of a warthog with Benji)

Monday, August 29, 2011

Another record tumbles at Blaauwkrantz!

In line with my previous statements regarding the proliferation of wildlife in extensive circumstances on 80 000acre Blaauwkrantz , further proof of this can be read into the fact that a 15" warthog has recently been harvested off Blaauwkrantz earlier this month.

Read more about this tremendous feat at http://www.eardleysbushpig.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Heaviest bushpig ever taken at Blaauwkrantz!

Although conditions were very trying and wet,congratulations to experienced African hunter Jay Brasher from Utah for successfully hunting  a bushpig that weighed 90,5kg on the hoof on the 9th June 2011.This is the heaviest recorded bushpig shot on Blaauwkrantz indicating the healthy state of affairs with our wildlife and more importantly their habitat that bushpigs are such good indicator species of.

We endeavour to always preserve our very sensitive natural habitat allowing our bountiful wildlife species to thrive.
Thank-you for recognising the value of bushpigs Jay.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Ron Gallman,Colorado

Congratulations to Ron Gallman for successfully hunting a fantastic bushpig.With PH Philip and assistant PH Francois Ron staked out a bait site for two nights without any luck.On the third night I took Ron and Philip to another area and we tried our luck there.The hunting Gods were on Ron's side that night and we could select this big boar(77kg's,170lbs) from the group of pigs that came in just after 7pm.Ron made an excellent shot and he had his bushpig that he came such a long way for and worked so hard for.Ron fully appreciates the challenge and patience needed to successfully hunt a bushpig.Well done!

YouTube - Hunting Insert Part 1.mp4

It is a fact that not a single fauna specie in South Africa has become extinct or endangered due to commercial utilisation on private land in the last 40 years.In fact the threat of extinction of species like the rhinos,roan,black wildebeest and oribi have been reversed due largely to private ownership and commercialisation.State intervention,other than allowing these initiatives, had very little to do with this incredible feat.
Take a look at this:
YouTube - Hunting Insert Part 1.mp4

Thursday, June 2, 2011

BBC Nature - Wildlife 'crash' in the Mara region of Kenya, Africa

Human populations are increasing alarmingly however this is unfortunately what happens when biodiversity has no economic value to the locals:

BBC Nature - Wildlife 'crash' in the Mara region of Kenya, Africa

Instead, increasing livestock has economic value to the Kenyan locals, leading to the exploitation of natural habitat.
We all know that direct use of wildlife has been banned in Kenya since 1977.Tanzania bordering Kenya to the South however still allows direct use in the form of controlled trophy hunting and wildlife in these concession areas are a lot better off as locals benefit directly from the income generated from the controlled hunting.

Preserving natural habitat is key to the survival of populations of wild species.The reoccurring "hysteria" relating to species becoming extinct is misleading and is easily used as a means to stir ignorant folk's emotions to generate funds for the entrepreneurial "hysteria" fabricators.

"PRESERVING NATURAL HABITAT PROTECTS WILD SPECIES"

Monday, May 30, 2011

Bob Wallace,the latest Blaauwkrantz Hog Slammer

In 2009 Bob hunted Blaauwkrantz and was extremely lucky enough to shoot a bushpig (top picture) in the daytime whilst hunting kudu.

On his return to Blaauwkrantz in May 2011 Bob set out to hunt  warthog amongst others and with PH Francois he managed to shoot a monster boar.The warthogs are rutting this time of the year and the big boars seem to be more visible in their search for the sows on heat.Never theless Bob chose the right time of the year to hunt  Blaauwkrantz as he also made a good shot with his .338 Federal to take the No.1 Kudu for 2011 so far.It stretched the tape at just over 52"!

Congratulations to Bob from Houston,Texas!!

Mark Brookfield, Washington

Congratulations to Mark Brookfield from Washington State on becoming the newest Bush King at Blaauwkrantz!
After a the previous evening proving luckless and with inclement weather looming Mark and intrepid PH, Paul Smith, braved the conditions in rain, thunder and lightning to stake out another bait site and after just one hour of quietly waiting Mark made the shot in just the 1st quarter moonlight  -10th May 2011.
The pig weighed 79kg's or 175lbs.

Very well done Mark!

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Latest Blaauwkrantz Hog Slammer: Mr Christian Brendel from South Africa

The latest Blaauwkrantz Hogslammer,Bushking Christian Brendel, had hunted hogs,wild pigs and peccaries all over the World on every continent stretching from the America's to Europe,Africa,Asia,Australia and even to remote New Zealand.Having lived in South Africa for 16 years already, Christian however had still never been lucky enough to successfully hunt a bushpig to add to his vast tally of 139 wild pigs taken in his vast hunting career.
Very wisely Mr Brendel chose Blaauwkrantz as his destination to add bushpig to his impressive swine collection.
Only on the third night after his arrival did conditions and wind direction allow us to head for a bait site that we thought would offer us the best chance at getting a shot at the elusive bushpig.

We got into position and waited very quietly with the breeze carrying the scent of the pig-licious bait right up our nostrils.After a hour and half a single pig appeared and I could make out it was a big sow,we waited for twenty minutes to see if anything else would show up and finally we agreed that that was the bushpig Christian had been waiting for.He made an excellent shot and the 140lbs SCI silver medal sow dropped in its tracks.
The next day we were scouting for warthog and kudu when we spotted a big boar and Christian made an excellent shot at 230 yards with his .375. Christian had shot many warthogs throughout his career but never before had he shot such a heavy warthog,it weighed exactly 100kg or 220lbs!

Congratulations Christian!!

Friday, May 6, 2011

Blaauwkrantz bushpig hunting



Watch this and get a little understanding of bushpigs.

Remember bushpigs are hardly ever seen during the day and in our dense bush of Blaauwkrantz even seeing them at night is very rare.
Therefore targeting bushpigs can be a real challenge.
If the hunter has luck and the pigs come to the bait without becoming aware of the hunters there might be some action...then there's the all important shot that still needs to be made too...

Thanks to iGala Productions for an excellent clip.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Our principles and efforts in preservation of natural habitat and conservation of wildlife is paying off.

Avid jungle hunter,Benji Boyd, from Panama learnt about African bushpigs as being extremely hard to target as a trophy specie and decided to visit Blaauwkrantz in an attempt to hunt these elusive animals.

Little did he expect to be as successful as he was! Benji the "Bushking" shot three large,adult bushpig in his weeks' visit.We staked out three of my baits using the waxing moonlight to see the pigs that are mainly nocturnal.
We saw no fewer than 12 bushpigs including the younger ones and could select the right one to shoot with relative ease each time.

The fact that Benji could experience bushpig hunting of this quality is testamant to our stoic principles and efforts in preservation of their natural habitat and conserving them from indiscrimanate killing and poaching because they do have an economic value.
We are quick to defend our rights as private landowners from trepassers,poachers,mining,and political intimidation.These principles are filtering down to our wildlife (incl.bushpigs) who can carry on their existence in this World that is becoming increasingly dominated by human activity.
I must add that Benji's patience,determination and luck apart from his shooting skill also contributed massively to his accomplishment.

I am currently registered at a tertiary academic institution studying Environmental Management as well as conducting a research project on our property on another often controversial and misunderstood specie that is also benefiting tremendously from our habitat preservation and wildlife conservation principles.


                 BENJI WITH HIS THREE BUSHPIGS TAKEN IN THE MOONLIGHT AT BAIT

I will try my best to keep everyone informed inbetween my studies,research,defending property rights and of course watching bushpigs.

Yours in conserving habitat,
Eardley

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Visit to Hill Country Rifles and Big Daddy

On our current annual marketing road trip in Texas and the rest of the US, Francois and myself made a stop at Hill Country Rifles in New Braunfels near San Antonio,Texas.
Dave Fuqua and Matt Bettersworth ,who run the operation, have hunted with Blaauwkrantz Safaris on two previous occasions over the years.

On their last trip in 2008, they harvested some excellent trophies including two very old SCI Gold Medal East Cape kudu bulls.
Matt was also interested in a bushpig and I was aware of his wish before he arrived and was prepared for him when their group arrived.
I had a bait going that was being frequented by a monster bushpig. Many other hunters had attempted to hunt this bushpig that I had dubbed "Big Daddy". He had been missed a couple times and in true bushpig spirit,was a "no show" on numerous other occasions when we tediously staked the bait.
When the group arrived the moon phase was waxing perfectly and I picked an evening with no cloud cover and Matt and I  headed to the bait site.We hadn't been in position for more than two hours when we could see the silent,dark shapes of the bushpigs moving out of the heavy bush.They headed straight for the bait and we could clearly see the shape of the biggest pig amongst the other two.Matt took aim in the moonlight through the Swarovski scope mounted on Dave's 350 Hill Country Rifle.

Matt made a perfect shot and this elusive bushpig was finally down!

The excitement in camp was fantastic that evening especially since Matt's cousin , Drew Williams,also successfully hunted a bushpig at a different bait site that evening.

So for us to go and see this iconic full-mounted bushpig proudly displayed in their shop such a long way from the Eastern Cape was amazing.Had it not been for hunters like Matt and Drew who took interest in hunting and honouring species such as bushpigs, these animals would frankly just be marginalised in favour other more economically viable initiaves on private land.

Thank-you Matt and Drew for appreciating bushpigs and giving them an economic value that we as private landowners can recognise as sustainable utilisation and preservation of natural habitat.

Long live Big Daddy!