BIRD HUNTING IN THE STORMBERG
• WWW.BIRDHUNTERSAFRICA.COM • GLEN HALDANE: +27 83 860 7076 • DYLAN HOLMES : +27 82 805 7017 • MARK HALDANE : +82 807 5110 • office@birdhuntersafrica.com
ABOUT BIRD HUNTERS AFRICA Bird Hunters Africa prides itself on a wide variety of the finest bird shooting in Southern Africa, offering the discerning hunter champagne shooting. Southern Africa is a haven for wild bird shooting and part of Bird Hunters Africa’s uniqueness, is the multiple of bird shooting areas that we offer, giving the sport hunter a diversity of choice that is both exciting and varied, and taking place over a variety of habitats where no day is alike. This, together with specialist professional shooting guides and dog handlers makes for an experience of a life-time for a bespoke bird shooting safari tailored to the individual’s needs. On your safari you will experience unequalled bird shooting that may include walk up Greywing Partridge, Francolin and Spurfowl shooting over welltrained dogs, to the thrilling anticipation of driven Guineafowl, as well as flighted Duck and Geese and finally hot barrel Dove and Pigeons shooting. Our Bird Guide Professional Hunters have a vast amount of experience and knowledge in guiding bird-hunts in South Africa. We pride ourselves on the high standard of our dogs, which include past and present Field Trial Champions. Upland game birds are hunted over well-trained English Pointers, while Labradors are used for retrieving downed birds. A true classic wing shooting adventure awaits you.
THE ACCOMODATION – BUFFELS FONTEIN LODGE
Buffels Fontein Lodge is owned and run by sixth generation Robbie and Angela Stretton, as well as their grown children Grant and Diana. After a solid days shooting in the mountains, Buffels Fontein Lodge can be a welcome sight for the weary and cold hunter, where fond memories of the day’s shooting can be re-lived around the large stone fireplace in the entertainment room. Hosting, fine wine and dining is the order of the day. All this provides the necessary ingredients to a good evening’s entertainment. Although one still gets the sense of history and tradition at Buffels Fontein Lodge it has every modern convenience, including electricity and wireless connection. Buffels Fontein Lodge is a luxurious colonial style lodge set in the Stormberg Mountains. Steeped in history, it was once a post office and inn for weary travellers to rest their oxen and horses between the diamond and gold mines in the north and the docks in the south.
GREWING PARTRIDGE SHOOTING The Greywing Partridge are considered by many to be one of the finest upland game birds and often referred in the same sentence as the “The Scottish Red Grouse” when compared to the quality of shooting, occur at an elevation of above 5000 feet in rugged breathtaking terrain. A lot of hard walking and well trained dogs are required to shoot Greywing and can sometimes be in windy and cold conditions, so a state of good fitness, good health and a pair of good boots is a pre-requisite.
Living in coveys from six to eighteen, these fast flying birds flush swiftly afore well-trained English Pointers and use the wind and terrain to their full advantage, offering the discerning hunter very challenging shooting. Most shoots are for the duration of the morning, where a shooting party can expect to see in the region of 60 birds and bag about 15 depending on their shooting ability.
GUINEAFOWL SHOOTING Flocks of Guineafowl offer an entertaining and testing midday’s shoot. Once troops have been located, these unpredictable birds are at first driven over the guns by beaters, providing challenging shooting and are then walked up and shot over English Pointers, with labs doing the honors of retrieving downed guinexas out of the thick grass.
DUCK & GOOSE SHOOTING South Africa boasts the largest goose in the world, the Spurwing, with ganders often exceeding the 20lb mark, making them a remarkable bird to shoot. Together with the cunning smaller Egyptian Goose, they are shot out of dry land pit blinds or standing blinds, over decoys, either first thing in the morning or last thing in the evening. Our Goose season is May, June, July and August. Our duck shooting takes place in the evening from grass blinds at the edge of ponds and marshes. Decoys are used to attract the ducks in, normally ending with a wild flurry just before sunset. Yellow-bill Duck, Shell Duck, Cape Shoveler and Red-bill Teal are the main species downed and are retrieved by enthusiastic Labradors. Expect to shoot at least two boxes of cartridges per gun and have 150 odd duck decoy in with a bag of at least 20 birds.
SNIPE SHOOTING Snipe occur in the wetlands and marsh areas of inland South Africa. As they are an Inter-African migratory bird and are very sensitive to rainfall, they only occur in shootable numbers in wet years.
When our areas receive adequate rainfall, which is normally every second year, they make an extremely testing quarry and are probably our most challenging bird. We use Labradors and beaters to flush them out of the marshes, as they do sit very tight and when they flush, they get up at your feet and zig zag away at an alarming rate. A very challenging bird indeed.
International & Local Flight Information
You will need to take an international flight from the United Kingdom/Europe/USA to Johannesburg and then take an additional local flight from Johannesburg to Bloemfontein. Bird Hunters Africa can book this for you or alternatively you can arrange this yourself. Alternatively, we can arrange a ground shuttle. Upon arrival in South Africa at OR Tambo International Airport, once you have clear customs, you will then need to walk a short distance to the domestic departures to catch a pre-booked local flight to Bloemfontein Airport. Bird Hunters Africa will have a representative to meet you upon arrival and will guide you through customs and all the way to domestic departures to catch your local flight. The flight from Johannesburg to Bloemfontein is approximately 45 minutes. Upon arrival in Bloemfontein Airport, your Professional Hunter will meet you and transfer you to De Oude Kraal Country estate & Spa .Alternatively, you can take a pre booked mini-bus from OR Tambo International Airport for your drive to Bloemfontein. This is approximately an easy 4-hour drive. If you choose this option, we will book it for you.
TERMS & CONDITIONS • The tariffs are based on current prices and are subject to change. • Bookings will be secured on payment of 50% of the total amount. Balance due 60 days prior to arrival. Other costs incurred are payable on the last day of the safari. • All deposits will not be refunded unless the safari can be rebooked. • No refunds are allowed for late arrivals or early departures. • All payments must be made via direct bank transfer or cash. • You will be required to sign an indemnity form before the commencement of the safari.
PACKING LIST
GUNS •
1 or 2 pairs good quality walking boots or running shoes (worn in)
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3 pairs good quality socks
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2 pairs long hunting pants (Dark Khaki or Olive Green)
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2 pairs short hunting pants (early hunts – April and May in SA)
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2 pairs hunting shirts (Dark Khaki or Olive Green)
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1 hunting jacket – Realtree type cammo (Dark Khaki or Olive Green)
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1 warm sweater or jumper
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gloves
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Sun-screen / cap or hat
If you would rather hire a shotgun from us, we do have a variety of 12g
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casual wear for evenings
shotguns available. We will provide you with shot gun ammunition.
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personal camera equipment / binoculars / insect repellent
If you choose to bring your own shotgun, you will be required to have a Temporary Import Permit upon your arrival in South Africa at customs for gun clearance. The Temporary Import Permits application will be sent to you well in advance for you to fill in and return to us. Bird Hunters Africa will have a representative to meet you upon arrival and guide you through the process of clearing your gun. This is well worth the extra cost and saves time and hassle.