Thanks, I also thought it looked like a nice litter and am really grateful that Caleb (Brysons Boxa Kennels) and Ed agreed to send a pup to me and to go to all the extra work to get him here!
Northern Cajun, you must have a family member who is Afrikaans speaking or you spent some time here
. Any more of it, though, and I'll have to get my son or hubby to translate - I'm a transplanted American and my afrikaans is nie so lekker
.
I hunt mainly upland birds, but we also have some nice pigeon and goose shooting coming up October-February in the Western Cape. The upland birds are only open during the main hunting season, which is from May to July (or August in some areas). In my area there are not loads of upland birds, but we get about 4 shoots a year, and also run the dogs on birds pre-season and after. We have mainly Cape Francolin, which are about 2/3rds the size of a Pheasant, and have the same running habit! There are also small coveys of Greywing Partridge scattered about.
BrittGSP, too bad you did not know, there is excellent bird shooting to the north of where you were at. From Cathcart, and throughout the mountains in those areas (Stormberg, Winterberg) you'll find the Greywing Partridge, which are the cream of our gamebirds. High, big sky country, magnificent vistas. and you'll need big lungs and strong legs to chase after these partridge, oh, and some good dogs, too! There are a few outfitters in those areas that do commercial wingshooting, but you need to book with them usually the year before your trip. There is also trout fishing, and some buck hunting available, so you could put together a Mcnab if you wanted. Where you were there are also Redwing partridge, but they are not really a commercial proposition since they don't do well under shooting, environmental or habitat pressure. But they're a great bird to work the dogs on!
The Free State, in the interior of SA, is a fantastic birdhunting area. There is a wide variety of francolin and partridge, in good numbers, and terrain that varies from wide open to closer working stuff. Personally I think it's the nicest area to bird hunt, because of the variety and number of birds. Where I usually hunt you find Swainson's francolin, Orange River Partridge (alot like the greywing), some Greywing, and Guinea fowl. You can also put together a mixed bag hunt here and chase geese and ducks in the early mornings or evenings. Another area is in the northern areas of SA, north of Johannesberg, in the Bushveld. Here you'll find mainly Swainson's francolin, with some Cresteds, possibly some Coqui partridge, or Natal francolin. As the name implies, it's typical bushveld terrain with low thorn trees and bushes, and you need a dog that will work closer with you than in the other areas, although you do get some open grazed fields where they run cattle.
If you get out here again, let me know and I'll try to hook you up with some dog people and/or some outfitters. Will depend on the areas you are in. What are you researching in the Eastern cape?
Trudi
