BUSHPIG BASICS PART 4 (FINAL): HOUNDS
We were hunting in the Ntonjaneni district outside Melmoth. Earlier that morning fresh diggings and spoor were found of a good-sized sounder along a stream in a valley bottom. The hounds had taken spoor and proceeded to run up the valley for approximately two kilometres onto a plateau of sugarcane which caught the morning sun.
The deep bay of the main spoor dogs Spring, Ugly, Backup and Bobby signalled we were “ON” (the hounds had found and were standing with the bushpigs). Excitement grew as voices crackled over the radios and the hunters moved in on their quarry. As the hunters and dogs drew closer, one pig felt the pressure and took off with the hounds in hot pursuit. The hunters followed, trying to move ahead of the pack and position themselves in likely spots where the bushpig may break into an open area.
A large bushpig was spotted but it was too far away, and the shot was unsafe to take. About ten minutes later a shot echoed across the valley and the triumphant sound of barking and baying hounds signalled the end of the chase. Gideon let us know over the radio that he had just shot a large sow as she crossed a cane break.
The hounds were all accounted for, rounded up and called back to the spot where we found the sounder. It did not take long to find the next pig, as it was already moving, and
