Nick Rukavina from Ohio arrived on the tenth day of The Scout Rifle Safari for his Scout Rifle Safari in South Africa. He brought two Scout Rifles for his safari, a Brockman Packer Scout and a Steyr Scout.
Nick Rukavina arrived for The Scout Rifle Safari very confident and with great expectation…
Nick wrote the following:
My Scout Rifle Safari with Fort Richmond Safaris
South Africa is an almost mystical country after leaving behind the hustle and bustle of Johannesburg and its airport. It’s a place that seems almost timeless and gives us a close look at nature in the raw.
Even now, six months after my hunt with Fort Richmond, so many days and experiences are still very vivid in my memories – a few do stand out. I am sharing my most memorable hunt, which took place on the first day.
First of all, is the typical day, if there really is one. After a light breakfast, just the freedom of driving through the countryside with Leon, my PH, was an education in itself. He introduced me to so much more than I had encountered on my previous visit to South Africa in 2005.
The afternoon of the first day’s hunt was challenging but worth it. We followed a few herds of Blesbok. The animals were extremely spooky and a wind of 20 mph with higher gusts made it even more difficult.
Finally, Leon stopped a long way from the herd that we were following. I would have guessed the range at 500 plus yards, but my rangefinder showed that it was “only” 337. My excellent PH pointed out, by counting the number of animals from the right, a very respectable white Blesbok. Leon positioned himself behind a pair of binoculars. With the scope on my custom .308 Brockman Packer Scout set on 4x, I settled in to get control of my breathing, racing heart and trembling trigger finger. The herd was partially obscured by brush and I could barely make out “my” white Blesbok among the other white and common Blesbok, which are brown in color. I held a foot high and a body length to windward to compensate, I hoped, for the wind and distance. When the shot rang out, I lost view of the animal, but Leon was very excited. I just prayed that I hit the right animal in that wind!
After what seemed like an interminable time wandering the area, we found “my” Blesbok – the right color and everything. The bullet hole was not evident until Leon turned it over, showing a perfect shot just above the heart. I was elated.
I don’t think that I have ever experienced a more dramatic moment of both relief and triumph in my life.
It was the first day of my Safari, and while many more great days followed, it will always stand out as extraordinary among my hunting memories. 
Nick checking zero and shooting eight-inch steel plates at 350 yards very successfully, in preparation for hunting. The Brockman Packer Scout got the attention of everyone at the range.
“After over 8000 miles of travel, the Leupold on my Brockman Packer Scout held its zero.” Nick Rukavina.
T H E E X C I T E M E N T
T H E H A R D W O R K
T H E E X H A U S T I O N
Red Hartebeest taken by Nick with his Brockman Packer Scout. 
A Warthog taken on The Scout Rifle Safari.
“Thank you for a wonderful week! I will be back soon.” Nick Rukavina
Nick is returning for another safari with us and bringing his wife along as well, next year.
Photo Credit: Bat Mann
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