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First animal with a Bow |
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Glock
Optics Master Joined: November/06/2005 Location: South Africa Status: Offline Points: 1430 |
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Posted: July/07/2009 at 03:46 |
Well I finally made it on the second attempt, my first animal with a Bow.
I had 2 misses on my first hunt in May, 1 at 38m and 1 at 34m. Anyone who thinks Bow hunting is easy should give it a try; it’s not just about sitting at a water hole and killing animals. We were hunting in Natal just outside Pongola on the farm Zeekoepan; we have hunted here for the last 3 years. I had arranged to take my bow with in May, but unfortunately had the 2 misses. Not a good introduction to bow hunting, but heh that’s how we learn. It’s been a big learning curve for me, especially being confined to a wheelchair. Well I got another chance last weekend; a friend of mine invited me on their trip to the same farm. I arranged with Willem (the farm owner) to take the bow again, I only got there late Thursday. So I only had Friday and Saturday morning to hunt, Friday was a bust. Full of lessons learnt, I did see 7 Nyala bulls. Though they are far beyond my meagre pension, but still amazingly exciting to see. This just left Saturday morning, as the 2nd test between the Springbucks and British Lions was that afternoon. This meant I had about till 2 o’clock too hunt, as we were all going to Willems farm house to watch the game. On the way to the blind I was going to sit at (same one I sat with the 2 misses I had in May), we seen a large herd of Impala moving closer. My first thought was to get in the blind as soon as possible, yet Willem suggested we check out another blind close by. As he said it would be a while before they got to the dam, (large pond) well one of his workers had closed the water feed at the 2nd dam, so there was no point in sitting there. As we drove around the corner to the first blind, my heart sank as I could see the Impala had beaten us there. Yet I could see that they had just got there, so they hadn’t had chance to drink. I was dropped off and settled in as quickly as I could, I used my Swarovski rangefinder to range different points around the dam as well as trees just behind the dam. Well it couldn’t have been 15 minutes before I seen movement. A large trophy ram moved in, but only gave me quartering towards shot at 30m. Which I was extremely hesitant to take, with my extremely limited bow experience. I passed on the shot and sat with my range finder, trying to see if there where anymore Impala in the area. It wasn’t long before a few Warthogs sneaked in and sat playing in the mud, I chose to ignore them. As I knew there were still Impala in the area, well my patience paid off. A lone Impala male came walking down the road towards the dam; I kept wishing him to come to this side of the dam which meant an easy 15m shot. Well he must have been listening to me because here he came, 15m from me he stopped and turned his head to look around. I drew my DXT put the pin on him, but before I could do anything he started walking. Well he kept walking past me until he was out of sight (once I’ve drawn the bow I can’t move my position) As I released a herd of Impala females came running in, well this male had seen them coming. It’s rutting season so of he goes around the dam to them, well by now I have a bunch of Warthogs, Impala ewes and a couple of Kudu cows all closing in. Next thing I hear is an Impala male barking, and this mature male comes charging at this intruder to his harem. My heart sank again as I watched them run off about 60m, luckily for me the herd ram came wandering back. I sat quietly watching for an opportunity to draw, as by now I had about 30 pairs of eyes and ears all on the lookout for trouble. I had a small window of opportunity to draw when a Warthog splashed in the water and they all looked in his direction. The pin just seemed to draw it’s self towards a point on the heart just above the leg bone, everything felt right. I fired and watched my arrow track straight, perfect heart shot at 35m. Well I really had a case of buck fever after all that excitement just couldn’t stop shaking, but I must say WHAT AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE. We booked a trip at Zeekoepan for the end of August, after our other bow outfitter fell through. I can’t wait to get there and try again; bow hunting in Africa is a truly wonderful experience. I was on a course with our local Mathews importer and John DuMars from Mathews the day before we left to go hunting, he was telling me how much more forward our animals vitals sit. Here is a picture of an Impala’s vitals so you can compare. Makes sense to me now, as when I watch hunting videos of Whitetails. I keep thinking the shots are too far back. You just assume it’s all in the same place, not that I can afford to come Whitetail hunting though.
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Dogger
Optics Jedi Master Joined: January/02/2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 8916 |
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Very nice Chris, congratulations! That is a great start for sure, good looking horns.
What type of broadhead were you using.
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God save the Empire!
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300S&W
Optics God Joined: January/27/2008 Location: Burlington,WV Status: Offline Points: 10592 |
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VERY GOOD way to start out!!!!!!!
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"I ain't got time to bleed!"
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helo18
Optics Jedi Knight Joined: December/02/2006 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 5620 |
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Very nice animal!
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To be prepared for War is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.
GEORGE WASHINGTON |
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Glock
Optics Master Joined: November/06/2005 Location: South Africa Status: Offline Points: 1430 |
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Hi Dogger the arrow is a Carbon Express Rebel Hunter and the broadhead is a NAP Razorcap 125gr, total weight is 528gr. That hole is the entry wound.
Regards Chris
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Dogger
Optics Jedi Master Joined: January/02/2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 8916 |
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I thought that was a bodkin style head. My son-in-law uses a similar 125 grain broadhead made by Snuffer. Very effective head and flies true.
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God save the Empire!
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SD Dog
Optics Master Extraordinaire OT Scratching Post Joined: February/28/2008 Status: Offline Points: 4177 |
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That's great Chris!!
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If nobody ever said anything unless he knew what he was talking about, a ghastly hush would descend upon the earth. AP Herbert
Stupidity & ignorance have been the foundation for many certainties. |
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Ick
Optics Professional ICK, Ed's BOY Joined: October/08/2008 Location: Pennsylvania Status: Offline Points: 817 |
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That is great!
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Ick, Ed's boy,www.ick.bz |
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mike650
Optics God Joined: May/14/2006 Location: West of Rockies Status: Offline Points: 14569 |
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Very nice!!! |
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“A hunt based only on trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.” – Fred Bear
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Glock
Optics Master Joined: November/06/2005 Location: South Africa Status: Offline Points: 1430 |
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Thanks Guys, must honestly say i didnt think i'd like bow hunting. But I'm definately hooked
Regards Chris
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300S&W
Optics God Joined: January/27/2008 Location: Burlington,WV Status: Offline Points: 10592 |
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For me,there's not much that compares to sitting in a treestand from dark to dark in bow season.
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"I ain't got time to bleed!"
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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Good job, Chris!
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Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
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tahqua
MODERATOR Have You Driven A Ford Lately? Joined: March/27/2006 Location: Michigan, USA Status: Offline Points: 9043 |
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That's a fine write up and great picture.
Thanks Chris, and congratulations. |
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Glock
Optics Master Joined: November/06/2005 Location: South Africa Status: Offline Points: 1430 |
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Thanks Tahqua appreciate it.
Regards Chris
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mwyates
Optics Master Joined: June/15/2004 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 1196 |
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I bow hunted several years before I had any success. The more you do it, the more you'll like it. Only thing is it takes a lot of the fun out of rifle hunting. Too easy
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No man on his deathbed ever said "I wish I'd made more money".
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Glock
Optics Master Joined: November/06/2005 Location: South Africa Status: Offline Points: 1430 |
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Must agree Mwyates, after my experience with a bow i think rifle hunting is to easy as well.
Regards Chris
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pyro6999
Optics Retard OT TITAN Joined: December/22/2006 Location: North Dakota Status: Offline Points: 22034 |
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the only thing i hate about bow hunting is the fact that you cant automatically shoot an animal, just because you can see it.
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They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead" 343 we will never forget God Bless Chris Ledoux "good ride cowboy" |
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Dogger
Optics Jedi Master Joined: January/02/2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 8916 |
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That's what bow hunters love though; stalking and hunting become much more important.
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God save the Empire!
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pyro6999
Optics Retard OT TITAN Joined: December/22/2006 Location: North Dakota Status: Offline Points: 22034 |
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i hunt out of a fixed stand, so i dont rely on stalking, so its tough. when i see a deer it may be 60 yards away and i cant shoot it, and it may take an hour before the deer walks into a shooting alley.
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They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead" 343 we will never forget God Bless Chris Ledoux "good ride cowboy" |
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300S&W
Optics God Joined: January/27/2008 Location: Burlington,WV Status: Offline Points: 10592 |
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That's where a mobile stand comes in handy. Sometimes ya gotta fine tune your position.
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"I ain't got time to bleed!"
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