anyone bow hunt africa
 

Ill be going to africa next summer and was woundering what you guys thought about arrow/broadhead selection.I currently shoota 07 gaurdian at 65lbs,28.5 draw length,beaman realtree mfx cut at 29.5 with 100gr montecs.I am planning on shootinggemsbuck,kudu,eland,maybe wildebeast and a few smaller animals.do you think I should try to shoot a heavier arrow,or just a heavier broadhead?

RE: anyone bow hunt africa
 

PM Iamyourhuckleberry... Im sure he will have a lot of good information for you

RE: anyone bow hunt africa
 

You're going after some big tuff animals there, and I would say your equipment is adequate witha proper shot. I would say your poundage is a liitle on the light side. If you can get it up btween now and then, I would. If you keep the equipement the same, do not take any shot on these large animals unless you are 100% broadside. Also, keep your shoots under thirty yards. Of the four animals you have mentioned, the eland concerns me the most. Eland are enornous! They have heavy bones and muscles protecting their vitals. I doubt your gear will product a pass through-so don't expect it to happen. Take your shot with maximum penetration in mind (i.e totally broadside).

You are going a long way and, in light of the fact that it costs do-ray-me if you draw one drop ofblood,take the time to test several broadheads, arrows, draw weights, etc before you go. I watched a friend shoot a kudu from twenty yards. The beast was was less than 20 yards and slightly quartering away. His arrow entered six inches behind the bull's shoulder. The arrow's course should have had the shaft exiting in front of the off shoulder. His light arrow was deflected backwards. It exited actually behind the entrance hole. Lucky, he caught the bull's liver. I guess what I'm saying is a light arrow coming from a light weight bow might be a bad thing... If you can get both bow weightand arrow mass up, I would.

Are you going in 2009 or 2010? Where are you going?

RE: anyone bow hunt africa
 

I basically shot an identical set-up 3 years ago in SA. Every shot was under 25 yards, and every arrow was covered in red and stuck firmly into the ground 10 yards past the point of impact.

RE: anyone bow hunt africa
 

we will be going in 2010,we will be in the limpopo provence(near botswana)


mark

RE: anyone bow hunt africa
 

Thanks Jake, I really do thinkPure's bow is adequateunder certain conditions. Could you elaborate a little on your shots and animals. When you shot , for example, how were the animals positioned?

I've shot two kudus now with a 76 and 78pound bow. The first bull was exactly 30 yards and slighly quartering (nearly broadside). The second was 26 yards and completely broadside. Neither arrow completely passed through though. On my two gemsbuck, one arrow passed through, the second didn't-one was shot at 27 yards, the other was from 15 yards. I did not get a pass through on my wildebeast nor my eland. Botheland and wildebeastwere standing broadside at 40 yards, and I was using my 78 pound Stingray. Every shotwent through the ribcage and no large bones were struck. I had absolutely no problems on the impala/springbok size game. I was shooting a 440 grain arrow tip with a mechanical broadhead.

RE: anyone bow hunt africa
 

Mark, when and with whom? I will be there in 2010 as well. Have you booked with an outfitter?

RE: anyone bow hunt africa
 

Heck, with animals that big the ribs ARE big bones.:D

RE: anyone bow hunt africa
 

we will be with eland safaris in august(13-23)

RE: anyone bow hunt africa
 

My experience: Waterbuck; 22yards, slightly quartering towards me. Warthog; 13 yards, broadside. Blue Wildebeest; 23 yards, slightly quartering away. (All pass throughs; 63lb, 29.5in. arrow, 100gr. Montecs)

Dad's experience: 500lb Lioness; 36 yards quartering away. Kudu; 15 yards quartering away. Impala; 20 yards broadside. (All pass throughs; 70lb, 28.5in. arrow, 100 gr. Montecs.)

RE: anyone bow hunt africa
 

Seems like those close range slight quartering or broadside shots on large animalsare the ticket then...Thanks for taking the time Jake. Mark, endeavor to shoot them close and as broadside as possible. If you canhandleany extra weight, it isn't going to hurt...

RE: anyone bow hunt africa
 

Thats fair to say Will, provided its accompanied with proper shot placement. With that said...Pureadrenaline, If theres one thing that you should really be obsessing over, it should be shot placement. The vitals are further into the chest cavity than that of a whitetail or elk. I admit I nearly messed up a shot on my warthog, when i got to full draw i went into "auto-pilot" andsettled my pin3 inches behind the crease of the pig. Luckily I snapped out of it and put my top pin right on the "vital V" and made a perfect shot. I recomend practicing on a backyard 3-D deer target. Really beat it in your brain that you need to go straight up the middle of the leg (on a broadside shot).

RE: anyone bow hunt africa
 

Another excellent observation, thanks for throwing that out Jake! There's a photobook available and I believe it's called, "Perfect Shot". It's a handy reference for shot placement.

Mark, keep in mind that an eland has nearly 2.5 times the body mass of a kudu. Bust him when he's completely broadside to ensure the maximum penetration.

RE: anyone bow hunt africa
 

I will suggest a min. of 700gr arrow with the FOC above 20% with a 2 blade single bevel head.

Yes your bow is going to be slower but it is going to have a lot more momentium and hitting power.;)

RE: anyone bow hunt africa
 

thanks to everyone for the advice.I am trying to gather all the info I can,so if any one has any tips at all I will take them.I know that like any thing to do with bow hunting -you will get many different ways to do the same thing,but this is probably a once in a life time trip(I knowww --once you go you cant wait to get back).For those of you that do alot of traveling,what kind of bo case should I get?that is along way to go just to find that my bow was damaged,I want to be sure to get the best I can-- thanks again!!

mark

RE: anyone bow hunt africa
 

I would strongly advise gettingthe SKB Rectangle bow case. It's pricey ($230), but for what your doingI wouldn't skimp. I believe it's honestly the very best bow case out there. Super well made, very secure, and has plenty of extra room in it to put other items. I would pack some of your extra clothes all around your bowjust for the added security. It comes with a no bow damageguarantee. They insure your bow against damage.
The only issue would be that you're probably going to want to bring a back up bow for your trip of a lifetime to Africa. So you'll have to take it from there.:D

RE: anyone bow hunt africa
 

Mark,

Yes, SKB all the way. I travel with a SKB dble bow case, I usually take two bows. Make sure you take the sights off each bow and carry them in with your carry-on. Baggage guys have a way of tearing up sights. I use bow slings to protect my strings-I have two onwhile the bowsare in the case. I also use a plastic arrow case to transport my arrows/broadheads. The arrow case fits nicely in the skb case. You are not going to need a whole lot of hunting clothes-they do your laundry daily. Three changes of clothes (one for travel, two for hunting) will suffice. It's dry in Limpopo, so one pair of ankleheightboots is plenty (Crocs are great on the plane and for around camp). Warm jacket is a must. It's cold in the mornings. A stocking cap and light weight gloves help. If you can find a single detachable quiver with brackets to work on both bows, it saves room. You'll need a camera, binocs, rangefinder...The thing to rememeber, you do not need a whole lot of stuff. Your PH and the outfitter will have nearly everything as far as the hunting goes.

Takesome candy...wins favors with the help and is great when your throat is dry in the blind

For international flights, you get two 50 pound bags as your luggage allotment, plus a carry-on

I can help you get a SKB case at cost....PM me.

One last piece of advice: go to Africa with an open mind and with zero expectations! You'll have more fun when you are capable of adapting to the present conditions verses those you pre-conceived. Don't let your undies get balled up for any reason-it's hunting for goodness sake. Stay positive and listen to your PH-don't shoot the very first thing you see, your PH will tell you what's good or not-listen.

RE: anyone bow hunt africa
 

I'll second that.Don't even bother making a "hit-list" of animals you want to take.I can remember sitting on the plane looking at pictures of Blue Wildebeest thinking why anyone would wantone of those ugly things on their walls...Then sureenough, three days later I'm releasing an arrow on a big bull. :DThe beauty of the animals there wont hit you until your actually sitting there looking at them.

RE: anyone bow hunt africa
 

Just an observation but cut on contact broad heads instead of mechanicals and a heavier arrow and your going to have better penetration. You kind of proved that or so it seems. Even with 78 lbs a mecheanical strips energy from the arrow to open it. Rage BH are the best I have seen but still take energy to open. Cut on contact take no energy to open. And a heavier arrow takes more to slow down.

Sure it won't shoot as flat out at farther range but you'll probably have a rangefinder and have practiced up for that kind of trip. So what are the downsides of uping the arrow weight and going to a cut on contact?

RE: anyone bow hunt africa
 

I was Namibia a few years back in 05' hunting with a gun. It was amazing experience I'll never forget! I would like to say I bought a pair of hiking/hunting boots for this trip. The soles were all thick tread! While there in Namibia and putting a stalk on a Kudu, the boots because of the soles were very loud on the terrain! I recommend a smooth bottom sole on you boot! Good luck!

RE: anyone bow hunt africa
 

Jason,

I hear what you're saying. I'll see if I can respond.

First of all, at ranges out to sixty yards, I cannot get the accuracy with fixed blade COC heads like I can with my mechanicals (I used a COC mechanical on a waterbuck. I nearly lost him despite a perfect hit-yes, it was a complete pass thru). For me, accuracy is more important than penetration. I know my bow will send an arrow deep enough if I hit my target in the right spot (it's a confidence thing which comes from shooting a high draw weight bow). In all the cases listed above, my arrow did penetrate both sides of every animal but some, as stated,were not complete pass throughs. I will take this in light of the fact that every animal was hit perfectly and I was shooting a light arrow (I like speed). In 2006, I killed 9 of 17 animals while spot and stalking. In 2008, I killed 8more animals while spot and stalking.The vast majority of the animals killed were shot between 30and 60 yards. Secondly, The animals in Africa, even the large ones, are a lot faster than people give them credit for. Slower arrows, in my opinion, are detrimental. Thus, heavier may not be a good thing, especially when your preferred style of huntingis spot and stalk like mine. Yes, you can get away with more sitting atwaterholes. But who wants to be limited to that? I've attached a video linkof a warthog I shot. The hog was twenty yards away and my bow is shooting 300fps. Watch the arrow (it may take several viewings). The warthog was perfectly broadside to me while I was in a blind over a watering hole. Watch where the arrow exits the pig. That pig spun on a dime! A slower arrow may have produced a gut shot pig...and a huge empty dent in my wallet.

It's is definitely a balancing act! But I will say this, go there with all the confidence in the world in your equipment regardless of what broadhead and arrow weight you select. Take the time to test and re-test your equipment. find what works well for you.My personal preference is fast, flat, and accurate.

http://s277.photobucket.com/albums/kk73/iamyourhuckleberry/?action=view&current=Title4-Chapter6-0.flv

Agreed, soft soles work better.

RE: anyone bow hunt africa
 

As ugly as he was, not that it anything to do with it, he sure moved with a quickness!;):D

RE: anyone bow hunt africa
 

Thanks for the replies,I know that I will have alot more questions but I wanted to get started early.
Will,thank you for you great advise and offers!sounds like you have been there done that --many times!


mark

RE: anyone bow hunt africa
 

IAm-----
Not to take anything away from your shot or anything really, but maybe the reason the warthog moved ws more with noise than anything. As you said, you shoot a light arrow, which, almost always correlates to louder shots. I know I've shot quite a few different arrow weights and I've found that to be true. I have not shot out of a blind either, but it sure seems like that makes the noise louder from the shows that shoot turkeys and such out of one. Nice shot regardless!
Dandbuck

RE: anyone bow hunt africa
 

I think Kangas advise is sound , at the least a heavier arrow and scary sharp fixed head would be great ideas , you are shooting enough bow , no need to up your poundage , but mechanical heads and a lite arrow are nono's