I always admired Kelly. He was very open about his relationship with Jesus Christ, his Lord and Savior. He openly shared his family with Bowsiters- the trials and tribulations as well as the triumphs. He was passionate about his hunting. He loved hunting with his family members and friends. He had a great heart and was always willing to share his hunting camp, his time and his financial resources with those who were less fortunate.
His passing left a void on Bowsite. I always looked forward to his annual November “Most Exciting Two Weeks” adventures and his encounters with “114’” bucks. Someone on Bowsite mentioned/suggested about remembering Kelly this year with our hunts. I just recently returned from a hunt with Limcroma Safaris. I made a decision to dedicate the hunt to my fellow bow hunter of kindred spirit, Kelly Harris.
Limcroma Safaris is a top shelf, professional operation in every respect. I acquired this hunt by winning the auction bid at the 2018 Mississippi SCI Awards Banquet. The more I hunt African plains game, the shorter my “hit list” gets and the harder the hunt because it means I am seeking only mature animals that I have either not taken or want to improve on quality. For those who have hunted at Limcroma Safaris, my PH was Ivan Dander Nerwe. Ivan wears his job title well as he is both professional and a hunter. I think he has great potential of becoming one of the premier African PH’s of the future.
During my hunt I saw great “shooter” quality animals- impala, warthog, kudu, eland, blue wildebeest, sable antelope, blesbok and baboon. I was fortunate to kill three animals, take a cull animal, missed a shot opportunity on a baboon and lost two super nice impalas in the bush after tracking was no longer possible. Hopefully, those animals’ carcasses will soon be recovered and can be sent to the taxidermist for processing.
My equipment for this hunt was a 2018 Elite Ritual bow (52# @ 28 ½”), Easton Axis shafts tipped with either VPA or Woodsmen Elite BH’s. Total arrow weight was 507 grains. Arrow speed was 219 fps. My set up totally penetrated every animal, except the sable. I buried the arrow to the fletching on that animal. My shot/recovery distances were respectively: blesbok 21/29 yds.; sable antelope 19/176 yds.; blue wildebeest 21/32 yds.; and cull impala 20/29 yds. Overall, I was pleased with the performance of my equipment.
Thank you for your tribute to Kelly. I'm sure Kelly, would have been moved and touched by your dedication of this hunt to him and as a kindred spirit.
Kelly, certainly loved his family, God, hunting, and helping people. As Kelly, moved closer and closer to God, it gave him an inner peace. I believe it was God, who gave us this special man to enjoy and share in our live's if only for a few short years before taking him home.
The family is still struggling with his passing as he is deeply missed and so loved.
To all Bowsiter's,
On behalf of the entire Kelly Harris Family,
Thank you for your tribute's and for remembering Kelly, and his "114"
Don Harris, Pops, to Kelly.
Congrats on some amazing animals too! Impressive trophy quality all around. I hope they find your unrecovered impalas.
This will be the first time in over the last I don't know how many season I will not get my pics from Ohio deer stands, bucks looking up at Kelly, the story of how he blew it, My favorite was I sent him a text after seeing a great deer in wis on public land, he text me back, that he forgot to turn the sound off on his phone and my text scared off a 140 ish class buck that was coming to him. I was like shit man I am sorry, he just said not what I am looking for anyway, but I will check the ring on the phone from now on.
