On our way to the airport we got the dreaded airline text!! Your flight has been delayed. I knew that meant we would miss our flight from Newark to Johannesburg and it did. So, United found a route through Amsterdam with Delta. This would only had another 5 hours to our trip. I was relieved because I knew it could've been worse.
We finally arrived in Johannesburg the following day and we're worn smooth out!! Lol
South Africa has issued a curfew from 5am to 9pm due to the increase in covid cases. The outfitter had a driver pick us up and move us to a lodge in Pretoria for the night. In the morning, the outfitter will drive us to the hunting lodge located in the northern part of South Africa.
Also, everyone says it's illegal to even have broadheads in your luggage flying through Amsterdam. You didn't have any problem with them confiscating them from your luggage? Glad you arrived safely, and good luck on your hunt. Thanks for taking us along.
We decided to start the morning off chasing Sable and would try sitting a water hole. One the way to the water hole, we saw 2 Sable bulls. The bigger one was pushing around the smaller bull. The larger bull was a thing of beauty with a jet black coat and sweeping horns. We decided to see if we could get within bow range of him. When we made it to 50 yards, I decided to take the shoot before he decided to run after the other buck. I settled my pin about 5in straight above the leg. Then let the arrow fly. I could see my lighted nock flying towards the bull and hitting my mark. The bull darted off in month dead run into the thick bush but only made it 50 yards before collapsing. I double lung that majestic animal.
Perfect encounter, to start off your first Day!
What a Dandy Sable
Good luck, Robb
We had a wonderful dinner this evening sitting around the fire visiting with friends and hunters.
Today was a rough day to be honest. We sit a waterhole all day and nothing came into feed or water. We did see a few Impala about 150 yards off but they had no interest in joining us for dinner!!
We had another great dinner!!!
Today was a rough day to be honest. We sit a waterhole all day and nothing came into feed or water. We did see a few Impala about 150 yards off but they had no interest in joining us for dinner!!
We had another great dinner!!!
Today was definitely better then yesterday. The PH decided to move locations to a spacious elevated blind over looking a small pond. We had 5 Sable's, 4 Nyala does, Lechwe and a warthog come into thr blind through out the day. It appears the animals are watering at night. This year was really wet and there's still alot of feed left for them to graze on. We did have the opportunity to see a White Rhino. They're an incredible animal and hugh!!
Today, we decided to try a little spot and stalk action due to the lack of water hole activity. We got on a couple groups of springbucks but couldn't close the distance before they spotted us. After, a couple hours we finally closed the gap on a nice buck that was by himself which made all the difference. Like the saying goes, 2 eyes are better then 20. Well, if its not a saying it should be!!
We got lucky on the tracking job and watch the spring buck fall down within sight. We quickly ran over to the springbuck to watch a thing of wonder. When the spring buck dies the white patch on it's back rise up. For everyone that doesn't know what I'm talking about within a couple minutes after a springbuck dies a large white stripe that runs along its lower back stands on end and flares out. It's difficult to describe but it reminds me of a flower quickly opening up and closing back all in a few seconds. As I watched this happened, I thought how beautiful but at the same time had a sense of sadness. It was as if its spirit had departed at that very moment. It was an experience I will not forget.
After, we took the spring buck to the skinning rack we decided to head back out and try and locate a blesbuck. It didn't take us long to locate a herd with a mature buck in the group. We played cat and mouse with with the group for a few hours before getting into bow range. The buck finally presented a slightly hard quartering away shot which I personally do not mind taking. It's a deadly shot when made correctly. The arrow entered near the back ham and ended up near near brisket. The entire arrow from the broadhead to the nock was lodged into the buck. We intensely watch the buck run off for about 70 yards before taking his last few steps.
We decided to hunt a water hole this evening with the hopes of seeing a gemsbuck. However the gemsbuck alluded us but we did see some Sable and Tsessebe. Back at it tomorrow!!!
Today, we decided to try a little spot and stalk action due to the lack of water hole activity. We got on a couple groups of springbucks but couldn't close the distance before they spotted us. After, a couple hours we finally closed the gap on a nice buck that was by himself which made all the difference. Like the saying goes, 2 eyes are better then 20. Well, if its not a saying it should be!!
We got lucky on the tracking job and watch the spring buck fall down within sight. We quickly ran over to the springbuck to watch a thing of wonder. When the spring buck dies the white patch on it's back rise up. For everyone that doesn't know what I'm talking about within a couple minutes after a springbuck dies a large white stripe that runs along its lower back stands on end and flares out. It's difficult to describe but it reminds me of a flower quickly opening up and closing back all in a few seconds. As I watched this happened, I thought how beautiful but at the same time had a sense of sadness. It was as if its spirit had departed at that very moment. It was an experience I will not forget.
After, we took the spring buck to the skinning rack we decided to head back out and try and locate a blesbuck. It didn't take us long to locate a herd with a mature buck in the group. We played cat and mouse with with the group for a few hours before getting into bow range. The buck finally presented a slightly hard quartering away shot which I personally do not mind taking. It's a deadly shot when made correctly. The arrow entered near the back ham and ended up near near brisket. The entire arrow from the broadhead to the nock was lodged into the buck. We intensely watch the buck run off for about 70 yards before taking his last few steps.
We decided to hunt a water hole this evening with the hopes of seeing a gemsbuck. However the gemsbuck alluded us but we did see some Sable and Tsessebe. Back at it tomorrow!!!
When is your daughter on deck and what animal is she in pursuit of?
I didnt get a chance to smell the odor unfortunately. It all happened so quick.
This area had a very wet year and alot of the leaves remain on the tress and graze in the fields. This is cause for the slower then normal water hole activity. We are still seeing animals just not the numbers compared to a normal dry year. The outfitter and guide are doing a great job adjusting to the situation.
We're after a Gumsbuck now and have tried stalking them but it's a large group of 30 plus animals and they stay in the open areas. They have been one of the more difficult animals to stalk. The blesbuck was right there with the gemsbuck but we had fewer eyes so that helped with the stalk. So, we decided to hunt a waterhole today close to where the gemsbuck generally hang out and do another all day hunt.
We started off seeing Sable, Tsessebe and a few Impala does. About an 1 hour into the hunt we see a shooter Impala walking towards us. He stops about 90 yards and gives the blind a good look over. He decides something doesn't look right and turns into the woods to our right. We decide to close all the windows thinking he might have noticed the light from them. About 45 minutes later he suddenly walks out of the brush to our right just 20 yards from our blind. It's finally the perfect setup for Brylee. I slowly open the blind window and get her in position. Now, it's all up to her. She waits for the Impala to get broadside by taking a few more steps. The does caught me opening the window and are staring directly into the blind. The buck gets into a good position, so she pulls back her bow. As, I sat there in complete anguish, I remeber thinking, please make a good shot, please make a good shot, please make a good shot, while I'm watching the buck. Then, I hear her shoot and see the arrow hit the Impala square in the shoulder. The buck jumps 8ft in the air. Then runs 40 yards and stops with its legs shacking it stumbles to the ground. We all got overly excited when we saw the buck go down in front of us. At this point everyone is giving each other fist bumps and yelling with excitement. Brylee's is so excited she is shaking. The thrills of being young!! I cherish these special moments with her and pray they'll last a lifetime. After taking a ton of pictures, we headed to the skinning shed to drop off her Impala.
We decided to take a much needed bathroom break and head back to the blind.
We decided to take a much needed bathroom break and head back to the blind. Through out the day we continued to see animals at the blind. About an hour before dark they really started to pile in. We had 20 Impala, 2 Sable and 4 Tsessebe. Still no gemsbuck, until 30min before sunset. I look up and see a gemsbuck at the waterhole with others behind him. They start piling into the water hole. They kept moving around trying to get a spot to drink. The guide tells me which one to shoot. I slowly pull back my bow and take aim at the shoulder. Then, suddenly it turns away from me. I held back my bow for a good 30sec but felt longer. Finally, the gemsbuck presents a slightly quarting away shot. I place the pin right behind the shoulder so to exit on the opposite shoulder and let it fly. I see the arrow strike the gemsbuck. The gemsbuck takes off at a dead run but we don't see it go down!! We lose sight of the animal. This makes me a little nervous not seeing it go down but I felt confident it was a good shoot but unfortunately I've thought that before. We get out of the blind and begin to track. The trackers follow the trail for roughly 120 yards before finding it laying in grass. What a beautiful animal!!!
Thanks for bringing us along,
Robb
It didn't bother me but they would've preferred you to shoot males.
We decided to set another water hole today to try for my blue wildebeest. In the first hour we saw 3 baboons but they never got into bow range. Later that morning, we had a herd of Impala's come into water with one really good buck. I managed to get my bow pulled back but he moved before I could get a shot off. Later that morning we had a group of Eland and Giraffe come in and spend an hour eating all the feed. Lol An hour before dark, we had a small group of Blue Wildebeest visit us but no shooters in the group. We will try again tomorrow.
The outfitter received some permits for Crocodile last night and asked if I wanted to go after one. He said they have a local river that has a good number of Crocodile that we could go after with my bow. He didn't have to ask me twice!!! They were saying how they have never killed a crocodile with less the 5 arrows. They suggested I place the arrow directly behind the arm. That got me thinking, so I decided to do some research the night on the anatomy of a crocodile. The little info I found suggested the lungs and heart were actually located at least 4in back from the arm and a touch low. I decided to aim for that location instead of behind the shoulder. I let the outfitter know and he said go for it. That morning we headed out looking for a crocodile. We found one around 10am that we thought was 10 1/2 and it was in a good location for a bow. After giving it a little thought I decided to pass the gator. I really wanted one in the 11ft range. I wasn't aiming for thr moon but wanted one at least 11ft. We didn't find another crocodile that day.
The next morning we went back out and located a good crocodile in a very good location. He was sitting on the edge of the water. We slipped into 30 yards and I took aim 4in back from the arm and a touch low. When I release the arrow I knew it was a little lower then I wanted. The crocodile quicly raised its head and arched its back. Then, I saw a pool of blood surround him. He quickly went into the water and disappeared for a few minutes. He quickly resurfaced and slowly went towards the bank about 50 yards from us. He eventually made it to the waters edge with only the top of its body exposed. The guide decided to play the patience game and to wait. We waited and watched the crocc for about 20min. Then he started to move out of the water so that only his belly remained in the water. At this point, the crocc started arching his head and back high into the air. It apeeared to me he was trying to breath. All the sudden he went back into the water and started to slowly roll. We quickly ran to him and placed two more arrows into his body. He slowly sank into the waters edge. He wasn't more then a few feet from the bank. So, the tractors grabbed some rebar hooks and rope to snag the crocodile. It only took a few cast and they had him hooked and on the bank I believe the crocc was actually dieing and only had a few minutes left but better safe then sorry. Thaf was a crazy and exciting experience for my daughter and me!! I will try and post the video when I get back into the states.
When back at the skinning shed and decided to investigate the shot and Antony of my crocc. I was arm deep in the crocc while all the native spinners and trackers where laughing at . I got the insides out of the crocc and located the lungs. The lungs of a crocc look nothing like a mammals. They appear more like a blop of frog eggs. Their longer then tall and shaped like a rectangle. I actually only hit the front part of the lungs. After, taking all this information into account, the lungs of this crocc started 4in back from from leg and ran another 6in. If I ever shoot another crocc I would aim 6in to 7in back from the leg and about and 1 1/2 below the leg.
The outfitter received some permits for Crocodile last night and asked if I wanted to go after one. He said they have a local river that has a good number of Crocodile that we could go after with my bow. He didn't have to ask me twice!!! They were saying how they have never killed a crocodile with less the 5 arrows. They suggested I place the arrow directly behind the arm. That got me thinking, so I decided to do some research the night on the anatomy of a crocodile. The little info I found suggested the lungs and heart were actually located at least 4in back from the arm and a touch low. I decided to aim for that location instead of behind the shoulder. I let the outfitter know and he said go for it. That morning we headed out looking for a crocodile. We found one around 10am that we thought was 10 1/2 and it was in a good location for a bow. After giving it a little thought I decided to pass the gator. I really wanted one in the 11ft range. I wasn't aiming for thr moon but wanted one at least 11ft. We didn't find another crocodile that day.
The next morning we went back out and located a good crocodile in a very good location. He was sitting on the edge of the water. We slipped into 30 yards and I took aim 4in back from the arm and a touch low. When I release the arrow I knew it was a little lower then I wanted. The crocodile quicly raised its head and arched its back. Then, I saw a pool of blood surround him. He quickly went into the water and disappeared for a few minutes. He quickly resurfaced and slowly went towards the bank about 50 yards from us. He eventually made it to the waters edge with only the top of its body exposed. The guide decided to play the patience game and to wait. We waited and watched the crocc for about 20min. Then he started to move out of the water so that only his belly remained in the water. At this point, the crocc started arching his head and back high into the air. It apeeared to me he was trying to breath. All the sudden he went back into the water and started to slowly roll. We quickly ran to him and placed two more arrows into his body. He slowly sank into the waters edge. He wasn't more then a few feet from the bank. So, the tractors grabbed some rebar hooks and rope to snag the crocodile. It only took a few cast and they had him hooked and on the bank I believe the crocc was actually dieing and only had a few minutes left but better safe then sorry. Thaf was a crazy and exciting experience for my daughter and me!! I will try and post the video when I get back into the states.
When back at the skinning shed and decided to investigate the shot and Antony of my crocc. I was arm deep in the crocc while all the native spinners and trackers where laughing at . I got the insides out of the crocc and located the lungs. The lungs of a crocc look nothing like a mammals. They appear more like a blop of frog eggs. Their longer then tall and shaped like a rectangle. I actually only hit the front part of the lungs. After, taking all this information into account, the lungs of this crocc started 4in back from from leg and ran another 6in. If I ever shoot another crocc I would aim 6in to 7in back from the leg and about and 1 1/2 below the leg.
After we had lunch, the guide decided we should try some more spot and stalk on some blue and black wildebeest. Brylee decided she needed a break from the long days hunting over waterholes. We chased some Blue and black wildebeest along with a few blesbuck and this continued until about an hour before dark. Finally we decided to drive to a near by water hole and hunt the last hour of light. Within 10 minutes we had some Nyala females stop by for a drink and about 20mins later we had a heard of copper blesbucks join them. There was a good buck in the group and the copper looked cool. Well, now I have a copper blesbuck. Lol
We decided to wait before getting out of the blind in case something else decided to vist the water. At last light, we see a large Nyala walking towards us. I get very excited by my guides reaction to the size of Nyala. It's very nervous and takes a quick drink but is facing towards me. It quickly turns to walk away but stops at 30 yards to look around the waterhole. That was a mistake!!!
It turned out to be one heck of a day!!!
I have to say the Nyala is the prettiest African animal! That’s a nice one
She was suppose to be with me the evening I shot the Nyala and copper blesbuck but decided to hang out at the lodge. Both of them were within her range and she was up. Ops
She was suppose to be with me the evening I shot the Nyala and copper blesbuck but decided to hang out at the lodge. Both of them were within her range and she was up. Ops
I was very happy to kill an Impala early and get different meat on the table.
Seems to be heating up with the civil unrest
That can be some nasty stuff over there
Praying for your safe travels
Thanks for sharing you and your daughter's great safari with us Bowsiters.
Unfortunately, I didn’t pay close attention to what was what, when we were in SA in ‘15, but every different meat dish we tried was delicious. We had eland, impala, kudu, gemsbok and a couple of species. One night, we had a brie, or bbq, and they cooked lamb chops, cooked over coals. I’m not a big fan of mutton, but these chops were absolutely incredible.
StickFlicker's Link
Anyone have ideas?? Lol
Thanks for the trip Sir !
2nd. What's the normal time frame on getting animals back if your just dipping and packing?
I didn't care for the Golden Wildebeest, so the outfitter traded me a gemsbuck for it.
We never saw a zebra or got a shot at a blue wildebeest so I traded it for a Nyala plus $600.
Extra impala $600 Extra copper blesbuck $600 Extra crocodile $3500 Nyala. $600 Package $3500 Dipping and packing this includes getting them to the airport $2400.
Total $11,200
If you minus the crocodile it would be $7,700
I decided to only mount my daughter's Impala and Nyala in the states . The others I will have tanned and euro in Africa. I talked to other hunters and they normal spend 10k in just taxidermy work. I would rather use that money towards another hunt. Like a Cape Buffalo!! Lol
wildwilderness's Link
Here is the first animal I got- a sable. Hit it a bit back, and not as much penetration as I hoped. Learned first hand how good the native trackers are! its unreal.
Unfortunately we found it the next afternoon and the hide was already slipping. A lot of mass in the horn and black cape.
I hit this one quartering away but the fixed blade deflected off a rib and went along the cage to the sternum without going into the chest. Had to follow this up with a rifle to not loose it too long either.
The shot hit well and passed through. We waited a bit then followed up- jumping the bull! I couldn’t believe it was still alive! Another broadside shot passed through both shoulders. Once again we followed and it was still up! The last arrow severed the heart and it fell.
I am overly impressed how tough these animals are, and the absolutely perfect shot you need to make. Low and forward is where it needs to be!
wildwilderness's Link
