On our last day hunting we went to an area hoping for Zebra as the zebra continued to allude me. It was nearly 100 that day. Most of the other days were in the 80s. After nearly 8 hours in the sweat lodge, a heard of impala came to drink. Earlier in the week I had passed up some 22 yard shots on nice impala rams because I had watched them jump the string on my friends who were shooting those other bows at just over 25 yards resulting in a wounded ram. I vowed to leave without an impala before shooting at one at 20 yards and risking wounding him. Well, my patience paid off as the lone ram in the group that came in on the final day gave me a quartering away shot at about 15 yards. As I said above, I missed him forward but the arrow broke the front shoulder and must have cut the front of the heart. He bled well but it took him awhile to expire. I had to shoot him again at close range once we found him.  He turned out to be a very old ram with brushed off tips. I felt a little bittersweet as we loaded him into the truck as I knew that was most likely my final animal in Africa . . . at least on that trip!!!

 

Here is a pic of our tracker Jennings tracking my impala. Jennings was truly a remarkable tracker and an inspiring person. He has a remarkable story which I will not post here out of respect for his privacy but suffice it to say Jennings was an extremely hard worker with a remarkably positive outlook on everything. His laughter was contagious and inspiring. Every time I recall our days, it makes me laugh and brightens my day. I left Africa with a new friendship with many folks but particularly with Jennings and my PH Jan. They truly made those long days in the blind far more enjoyable. I hope to return to hunt with them again.

The stars in Africa are remarkable. Im no astronomer but someone told me that many (if not all) of the stars and constellations are stars we don't normally see here in the north.

well I am ready to grab my bow and go African game huntin' after this post thanks for the awesome photos and stories! Can't wait for the day when I can go there hunting....

Awesome recap..thanks for the pics!

What an awesome trip. Great pictures and enjoyed reading about your adventure.

out standing

Wow Goke!!! Awesome is all I can say!!!

What a trip! That buff is reminiscent of the Robert Ruark quote "He looks at you like you owe him money".
Thanks for sharing a great adventure.

man that looks like an amazing trip

Great pics .. thanks for sharing

Thank you very much for providing the information on your equipment. What a hunt!......one day....one day, I will be there. Thanks again.

Looks like the hunt of a lifetime! Congratulations and thanks for sharing.

A great hunt for sure. Makes me miss Africa in a bad way.

Thanks for sharing the hunt.

What a great hunt and beautiful photos! Great story as well.  Congratulations and I look forward to going there myself, what an adventure!

Heck of a trip. Thanks for posting the pictures and the story, I really enjoyed reading it.

Wow!
Funny thing is my wife and I are planning an Africa hunting/photo safari trip for my 40th birthday.  8 years to go.

Outstanding !!!!

Thanks for sharing, I can't wait to go someday.

Wow!! Great hunt. Thanks for posting. You are getting me pumped for my first trip there next July.

Nice.  Thanks for taking us along.  Congrats on a such a rewardng trip.