Tickets Purchased Trip is On!

[Bowwild]

A life-long bowhunting dream is about to come true.  Yesterday my son and I purchased tickets on South African Airlines.  We are going to South Africa.  

We are both going to start the trip with 3 days of "work" and then on to our hunting area for 6-7 days of bow hunting.

We are hoping for: warthog, impala, blue wildebeest, and Kudu. If a zebra provides a shot we'll try that as well.  We'll end the trip with 1-2 days touring Kruger National Park with the PH, a friend of ours.

This will be our first hunt outside North America.  It will be the first hunt with my son for something other than white-tail deer since he was 13 on a mule deer bowhunt in Wyoming 20 years ago!

Now I have to decide what recurve I'm taking. My best shooter is a new Habu. However, my most bullet-proof bow and a good shooter is my metal-riser Stick by Tim Strickland.

[tradtusker]

Awesome, I hope it will be a trip of a lifetime for you both.

Take both bows it will not hurt to have a spare.

Take good bino's and camera's for the kruger park. Oh ya and if time allows try do guided walk while you are in the park.

make sure to do a few days hunting walk and stalk and really get a feel for hunting that bush, and a taste for how wired up those animals are.

i have a few shot placement pics if you guys want a little look at those? good to have in the back of the mind.

jump on Amazon and see if you can pick up a book called "signs of the wild" by clive walker and that will get you familiar with some of the animals out there

[coaster500]

Congrats!!!  

When are you going? I'll be there in May and yes it is a hunt of a life time for me also    

What a great trip to share with your son, great!!

[Bowwild]

We leave July 31 and begin hunting on August 5th.

I'll check out that book. I've also been advised to buy a mini-book about shot placement sold at Midway USA.

My only concern about taking the Habu are the baggage handlers. I fly a lot and have never had anything damaged but I've never flown to Africa nor have I flown with my takedown bows.

I do want to get out of the blind and hunt some that's for sure.

Even though I'll do a lot of practice at 30 yards and I shoot whitetails at 20 and under, folks have recommended I try to keep my shots at 15 yards and under to counter some of the string "jumping" tendencies of these animals.

I'm a retired willdife biologist and I'm eager to see all the new kinds of wildlife. No starlings, robins, chickadees, or blue jays on this hunt!  My son just bought a new camera two days ago especially for the trip.

I'm planning on building a blind here at home to simulate the shooting I'll be facing there.

[coaster500]

I sent you a PM ...  good books and info

[ScottL]

congrats on the trip. Can't wait to hear the stories when you get back.

[jeanpaul3006]

Go to africanhunting.com , they have  vital pics for african game. I'll be there in august as well, congrats and enjoy the experience .

[Bowwild]

Thanks guys. I just ordered two of the mini-books "Perfect Shots". I'm also ordering some posters Kip referred me too.  I'll check out that website as well jeanpaul.

Good luck to you folks that are going as well.

[187BOWHUNTER]

good luck, have a great time !

[TURKEYFOOTGIRL]

Bad move!  My wife and I went last year and all we can do is talk about goin back.  It is addicting, so many critters so little time.   Good luck

[Ragin Bull]

Bought our tickets today. We leave July 29th.

Lots to do between now and then but it is getting exciting.

[TheBow_Hunter]

Good Luck Bud  You gonna enjoy every minute of it.
I am a South African Bow Hunter who is fortunate enough to be able to hunt 3 - 4 times a month. A couple of tips that may /may not help !
1. Practice shooting out of a darkened area / room, thru a 12" slit - preferably with a facemask on - most of our blinds have shooting slits this wide. Sounds easy, but a first timer to Africa( with Buck Fever !! ) when faced with a herd of Wildebeest 20 yds away, can find this somewhat disconcerting !
2. Practice CONSISTENTLY over 20 yds - most shots you are going to take will generally be 20 yds or less.
3. Shot placement _ ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL - Most American hunters to our shores tend to shoot too far back, as North American Game tends to have the vitals further back than SA Plains Game.
4. The Rule of thumb ( when in doubt ) -
: Side on shots - draw a line STRAIGHT UP THE FRONT LEG - 1/3 up the body, and plant your arrow there. Double lung shot - guarenteed ! any further back will get you a gut shot - and a long day ahead tracking a wounded animal.
Quartering away shots : Just behind the shoulder whilst aiming for the OPPOSITE LEG. This will give you the same result.
Dont ever try a quartering on shot - no matter how tempting - almost certain to give zero penetration due to extensive bone structure.
5. Ensure your B/H are RAZOR sharp ! Dont know what draw / weight ure shooting, but stick with a good FOC and a well weighted cut on contact BH.
6. last but not least - enjoy your visit to our shores ! - youre going to love it !
If you need any further assistance, dont hesitate to drop me a line !
Good Luck !

[Ragin Bull]

Thanks for the advice Sean.  Will do.

I'm shooting heavy G.T. arrows with a 100 grain insert plus a brass weight, Grizzly El Grande 160's (the originals) Sharped scary sharp by Ron at KME himself. I think it will be a deadly combo.

Where abouts are you in S.A. I always enjoy meeting new tradgangers.

I see you are new here.....WELCOME! You will find this is a great place to be.

[straitera]

Double cool RG! Take both bows. Get plenty photos. Have fun & enjoy yourself!

[Bear Heart]

I am going to pick up that clive walker book.  Can't wait for this hunt to be posted in pics.

[KentuckyTJ]

Awesome!!!

[Coldfingers]

My son and I are headed that way the first of August. I can still hardly believe it.

I hope when it is all said and done that I can make my boy proud    

I worry and fret but figgure that after I get there I will settle down a bit.

My best to you and your son. What a gift eh!

[Bowwild]

Scotty,
Good luck to you and your son as well!

[Friend]

Sounds like a spectacular adventure.

[Friend]

Bowwild - Just food for thought

You may wish to consider shipping one complete set-up to your final destination and target delivery approximately 7 days before your arrival.

The 2nd complete set-up could travel with you.