Trad Gang
Main Boards => The Dark Continent => Topic started by: Lonesome Wind on August 18, 2008, 05:26:00 PM
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Leaving Fri for my first trip to mother Africa. For you guys that have been there whats the one odd item that you wish you would have brought or the one "regular" item that just used-up space in your luggage?
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BRETTO!! just kidding, hope You have the time of Your life.
How was the shoot last weekend? had everything packed to go but My plans got changed last minute. Always a great shoot. See You next year.
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A cushion for the chair in the blinds would've been nice.
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Shoot went well, hard to concentrait on the shoot with this trip so close. We had great weather and pretty good attendance, auction did well. Hope to see you next year!
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Hi Vince, good luck for your trip. I tend to take too many clothes, but what you need to take is camera batteries and a notebook. Journals are a good way of keeping track of what you did each day because hundreds of photos will need captions! Reference books are handy but your guide might have some. Enjoy, we are having a phase of cloud and damp air circulating over NE South Africa. A spring system. Day temps are down to mid teens (celcius) but when the sun comes back it will warm up.
chrisg
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Thanks Chris. I've got my journal packed and I bought "The Perfect Shot" book. Not a whole lot of plains game in it though.
I've got two camera batteries, one regular and one extended life.
A wool shirt wouldn't be a bad idea?
A friend of mine hunted with Marco in July and he took a 56" Kudu, what a beautiful creature!
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Originally posted by Lonesome Wind:
Thanks Chris. I've got my journal packed and I bought "The Perfect Shot" book. Not a whole lot of plains game in it though.
I have posted this in the shot placement topic. This is the best guide I have found on African game.
http://www.kznhunters.co.za/site/PropertyCatalogue.asp?Cat=206
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I packed too many clothes, most just stayed in my bag; daily laundry service is pretty common, though they won't be using scent-free soap. Also, forget a lot of the extra pieces of equipment and bric-a-brac you would normally take on a guided hunt, like the extra knife (a Leatherman tool is more appropriate, as you won't be doing any of the knife work!), 2nd flashlight, GPS, etc. Make sure you have a pair of binoculars and a reliable camera. I took too many books and wildlife guides that I never even cracked open (just extra weight). Needn't get fancy with your boots either, a good pair of mid hikers are perfect. Save that extra space in your luggage for souvenirs. Don't go crazy with heavy clothing, just a good vest or warm fleece jacket and cap for the mornings and evenings. I dressed in light insulated underwear (top and bottom) each day, with a light pair of camo pants and shirt over them. This was fine for trips to and from the blind and in the blind, but very warm in the mid-day sun, which is very intense. Also, bugs were non existent in the Norwthwest Province a month ago (except for ticks in the grass, which you'll probably spend very little or no time in if your blind hunting). I was in a blind all day except to retrieve animals, so the sunscreen I carted over (that everyone said I'd need) was a waste of needed space and luggage weight. Most of all, have fun - it's the most rewarding hunting experience you probably will ever have!
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I word of advice on shot placement - stay below the horizontal midline on wildebeest, or you'll be sorry, no matter what broadhead you're using!!!!
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Thanks Jeff & Storm,
I've already overpacked! Good to hear about the bugs. I'll check out the shot placement guide you sent Storm.
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Good advice there, I would take a wool shirt alternatively just remember the 'light' jacket needs to be wind proof if your are going to be doing any riding in the back of a vehicle in the dawn air,it's mighty chilly.Jeff is right, middle of the day is hot. A big kudu is one of those 'apparitions'! They appear out of the bush like smoke and are so big, gets your adrenaline going nicely! Yup the wildebeest, he's a tough customer. On our recent hunt our group took 3, all double lung, and lost one quartering away only took one lung and in spite of LOTS of blood they never found it. Remember, the heart lies a little further back than the other plains game and the spine dips far down near midline. Marco knows his stuff, you will have a ball. If you like stars once this cloud clears it will be amazing. Friday is forecast to be clear.
chrisg
chrisg
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Love stars Chris. I'm really looking forward to this trip.
How big are the wildebeest? Kinda got my heart set on gemsbok and kudu but a wildebeest might be interesting.
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Hey! Vince, Watchout for those long legged zebras. Marco might have a CD for me, if you could bring it back. Have a great trip and say HI to Gerhart for me. Ken
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Male wildebeest range from 400-600lb and stand 4'6" -5' at the shoulder. Females up 500lb. A cornered blue wilde is not a nice person, blue wildebeest are also known as the 'poor man's buffalo' for good reason.
Of course a chance at a good kudu or gemsbok should not be missed, the gemsbok is another great animal and just as tough as the wilde! Take heavy arrows! Enjoy the stars.
chrisg
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I'm shootin 620gr footed ash and adding 370gr of broadhead to it. I'm good out to 20yds after that the 61lb bow has alot of drop!
What's the deal with warthogs? Everyone I've talked to talks about how many are lost, just that tough? Their kill zone doesn't look abnormally small, straight up the front leg low in the chest right?
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I've only shot one, but he went 200 yards bleeding (pardon the pun) like a stuck pig. Hit him low, just behind the elbow, from an elevated blind. Turned out to be a double-lung shot. Kill zone is probably that of a small whitetail doe. I found, on 3 of my 4 animals (4th was a higher double-lung shot on an nyala), that you can kill them very fast hitting them low (lower than I would shoot a deer), hitting lung and/or heart. Lower and further forward (not much though)is better than high on most African plains game. My arrows were 725-gr footed hexpine shafts with Wensel Woodsman BHs, shot out of a 66# Schafer Silvertip recurve. All shots were 15-21 yards.
(http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j166/jtsample/Hunt%20Album/Africa/Warthog.jpg)
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That's a great warthog Jeff! Hope I can do as well as you did.
That's where I've been practicing, low & forward.
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Iin truth I wasn't actually aiming there on my impala, warthog and kudu (but about 3" higher), but it's nice to know that you can come out on top if you hit low. Have a great trip!
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My dad always said he'd rather be lucky than good!
Thanks Jeff
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Warthogs have the fastest reflexes imaginable. That is why so many are lost, you don't hit them where you aimed if they hear or see anything. Their kill area is small and forward. I have a close friend who has shot well over a hundred (seriously!) He was a farm manager and they wrecked the irrigation systems so he w&s them with a compound. He once shot a quartering towards pig but when he slaughtered it out the arrow was inside, facing the wrong end! Hit right they run like fury and can cover 200 yds in their death run.
chrisg
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I certainly second the bit about their reflexes!!! Mine actually was pretty calm and the only one I saw that drank at a site at the waterhole closest to the blind, and one of the few that drank broadside instead of facing the blind. After the hit, a complete pass through, he was completely gone in a split second. It all happened so fast I actually thought I had shot under him, with all the noise of the arrow hitting dirt and rock, but the blood-covered arrow laying on the ground said otherwise!
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A good sign! This is how the arrow landed, about 4 feet beind where he had been standing.
(http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j166/jtsample/Hunt%20Album/Africa/IMG_0116-1.jpg)
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You guys are getting me all pumped-up! 2 days & I'll be there. My longbow is reeeaaal quiet, better be with those arrows. Anything I can take with equipment I made will be an absolute thrill.
Chris, are you anywhere near where I'll be?
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Jeff, what was the elevated stand like? Should I take a harness? I know Marco has treestand locations but I don't know what the stands consist of.
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No. There was a tree stand or two at Melorani Safaris where I hunted, but most of the elevated stands were grass houses, for lack of a better description, big enough to live in (about 8'x6'), with several shooting holes.
Worst part will be after you return - you'll know what a drug addict goes through during withdrawal;>)
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Hi Jeff, that is very good sign! Just have to find the pig now...!
Melorani is fabulous, nice rugged country out there, cold in the winter.
Vince, I am in JHB, your flight lands here but Marco is 300km north of here, nice and clean and unpolluted! I doubt you will need a harness, unless Marco has a pure treestand not an elevated blind, ask him. Your arrow weight will be fine, beware of trajectory fade on longer shots.
Ask Marco about his neighbour Henk, the man is a master bowyer, and an incredible shot. That is where I met Marco -I shot a couple of rounds with him at our trad shoot last year. Marco is not shabby either and shoots an 84#BW with 1000+gr arrows. You will feel right at home out there! You run along now and get some sleep!
chrisg
PS Jeff you thinking of coming back again?
:biglaugh:
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Sleep??? I'll get plenty of sleep when I die. My mind's going a hundered miles an hour thinking of everything I need to do, I get a couple hours a night, I'm used to that. Anxious to meet Henk, always enjoy meeting bowyers, maybe I can learn something.
Chris I'll be in JHB overnight the 23rd, wanna show me some sights?
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Sure I can, my pleasure. I sent you a pm, what time are you in and where are you booked to stay? Oh, right you don't sleep..Ok!
Craft markets, museums, culture, sports, bowshops, malls, restaurants, etc
chrisg
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As soon as possible!!!!!!!!
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Chris, sent you a PM. I'll let you know what time my flight arrives when I get home from work.
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Vince,
One last word of advice: when you're sitting in the blind surrounded by animals, use them to practice, at least mentally, picking a spot. That way, when the one you want to shoot shows up, it will be more second nature. Impala are easy, others not so much. I thought wildebeest and warthogs were tough to find a good spot to concentrate on. The first stripe on a kudu, if it is not too far back, is a good place to start on them.
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Thanks Jeff!
I can use all the advice I can get. I get on the plane tommorow morning, then the dream begins! Hope to come back with some good pics, bought an SLR just for that purpose.
I've been studying pics of plains game visualizing where I'd place an arrow but your idea should help alot, thanks again! :pray:
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Vince,
One more thing - Don't know if any one told you, but it's a very good idea to call the customer service number on the backs of the credit cards you plan to use in SA and file a "foreign travel alert". Otherwise, the first time you use it in South Africa they may put a hold on the account, and you'll be screwed unless they are able to contact you to confirm that the charge is legit. It only takes a few minutes.
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Thanks Jeff. Haven't done that.
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Hey Jeff, look forward to meeting you someday. The bush is a real treat, I have been blessed to have worked there, shot birds growing up as a kid all around here but the bushveld just gets into your blood. Thinking a little of your shot description on the pig, my mate Stan, the 'vark slagter' "Pig slaughterer" (gets lost in translation, I know) said that place is where a pig 'pump himself dry' just above the elbow. You get ten points mate! Nice pig too.
chrisg
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It was quite a blood trail! I'm hoping to return in 2011.
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Does anyone know when Vince will be home?
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The blinds were very chilly and I was glad for a lot of layers and my long underwear.
Cushion to sit on
Scent free laundry soap!!!!!!!!!!
Very soft soled shoes or maybe a piece of rug or thick cloth to stand on so the crunch of shoe on crunchy dirt is muffled.