Trad Gang
Main Boards => The Dark Continent => Topic started by: Goke on October 22, 2013, 12:10:00 AM
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Made my first trip to Africa in late Sept and early Oct with four of my lifelong friends and hunting buddies. To say it was fantastic is an understatement. I'm now hooked and cannot wait to return.
We hunted with Limcroma Safaris in South Africa. Hanes and his crew were wonderful in all respects and definitely know how to take care of you. After discussing our shot distance preferences, our PHs worked very hard to put us in setups that afforded shooting at our preferred distances. I ended up taking 5 different animals and a Jackal as a bonus. I'll post some pics as I get them uploaded.
This trip was originally intended as a hunting "retreat" if you will as most of our group turns 40 this year and we wanted something to mark that milestone. Mission accomplished as we not only made many remarkable hunting memories among best friends but I can say with certainty that we all returned to our normal lives with a new found appreciation for the good fortune and opportunity we all have here in the United States. We also returned with that little flicker of a flame in your heart that draws you back to Africa. Everyone asks what exactly it is that is already causing me to obsess and dream about returning. I wished I knew exactly as I can't quite put my finger on it. In many ways its the same urge I have to shoot a trad bow, I can't explain why exactly but its there, its real, and I am drawn to it. Anyway, enough banter about my new found addiction. Now some photos!
This was my first African animal. My best friend was in the blind with me that day and the second image is cut from some video he took of the shot. About 18 yards, quartering slightly away. You can see the arrow buried in his right side. It lodged in the off side shoulder.
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr66/seangoke/DSC03606.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/seangoke/media/DSC03606.jpg.html)
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr66/seangoke/Mobile%20Uploads/image-25.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/seangoke/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image-25.jpg.html)
I'll try to post some more later. Thanks to all here who endured my endless questions before this trip.
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Congrats !!!
Looks like you did well... Africa sure get in the blood :)
:campfire:
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That second picture is amazing. Great blue man.
Congrats and looking forward to more.
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One of our group shot this beast on day 2. Eland is perhaps the best wild game I've ever eaten. Amazing.
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr66/seangoke/Mobile%20Uploads/image-9.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/seangoke/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image-9.jpg.html)
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Prior to heading to Africa I tried to find pictures of the insides of African hides or blinds so I had some idea what they were like. I found very little so I took several "inside the blind" pics which I'll try to post for the benefit of those who are headed to Africa for the first time. I personally had a hard time getting used to shooting out of vertical windows when I'm used to canting my bow to the right some. I found that I was shooting consistently an inch or so left out of the vertical windows.
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr66/seangoke/Mobile%20Uploads/image-28.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/seangoke/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image-28.jpg.html)
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr66/seangoke/Mobile%20Uploads/image-32.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/seangoke/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image-32.jpg.html)
I'll post some more when I get them downloaded.
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Beast is right!!!
Sweet!!!
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Brings back memories! Thanks for sharing!
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Here is a slightly different style blind with only one window. These would only accommodate one hunter and a PH. Nice though.
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr66/seangoke/Mobile%20Uploads/image-13.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/seangoke/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image-13.jpg.html)
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr66/seangoke/Mobile%20Uploads/image-36.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/seangoke/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image-36.jpg.html)
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr66/seangoke/DSC03752.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/seangoke/media/DSC03752.jpg.html)
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I had an incredible experience one day when we were hunting over a water hole and a herd of cape buffalo came into drink. Amazing animals and truly intimidating. I would love to hunt them some day.
There was one lone bull in one of the areas we hunted. We ran into him a few times and he charged one of the trucks while we were there (not the truck i was in thankfully). That made for interesting tracking every time we shot something in that area. Didn't take me long to figure out that lone bull was a real threat when the trackers would not exit the blind or begin tracking in that area until the truck was there and someone had a rifle in hand.
I took this photo out the window of the blind one day. Once I realized he saw me move I didn't take any more and started to wonder how thick the bricks in that blind were. Heart pounding experience.
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr66/seangoke/DSC03679.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/seangoke/media/DSC03679.jpg.html)
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We hunted very hard for Zebra during our trip as that was high on everyone's wish list. I realized quickly that Zebra and Gemsbuck would be a real challenge since I chose to limit my shots to 20 yds or less. We were watching a herd of zebra in the distance one afternoon when the blesbuck came to drink. I quickly realized I could not pass up that opportunity. I shot this guy at 16 yards. I hit a little further forward (left) than I intended but it ended up in the heart. I've never had this happen but he ran off, made about a 150 yard circle, came right back to where I shot him and fell over dead. Amazing experience and a very cool animal.
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr66/seangoke/DSC03711.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/seangoke/media/DSC03711.jpg.html)
The Zebra managed to allude me the entire time we were there. Others in our group connected on Zebra but I did not. Here is a pic of what the zebra thought of me. I guess that is just one more reason I must return.
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr66/seangoke/DSC03687.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/seangoke/media/DSC03687.jpg.html)
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As I said at the beginning, the lodge, rooms, and hospitality at Limcroma were superb!
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr66/seangoke/Mobile%20Uploads/image-22.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/seangoke/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image-22.jpg.html)
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr66/seangoke/Mobile%20Uploads/image-23.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/seangoke/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image-23.jpg.html)
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr66/seangoke/Mobile%20Uploads/image-15.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/seangoke/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image-15.jpg.html)
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr66/seangoke/Mobile%20Uploads/image-14.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/seangoke/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image-14.jpg.html)
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(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr66/seangoke/Mobile%20Uploads/image-11.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/seangoke/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image-11.jpg.html)
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Midway through the week we hunted an area where they had seen quite a few gemsbuck as that was the one animal at the top of my wish list. The area had a lot of giraffe as well. By mid morning I had a great shot at this nice bull at about 15 yards. When our PH and tracker took up the trail I glassed through my binos at the last area about 200 yards away where i had seen him run. I spotted some white in the grass which turned out to be my gemsbuck. Brought a quick end to the track job. My tracker jokingly accused me of using my American tracking techniques (looking through my binos) and ruining all of his fun. Gemsbuck are beautiful animals and far more wary than i ever expected. This was the only bull I had within bow range in 10 days.
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr66/seangoke/DSC03775.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/seangoke/media/DSC03775.jpg.html)
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(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr66/seangoke/Mobile%20Uploads/image-8.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/seangoke/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image-8.jpg.html)
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I too made my first trip to Africa this past August as well and like you am missing the place tenfold! I would have been planning to head back next year but am already booked in to hunt black bear in BC so with heavy heart it looks to be 2015 ( the year I turn 40) will be when I return...
Please post away more pics and also a link if you have one of where you hunted and your set up.
Cheers,
ak.
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would really like to know about your choice of equipment...BH, Bow poundage,arrow weight and material, etc.. Thanks.
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My setup included two widow PSA recurves. I hunted only with one as the second was the backup. Draw weight was 61#. Arrows were beeman MFX classics, 29", four fletched and wrapped with 50 gr brass inserts and 25 gr aluminum footings. Broadheads were 4 blade steel force fat heads, 200 grs. Total arrow weight was right at 600 gr.
I had more than adequate penetration on everything i shot. I hit the opposite shoulder on the wildabeast and warthog which stopped the arrow. I had a complete pass through on the gems buck and bless buck. On my impalla I shot forward, hit the shoulder at a quartering away angle. It broke the shoulder bone and deflected into the front of the heart. If I went back, I would not hesitate to use that same setup. Here are a few pics.
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr66/seangoke/Mobile%20Uploads/image-39.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/seangoke/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image-39.jpg.html)
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr66/seangoke/Mobile%20Uploads/image-24.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/seangoke/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image-24.jpg.html)
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr66/seangoke/Mobile%20Uploads/image-1.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/seangoke/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image-1.jpg.html)
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr66/seangoke/Mobile%20Uploads/image-42.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/seangoke/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image-42.jpg.html)
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My fellow trad bow shooter in our group missed a nice impala early in the trip but fate was on his side as this giant came to drink a few days later.
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr66/seangoke/Mobile%20Uploads/image-7.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/seangoke/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image-7.jpg.html)
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I hadn't really planned on shooting a warthog when I left the US. After a couple days of watching them I slowly became addicted to hogs. Its hard to explain but they are a very cool animal. This nice boar came in one evening and gave me a great quartering away shot at about 10 yards.
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr66/seangoke/Mobile%20Uploads/image-4.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/seangoke/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image-4.jpg.html)
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One evening shortly before dark we were preparing to pack up for the evening when a Jackal ran in and began drinking from the pond. My PH quickly insisted I shoot at him. I was not convinced I could hit him as his was quartering hard away from me at 20 yards and a Jackal is not a very big target. I shot nonetheless and the arrow entered behind his front shoulder but exited the front of his chest on the same side. My PH tracked him through the bush, which was amazing as I could not even see his tracks and there was very little blood. We jumped him up but he was hurt bad. Unfortunately I missed him a couple times as he tried to run away. Cost me two arrows but the third found its mark. I now have plans for a Jackal skin back quiver, an unexpected bonus on this trip. The guys at Limcroma said they could not recall anyone ever shooting a Jackal there with a trad bow.
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr66/seangoke/DSC03812-1.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/seangoke/media/DSC03812-1.jpg.html)
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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!!!
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr66/seangoke/Mobile%20Uploads/image-21.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/seangoke/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image-21.jpg.html)
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr66/seangoke/Mobile%20Uploads/image-5.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/seangoke/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image-5.jpg.html)
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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.
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr66/seangoke/Mobile%20Uploads/image-17.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/seangoke/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image-17.jpg.html)
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr66/seangoke/Mobile%20Uploads/image-44.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/seangoke/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image-44.jpg.html)
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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.
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr66/seangoke/Mobile%20Uploads/image-10.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/seangoke/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image-10.jpg.html)
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr66/seangoke/Mobile%20Uploads/image-16.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/seangoke/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image-16.jpg.html)
(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr66/seangoke/Mobile%20Uploads/image-47.jpg) (http://s470.photobucket.com/user/seangoke/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image-47.jpg.html)
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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....
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Awesome recap..thanks for the pics!
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What an awesome trip. Great pictures and enjoyed reading about your adventure.
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out standing
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Wow Goke!!! Awesome is all I can say!!!
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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.
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man that looks like an amazing trip
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Great pics .. thanks for sharing
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Thank you very much for providing the information on your equipment. What a hunt!......one day....one day, I will be there. Thanks again.
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Looks like the hunt of a lifetime! Congratulations and thanks for sharing.
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A great hunt for sure. Makes me miss Africa in a bad way.
Thanks for sharing the hunt.
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What a great hunt and beautiful photos! Great story as well. Congratulations and I look forward to going there myself, what an adventure!
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Heck of a trip. Thanks for posting the pictures and the story, I really enjoyed reading it.
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Wow!
Funny thing is my wife and I are planning an Africa hunting/photo safari trip for my 40th birthday. 8 years to go.
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Outstanding !!!!
Thanks for sharing, I can't wait to go someday.
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Wow!! Great hunt. Thanks for posting. You are getting me pumped for my first trip there next July.
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Nice. Thanks for taking us along. Congrats on a such a rewardng trip.
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A most splendid adventure.
Thank you for sharing.
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Great photos! Congrats on your adventure.
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Terrific pictures and interesting tales! I do like the pictures of the blinds because on my first and only trip I could not get an accurate idea of the "hides" I'd be in.
Of course no two operators seem to use the same design.
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wow that's fantastic.
Thank you for sharing all the picture with us.
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I would love to go to Africa one day. great pictures and hunt. I am impressed with the great shots you make on game animals. Great job.
Gil
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Booked with Limcroma in August. So looking forward to it!
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WOW! All the pictures are fantastic. That Cape Buffalo looks like a very sinister character. I would like to see one, just not right outside my hunting blind. Thanks for sharing your adventure. It seems that Africa is totally mesmerizing. I have some friends who went, and it seems that they were so enthralled with it, they just naturally began referring to it as "my Africa".
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Congrats. I as well just returned from Namibia this last Monday night. I can't say enough good things about Makalaan Safaris in Namibia. I took 6 animals: Zebra, Impala, Kudu, Gemsbuck, Wildbeest and Worthog. Will post photos when I get time and someone to help me.