All right, I've been bitten...

[BTH]

By the Africa bug!
I treated myself to the dvd set of Dries Visser Safaris. Now I'm obsessed.    
I'd like to go over there and hunt animals up to the Kudu/Waterbuck/Gemsbuck size. And of course Impala, Blesbuck, Warthog...
Right now I'm shooting a 54# @ 27" recurve with arrows around 550 grains.
I know that shot placement with sharp broadheads means everything, but do I need to work up to a heavier setup or will a setup like mine work?
(I've also started to play around with the German Kinetics silver flame broadheads. These are some awesome heads!)
So, how about we discuss what a bowhunter, who has never been to Africa and wants to go, needs to know be successful?
Thanks,
Toby

[Joseph]

Your set up will work just fine.  My longets shot was 18 yards, the other 5 were 12-14 yards and several times the animals were half that close.  The most important thing is shot placement.  2 inches left to right can be the difference between a 40-60 yard trail or a 3 hour tracking job.  Vissers is a great place and I am going back in 2007/8 depending on how soon I can come up with the money.  It's worth every penny and it is best, in my opinion, not to waite to long to pursue your dreams.  You never know what is going to happen in your life.  Joseph

[Wile E. Coyote]

My suggestion would be to increase your arrow weight up to 13gr. per #, so somewhere around 650-700 gr. You will see very little change in arrow speed and flight up until 20yds. (A good PH is going to get you within that range) Your increase in penetration however should be maximized.

Best of luck to ya.

[BTH]

Thanks. I just scaled my bow today at 57# at 27" at the brace height it's at.
I'm thinking of shooting GrizzlyStiks, either the Alaskans or Safaris, with the Silver Flame broadheads either 150 or 180 grains so I should be able to make the 650 to 700 grain mark.
If this is the 2006-07 year for them I'm thinking of booking for the 2007-08 year. I've read that May to September is the season; any suggestions as to what part of that time frame is best, or is it all good   :D

[Joseph]

You will more than likely be booking for a late 2007 or 2008 hunt at this point.  May to September is the typical season for SA but what exact month you book for will be dependent on where you are hunting.  SA is a very large country and the best winds are going to be in different places at different times.  The PH's at Vissers told me that September is probably the best month to hunt for steady winds and reliability of animals coming to water but most people want to go earlier during our summer.  That also only applies to places that are not over hunted.  On a smaller place you would be better off going earlier than later because the animals would be less skittish.  The arrow weight advice from Wiley would be good to follow.  Joseph

[Rick McGowan]

Most places are going to recommend Sept. or Oct., its for two reasons, first it is VERY hot and dry by then and the animals are coming heavily to the water holes. The other reason is that they usually have more openings then, since most Americans are busy hunting animals here.

[BTH]

Thanks guys,
I may have picked up the last spot in August 2007 at Vissers, in the middle of the month. It depends on whether they sold it already. Since Dries Visser Jr. is here in the states traveling around the shows that may have happened. I should know next week.
Also Vissers is opening 140,000 acres of bowhunting only property in Botswana. Don't know which year it will open.
A bow and case question...how many of you take one-piece bows (I have a nice one-piece recurve) and what kind of cases have you found keep your bow safe? Do you take a back-up? I've been thinking of getting a take-down with two sets of limbs figuring that it's easier to travel with them and either the extra limbs or my one piece will be the backup.
Thanks again,
Toby

[Rick McGowan]

I'll never fly with a one piece bow again, in fact I'll never buy another one piece bow again, its just to big a hassal. I've been all over the world and sttled on a takedown recurve with an extra set of limbs, packed in a softcase in the middle of my big gear bag. The arrows are in there also, in a hard case. The limbs are close enough to each other in poundage so that by a bit of tuning(or detuning) the arrows will work with either one.

[BTH]

Well, I'm confirmed for August 2007 with Visser Safaris          

Just got the word this morning. My wife and I are gonna get ourselves setup and ready for that trip!

[Ham]

I took my non-hunting wife with me last year.  I have a few suggestions for your planning.  All of the SA planes will be refurbished by the time you go, but 17 hours in the air from Atlanta to Joberg is a long time.  We took a couple days in Capetown to unwind.  The whales were in close to shore calving in mid-August, and the penguins were fun to check out as well.  As has been stated, shot placement is critical.  I would suggest that you wait for a quartering away shot, and put your arrow between the legs 1/3 up.  Right behind the near leg, and out right in front of the far leg.  With your bow(or a new takedown in mid 50's) and the heavier arrows, you will most likely get a pass through on kudu or the smaller animals that you mentioned.  You WILL have fun!

[BTH]

That is a good idea, Ham. We'll be flying from San Francisco to the East Coast then on to SA. That is a lot of traveling hours!

I got the dvd's from Visser's web site to watch and study shot placement and animals. I'm also getting the "Perfect Shot" book to study as well. The African Safari version of scouting! Hopefully by the time we get there we'll have the physiology of the animals ingrained along with lots of practice, not only at the range but on our hunting trips this year.

Now I'm shopping for a 58" at +/- 56# @ 27" TD recurve. Too many fine bowyers and great bows to chose from! A few of the bowyers I've looked at don't make a 58" TD so that helps narrow the field a bit. With the long wait lists that also helps narrow it down to those with shorter turn around time.

This will definately be a fun time, and I'm sure August '07 will be here before I know it!