>>--Red Arrow Crew--> is back from Namibia

[doctorbrady]

After shooting my warthog, I drug it off, covered the blood around the waterhole with sand, and climbed back into the blind to finish up the last hour of the last night.  I remained standing in the sand pit scanning in all directions.  I caught some movement through the brush on the right side of the blind.  It was a kudu, and a big one.  I turned my attention to the camera making sure to get it running and focused without making too much noise.  When I looked up I realized that the kudu bull was indeed an old bull.  He had one large horn, but had broken the other, probably while sparring with another younger bull.  To some this would be a "cull" animal, but to me the broken horn just added character to this old monarch.  I dropped to my knees and crawled over to get my bow ready.  When I raised up I was pleased to see that he was cautiously approaching the water.  He lowered his head to drink giving me the opportunity to draw back my longbow.  The 70# draw weight seemed effortless as adrenaline surged through me.  I concentrated hard at a spot far up into his chest.  The whole world went away except for a small patch of hair on the side of the bull.  I remember seeing my big Grizzlystick Safari smack the animal in the front of the chest.  My arrow was slightly higher than I had hoped for, but I knew that it would do the job well enough.  The bull stormed from the area, leaving a dust storm in his wake.  He roared back at me twice, and my heart sank for just a moment as I wondered if my arrow had pierced his lungs.  A second later I heard the loud crash that comes from 800# of animal striking the ground.  It was good.  I could feel the tremoring begin in my hands then sweep through my body.  It is a phenomenon that I have learned to control prior to my shots, but have no desire to control after.  It is part of the experience that keeps traditional bowhunting in my blood.  I had 30-40 minutes of light left, and I opted to wait it out in the blind...just in case my hunt wasn't totally over........

[jonsimoneau]

Guys, I have kind of missed out on telling some of my stories.  I shot a warthog from a treestand which was cool.  And I also shot a female warthog with really big tusks.  It was great shot and we saw it go down. Then there was a also a stalk on some black wildebeast, but you will have to wait for the video for that one.  But let me tell you about my last day.  

I was to hunt with Lucas at Kudu post.  But when we got there, the wind was howling.  As has already been mentioned African animals are not into moving when it is windy.  So we decided to try a little stalking.  
     We were walking down a dirt road when I spotted a kudu bull standing under some Mopane. I pointed it out to Lucas, and saw his eyes get bigger.  Obviously it was a good one.  The bull was unsure as to what was going on, but he knew he did not like it, so he moved off, but he did so slowly.  
    We quickly took off, hoping to get ahead of him.  We lost track of where he was, but Lucas did a very good job of tracking him.  This went on for a mile or so when we finally gave up.
    We decided to go back to the blind but the wind was relentless.  I told Lucas we should go back to camp and get something to eat, and then we could come back out later when the wind had died down.  I could tell that he was glad to hear me say that.  
    Back at camp we enjoyed another fine breakfast that Clemens prepared.  You are supposed to lose weight when you go on extended hunting trips, but I gained a few pounds!
   Anyway it was now about noon, but the winds were still out of control.  Lucas decided to go join the trackers who were looking for a Kudu that Ed had shot.   Rob and Ed and I had a few cold bottles of Tafel, which is good African beer in celebration of what an excellent trip this had been.  We were having a few beers and going through pictures, when we noticed the wind was beginning to die down.  
     Back into predator mode.  Rob and Ed went one way, and I went another.  I was back at Kudu post.  
The time went by slowly, and I was thankful for this since it was my last day.  Not much was stirring when I finally noticed movement back in the brush.  It was a young kudu bull, and not one that I had any intention of shooting.  He came in and drank, and then was accompanied by some cows and calfs.
     The calfs came to drink first, followed by the cows.  I had a big cow standing there just asking for it, but I could not shoot because she was standing next to a calf, and I did not want to harm the calf.  Finally the calf moved out of the way, and I prepared to draw.  
     The cow was standing exactly where my Eland had been standing when I shot him.  I did not think I could make the shot....I knew I could.  Extreme confidence is a luxury when bowhunting, especially on another continent, but I knew I could do it.  I held for longer than normal, realizing that this would be the last arrow I would shoot on this trip.  I was relieved to see it go exactly where I wanted it too.  It was a double lung hit, and my arrow was lying on the ground covered in blood.
    Just like my Eland, the kudu jumped into the water and then kept going.  For a minute I thought I heard her go down but was unsure.  
   The problem I had now, was that I was a long ways from camp, with no way to communicate with anyone to come pick me up.   So I started walking.  It took awhile to get all the way back to camp and when Abrahm and China saw me they knew I had shot something.  
    After a few more celebratory drinks of fine African wines, we set out to track.  Luckily the Kudu did not even go 100 meters.  What the hell is a meter anyway?  
   I had indeed heard it go down.  China and Abrahm were happy and so was I.  After picture taking and all that, we were just standing out there B.S.ing. I noticed Abrahm eying my bow.  I asked him if he wanted to shoot it, and he thought I was joking.  I said "no, go ahead I'll show you". I showed him how to anchor and how to get the fletching to his nose.  He took an arrow and promptly launched it at a bush.  His laughter was infectious, and I am really glad I got all of this on video.  His father China decided he wanted to try also, so for about a half hour these two shot my arrows at bushes and rocks while just having a great time.  My arrows are in bad shape but it was worth it.  These two guys are no strangers to bows, but they are strangers to bows that they consider to be very high poundage.  The Sans bushmen use poison on their arrow tips, so light bows work fine.  Also, they mostly use these bows to hunt small game.  Anyway, I could tell they wanted one.  
   I am looking for a light poundage bow and some inexpensive arrows to send to these guys.  If anyone has something available please let me know.  I told them I would try to get them a bow, and I want to be true to my word.  Nobody would appreciate it more than these guys.  
    Needless to say, my last day in Namibia was a good one.

[paleFace]

Brady's Kudu: for those interested that right horn taped out at over 55 inches. this Kudu was indeed a true trophy and he will look great in the Hesington home a long side all of Dana's trophies. couldn't resist that one Doc.
   

[doctorbrady]

What a cheesy smile that guy has....

Having heard the kudu crash less than 100 yards away, I was confident that it was down for good.  Darkness was closing fast, but it was the last day and I wanted to enjoy the whole of "the witching hour," so I hung tight in the brush blind. I was still hopeful that one of the many wildebeest or zebra that use this water hole might show up before dark.  I didn't have to wait long before shadows in the woods turned into critters.  Four female kudu slipped into the open and began circling the water and eyeing the blinds for signs of trouble.  I held off hoping still that the wildebeest would arrive.  As light was fading several more cow kudu slipped from the darkness along the other side of the woods.  I watched in the camera's viewfinder as decent shooting light faded away by the second.  If I was going to capture anything on video, I was going to have to do it right now.  For the first time all day I could feel the breeze on the back of my neck instead of in my face.  The cows became increasingly nervous and none would drink.  The last few minutes of light were ending way too quickly.  Finally one of the kudu turned to leave, offering me a broadside shot.  I ripped back the string, but cautioned myself to take my time in taking the shot.  The string left my face without a thought.  I was surprised to see that my last remaining arrow didn't have a Firenock inside, and consequently was difficult to follow in the dark.  The solid "thunk" that my arrow made told me that it connected, and I could barely make out the bright fletchings protruding from the front half of the animal as it turned and ran off.  Animals scattered in all directions, scrambling through the thick brush and forest.  A moment later I heard a crash, and hoped that it was the kudu.  It had ended the way that it had begun, with a kudu cow, from a brush blind, with my seasoned longbow.
With darkness now complete, I called for Piet to come pick me up, letting him know that I had animals down.  He arrived ten minutes later.  I quickly showed him the warthog, and told him of the two kudu.  We began searching for the big bull first.  I assured him that I had heard it fall.  With only a couple of weak flashlights, he was quick to give up the search, telling me that the trackers would pick it up at first light.  I was not so convinced as we were to leave by sun up the next morning to catch our flight, and I wanted to touch the animals that had given their life to make me FEEL alive.  I reassured him that the animals were down, so we continued shining our tiny flashlights into the thick brush.  A few minutes later Piet yelled out that he had it, less than 100 yards from the blind, the big bull had gone down.  Piet radioed for help, and they quickly arrived.  While the 8 men worked to lift the heavy animal up onto logs (because they didn't want to damage the animal's cape), I went in search of my other kudu.  After 15 minutes Piet came over to help me.  The blood trail was scant, but I knew she had gone down.  Piet again reassured me that he could have the trackers find it in the morning and deliver the hide to the taxidermist, but I persisted.  Finally, while wading through the dense underbrush, I caught a whiff of a familiar scent.  I could smell the blood of a freshly killed animal.  A non hunter would likely never have noticed the subtle smell mixed with all the other odors of the forest.  I had smelled it many times before, however, and my predatory instincts were on high alert.  I called for Piet, and was sure that he thought me a fool when finally he raised his head and said, I can smell it too.  We circled for several minutes more before Piet again called out.  She was down in a trail choked with brush.  The shot had angled in from her liver and pierced her lungs.  She went only 150 yards before taking her final rest.  I was ecstatic about the recovery, and again Piet must have thought me insane for becoming so excited about a kudu cow, but it was the perfect end to a nearly perfect trip.  The trackers and I worked for an hour carrying out the whole animals on wooden poles and laying them into the truck.  On the ride out an African porcupine crossed the road in front of us.  It's foot long, crosshatched barbs making it look 3 times its actual size.  The 8 men and boys in the back of the vehicle became very excited, so Piet slowed the truck enough for them to bail out.  They chased down the critter and quickly brought him to hand with a few stones from the road's edge.  The quills rattled like a diamondback once he was dead.  Piet informed me that porcupines were hard on the plastic water pipes on the ranch, but great table fare.  The trackers were nice enough to pull many of the quills from the animal for my sons, and the rest they took home to fill their bellies.  I had now seen real hunters in action.
There was plenty of celebration to be had in camp that night, but also a lot of quiet sadness for we all knew that we would leave in the morning on the first leg of our long trip home.

[paleFace]

here's that guy again with the cheesy smile  
   

[tradtusker]

awesome stuff! thanks for sharing... when do we get to see the video's  :D    :D

[robtattoo]

^^^^^

What he said!  :D

Can't wait to get there next year!

[paleFace]

guys i just received some of the tape today from Doc and i'm waiting on a few more from Jon.  we got separated at the airport on our way back from Namibia and i wasn't able to get all the tapes then so we have had to send them by mail. since the mail system can loose things were a little afraid to send them without having them copied first. so now that that has been taken care and the master copies are safe i can get to work.  i hope to be posting a few clips within a week just to quench the apatite.

[LEOPARD]

Great pics! Thanks!

[bayoulongbowman]

By Christmas I hope!!! ya know the video?????

[doctorbrady]

Marc,
We're working on it.  I can promise you that.  The Christmas deadline might be tough to make, but we are doing are best to get it out ASAP.  Stay tuned.  Brady

[bayoulongbowman]

 ....thanks Doc....

[katman]

ttt, any breaking video news yet, anxious minds want to know.

[Ian johnson]

ttt, where are the videos?

[jonsimoneau]

Recently spoke with Doc.  Things have gone slower than they wanted but the video is getting close now.  Anyone interested in hunting here can contact any of us, as we are planning some more trips.  We are working with the outfitter to bring over American Clients.  It's a fantastic hunt and is quite affordable.  I prefer Namibia to South Africa as it is safer, less populated, etc.