Africa

[acolobowhunter]

Question:
Why do we never seen any articles in bowhunting magazines about African hunts.  I also never see much here on TradGang about Africa hunting either.
Is it a fair chase problem?  Most of the hunts are on huge areas.  
I have been thinking about an Africa hunt in a year or so and would like to read peoples thoughts.

Thanks

[nineworlds9]

Umm, we have a whole forum section devoted to Africa!?!???

See here:

 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=forum;f=27

 

[Bear Heart]

I would ask TBM that question.  Some guesses: limited hunters,  not many diy hunts, not much to learn past getting there safely and picking a guide.
That said, I am counting down the years until I go.

[ed cowden]

I also think this should be in the other forum. I was in Africa Sept 1 for 10 days.. All hunting with bows was done at waterholes in blinds that were set up for years. They also would set up on different trails if the PH thought that would pay out. The thing that I did not like about it was the PH is always with you. If you like that then its alright. I like to be alone and decide when I want to shoot or pass.

[mike g]

The PH is also there for your protection.

[Blackhawk]

The PH is also there to collect for the price of the animal if you wound.  Drawing any blood on an animal, recovered or not, means you pay.  That does add a bit of stress when you have a $2000 critter taking a drink of water at 15 yards.

If you hunt South Africa, you will probably hunt fenced areas at waterholes. When the area fenced is 50,000 acresm it's tough for me to not call the animals free range.

[Al Kidner]

I hunted Namibia, Africa mid last year and was without a doubt one of the best hunting trips/holidays to date, hands down.

Check out my thread over on the Africa forum...

( As a side note, next time I hunt Africa - in 2015, I'll post the hunt here on Pow Wow as I think not many people read the Africa forum )

The place I hunted had a lot of bow hunters come through and more so Aussie Bowhunters who like to mix things up with spot and stalk over sitting in blinds etc as that's pretty much how we hunt here... 90% spot and stalk and a rough guess.

Hunting in blinds has its different pressure, of which I've not had to deal with before as this was the first time I'd hunted in that fashion. Trust me when I say this, moving about within the blind will cost you... The dumb, slower animals died out about 1.5 million years ago and then as mentioned above... The added pressure of the cost where upon you wound something and don't recover will always hangs heavy upon ones mind.

For anyone ever wanting to hunt Africa, my best advice... Do your homework much like hunting up north for Caribou or in the west for Elk. Sure there are suspect operations out there, but like any hunt... Put in the 'leg work' to find a place that suits your ethical standards and do it.

Africa... It'll see me many more times before I take a dirt nap!


ak.

[calgarychef]

That's are a select few operations in South Africa that offer real Unfenced hunting opportunities without the blind at the waterhole mentality.  It's hard hunting where you can't  " whack and stack them" but the animals you do get will feel like a trophy that you're earned.  Couple this with a destination that's family friendly and you've got a great vacation in store.

[R. W. Mackey]

Yeah, I hunted one of those fenced in areas myself in Namibia. North fence was 8 miles across, West fence was
14 miles long, East fence was 12 miles long, south fence was
10 miles across. I shure got the feeling of shooting trapped animals. And oh yeah, the PH lets you hunt however you like, by yourself, at waterholes, game trails, he even put up several
Tree stands when the Monkey Pods started falling.
  Do your homework, there are a lot of great hunting opportunities out there.

Roy

[fujimo]

sorry to digress here- but remember the system in africa is quite different to n. america.
in southern africa- the game belongs to the landowner- as apposed to here where they are public domain!
and landowners will look after their game- this is not cattle ranching- but they will ensure adequate food, fresh genetics, sound trophy management, and most importantly poacher control /prevention.
these animals are not handled, tagged or tame- they are very wild try some real walk and stalk hunting- not waterhole hunting and you will see very quickly.

perimeter fences are there to protect the game  from poachers, road death, and unscrupulous neighbors - and also to protect the owners investment.
most game farms are pretty big, we are talking about thousands and thousands of hectares, with no internal fences or camps. if your outfitter is trying to hunt you in a camp of a few acres- get outta there- heard about the canned hunting- never seen one though!!!and i have seen quite a few operations!!!

anyway- just a little insight and understanding for the african scenario.

[Al Kidner]

Your not digressing at all Wayne, that's a very modern and open, if not true statement on hunting Africa and as we've both mentioned... Just do your homework guys.

[fujimo]

thanks cobber!!
guess the system is just so different, that unless you have been there , its just not that obvious.
it is an excellent system( but no system is perfect though!!) as it certainly has secured the prosperity of wild animals in southern africa, with the very flawed governments and rampant bureaucracies, the very best way to protect something in africa- is to give it a monetary value. ( well,... and that is a two edged sword too- look at the link below!!)game animals are thriving today because of this system.
the down side , for the average south african, you cant just go onto "crown/public land"( there isnt any!!!!) and hunt animals for very little cost.
all hunting in africa costs!!!- albeit a different rate if you are a local meat hunter, or a foreign trophy hunter.
personally, i find trophy hunting a little off putting- as i have been around, and involved in so much of it, BUT....trophy hunting is what has saved african animals and their habitat--they have a value!!!

anyway- i always just try to help a little bit, by  disseminating  what little knowledge i have. Someone showed/taught me- so i'm just passing it on!
here is a thread off the Dark Continent sub forum- that might also help explain some of the stumbling blocks in africa today.
 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=27;t=000428

good hunting all!!
regards
wayne

[Shakes.602]

Boy, with all the Civil Wars going on and the General UnChained Violence happening in that Country, i would make Double-Sure you were going to a Safe Place!!

[mnbwhtr]

I went and had the trip of a LIFETIME. Neil Summers at BSC set up the hunt for us. First was 7 days in Victoria Falls and a 10 day hunt after. The country(Zimbabwe) wasn't politically stable but the PH said He wouldn't have us over there if it wasn't safe. We had a radio and sat by ourselves, the PH was only a call away. Go for it! I'd give Neil a call, tell him what you want, He's a straight shooter and will tell you how it is.

[fujimo]

Good point Shakes.
thats why we left- certainly no place to raise a young family.
i dont know of a single person in s. africa/zimbabwe that does not have a first hand tale of being a victim of some sort or other, or at least a very close friend/relative being a victim of soughts.
violence and self defence is just a way of life over there. i never realized what we lived with untril i left.
always with a carry gun, mayday calls, farm attacks, casevacs etc etc- we lived in a rural area.
anyway- not to turn this into a political discussion, but just make sure you take care over there, dont hang around the cities- get out and get hunting- nothing to see in the cities anyway- ask calgarychef , what he experienced when i took him to africa to go hunting.- ask him about the airport, and the beach too- still makes me chuckle -in hind sight that is, not so funny at the time- oh how ridiculous it was!!!!
the hunting was a blast- the bush and the animals beautiful- just get away from the people.
it will be a trip of a lifetime- just use common sense.
happy hunting all!!

edit: heres a link to chef boys trip.
 http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=27;t=000246#000000
what an awesome trip- and he got a really nice kudu- we had a great time- great hunting partner!!!

[acolobowhunter]

Thank you Gentlemen for your input.  I have a lot to learn and looks like a lot of studing to do.  
I do appreciate your comments.  Wish there were more stories in some of he bowhunting magazines about Africa.  No offense, but I get tired of reading about white tail hunting.

I will check out some of the links you provided.

Thanks again!!!

[jonsimoneau]

I've had the good fortune to bowhunt 3 times in Africa.  The first time was supposed to be a "Once in a lifetime" trip. Now I'm hoping to go back in 2016.  I love it.

[Jerry Russell]

Originally posted by jonsimoneau:
I've had the good fortune to bowhunt 3 times in Africa.  The first time was supposed to be a "Once in a lifetime" trip. Now I'm hoping to go back in 2016.  I love it.

Ha! I know the feeling. It was a bucket list hunt for me many years ago. I think my bucket has a hole in it though. I can seem to get it full of Africa. We are headed back in July. Man I crave that place.