Snuffers in Africa...?

[Al Kidner]

G'day guys,

Just wanting to see if anyone has used Snuffers in Africa for plains game at all?

I leave in 4 weeks and am all over the place with getting BHs where I want them and have me some Snuffers left over from my BC bear hunt.

Cheers guys,


ak.

[Greg Szalewski]

Well, I used woodsmans on the seven animals that I shot there. They worked fine except on the gemsbok. They are much tougher that kudu, hartebeest and widebeest. Impala, and wart hog, no problem either.

[Greg Szalewski]

One more thought on this Al. I would ask your PH what his opinion is. In the end he is the one that is going to have to deal with it.

Have a great hunt. I look forward to hearing about it.

[jonsimoneau]

For the majority of the smaller stuff I wouldn't hesitate especially if you can pull plenty of bow. I'd be hesitant to shoot an eland with one. However having said that I killed a big bull eland in Naminia with a 55lb recurve probably only drawing it to 52 pounds. I was using a 2 blade head and a heavy arrow. Pushing 700 grains if I remember correctly. He went down in sight. If you are pulling 60 pounds or more than I bet you would be fine even on an eland with a nice close shot. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot a bull kudu with a snuffer. I've only killed 3 kudu but all three went down easily. I guess the fact that you need to aim pretty much straight up the  front leg on African game is what always made me a little nervous about 3 blade heads over there. Might just be in my head, as plenty have done well with 3 blade heads.

[jonsimoneau]

Oh I second what Greg said. Gemsbok are tough! It's hard to hit them too far forward!

[Al Kidner]

Thanks mate. I've always been a fan of the older WW heads and used them before... I was worried about the hiss though. Cleary it never bothered your animals harvested !

I guess I have pre hunt jitters as such even though it's my second trip over. I'll just reset and go with what I know works.

[jonsimoneau]

Here is a video of a gemsbok I shot. I'm at about 36 seconds into the video. The first dude is a compound guy. This one went down fast. 53 pound bow. Eclipse head. 650 grain carbon arrow.

 

[Al Kidner]

My set up is my Huntsman recurve, 63# at my 29" draw. I'll be shooting AD trads weighing in around 660gs. I know a lot of Elk have been shot with Snuffers and I'd have no problems shooting a Kudu with a solid 3 blade. Eland... Maybe not.

[jonsimoneau]

Al, I think you would be fine with that setup. Probably even on eland with a nice shot. I'm pretty sure you hunted the same place in Namibia as I did. Where ya going this time?

[Al Kidner]

Jon, mate I'm hunting here, the same operation I hunted with last time:


 http://www.ekuja-hunting-namibia.com/#tf-testimonials


Thanks also for that vid... some very good info there, and I too have Gemsbok at the top of my list. Not that I ever see Africa as a shopping list... I'll take whatever offers up a shot!

[jonsimoneau]

Good luck Al! Let us know how it goes.

[habujohn]

In 2000 I hunted RSA with a 63 # habu bushmaster recurve and snuffers.  I shot seven animals including Gemsbok and Kudu with no issues.  My guide asked me if he could have a few of my heads after he saw the damage they did over there.  Al I hope you have a great hunt.  Get those heads razor sharp and you will have no issue either.

[Al Kidner]

Cheers mate. I can get any 3 blade wicked sharp as I hollow grind them first, then run them on a flat stone and finally lick them up on strop.

[SERGIO VENNERI]

Shot placement , Period!!! Have a great hunt!

I would think snuffers would work just fine as long as your arrows are tuned well!

Good luck on your hunt! I leave for Africa in 4 days!

Bisch

[wingnut]

When I was in Africa back in '99, the PH recommended Grizzly 2 blade heads.  Shot placement and penetration is the name of the game on the tough African animals.

Mike

[hybridbow hunter]

Al, here are a few thoughts.
Can you hunt properly with snuffers? Yes. With sharp stone point as well...
Gemsbok, wildebeest, eland are rather tough game and cost several hundred $ as trophy fees. On smaller antelope, if you plan to spot and stalk, the whistle in flight is really a bad thing as they are really jumpy.
A bone hit with a snuffer has a high odd for bending the tip or an edge and reduce dramatically the penetration. For same cost and big cutting effect you should rather go for a classic Magnus 1 160gr . Despite the 1 1/2" width they penetrate very well and if you make a tanto or chisel tip with a file they don't bend on bone. If you want to go for 3 blade BH , VPA broadheads in heavy weight will be much more reliable and durable than snuffers for big animals. Yes for 6 BH you will pay $40 more than the snuffers but is it really significant on the total cost of you safari?
I go to Namibia this summer as well as my 9th African bow hunting Safari, all but the first with trad gear only. I will use tanto tipped Magnus I 160 glued on tuffheads new 150gr steel adaptator for a $10 but  very reliable broadheads and 300 gr VPA/BigJim broadheads for jumpy or smaller big game.
Good hunt and hope we will share good memories on trad gang.

[Al Kidner]

Thanks for your input Laurent, at this stage I'll be using the VPAs and the 200g Woodsman Elite. Living here in Oz makes it hard to get items like BHs at times... as I'm sure you'll know only too well.