africa setup

[hunt4life]

what was your africa setup? i want to know your bow and weight you were/are using. arrow and broadhead too. heck you could tell me what you got over there too.
thanks,
adam

[Joseph]

I can't tell you what my setup was, but I can tell what it is going to be July 25th when my hunt starts.  64# @ 29 inch recurve with 700 - 800gr arrows.  I dozen barrel tapered and footed hexpine shafts and 1 dozen barrel tapered maple shafts.  Most will have Zephyr Sausquatch broadheads but 2 will have the large Pearson Deadheads, 2 or 3 will have Doug Campbell Damascus broadheads, and I was thinking of putting stone points on a couple of them also if I can talk Dick Robertson out of them.  I still haven't decided if I want to try a couple of the big Snuffers or not.  As long as the spine is matched a 100 gr weight variation doesn't seem to make much of a difference in my groups out to 20 yards and I won't be shooting further than that anyways.  I think they said the longest distance from blind to waterhole was 18 yards.  Joseph

[Iron/Mtn]

Adam for my 03 trip I used a B/W 61@27, with carbonwood arrows with weights added to bring the total arrow weight up to 600 grains, used 2 blade zwickeys and Magnus broadheads. Kept my shots to under 15 yds and had great results. Wait for the right shot, don't allow yourself to get caught up in the moment there will always be another one, and they are tough.Get the small guide to africa with depiction of the vitals, Barry also wrote a real good article for TBM a while back about african game, shots, etc. good stuff. Take care and have a great trip. PS take plenty of pictures....

[T-Bell]

I had a fantastic hunt in RSA in July. My set up was a 58# Bighorn Recurve; 700gr hickory 5/16" arrows spined at 62lbs with 2 blade Zwickey and Magnus BHs.
 
I took an Impala, a Cape Eland, a Red Hartebeast and a Zebra. All shots were under 20yds with most around 15yds.

Have a great trip!

Regards;  T-Bell

[NYRON]

I'm glad this topic came up. In July I'll be making my first trip to Africa (Tholo Safaris in SA). Naturally, I'm concerend about my choice of equipment.

Presently I have bows (mostly R/D longbows) ranging in weight from 55# to 59#@28"  I shoot well in this weight range and I plan to use one of these as a backup bow.

Last March I ordered a Griffin longbow from John McCullough. I talked to John last night and he plans to begin building the bow in a few weeks. My original order, before I knew about the Africa trip, was for 53#@27" (a weight I'm very comfortable with). I'm planning to increase the weight of the ordered bow for use in Africa, but I'm concerned about overbowing myself.

I'm leaning toward 57#@27", but am wondering if that is enough for plains game up to Elan size. Would I be better off with say 60-62#@27" or is the extra weight not worth the potential sacrafice in shootability?

My arrows will be 29" 2018s with 125 grain Wensel Woodsmans. I'll likely add some weight with steel broadhead adapters or weights tubes.

Thanks for your help.
Ron

[Iron/Mtn]

Ron/Adam for me and the guys in our group the 3-4 years of preperation,anticipation etc was half the fun.... I made up and changed my mind,packed,unpacked etc more times then you can shake a stick at. Take your time, shoot em close and let them relax don't rush the oppertunity if it does not happen you will probably get another chance. Sometimes the the shot not taken is the best one.....Everything is wired  especially impala,warthogs,zebra and gemsbuck for me "I "would not take a shot at them beyond 12-13 yds, and everything worked out. Good luck and come back with good stories and pictures. John.

[Mike Taylor]

I'm headed over in August and will be shooting a 65# @ 31" Morrison recurve with Gold Tip 7595's weighted up to 650 grains tipped with Snuffers.  Not going to take shots past 20 yards.

[Ham]

I'll be making my first trip in Aug to Namibia.  I'll be shooting 580 gr tapered POC with 125 gr Griz out of my 47# @ 31" BW recurve.  I realize that this is on the light side; however I checked with Ken Beck and learned that his African set up might be a little lighter than mine, and he had no problem.  Denny S. told me that his son did just fine with a similar set up too.  I won't be trying for an eland;  I'll stick to medium and smaller game.

[Hawken1911]

Ron,

I've been doing a lot of research for my upcoming (but as of yet, un-booked) Africa hunt.  I can understand your concerns about being overbowed, but you also need to be aware that some outfitters have minimum draw weight requirements.  I've been to a couple sites where they say #60 at your draw length is the minimum for plains game.  Greater Kuduland is one of those outfitters. However, "Too Short" told me they do have a women who hunts with them at Kuduland who has been successful with a #55 bow, so they do make exceptions.  Other outfitters may be more strict about enforcing their rules.  

I just wanted to give you a heads up; It would be a bummer not to be able to use your new bow because of a few pounds if you go with the #57@27".  The custom bow I ordered is at #60@27" and I'm going to try to make arrows that are at least 600 gr.

Hawken

[crane]

No one is going to check your bow.

[habujohn]

Just two things that I would like to mention about bows and Africa.  first thing is that you are shooting a bow that shoots a great arrow, no matter the weight.  A true flying arrow/broardhead out of a 50# bow is going to penetrate better than one that is oscillating to the animal shot out of a bow 5-10# heavier.  The other thing I learned, shot from a blind a lot!  I normally hunt from tree stand and when I first looked out the window of an enclosed blind my depth preception was off.  20 yard shots seemed to me further away, so practice shooting through a window.  By the way my wife shot a 47# habu recurve on our hunt with cedar shafts and magnus two blades at 135 gr.
Habujohn

[Biggie Hoffman]

I used a Black Widow Longbow @ 65#, 350 Heritage carbon arrows from 3Rivers and 125gr Razorcaps. Shot thru 4 of my 7 animals and the other 3 lodged in opposite shoulders.
As John said above, practice shooting out of a blind. It didn't seem to affect me but I shot from my double bull for a few weeks anyway.

[Mike Taylor]

Biggie,
I heard you were 7 of 7 over there and that really impressed the PH's.  Seems to me that you were an exception to the rule?  Apparently they have a record of traditional bowhunters running a high wound percentage and I was told that when the trackers see a wood bow "they know they will have to walk many miles!"  From your experience what was your average shot and were the blinds large enough to not worry about limb interference?  Any feedback would be appreciated because after hearing that statement on wood bows I've been a little paranoid.  I head over for an 8 day safari in August with Dries.
Thanks Biggie,
Mike Taylor

[Iron/Mtn]

Mike; I hunted vissers place in 03, went 8 for 9 with the wildebeest needing to be put down due to a high hit.Kept the shots close and tried not to push my personal limitations due to exitement,animal size etc. I did not witness any resentment towards stickows,fact is Gene W brings an awful lot of us over, Probably more of a question concerning the PHs personnel gear and what they have been associated with. Everything is wired and coupled with the fact that noting gets out of the way like african game. Let them settle down,keep your shots close and study the books on shot placement and you will be fine.Make sure to practice from a dark blind out to bright daylight, also most shots are more angled up then straight out, this can really throw you off especially on real tall game like Kudu.  have agreat trip it is unbelievable.

[Biggie Hoffman]

Mike, I'd heard from several "veterens" of Africa that some outfitters were considering NOT taking trad guys anymore so I was determined to do well. All my shots were 18 yards and less at wide open, standing broadside animals.

I think what impressed them was the fact that all 7 animals went down in sight of the blinds. That bode well for trad equipment, even though I used carbon arrows :-)
They said they had not had an archer (compounds included) who had all their animals go down in sight in 13 years of bowhunting. I'm just glad we showed 'em we can get 'er done....

[Biggie Hoffman]

Let me add this too.........
While we were there, there were two compound guys in camp at the same time. They killed NOTHING clean. Trackers and dogs on every shot they took. So we're not always the bad guys.

[Mike Taylor]

I figured as much, but its nice to hear some positive feedback on the whole deal.  Hey where can a guy get the book to study african plainsgame anatomy?  Biggie did you keep your shots more forward in the chest like I've been told or what?
Thanks again fellas and I hope I'm not wearing you out.  I just want to learn as much as I can before getting over there.
Mike

[Twang at Work]

My 54# BW recurve was plenty, including an eland.  I had heavier limbs but didn't shoot those well and I switched to the lighter set mid hunt.  

Used carbon arrows, w 2 blade broadhead.  Shots were out to 23 yards.  I too told myself, to limit shots to 15 yds..right, that lasted until I saw a big kudu at 23.  Luckily it worked out.

[Joseph]

The video's from Dries Vissers show a number of shots that were, how should I say this, less than ideal.  All of the traditional shooters they show on video do good but it is by no means all of them.  Some of the shots are amazingly bad but they still manage to recover the animals.  I'm going to be patient and keep the shots close.  Joseph

[Biggie Hoffman]

The trackers are unreal. If you hit one, they will find it but if it's not mortally wounded, they will put it down with a thunderstick. A bowhunting failure in my estimation.
That doesn't mean we should take marginal shots of course.

As far as shot placement, it's difficult to shoot at the "shoulder" area after a lifetime of shooting behind the shoulder. My 1st gemsbok, I hit perfectly behind the front leg, 2" back. WRONG! It was gutshot. This was one instance where the 3 blade head was priceless. The animal still only went a short distance, but the point is, shoot straight up the front leg and low. You won't believe how quick an Impala is :-)
SHARP HEADS!

Vissers new video has Marty McMahon shooting a gemsbok from a tree.....best shot he's ever made!
Another good look for trad bowhunting!