Back from Magersfontein in RSA

[hybridbow hunter]

Hi Gangers,
i am back from Magersfontein, close to Kimberly in the Northern Cape province, South Africa.
Land owner & PH Greg Edwards and his wife Jacqui gave us a lifetime dream week. Greg was helped by the lovely PH Amanda, who took great care of us.
I had the great opportunity to harvest those nice animals with my hybrid bows: one Fedora Xtreme 64" with 58# at my draw limbs and a Cari Bow Peregrine by Abe Penner 59#.
My arrows were GT Big Game full lenght, Aluminium CB insert and 300 grain 1.5" wide Big Jim Broadheads.

Please, let me share those fantastic memories with you through those pics.

This is the "Dream team", LoL:
Greg is wearing he red shirt and Amanda is on the close right on the pic

 

[hybridbow hunter]

I first got a steep quatering away shot to this springbok at 18 yards. i hit him a little back to my focus point but good enough. It layed down within 70 yards on sight.


Here is the Big Jim BH work:

 

[hybridbow hunter]

Oops the pics link is bad, here it is

 

[hybridbow hunter]

Second day, from my elevated blind, a small herd of Cape Eland came. Animals were nervous and stayed fr away. I was blessed to have a good opportunity on that 1300# old cow with a non typical huge horns, shot 25 yards broadside heart/lung hit.
She went down in 50 yards. I was completely amazed...

 


 

[hybridbow hunter]

I was amazed by the BH work: ribs on that cow was 3/8" wide: the XL big jim  BHead blew it and my arrow went up to the opposite rib.

 

 

[hybridbow hunter]

From a ground blind i was fortunate to get a shot to this very nice Blesbok bull. He was 18 yards broadside. I was using my beautifull Peregrine bow from Abe. When i let the string go, i saw clearly my arrow disappearing in the heart area. I knew he was mine...
he ran a hundred yards.
Trophy is very good for that specie

 

 

[hybridbow hunter]

On a cold morning came one of the most beautifull african game if not the pretiest: the great Kudu. He was really nervous and i came to full draw twice without letting the string. the 3 time was the good one: pass through light quatering away in the lung-liver area. Went down in less than 80 yards.
Not a huge but fair trophy but the most beautifull in my eyes:

 


 

[hybridbow hunter]

The next day i tried to walk and stalk. I couldn't get closer than 40 yards from Red hartebeest nd i was almost to get a shot on a young warthog in the 20 yards when i spooked him trying to get a better shot angle...
I also saw these big fellows, not so friendly...

 

[hybridbow hunter]

The next day i decided to give another fun to my beloved Peregrine, because it was shouting to me "bring me back to the bush please..."

At the end of the day, that brave warrior of the bushveld came to me. i shot him at 15 yards, from an elevated blind, little quatering toward me. I hit him a little back in the posterior part of the left lung area. My arrow went 20" in with massive bleeding. He passed away within 250 yards.
Amanda with her "eagle eyes" found him under a tree, while coming to pick me for the tracking 30 minutes after the shot.

 


Once again i was impressed by the Big Jim BH work and the massive bleed....

 

[hybridbow hunter]

Next day was hot but windy. One hour before dark, that "monster springbok" came.
He was so spooky and i was sure i couldn't get any shot to him. He gave me just one shot opprtunity close to 20 yards, little quatering away. The Peregrine pushed the arrow where i was looking at and that magnificent animal fell within 70 yards in sight. All that moment lasted 3 or 4 seconds... i could not believe it.

 


 

[hybridbow hunter]

Then came the last day. I Spent the whole day with Greg and Christian to track Christian Kudu. He hit him far back and the animal ran away. we never found him. So atmosphere was not happy: a lost beautifull critter and the end of that dream trip....
I went to the elevated hide thinkink to warthog but on the ranch they are not so much and very spooky. 1 hour before dark 4 Plain zebras (Burchell) came and then a beautifull Mountain zebra stalion(Hartman). i believed it was my last minutes seeing african game but while they were going away a beautiful 120# Warthog sow with good tusk came. Greg had told me on the begining of the stay that mature sow with big tusks could be harvested if without piglets. That one was beautiful....
She stayed far away for a minute and then came very slowly close to 30 yards at the further part of the water hole. I know it is very far but i was feeling the shot. I Drew the fedora string, picking the spot on the shoulder and let it. I saw my arrow going through but stop at the feathers right in the shoulder crease. I thought "Great !!"
My sow ran with a heavy black bleedind all over the ground. I was expecting the fall quickly but saw her runing 30, 50, 80 then a 100 yards and then stopped, still standing.
At that moment i was feeling depressed and unhappy to have taken the shot so far away....

[hybridbow hunter]

I called Amanda and when she arrived we saw the sow laying down. We waited 20 minutes looking through our binos: no mouvement. We tracked her from the hit, very slowly following the big blood trail. I was feeling very comfident and so was Amanda. Once we came in the 30 yards the sow stand again and made a 100 yards run away,and then stopped. Again i felt very bad...
We decided to go back after the fantastic dinner Jacqui was preparing for us every day....

[hybridbow hunter]

3 hours later we all came to the sow. For the first 40 minutes: no sow, no blood from the last position. I then went again from that last sow position and tried to get a trail away from my friends...After 30 yards i heard the sow badly breathing and found her under a tree. I could put a second arrow, snapshooting her while runing away. Then all the team joined me and Again we heard the breathing. That time amanda saw her: she couldn't go further almost dying. A third arrow at 5 paces ended that fabulous track...

 

[hybridbow hunter]

Thanks for reading me guys.
here are pics from the veld

 

 

 

[Terry Green]

Moving a copy to the PowWow so more will be able to enjoy this hunting adventure...

Congrats....looks like the monster 3 blade did its job very well.    

[Chris Surtees]

Great hunt...congrats      

[BUFF]

great hunt, great write up, thanks for sharing  

[BUFF]

great hunt, great write up, thanks for sharing  

[Friend]

Fantastic hunt!!!!!!!! I have been patiently waiting for someone to share a recent experience in Africa. The pics and the narration were grand.
I am sure to review this thread numerous times.

Thank you for sharing.

[J-dog]

Been wanting to get a snuffer sized non vent BHd - then do not want to spend the money - then you make posts about Big Jim's BHds in action! If wife kills me I am coming to haunt you.

GREAT hunt and pics -            

J