Stolen Longbow/ Jo-Berg Airport

[Coldfingers]

Mods, if this is not appropriate, please feel free to delete or move as necessary

Our trip to South Africa was, in a nutshell, not the dream trip we hoped for. I doubt I will ever go back.

The clincher was the apperent theft of my sons Bob Lee Signature longbow (a gift from me five years ago)

We both checked our luggage in at the JoBerg airport at the same time. I had, for space reasons, repacked my takedown into the duffel bag with my cloths while my son kept his in the 6" pvc tube we had made up for cases.

My sons bow, while handed over to baggage and tagged, was never entered into the system and never loaded onto the plane.

My son is quite bummed. He took his first big game with the bow on the trip...a 51 inch Kudu, Impalla and Gemsbuck.

Somewhere in Johannesburg, some lucky bugger is probably going to get one heck of a deal on a sweet shooter with two sets of limbs, not to mention the gifts for family packed in with the bow.

While I realise that this could happen anywhere, South African Airlines has been horrible to deal with on the issue. The run around games are monumental and quite well rehersed it seems.

If I ever decide I want an exotic hunt again, I will go to Texas...

My Best,

Scotty

[BWD]

Bummer. Just goes to show that once you are out of the US of A...you are out of the US of A.

[SilentT]

Where and who were you hunting with?

[calgarychef]

Africa isn't the only place things get stole off airlines.  I really don't know why the airlines don't get a handle on this stuff.  iIt is possible to manage a facility so customers possessions aren't stolen.

[Coldfingers]

BWD...LOL! True story there.

All in all it was plenty good enough and I saw plenty of fairy tail creatures. My brain is still processing everything and when it is all said and done I will have many more fond memories than sour grapes.

My son contacted Bob Lee and there is a great shooter hot off the press with his name on it so he can take advantage of the Montana archery seasons. It will all work out in time.

Our PH's were top notch although the one's past life as a used car salesman irritated me at times.

I am sure I frustrated them as well. The more they tried to pry into my wallet, the more I resisted. Got to be a game after a while.

I did have a PH for half the trip that I thoroughly enjoyed and will hopefully hunt with him again someday (he dreams of Moose)

I left an Impalla there that was awsome. Perhaps when time does it's healing or when my old age causes memory lapses...

CalgaryChief...the way that the theft happened and the runaround from the airlines suggests to me that this is not your simple theft. Alot of orchestration going on.

Takedown bows, seperated and wrapped in clothing in a milsurp duffel bag. My gear had the outward appearance of Orphan Annie on vacation.

My best all,

Scotty

[Coldfingers]

A short update...

Our outfitter was not happy, got their lawyers activated, submitted invoices, pulled chains, whiskers and whatever it took to pull a rabbit out of a hat. We supplied them with invoices, replacement estimates from Bob Lee and pictures of the bow and the homemade case it resided in.

Somehow, the bow was "discovered" in the JoBerg airport luggage area and is supposedly on it's way, having cleared the Munich airport this am.

Neither my son nor I would/could have pulled this off from here in the States.

Our outfitter has earned our respect for attention and service above and beyond.

Have a good day as we are.

Scotty

PS...camera's can be good things ;*)

[BUFF]

great news

[jeanpaul3006]

That's great news. I had a tsa lock cut off my bag in johanessburg and was surprised nothing was missing.  Glad that the outfitter stepped up and got the problem resolved.

[Ragin Bull]

Scotty,

Glad to hear that the bow was found and is on the way back to its owner.
On my recent trip to South Africa,
I was worried about my bows being stolen if they looked like hunting equipment. I packed two takedowns, a Cari-bow and a Silvertip longbow as well as my arrows, broadheads, and all my hunting clothes in a hardsided suitcase that had a tsa lock built into it. Thankfully all went well for me. I would have been really bummed to loose that suitcase.

I look forward to hearing more stories from your trip and sharing a few of my own.
I'm having trouble with downloading pics right now but hopefully will have that resolved before too long.

Again, I'm glad to hear that your outfitter stepped up for you.
Our outfitter and our p/h were a big part of making the trip as great as it was,  More later.

[oldbohntr]

I agree with the others-glad you're going to get an important bow back. In 4 trips through Jo-Burg I haven't lost anything.  But, then again, only two of them were on SAA.  Again agreeing with the others, there are many good reasons for going with a really good outfitter(and the best booking agent, and the most experienced travel agent for Africa.)

From my experience, the bigger the importance of the hunt, the more ways it can go wrong!  Regardless, all we can do is make the best of it.  My first trip to Africa was with my son,who I've bow hunted with for nearly 20 years.  He had some valuables and electronics stolen from his baggage on Delta out of Atlanta, and then on Delta out of Jo-Burg.  Bummed him out too, but-hey-we both have a lot better things to remember than that.  And, I know you and your son do too.  We all know that's what matters - sometimes it just takes a little time to get our perspective back!

Insofar as bows to take along to minimize hassle: I've taken two takedown bows packed with the right arrows in two different checked bags.  Yes, it costs more in extra bag fees,but-if they were to ever lose one, I'd still be in business.
Regards,

[G-force]

Hi,if the bow does not get returned please send me detailed pics of it.I will circulate it through all our bow,gun and hunting forums here in SA...maybe it can be found.
I had my credit card stolen at OR Tambo...the check in was the guilty one I think,baasteds.

[Keith Zimmerman]

Glad you are getting your bow back.  But I resent the mark about used car salesman.

[fujimo]

here is some important info...my south african friend lost his bow, between london and j. burg.
i also had one of mine dissappear for a few days. both times the bows were seperate in pvc tubes. the problem is that the tubes fall between the rollers, especially on the bends.
and they cannot get in under the system until change of shifts- and then the time lag and different people on the next shift,who also dont care- thats how they get mislaid at first!
then they get put somewhere at the end of the week- and nobody knows or cares!!
HOWEVER- having said that; the workers in those types of institutions in s.a. are a thieving bunch of bums- there are countless surveilance videos of staff going through peoples luggage, and taking what they want.
they certianally wouldnt have much use for a bow though- not really a bow culture across there.
there is no, or at least very little consequence for stealing across there- it is almost ingrained into the culture" if you are not using it, well then i can take it" its only a crime if you get caught!!
this was one of the reasons why we left south africa in the end!!
sure am glad that you got your gear back. and hats off to your outfitter.
but as a precaution in the future, attach the tube to a bag or place it inside a bigger bag- then they wont fall between the rollers!!its the best one can do---sadly!!!

[Benny Nganabbarru]

From talking with American hunters, many of their troubles with losing gear take place whilst still within the USA.