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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 11,756
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 11,756 |
I bowhunted Zimbabwe once and then SA twice. All three trips were tremendous. Unfortunately I can not comment on Namibia. All of my hunts were high fence over water and in some cases bait and water. No apologies from me for that kind of hunt, if you don't like it, don't do it. Some animals were very difficult and several I wanted, I never had come to the blind. And some were really easy. But that's the way it worked for me. I don't know the size of the high fences, but was told the smallest we hunted was 10,000 acres and I believe the largest was 34,000 acres. Yes it was high fence, but it did not seem like the animals were in captivity and I had them cornered next to a fence. I would and may go back to Africa again, to either SA or Namibia. Basis my experience, I believe spot and stalk with a bow would be very very difficult. If it were my first safari, I would target kudu, zebra, impala, wart hog and blue wildebeest. I felt very safe in SA and the accommodations were first class. In Zimbabwe, we were stopped at road blocks several times and the PH was questioned by the police or military. Nothing came of that as I think the PH told them to pound sand. The accommodations were fine, but not high end. Zimbabwe was just a little more primitive. Good luck on your safari.
Last edited by dale06; 02/19/17.
NRA Patron
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 992
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 992 |
I bowhunted Zimbabwe once and then SA twice. All three trips were tremendous. Unfortunately I can not comment on Namibia. All of my hunts were high fence over water and in some cases bait and water. No apologies from me for that kind of hunt, if you don't like it, don't do it. Some animals were very difficult and several I wanted, I never had come to the blind. And some were really easy. But that's the way it worked for me. I don't know the size of the high fences, but was told the smallest we hunted was 10,000 acres and I believe the largest was 34,000 acres. Yes it was high fence, but it did not seem like the animals were in captivity and I had them cornered next to a fence. I would and may go back to Africa again, to either SA or Namibia. Basis my experience, I believe spot and stalk with a bow would be very very difficult. If it were my first safari, I would target kudu, zebra, impala, wart hog and blue wildebeest. I felt very safe in SA and the accommodations were first class. In Zimbabwe, we were stopped at road blocks several times and the PH was questioned by the police or military. Nothing came of that as I think the PH told them to pound sand. The accommodations were fine, but not high end. Zimbabwe was just a little more primitive. Good luck on your safari. Spot and stalk bow hunting seems to be a new trend and the guys love it. It does however take a special PH to conduct these kind of hunts.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 8,737
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 8,737 |
I second what Marius said on this. 99% of the PH's that have worked for me never saw a bow hunter. They would get a hunter inside 50 -75 meters and say shoot!
The bowhunter was stunned that the expectation was to shoot that far. It took a while to convert PH's which had only hunted with firearm hunters, to grasp the bowhunting challenges.
It is not at all difficult to arrange successful archery hunts today. We now have many PH's that are also Bowhunters! Bowhunting in RSA has begun to grow at a more rapid pace than 20 years ago!
Not every outfitter is over the hump. Many will say they can take a bowhunter and that they understand the effort. However, unless they have a dedicated Archery operation, or dedicated Archery PH's to work with you. I would run from that option!
www.huntingadventures.netAre you living your life, or just paying bills until you die? When you hit the pearly gates I want to be there just to see the massive pile of dead 5hit at your feet. ( John Peyton)
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 10,822
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 10,822 |
Just curious about this and you can think about it and answer this for your selves.
If a South African came to the USA and hunted dall sheep, moose, bison, elk and mule deer in Florida on a game ranch would you think he was missing a big part of the experience VS hunting those same animals in the western USA where they exist in their natural habitat?
You decide, I've been curious about this much of my career. Everyone chooses their own safari options. Just think about what you're after before you "pull the trigger" You got a Florida contact to share?
Maker of the Frankenstud Sling Keeper
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 992
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 992 |
I second what Marius said on this. 99% of the PH's that have worked for me never saw a bow hunter. They would get a hunter inside 50 -75 meters and say shoot!
The bowhunter was stunned that the expectation was to shoot that far. It took a while to convert PH's which had only hunted with firearm hunters, to grasp the bowhunting challenges.
It is not at all difficult to arrange successful archery hunts today. We now have many PH's that are also Bowhunters! Bowhunting in RSA has begun to grow at a more rapid pace than 20 years ago!
Not every outfitter is over the hump. Many will say they can take a bowhunter and that they understand the effort. However, unless they have a dedicated Archery operation, or dedicated Archery PH's to work with you. I would run from that option!
Agreed.
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