Bisch
07-03-2009, 11:57 PM
Note: I messed up trying to enter the pics with this story but they are all below the story in the following posts. When I say "here are some pics of...." in the story just look below to see them. Sorry for the mix-up. Bisch
First off, let me tell everyone who told me that Africa would be better that I could imagine that you were right. I bought my hunt at the LSBA banquet in June of '08 and have been chomping at the bit to get to go. Well, on June 18th, 2009, I boarded a plane to go on my first African Safari. My wife, Michele, accompanied me as a non-hunter. After a very long plane ride we arrived at the airport in Johannesberg. All our luggage arrived too. We were met by my PH Dannie Massyn of Ledjadji Safaris and began the four hour drive to the hunting area. While on the way Dannie advised that he had a client that was leaving on the 20th and that we would spend the first night at another hunting lodge called Inguna Safaris. Here is a pic of the Inguna lodge.
1775
Sat June 20th was my first day to hunt. We hunted out of a tent blind for the morning hunt. A front had blown in and the wind was all wrong. We saw some warthogs on the morning hunt but they winded us and left the area. We went back to the lodge for a 4 star lunch of Gemsbok steaks and Duiker roast with all the sides and trimmings. The afternoon hunt was also uneventful as the wind was still wrong and all we saw was Guinea Fowl. I shot at them twice and missed both times. Here is a pic of the elevated hide we hunted out of in the afternoon and one of the sunset on my first day hunting in Africa (see below).
That night we loaded in the truck and arrived at Ledjadji Safaris Lodge. It was a nice place and here are a few pics (see below). This is where we lived for the rest of our trip.
Sun June 21st my wife and I went on an overnight trip to the Tuli Lodge in Botswana. We were the only two guests at a 5 star lodge and everyone waited on us like we owned the place. We went on 2 game drives and saw a lot of different animals. Here are a few pics from the Tuli Lodge (see below).
The next couple days were very uneventful. We saw a couple Duiker, Steenbok, and Impala but the wind was howling all day long and the animals just were not moving around very much. Dannie kept telling me not to worry because when the weather got right things would change. He was right.
On the morning of Tues June 23rd we went to a hide I named Pit Blind #2. The wind was still out of the wrong direction but had finally calmed down and was not blowing hard. Just after daylight Dannie tapped me on the shoulder and pointed out the window. There was a nice Impala ram working his way in. After a few minutes the ram was right in front of the hide licking on a salt block. I had to wait for several minutes for him to turn and when he did I shot my first animal in Africa. It was a 23yd quartering away shot. I hit him a little far back but Dannie was convinced it was a good shot because of how he was quartered away. Dannie called in the tracker, Joseph. Joseph is a 60ish year old man who knows his stuff whwn it comes to tracking animals. He got on the trail and we tracked him several hundred yards when Joseph jumped him up. We backed out and Dannie called fro a tracking dog. Dannie said we should let the dog work and go ahead and go to a hide and continue hunting. We went to Pit Blind #1 and I was not feeling very good about this. Within an hour the call came in that they had recovered my Impala. I shot this Impala with the arrow that had "gatorgar" on it. Thanks Alex, for the help. They brought him to us and picture taking followed. Here are a few pics of my Impala and Pit Blind #2 (see below).
The afternoon hunt on Tues was exciting too. I did not get a shot but had several warthogs come in to Pit Blind#1 in the afternoon. I was ready to shoot a nice boar but it never worked out. Here is a pic of Pit Blind #1 (see below).
On Wed, June 24th, we headed out to Pit Blind#1 in the morning before daylight. When we arrived there was a warthog there that spooked and ran off. We got our stuff out of the truck and the warthog comes strolling right back into the waterhole. Dannie asked me if I could shoot it and I said yes. I pulled out and arrow and proceeded to miss him low at about 12yds. That was with the "rubydog" arrow. Thanks, Terry, but I do not need that kind of help. Next time I will not put your name on a carbon arrow! The warthog runs off about 5yds, stops, and turns around and walks right back in again. The second time I drilled him right in the boiler room and he went tearing out of there with a tracer nock just barely sticking out of the entry hole. Dannie and I tracked him and he only went about 50yds and was down for the count. I shot him with the "Longstick" arrow. Thanks, Harvey! Here are a few pics of my first warthog (see below).
The rest of the morning was uneventful and when we went for lunch I told Dannie that since we knew the warties were hitting that spot that I really wanted to try to take one with my selfbow. That afternoon we went back to the same hide and I was packing a selfbow. This was my Arvin Weaver selfbow, 45#@28" and some of Terry Dunns custom wood arrows. That afternoon right before dark we had several warthogs come in and one was a pretty nice sow. I decided to shoot her. It was right at dark and the shot was about 11-12yds. I let go and it felt good. The arrow looked like it was headed in the right direction but I could not see the hit. Dannie and I began to track but could not find any blood. Dannie said we needed to wait till morning to let Joseph get on the trail. Joseph did find her the next morning. I made a great shot and she went about 100yds. The arrow used for this shot was "AW". I promised Arvin I would try to shoot something with his bow so I thought it appropriate to use his arrow. Here is a few pics of my Selfbow Warthog (see below).
Thurs morning, June 25th, we went to an elevated hide that was a cool set up but that I did not get any pics of. The morning started off with a Duiker ewe coming in very early. She left and then a nice Duiker ram came in. I thought I was going to get a shot at him but it did not work out. Here is a pic of the Duiker ram (see below).
After the Duiker left Dannie looked out the window and said "KUDU". There was a huge Kudu bull about 200yds off in the brush. We waited but he disappeared in the brush and never came in to the waterhole. At about 8:00am the call came that they had found my selfbow warthog from last night. It was VERY WINDY so we decided to get down and go take the pics.
At about 9:00am we had finished taking pics of the warthog and were back in Pit Blind #1. There were a ton of Guineas hanging around and at about 10:45 I could not stand it anymore and decided to shoot one. Thanks, Chunky, you helped me knock him off the ledge of the water trough. That judo point worked great although we did have to persue him on foot for a short way to retrieve him. Here is some pics of my "Chunky Chicken" (see below).
We went for lunch and the afternoon was spent watching a few warthogs come in and wind us. I was starting to get frustrated that I would never get to see any big animals up close.
Fri morning, June 26th, found us back at Inguna Safaris to try to walk and stalk for an Nyala. We road around in a Land Rover looking for ther bulls. We spotted one and tried to put on the stalk. Hee is a pic of the Nyala (see below). These are truely beautiful animals.
We finally caught up to him and got within range but there was too much brush in the way to shoot. We finally gave up the stalking. Before leaving we showed the guys there a spot to set up a brush blind for me near a waterhole that they were coming to frequently.
Friday afternoon was when the majic started. The weather and wind were finally cooperating with us. At 1:30 we saw a small Kudu bull and several cows within 75 yds of Pit Blind #1 as we drove in. Once in the hide at about 1:55 a small Kudu bull and cow were eating orange peels 20yds in front of me. At about 2:30 another small Kudu bull came out. The Kudus left and a Duiker ewe came in to drink at about 3:10. Then it happened. At 3:15 a whole herd of Blue Wildebeest came in to the hide. Several warthogs also came in at the same time. I picked out a nice cow Wildebeest to shoot but did not shoot because there was another one right behind her. I was worried about passing through her and sticking a second one. Well, something spooked them and they all ran off. I was disappointed but very excited at the same time. At 4:00 two Impala rams came in. Dannie asked if I wanted to take one but I said no, I wanted to wait on the bigger animals.
Sat, June 27th, the majic continues. We head out at daylight to Pit Blind #1. At 6:30 a Duiker ewe and ram come in. The ram is too nervous and I never get a shot. At 7:15 a Steenbok ewe comes in and eats orange peels and drinks at the trough. At 7:45 a Jackal walks by but never comes in range. At about 8:45 a big herd of Impalas come in. At 8:55 here comes the Wildebeest. I pick out a nice Wildebeest at 17yds. The arrow sails right over the top of him and the spook and run off. A nice bull stops and I quickly nock another arrow and take a second shot. Two misses in a matter of minutes. These Wildebeest seem to have my #. We were discussing the first shot and found that my arrow hit the side of the window as it was leaving the hide. That was why I missed so badly. The second one turned out to be at 28yds and happened so fast I guess I just muffed that one. Anyway, I was gald to know that I had not made a bad hit and that they were clean misses. Since we had all the commotion Dannie decided to have some more orange peels brought out to the hide. Workers showed up with a whole trailer load of orange peels. Here is a few pics of them unloading the orange peels (see below). (Did I mention that Kudu LOVE orange peels?)
At about 11:30 the orange peels showed up and at 11:45 we were back in the hide. Just before 1:00 the first Kudu comes in. He was a small bull with a cow right behind him. At 1:10 a real nice bull walks out at 22yds quartered away. I proceed to miss low and they bust out of there. I was devastated and this was the one time during the whole trip that I detected a look of disgust on my PH,s face. Danie said he was going to crawl out of the hide to see if he could spot them. Just as he was by the door a Kudu cow came walking back out. I stopped Dannie and in just a few minutes there were 2 small Kudu bulls, 5 or 6 Kudu cows, and a herd of Impala in front of us again. Then the big bull I had just missed came back in in the same spot at 22yds. I had to wait for a while for him to turn to a good angle. He finally did and I took another shot at him. This time I hit him but the shot was very low. Dannie calls in the trackers. At 1:45 the trackers wave us up and there is my Kudu laying on the ground dead about 125yds from the blind. I did a little victory dance as I walked up to him. I used the "DaveS903" arrow to take the Kudu. Thanks for the help. Here are a few pics of my Kudu Bull (see below).
At 3:00 we are back in the hide. At 3:45 a bachelor group of Impala rams come in. When the biggest one appeared Dannie told me I really needed to shoot it. I could tell by the look on his face that this must be a really good ram so I decided I would try to take him. He finally stopped, quartered away, at about 21-22yds and I take the shot. The arrow hits a little forward and he runs off. I used the Gerhard & lowtech arrow for this shot. At 4:30 the trackers, Joseph and Reggie, start to track him. They get on blood and follow him till dark. We have to wait till the am to finish. Here is a pic of him before I shot him (see below).
Sat, June 28th, found us going on another side trip to the Blyde River Canyon. This is the third largest canyon in the world behind the Grand Canyon (#2) and a canyon in Namibia(#1). While on the way there we got the call that they could not find my Impala from the night before. What a bummer! We stayed at the Moholoholo Forest Camp which was another 5 star accomodation. My wife and myself went on another game drive and game walk where we saw a lot of animals. On Sun morning, June 29th, we drove around the canyon and took in its splendor. It is truely a beautiful place. Here are a few pics from this excursion (see below).
Most of the next two days is a time that I would mostly like to forget but I have to tell the whole story and this is part of the story. On Mon, June 29th, we arrived back from Blyde River Canyon just in time to try the brush blind for the Nyala at Inguna Safaris. We arrived to find a nice blind set up right where we had specified. Dannie and I got in the blind at about 4:30 in the afternoon and we started seeing Nyala within 30 minutes. A nice bull came in that Dannie said was a shooter. I had him at 13yds eating lucerne (hay). He turned quartering away and I shoot. Oh, crap, the arrow hit him about 5 inches below the top of his back. I knew he was a lost animal as I watched him run off and was very disappointed in myself for screwing that one up. We looked and found my arrow about 40 yds away but never found any blood or Nyala. when we got back to camp I put the video on the TV and it appears that my arrow hit something in the shooting hole of the brush blind. This one was a very expensive mess-up. On the bright side though, I do not think that the shot was lethal and do think that the bull will live to see another hunter someday. Here is a pic of the Nyala just before the shot (see below).
Tues, June 30th, had us back in Pit Blind #1, hoping for one more chance at the wildebeest. At 6:30am a nice Steenbok ram came in but would not position for a shot. All was quiet for most of the rest of the morning. At 11:00 the Wildebeest came in and some are eating orange peels while others are at the water trough. I pick out a nice one a 20yds and proceed to miss it low. They spook off but come right back in. I pick another one out at about 20yds and shoot. I hit him this time but the shot was very high in the back. Also, there was no limbs or sides of the windows to blame this one on. It was all me making a terrible shot. Here is a couple pics of the wildebeest, before and after the shot (see below).
Joseph, the tracker, came out and we looked for several hours for my wildebeest to no avail. Again, the only good thing about this, is I do not think that the shot was lethal and I do think this Wildebeest will live to see another hunter. After several hours we finally gave up the search and returned to the hide. At 4:25 a Steenbok ewe and baby came in and at 4:40 a Duiker ewe came in. At 4:45 a small Impala ram came in and left. Nothing else happened until right before dark when three warthogs came in. Dannie tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I wanted to shoot one. He then said he would not charge me for it since I did not get a chance at a Gemsbok so I decided to shoot the boar. This happened pretty much in the last minute of the last hour of the hunt and made the hunt end on a good note. I used the "Maglite" arrow for this one. Here is a couple pics - one before the shot and one on impact (see below).
We did not recover him that evening and had to look the next morning.
Here is a pic of the sunrise on my last day in South Africa (see below).
Joseph and Reggie were still looking when we had to leave for the airport. About an hour into our drive back to Johannesberg the call came that they had recovered my last Warthog. I was very pleased to hear this and am awaiting Dannie to send me some LDP's of him.
All-in-all this was the best bowhunting trip of my entire life. I was very dissappointed with my shooting at times and vow to be more prepared for my next trip. There will be a next trip unless I die first. Thanks to all my friends who accompanied me on my arrows. I hope this recap helps you feel like you were there with me. I would reccomend to anyone who wants to go to Africa to find a way to make it work. It is definitely worth it and the experience is even better than you could imagine. It is a true bowhunters paradise. Ledjadji Safaris was a well run outfitter and Dannie worked his tail off to make my hunt a success and to ensure that my wife had plenty of neat things to do to keep her happy.
See y'all later,
Bisch
First off, let me tell everyone who told me that Africa would be better that I could imagine that you were right. I bought my hunt at the LSBA banquet in June of '08 and have been chomping at the bit to get to go. Well, on June 18th, 2009, I boarded a plane to go on my first African Safari. My wife, Michele, accompanied me as a non-hunter. After a very long plane ride we arrived at the airport in Johannesberg. All our luggage arrived too. We were met by my PH Dannie Massyn of Ledjadji Safaris and began the four hour drive to the hunting area. While on the way Dannie advised that he had a client that was leaving on the 20th and that we would spend the first night at another hunting lodge called Inguna Safaris. Here is a pic of the Inguna lodge.
1775
Sat June 20th was my first day to hunt. We hunted out of a tent blind for the morning hunt. A front had blown in and the wind was all wrong. We saw some warthogs on the morning hunt but they winded us and left the area. We went back to the lodge for a 4 star lunch of Gemsbok steaks and Duiker roast with all the sides and trimmings. The afternoon hunt was also uneventful as the wind was still wrong and all we saw was Guinea Fowl. I shot at them twice and missed both times. Here is a pic of the elevated hide we hunted out of in the afternoon and one of the sunset on my first day hunting in Africa (see below).
That night we loaded in the truck and arrived at Ledjadji Safaris Lodge. It was a nice place and here are a few pics (see below). This is where we lived for the rest of our trip.
Sun June 21st my wife and I went on an overnight trip to the Tuli Lodge in Botswana. We were the only two guests at a 5 star lodge and everyone waited on us like we owned the place. We went on 2 game drives and saw a lot of different animals. Here are a few pics from the Tuli Lodge (see below).
The next couple days were very uneventful. We saw a couple Duiker, Steenbok, and Impala but the wind was howling all day long and the animals just were not moving around very much. Dannie kept telling me not to worry because when the weather got right things would change. He was right.
On the morning of Tues June 23rd we went to a hide I named Pit Blind #2. The wind was still out of the wrong direction but had finally calmed down and was not blowing hard. Just after daylight Dannie tapped me on the shoulder and pointed out the window. There was a nice Impala ram working his way in. After a few minutes the ram was right in front of the hide licking on a salt block. I had to wait for several minutes for him to turn and when he did I shot my first animal in Africa. It was a 23yd quartering away shot. I hit him a little far back but Dannie was convinced it was a good shot because of how he was quartered away. Dannie called in the tracker, Joseph. Joseph is a 60ish year old man who knows his stuff whwn it comes to tracking animals. He got on the trail and we tracked him several hundred yards when Joseph jumped him up. We backed out and Dannie called fro a tracking dog. Dannie said we should let the dog work and go ahead and go to a hide and continue hunting. We went to Pit Blind #1 and I was not feeling very good about this. Within an hour the call came in that they had recovered my Impala. I shot this Impala with the arrow that had "gatorgar" on it. Thanks Alex, for the help. They brought him to us and picture taking followed. Here are a few pics of my Impala and Pit Blind #2 (see below).
The afternoon hunt on Tues was exciting too. I did not get a shot but had several warthogs come in to Pit Blind#1 in the afternoon. I was ready to shoot a nice boar but it never worked out. Here is a pic of Pit Blind #1 (see below).
On Wed, June 24th, we headed out to Pit Blind#1 in the morning before daylight. When we arrived there was a warthog there that spooked and ran off. We got our stuff out of the truck and the warthog comes strolling right back into the waterhole. Dannie asked me if I could shoot it and I said yes. I pulled out and arrow and proceeded to miss him low at about 12yds. That was with the "rubydog" arrow. Thanks, Terry, but I do not need that kind of help. Next time I will not put your name on a carbon arrow! The warthog runs off about 5yds, stops, and turns around and walks right back in again. The second time I drilled him right in the boiler room and he went tearing out of there with a tracer nock just barely sticking out of the entry hole. Dannie and I tracked him and he only went about 50yds and was down for the count. I shot him with the "Longstick" arrow. Thanks, Harvey! Here are a few pics of my first warthog (see below).
The rest of the morning was uneventful and when we went for lunch I told Dannie that since we knew the warties were hitting that spot that I really wanted to try to take one with my selfbow. That afternoon we went back to the same hide and I was packing a selfbow. This was my Arvin Weaver selfbow, 45#@28" and some of Terry Dunns custom wood arrows. That afternoon right before dark we had several warthogs come in and one was a pretty nice sow. I decided to shoot her. It was right at dark and the shot was about 11-12yds. I let go and it felt good. The arrow looked like it was headed in the right direction but I could not see the hit. Dannie and I began to track but could not find any blood. Dannie said we needed to wait till morning to let Joseph get on the trail. Joseph did find her the next morning. I made a great shot and she went about 100yds. The arrow used for this shot was "AW". I promised Arvin I would try to shoot something with his bow so I thought it appropriate to use his arrow. Here is a few pics of my Selfbow Warthog (see below).
Thurs morning, June 25th, we went to an elevated hide that was a cool set up but that I did not get any pics of. The morning started off with a Duiker ewe coming in very early. She left and then a nice Duiker ram came in. I thought I was going to get a shot at him but it did not work out. Here is a pic of the Duiker ram (see below).
After the Duiker left Dannie looked out the window and said "KUDU". There was a huge Kudu bull about 200yds off in the brush. We waited but he disappeared in the brush and never came in to the waterhole. At about 8:00am the call came that they had found my selfbow warthog from last night. It was VERY WINDY so we decided to get down and go take the pics.
At about 9:00am we had finished taking pics of the warthog and were back in Pit Blind #1. There were a ton of Guineas hanging around and at about 10:45 I could not stand it anymore and decided to shoot one. Thanks, Chunky, you helped me knock him off the ledge of the water trough. That judo point worked great although we did have to persue him on foot for a short way to retrieve him. Here is some pics of my "Chunky Chicken" (see below).
We went for lunch and the afternoon was spent watching a few warthogs come in and wind us. I was starting to get frustrated that I would never get to see any big animals up close.
Fri morning, June 26th, found us back at Inguna Safaris to try to walk and stalk for an Nyala. We road around in a Land Rover looking for ther bulls. We spotted one and tried to put on the stalk. Hee is a pic of the Nyala (see below). These are truely beautiful animals.
We finally caught up to him and got within range but there was too much brush in the way to shoot. We finally gave up the stalking. Before leaving we showed the guys there a spot to set up a brush blind for me near a waterhole that they were coming to frequently.
Friday afternoon was when the majic started. The weather and wind were finally cooperating with us. At 1:30 we saw a small Kudu bull and several cows within 75 yds of Pit Blind #1 as we drove in. Once in the hide at about 1:55 a small Kudu bull and cow were eating orange peels 20yds in front of me. At about 2:30 another small Kudu bull came out. The Kudus left and a Duiker ewe came in to drink at about 3:10. Then it happened. At 3:15 a whole herd of Blue Wildebeest came in to the hide. Several warthogs also came in at the same time. I picked out a nice cow Wildebeest to shoot but did not shoot because there was another one right behind her. I was worried about passing through her and sticking a second one. Well, something spooked them and they all ran off. I was disappointed but very excited at the same time. At 4:00 two Impala rams came in. Dannie asked if I wanted to take one but I said no, I wanted to wait on the bigger animals.
Sat, June 27th, the majic continues. We head out at daylight to Pit Blind #1. At 6:30 a Duiker ewe and ram come in. The ram is too nervous and I never get a shot. At 7:15 a Steenbok ewe comes in and eats orange peels and drinks at the trough. At 7:45 a Jackal walks by but never comes in range. At about 8:45 a big herd of Impalas come in. At 8:55 here comes the Wildebeest. I pick out a nice Wildebeest at 17yds. The arrow sails right over the top of him and the spook and run off. A nice bull stops and I quickly nock another arrow and take a second shot. Two misses in a matter of minutes. These Wildebeest seem to have my #. We were discussing the first shot and found that my arrow hit the side of the window as it was leaving the hide. That was why I missed so badly. The second one turned out to be at 28yds and happened so fast I guess I just muffed that one. Anyway, I was gald to know that I had not made a bad hit and that they were clean misses. Since we had all the commotion Dannie decided to have some more orange peels brought out to the hide. Workers showed up with a whole trailer load of orange peels. Here is a few pics of them unloading the orange peels (see below). (Did I mention that Kudu LOVE orange peels?)
At about 11:30 the orange peels showed up and at 11:45 we were back in the hide. Just before 1:00 the first Kudu comes in. He was a small bull with a cow right behind him. At 1:10 a real nice bull walks out at 22yds quartered away. I proceed to miss low and they bust out of there. I was devastated and this was the one time during the whole trip that I detected a look of disgust on my PH,s face. Danie said he was going to crawl out of the hide to see if he could spot them. Just as he was by the door a Kudu cow came walking back out. I stopped Dannie and in just a few minutes there were 2 small Kudu bulls, 5 or 6 Kudu cows, and a herd of Impala in front of us again. Then the big bull I had just missed came back in in the same spot at 22yds. I had to wait for a while for him to turn to a good angle. He finally did and I took another shot at him. This time I hit him but the shot was very low. Dannie calls in the trackers. At 1:45 the trackers wave us up and there is my Kudu laying on the ground dead about 125yds from the blind. I did a little victory dance as I walked up to him. I used the "DaveS903" arrow to take the Kudu. Thanks for the help. Here are a few pics of my Kudu Bull (see below).
At 3:00 we are back in the hide. At 3:45 a bachelor group of Impala rams come in. When the biggest one appeared Dannie told me I really needed to shoot it. I could tell by the look on his face that this must be a really good ram so I decided I would try to take him. He finally stopped, quartered away, at about 21-22yds and I take the shot. The arrow hits a little forward and he runs off. I used the Gerhard & lowtech arrow for this shot. At 4:30 the trackers, Joseph and Reggie, start to track him. They get on blood and follow him till dark. We have to wait till the am to finish. Here is a pic of him before I shot him (see below).
Sat, June 28th, found us going on another side trip to the Blyde River Canyon. This is the third largest canyon in the world behind the Grand Canyon (#2) and a canyon in Namibia(#1). While on the way there we got the call that they could not find my Impala from the night before. What a bummer! We stayed at the Moholoholo Forest Camp which was another 5 star accomodation. My wife and myself went on another game drive and game walk where we saw a lot of animals. On Sun morning, June 29th, we drove around the canyon and took in its splendor. It is truely a beautiful place. Here are a few pics from this excursion (see below).
Most of the next two days is a time that I would mostly like to forget but I have to tell the whole story and this is part of the story. On Mon, June 29th, we arrived back from Blyde River Canyon just in time to try the brush blind for the Nyala at Inguna Safaris. We arrived to find a nice blind set up right where we had specified. Dannie and I got in the blind at about 4:30 in the afternoon and we started seeing Nyala within 30 minutes. A nice bull came in that Dannie said was a shooter. I had him at 13yds eating lucerne (hay). He turned quartering away and I shoot. Oh, crap, the arrow hit him about 5 inches below the top of his back. I knew he was a lost animal as I watched him run off and was very disappointed in myself for screwing that one up. We looked and found my arrow about 40 yds away but never found any blood or Nyala. when we got back to camp I put the video on the TV and it appears that my arrow hit something in the shooting hole of the brush blind. This one was a very expensive mess-up. On the bright side though, I do not think that the shot was lethal and do think that the bull will live to see another hunter someday. Here is a pic of the Nyala just before the shot (see below).
Tues, June 30th, had us back in Pit Blind #1, hoping for one more chance at the wildebeest. At 6:30am a nice Steenbok ram came in but would not position for a shot. All was quiet for most of the rest of the morning. At 11:00 the Wildebeest came in and some are eating orange peels while others are at the water trough. I pick out a nice one a 20yds and proceed to miss it low. They spook off but come right back in. I pick another one out at about 20yds and shoot. I hit him this time but the shot was very high in the back. Also, there was no limbs or sides of the windows to blame this one on. It was all me making a terrible shot. Here is a couple pics of the wildebeest, before and after the shot (see below).
Joseph, the tracker, came out and we looked for several hours for my wildebeest to no avail. Again, the only good thing about this, is I do not think that the shot was lethal and I do think this Wildebeest will live to see another hunter. After several hours we finally gave up the search and returned to the hide. At 4:25 a Steenbok ewe and baby came in and at 4:40 a Duiker ewe came in. At 4:45 a small Impala ram came in and left. Nothing else happened until right before dark when three warthogs came in. Dannie tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I wanted to shoot one. He then said he would not charge me for it since I did not get a chance at a Gemsbok so I decided to shoot the boar. This happened pretty much in the last minute of the last hour of the hunt and made the hunt end on a good note. I used the "Maglite" arrow for this one. Here is a couple pics - one before the shot and one on impact (see below).
We did not recover him that evening and had to look the next morning.
Here is a pic of the sunrise on my last day in South Africa (see below).
Joseph and Reggie were still looking when we had to leave for the airport. About an hour into our drive back to Johannesberg the call came that they had recovered my last Warthog. I was very pleased to hear this and am awaiting Dannie to send me some LDP's of him.
All-in-all this was the best bowhunting trip of my entire life. I was very dissappointed with my shooting at times and vow to be more prepared for my next trip. There will be a next trip unless I die first. Thanks to all my friends who accompanied me on my arrows. I hope this recap helps you feel like you were there with me. I would reccomend to anyone who wants to go to Africa to find a way to make it work. It is definitely worth it and the experience is even better than you could imagine. It is a true bowhunters paradise. Ledjadji Safaris was a well run outfitter and Dannie worked his tail off to make my hunt a success and to ensure that my wife had plenty of neat things to do to keep her happy.
See y'all later,
Bisch