My son and I will be hunting there sept 15 for 10 days and hope to mainly bow hunt. Just looking to hear what luck some had with there bow there.

We will have a rifle with also but my son is trying to take more with his bow each trip. I am guessing by mid sept the waterholes will be smaller and have plenty of action.

Thanks for any info.

bcap,

I've had archers on Coutada 9. They have good blinds and several waterholes. They are also tuned into what bow hunters need. You'll do very well as there are huge amounts of game there.

Mark

Thanks mark

I was just hoping to get some feedback on what guys thought is all. Like what animals they thought they could spot/stalk or would only be from blinds. Also what kind of set up they used.

I'm no archery hunter.

I was in C-9 last season. I did sit in a couple of their waterhole blinds to take photos.

I think you would have no issues with impala, Reedbuck, Warthog, Nyala, bushbuck and maybe Sable (they came in, but the bulls were pretty standoffish).

Waterbuck are maybe due to numbers.

Kudu maybe, lots of them, but the bulls were turned on somewhat- if around the rut, no problem.

Buffalo- I doubt it. Staking them the cover was a little too open to get in decent bow range.

Lion- Also less likely.

Eland- maybe, but hard to get them to stand still.

Grysbok, Red Duiker and Suni- probably not. Bush Duiker maybe.

Hartebeest were low in number and flighty.

All of the probables I had shootable males get within 20 yards of me.

The maybes I had males get in range, but not what I would term shootable.

The unlikelys I either didn't get within 20 yards or they were very nervous and didn't stand still for more than a second or so.

I did see all of the above, with everything except the lion multiple times.

Thanks for that info sounds like some good action at the waterholes then.

I was in Coutada 11 bowhunting with Zambese Delta Safaris in 2021. Different terrain maybe but the volume of animals was impressive. If you blew a stalk it was not long before another opportunity came up.
Walk & stalk beats the tedium of a blind hands down!

JCHB

quote:

Originally posted by JCHB:
I was in Coutada 11 bowhunting with Zambese Delta Safaris in 2021. Different terrain maybe but the volume of animals was impressive. If you blew a stalk it was not long before another opportunity came up.
Walk & stalk beats the tedium of a blind hands down!

JCHB

Hope to do a mix of blind and stalking. Blinds for a few hours as I like seeing all that happens at a waterhole sometimes.

I also got a Pm from Doug and to say I am pumped up now to do this bow hunt is a huge understatement. I am thinking my son and I are in for an amazing trip any way it shakes out

quote:

Originally posted by bcap:
I also got a Pm from Doug and to say I am pumped up now to do this bow hunt is a huge understatement. I am thinking my son and I are in for an amazing trip any way it shakes out

Doug is a pretty avid bowhunter so he will be able to put you in the right place at the right time, he knows what your needs will be.

I bowhunted Coutada 10 I think it was back in 2008. It was an absolute bowhunters dream, but I did not know of any blinds they had, it was all spot and stalk. I got my buffalo, a bushpig (the highlight of the hunt) blew a shot on a great nyala, several warthogs and a reedbuck. I also got a fine sable but that was with a rifle.

At that time Coutada 10 was under concession of an outfit called Bahati which has since shut down. It was the finest African camp I have ever seen. New and well maintained vehicles, a fleet of Toyotas, about 4 Argos, a R44 helicopter and airstrip.
The owner of Bahati was an exceptionally competent man and pilot, but I haven't heard of him since.

So everyone is clear the hunting on Coutada 9 is quite different than on the Coutadas on or adjacent to the flood plain such as Coutada 10,11,12. Coutada 9 is inland in the dry forest and far from the flood plain. Regardless of when you hunt Coutada 9 there will be no wading in water necessary as you might encounter earlier in season on the flood plain.

Mark

Guys thanks for all the info