I'm a short range hunter, it's been a long time since I killed anything over 20 yards. For about 5 years I hunted only with my 10mm carry gun. Last deer was at 17 yards, last ground at 34 inches, squirrels at 7 yards.
So, is there anyway to book a hunt in Africa that will work for my hunting style? The only trophy I have in my house is the groundhog I fooled so well I killed at at 34 inches.
I intend to go on a hunt in Africa within 4 years.

I know I am not typical, I get that.

I'll get you 10 yards from an elephant!!

Just go with those who routinely guide Bowhunters. All our hunting is done at close range.

OK. You know and admit that your requirements, or more correctly, your desires, are not typical.

Hats off to you for having the honesty and / or guts to state those desires up front and await responses from African hunting outfitters. I have thought for a few minutes about some very close range shots that I've taken, or situations where I got, or even more often the animal got, to withing a few yards from me.

I cannot honesty say that I can offer some hunting in dense bushveld where very good stalking skills, or patient waiting next to a known animal path, or sound calling will get you and animals to well within handgun killing range of each other. But it will mostly be a challenge for me too! But most of my hunting is done on open grassveld under free range conditions, i.e. no game retaining fences! Normally a springbok at about 100 yards will be considered as a close shot in this neck of the woods. But even here patient waiting at a burrow entrance will get ground squirrels and meercat to within 10 yards. Some other animals can likely be stalked to well within pistol shot range.

I fondly recall the incident where I was guiding an American client and we saw a very good duiker in the grass, He ran off, but in typical "duiker" style dropped from sight after running some 100 yards. I marked the spot and stalked it, with the client following very close on my heels. It ended up with me pointing out the duiker lying within touching distance in the tall grass. If I had a long spear instead of the shooting sticks, I could have speared the trophy. As it was I sort of bent my arm back so as to not get the sticks to close to the duiker while still pointing at it and with my eyes rolling indicated to the client to shoot. At this the client, a admitted newcomer to antelope hunting, whispered: "Is it OK to shoot while it is lying down?" Needless to say he did not get that duiker as it cleared out fast and far,very far this time. I relate this story, not to create the impression that I claim to be able to get you to within a few yards of a trophy, but at least it has happened once! But the trick for your type of hunting will be to concentrate the effort in the correct type of bushveld terrain, at least to some which I have access to.

I'll follow this posting and see what offers are made.

Bust of luck on your search for an honest hunting outfitter who will satisfy your desires. With difficulty, and a lot of luck, I know I can get you very close to a number of "varmint animals" like dassie, meercat, ground squirrel, springhare as well as a few types of antelope. It'll be great fun attempting such a hunt! OK, come to think of it, I'll soon make you an offer via Private Messaging. But better still, contact me at my address given below and we can set a long planning of such a dream hunt in motion!

In good hunting.

quote:

Originally posted by martin pieters:
I'll get you 10 yards from an elephant!!

...and let him hunt it with his 10MM carry Gun?

Hell 10mm is .40 cal - some people like that.

quote:

Originally posted by DAL:
Just go with those who routinely guide Bowhunters. All our hunting is done at close range.

Why didn't I think of that? Great answer.

I keep having visions of me running for my life after making an elephant very mad. I'm sure the video would be very popular on youtube.

quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:

quote:

Originally posted by martin pieters:
I'll get you 10 yards from an elephant!!

...and let him hunt it with his 10MM carry Gun?

Kevin Robertson got me to seven yards from very old buff bull in Moz. He (the bull, not Kevin) was asleep.

Give Johan Herman a try! He'll get you plenty close!

http://forums.accuratereloadin...ms/a/frm/f/832100588

I was about 40 feet from the last Buffalo I shot with him.

you can with luck and time get close to most game , my advice would be book longer time than normal and choose very carefully the terrain of the outfitter - thicker bush will be crucial.

also depends on the species you wish to take...

great advice to go with a guy who is accustomed to guiding walk and stalk bowhunters !

quote:

great advice to go with a guy who is accustomed to guiding walk and stalk bowhunters !

Ivan hit the nail on the head.
The best PH I know of who can offer what you want is Leo van Rooyen. He has taken more big game up close than most any bow specialist PH. Included in that was a 100lbs plus Ele with bow which I know was taken first shot at less than 10 yards into the boiler room.

It is what he lives for and that is why he is good at it.

Put it this way, If I was wanting to take an Ele up close with a Bow myself and wanted someone to back me up, it would be Leo.

Check out his website http://www.leovanrooyensafarisafrica.com/gallery.htm

quote:

Originally posted by frank4570:

quote:

Originally posted by DAL:
Just go with those who routinely guide Bowhunters. All our hunting is done at close range.

Why didn't I think of that? Great answer.

The great majority of bow hunting in Africa is done from a blind over a water hole -- I don't think that is what you're looking for. If you go the "bow guide" route, be sure of the guide's hunting technique.

Obviously, hunting heavy brush or forest is going to entail much closer shots than that of the open plains. Central African countries might be a place to look first; however, thick terrain is found in both Southern and Eastern Africa as well, so the area and the guide are more important than the country.

Go to Kanana. Waterholes can range from 10 to 45 yards with many being around 20 yards. Perfect area for a bow hunter over water. Highly recommend, I was there last year. Truly incredible.

Try the forest zone...damn few places where you can see 20 yards!

My last two elephants in the Caprivi were at 15 yards and 11 yards, but I wouldn't advise using a 10mm handgun.

I spent a lot of time learning to move silently at 100 yards per hour. I don't think I would like sitting over a water hole.

450NE #2 has taken elephant so close that he could have been "wacked" with
their tusks if they'd have turned on him! Ask him who he had as a PH.

quote:

Originally posted by frank4570:
I spent a lot of time learning to move silently at 100 yards per hour. I don't think I would like sitting over a water hole.

Frank,
You don't have to. I have giraffe, ele, baboon, lion, black wildebeest, blackbuck, buffalo (asiatic and cape) 4 Australian deer, and lots other, with spot and stalk, using my bow.
Do not think you will need to sit a waterhole.
One note: the lion was doing the spot and stalk ON US the night I shot him at 5 yards.

Guy Whittall can get you scary close to elephant and lots of other game, without them knowing.

Same with the Webster boys at Kingham Ranch or Marble Island in Australia.