I just got off the phone with my good friend and taxidermist Anthony Maxwell in Ceres California. A mutual friend of ours who is an avid bowhunter is just back from the Dande area. Matt, not to be confused with my other friend Matt Norman, is an avid bow hunter and all around great guy. Last year when Anthony drove a truck load of trophies to Ohio Matt just came along to keep him company. Anyway, I digress.

Matt hunted in the Dande with ph David Tennet who is living in RSA but is an ex Rhodesian patriot. It took them seven days of sitting in blinds without a shot even though the buff were plentifull. On the eigth day, Matt got the shot he wanted and took a great old Duga boy with one arrow! We are all exremely happy for him! Quite an accomplishment. We will all be together again at Reno if not before. It appears Anthony managed to run a carving knife 8 inches up his leg and has been laid up but good. He was originally supposed to have accomanied Matt on the trip. My condolences to him.

Is't it against regs to bowhunt in Dande? That is what I've been told.

Apparently not. I really have no idea what the regs say to be honest. I am pretty much a gun hunter these days. Maybe someone else here knows. I cant see this guy knowingly breaking the law it isnt his nature.

Maybe Ganyana can weigh in. Archery is allowed in the communal areas like Omay and private consevancies such as Lemco and the Save but ,as I was told, forbidden on the large gov owned areas. Maybe they had a "special permit".

Or maybe my pea brain didnt get the facts right either. We talked about alot on the phone. I will call him back tomorrow to get some more information and to verify what I thought I heard. Also as to the "special permit" in Zim anything is possible.

Tell me it isn't so!!! How could such a mighty beast fall to anything less than a .375 bullet??? Damm! STUNT HUNTS!!
Those aren't my feelings just thought I'd beat the usuals to the punch of posting that Mike
Tell Matt super job!

From a blind, disgraceful!! whats next tripods and feeders.

just kidding, congrats to your friend for taking a buff with a bow

To the successful archer...job well done, again time and patience pay off...


Mike

I got some more information today. He did indeed have a bow permit for the southern part of the Dande. It was in an area with Ingwe Safaris. The govt types never bothered to check out his equipment, neither his bow nor his broadheads. He is only puliing 80 pounds but got a complete pass through on a double lung shot with the arrow. I guess it proves that if you have an unriled up animal and your take your time and pick your shot it is more than possible. I will say that he was a little aprehensive and more than once almost went to rifle hunting.

Mike,

That buf was at the perfect angle and distance to slide that arrow through the space between ribs..most are overlapping...

Mike

Mike, tell Matt congratulations from me.

Will it be possible to find out what bow he used, what was the arrow weight and what broadheads. It is impressive to get a total pass through on a buff.

Hang in there cats. Now you can plan your own bow and arrow hunt!

Rusty what are you talking about I have deposit $ on one already.

Great! Can't wait to see the pictures and read your report!

you'll get it in August of '06

quote:

Originally posted by retreever:
Mike,

That buf was at the perfect angle and distance to slide that arrow through the space between ribs..most are overlapping...

Mike

No doubt about that! I guess that is why it took him 8 days to pick a shot he wanted.

Great job!!

I'd sure like to know the equipment details.

Just to set the record straight, my 80# Bowtech Allegiance with an 880 grain arrow gets 98 ftlb KE. It is legal for buff anywhere a bow is legal for buff.

As a comparison, it used to take a 100# Mathews Safari to get the 105 ft-lbs required in some places to be legal for elephant. My Allegiance will surpass that when set at 85#.

So a good 80# bow with an 800-900 grain arrow (and a broadside shot) will get a passthrough on buff more often than not.

I know of 7 shots at buff (some with bows of less power) using 800-900 grain arrows. All were pass-throughs. One guy I'm in email contact with has taken 5 buff with bows. All were passthroughs.

Here's a fellow that shot completely through - END-FOR-END !!!- a water buff with a bow and 850 grain arrow at 93 ft-lbs KE.

Dan Hunsaker buff

I'm considering trying for a buff with a bow next September. Please ask your friend to contact me or post the details here!

Originally posted by Mike Smith:
...Matt got the shot he wanted and took a great old Duga boy with one arrow!...


Only one arrow, eh? So how many bullets did it take from the PH's double? C'mon tell us the truth, how many?

Just joking, incredible shot in my opinion.