I absolutely don't want to stomp on toes here, but my impression is that the majority of animals taken with the bow in today's Africa are taken from permanent blinds stationed overlooking permanent, often-concrete, water holes.
I understand that this is the most reliable way to put African game within bow range on anything like a regular basis.
So it would seem to be the exception when game is taken by spotting and stalking. Are there any African archery PHs who focus on spot and stalk? What kind of success rates do their clients enjoy?

There are a lot of African PH's that focus on "spot and stalk" bowhunting and are very good at it. It's a fact that most/many of their clients are not very good at it!!

I have found that most wannabe "spot and stalk" bowhunters in Africa are usually recurve or longbow shooters. Not bashing these folks, but this just makes the hunt more of a headache for the PH. Africa is a whole different ballgame than bowhunting most other places around, so one who has quite a bit of experience in "spot and stalk" in the USA for example, find very little to apply in a lot of cases to hunting in Africa. Two very different scenerios. Been there done that a half a dozen or so times so base MY opinions from having actually been there.

Shoot me a PM if you are interested in names and such of some good PH's who specialized in bowhunting Africa. You and these guys can discuss your request on a one on one basis. Lot better technique that hearsay!!

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

Bill:
You are correct in your observations and Larry is also correct in that clients are not very good at stalking.

A couple of years ago I wrote an article in the African Hunter magazine entitled, Where Have all the Hunters Gone? I got a lot of hell from my statement that all I see on the tv here in the states are bow hunters sitting in a tree or a blind for the shot. There is shooting, yes, but no "hunting" and it mirrors today's attitude of get as much as possible, as quickly as possible, for as little effort as possible. Is some SA game farms I've seen the land is divided into paddocks with a high fence and only one water hole with, of course, a blind. There is no skill in this and, personally, I don't see the honor it it, either. But, on the other hand, the photo looks good! Several Zim and SA PHs I have spoken with state a majority of hunters of theirs shoot with a rifle and pose with a bow. And, this is no different that the rifle hunters who sit in a blind or drive around the property all day and shoot from the vehicle when game is spotted. Which is a carry over from the US hunters on guaranteed deer and elk hunts in the States: high reward, high cost, little effort.

I'm happy to know Larry can direct you to PHs who will give an honest track, spot, stalk bow hunt. If you go, let us all know--it may be a first here!

Let the games begin...
Cal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...iXQ9M&feature=relmfu


Bill,

Check with Rich Elliott of Ethiopian Rift Valley Safaris.

Thanks Kathi and Cal. PM incoming Larry.

As Larry said there are PHs that would love to take you on a spot and stalk hunt and some that really understand bowhunting. The bowhunter just has to understand that it is much more difficult with a bow.

Success will depend a lot on skill and how fussy you are about trophy quality. If the PH can get you in position for a good shot on a represtative animal you probably should take it. A rifle hunter might pass on a 35" mature buffalo but that would probably not be wise for a bowhunter.

Mark

Check with Zimfrosty here on AR. He is a bow hunter who is a PH. There is a difference in a PH who will take you on a bow hunt and a PH who is a bow hunter. I spent a few days with him last week, we did not bow hunt, but spoke about it and he will spot and stalk as hat is h ow he likes to bow hunt.

You have the correct impression, but you can get a good spot and stalk bow hunt.

Check out: http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/5531043771

and Fritz Rabe in the AR bowhunting forum.

Don, loved your report. You are one tough hombre seenyore!

Don't concern yourself very much with a PH's overall success rate at guiding spot and stalk bowhunters. Larry is on target.

Spot and stalk bowhunting is kinda like golf. Lots of people like to play not many people can.

Some areas and animals just do not lend themselves well to spot and stalk style hunting. Some areas and situations are so perfect for it, spot and stalk is your best option. The weather and moon phase can also be a decisive factor on if you stalk or sit.

Be flexible and adaptable and enjoy your hunt.

PHs love "Robin Hoods" hunting DG in Africa.

Brent is right. Zim Frosty is guiding one of my clients in October on a bow hunt.

Mark

Y'all are right, PH's who are themselves bow hunters are the best for bowhunters. Rainer and Fritz are both bow hunters, or I would not mention them. I'm sure there are many others.

Rainer is a recurve (trad) hunter, and Fritz Rabe has a high-tech custom compound.

As to being tough - at my age I'll settle for stubborn!

I'm a traditional bowhunter and a rifleman. Although I would be happy to sit in a blind at a waterhole with my recurve or longbow, stalking with a rifle is more of a challenge and a thrill to me, so as far as I can see at present, my trips to Africa will be with my rifles. I have nothing against the blinds, but at this stage in my life I would rather stalk with my rifle. Back home, I can get my my share of frustrations stalking pigs with my tradbows.

The hunts in Africa represent the majority of of US citizen bow hunters. For Bow hunting the majority of hunts mimic the typical Midwest/eastern/Texas bow hunts. That means you sit on your butt, and wait. There are stalking hunts but there are fewer of them in Africa, because very few American bow hunters, hunt while standing. It is marketing aimed to an audience.

I did one when I was starting in bow hunting, way back when. It allowed me to shoot 5 animals from a stand (sitting on my butt) in a few days when it would have taken me years here in the great US.

There are a couple of really hard core bow boys in this neck of the woods. One can tell just by looking at their "shoes." One or two pairs of thick socks, a piece of raw hide [for the thorns,] over them followed by another pair of thick socks. A ghillie suit with the "shoes", and they just disappear.

Get hold of Leo van Rooyen
He has taken some great bow kills with clients
He has a few big ele at close quarters with a bow.

Leo van Rooyen Safaris, Africa
P.O. Box 163
Pongola
3170
Mobile: +27 82 328 1425 (Leo)
Mobile: +27 83 227 9147 (Tish)
Email: leovanrooyensaf@ymail.com
Email: tishvanrooyen@ymail.com

I just got back last night from an ele bowhunt with Charlton McCallum Safari's in Zim. An excellent hunt made better by the fact that Blake Wilhelmi, my PH, is a bowhunter himself and understood all the issues that make bowhunting a differernt hunt to a rifle hunt. There is no doubt that a "bowhunting PH" will be able to offer the hunt you want if your stalking skills and shooting ability are up to the task. Don't expect a "whack-em & stack-em " type hunt though.
JCHB

quote:

Originally posted by JCHB:
I just got back last night from an ele bowhunt with Charlton McCallum Safari's in Zim. An excellent hunt made better by the fact that Blake Wilhelmi, my PH, is a bowhunter himself and understood all the issues that make bowhunting a differernt hunt to a rifle hunt. There is no doubt that a "bowhunting PH" will be able to offer the hunt you want if your stalking skills and shooting ability are up to the task. Don't expect a "whack-em & stack-em " type hunt though.
JCHB

Hunt report??? hhhmmmnnn??

Report will be out in due course. Just need to get typing and figure out how to put the pic's into the text. I'm certainly no computer fundi!!!
JCHB

I have spent a great deal of time in Africa in a hide/blind. I would say that is the way most bowhunters spend their time in the bush,, that is sitting in a blind. I know some including myself that do some spot and stalk as well. It sure depends on the time of year, thus density of foliage, dryness,noise, etc.
I actually like sitting in a blind over a water hole, where else can you see numerous species of animals at the same time within very short distances. I take a lot of pictures and videos of the different animals, including the birdlife. Then if the right opportunity arrives I may take a trophy animal but it isn't as easy as non bowhunters think.

It is hard to spot and stalk bowhunting anywhere,, but in Africa if you have yourself,, the Ph, the tracker,etc,, your odds go way down. If you are in dangerousgame country,, being out front on a stalk with a bow only can go south in a hurry if you bump into one of the dangerous game animals. If anyone wants a truly difficlut stalk with a bow,, go chase some zebras and see how close you can get with a bow!!
In non dangerous game areas most of the Ph's will normally let you have more leway in how far out front of him you can stalk, just common sense nowdays

Totally agree with drwes regarding what you can see and enjoy while in a blind over a waterhole. My first hunts in Africa were at holes in blinds. It certainly wasnt a parade of game animals waiting to get shot. Baboons, oxpeckers, dove, "go away" birds, ect. were fascinating for me as a first timer.

In addition, if I fling an arrow at a whitetail, hog, ect. on a spot and stalk hunt in the States, I'm not out a trophy fee. Whereas in Africa, if it bleeds I bought it.