07 September 2008, 04:06
Gerhard.DelportBow Hunting in Africa
Place: Sdudla SafarisEquipment used:
Bow: 05 Bowtech Allegiance at 75#
Arrows: Carbon Express Maximan Hunters 350
Broad Head: 125gr Slick Trick Standard
Total Arrow Weight: 450gr
Animals seen but not hunted
Cape Buffalo, Eland, Nyala, Waterbuck, Impala, Blesbuck, Duiker, Steenbuck,Bushbuck,Giraffe, Kudu
Animals hunted
Blue Wildebeest
Zebra
After a long and very hot year working in Dubai I finally got the oppertunaty to go home and spend a little time in the bush again with my bow.
I have been hunting for a Blue Wildebeest Bull for the last three years with a bow and arrow.
I had them come in when I was only harvesting old Impala Rams and had to be happy with only shooting pictures....
I had walked and stalked them and came close to getting it done but the plan never seemed to come together...
After a very long time spend alone working in Dubai my annual vacation has started and I have scheduled at least three days hunting with a Blue Wildebeest Bull as my primary target.
Arriving late afternoon at Sdudla safaris I finally relaxed as I saw the sun set as it only can in Africa's Bushveld.
I was keen to hunt hard and long and on the 1st two days I spend almost 12 hours a day in the same hide to give me the best opportunity at success.
I had a wide variety of game animals visiting the hides. From Cape Buffalo to Squirrels but no Blue Wildebeest Bulls or Male Impala's showed themselves.
There was an cold front moving trough the country and the wind was almost never constant that also made hunting difficult.
On the third morning I decided to do spot and stalk hunts but as luck would have it I slipped into one of the elevated hides early morning and it was not 20 minutes later and I had Waterbuck Cows and Bulls all around me.
I stood looking at them and all of a sudden the Blue Wildebeest came in deciding that all was well at the water and salt.
The 1st in was cows and calves but a bull walked in between them and I knew he would be my target animal has he had a very dark skin and I love the dark stripes on him.
I could not get a clear shot at him for a couple of minutes as the other blue wildebeest kept on walking behind and in front of him.
He finally gave me a broad side shot at 22 yards and remembering Ryno's words .... "you must make sure you pull up his hand brake hard"
I drew back...
The Carbon Express Maxima 350 Hunters arrows tipped with 125gr Slick trick standard broad heads was launched by my 75# 05 Allegiance....
The white 4 inch VMax vanes disappeared in a flash in the death or vital triangle.
The Bull jumped up and disappeared behind a bush 30 yards away while the rest of the Waterbuck and Blue wildebeest stood around not knowing what just happened.
I called Ryno on the radio and told him that I shot a Blue Wildebeest Bull. That next 15 to 20 minutes waiting for the vehicle to come is always the worst as your mind start playing tricks on you.
But when I looked out of the window where I shot from this is what I saw...
and I got that warm feeling on my tummy of satisfaction knowing that I did my part and that the shot was good.
The next question is how far will he go as a Blue Wildebeest is a very tough animal even if wounded heavily and can keep you busy for some time.
Ryno finally arrive and showing him the arrow he looked satisfied even though he still told me its a gut shot :twisted:
We walked to the bush where I saw him last and as we walked around it....
THERE HE IS !!!!!!
The bull went down right behind the bush. You can see where he stood and then went down. There was blood all over the area.
He did not go 30 yards from where I shot him.
Here is a picture from where he went down.
The Slick Tricks whistled trough the bull and here is the exit wound
I hit a rib bone going in and the Slick Tricks just demolished the ribs.
The shot then went trough both lungs and just above the hart trough the Aorta,
A perfect vital triangle shot.
Needless to say I was a very happy hunter and after three years hunting hard for this Blue Wildebeest Bull he will always have a special place in my hart
Later that afternoon I went to an elevated hide where we have seen activity late in the afternoon.
It was awesome just to sit and watch the African bush slow down as the sun set.
Has anyone noticed how the birds start to sing just before sundown. Almost like the are thanking God for the day he has given them.
Just before dark I heard an animal walking towards the blind and as I looked out of the shooting window a Zebra stallion made is appearance and walk straight to the salt lick 22 yards away.
I got ready and the stallion turned broad side.
I drew back and as the pin settled the arrow with the luminok is on the way.
As the arrow hit the Zebra stumbled and turn 180 degrees and ran into the bush. I listen to the Zebra braking branches as he ran and then everything went quite.
I called Ryno on the radio and settled down for the 30 odd minute wait for him to get to the hide.
By the time Ryno stopped by the blind it was completely dark with only a light moon hanging in the sky.
Not the ideal time to start tracking.
Luckily I had the Primos Mini Bloodhunter in my bag and as Ryno and Vellies (Ryno's tracking dog) walked to the place where the Zebra stood.
We immediately found blood and as soon as we walked into to brush I was amazed at how the bloodhunter picked up the blood on the ground, grass and trees.
After about 200 yards we stood still and listened and we heard the Zebra stumbling about 75 yards in front.
Ryno released Vellies and we started moving trough the torn brush at a rapid pace and it was not long before Vellies started barking and as we come around a bush we found the Zebra stumbling around.
As previously agreed Ryno shot the Zebra with his 375 H&H to end his suffering.
If we got to him 10 minutes later he would have been down and out.
I must admit that I forgot that I was in an elevated hide and did not compensate for the angle and the arrow hit the Zebra on the shoulder.
The Slick Tricks totally destroyed the shoulder bone as some of the major arteries. That why we found the blood trail relatively easily.
Thanks to Ryno for an awesome hunt and I will definitely go back next year.
This time the Grey Ghost will be on the hit list
