Archery in Africa

[JJHACK]

I have hunted with my bow so much in RSA and have had a ton of Archery hunters, including crossbows. I have been doing some seminars locally for travel and hunting in Africa with a renewed interest in archery hunting. For some reason maybe the travel and regulation issues, bow hunting in Africa has reached a peak in the last several months. Almost all my hunters in 2010 are archery hunters.

We have a special culling package in 2010 for bow hunting only on a section of land that is quiet and park like. We don't want to thin the herds with guns, so we decided to open it to archery rather then trying to trap and relocate that game.

Archery equipment for Africa is much like what anyone would use for Elk sized game. 60lb draw, 125grain broadheads, and usually 30 yard shots or less the norm from solid elevated or partial underground blinds.

I'm surprised and actually very pleased to see the interest in Archery hunting making such a huge level of growth and interest now. It's a great way to hunt in RSA where so many shots are close and the winter stalking is so much fun. Also the waterhole hunts are very productive with easily measured distance and great close shots.

I'm surprised as well that there has been so little posing here about archery hunting in Africa.

[rex6666]

Man-o-man i wish i had a pocket full of money!
I have been watching an ongoing archery show on tv, they have been hunting
on a archery only ranch in Africa, it seems like they are shooting impala
by the dozens. I can't imagine what it would be like.

[JJHACK]

by todays standards it's not a pocket full of money, it's under 4 thousand bucks

[Casull]

by todays standards it's not a pocket full of money, it's under 4 thousand bucks

Then add airfare, trophy fees (?), shipping (?), and I don't know what all else.  What does the real cost look like?  Seriously, I'm not sniping, I want to know.  Thanks.

[JJHACK]

Fair questions.

Air fare should be 1500 bucks from Atlanta or DC.

Trophy fees are included for the animals in a package hunt

Now for the entertaining part!
About 1/2 of the people who are hunting Africa today bring back photos video and maybe a few skull mounts.

Most of the time a hunter wanting 5 animals mounted will spend more on taxidermy then the cost of the hunt. I can and have done my own taxidermy, I won't even do that anymore! It's left in Africa, or maybe a Skull mount. The cost of taxidermy, shipping and tanning is just stupid now.

I've had some rather interesting thoughts on this from hunters over the years. Here are a few:

I can hunt every other year in Africa for the cost of mounting just one trip's trophies.

I'm not a collector, I'm a hunter

What is my family gonna do with all these mounts when I die? Ebay?

I don't wanna hang dust and care for all these trophies, a photo album is much better.

When I retire and move into a condo where am I gonna put trophies?

I can buy all the trophies I want from Ebay. Just look at the savings! My fish mounts are fiberglass so what do I care if these are the actual trophies I shot, I'll gladly recycle them from somebody else.

My partner lost a zebra over night but we found it the next day. The Hyena and jackal chewed it bad. The Outfitter said he had a spare skin he would give him. So his zebra is not his and he spent about 2000 bucks having it dip pack shipped and rugged, could have gotten it off of an Auction site for 1/2 that price or less.

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Okay not my opinions just what I have heard from guys who bring nothing home. Skull mounts are cheap and done well in Africa. Probably the way to go if getting the mounts back is important to you. I would figure about 100 bucks each with shipping

[rex6666]

That does sound better, come to think of it i am going for me, so pictures and some hog teeth would have to please every one else.

[elmer]

If I want mount the skull mounts and backskins are cheaper, lighter and more compact for shipping, and don't take as much space as shoulder mounts.

[WL44]

I agree, I will lean towards skull mounts more myself. It's also sort of less macabre than a shoulder mount.... I don't have the problem, but as the interior decorating trend moved towards skulls some guys also find their wives suddenly permit them in the lounge!

The cost and space saving is a big factor.

Whilst we've opened the topic and as someone who hasn't hunted with a bow, what is the opinion on what would constitute acceptable ethics for African bow hunting?

JJ refers to stalks - really tough, probably with limited success.

What about hides at feeding spots and waterholes? Not judging it as I don't really have an opinion on this yet, but would like to see some comments from the bowhunters.

[JJHACK]

Hunting archery near water is one of the most exciting things you can experience in hunting. Archery and guns at water are much different events.

Stalking many species is so much fun in the typical game rich areas. Blow a stalk and in another few minutes you can try again.

Shooting from an elevated platform stand with archery near water of high traffic areas is a thrill you have to experience to believe. In the USA a bow hunter might wait all year to have the chance to shoot one deer. In RSA we have cull hunting for females which would allow shooting unlimited females in an archery only consession.

I enjoy archery hunting far more then gun hunting in Africa. It's also nice in the elevated stands to see the animal run off and slow to a walk, then stand wobble and fall. And there is simply nothing better then shooting warthogs with archery gear!

[WL44]

Ok, you got me. I'll sit (very still ) with some of my friends who bow hunt and see how I like the idea. Aside from the walk and stalk opportunities it has never really appealled to me (hence the questions).


I'm not that keen on the idea of a built hide - I like to be outside in the bush and not in a dark little room. Elevated stands and such sound a lot better.

[drdougrx]

I hated the discussion on taxidermy...it makes waaayyy too much sense....

[elmer]

Doug,

I definitely would not want your taxidermy bill.