Looks like my year to finally go

[mixedbag]

I'm about ready to put down a deposit for an African plains game bow/gun hunt.Finally found a partner willing to go,my Dad.Been looking to do this trip for years but no hunting partner.So I'm paying for me and Dad to go with Agagia and do a 9 day hunt.They have an early June opening and wanted to know what people who have done Africa think of that time??I'll be bowhunting mainly kudu,gemsbok,zebra.It will turn into a rifle hunt is conditions are tough.pretty excited about the trip and any tips would be appreciated.we plan to stay a few extra days and sightsee.Probably my last trip with my Dad which makes it pretty special in itself
so for the guys who have been there,what temps can I expect in early June?Is there better times to go?I could do May also.Reason I'm going early is to save on airfares.My dad has points that will save us about $1200 total for both if used before mid-June.i think I'd like to use that money on some extra animals then airfare.Probably a once in a life trip for me so any suggestions on MUST SEE places would be appreciated also
Thanks

 

[TOM IN TENNESSEE]

Don't know where you outfitter is located so don't want to advise on site seeing...I presume you are hunting either SA or Namibia?
June can be quite cool in the mornings but should be totally dry. Take a windbreaker jacket and a fleece hoodie you can shed as day warms. Plenty of sun screen is a good idea too.
Tell us what province or closest city and maybe we can help on site seeing.
Don't bet the ranch on a "Once In A Lifetime" hunt....I went on my once in a lifetime 7 trips ago....

 

[Bambistew]

Most of the animals rut in May. The leaves will still be on the tree's so it will be a bit harder to see animals, but you can stalk up closer.

There may be a NP or two near by, talk with your outfitter they should know where all sites to see.

 

[TOM IN TENNESSEE]

Southern Kudu usually rut in April but I have never huntied them that early ....welll I did kill a cow for bait in late APR but that don't count, four males I killed and other 5 or 6 I was along on were all killed in late May, early June.
Should not be a problem. If you are bowhunting from a hide, it will likely be near a dam, i.e. waterhole, and it shud be quite dry in June.They will come to water.

 

[Wyodeerhunter]

Good luck! Take lots of pics! Couldn't ask for a better hunting partner than your own dad.

 

[mixedbag]

I think they offer a tour to Etoshia for seeing the big 5,and some village tours

 

[TOM IN TENNESSEE]

Etoshia is cool....if you got a video cam , take it! Have lotsa cards or film for your camera!
Have fun! Enjoy!

 

[Rat Fink]

I hunted near Omararu and Okahandja last July. I am a bowhunter first and foremost, but when a good friend and Africa hunting veteran told us by limiting ourselves to bow hunting we will be sitting on a waterhole from daylight til dark and not get the full adventure of seeing the country and doing spot and stalk, we took his advice. My wife and I left the bows behind and took our rifles. It was sound advice and I am so glad we did it. I sat water a few times mostly hunting for a warthog. You see lots of animals for sure, but it's not the same as setting out on foot with your rifle and covering a lot of ground all day and stalking game on foot. next time we go we will be taking both weapons for a mix of bow and rifle.

 

[mixedbag]

Thanks for the advise.I'll talk with them about the different hunting techniques used.I do know bow is waterhole hunting

 

[TOM IN TENNESSEE]

Good advise R F....While I don't bow hunt any longer, I have seen several hides on a variety of SA hunting ranches. All were adjacent to water and most had mineral blocks and supplemental feeding during dry season. You will see quite a few animals coming in but as you noted, it is not quite the same as spot and stalk in getting the "feel" of the countryside. I am not critisizing hunting from a hide.....it is just a different technique than I do. And if you are bowhunting PG, about the only way you will have success.
I did tag along with a freind in SA when he made his first bow kill-----spot and stalk Kudu.....took better part of a day but he nailed an old bull that needed culling.

 

[mixedbag]

Maybe I should go rifle then.Not much into feeders,but I know why its done.So Etoshia is something to see???I plan to tour some villages too while I'm there.Looks like I have to go end of May.Is the hunting going to be OK at that time?
Thanks

 

[Rat Fink]

I thoroughly enjoyed my time sitting on water. There were no feeders involved on the farms I hunted. They did put out salt for the cows and some of the game animals used it as well. Sitting on water is a great way to get warthogs and baboons. Everything else can be had by stalking. It's hard to spot and stalk the warthogs due to the grasses and brush, and the baboons are just too damn spooky. I would recommend that you make sure to hunt water a time or two, especially for pigs and monkeys. It is part of the experience over there, and the elevated hides and brick and mud pit blinds are really cool. But I wouldn't want to make that the entire experience from sunup to sundown everyday.

I felt like getting out into the bushveld and covering ground really made the hunt much more enjoyable. I think a 80/20 mix is just right for time in the bush vs time in the blind. If you can afford the extra luggage costs maybe you can take both bow and rifle? That's my plan next time. And be sure your PH is licensed to do bowhunts. They have to pass a special course to be legal to host bowhunters. My experience was that some of them do not have the proper permit as most of them are strictly rifle hunters.

 

[Rat Fink]

Maybe I should go rifle then.Not much into feeders,but I know why its done.So Etoshia is something to see???I plan to tour some villages too while I'm there.Looks like I have to go end of May.Is the hunting going to be OK at that time?
Thanks

That is the Kudu rut. GREAT time of year to be there, especially for big Kudu.

 

[mixedbag]

Thats good to hear,kudu and gemsbok are my main focus.I have a warthog in the package so I will sit a few times to see what shows.I'm thinking of packing my bow and possibly renting a gun from the outfit.Worried about bringing both in case the airlines mess something up.I have pretty expensive bow and rifle I'm not willing to lose.They are a big bowhunting outfit so I'm sure they are properly licensed but will check it out

 

[Rat Fink]

Thats good to hear,kudu and gemsbok are my main focus.I have a warthog in the package so I will sit a few times to see what shows.I'm thinking of packing my bow and possibly renting a gun from the outfit.Worried about bringing both in case the airlines mess something up.I have pretty expensive bow and rifle I'm not willing to lose.They are a big bowhunting outfit so I'm sure they are properly licensed but will check it out

I would NOT recommend shooting a strange rifle. When you draw blood you are paying a trophy fee no matter what. Are you willing to risk an $1,100 trophy fee on a nice Kudu bull when shooting a strangers rifle? Renting a rifle is not cheap either. Figure 30 bucks a day average. I would only use a rifle I have personally shot and sighted in, there's just too much on the line in trophy fee's and you traveled too far to not make quick clean kills on your targeted species. Wounding an animal and knowing you still have to pay for it will eat you up mentally and just make you sick.

 

[TOM IN TENNESSEE]

I wasn't very clear---never seen but one "feeder" in all my trips.....supplemental feeding was dumping out aafalfa or similar pellets. Mineral blocks, salt licks were common.
Agree that some of the hides are pretty cool....went in them just for heck of it.
Most bowhunting operations and some rifle hunting ones in RSA have excellent Jack Russell's for tracking but don't seem to have the superb native trackers that Zim, Zam and Tan have. But I would not be over worried about a lost animal.....I have taken quite a few in my several trips and only lost one---a Red Duiker I gut shot and we could not find him....baesed on "evidence", I may not have even killed it, just nicked as the ranch watched for vultures for a couple of days and never saw any....but a Jackal could have gotten it. Cost me a couple of grand.
Some of rental rifles I have seen have been fine but others, not so hot. If seriously considering rental, question the outfitter in detail. I have a friend whose rifles did not make it to Zam and outfitter loaned at no cost both big bore and mid cal rifles.

 

[mixedbag]

I guess i'll bring both or just my rifle.I see what your saying about borrowed gear and what it could cost me.Just booked plane tickets.I leave May 21 and return on the 31.hope I figured on enough time but spring is my busy season so couldn't be away too long

 

[TOM IN TENNESSEE]

Sounds like you got at least 6 maybe 7 or 8 days of hunting----should be quite enough to whack several animals! Hunting always comes before site seeing! I was on my 5th trip before I took time to site see other than drive bys....while the NP's we visited were awesome and much more than I expected as to animals being "natural", I would not give up a hunting day to site see!
Don't give up bowhunting if that is your first priority----do it or you will regret it....just have a backup plan!

 

[Rat Fink]

Are you flying through Frankfurt or Johannesburg? I loved the Air Namibia flight from Frankfurt to Windoek, complimentary beer and cocktails. FYI if you decide to bring back any bottles of booze from Namibia like Amarula, don't buy it in Namibia. Buy it at a duty free shop at the Frankfurt Airport if you are flying through there. The EU airport folks will confiscate it if it originates in Namibia, but will let it pass if you buy it in Europe.

 

[Rat Fink]

When you are in Windhoek be sure to ask to stop here http://www.the-gunshop.com/

A really neat little gun shop worth visiting. The owner is a very interesting fellow. Neat to see all the Marlins, Rugers, Remingtons etc on the shelves. Good ammo selection too in case you get separated from your luggage. I was amazed he had Winchester 165 grain Pointed Soft Points there for my 30-06, a really good shooting load in my gun. That's one reason it is recommended to take a common caliber on a plains game safari.