Semi-Live South Africa Plains Game (mostly archery) with the family

[jpc01101]

How many different broadheads did you take with you?

4x 125 Gr Kudu fixed with bleeder
2x 125 Gr Titanium Beast
4x Titanium Sevr 2.0
2x Judo which I didn’t end up using
Reused the Beasts on multiple animals

300 spine RIP TKO arrows
Nockturnal lighted strobing nocks

 

[jpc01101]

Up early the next day and in pursuit of an impala for my son or a warthog for my nephew. This was our first day hunting the new property where the lodge was and I’m glad we only had one day at this place because it was a series of probably 1000 acre high fence fields that seemed you were always in sight of a fence. Just wasn’t my thing. To level set I killed my kudu in an area that was over 320k acres so once we went in we never saw a fence.

Even with the smallish areas these Impala were crazy skittish so we spent most of the day trying to get on one. Finally we climbed to a high point and got in the rocks and glassed. Now that was fun, like sitting on a point glassing for elk or muleys but substitute Impala and Wildebeest. We spotted a herd of Impala with a couple rams and made a quick stalk and got to within about 80 yards completely undetected. Had time to get a bad down and get Beau on his bottom for a straight down shot. The ram offered a broadside opportunity and Beau made a great shot (again with the 30-06). And the ram dropped. After he shot he said “I did what you told me Daddy. Smaller and smaller circles and count to shoot in the right place”. He was super proud and so was I. Initially I thought he spined it maybe but it was high shoulder and perfect exit since we were at such a steep angle. Either lucky or pretty good reasoning for a kid. We do practice those scenarios at home so I’m going to believe he took all of the factors in and made a well informed and well executed shot. Hard to put into words how fun it was watching him shoot that Impala.

 

[jpc01101]

 

[jpc01101]

 

[jpc01101]

We had three kids 12 and under and they went 8-8 shells to kills. Pretty impressive if you ask me.

 

[Badknees104]

good shooting all around, thanks for posting your hunt

 

[jpc01101]

The next day we took off for JoBurg and then on to Kruger National Park for a couple days. We stopped at a store called Safari Outdoor and it was a hunters dream. Tons of very cool stuff made in South Africa, leather goods, etc. Kruger was cool, we stayed at a lodge on the Crocodile River which was really nice. The food was great and the beer was cold. We did several game drives and it was ok. My suggestion would be to go to Kruger first and not after a week of intently looking at plains game. The highlight of Kruger was when my son spotted a Leopard and we all got to see it. Amazing animal.

The trip home was long…really long. First flight was Air France from JoBurg to Paris. The seats were way nicer than Delta and reclined further allowing us to all get some good rest. We had a 5 hour layover in Paris which is too long to sit in an airport and not long enough to leave to see any sights. Delta from Paris direct to Cinci was typical uncomfortable Delta coach seats which are even worse when you are exhausted.

Bottom line, I will be back as soon as I can get something planned. I’d like to go to Nee Zealand next year but Africa will be on the menu the following year. If you have thought about hunting Africa, go if you can pull it off. If you have kids, take them and your significant other. It was a magical experience to go with the whole family. We had the best time, hard to quantify but I feel comfortable saying it’s the best trip of my life (and I’ve taken a fair amount of trips). If you are considering Argentina, do Africa first. We went with Somerby Safari’s and it was first class in every regard. The PH’s were the best they were knowledgeable and were great with the kids and they had a tall order to get all of the animals we had hoped for (over 40 between 11 people, my step-Mom is the only one who didn’t hunt). The lodges were fantastic, the food was great and the beer was cold. Africa…until next time!!

 

[jpc01101]

Think this one is missing an impala, a couple zebra (didn’t save the skulls) a Kudu , a Gemsbok and a Cape Buffalo.

 

[Sheltowee]

Once you shake off the jetlag, would really like to hear your after-action report on the various broadheads. Which performed the best, how they held up to repeated use, etc.

 

[jpc01101]

Once you shake off the jetlag, would really like to hear your after-action report on the various broadheads. Which performed the best, how they held up to repeated use, etc.

Sevr broke terribly on an impala, but got the job done. Kudu single bevel will go through a cinder block but leaves a small wound channel even with bleeders. Just makes tracking tough. The Beasts (and, again, not hyping up the Bowmars, hate to even give them business) are the meanest broadheads I’ve ever used, sharp, huge wound channel and I killed three animals with one head (one blade finally broke on the Gemsbok). I will always have a fixed blade of some type in my quiver on larger animals but when I go back in a couple years. I will shoot an Eland with a Beast mechanical.

 

[jpc01101]

Additionally, as a bow hunter I will say there is a lot of value in getting live “at bats” and Africa provides that in spades!!

 

[Sheltowee]

Sevr broke terribly on an impala, but got the job done. Kudu single bevel will go through a cinder block but leaves a small wound channel even with bleeders. Just makes tracking tough. The Beasts (and, again, not hyping up the Bowmars, hate to even give them business) are the meanest broadheads I’ve ever used, sharp, huge wound channel and I killed three animals with one head (one blade finally broke on the Gemsbok). I will always have a fixed blade of some type in my quiver on larger animals but when I go back in a couple years. I will shoot an Eland with a Beast mechanical.

That is high praise for the Beast. I'm really surprised by the Sevr-- imapala don't seem much sturdier than a pronghorn. Thanks for the report!

 

[jpc01101]

Terrible pic but this is the entry on a springbuck that I shot quartering away a bit. Massive hole, spewed so much blood.

 

[okie archer]

Great stuff!

 

[jpc01101]

My Archery Kudu

 

[jpc01101]

Impala

 

[jpc01101]

What can I say...it was a 2 impala kinda day.

 

[jpc01101]

Dad's Hartebeest with the whole family there!

 

[jpc01101]

Also, booked for my wife, youngest and I to hit the Cape next July!! Can't wait to get back to South Africa!

 

[jpc01101]

The audio on this one…I can’t get enough. Joyous doesn’t even begin to describe it.