Bowhunt Across the Pond!


Rhino

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I finally bit the bullet and decided to go to Africa for my dream bowhunt. Leaving the states on July 30th and start hunting in Nambia on Aug. 2nd for 10 days of bowhunting plains game. 2 old buddies of mine are going with me...one of my best friends from Lafayette, LA and my old yankee redneck buddy from Iowa, Gene Wensel. Leo told me I have a tall order to fill on my list of target critters. My priority critters are Kudu, Gemsbuck, and Nyala. Lower priority critters are Zebra, Impala, and Warthog. We'll be hunting with Dries Visser Safaris if you want to google up their web site and check out their photos & videos, etc. Time to start gearing up now. Might need a new video camera added to my list of items to take along. Can't wait! Missing some of the worst heat around here will be nice too.

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As for the heat thing, I'm guessing it's going to be pretty warm in Africa as well....

Not really Tom...remember their winter is our summer...from what I'm told the weather is just like it is in your neck of the woods in September. Beats Aug. in MS by a long shot!

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Good luck Al. Got all your shots yet? If you are not hunting a malaria free zone remember you need to start taking the anti-malarials BEFORE you leave and for awhile after you get back.

If they are anything like what I've experienced they will feed you well! If you can get it when you are there be sure to try the gemsquash. All the game meat I had there was outstanding. I'm not a wine drinker but some of the best wine in the world comes from South Africa.

The very toughest critter to get with a bow in my opinion is the Zebra. Two kinds of Zebra in Namibia Plains and Mountain. If you get an opportunity don't turn either down (especially a mountain zebra)! Kudu and Gemsbok are darn wiley too.

Both Impala and Warthogs are superb string jumpers. Make sure they are well relaxed before you launch an arrow!

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huntinsonovagun...I wouldn't say I get monsters every year. I try to do my share of damage to the mature bucks when I can though. Gene went without killing a buck this year but winged a good one that lived to step in front of his trail cam plenty before the season ended.

Haven't gotten my shots yet Leo but that's on my list to do real soon. We're in a malaria free zone according to Gene. He's been 6 or 7 times with Dries in the past. Thanks for the trips too. Watching some impala videos sure makes me think I need to aim low. Not much chance he won't jump string. Heard about the groceries too. I'm told we'll eat some of the choice cuts of meat while we are there. To be honest...I enjoy a good glass of white wine and I will enjoy a glass or 2 of their vintage goodies while telling tales around the campfire. That along with pulling a few practical jokes on my buddies. :D

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huntinsonovagun...I wouldn't say I get monsters every year. I try to do my share of damage to the mature bucks when I can though. Gene went without killing a buck this year but winged a good one that lived to step in front of his trail cam plenty before the season ended.

Haven't gotten my shots yet Leo but that's on my list to do real soon. We're in a malaria free zone according to Gene. He's been 6 or 7 times with Dries in the past. Thanks for the trips too. Watching some impala videos sure makes me think I need to aim low. Not much chance he won't jump string. Heard about the groceries too. I'm told we'll eat some of the choice cuts of meat while we are there. To be honest...I enjoy a good glass of white wine and I will enjoy a glass or 2 of their vintage goodies while telling tales around the campfire. That along with pulling a few practical jokes on my buddies. :D

You won't be able to get all three Hepatitis B shots before you leave. The first two need to be a month apart and the third six months after the second. Go ahead and get the third one after you come back and be immunized for life. Otherwise you have to run through the first two again if you decide you want to go back. (You will ;) )

Dries Visser runs a respected outfit, I expect you will be treated well!

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huntinsonovagun...I wouldn't say I get monsters every year. I try to do my share of damage to the mature bucks when I can though. Gene went without killing a buck this year but winged a good one that lived to step in front of his trail cam plenty before the season ended.

Only kidding, you do well though. Those Wenzel brothers are amazing. I'd love to spend some time scouting and looking at topo/arials with those two. Is he taking the recurve? (or did he shoot a longbow?)

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Only kidding, you do well though. Those Wenzel brothers are amazing. I'd love to spend some time scouting and looking at topo/arials with those two. Is he taking the recurve? (or did he shoot a longbow?)

Gene and Barry have only hunted with recurves for at least the past 15 years no matter what the game is. Barry broke his arm ~5 or 6 years ago so he had to drop his draw weight down to ~50#...maybe less. Gene still shoots ~60#. Gene has 1 very old trophy on his wall that was a firearm kill...all the rest are trad bowkills. Somewhere between 15 & 20 years ago a fire at Barry's house destroyed almost all of his trophies. He's done pretty good since them replacing them though.

You won't be able to get all three Hepatitis B shots before you leave. The first two need to be a month apart and the third six months after the second. Go ahead and get the third one after you come back and be immunized for life. Otherwise you have to run through the first two again if you decide you want to go back. (You will ;) )

Dries Visser runs a respected outfit, I expect you will be treated well!

Oh well...live and learn eh Leo...I'll get the 1st 2 taken care of before I head east. Your comment about going back is exactly what Gene told me. If you go once...you're never the same again...gotta go again. We'll see.

Edited by Rhino
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Are you planning to try a zebra steak at Joe's Beerhouse in Windhoek? That's a famous stop for hunters in Namibia.

Might be a good idea when we depart. We arrive at 7:25 a.m. and Dries picks us up at the airport for the ~2 hour drive to camp. Departure is at 3:30 p.m. so we may be able to work in lunch at Joe's that day. Thanks for the tip!

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