My Africa Experience - 10 days, 12 animals, Countless New Friends, Memories for Life

[MichaelW]

Originally Posted by ItsLeo

Wow, you had a chance at two zebras with a bow on one safari! Seriously I know people who have been multiple times and not even had a chance at one with a bow.

I know... I know... still thinking about it. Anthony and I couldn't believe it.

[ItsLeo]

Originally Posted by MichaelW

I know... I know... still thinking about it. Anthony and I couldn't believe it.

I didn't have a slim chance at one this last trip and I saw them almost everyday. That was a seriously epic experience you had!

You got the picture to prove it and that's awesome!

[MichaelW]

After taking several pictures, including the animals previously listed above, we had a new guest that arrived on the scene. Only now, we replaced the camera as the preferred choice and replaced it with the bow.

[MichaelW]

He stood there awhile, surveying the surroundings . Much like a whitetail, his patience was astonishing.

[MichaelW]

After satisfying any doubts, he began his approach. He came all the way in and began drinking.

[MichaelW]

I was having a serious case of deja vu.....

[MichaelW]

For some reason, he spooked. He came up quickly and turned around to leave. As he stopped, I was already at full draw.

[tomcat3030]

You're killin me. i need to see some bloodshed.

[MichaelW]

Immediately an arrow was on its way.

[MichaelW]

Unfortunately, it preliminarily looked as if the arrow was too high. It was definitely not the shot I wanted to make. As he ran out, his belly was almost scraping the ground as the arrow was close to the spine. We reviewed the video and confirmed the shot was high. We only hoped that as we were well above him, the downward angle of the arrow may have touched something vital as it was going through. We continued to set in the blind, giving it some time, and then called the tracker on the radio and began the search.

[Bisch]

I made that shot on an nyala (only mine was not a down angle shot) and it did not turn out good for me as we did not recover it. The nyala fared OK as it was seen going about business as usual a few weeks after I came home. I sure hope your tracker found him for you.

Bisch

[MichaelW]

Guys, posting from my iPhone.....just lost Internet connection on my laptop, the weather is crazy here!

I guess as soon as it clears we'll be back in business.

Thanks
Michael

[tomcat3030]

We shall be waiting patiently.......well kinda.

[MichaelW]

We located the exact spot of the shot and begin continuing the trail from there. We followed a very spotty to no blood trail for some time. Again, it was amazing to see the tracker work.

Eventually, after following the trail up the side of an escalating mountain for some time, we decided to give up. Anthony advised that if we continue, we would have to forgo the afternoon/evening hunt. At this point, I was ready to do that as we had yet to lose an animal and I wasn't ready to start. However, Anthony advised that the tracker actually lives on this large property we were hunting and knows it well.

Anthony told me that the tracker stated he would come back to look for the bushbuck the next day. With this, I made the decision to give up. I figured maybe it would be better to let this lay and hope that maybe the broad head touched something on its way through as the arrow did come from a more above angle, and pray that the tracker could locate it.

[MichaelW]

Long story short....I actually have to fast forward a bit here......

Before I left, I gave the tracker a Gerber knife. He was very thankful and told me he would find my bushbuck. While I appreciated that, I didn't really hold much confidence in that because of how thick the area was as well as how large the side of that mountain was. However I had already turned it over to the lord in prayer and if it was meant to be, then it would.

I actually left and returned back to the states before I knew the result. Upon my return and immediately checking my email, there was an email from Anthony notifying me that the tracker, "William" had indeed found my bushbuck dead with the arrow still in him. UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!

While it didn't go down the way I would have planned, I actually left thinking I would never place my hands on those attractive dagger like horns. What a surprise and true testament to just how good this operation was. Even after I left, they were still working very hard for me.

Imagine the feelings to have already paid for the lost animal and leave, keeping in mind that in Africa, if it bleeds, it's yours; only to return back home and get the one news that would completely erase that one miserable feeling about the trip embedded deep in the very pit of your stomach. It was amazing and truly some of the best news I have ever heard in my life.

[tomcat3030]

Glad they found him!

[ItsLeo]

Congrats on getting that bushbuck! I was really worried about it when I saw the hit. That tracker did an outstanding job and is darn brave to boot. A wounded bushbuck can be a very nasty critter.

A trophy bushbuck is usually at least seven years old that's one of the reasons why they are so wiley.

Again congrats!

[MichaelW]

As the hunt week was was now drawing near a close, being only one full day left, the decison of where to hunt this afternoon was inevitable. We would be going back to the mountainous region where we had come so close to the big kudu before.

[MichaelW]

Originally Posted by ItsLeo

Congrats on getting that bushbuck! I was really worried about it when I saw the hit. That tracker did an outstanding job and is darn brave to boot. A wounded bushbuck can be a very nasty critter.

A trophy bushbuck is usually at least seven years old that's one of the reasons why they are so wiley.

Again congrats!

Thank you! You are right about the bushbuck, my PH actually made me stay close to him while on the trail as he relayed the same thing. Many people don't know that out of all the plains game, the bushbuck is probably the most dangerous as it has actually killed people after being wounded.

[MichaelW]

After settling into the blind and letting things calm down, the hunt almost seemed like another episode of deja vu from the last hunt at this location, although instead of a troop of baboons, we now had monkeys around us.

[MichaelW]

The situation seemed similar to the baboon as it was early and Anthony said as long as I don't spine it, we'll be ok in reference to not spooking the kudu. Getting drawn back on these things, despite being well hidden in the blind was tough though.

Eventually, I was able to get drawn without spooking one and released an arrow. Regrettably, the arrow sailed low, just under his arm. If you look close at the pics, you can see the green/white arrow in flight. I was lucky it hit the dirt and actually bounced over the one behind him.....

[C.L.Sorrells]

very nice

[charlie mcmahan]

Great Story can't wait to hear the rest.

[Txnrog]

Those monkeys are hilarious to watch. Hunted Kudu over oranges in the east cape, and watching the monkeys pick thru and eat the oranges kept me entertained for most of the day.

[C.L.Sorrells]

Man it seems like you had the hunt of a liftime, i was wanting to go to alaska when i got the money saved up but after reading this and seeing all of your pics. Africa is were i will be heading, thanks for a great story and some awsome pics. Can't wait to see the final outcome.

[MichaelW]

After the monkeys made a quick exit, all was quiet for some time. We eventually had a group of kudu cows coming in behind us only to spook when they smelled us. We figured our chances were blown as time seemed to be running out as they left spooked.

But as evening approached, we had another group of kudu females browsing around on the outskirts from a different direction. This was very encouraging. We just hoped that if they would come in comfortably, maybe, just maybe, a bull would come in as well if he saw the cows feeding comfortably.

The cows eventually came in and began to feed. We had placed a small amount of alfalfa about 20 yards in front of us in hopes of having a kudu stop to feed on this and that through the positioning of the alfalfa, the kudu would be positioned at just the right angle for a shot.

[MichaelW]

As the kudu cows were feeding, the plan seemed to be coming together as this bull showed up.

[MichaelW]

If you've had an opportunity to read the previous post over the last few days, you know just how close I've been to a kudu without sealing the deal. These gray ghost continued to elude me all week.

[MichaelW]

As he began to come in, the tape was rolling and the arrow was nocked...

[RdRdrFan]

and?????????????

[MichaelW]

As he came in, I was at full draw waiting for him to slightly turn. For whatever reason, he spooked and ran around the small tree directly in front of me.

[MichaelW]

As he stopped, now on the left side of this little tree, I was about to release the arrow when he took off yet again.....

[MichaelW]

This time he ran almost out of view, actually stopping just a few short steps from the blind. At one point, he actually turned and looked directly towards us.

[DJames]

Your killin me!

[Archery1st]

Outstanding hunt Michael!!! I'm finally caught up! Now drill that Kudu and bring it!

[MichaelW]

And then.....he walked right in and stood perfect.

[RdRdrFan]

You are doing this on purpose! Shoot him!!!!!

[MichaelW]

And the arrow that had desired all week to be released was well on its way.....

[MichaelW]

Originally Posted by RdRdrFan

You are doing this on purpose! Shoot him!!!!!

Guys, with all due respect, it takes a sec to load 10 pics. I'm only relaying it as it happened.

[junkmanhunter]

What a great read tonight.. Congrats on the beautiful trophies.. Makes me remember my trips. I have heard Dries Visser is a top notch operation and your story certainly backs that up.

Now, more on the KUDU!!!

[DJames]

Yes!!!

[Howard]

Even though I know the outcome and the end..... I'm still on edge of seat! Can't wait for each one- cant wait to get together soon!

[MichaelW]

Shot pics continued...

[RdRdrFan]

Originally Posted by MichaelW

Guys, with all due respect, it takes a sec to load 10 pics. I'm only relaying it as it happened.

Just a joke Michael. Just anxiously following along.

Great looking shot by the way.

[DJames]

Amazing story and pics Michael. Very well done Sir!

[MichaelW]

After the shot I really couldn't believe what happened.....considering how hard we worked on one all week. Since it was so close to dark and we believed the shot was good, we radioed the tracker and got out of the blind.

We got out and inspected the broken arrow. The nockturnal nock had worked perfectly and was still glowing despite the shaft breaking.

If you look over my shoulder as well as in the last picture, you can see the blind we were hunting out of.

[MichaelW]

These next few shots are kind of poor as the light was fading, but we took up the track.

[Archery1st]

Boom! Goes the Dynamite! Outstanding...I'm literally in awe of your coverage of this hunt and intentionally cut my thread short to get back to this one.

[C.L.Sorrells]

Originally Posted by MichaelW

After the shot I really couldn't believe what happened.....considering how hard we worked on one all week. Since it was so close to dark and we believed the shot was good, we radioed the tracker and got out of the blind.

We got out and inspected the broken arrow. The nockturnal nock had worked perfectly and was still glowing despite the shaft breaking.

If you look over my shoulder as well as in the last picture, you can see the blind we were hunting out of.

i bet uploading all these picks was way harder than doing any of the tracking.lol

[MichaelW]

Anthony actually saw it first and said..... "Michael, come get your kudu"

I couldn't wait to get my hands on those horns.....