2nd bow for Africa trip?

[Brooster]

Hi All,
just another question as I plan my trip and I guess I'm asking people that either have bowhunted Africa or people that have observed what their clients do. Is it wise to take a 2nd bow set up and ready in case I have equipment failure? (unlikely, and I've only ever had minor hiccups) I was thinking spare cables and strings but it also crossed my mind to take a 2nd bow as well. Thanks in advance for the replies.
kind regards
bruce

 

[enysse]

Well my two cents....if you only want to kill your animals with a bow and have no desire to shoot them with a gun....I would take a second bow. They are light and you should be able to pack to bows in a case. Why take any risks.

I know if I was going on a premium elk hunt in the USA, I'd take 2 bows.

 

[dsweber]

My preference when on an expensive hunt, a long way from home is to have a 2nd bow. Preferably one that is exactly like the first so that I can minimize as much manipulation with the 2nd bow should I need it. Here is my rationale. Although I have had few things fail on my bows (I have them inspected prior to leaving), there is always a chance. Think about being in a darkened ground blind in Africa, you are seeing game you have dreamed of taking with archery equipment, then you accidentally nick a string with a broadhead? Your hunt has been damaged even if you did bring a 2nd string. You would have to find a press, you would have to re-sight, etc.

Now, for the negatives. Some airlines will not allow you to put 2 bows in the same case as they do with rifles. It is a terrible rule. That means you have to bring 2 bow cases. The 2nd case in my case cost me $350 round trip to drag through multiple airports. I suppose you could ship a bow ahead of time, I just didn't think of it.

 

[Brooster]

Thanks guys, looks like a little chat with my wife about yet another bow is on the cards. I'll just tell her he who dies with the most toys wins!!
regards
bruce

 

[Diamondhitch]

Thanks guys, looks like a little chat with my wife about yet another bow is on the cards. I'll just tell her he who dies with the most toys wins!!
regards
bruce

Ya cuz that always works!!! LOL

 

[eyedoc]

I have about ten trips under my belt and I always take two bows. If traveling with a hunting buddy we always put one of each of our bows together in the case and that way if either case arrives we both have something to hunt with. I think that losing a bow in route is more likely than having a failure once there. Either CAN happen.

I have flown SAA, Delta, Air Namibia, and Continental and was never not allowed to put two bows in the same case.

Better safe than sorry. I always bring two releases as well.

 

[Africaman]

Hi All,
just another question as I plan my trip and I guess I'm asking people that either have bowhunted Africa or people that have observed what their clients do. Is it wise to take a 2nd bow set up and ready in case I have equipment failure? (unlikely, and I've only ever had minor hiccups) I was thinking spare cables and strings but it also crossed my mind to take a 2nd bow as well. Thanks in advance for the replies.
kind regards
bruce

I don't think you need to take a second bow, just an extra string, cables, etc. Worst case scenario is you have to borrow one of their weapons (rifle, crossbow) in the event that yours craps out.

 

[jaustin]

If you are going with a bowhunting outfitter it is likely that they would have a loaner if you have serious problems. More likely is what eyedoc mentioned, your bow not making it in the first place. I hunted with my PH's extra bow the first couple of days last year as my bow took the scenic route to Windhoek. On the other hand, far be it from me to discourage a man from buying a new bow Good luck on your hunt.

 

[ndbwhnter]

On a trip such as this, no question, take a second bow. If you are traveling with another bowhunter, take four and split them up between two cases. His primary and your back-up in one and vise-versa in the other. This way you only need one case to show up at the airport and you can hunt.

nd

 

[TOM]

I always take two but i'm odd; one is my mathews switchback and the second is a black widow recurve that takes down into three pieces.

 

[AZ~Rich]

My Boy Scout side tells me to be prepared and take a second bow, my rational side says I did that last time and it was not needed; since other bows are available where I will be hunting and I am usually quick to get zero'ed in with new equipment. I sure hope I do not have to eat crow on this when I land in RSA in 3 days!

 

[Ole Bally]

Take the second bow! Just undo the limb bolts and fold the whole lot up into 'take down' mode. We used to 'masking' tape everything together so it all went back together quick. You'll have plenty of time in camp to set the second one up and re tune etc! I stupidly cut the string on a new bow 2 minutes after I got into the blind with the broadhead...end of hunt...a long way from home! If you carry a spare string, always make sure that you have 'shot it in' on the bow and set up all the kisser buttons etc before hand so the retune is fairly painless!

 

[ColoradoHunter]

I took two on my trip. The only time I shot the backup was the day I arrived to verify everything was still in working order and zeroed. Next trip I'll take two again.

 

[Dox]

Its not really needed...but you in Africa so it is better to take a 2nd bow

 

[driehoek]

Think of it this way. You cannot go back quickly to get anything. A second bow is no mistake. But please do not for get strings, wax, arrows, glue,fletches, broad heads, and importantly ask the place you are wanting to hunt what equipment do they have. This saves a bit of space.Please make sure that you have everything you need. We have a group of Swiss bow hunters comming every year and we know what they need and they know what equipment we have for them to use. Our son managed to gain 2nd place during the World Bow shooting championships, in Dahn, Germany. He is a great help when it comes to bow hunting. He too is a qualified PH with bow as well as rifle hunting, here in Namibia.He has taken a few animals with the bow. Next on his list is a Giraffe!

 

[Comanche79p]

I have been lurking on this site for a long time and thought I would do my first post.
I gambled and did not take a second bow on my trip. I don't think I would if I were going back. There were some good bow shops in the area I hunted was my reasoning. I did take a spare cable and string.

 

[KWALATA SAFARIS]

Maybe I'm odd like some other members aswell I think in terms of what harm can a second/backup bow do? It's not a real mission to travel with in the double bow, bow case, you need not tune and set up a second should your primary give you any issues, this saves you hunting time which is extremrly important when it comes to bow hunting.

And your'e also saving more than a third or even 50.% as this is the percentage that the bow and all its equipment will be more pricewise.

Bring a second/backup what harm can it do.

My best always.

 

[Ole Bally]

I used to travel with the second bow partially disassembled. Just take the limb bolts out and tape (I used masking tape) everything together and pack it! 1/2 hour at the range would reset the whole thing up and fine tune it!
Do you keep a measurement chart of your bows settings? brace height, number of turns out the limb bolts etc etc? if not you should..it makes setting up easier if you break a string or something!

 

[BRICKBURN]

I gambled and did not take a second bow on my trip. There were some good bow shops in RSA. I did take a spare cable and string.

Did the same thing on my trip. I took a portable press and other tools and parts as well.

A spare does not do you any good when baggage gets lost in baggage handler hell like mine did for a while!