Bow and rifle on same safari

cmc

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First post guys, been reading awhile. I am a bowhunter first but do some rifle hunting as well. Africa for me is a few years away, mainly because I can't save money due to my addiction to travel the US hunting, but I'm planning. My question is this, I want to see Africa and don't wanna be stuck in a blind all day and realize the success rate of stalking with bow is low so how common is a safari that I can split between rifle hunting and archery hunting? A day in the blind then a day out in the truck. How much trouble would traveling be with both weapons? Should I just go with a rifle and see all I can see?
 
gday cmc
welcome and enjoy the site
while you are talking to one of many outfitters during your planning of an African adventure ,tell them how you want to hunt in stead of a day each take both out at once and see what eventuates.
these guys have pretty much seen and done it all and will be keen to make a hunt happen how you want it to .
the whole time in the bush will be hunting .
you will blow heaps of stalks bowhunting and sometimes you wont even know how you stuffed it up ,then windows of opportunity will open for a second at a time that will pay divendeds.
in a friendly and challenging atmosphere,
talk to many out fits and see which ones you click with ,and go from there .
there are heaps of guys on here that can answer any and all of your questions and also some of the most outstanding and professional outfits that are only to helpful ,so feel free to ask .
and as an aussies point of view don't be scarred to post some of your exploits in America, hunting all the goodies you people are blessed with , we really like pictures of your hunts as well

if you want to stalk with your bow I would be looking at going over in may when there is lots of grass and leaves on the trees ,and water is still plentyfull for walking them, up and from my limited to once off expirence sit in blinds towards the end of the day
my next African adventure will be a combo hun t and the outfitter is more than happy to go with that ,
he showed his true worth last year when we had to cancel our hunt and has been in constant contact with us thru emails and phone calls , making sure all is good and reliving his hunts this season to me .
we are waiting to re book in the new year .
and he is nothing short of paitent and a solid rock of encouragement .
enjoy the planning
 
Hi cmc,
Bluey pretty much nailed it. Most outfits will offer both options to you. I would look at a main "hit list" with the rifle and turn to the bow once this has been achieved, and count the bow kills as bonuses. Walk and stalk with the bow is very challenging and a lot of fun, no doubt, but not impossible. Don't expect to shoot 7 animals in 7 days walk and stalk with the bow. My experiences has shown me that jumping between the bow and rifle on different days is probably not the ideal way to go. I find this breaks momentum, so my opinion would be to complete the rifle part first, then concentrate 100% on the bow. Maybe even leave some of the more stalk-able species for the bow part of the hunt.
All the best with your planning. I have no doubt that you will get here and have an even greater hunting addiction on your hands.

Take Care,
Marius Goosen
 
CMC - Everone will have different opinions on what to do and how to do it. I have to agree with bluey....talk to your potential outfitters on what they have to offer. Most, if not all, will be able to accomidate the combined bow and rifle hunt. Then YOU have to decide what has priority (bow or rifle) and be able to live with that decision. If you decide bow has the priority and you don't shoot everything on your hit list, you are the one who will have to live with that decision.
I recently when on my first safari in July 2013 that was a combined bow/rifle hunt. For me, I decided that the bow took priority and was able to shot an Impala, Blesbok and nice Kudu with my bow. I took those 3 in the first 4 days of my 8 day safari. I also took a bushpig (very lucky), blue wildebeest and an Impala ewe with the rifle. My outfitter (Ibamba Safaris) worked with me and I had the time of my life. I let him know what I wanted to do. He made some suggestions and in the end, I had a very successful hunt and took everything on my hit list (traded the bushpig for the warthog, but the warthog will be next time)
As for the traveling with a bow. It was not a big problem in RSA. It was treated as normal baggage with no permits required. The only trouble I has was with the airline and the number of free bags. Unless you have a combined bow/rifle case, you will have to pay the extra bag fees. The extra $50 was only a drop in the bucket compared to the overall cost, but just something else to consider.
What ever you decide, you will have fun.
One last thing, for the bow, I would practice, practice, and practice some more. I was very confortable taking shots out to 50 yards and that paid off. My blesbok was at 39 yards and the Kudu was at 42 yards. Some will say that those shots were to far to take, but as I said earlier, due to my practice, I was very comfortable out to 50 yards and had quality equipement (Muzzy broadheads, Carbon Express Arrows, PSE Bow).
 
A day in the blind then a day out in the truck. How much trouble would traveling be with both weapons?
Just another bag. There are countries where permits are required for both types of weapons. Most there is nothing for a bow.


Should I just go with a rifle and see all I can see?
If you are a bow hunter first take the bow and rent a rifle from the outfitter.
Saves pain in your butt and you can hunt with both methods.

Good luck.
 
Just another bag. There are countries where permits are required for both types of weapons. Most there is nothing for a bow.



If you are a bow hunter first take the bow and rent a rifle from the outfitter.
Saves pain in your butt and you can hunt with both methods.

Good luck.

+1
Great advice.
 
Agree with Brickburn,take the bow,and rent a rifle.Walk and stalk around here can consume a lot of time,agree with Marius,get your main trophys down with the rifle to ensure ample time to enjoy the bow.
 
Hi cmc,
Bluey pretty much nailed it. Most outfits will offer both options to you. I would look at a main "hit list" with the rifle and turn to the bow once this has been achieved, and count the bow kills as bonuses. Walk and stalk with the bow is very challenging and a lot of fun, no doubt, but not impossible. Don't expect to shoot 7 animals in 7 days walk and stalk with the bow. My experiences has shown me that jumping between the bow and rifle on different days is probably not the ideal way to go. I find this breaks momentum, so my opinion would be to complete the rifle part first, then concentrate 100% on the bow. Maybe even leave some of the more stalk-able species for the bow part of the hunt.
All the best with your planning. I have no doubt that you will get here and have an even greater hunting addiction on your hands.

Take Care,
Marius Goosen

I totally agree with Marius.
I did some stalking with my bow with him this year and I plan to book with him again to do the same in not so distant future.
Not to sure how happy he is about that:D

I also agree with the advice to bring your bow and borrow/rent the rifle.
 
Hey Bjorn,
Sorry to say but that Nyala bull that lived in that area, which we ended up stalking on the last day, died about a month later after you left. He was sooo old, and would have been the perfect specimen for us to take.
Anyways, you know how many times in the last month I walked right up to some Nyala just by chance. Could not stop thinking how I wished you were there next to me... :) Even ranged to check if I was in bow range.
 
Hey Bjorn,
Sorry to say but that Nyala bull that lived in that area, which we ended up stalking on the last day, died about a month later after you left. He was sooo old, and would have been the perfect specimen for us to take.
Anyways, you know how many times in the last month I walked right up to some Nyala just by chance. Could not stop thinking how I wished you were there next to me... :) Even ranged to check if I was in bow range.

Bit sad to know, but hopefully we will find another one as old when I come to hunt with you next time :)
 
I'm taking the bow and rifle(s) from now on, did a good deal of spot-n-stalk with the bow on the last trip. Successfully in some cases, I might add. Only sat a couple days in the blind.

I was armed with the preferred weapon of the day, usually the bow, kept the other in the truck. If the desired quarry wouldn't let us within bow range (or the particular animal we were hunting wasn't likely to) you know the rest.

The big pain is traveling with it all but I found a big, hard suitcase my bow and arrows would fit in and packed the clothes around it. Worked out great.
 
I'm taking the bow and rifle(s) from now on, did a good deal of spot-n-stalk with the bow on the last trip. Successfully in some cases, I might add. Only sat a couple days in the blind.

I was armed with the preferred weapon of the day, usually the bow, kept the other in the truck. If the desired quarry wouldn't let us within bow range (or the particular animal we were hunting wasn't likely to) you know the rest.

The big pain is traveling with it all but I found a big, hard suitcase my bow and arrows would fit in and packed the clothes around it. Worked out great.

What case did you use?
 
The last time I did a safari I did a bow hunt but agree with the idea that I spent 5 days in a blind. So I would like to see more of Africa so I am going back and hunt with a rifle so I can get out and see the country. The problem with the rifle is you can't send the ammo with the rifle. I am thinking that I might take my bow and put the ammo for rifle in that case. Is there any problem with doing this and going to South Africa? The safari is the end of September this year.

BHFS300
 
Hello cmc,
I've been to South Africa twice and Bow hunting is my passion. On each trip I never expected to get another chance to go back so I brought a rifle just in case It got down to the wire and I wasn't able to harvest the trophy on my list with a bow. That being said I shot 17 animals on 2 trips and 11 were with the bow. Both were 10 day hunts with an organization that doesn't specialize in bowhunting. I personally recommend hunting as hard as you can and committing to the bow and then if the situation isn't possible then use your rifle.
Every animal was taken through spot and stalk except one out of a makeshift treestand. I hunted primarily in the Eastern Cape and as Bluey stated in his response I would recommend going in late April through May when there is a "rut" for the animals and lots of grass and leaves.
Taking animals with a bow is definitely doable with spot and stalk!! You'll love it!!
In regards to the taking a bow and rifle into RSA, SKB makes a great double bow/rifle case that I've used on both hunts.
 
………... The problem with the rifle is you can't send the ammo with the rifle. I am thinking that I might take my bow and put the ammo for rifle in that case. Is there any problem with doing this and going to South Africa? The safari is the end of September this year.

BHFS300

As long as the bow case locks and the ammo is secure in containers that are acceptable to the airlines. SAPS won't care how it arrives.
 
I take both with me on my hunts.I found it to be no trouble at all taking both.I let the outfitter know what I planned on doing and work that out.Can sit in the blind or stalk with the bow.I love to bow hunt but would not limit myself to that if it is a once and a lifetime trophy.Having a gun for the animals you just cant stalk in to get a chance at is a great back up plan.
 
As long as the bow case locks and the ammo is secure in containers that are acceptable to the airlines. SAPS won't care how it arrives.
I'd also note that it matters where your connecting flight is. If you have to collect and display your arms & ammo, as in JFK when flying So African Airlines, be sure it's in factory boxes or those 20 round 'Ammo Vaults' and locked in its own case inside the locked luggage to avoid trouble. No more than 200 rounds.

Some guy recently had a brick of 500 loose .22s in his luggage and got arrested by the NYPD. He had another issue as well, his Ruger 10/22 was illegal in NYC so that may have had something to do with it, but better safe than sorry.

I pack the bolts for my rifles with the bullets locked in a MTM ammo can, that in turn is packed in a second locked suitcase as well. They seem to appreciate it, commented that 'I knew what I was doing' and walked me to the front of the TSA line.

While we are on the subject, I might add that if at all possible book flights that can check your baggage all the way through to avoid this. If you are traveling thru the EU, you'll need to secure a gun permit in the country of the connecting flight also. Some guys in camp on my last hunt failed to do this and were turned back to the states.

Frankly, the best way to fly to SA by far is via Delta / Atlanta, plus they are now allowing 2 bags free so you'll only have to pay for one if traveling alone.
 
In regards to the taking a bow and rifle into RSA, SKB makes a great double bow/rifle case that I've used on both hunts.

Do you have a model number / source for this?
 

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