Willie Grové
AH member
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2020
- Messages
- 21
- Reaction score
- 19
I got my bow in 2014 and have been target shooting since. I never got a chance to go hunting with it because of personal reasons.
Last year in 2019 I booked a hunt at Tarentaaalrand to shoot my first animal with a bow. I had my site on a Springbok to start with my Sringbok Grand Slam. I arrived at Tarentaalrand on the Thursday afternoon and I was greeted by the owner Theuns Cloete.
Theuns took me to the hide early Friday morning. The hide was made from n water Jojo tank. I sat for about an hour when I saw Springboks coming in. I ranged them 84m. They just past by. No long after them a Black Springbok ram came with 2 Common Springbok ewe's. I ranged the ram at 87m. Too far to take a shot because Springboks string jump like rabbits. One om the ewe's came to the water hole. Great shot but one problem. She was near to give birth anyday now and I was after a trophy ram. They went away later and I sat and wait. Lots of game came in. Waterbucks mostly dearing the moring and a Eland cow with her calf and 2 young bulls. Just before sun set a group of Sable came in and went. I saw through the hide hide window at the back that there were Springbok. I was waiting for them to come in but they did not. Theuns came and pic me up and I asked them if I can shoot anything that comes in tomorrow because it will be my last day and I wanted meat for my freezer also.
The Saterday morning Theuns drop me at a other hide were Blesbok and Blue Wildebeest mostly are. We made a nice feed mix for them next to the waterhole. There was tracks and droppings anywhere so it was a good sign. I sat in the hide and waited. Suddenly I saw a warthog piglet walk past the hide window. I could have smack it behind the head if I wanted thats how close it was. I saw it was a sow with her for piglets coming in for a drink. They drank and they left. Later 3 young boars came in for a drink. I did not want to shoot a young one because I felt they must live on to get bigger. Later I nice boar came in. I ranged him at 13m but hear something in the bushes behind the hide and ran in that direction. I hear a huge squeal then silence.
I sat and waited and waited. They suddenly I saw a warthog boar at the waterhole. He was totally relaxed tail down everything. I ranged him at 20m. I drew my bow and I aimend. He was stil drinking totally relaxed. Pulled the trigger on the release. The arrow flew so fast that I only saw it hitting the weight that was tied down over the ballvalve of the water hole. The warthog did not run away it jog away into the bushes. I missed!!!! I got out of the hide and walk to my arrow. I was anger at myself. My first animal with the bow and I missed. When I got to my arrow my heart stop. It was was covered in blood all the way. I did not miss, the arrow went completely through the warthog. I was shaking when I phone Theuns to come and help track the Warthog. Theuns and his daugther arrived and we tried to get a blood trail. The red sand made it hart. Then I saw something in the road. It was my Warthog. He ran 50m. It was a big old warrhog with wornout tusks. It was not my Springbok that I wanted but I was a very happy man. My first animal with a bow was one of the toughest animals in Africa and it was acomplete pass through. What more could a man ask for.
Last year in 2019 I booked a hunt at Tarentaaalrand to shoot my first animal with a bow. I had my site on a Springbok to start with my Sringbok Grand Slam. I arrived at Tarentaalrand on the Thursday afternoon and I was greeted by the owner Theuns Cloete.
Theuns took me to the hide early Friday morning. The hide was made from n water Jojo tank. I sat for about an hour when I saw Springboks coming in. I ranged them 84m. They just past by. No long after them a Black Springbok ram came with 2 Common Springbok ewe's. I ranged the ram at 87m. Too far to take a shot because Springboks string jump like rabbits. One om the ewe's came to the water hole. Great shot but one problem. She was near to give birth anyday now and I was after a trophy ram. They went away later and I sat and wait. Lots of game came in. Waterbucks mostly dearing the moring and a Eland cow with her calf and 2 young bulls. Just before sun set a group of Sable came in and went. I saw through the hide hide window at the back that there were Springbok. I was waiting for them to come in but they did not. Theuns came and pic me up and I asked them if I can shoot anything that comes in tomorrow because it will be my last day and I wanted meat for my freezer also.
The Saterday morning Theuns drop me at a other hide were Blesbok and Blue Wildebeest mostly are. We made a nice feed mix for them next to the waterhole. There was tracks and droppings anywhere so it was a good sign. I sat in the hide and waited. Suddenly I saw a warthog piglet walk past the hide window. I could have smack it behind the head if I wanted thats how close it was. I saw it was a sow with her for piglets coming in for a drink. They drank and they left. Later 3 young boars came in for a drink. I did not want to shoot a young one because I felt they must live on to get bigger. Later I nice boar came in. I ranged him at 13m but hear something in the bushes behind the hide and ran in that direction. I hear a huge squeal then silence.
I sat and waited and waited. They suddenly I saw a warthog boar at the waterhole. He was totally relaxed tail down everything. I ranged him at 20m. I drew my bow and I aimend. He was stil drinking totally relaxed. Pulled the trigger on the release. The arrow flew so fast that I only saw it hitting the weight that was tied down over the ballvalve of the water hole. The warthog did not run away it jog away into the bushes. I missed!!!! I got out of the hide and walk to my arrow. I was anger at myself. My first animal with the bow and I missed. When I got to my arrow my heart stop. It was was covered in blood all the way. I did not miss, the arrow went completely through the warthog. I was shaking when I phone Theuns to come and help track the Warthog. Theuns and his daugther arrived and we tried to get a blood trail. The red sand made it hart. Then I saw something in the road. It was my Warthog. He ran 50m. It was a big old warrhog with wornout tusks. It was not my Springbok that I wanted but I was a very happy man. My first animal with a bow was one of the toughest animals in Africa and it was acomplete pass through. What more could a man ask for.