Open country bowhunting?

[SAFalconer]

Hi guys how do you bowhunt in open country like the Free State or the Eastern Cape highlands? I would imagine it would be very difficult. Thanks in advance for any info

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Which species you would be looking at hunting with a bow in the Eastern Cape highlands? Will this be walk and stalk bow hunting or from a blind? Do you know exactly which area in the Eastern Cape?

 

[SAFalconer]

More than likely Vaal Rehbuck, Eland and any other open country species. I would like to walk and stalk. Probably in the Rhodes area. I wouldn't be hunting there soon as I don't yet have a bow but I want to how so I can hunt there in the future.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Make a Ghillie suit and practice stalking where there are some trees and bush first.
Get your camera out now and see how close you can get.

 

[INGOZI]

Hours of glassing and studying the terrain and the target animal(s). Vast open areas are rarely pool table flat, therefore one can use the undulating ground to sneak closer. Go after single animals as they are far easier to get close to. The biggest stumbling block is getting upright, drawing and shooting your bow, that is when you get spotted 99% of the time. The other downside is that shots are usually at the very limit of most hunters, even experienced ones. A specially equipped bow and arrow set-up also helps a great deal, one that is purposefully set up to make such long range shots.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Good Answer. It is the truth anywhere in the world.

 

[SAFalconer]

Thanks What do you mean by long range (i.e. 100 m +)?

 

[BRICKBURN]

You need to go to a bow range and witness first hand what the limitations really are.

Most game is taken UNDER 30 Meters.

 

[SAFalconer]

Thanks.

 

[INGOZI]

Long range is usually in the region of, or more than 60 yards. But it is for each hunter to determine at which maximum distance he can, with all else being equal, basically guarantee a kill shot. No if's but's or maybe's. A good way of determining your maximum shooting distance is to find out at which distance you can put ten out of ten arrows well inside the vital area on the animal your going to hunt. Though not exact for any and all species, a general idea is as follows: Small game usually have a 4" diameter "killzone", medium game a 8" killzone and larger animals a 16" killzone.