Looked like you had another great time in Africa Will. I really liked your "last stand" Sent from my C811 4G using Tapatalk
Hate I'm missing this big shin dig. I'm sure everyone who bucks up and goes will have an absolute blast, my agenda is just too full to swing it. Excited to hear who drops what this year.
Trev, there will come a day. Get your ducks in a row....too much to do, too little time. The "last stand" went down like this Colb. My sister and I decided to blind hunt a blustery Wednesday morning, especially since a new batch of rotten oranges had been dumped at that blind location the day before. Baboons were on our minds; I had never drawn on one and hoped for the chance. Gina (my sister) had taken one with a rifle on a previous trip. At 7:34am, my sister missed low on a female black springbuck. At 8:24am, she drilled a common springbuck. We were watching eight eland in front of the blind just after that. At 9am, an enormous male baboon ran in from our right. I had my bow on the ready to minimize movement (even though we had our blind closed tigher than a frog's hinny). At 20 yards, the baboon gave me a perfect broadside shot. I smacked him through the chest. He ran back to the right and piled up...lights out in 10 seconds. The rest of his troop was oblivious to his passing. They began to pour in...the rustling of leaves in the wind must have muffled all noise. I had another male park 10 yards in front of me-his back to the blind. He didn't make it any farther. My arrow blew through his spine and exited the middle of his chest. Again the troop failed to hear the shot, nor were they disturded by the fast death of the second baboon. My sister set a pin on another. At 23 yards, we were both convinced this was a third male. She draw and center punched her target. The baboons were still unaware. We had four large females peeling oranges right next to my second male. Each had a baby clinging to its chest. My sister and I looked at each other...neither of us could do what would have been an easy twofer. Boy did we catch heck for it back at the lodge! Baboons there are like praire dogs here. They want every last one gone, period. My sister and I jokingly were "banned from that blind forever." As my sister and I were shooting, I reminisced, this must have been very similar to Cluster's last stand. The baboons lost that battle as well. Three down in a matter of minutes and there could have easily been more. boon number two
It was an exciting hunt. I went there to enjoy good friends, good food (eland is awesome), the excitement of the hunt, and Africa in general. I wasn't disappointed in any manner. My main agenda was to come home with either a sable or hippo. I arrowed neither, although I had the opportunity to hunt both. Let me tell you, sitting on the opposite side of a dam, 20 yards and out of sight, of two playing hippos waiting for their water exit is exhilirating! The noises they make are incredibly eerie-truly makes you think about God in a savior sort of way. While listening to the ruckus, you have ample time to question your gear...the second guessing is endless. In the back of your mind you recount all the stories of hippos chomping people in half. Moreover, the imaginary shot scenarios, providing you get one, run on auto-pilot. Sucks I never had any chance before my special permit expired (it is illegal to bow hunt hippos within South Africa without special permission). Hopefully there will be another day. For thirteen days I helped fellow hunters land their dreams. A highlight was guiding a dear friend and cancer survivor to her first kill. Ms. Marks shot a dandy female springbuck. It was followed by a large trophy male. I was joined by our tracker Victor in "blooding" her face. Man was she excited! We tried to get her to swallow a piece of liver. She wasn't biting.
Frog, I had an Easton aluminum 2114 glued inside a 2315. At 29 inches, the arrows weighed 730 grain (plus or minus .20 grains). Five inch vanes would have brought each arrow's mass to 745 grains, but I purchased the larger arrows pre-fletched with 4 inchers. I tipped the fronts with VPA 250 grain Penetrators. They're an easy broadhead to sharpen. Matt, I like the idea!
My preparation time for this hunt is now almost non existent. My wife and I had our 2nd daughter this morning. Between her and my 21 month old, I got my hands full. Sent from my SCH-R970 using Tapatalk
Thanks guys! I couldn't be more blessed. I have 2 beautiful daughters that are my world. Give me 10 years or so and they will be good hunters! Lol. This summer will fly by due to being busy at work and watching this little girl grow! Sent from my SCH-R970 using Tapatalk
Yes they do. My 1st daughter is 21 months already. It feels like it was just yesterday. Good thing I'm still young and can keep up with them! Sent from my SCH-R970 using Tapatalk
My daughter is 4.5 and it still feels like yesterday that she was born. I tell her everyday to slow down and quit growing so fast but she doesn't listen! Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
