Bowhunting In Africa! A First-timer's Guide From Limcroma Safaris

Limcroma Safaris

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At Limcroma Safaris, we have been hosting bowhunters for nearly 3 decades and specializing in accommodating guests in pursuit of everything from the tiniest antelope to the largest of dangerous game with a bow & arrow. We are all avid bowhunters ourselves and we believe that passion translates to the success of our bowhunting guests.

Over these many years of hosting bowhunters from around the globe, we have received just about every question you can imagine in regard to bowhunting in Africa. It’s no surprise that a great many of these questions come from bowhunters who will be making their first trip to Africa. Because of this, we felt it might be helpful to address some of the most frequently asked questions that will hopefully help all hunters to feel more prepared and confident when they come to Africa with their bows regardless of who they are hunting with.

FAQ #1: Do I need to go out and buy a new bow and arrows for my African safari?

Answer #1:
As a general rule, probably not. Most African game animals, with the exception of the largest dangerous game, can be ethically and effectively hunted with the same set-up that you would use to hunt most North American game animals. That being said, there are some equipment and set-up recommendations that we like to make which will help to maximize your success in Africa.

Things to consider with your bow set-up:

With today's advancements in archery technology along with a much better understanding of the physics behind the flight of the arrow, many of the most popular plainsgame animals can be successfully hunted with bows that have draw weights as low as 45lbs. However, with those lighter draw weights it is imperative that the arrow build is configured in a way that will generate enough momentum for good penetration.

Without getting over-technical, for any bow with a draw weight of 60lbs. or less, we recommend an arrow build with an overall higher total arrow weight in combination with increased front of center weight topped off with a compact, heavy-duty, fixed-blade broadhead. This can usually be achieved by simply adding a heavier insert/outsert and/or a heavier broadhead to your existing arrow with some minor tuning adjustments.

For those bowhunters shooting bows with 60lbs. of draw weight or more, the arrow you are currently shooting for deer or elk will likely be fine as long as your arrows are tuned and flying true from your current set-up. A well-placed arrow shot from a well-tuned bow with a bow & arrow combination capable of creating enough momentum for effective penetration is by far, the more important than arrow speed alone.

Heavier draw weights will compensate for some momentum lost with lighter arrows, but we still recommend shooting a heavier arrow with a strong, fixed-blade broadhead regardless of the draw weight. Our feeling is that you can never have too much penetration. Our hunters are welcome to hunt with expandable broadheads and many successfully do. However, in our experience of guiding bowhunters to hundreds upon hundreds of animals over the years with archery equipment has shown that time and again, fixed-blade broadheads are more reliable and outperform expandables in every critical aspect.

Here are just a few examples of many different 2-blade, fixed broadhead styles that have proven to work very well for our African bowhunters.
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Below are a few examples of 3-blade designs also work extremely well. You can see how they all share the same compact, heavy-duty characteristics.

For hunters who opt to use expandable broadheads, we strongly recommend a style that is similar to the one shown at the bottom. Make sure it is constructed from 100% stainless steel in both blades & ferrule with blades of at least .035 thickness. It is also vitally important to select a rear-deploying expandable rather than an over-the top deploying design.
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FAQ #2: Do I need to be an experienced bowhunter to hunt in Africa?

Answer #2:
No. Many of the bowhunters who we host each season take their very first big game animals with us in Africa for the first time. In fact, we believe Africa is the best place to gain that experience because it is one of the very few hunting destinations on Earth where you will encounter so many different species of game in such quantity.

We often hear it said by our guests that they encountered more game animals within bow range during their 7-day safari in Africa than they otherwise would have in a lifetime of hunting at home.

All we require of new or inexperienced bowhunters is to bring the proper equipment capable of doing the job, and being proficient enough with that equipment to shoot sub-4” groups out to 30 yards. Africa will provide the rest!

Two young hunters proudly posing with their first ever African trophy taken with a crossbow!
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FAQ #3: Where and how will we hunt?

Answer #3:
We utilize a wide array of different hunting set-ups, strategies, and tactics to maximize opportunities for our hunters. We have thousands of acres of land strictly designated for bowhunting only. On these exclusive properties, we have scores of permanent hides that can include dug-out hides, elevated hides, latch-on tree stands, pop-up ground blinds, and brush blinds all placed in precise locations with the wind, sun, and normal travel corridors in mind. And, when conditions dictate success, we also love to spot & stalk.

Most first-time African hunters come to Africa with a "wish list" of species in mind and a finite amount of time to hunt. It is for this reason alone that for those hunters, we recommend spending the majority of their time hunting from the hides which will exponentially offer the most shot opportunities at more different species.

It is not uncommon for a hunter to see a dozen different species and up to 50 or more animals during a 4-hour session in a hide. When the conditions are right, animals of all kinds will take their respective turns visiting the water holes and mineral licks. It can be an adrenalin filled experience as well as an exhausting exercise in patience waiting for the right animals to come in and present a broadside shot. Those hunters who think hunting from hides is easy have never spent much time in a hide in Africa!

FAQ #4: Can we spot and stalk exclusively?

Answer #4:
As mentioned above, we love to spot & stalk and we are always happy to accommodate those requests. However, it is important for the hunter to understand and acknowledge the added challenges and commitment in time necessary to create shot opportunities when stalking. Success stalking in Africa, like anywhere else, is dependent on many factors including the wind, weather, time of year, and the skill and experience of the hunters themselves. Provided that the hunter is up to the challenge and committed to putting in the time, our PHs will go above and beyond to get you in position for successful stalks.

FAQ #5: How far will my shots be?

Answer #5:
When setting up our hides, we take great care in placing the hides in locations that will facilitate an ethical, high percentage shot opportunity. In most instances, that shot will be 25 yards or less. We also recommend that our hunters practice hunting from inside a blind if they have never done so before coming to Africa. Shooting through a narrow (4-6") shooting window from a dark hide can be challenging to a hunter who is not used to those conditions. We encourage practicing inside the blind from both standing and sitting positions.

When spot & stalking, the PH will make every effort to get you as close as possible for a shot. However, the ultimate determining factor in shot distance when spot & stalking is the comfort level and confidence of the hunter taking the shot. Opportunities can be anywhere from inside 20 yards to out to 50 yards and beyond, and spot & stalk hunters should be proficient shooting out to those distances.

This is a prime example of one of our dugout hides that is commonly used throughout our bowhunting properties. The "termite mound" style not only provides natural stealth, but it allows the hunter to be at or below eye level with the game which is advantageous for shot placement. These type of hides also create the best advantage in concealing scent and noise. They are dark inside and very quiet.
hide pic 2.jpg


FAQ #6: What can I expect on a typical hunting day?

Answer #6:
Under most circumstances, we hunt all day with the day divided into a morning and afternoon session. During the dry season months when hunting from the hides is most productive, many African plainsgame animals actually prefer to move later in the mornings and throughout the warmer parts of the day in search of food and water.

You can expect to make your way to your hides just after sunrise. You will hunt until noon unless an animal is taken. Then after a midday break, it's back to the bush for the afternoon session usually from 2pm until dark.

As mentioned earlier, it is common to see several different species and scores of animals during a typical half day session. It is also common to have more than one shot opportunity in a day depending on what is on the hunter’s wish list. When the shot is taken, your PH will most often be able to judge your shot through the binos or capture it on video. Assuming the shot placement and penetration looks good, the PH will likely begin to track the animal shortly after a brief time allowed for the animal to expire. The PHs want to ensure the animal is recovered in plenty of time for great photos and then a quick trip back to the skinning shed to get the animals in the salt as soon as possible to facilitate excellent trophy care.

If an animal is hit marginally, your PH will likely call in the trackers for assistance. Africa boasts some of the most highly skilled trackers in the world and Limcroma is lucky to have some of the very best. If your animal is dead, they will find it. If it is not, every effort will be made to put you in position for a follow-up shot. The decision of when and how long to track should be trusted to the experience of your PH and the trackers.

Here are a few photos taken from inside the hides that provide a good reference for the hunter of the view they will have from the inside. You can get a good idea of the darkness as well as the shooting window.
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waterbuck hide pic.JPG


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eland hide pic.JPG


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FAQ #7: Do I need a spare bow and what other gear should I pack for my bowhunt?

Answer #7:
Some hunters opt to bring a back-up bow although in most cases, bringing a portable bow press and a spare bow string & cable is the most practical preparation. We also recommend bringing a small variety of spare parts including a spare rest launcher, peep sight, and a small array of spare screws & bolts that might be needed to replace any lost from your bow or accessories.

In general, most hunters bring 12-18 arrows along with spare broadheads, replacement blades, field points, and a couple of judo/small game heads in case they opt to shoot a couple of guineas or a varmint or two.

Considerations for your clothing:

Camo clothing is fine but, the darker the clothing the better when hunting from the hides. Clothing made from stiff and noisy fabric is not a good idea. Fleece material is the best choice for bowhunters. It's also a good idea to put a piece of felt on your arrow rest launcher. You need to be able to draw your bow as quietly as possible. "Biscuit style" rests are not the best choice as they sound like a violin bow being pulled across the string when drawing your bow.

Other recommended equipment for your day pack should include:

Range finder with angle compensation capability

Spare release

Quality binos with body harness (if stalking)

Camo or dark colored face cover and gloves

Multi-tool, Allen wrenches, and a folding pocket knife

Head lamp or compact flashlight

Hand wipes, hand sanitizer, and some spare TP or personal wipes


Tactical/military style knee pads (for spot & stalk)



FAQ #8: Do I need to be in good shape to bowhunt in Africa?

Answer #8:
We are well accustomed to accommodating hunters with any level of physical fitness or those with physical limitations. Hunting from the hides requires minimal physical ability. More often than not, the truck will be able to pull right up to the hide for pick up and drop off. We can even accommodate guests in wheelchairs in many of our hides.

Conversely, spot & stalking requires the hunter to be in reasonably good physical condition. Stalking may require the ability to hike several miles a day through thick bush in often warm, dry conditions toting both a backpack and a bow. The hunter should also expect the necessity to crawl short distances in many circumstances.

FAQ #9: When is the best time to plan my African bowhunt?

Answer #9:
We encourage our bowhunters to try and plan their safaris during the dry season months from mid-May to mid-October with the peak of the dry season occurring from June to August. We also recommend planning to hunt around the dates of the dark moon if possible. Hunting a big moon is certainly not a deal-breaker for success, but the darker moon phase is always advantageous for better daytime animal movement.

With that said, there is good bowhunting to be had throughout the season. In fact, for the best chances of spot & stalk success, we recommend the early season from March to mid-May when the grasses are still high and the bush is still thick and green providing the best stalking cover. Don't hesitate to get in touch with us to help in selecting the best time for you to plan your bowhunt with regard to your personal safari goals and desires.

FAQ #10: Is it difficult to travel to Africa with a bow?

Answer #10:
Traveling to Africa with a bow is relatively an easy process and no more difficult than traveling with any other common sports equipment such as a snowboard or a golf bag. A bow is not considered a weapon but rather sports equipment by most airlines. The only special consideration is to pack your bow in a sturdy travel case with locking capability that will stand up to the abuse that the baggage handlers will surely dish out.

Upon arrival in Africa, your bow will likely come out at the special/oversized baggage office in the airport and can be picked up like any other bag. There are no permits or inspections necessary to bring your bow into South Africa. Upon arrival back into the U.S.A. it is likely your bow case will go to the U.S. Customs office at the first port of entry for inspection and decontamination. This is a fairly painless process that usually only requires a short wait in line depending on how many other hunter's with cases are on your flight.

SKB, Flambeau, Plano and Pelican are some of the recommended manufacturers who make the strongest bow cases for travel.

Although it is not a frequently asked question, we also believe it is essential to cover the importance of studying shot placement on African game. Most African plainsgame animals are different from North American game in that their vital organs are usually located much farther forward in the rib cage compared to North American game. As an example of this, a mid-body shot perfectly placed on a whitetail deer resulting in a lung shot would likely miss the vital organs altogether on an African plainsgame animal. Shot placement on African game is often directly above the front leg, mid-body, which is at or in front of the shoulder crease which will appear much more forward than most American hunters are accustomed to aiming.

Studying the anatomy of these African animals and practicing these shot placements will allow you to be much more efficient and confident when taking the shot. It will also be the key difference maker between short, quick recoveries versus long tracking jobs. As well all know as bowhunters, there is no worse feeling than taking the shot at the animal of your dreams only to make a less than perfect shot resulting in a long recovery at best, or lost animal at worst. There are some good shot placement guides available on the internet with the ones offered on AH.com being one of the best.

Obviously, we cannot cover every question and concern in one post, but we believe the information provided addresses the most commonly asked about and most important considerations of bowhunters coming to Africa. Please feel free to contact any one of our Limcroma team members anytime with more questions or concerns. Even if your first or next African bowhunt is with another African outfitter, we are always more than happy to answer your questions and help you prepare. Our ultimate goal is always to promote African bowhunting and increase your chances of success no matter where you hunt in Africa!

We wish everyone tight groups, lots of pass-thru's, and short blood trails!

The Limcroma Safaris Team
 
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Very good write up. Unfortunately, it mostly addresses the vertical compound bow shooter, not a crossbow hunter.
I hunted Limcroma in September of 2021. I used a crossbow that was setup for White tail deer. My scope was set up at 4 power as needed to utilize the ballistic drop compensator reticle. This proved to be the incorrect setup. As you mentioned, shots out of blinds would be no further than 25 yards. The animals I was hunting were huge targets at that range. I wounded two animals because of improper sight window.
I changed my scope to 2X and could see the animals much better to get the proper shot.
So, my advice to crossbow users is to utilize a fixed power scope. No more than 2X if you plan on shooting out of blinds. I would not want to risk shooting at longer distances than 30 yds, no matter how proficient you are.
Hopefully, this may prevent a future crossbow hunter to have a bad initial experience as I did. I am in no way placing blame on my PH or the Outfitter, but I would have expected better equipment check and recommendations.
Thanks for reading.
 
Very good write up. Unfortunately, it mostly addresses the vertical compound bow shooter, not a crossbow hunter.
I hunted Limcroma in September of 2021. I used a crossbow that was setup for White tail deer. My scope was set up at 4 power as needed to utilize the ballistic drop compensator reticle. This proved to be the incorrect setup. As you mentioned, shots out of blinds would be no further than 25 yards. The animals I was hunting were huge targets at that range. I wounded two animals because of improper sight window.
I changed my scope to 2X and could see the animals much better to get the proper shot.
So, my advice to crossbow users is to utilize a fixed power scope. No more than 2X if you plan on shooting out of blinds. I would not want to risk shooting at longer distances than 30 yds, no matter how proficient you are.
Hopefully, this may prevent a future crossbow hunter to have a bad initial experience as I did. I am in no way placing blame on my PH or the Outfitter, but I would have expected better equipment check and recommendations.
Thanks for reading.

If you expect to shoot at 25 yards or less, you don’t really need to use anything but the center crosshair. Especially with a crossbow. I think this is more on the shooter to understand their optics, field of view, arrow flight, etc. With archery you shouldn’t let an arrow fly unless you are comfortable with all aspects of the shot. Aim small, Miss small as Mr. Nugent would say. Too many other things can go wrong with archery and hunting wary animals. But that is what makes it challenging.
 
If you expect to shoot at 25 yards or less, you don’t really need to use anything but the center crosshair. Especially with a crossbow. I think this is more on the shooter to understand their optics, field of view, arrow flight, etc. With archery you shouldn’t let an arrow fly unless you are comfortable with all aspects of the shot. Aim small, Miss small as Mr. Nugent would say. Too many other things can go wrong with archery and hunting wary animals. But that is what makes it challenging.
Correct. But would a PH let a person hunt Cape Buffalo with a . 22 cal rifle? We look toward the Professional to advise us on how to be successful. It should not be trial and error. We North American hunters are not accustomed to shooting large critters at relatively close ranges. Most hunters hunt deer which average about 120 lbs. Crossbow hunting is very complex. Hardly no one uses a single cross hair since the trajectory of most bows is not very flat. It is evolving every year and is becoming more complicated. I said I didn't blame the Outfitter. I decided to shoot. It's on me. I chose Limcroma because they are "archery experts" But it does not include crossbows. I don't think the PH had a clue on the operation of my crossbow and did not show any interest in it. It's clear that most African PH 's are not fully versed in the use of crossbows. My PH mentioned that I was his first archery client that year. That also didn't sit well with me. Maybe crossbows still have a stigma attached to them in Africa and are not widely used. Crossbow hunting is expanding in the US at a rapid rate. African Outfitters need to educate themselves in their use going forward. As I mentioned, the lengthy post preceding our comments made no reference to anything crossbow related. My post was an effort to fill in those gaps to help those using a crossbow.
Thank again!
 
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A great synopsis Dan. Well done !

Thank you @Buffalo1 !
The article was my idea, but I cannot take credit for the information. The article was composed as a collective input from Hannes, myself, and input form the PHs.

From my experience as a representative, I can confirm that those FAQ's that were addressed are the most common questions, and I agree that Hannes and the PHs did an excellent job with the information provided. (y);)

African Outfitters need to educate themselves in their use going forward. As I mentioned, the lengthy post preceding our comments made no reference to anything crossbow related. My post was an effort to fill in those gaps to help those using a crossbow.
Thank again!

Hello Sir,

I understand your sentiments completely, and I can assure you that the folks at Limcroma understand the special considerations for crossbow hunter's success as well as vertical bow hunters. I will take personal responsibility for the content of the article because I am the one who came up with the idea. And, to be perfectly honest, because we rarely if ever receive inquiries from our crossbow hunters beyond broadhead recommendations, I did not think to include advice specific for crossbow hunters in this particular piece.

We host many crossbow hunters every season, and we welcome crossbow hunters just as we do traditional and recurve hunters who also have special considerations and limitations to their chosen equipment.. I think it would be a great idea to add crossbow, traditional, and recurve specific advice to the above information, and I will get to work and confer with Hannes and the PHs on that right away.

However, if you could be so kind as to offer more detail, I would like to better understand the issue you had with your scope so we can be sure to address that correctly? As I said, I personally haven't had that much experience with crossbows, but the ones I have shot had scopes with both variable and fixed power, and hold-over dots spaced vertically below the main reticle to account for bolt drop out to farther distances. The main crosshair was used for shots beginning at either 20, 30, and even 40 yards depending on the speed of the crossbow. I would assume that any shot taken from a hide would be inside of that 40 yard mark and the main crosshair would be the only aiming point necessary? Can you explain what the scope power had to do with your shots being off? Thanks very much!
 
Thank you @Buffalo1 !
The article was my idea, but I cannot take credit for the information. The article was composed as a collective input from Hannes, myself, and input form the PHs.

From my experience as a representative, I can confirm that those FAQ's that were addressed are the most common questions, and I agree that Hannes and the PHs did an excellent job with the information provided. (y);)



Hello Sir,

I understand your sentiments completely, and I can assure you that the folks at Limcroma understand the special considerations for crossbow hunter's success as well as vertical bow hunters. I will take personal responsibility for the content of the article because I am the one who came up with the idea. And, to be perfectly honest, because we rarely if ever receive inquiries from our crossbow hunters beyond broadhead recommendations, I did not think to include advice specific for crossbow hunters in this particular piece.

We host many crossbow hunters every season, and we welcome crossbow hunters just as we do traditional and recurve hunters who also have special considerations and limitations to their chosen equipment.. I think it would be a great idea to add crossbow, traditional, and recurve specific advice to the above information, and I will get to work and confer with Hannes and the PHs on that right away.

However, if you could be so kind as to offer more detail, I would like to better understand the issue you had with your scope so we can be sure to address that correctly? As I said, I personally haven't had that much experience with crossbows, but the ones I have shot had scopes with both variable and fixed power, and hold-over dots spaced vertically below the main reticle to account for bolt drop out to farther distances. The main crosshair was used for shots beginning at either 20, 30, and even 40 yards depending on the speed of the crossbow. I would assume that any shot taken from a hide would be inside of that 40 yard mark and the main crosshair would be the only aiming point necessary? Can you explain what the scope power had to do with your shots being off? Thanks very much!
Thank you very much for responding to my post. I will try to make my explanation as brief and simple as possible without being too technical. As I said, crossbow hunting is more complex than compound bow shooting. I shot a compound bow for 35 years before using a crossbow. Most crossbows utilize a "speed compensating reticle" scope. It has aiming points from 20 to 100 yds. Once the speed on the scope is set to the particular specs of the bow, you also lock in the power setting. The speed and power are one and the same setting on the scope. The power will be low (say 2X) on slow bows and fast (say 5X) on faster bows. If you are locked into a 5X on your setup, it is wholly unsuitable for shooting large African Game at short distances. Keep in mind, most hunters coming to South Africa from the U.S, are mostly hunting deer sized game. A 4X-5X on your scope at 20 yds still gives you a good field of view on a deer. My crossbow was set up at approximately 4X. This gave me aiming point from 20-60 yds as there are 5 reticles in the scope. My complaint is that my equipment should have been reviewed and adjusted accordingly prior to the hunt. It is customary for rifle hunters to show their proficiency with their rifle at the range prior to a hunt. Why not do the same for crossbow hunters? I demonstrated my accuracy at 30 yds but it was at a 20X20 target.
My equipment should have been reviewed based on the size of the game pursued and the anticipated distance of the shot. Spotting and stalking Impala, my equipment would have been perfectly set-up. Shooting a massive Eland at 20 yds, not suitable at all. To a compound shooter, it's all irrelevant. A pin is a pin. I was fortunate to have had my opportunity at my Eland last, as I went through trial and error on my first two animals. Only to conclude on my own that a 2X power on the scope was appropriate and I tested it on animals that I did not shoot prior to the Eland. Great field of view to make the proper shot. Not just seeing a "blob".
This was all done on my own. The PH did not question or check my equipment after one miss and one animal wounded (which was later recovered).
I want to reiterate again, I am not blaming Limcroma for my mishaps, but as I previously mentioned, as "archery experts", it should include a thorough review of a crossbow hunter's equipment to see if it matches the game and their anticipated ranges.
Thank again.
 
My complaint is that my equipment should have been reviewed and adjusted accordingly prior to the hunt. It is customary for rifle hunters to show their proficiency with their rifle at the range prior to a hunt. Why not do the same for crossbow hunters? I demonstrated my accuracy at 30 yds but it was at a 20X20 target.

I have hunted with crossbows extensively for years, and I do not understand what you saying? The magnification level of the scope should have nothing to do with the point of impact at any range.. Only the size of the target image and field of view should change.

Regardless, are you trying to say that the outfitter or the PH is actually the one who is responsible for checking the accuracy of your equipment and not you? Not to sound critical, but if that's it what you are saying that is ridiculous. The hunter and the hunter alone is responsible for the skill and proficiency in the operation of their weapon. It is your sole responsibility to check the accuracy of any weapon prior to hunting, and be proficient enough with that weapon to make ethical shots.

You say you took practice shots at 30 yards, but you also say you did not have to demonstrate your proficiency? I don't understand? If you are accurate at 30 with even the slower crossbows, your point of impact will be within a inch or two of your point of impact at 20 or even 40 yards. What difference does the target size make?
 
I have hunted with crossbows extensively for years, and I do not understand what you saying? The magnification level of the scope should have nothing to do with the point of impact at any range.. Only the size of the target image and field of view should change.

Regardless, are you trying to say that the outfitter or the PH is actually the one who is responsible for checking the accuracy of your equipment and not you? Not to sound critical, but if that's it what you are saying that is ridiculous. The hunter and the hunter alone is responsible for the skill and proficiency in the operation of their weapon. It is your sole responsibility to check the accuracy of any weapon prior to hunting, and be proficient enough with that weapon to make ethical shots.

You say you took practice shots at 30 yards, but you also say you did not have to demonstrate your proficiency? I don't understand? If you are accurate at 30 with even the slower crossbows, your point of impact will be within a inch or two of your point of impact at 20 or even 40 yards. What difference does the target size make?
Well you are using archaic equipment. This is the type of scope about 90% of crossbow hunters use.
It's called a speed compensating scope. As your bow shoots faster, the magnification required to adjust for trajectory changes to a higher zoom. I explained this in my prior post. It does not have a single reticle, but anywhere from 5-9.
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I have hunted with crossbows extensively for years, and I do not understand what you saying? The magnification level of the scope should have nothing to do with the point of impact at any range.. Only the size of the target image and field of view should change.

Regardless, are you trying to say that the outfitter or the PH is actually the one who is responsible for checking the accuracy of your equipment and not you? Not to sound critical, but if that's it what you are saying that is ridiculous. The hunter and the hunter alone is responsible for the skill and proficiency in the operation of their weapon. It is your sole responsibility to check the accuracy of any weapon prior to hunting, and be proficient enough with that weapon to make ethical shots.

You say you took practice shots at 30 yards, but you also say you did not have to demonstrate your proficiency? I don't understand? If you are accurate at 30 with even the slower crossbows, your point of impact will be within a inch or two of your point of impact at 20 or even 40 yards. What difference does the target size make?
I said in every post, I am not blaming the Outfitter. I guess you are too anxious to criticize. Yes, the Outfitter vets the firearms hunter. Why not the crossbow hunter? Would a PH let a hunter use a .22 rifle for Cape Buffalo? Just as they would advise on this, they should have the same interest with the crossbow hunter. But, you need the knowledge. You demonstrated that all people DO NOT.
 
I have hunted with crossbows extensively for years, and I do not understand what you saying? The magnification level of the scope should have nothing to do with the point of impact at any range.. Only the size of the target image and field of view should change.

Regardless, are you trying to say that the outfitter or the PH is actually the one who is responsible for checking the accuracy of your equipment and not you? Not to sound critical, but if that's it what you are saying that is ridiculous. The hunter and the hunter alone is responsible for the skill and proficiency in the operation of their weapon. It is your sole responsibility to check the accuracy of any weapon prior to hunting, and be proficient enough with that weapon to make ethical shots.

You say you took practice shots at 30 yards, but you also say you did not have to demonstrate your proficiency? I don't understand? If you are accurate at 30 with even the slower crossbows, your point of impact will be within a inch or two of your point of impact at 20 or even 40 yards. What difference does the target size make?
I have killed dozens of deer with my crossbow. Please do not lecture me about knowledge. The deer are much smaller than African animals. I had the incorrect setup for the hunting situation in South Africa. Are Outfitters just supposed to assume every hunter is correctly setup for their style of hunting? Customers spend a lot of time, money, and travel for this. They should be given the respect to be fully checked to make sure they are PREPARED for the type of hunting presented to them. After all, it's not like the PH doesn't have time. He spends countless hours in the blind doing nothing. LOL
But, as I keep saying, he must have the know how!
 
Well you are using archaic equipment. This is the type of scope about 90% of crossbow hunters use.
It's called a speed compensating scope. As your bow shoots faster, the magnification required to adjust for trajectory changes.

A am very familiar how the scope operates. The level of magnification has nothing to do with point of impact assuming that your speed is selected correctly. Secondly, the "trajectory" of a bolt shot from even the slowest recurve style crossbows at around 340fps the point of impact would not be more than an inch or two between 20 and 40 yards. Maybe it is you that does not understand your equipment?

I said in every post, I am not blaming the Outfitter. I guess you are too anxious to criticize. Yes, the Outfitter vets the firearms hunter. Why not the crossbow hunter? Would a PH let a hunter use a .22 rifle for Cape Buffalo? Just as they would advise on this, they should have the same interest with the crossbow hunter. But, you need the knowledge. You demonstrated that all people DO NOT.

Not anxious to criticize at all.. And, yes, it does sound as though you are blaming the outfitter by insinuating that they should be familiar with your equipment and how it operates. In one sentence you said you did practice shots accurately out to 30 yards and in the next, you said you were not vetted? Which is it? Either way, my overall point is that it ABSOLUTELY is the responsibility of the hunter to be proficient with the weapon and to check the accuracy especially after a long flight.

I also do not understand the .22 rifle for Cape buffalo analogy? Crossbows are more than capable of ethically taking a Cape buffalo provided that the bolt and broadhead are constructed for the job.

Any responsible archer knows that when you get to camp, you set up your equipment and shoot your bow/crossbow at a target multiple times from varying distances. If something is wrong at that point, you let the PH know and together you troubleshoot from there. To suggest that they should be mind-readers and be aware of the intricacies of your equipment is ridiculous!

From your own words, you are admitting that you were not proficient and did not have a full understanding of the functions of your equipment, and yet somehow and now you are suggesting that the PH should have known this? LOL..!
 
You have a comprehension issue. I NEVER stated that I don't have a full understanding of my equipment. I said my setup was not suitable for that style of hunting. I am done explaining to you. You just want to criticize.
It comes down to this: Outfitters should advise crossbow hunters to use only 1X or 2X power on their crossbow scopes when hunting large game out of blinds and shots do not exceed 30 yds.
I mentioned this to Limcroma on my review of the hunt. That one recommendation will save future crossbow hunters a lot of grief.
Simple isn't it???????????????
 
I used a crossbow that was setup for White tail deer. My scope was set up at 4 power as needed to utilize the ballistic drop compensator reticle. This proved to be the incorrect setup. As you mentioned, shots out of blinds would be no further than 25 yards. The animals I was hunting were huge targets at that range. I wounded two animals because of improper sight window.

LMFAO..! Your words above, not mine.. I would say that is a pretty clear-cut admission of not having full understanding of your equipment.

I'm not trying to be argumentative, but you are not being realistic in accepting the responsibility that is your responsibility and yours alone as a hunter. Not the outfitter... Not the PH..

Furthermore, I still haven't heard you say one way or the other if you did indeed shoot your crossbow multiple times at different distances before you took your crossbow out hunt after a 15-hour flight? If you did, I would think whatever "setting" you believe was necessary would have been determined at that point? That's what would have been simple..
 
LMFAO..! Your words above, not mine.. I would say that is a pretty clear-cut admission of not having full understanding of your equipment.

I'm not trying to be argumentative, but you are not being realistic in accepting the responsibility that is your responsibility and yours alone as a hunter. Not the outfitter... Not the PH..

Furthermore, I still haven't heard you say one way or the other if you did indeed shoot your crossbow multiple times at different distances before you took your crossbow out hunt after a 15-hour flight? If you did, I would think whatever "setting" you believe was necessary would have been determined at that point? That's what would have been simple..
That's your interpretation of it. I am not going to waste my time. We have wasted 100's of words. The advice I give is plain. Use a fixed power scope of 2X when hunting large animals at short range. If that was told to me, I would have been prepared. I learned by trial and error. It shouldn't be that way. Is it so hard to say that to prospective crossbow hunters?????
 
Archer36. Your subtle digs at an outfitter and defensive responses to anyone who gives another opinion here are surprising. You could have just said you recommend using a low power on a a crossbow scope for shorter distances if you were looking to add to the value of the original post. I would say that is true for any weapon that uses a scope, so to me it just comes down to understanding your equipment. Limcroma did a good job giving a good overview of common questions that to me apply to all types of archery including traditional, compound and crossbow. My initial response was not meant to be derogatory in any way. It was just my opinion having shot all archery methods for about 40 years.
 
Archer36. Your subtle digs at an outfitter and defensive responses to anyone who gives another opinion here are surprising. You could have just said you recommend using a low power on a a crossbow scope for shorter distances if you were looking to add to the value of the original post. I would say that is true for any weapon that uses a scope, so to me it just comes down to understanding your equipment. Limcroma did a good job giving a good overview of common questions that to me apply to all types of archery including traditional, compound and crossbow. My initial response was not meant to be derogatory in any way. It was just my opinion having shot all archery methods for about 40 years.
I understood my equipment. I killed many animals with crossbow equipment prior to this. I was not setup for that style of hunting. Once and for all. This is not rocket science. I never saw any posts referring to crossbow use by the Outfitter. It's all about compound bows. I said it many times, just let crossbow hunters know that shots will be close, and they should utilize a 1X (red dot) or 2X at most, when hunting out of blinds for large bodied animals. Was that SO DIFFICULT??
A far as "subtle digs". Yes, I was a little disappointed that my PH was on his first archery hunt for the year, and it was September (close to end of hunting season). Yes, I was disappointed that my PH showed no interest in my equipment. I don't think it's "digs". You would expect better from "archery experts".
I pulled the trigger, It's on me. I said it several times. An outfitters responsibility is to do everything to make a hunt successful. We pull the trigger. It is more than simply putting an animal in front of you.
My initial thread on this subject was to be informational to future crossbow hunters. That was, and still is, my sole purpose for all of this. To help a future crossbow hunter and prevent him from making the same mistakes that I made. End of story!
 
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Excellent info @Limcroma Safaris!

I think we asked all of those questions and dozens more when we were in the planning stages of our safari with you. ;)

All of our concerns were addressed, and we felt extremely well prepared for our hunt. We were very impressed with the small details that make a difference for bowhunters. We were pleasantly surprised to find a 3-D style practice range with broadhead targets, the hides equipped with bow hangers, adjustable shooting windows, and comfortable, silent chairs. The PH buring dung was another cool scent trick we learned when the wind was swirling. Worked like a charm!

I also never imagined I would be hunting from a latch-on tree stand in Africa, but I loved it! Taking my monster warthog from that stand down by the river was the highlight of my hunt! Awesome experience all around!
 

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Hope you're well.

I'm headed your way in January.

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I know you're some distance from Vegas - but would be keen to catch up if it works out.

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