SOUTH AFRICA: Couples Hunt With Limcroma (Filled With Photos)

[Josh Neal]

So much to Say, but ill do my best to keep it short and simple in hopes of keeping your attention.

Background: Hunting Africa had been merely a dream of mine and my fathers. But as time went on I started to realize that the dream could potentially become reality with a bit of hard work and saved money. I was always under the impression that you had to be "rich" to hunt Africa. But over the past couple years I began to understand that these hunt prices were much more affordable then I ever knew.

After 5 solid months of secretly planning and researching nearly 40 outfits in SA, I sent my deposit in, and surprised my wife with the news, as a gift for our 5 year anniversary. She was much more excited that I would have thought. (I guess after 8 years together she has come to expect some type of hunting on each trip we take)

We had 18 months from the time of booking until our trip would take place. This is where Dan (@firehuntfish ) would begin answering my endless amount of newbie questions. This was also the time where I became a member of the best website on earth... AH!!! I literally spent hundreds of hours here and on YouTube searching, studying, and learning as much as possible. (In hind sight I think I may have done to much research)

During my planning stages I was able to talk my mother and father into booking with us. (it was to hard of a sell. LOL) ill trickle some of there hunt details below as well.

 

[Josh Neal]

After speaking with Limcroma's US rep @firehuntfish we elected to hunt for 7 days, but quickly extended our stay to 11 days so we could do some relaxing, and a few excursions such as elephant safari, a spa day, visiting the local school, and the Ukatulu lion interaction. We opted for an "a la carte price list" rather then a provided package. During my planning I knew that we would just be focusing on plains game animals.... and let me tell you 18 months is way to long to be thinking about what animals you want to target. my mind changed 10,000 times! below I have listed the details on our PHs and each persons target animals.

Wife and Myself
PH/cameraman- Drian (Bos Otter)
Tracker: Foster
Dog: Pep-pee

Target Animals:
Wife- #1 blesbok, #2 Gemsbok, and possibly a impala and Blue Wildebeest
Myself- #1 Egyptian Goose, #2 BIG Baboon, #3 Big Warthog, #4 Kudu, #5 zebra.... and a bunch more!

Mom and Dad
PH- Hardus
Tracker:
Cameraman: Pieter (Bush Bro productions)

Target Animals:
Mom- #1 Kudu
Dad- #1 giraffe, #2 Eland, #3 blue & black wildebeest, #4 Genet, and many many more!

 

[Josh Neal]

Time to buy airline tickets! Everyone suggested that we fly Delta from Atlanta GA. But we wanted to arrive early and make it into camp on day 1 rather then stay at a guesthouse. The flight that fit our needs best was South Africa Airways from JFK. (plus the tickets were WAY cheaper, it was a WIN WIN in my book.)

Fast forward 10 months to our day of travel. We had 3 flight to catch starting in Louisville KY. And just as our luck would have it our 1st flight was delayed for maintenance and it was going to keep us from catching on big flight from JFK to JNB. the airlines tried to find alternate flights but with no luck... our only option was to rent a suv and cram our 3 bow cases and 5 luggage cases in it, then drive 13 hours straight to New York JFK!

Not the start we had envisioned! you can see the sheer excitement in my face!

 

[enysse]

Oh boy, that's a rough start!

 

[Josh Neal]

Now for the good stuff! We touched down at JBN at 8:20am on Sunday July 16 2017. Customs was a breeze, and gathering our bows wasn't to bad either. We were met by a gentleman who ran a shuttle service for several outfits. (I want to say the name was "Safari travel" maybe?

We have a 4 hour drive to camp. 3 hours of which was driven by the shuttle service where he would take us to Thabazimbi to meet our PHs.

He was a very nice guy, and he told us some cool stories and details about south Africa on our 3 hour drive.

We arrived in Thabazimbi where our PHs were waiting on us. Within 10 minutes we had been loaded up and were making our way to camp. with all the build up and excitement, it still hadn't really hit us yet! But as soon as the roads turned to dust, and we seen some game IT ALL BECAME REAL!

Jessica (my wife) and I had some great conversation with our PH on the drive to camp. We seemed to have hit it off pretty good, We had a lot in common and were similar in age.

We pulled into camp around 2:40 pm. When I seen the camp my jaw dropped and the 1st words out of my mouth to Jessica was "you couldn't knock this smile off my face if you had to!" We were greeted by Thespina (camp chef) with some celebration drinks. By the times we had said our Hello's our bags were already stowed away in our rooms!

We were asked if we wanted to jump into a blind for the last bit of light... What a silly question!!! We got settled into our rooms, shot our bows, then headed out for 2 hours. both couples hunted close to camp. Words can not describe the emotions going through my head as we climb into our hide.

The 1st animal I see/hear was the clicking hoofs of a Eland. I had heard and read about it and it was exactly the sounds I expected! We had a beautiful trophy bull with 25 yards. I previously had no intentions to shoot and Eland, but I almost couldn't hold back! We also seen some young kudu, 2 warthogs, a steenbok, and a duiker.

My parents had a great 2 hours as well, but no arrows flew the 1st night.

We settled back into camp, had dinner at 8pm and quickly crashed in bed afterwards... 6:00am would come early the next day.

 

[Josh Neal]

6:00am on our 1st Full day in camp! We were eager to get up, eat breakfast and run! Our breakfast was one we would be very accustom with in the coming days. Scrambled eggs, ham sliced as bacon, cheese filled sausage links, toast, and muffins.

were chilly, but we had brought layers to wear. We made our way to our 1st set where we intended to hunt all day. This area was jam packed with game. We encountered Gemsbok, sable, waterbuck, kudu, blue wildebeest, and tons of warthogs!

The mornings

 

[Josh Neal]

As we watched these amazing animals all around us I quickly realized that each species was much larger then I had expected... I knew a Kudu was big, but man those legs are long! Id say each animal was about 10% bigger in person then I had imagined.

I also quickly learned how great the quality of animals were that Limcroma has to offer. There were 2 kudu bulls standing at 20 yards, each appeared to be 48"-50". I was ready to shoot!!! My PH just kept saying... "we can get you a better one."
I'm setting there thinking " I don't expect to see anything much bigger then those two"... then I look up and see spirals pushing up though the bush heading our direction. Without saying a word, I knew this was a MUCH BIGGER bull! I reached for my bow by instinct as I told my PH "I know that's a shooter right?!?!" He was awkwardly quite, I couldn't quite figure out why he wasn't saying much. The bull walked right into 30 yards. I'm nocked and loaded, shaking like a leaf! my PH, still very quite as I ask "Can I shoot this beast?" He then finally opens his mouth and tells me "that is a MONSTER".
(I presume he was talking with the owner making sure I could shoot this kudu because he did stand up quickly to snap a picture on his phone, and it appeared as if he was messaging) After 10 minutes of watching this GIANT I was given the green light. We got the camera rolling, and with my wife by my side I released my 1st African arrow and made direct contact to a GIANT at 27 yards, slightly quartering away, I stuck the arrow through both lungs and made a quick recovery at 70 yards!

After approaching the animal it really sank in that I had taken my 1st African animal, and it was the trophy of a lifetime! A Gold Medal archery Kudu. I was excited, emotional, and humbled!

 

[Josh Neal]

After the Kudu was sent to the salt, we moved to a new hide so my wife could get her 1st chance at African blood. We seen a few Blue Wildebeest, and a few Gemsbok, but nothing that presented a shot. We headed back to camp with my big smile from ear to ear as I began to tell everyone the story of the Kudu. Dinner was served at 8:15pm and we were back in the sack right after dessert!

6:00am the next morning and we were up again, breakfast was served and we headed to a new blind. We were covered up in impala for the 1st several hours! some giant Rams at that! but all were to young to shoot. We also encountered a beautiful Roan which my wife fell in love with.... but her favorite animal of the day was a lonely old bull Blue Wildebeest that wandered into the water hole at noon.

She had the green light, and after 50 minutes he FINALLY presented her with a slightly quartering away shot at 17 yards. I have never been more proud of her then when I seen the arrow hit the EXACT spot it needed to. My wife had just shot her 1st African animal, and her 1st bow kill ever!!! She was shooting her Bowtech Carbon Rose @ 45#.

The Bull was hit so hard, all 4 feet left the ground and he landed on his back with 4 feet sticking straight up in the air. After he regained his footing he ran 50 yards and piled up!

I was more excited then when I shot my Kudu!!!!!

 

[Josh Neal]

After returning to camp and sharing stories of the day, and Jessica's awesome Wildebeest we learned of my father Success. He had shot a beautiful Sable Bull! A 43" Bull at that!!! I was extremely happy for him, but I will say I had NO IDEA a sable was on his radar... but after seeing them I understand how hard it would be to pass one up if you have the means to take one! There was a bit of a sour note the next day when my father found out that there was a different price for his sable due to it being over 40". Our price list that we had drilled and memorized in our brains only had 1 price for sable. He spoke with a senior PH in camp about his concern, then the next day spoke with Hannes the Owner. Hannes apologized for the error and honored the only price we ever knew for a sable. (THANKS Hannes!!!)

Dinner was severed at 8:15pm and again we headed straight to bed afterwards. The next morning we headed 1 hour away to Target Zebra for myself. By the talk of the PH this property was Covered up in Zebra. We did see 6 stallions, but they were all pregnant and fixing to pop! We weren't able to take anything on this day, but that is why they call it hunting!

 

[Josh Neal]

The Next day our plan was to set back out after zebra to the same property. This was day 4 in camp, and it was a rough day for my wife. Her grandfather was just diagnosed with Cancer for the 3rd time the day before we arrived in camp. The only communication we had was via camp Wi-Fi that was provided. On our 1st day in camp Wi-Fi was cut off due to a usage restriction. I believe they buy 15 GB at a time, and there was a kid downloading movies that wiped it all out. throughout the course of 11 days we had Wi-Fi for 3 days total. We knew that the Wi-Fi wouldn't be very strong, but we had hopes of at least using a messaging app through it. Looking back we should have gotten a data plan from our provider just in case something like this came up. The lack of communication back home was understandably hard on her.

Back to hunting! We headed back to the same area we hunted zebra the previous day. This time with better success! at 10:50am 4 stallions came to water. They were quickly moving in and out, left and right, back and forth... my PH and I were moving from window to window. He gave me the green light on 3 of the 4 stallions, but there was one that I really wanted. He was a bit smaller then the rest but beautifully marked with more black then the rest.

20 mintues go by and I finally had a quick window at 32 yards. I buried my Goldtip arrow in the shoulder all the way to the fletching's of the arrow. Our recovery was once again short and sweet @ 50 yards! These Bowtech Bows were doing some serious work!

These zebras were much smarter then I ever would have thought. So weary to water and always checking downwind. it was a fun and challenging hunt!

 

[Josh Neal]

Through out the course of our 11 days we night hunted 4 nights. usually 2-3 hours each night driving with lights.

My father ended up taking a springhare (barehanded catch and kill) and a Genet from a tree with his bow! Those nights were cold but very fun.

MORE REPORT TOMORROW! STAY TUNED!

 

[JustinC]

Great report and photos!

 

[russ_c]

Great report and photos, sir! I had been wondering how your trip went. Crazy story having to take the car to JFK!

Look forward to the rest of the report!

 

[cpr0312]

Nicely done! Congrats on the trophies and thanks for sharing!

Like the new anniversary gift guideline list you posted!

 

[cpr0312]

By the way great kudu!! Look forward to the rest of the report

 

[enysse]

WOW, that is a dream KUDU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm super jealous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[lpace]

That kudu is sick! It is indeed a dream kudu!! Congratulations and thanks for the report. We (my wife and I) are headed for Limcroma next year so these reports are greatly appreciated!

 

[cagkt3]

Great stuff so far! More!!

 

[billc]

very nice so far and great recover to overcome the flights like that. That is a great kudu but I also understand how you feel about your wife taking her animal and how special that was. Great job all around

 

[gillettehunter]

Looks like a great time all around. That Kudu looks great. What did he tape out at. Wonderful to be able to be with your wife for her first bow kill. Love the anniversary list. Bruce