By FX Jurgens

Most of my wingshooting is done in the area between Pretoria and Bela-Bela (Warmbaths) in the Limpopo Province of South Africa.

This area includes the well-known Springbok Vlakte (Springbok Plains).

Here, the fertile soil is cultivated into large fields of maize and sunflower crops. Early in the wingshooting season, the fields of ripe sunflowers attract flocks of rock pigeons (kransduiwe).

It is also one of the best areas in the country to hunt typical bushveld bird species like Swainson’s Spurfowl (bosveldfisante), crested francolin (bospatryse) and the crafty helmeted guineafowl (gewone tarentaal).

The cultivated fields are bordered by areas of thick natural bush and supply the bushveld game birds with shelter from predators and with safe nesting sites. These natural areas with an abundant food source nearby is why bushveld game birds can be found here in record numbers. Of course, the fact that an area is home to a lot of birds does not automatically guarantee hunting success.

At the first sign of hunters, the spurfowl and guineafowl would immediately leave the cultivated fields and seek refuge in the thick bush. Here it takes patience, a bit of luck and the help of excellent gun dogs to find them.

Ariadne had won many field trails in the past, and her companion Erato’s bloodline included seven field-trial winners and one international field-trial winner.

Both these dogs were the product of a breeding program that went back 40 years. We would again be amazed by their drive and abilities as the hunt progressed. The hunting party consisted of Theo, Wouter, Jacques and me. Jacques brought his fourteen-year-old son Liam along, and this would be his first bird hunt.

The first field we hunted was thick bushveld with tall thorn trees intermingled with high grass and patches of sickle bush. It was the perfect place for game birds to hide.

Aki took his shotgun from his shoulder and handed it to Liam.

“You stick close to me”, he instructed Liam.

We entered the field, keeping a distance of thirty meters between the guns as we set off.

The dogs immediately started combing the bush in front of us as their sensitive noses picked up the smell of our quarry.

I weaved through the patches of thick bush when a single guineafowl flushed next to me. Before I could lift my gun, the bird flew behind a tree and my shot only managed to defoliate the innocent tree. I was aware of shots being fired off to my right.

As we reached the end of the bushveld area where it met the cultivated field, we took stock of our first walk of the morning. Liam’s huge smile made no secret of the fact that he was the only gun that had had success. He had shot a guineafowl over a perfect point by Ariadne, and shot his second bird after he flushed it himself.

We entered the second field and this time we kept closer together. Aki accurately predicted that the spurfowl would keep in the bush close to the fence that separated the bushveld and the harvested fields.

The spurfowl sat tight, and it was beautiful to see the dogs go on point. Their energetic searching instantly transformed into single-minded purpose as they concentrated on the scent in front of them. One of the dogs would go on point, every muscle fiber in its body quivering, while the second dog would honour the point. At Aki’s command, the dogs would flush the birds and Jacques easily shot two Swainson’s. The birds fell in thick areas of grass but at Aki’s command the birds were retrieved to his hand.

A few chances were missed, but Wouter and Theo also took some birds.

Over a point from Erato, a covey of birds was flushed by Theo.

“Crested!” Aki called out as he identified the birds in flight.

My shot checked the flight of a single bird that crossed in front of me and I felt elated at having shot a crested francolin – in my opinion, the most beautiful bushveld game bird.

We took some photos for prosperity and then returned to where Leslie was waiting with coffee, soft drinks, and snacks to revive us.

We then drove to a different part of the farm. Here the farmer had cut the long grass for winter feed, and the plains of short grass were dotted with shrubs and stunted tree under which patches of tall grass remained.

We walked close together as the dogs went to work. Now we could really enjoy the symphony while watching them. Aki could read his dog’s body language and would warn us when the dogs were working a scent. He kept one eye on his dogs, one on the shooters’ positions, and he still kept his eyes open for spurfowl that were running between the grassy areas. He also kept an eye on the barometric pressure that influenced the scenting conditions.

The spurfowl would run from the dogs till the tall grass-strips ended. The dogs would follow the scent till the birds ran out of cover. There, the dogs would go on a solid point. We would rotate the shooters and Aki would give the flush command. Shots rang out and birds fell at regular intervals. Every shot bird was retrieved by Ariadne or Erato. Aki would fist bump the hunter and we all appreciated the beautiful bushveld game birds.

On driving to the next field, we noticed a large flock of guineafowl in the open. Aki herded them into a bushy area next to the open field. Here, we hoped, the guineas would sit tight as we walked up to them. We spread out and entered the field. The soft calls of the guineas were audible in the long grass in front of us.

Suddenly, the whole flock of birds flushed in front of us.

I was overcome as the flock of at least fifty birds flew in all directions. Like a lion that was surrounded by an entire herd of bounding gazelles, I could not choose a single target.
Three shots rang out to my right, and it was Wouter who scored a double. He was ecstatic with the successful flush. 

The day was heating up, and we returned to where Leslie had made a fire, and we were served ice-cold soft drinks and hors d’oeuvres made from duck and goose breast chorizo. We relaxed around the fire as Leslie prepared a delicious lunch, laughing and enjoying each other’s company. Leslie organised a plinking competition with a .22 rifle to keep us from nodding off. While we lunched and relaxed, Aki took Liam on a scouting trip to look for birds and to reconnoiter an area for the afternoon’s hunt.

Our shooting did not disappoint. The Crested Francolin covey erupted close to me. A single bird flew high over my head and my first shot missed completely. My second shot, however, checked the bird’s flight, and it tumbled to earth.

This field held birds in abundance, and we flushed a single covey of Swainson’s Spurfowl that consisted of a dozen birds. Despite the thickets, the dogs found, pointed, and retrieved the birds without any difficulty.

As the sun approached the western horizon and the shadows lengthened, we gathered together to inspect the day’s bag. Leslie broke out the celebratory beers and we toasted each other on an exceptional day of bird hunting in the bushveld.

If you ever want to experience a truly memorable wingshooting experience, contact Leslie van der Merwe Safaris on lesliej375@outlook.com

By Robert P. Braubach

While in Zambia on a sable hunt with PH Strang Middleton in May 2024, I remembered the saying, “Don’t pass on an animal on day one that you would not shoot the last day.” So when I had an opportunity early on in the hunt to take an exceptional sable, I did not hesitate.

With more time available for the rest of the hunt, I learned that Strang Middleton’s passion is to pursue the bushpig, Potamochoerus larvatus. The bushpig is a strong, stocky animal with powerful legs and often has red or green hair on its body with upper and lower tusks (lower tusks not usually used). They are mostly nocturnal, with a keen sense of smell and hearing – but don’t underestimate their eyesight, which is also exceptional.

With red, sandy soil and good vegetation at the Middleton ranch, there is an abundance of bushpigs. They are normally hunted during the night when they are most active, usually with bait from a blind.

While visiting the property, we came across the strong odor of a dead animal. We walked the area and found a magnificent eland bull that had died of natural causes or disease, close to a termite hill in thick brush. The maggots and flies were consuming this beautiful animal. Bushpig tracks were close by, so we decided this would be a perfect spot, with the bushpig thinking the carcass was his meal.

We built a blind approximately 35 yards from the dead animal against a tree to break our silhouettes. We tried to set up a blind with the wind blowing into us, anticipating the direction the bushpigs would come from behind the bait, based on their tracks. The correct wind direction is critical to the bushpig hunt.

We then set up a trail camera close to the bait and an overhead light that activates a green light upon movement, in the tree close to the dead eland and returned the next morning to check the SIM card from the camera. The photos confirmed the bushpigs were coming to the carcass with one exceptionally large male in a group of ten.

We went back to the blind that afternoon at 5:00 p.m. The wind was right for us, if the bushpigs approached from the thick forest from behind the eland carcass. We then sat still and quiet as the night approached and listened to the music of the birds and animals in the forest.

We remained quiet and motionless for several hours in the darkness, just like in a leopard hunt. The bushpigs appeared quietly around 8:00 p.m. as we could see the green light gradually turn on when one of the large female pigs was feeding under it.

The male bushpig rolled around close to the dead eland and was occupied eating the skin, bones, and maggots. He stayed out of the light.

The male then joined the female in the other bushpig clan under the green light. I waited until the male was broadside and presented a clear shot. My rifle shot was true, and the massive male, an old and mature animal, ran a short distance and then collapsed and expired. A shot must be well placed on a bushpig, for a wounded pig is dangerous and may charge you. A giant boar is an impressive animal, and hunting one is a true adventure and experience in Zambia.

I suggest any hunter interested in hunting leopards in Africa consider doing a bushpig hunt with an experienced hunter like Strang Middleton. The planning and setup are like a leopard hunt. You need to position the blind correctly, in front of a bait and anticipate the approach of the animal and the wind. You will normally need to sit quietly and motionless for three hours or more in the dark to be successful with a bushpig, and then you need to make a successful shot at night. If you do not have the patience and skills to be successful on a bushpig hunt, then you may need to improve your preparation for a successful leopard at night. The bushpig is a poor man’s leopard hunt.

Contact Strang Middleton, PH, in Zambia at strangm76@gmail.com

For more images by Drew Butterwick, click here.

By McKenzie Sims

I love bow hunting, but must admit I am no expert. Far from it. I get extremely excited when I close in on animals and because of that; I have even lost a couple of animals in the process. I am not proud of it, but if anyone tells you they have never lost an animal, they probably haven’t hunted enough. I do practice and work hard at trying to better my shooting abilities, but when it comes down to drawing back, it’s like I black out and lose all control of my senses. If that ever happens, I think I should stop hunting!

I have traveled to Africa with my bow on three occasions, though have only been on two bow safaris, once to the Limpopo Province in South Africa and the other in the Northern Cape. The third trip was to Zambia where I hoped to try for a hippo on dry land with my bow, and a Cape buffalo. That didn’t happen, but I did get lucky and got a few other different species. On my two bow-only safaris the weather was never ideal for bowhunting, and I got the timing wrong on both.

In July 2013, I traveled to the Limpopo Province of South Africa to hunt a few plains-game species with my bow. I wasn’t with an outfitter because the property I was on wasn’t a hunting property. There were not many different game species, but the game they had was primary for feeding the predators that were there for rehab and for breeding. There were numerous lions, even white lions; there were cheetahs, hyenas, and even a monster of a leopard that had been raised when he was found abandoned as a cub. So, everything I was to hunt would be food for these animals.

July is meant to be a good time for bowhunting as it’s mid-winter when everything has dried up. The water sources are getting lower, and the food has lost a lot of its nutritional value, so the wildlife comes frequently to water and food sources. I have spent a lot of time in Africa throughout the winter months over the years, but this time was different. Our winters in Southwest Wyoming can be brutal; we measure snow not in inches but in feet, and during the winter it is very common to see days and even weeks where we are below zero Fahrenheit. It’s not uncommon to have several days that hit negative thirty-five F with the windchill. The wind is brutal even during our summer days when we sometimes get thirty, forty, and even fifty-mile-an-hour winds, so I’m used to the wind.

But I have never experienced wind in Africa like I did during that week of July. The wind was howling, making it much colder by African standards. And the wind didn’t help in many ways. One, it was colder, so the game didn’t move as much; to move in the howling winds would affect all the senses that keep the animals alive. And shooting a bow and arrow in the wind is difficult to hold steady and your arrow drifts much more. So, from the beginning, we knew we had our work cut out for us, and over the seven days I was only able to get three shot opportunities. One was on the first day from a pop-up blind over a water source where I got a baboon. The next was Day 3 from of an elevated tree blind machan where I took an impala.

Then on Day 5 out of the same blind I arrowed a blue wildebeest that we spent the next two days tracking without finding it. My shot was just a bit high and clipped one lung, and if you know blue wildebeest you know they are very tough animals. They did find it a few days after I left. They figured the wildebeest had died that same day, but with little blood to follow and with so many tracks around, his were lost in the mix. The good thing was the meat was still salvageable for feeding predators, so it was not considered a waste.

My key lesson from this safari was, no matter how much planning you do and how perfect the timing is, Mother Nature can always throw a wrench in your plans, so be prepared for that and take it as it comes. Remember, a bad day on a safari is better than a good day at work, unless that good day at work adds to your safari fund!

My second bow safari was in the Northern Cape in November of 2021, and this is where I say I was a bit late or extremely early for prime archery conditions. November can be great for bowhunting as it’s getting warmer, and the rains have yet to really start to bring back the new growth and much-needed water. However, my timing was a little off. I arrived on 5 November, but the week prior to my arrival they had had a few really good early rainstorms, so the bush was beginning to come to life, making the food source be more abundant – the animals did not have to rely on feed. They still needed water, but rain filled up natural water sources so it was harder to pinpoint where the game would be. My second mistake was making this safari only five days – too short in most cases, but even shorter for the bowhunting conditions we were about to face.

The first morning we sat in a hide at ground level. This is a cool system that’s very popular in Southern African bowhunting camps, where the ground is dug out and a solid structure blind placed in the hole – these blinds looked like massive rocks. While we sat in the blind and watched Africa come to life that morning with the sun painting a picture across the African landscape, Danie and I talked about how difficult it was going to be with all this fresh green grass sprouting up.

Nothing came to water or feed that morning so after a while we got picked up from the blind and went about trying the spot and stalk technique. This proved to be the way forward. We first stalked a monster of a white springbok but, as I mentioned at the beginning of the story, I melt when I draw back my bow and that’s what happened. I drew back and sent a 650-grain Grizzly Stik arrow into a buffalo thorn acacia. But I did redeem myself on this same big white springbok just two days later.

This trip was quick, and 650-gr packed with zero luck out of the blinds was not for lack of trying, so we had to do everything by spot and stalk. We managed to end the safari with a few very fine antelope species in the salt, but not all we were after.

That is common on any safari. You will have a key species list and you most likely won’t get them all, but you probably will add a few animals of opportunity along the way that you didn’t have on your initial list.

Sometimes timing of trips isn’t always the most opportune, but you just have to make the most of it and use what conditions you are given. You’re in Africa on safari. Smile. Life is good!

In May 2018 I packed a bow with me on a safari to Zambia where the primary focus was a leopard, and after that the Cape buffalo and a dry-land hippo. Though this was not specifically a bowhunting safari, and I was using a rifle for the cat, it took a lot of our time and quota away with a rifle. We did get the cat early and that gave us time with the bow. However, May in Zambia is the very start of the season. The bush is thick and green, so getting shots on the smaller plains game was tough in thick vegetation.

In conclusion, when planning a bowhunting safari, it’s key to make a plan with the outfitter for the dates he thinks work best. That doesn’t always line up with our busy schedules and I have mentioned a few of my hunts that didn’t happen during ideal archery time. That’s OK. Different times of the year are better for different species and for different methods. Earlier is better for spot and stalk; the ground is fresh and quieter on your feet, but it’s also very thick and can make getting a shot difficult. Later is good for sitting at feed and water, but the caveat is the ground is very crunchy with all the leaf litter.

Pick your top key species and make a plan with your chosen outfitter. Focus on the main species you want, and if others offer opportunities and you can afford to take them, do so.  Hunting is hunting and nothing always works out 100% perfectly. That’s part of the fun in it – the challenges had, and the experiences earned.

By Hal Banasch

Our flight from Calgary via Amsterdam to Johannesburg arrived at OR Tambo Airport close to midnight, and we were transported to Afton Safari Lodge for our first-class overnight stay. With Richard Lendrum’s assistance we were able to book the 10-day safari in September 2023 with Eland Safaris. When I sent Alex Thomson our personal information, he said that we would be the oldest clients that they had ever had at their lodge, and they did a great job looking after all our needs and providing us with an adventurous trip.

I had started planning for this safari many months beforehand. In Canada it is very difficult to secure travel insurance for our age group, especially with pre-existing health issues.  Initially I couldn’t find anyone to accompany me, and finally thought of a couple of longtime friends that I hoped might be interested. To my surprise and relief, they both agreed to come, and were enthusiastic about going to Africa. They did not intend to hunt but wanted to experience the adventure of a sight-seeing safari.

My wife Lois and I had already experienced a wonderful hunting and sight-seeing safari in Namibia in 2016 with Etosha Heights Game Safaris where I took a Hartmann’s mountain zebra, a black-faced impala, a red hartebeest, a gemsbok and a magnificent kudu. We were within short driving distance of Etosha National Park, so we made a one-day trip to the park. It was well worthwhile seeing the world-famous Etosha salt pan which is larger than the Great Salt Flats in Utah. This 160,000-acre magnificent property is now an eco-tourist location filled with abundant wildlife that includes both the white and the black rhino.

The three of us on this trip have been for close to forty years. The oldest member of our group, Wayne (Cinch) Arthur was 86 years old, having had quintuple bypass heart surgery and carotid artery surgery. He was once a horse trainer, rodeo announcer, cowboy, a great public speaker, a singer (Richard had a guitar for him so that he could sing for us at the lodge), a songwriter and all-round raconteur.

Our youngest member, Darrel Riemer, a retired judge, was about two months short of his 79^th birthday. He is one of the Canadian directors for Samaritan’s Purse Canada and the member of our group that gives us emotional stability as both Cinch and I have a tendency to become a bit excitable at times. I am 81 years old and, except for having had both of my hips replaced (about ten years ago), I am in reasonably good health with no mobility issues. I managed an insurance office, and my son and I own a wholesale flyfishing supply company. For many years we hunted Spring black bear on the Peace River in Northern Alberta, Canada and we called our hunting party “The Boys of the River” and, as time passed, we changed the name to, “The Old Men of the River.” We have also hunted in Southern Alberta (where I live) for deer, antelope, elk and upland birds (mostly pheasants). We love hunting pheasants with Kona, my German Wire-haired Pointer, and have hunted with many other dogs that I have owned over the years.

After a good night’s rest at Afton, we had a five-hour drive to Eland Safaris.  I always enjoy driving in Africa and seeing its diversity and beauty, and Eland was like an oasis with great amenities. The next day our PH Johnny Thomson (part owner) and our tracker Petrus showed us around the thousands of acres of bushveld, looking for sable and nyala, which were the two animals that I was hoping to shoot, and deciding on others as the opportunities arose. We were surprised at the variety and numbers of animals, and saw nyala, but we did not see any sable although they were there.

That evening Johnny had an email from the owner of the neighboring hunting property saying that he had a trail camera picture of a very good sable bull. We hunted that property the next day but did not find the sable. I was told that they are very smart. We did find a very large impala ram which Johnny said I should take if the opportunity presented itself. It was very cautious, and we had to wait quite a while until I finally got the chance to shoot. I was successful, and it was a beautiful animal.

We hunted every day without finding a sable bull. Then one day Johnny told us about a good one on a hunting property that consisted of thousands of acres of bushveld that was about one and a half hours from the lodge. We decided to leave early in the morning, and when we arrived, we picked up the tracker who was familiar with the property and had seen this sable bull before. We hunted hard the whole day and saw plenty of game, studied many tracks, but could not find the sable that we were after.

The following day we decided to take the day off from hunting so that the three of us could enjoy a sightseeing safari. Johnny told us about the Palala Lodge and game reserve a little over an hour from Eland. We went and had a great time seeing animals that you don’t normally see hunting because of time constraints and the elusiveness of the animals. We saw lions, sable, leopard, wild dogs, cheetahs, snakes, crocodiles, hippo, and various other antelope.

We spent three afternoons in a blind waiting for a warthog that we saw on a trail camera, but he never showed up – that is why it is called, “hunting not shooting.” One day we decided to concentrate on a nyala bull that we had previously seen. We got ourselves hidden away and waited until he appeared out of the bush. Johnny told me where I should place the shot, and then gave me the OK to shoot when it was broadside. I shot, and it ran off into the bush. We waited a bit and slowly followed the blood trail and found him lying down, and I was able to put in a final shot. When I got close, I could not get over the beauty of this animal. I was thrilled.

The following day Johnny suggested we go back to the property that we had previously hunted and see if we could find the sable bull that had eluded us previously. We again picked up the local tracker and hunted hard for many hours, spotting much game, checking tracks – but no sable. Our whole group was very quiet and subdued. After lunch as we were hunting, the tracker whispered to Johnny and asked us to back up slightly. We did, and he pointed to some heavy brush, and there, mostly obscured, stood a sable bull looking at us at about 100 yards. Johnny asked if I could see any part of his shoulder, and I whispered back that I had only had a very small window, but he encouraged me to take that shot as there were no other options.

I was quite nervous, but knew it was now or never. I had a very solid rest and held my breath as I slowly squeezed the trigger. We could hear that the shot was a hit, at which point the bull jerked and ran off and out of sight. Johnny said that we needed to wait about 15 minutes for him to die, otherwise we might pressure him, and we could lose him. I knew this was the right thing to do but I was nervous the whole time, and time moves very slowly in those situations. Finally, we walked in the direction that the sable had run, with the little Jack Russel dog in the lead. We were still walking when the dog barked, and Johnny said that it had found the sable! I was so overcome, I actually threw my arms up and thanked God! Such an amazing and beautiful animal, and even more beautiful up close. I had seen one in Namibia in 2016 and thought that they were one of the most beautiful and unique plains-game animals. We took some pictures, and I thanked Johnny and the trackers for their assistance – without them this would have never happened.

On our last hunting day Johnny encouraged me to try to take a blue wildebeest bull if we could find an old one. We hunted and saw a lot of hogs, and Cinch and I were looking for the warthog that had eluded us thus far. While we were looking at the hogs (but not my warthog) Johnny said, “There he is.” I could not see what he was looking at and finally Johnny said, “Look where my finger is pointing.” Then I saw a blue wildebeest bull standing facing us at about 100 yards. Because he was facing us Johnny told me to shoot him dead center at his chest. I do not like frontal shots as they often end up wounding the animal if you are not in the proper kill area. I had a good solid rest and I aimed, but my shot was a little off and hit him through the chest a little left toward the shoulder.

At the shot he was off on a dead run. Johnny, Petrus and I followed him, while Cinch stayed in the vehicle. I was carrying the gun, and as we were running Johnny told me to stay close to him as there were buffalo in the area. Now I had two things to worry about: the buffalo and the possibility of losing this wildebeest. I had read many articles about the tracking skills of the native trackers, and I saw this firsthand. I watched Petrus as he pointed out some small specks of blood that I had to practically get down on my hands and knees to see. The blood trail ended, and I don’t know how he was able to track this animal, but he did. Occasionally, we would get a glimpse of the wildebeest in heavy brush but moving along very quickly. After some time, Petrus and Johnny made a plan for Petrus to pressure the bull out of the heavy brush to cross a two-track. Johnny told me to put the gun on the trigger stick and watch the two-track, and if the bull ran across, I was to shoot. If it was going to happen, it would happen fast.

I waited. Then suddenly the bull, going at full speed, crossed the two-track. I shot, but I missed. I was dejected and thought that it was probably my last and only chance to get the bull. “Everybody misses, and those that say they don’t, are just liars,” said Johnny. He told me to follow him and Petrus, and by this time my arms were getting chewed up by the infamous African bushveld. It was a warm day, so I was perspiring and getting rid of some of my excess fat. Finally, Petrus found the bull again and I was able to shoot and put him down for good. This whole adventure took us about an hour, but what an adventure and memory. I thanked Johnny and Petrus again for their patience and helping me to get my last trophy on my African safari. I should mention the gun that I was using was supplied by Eland Safaris, a Tikka .308 with a Leupold 3 X 9 Scope. It was a beautiful gun that performed flawlessly.

On my return to Canada I decided that this experience in beautiful Africa was worthy of a repeat visit. We had a wonderful time, made more special for being able to share it with my great friends. My advice to those of you that are thinking about Africa and a safari, don’t let the ages discourage you for they are only numbers. If you have reasonable health, a few bucks, and some great friends (hunters or non-hunters) then go to Africa for a trip of a lifetime. Compared to what it costs in Alaska or in the Yukon in Canada for moose, elk, Cariboo or sheep, Africa is a bargain. The lodges will cater a hunt based upon your physical condition or any mobility issues you may have.

 I like to look out of the windshield and not spend too much time looking in the rear-view mirror. For me personally, I would like to think that I can make one more African trip in my lifetime, but only the good Lord knows that, and I am at peace with that fact.

Remember, life is not a rehearsal.