|
[About Us] [Bow Hunting] [Trophy Page] [Accommodation]
[Namibia Map and Info] [Photo Safaris] [Links] [Email]
|
|
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the First "THE ARCHER" Newsletter.
2004 is now well underway and if its not to late, I hope it will be a prosperous one for you. To those of us that need rain desperately and for the rest of Southern Africa, please keep your fingers crossed.
My idea with the News letter is to bring together Bow hunters from far and near to share tips, answer any questions people might have on Bow Hunting in Africa, the right equipment for the job, technical queries, forthcoming events, meetings and field competitions in Southern Africa. I will try in each Newsletter to tackle a specific aspect of Bow Hunting when possible.
Back Ground on Roger Coomber:
I was educated in England and first came to Namibia on one of my Fathers’ bird watching tours in 1991. I was offered the opportunity (by Wilderness Safaris Namibia) to return, which I did at the beginning of 1992.Once I had the relative papers to work in Namibia; I worked with them for over 5 years. It was in this time that I met my wife Amelia. We started farming in 1997, I still did freelance safaris for Wilderness as a specialised guide, in bird watching (the feather type) just in case any one was wondering.!!
Then one day in 1998, I heard about Bow Hunting and a good friend of mine introduced me to the sport, when the Windhoek field Archery Club had a competition in Windhoek and I went to have a look, form then I have not look back.
Practise, practise and more practise and I wanted to shoot my first animal with the Bow, but decided it would be better to take a Boer-goat rather than to try of a Kudu.
The only problem with goats, if any one is wondering is they always like to walk towards you just as you are going to shot, so I found hiding behind a tree the only answer.! Once I had shot the first goat with the Bow I was hooked...! When I harvested my first Kudu bull at 30 yards, the arrow went straight through the heart.
In 2002 I was lucky enough to be able to attend a 5-day course in South Africa held by Benito van Leeuwen and since then he has become a great friend and colleague of mine. That was when my great passion really began for Bow Hunting and if it was not for Benito's enthusiasm, which rubbed off on me, for which I will always be grateful. Otherwise I would have been just another hunting farm.
This is why I want to specialise in Bow Hunting.....!
I do offer rifle hunts, but only on Conservancy Farms, which I am, a member of. I hope you feel that you've got to know me a little better now.
Minimum Energy Requirements:
I have had several questions about energy requirements for the Bow in Namibia.
So this is to insure that people have the right poundage and arrow weight for the job and do not try to shoot a Giraffe with the bow set-up for a Jackal, for example. It is like with Rifles having minimum requirements for Namibia as well.
In Namibia we have a minimum energy requirement as in South Africa.
For Namibia: Ref. Government Gazette No. 1508, Windhoek - 18 June 1997.
Small game: e.g. Steenbuck, Jackal, and Duiker. Has an energy of less than 33,9 joules (25 ft lbs), and a weight of less than 22,68 gram (350 grains). When hunting any of the small game.
Medium game: e.g. Springbuck, Blesbuck, and warthog Has an energy of less than 54,24 joules (40 ft lbs), and a weight of less than 25,92 gram (400 grain). When hunting any of the medium game; or
Large game: e.g. Kudu, Mountain Zebra, and Giraffe. Has an energy of less than 88,13 joule (65 ft lbs), and a weight of less than 29,16 gram (450 grains). When hunting any of the big game.
Please remember these are the MINIMUM ENERGIES, so if your set-up is already for large game, and then you have no worries. If you find your set-up is below, then I would suggest the following to up your poundage.
Tip:
Over a number of months before going into the bush or coming to Africa, slowly increase the bow pounds by a quarter / half turn, shoot a number of arrows at that poundage, when you feel comfortable with it and your grouping is good, increase again. It will take time, but by doing it slowly you will reduce any chances of picking up muscle injures. Just bear in mind, increasing your pounds might affect the spinal of your arrows.
Also practise your distance estimation and your effective range, as in your maximum distances for shooting, so that you know your own limits and not to try a shot that is a little bit too far. This could land up wounding an animal, which you might never see again and have to pay for.! " Just food for thought "
Competitions and Meetings:
- North Country Bowhunters Chapter of SCI. Just had their Tenth Annual Outfitter's Rendezvous and Banquet / Hunt Auction at the Prom Centre in Oakdale, Minnesota. Tickets for the Banquet are limited.
For further information contact:
Russel Frys (President) at : (952) 831-1332.
- NAPHA (Namibia Professional Hunting Association) is holding it's 30th Annual General Meeting on the 18-19 of February 2004 at the Windhoek Country Club.
For further information about Napha or the Annual General Meeting, please contact the Napha office in Windhoek at the following telephone number :
+ 264 (0)61 234455. Or e-mail : napha@mweb.com.na
- Windhoek Field Archery & Bow Hunting Club’s next couple of competition dates.
15 February, 13 & 14 March, 24 & 25 April
For more details about the Windhoek Field Archery & Bow Hunting Club and their competition dates please contact: The Secretary Jaco Van Der Merwe at +264 (0)61 239090.
If you're in the area, come and have a look.!
Others:
Benito van Leeuwen conducts Bow hunting courses for beginners, seasoned hunters, and coaching to improve technique. Courses can be 1 day or more.
For more details contact Benito. Tel: +27 (0)83 4597744.
Magnum Archery" in Sasolburgh, South Africa will be up-dating their Website. Seppie says the new site is looking great and will be online in the next week or so. On-line shopping. www.magnumarchery.co.za
Broad head target blocks and other archery needs contact Seppie: +27 16 976 3394.
Cabela’s online store is a great place for finding items that are not always available here in Southern Africa. The shipping is reasonable and is quick which is important.
There is a link to Cabela’s from my Website, so please feel free and have a look at their site, you will not be sorry. www.cabelas.com
Africa’s Bowhunter
In today’s World, there are many magazines about Bow hunting. In Southern Africa we have just one in English", Africa's Bowhunter, for bowhunters, game farmers and archery enthusiasts. A bimonthly magazine covering a wide variety of topics. Each magazine covers a different game species, a section on tracking, hunting stories from first timers to seasoned bow hunters, readers trophy photos, reports on competitions and a section about injures to muscles and joints, also first aid tips and the like. Plus exercises to keep you in shape whilst waiting for the new season to begin. It is well worth it and I hope the staff at Africa's Bowhunter keeps up the great work. February / March 2004 issue is now on sale, there is also a photo of my impala on the Reader’s trophy page..!
For a Subscription contact: Surina Oberholzer Tel :+27 (0)12 335 1998 Fax: +27 (0)12 335 5006
KUDU SPECIAL: IT INCLUDES A KUDU BULL WHICH A BRONZE / SILVER OR CONSERVATION MEDAL IN LINE WITH
NAMIBIAN MEASUREMENT SYSTEM :
( L / HORN + R / HORN + L / BASE + R / BASE = TOTAL SCORE.)
AND A KUDU COW!
GIRAFFE SPECIAL: * NOTE, THE SKIN IN THE PLACEMENT AREA IS THICK.
THESE SPECIALS ARE LIMITED!
For more details, contact Roger : vieranas@mweb.com.na
All Bow Hunters that hunt with Vieranas Safaris & Bow Hunting will get 1 year of subscription to the "Africa's Bowhunter...!
Next time:
A NEW trophy Medal, Export of Cheetah and Black-faced Impala trophies to the USA.
Please feel free to make copies of the Newsletter and give them to your friends or place the Newsletter on your counter for other people to have a look, Thank you.
Please e-mail me if you have any questions / ideas or anything you would like to see in the next Newsletter by the 15 of April 2004.
I would like to thank Muzzy for the use of their logo.
Sunny regards
Roger E. Coomber
Po Box 46
Kamanjab
Namibia, Africa
vieranas@iway.na
www.vieranasbowhunt.com