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I would like to start this Newsletter by congratulating Amelia on the birth of our second daughter, Georgia, who was born on the 17/02/2004 in Windhoek. Both are doing well.
In this issue of The Archer:
On my farm this year the mountains played a major role. The rains varied across the farm and the important thing is that, as a whole the farm is looking better this year than last year. As I have learnt that here in Namibia you can never get too much rain.
In the last issue on the section about myself, I did forget to mention one thing, which some people hi-lighted to me and that was the fact I was born in Bath, Somerset, England. How I forgot that, no one would know.
Have you checked that your broadheads are ready?
I know most of you check your broadheads before you go hunting, but now and again people can forget to remove there practise broadheads before they go hunting. So take a couple of seconds to check that each broadhead is sharp. If they are not sharp, then a small oval steel or a sharpener for a broadhead can be used because a blunt broadhead pushes the blood vessels to the side, whereas a sharp one will cut though the blood vessels causing more rapid blood loss depending on where the arrow hit. This is more of a friendly reminder.
KUDU SPECIAL: IT INCLUDES A KUDU BULL WHICH IS 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
Distances estimation
First I would like to tackle estimating distances, which can requires practise, practise and a bit more practise and over time it will get easier and become second nature to you.
To teach yourself is not as difficult as you might think, whether you use meters or yards it is up to you. Stand in a central spot, whether it is in your backyard or in the bush. Choose a point not too much further from you to start with, think to yourself how far it is from you, then if you have a ranger finder measure it and then walk it, you have to be true to yourself. Over time it will get easier. For longer distances you can either half the total distance, work that out first and then double it or take a third of the distance and times it by 3. It will come to you with practise. What I am trying to get at is, it is not always possible to reach for the rangefinder while doing a walk and stalk, from the blind there could be an obstruction like a blade of grass that the rangefinder keeps picking up. This is when if you can estimate distances it will come into play.
When you first arrive at the blind / hide and have packed your gear. An important point: nock an arrow and go to full draw mainly to see that the bow does not hit the side or the roof of the blind, if all is OK, then draw a couple more times and aim at a fixed point. The reason being is that you never know how long the wait can be (5 minutes - 6 hours).
Then take a pen/pencil and paper and draw a plan of the surrounding Bushes, trees, salt block, any fixed point, estimate the distances and if you have a rangefinder double check or ask your guide. This can all help to make a good day a great one by knowing the approximate shooting distances and harvesting a great trophy, whether it be your very first African animal or your tenth one.
Next time we can look at being ready for action and the follow up.
Hunting stories.
The saying goes " being in the right place at the right time" this was more a case of being in the wrong place at the right time or vice versa depending, which way you look at it.
The Elephants (Desert Adapted Elephant) that you find in my area decided to pay me a visit the other day. Then it is a case of racing around checking water points and fencing to make sure that the cattle are where they suppose to be, but the tracks were heading to the Game fence, that is when a Toyota develops wings, believe me.
Any way, a cow elephant did manage to go through the Game fence with her baby calf and previous years calf in tow. I was driving around the farm to check in which direction they had gone and had found the point at which they had decided to leave the Game fencing which needed a bit a fixing - just a bit.
They had not made it to the main watering point, so I then went to the second one just to make sure all was all right. As I came around the corner, there they were some 8 metres from the blind's shooting window, no not the Elephant (thank goodness), but a herd of Hartmann's Mountain Zebras grazing as if nothing was wrong. In my area Hartmann's Mountain Zebra normally go to water first light or just as the sun has set and then at night and during the day you can find them grazing in the mountains or kopjes, always alert.
So the timing was great, but my position was not good at all, it would have been great to be in the blind and not in the pick-up. Wishful thinking or what. (If you would like to share your hunting stories, please give me a call or e-mail and I'll put it in the next newsletter.)
Napha:
The Prestigious Medal- It is similar to that of the NAPHA Gold medal, awarded for trophies that score 5% higher than the SCI Record Book minimum, but only the longer horn or bigger tusk is taken into account.
Trophies from older animals are usually undervalued because they are often damaged or blemished.
For further information on the NAPHA medal system visit their Website: www.natran.net/napha
TOP TEN LIST: As bow hunting is becoming more popular, NAPHA started a Top Ten Bow Hunting List. If any bow hunter or outfitter is interested in having their trophies added onto the list, please get in contact with the NAPHA Office for the necessary documentation. E-mail: napha@mweb.com.na
The same procedures are to be followed for the bow hunting listing as with the rifle hunting Top Ten List.
In the world of Bowhunting:
Windhoek field Archery and Bowhunting Club.
The Windhoek field Archery and Bowhunting Club has 10 - 15 members that qualified for the World Field Archery Championships in New York, USA in July 2004.
As the travelling costs are quite high for the team, they are holding a hunting competition with tickets that costs N$ 50 as a donation and there will be 20 prizes awarded this competition is only open for Namibians. If you would like to make a donation or would like to help to sponsor the team, please contact:
Jan van Blerk, Vice Chairman,
Windhoek Field Archery & Bow Hunting Club
Tel: +264-61-238971
Fax: +264-61-251526
E-mail: landy@mweb.com.na
The team are shooting high scores, I wish them all the best of luck and hope you can raise the money for them to go. As it is a worthy cause.
The ESPN Great Outdoors Games.
For those of you that do not already know the ESPN Great Outdoor Games are being held in Madison, Wisconsin.
Madison, Wisconsin is a perfect place to host the ESPN Great Outdoor Games July 8 - 11, 2004. Sportsmen and -women from around the country that plan to visit Madison will find that they are in the heart of "outdoor country," with numerous opportunities for hunting and fishing among thousands of avid hunters and anglers.
Wisconsin sells more non-resident fishing licenses than many other states, offering opportunities from musky and Chinook salmon fishing to yellow perch and brook trout. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) sells more than 600,000 resident deer gun hunting licenses and more than 35,000 non resident deer gun hunting licenses, and harvests more than 400,000 deer during the fall seasons.
Wisconsin has long had a proud, leading outdoor ethic and has produced leaders in the conservation movement. I am looking forward to seeing it on ESPN.
For more info about the destination for the 2004 ESPN Great Outdoor Games read the Chamber of Commerce's Madison overview,
Or go to http://www.visitmadison.com/.
For Wisconsin travel information, go to http://www.travelwisconsin.com/.
-Muzzy Products.
Muzzy's Bad to the Bone Bucks..vol's 1,2,and now they are just finishing vol. 3..with hunts from Muzzy Pro-Staffers such as Michael Waddell, Roger Raglin, Tom Miranda with others...These three are on the cover.....Also have Big Game Extreme Tape along with our Bowfishing Tapes as well.
-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 up-dated Website. The Up-dated Website looks great and you can view their wide range of bows, the new range of Hoyt's. On-line shopping.Also they have an article about their Bow shop in the April/ May edition of " Africa's Bowhunter & archer "Broadhead target blocks and other archery needs.
Contact Seppie: +27 16 976 3394. www.magnumarchery.co.za
-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
SPECIAL FAMILY RATES PLUS FATHER AND SON HUNTS.
The Kudu Special will continue for 2005, Giraffe Special will be limited.
Next time
If there is anyone who would to have his or her logo in the Newsletter please e-mail me.
Sunny regards
Roger E. Coomber
Po Box 46
Kamanjab
Namibia, Africa
vieranas@iway.na
www.vieranasbowhunt.com