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I would like to apologize for the Newsletter being a little bit late.
Some days I wish there was 25 hours in a day, but then I am sure I still would not get everything finish. The hunting season is now well under way. For the first time this winter, it has been really cold, for the last 10 days or so. I recorded -1 for a number of mornings, it's about time..! In general this winter has been very mild, one of the mildest I am aware of since I've been in Namibia, which is almost 13 years now.
SPECIAL FAMILY RATES PLUS FATHER AND SON HUNTS..................!
The Kudu Special will continue for 2005, Giraffe Special will be limited.
For more details about these rates, contact: Roger
www.vieranasbowhunt.com
In this issue of The Archer:
- Hunting stories.
It all took place on the last weekend of May when Gerrie Hough from Walvis Bay and Grant Knight from Windhoek came to hunt Giraffe.
When you're driving in the Vehicle in the veldt, the Giraffe always seem to stand still and look at you, even when you stop and get out of the vehicle; they still stand and look at you.
They arrived late on Friday night and we talked about Bow hunting in general and the Giraffe over a couple of beers.
On the Saturday we started off by checking the Bows and having Gerrie and Grant shoot at a broadhead block on the range to make sure all was well with them and the Bows, which I do with every Bow hunter before we go hunting.
When finished on the range, it was off to Vieranas looking for the Giraffe. There are a number of large kopjes on Vieranas, which I use as vantage points especially with walk and stalks. I must admit that I thought it would be easier, but you have to get within Bow range first and then hope that the shooting lane is clear of leaves, twigs and branches.
Once we were up the large kopje and started to scan, it was not long before we found them. However there were a couple of problems, firstly they were about 10 Giraffe together (20 eyes), secondly they were on a ridge with alot of brush that were not very big, thirdly there was a herd of Gemsbok and Hartmann's Mountain Zebra close by.
After watching them for a while the Gemsbok and Zebra moved off. Then I had us dropped off by the vehicle about 200 metres from the Giraffe, they had also start to walk off the ridge and were browsing. As the Land cruiser drove off we just sat behind a small tree. Giraffe have very good eyesight believe me. Once the Giraffe had finished looking at the land cruiser driving off, the ones we could see started browsing again. We worked out the best route to take to get close enough and the stalk was on.
When doing walk and stalk whether be Giraffe, Zebra or any species time is not an issue, if it takes 1 hour or 3 hours it does not matter, what does is getting within bow range. We had reduced the distance somewhat and then the wind shifted to the Giraffe's advantage, but it did not worry them, which was a relief. One of the small bulls was looking in our direction, so Gerrie and I sat tight for a while until he lost interest.
Several times we had to change our direction due to openings, which would have exposed us to the Giraffe. Gerrie and I had reduced the distance to only about 70 metres, which still feels like a mile to come within bow range. Now it was time to move even slower and lower than we had been.
Our luck started to change, as they were slowly moving back towards us. Slowly but surely they were coming closer and closer, now we had to find a better bush to hide behind which would give Gerrie better cover plus the biggest shooting lane. The distance was around about 50 - 55 metres between them and us and then we had the feeling that they were looking through the bushes at us. Gerrie and I could hear the 4 Giraffe that were the closest to us, sometimes it sounded like someone was blowing their nose beside you.
Then one of the Big Giraffe Bulls thought something was wrong, he was the closes to us, behind one of the many bushes on the ridge. He would look down in our direction and come a step closer for a better look, then turn away as if to change his course. Just when you think you can move your leg, which has been fast a sleep for what feels like hours, the Big Giraffe Bull looks back in our direction again as if to catch you shifting your position. This happened a number of times, each time he came back it was a bit closer, but still behind the bush. Finally he decided that something was wrong and all the Giraffe were by now looking in our direction. They decided it was better to walk off at a good pace and before we knew it, they were a good 100 - 150 metres away.Gerrie and my hearts were pounding and I think both of our legs were a sleep.
We decided after a few minutes to try again, but now the Giraffe were alert and caught one of us moving position and that walk and stalk was all over.We had tried our best I think, and I realized that Giraffe are not easy to walk and stalk at all with the bow.The Land cruiser came and picked us up and we head back to the house for lunch as it was just short of midday.
In the afternoon we tried again and Sunday morning again with no luck.It looked as if some of the Giraffe might be heading to water, so Gerrie wanted to sit in the blind and wait.
It paid off and at 4.10 pm a Giraffe Bull came in, Gerrie draw and using the 30 metre pin, he let the arrow fly on a frontal shot. The 150-grain German Kinetic broadhead did the job and as the Giraffe passed close to the blind, you could see the effects of a perfect shot. Branches that had been covered with earth were being kicked clear out of the ground. The Giraffe Bull went only 65 metres before going down. Only the nock of the arrow was visible.
All the practising and time had paid for Gerrie and he was over the moon, well done once again.
You can view Gerry’s Giraffe on the Website. Also the latest trophy photos please enjoy them.
www.vieranasbowhunt.com
Grootberg Children’s Educational Fund.
We at Vieranas Safaris - Bow Hunting have decided, seeing that Damaraland communal area borders our most Western Border fence, we want to try and help the people of the Grootberg area, some of who are less fortunate, than those who live in the towns of Namibia.
Most of the people who live in the Grootberg area are subsistence farmers and have a very low income, which is sometimes just enough to put food on the table and to pay for only 1 or 2 of their children to go to the local primary school at Anker, which is the main village in the area.
The idea of the Project is to help the children of the Grootberg area, so that when the day comes and they have to go to school that they have a better understanding and can be more prepared than they are at the moment.
The goal of the Project is to have a number of projects running which will help the community especially the children of the Grootberg area.
At the moment we are helping 2 pre-schools.
Esstof Pre-School
About 16 km from Anker in the middle of nowhere. The children here age between 4 - 6 years old and stay in a hostel during the week and go home for the weekend. The school has at the moment 35 children and 3 staff. They have the use of an old ranch house with 4 rooms obtained from the Local Traditional Council.
They do not have running water at the buildings and the toilet / washing areas are limited.
At the moment they are in need of:
A storage water tank, plumbing pipes and taps.
Mattresses, blankets.
Educational equipment: books, pens, crayons, and toys. Clothing and shoes.
Basic Food - Maize meal, sugar, milk, for example.
Anker Pre-School
They have the use of 1 small classroom at Anker Primary School. The children age between 4 - 6 years old and attend only in the mornings.
At the moment they are in need of mainly educational equipment: books, pens, crayons, educational toys.
We have been donating meat from hunts this year to Esstof Pre-school, so the children can get some protein. They only get a limited amount of maize meal from government. As well as meat we have been supplying them with sugar, rice, tea, coffee, washing powder and soap.
We would like to thank Steve & Kim Fleming from Chesterfield, MO, USA for inspiring us with the project.
It all really started when Steve & Kim Fleming offered to bring basic medical supplies in a SCI blue bag, also toys, clothing and learning equipment.
Amelia and I would like to thank Steve & Kim for their generous donation to both the pre-schools.
If you would like to make a donation or bring supplies with you, the children would appreciate it very much and the smallest amount will make a difference.
If a cash donation is made, we will purchase the items that the school requires or use it to improve the facilities depending on how you want the money to be used.
I am going to make a spot in the Newsletter for updates on how the schools are doing and about donations that have been made.
More trophy meat was donated to Esstof Pre-School from Larry Ward's hunt in August.
You can e-mail me for further details.
Napha:
-Export of Cheetah and Black-faced Impala trophies to the USA.
The purpose of the initiative is to show the US authorities, that NAPHA is committed towards the enhancement of the Black-faced Impala and Cheetah.
The advantage is that Namibia could be granted the right to import Black-faced Impala and Cheetah into the USA. Hunters learning more about Namibia due to the possibility of hunting Black-faced Impala and Cheetah. The US hunter can contribute an amount of money in Namibia for the enhancement of Black-faced Impala and Cheetah; NAPHA could start projects with these contributions.
Also the US hunter will make the contribution to enable him/her to import their trophy into the United States.
-BOW HUNTING COURSE
This will be the second course that NAPHA will be offering this year.
DATE: 17 & 18 November 2004
VENUE: Kambaku Safari Lodge / Otjiwarongo
COST: N$ 1300.00 for NAPHA members and
N$ 1700.00 for non- NAPHA members.
The above prices exclude VAT, but DO include course fees, study material as well as accommodation and meals. Please book early to avoid disappointment.
For the course to go ahead there needs to be a minimum of 10 course participants and a maximum of 20.
If you are not a registered HG, MHG or PH, you will only receive a certificate of participation and will not be entitled to register as a qualified bow hunting guide with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.
e-mail: napha@mweb.com.na
In the world of Bowhunting:
The Namibian team have come back from New York, USA, and the World Field Archery Championship.
Jan van Blerk has told me he equalled the world record score on the last day of shooting and overall he came 18TH, while his son Henk won gold in the junior section and he is only 13 years old. It will be interesting to see how Henk does in the future.
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
-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.The new range of Hoyt's and Mathew's Bows. On-line shopping.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
Next time
Roger E. Coomber
Po Box 46
Kamanjab
Namibia, Africa
vieranas@iway.na
www.vieranasbowhunt.com
PS. (If you do not want to be on the mailing list of this newsletter, just send a message with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.)