swayed backwards and forwards slowly, as if drunk – and then
dropped dead in its tracks. Later, at closer inspection, we found
the arrow had split the lower part of the springbok’s heart. I was
pretty happy. It was a case of third time lucky and I could notch
up my first bow kill.
Now, after many years of bowhunting, I would like to try
my luck again, hunting a springbok on foot using my traditional
bow.
During a hunt in the Molopo quite a few years ago, I tried
to stalk springbok. Five of them were standing about 200 yards
from me when I first noticed them. Fortunately they had not
seen me yet.
I slowly moved forward, first walking slowly from behind
one bush to another – always keeping a bush between me and
the animals. When the bushes ran out, I had to get down low
- lower than the tall grass. I had my PSE Firestorm with me. I
“walked” closer on my knees on the soft sand, bending over to
keep my head lower than the grass. Every now and then I would
lift my head up slightly to see where the animals were. I guess
I was at about 35 yards when it happened. As I moved my right
knee forward I placed it on a huge thorn, which penetrated deep
into my f lesh. It was rather painful and I must have made a sud-
den move, because the springbok immediately noticed me and
ran off.
A part of that thorn is still in my knee today. It formed a
round ball that one can feel under the skin. •
My first ever bow kill – a spingbok.
Designed by
Dr Adrian de Villiers
Great for stalking!
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