Bowhunting the big five.
THE FATHERS OF MODERN bowhunting in North America, Saxton Pope and Art Young, also traveled to East Africa in 1925, where they both killed several lions with their bows and arrows. In the 1950s and '60s other archery legends like Howard Hill and Fred Bear pursued a variety of Africa's dangerous game. Well-known bowhunter Bob Swinehart, author of the classic bowhunting book Sagittarius, was reportedly the first bowhunter to take the "Big Five," completing this feat in the early 1960s, as did Texan Bill Negley. Since those early safaris, a number of determined bowhunters have tried their hand at hunting Africa's dangerous game.Over the last decade, many studies have been conducted to evaluate the efficacy of modern archery equipment on the Big Five--Cape buffalo, lion, leopard, rhinoceros, and elephant. Game departments of African countries have responded in different ways. Through efforts of Safari Club International and the International Bowhunter Education Program, doors are beginning to open, and now some southern African countries allow bowhunting for some or all species of dangerous game by statute or by special permit. Refer to the chart at left for specifics.
Field studies and data collections from hundreds of dangerous game bowhunts give rise to the following recommendations. Always study regulations for any country in which you intend to hunt to make sure your equipment meets that country's specific requirements.
To be sure, bowhunting for Africa's Big Five is not for everyone. It is expensive, and it can be dangerous. For more information about bowhunting the Big Five, and any other African species, contact me at: Bowhunting Safari Consultants, 1-800-833-9777, neil@bowhuntingsafari.com.
Sub Saharan Africa-- Legal to bowhunt Number Estimated Costs * Countries where (by Ordinance of days Including trophy you can bowhunt and/or Special for the fee the "Big Five" Permit) hunt South Africa Lion Yes 4 $24,000-$28,000 Leopard Yes 14 $9,800-$10,700 Buffalo Yes 4 $11,500-$12,500 Elephant Yes 10 $20,000-$24,800 Rhino Yes 4 $24,000-$28,000 Zimbabwe Lion Yes 18 $21,000-$24,300 Leopard Yes 14 $10,200-$11,000 Buffalo Yes 10 $9,000-$10,500 Elephant Yes 14 $19,800-$22,000 Rhino No NA NA Zambia Lion- Yes 21 $37,350-$43,500 Leopard Yes 16 $22,000-$26,150 Buffalo Yes 10 $9,500-$11,000 Elephant No NA NA Rhino No NA NA Mozambique Lion Yes 16 $21,400-$29,000 Leopard Yes 14 $10,600-$12,500 Buffalo Yes 10 $9,000-$11,300 Elephant Yes 16 $34,000-$41,000 Rhino No NA NA * Price ranges are based on varying government fees for different areas as well as higher transportation costs for some areas. Leopard Lion Buffalo Elephant Rhino Bow kinetic 65 Fp 70 Fp 80 Fp 105 Fp 105 Fp energy in foot-pounds Approx. 450+ gr. 500+ gr. 750+ gr. 825+ gr. 825+ gr. arrow wt.
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| Title Annotation: | AFRICA |
|---|---|
| Author: | Summers, Neil |
| Publication: | Bowhunter |
| Date: | Jul 1, 2005 |
| Words: | 486 |
| Previous Article: | African memories. |
| Next Article: | Arrow for a buffalo. |