africa’s
Bowhunter
Blades Rooikatjag ATA 2015 Hunting in the rain Reedbuck in KZN Using a bow-shooting machine
Bow tests: Matthews’s NO CAM HTR PSE’s Dream Season Decree
MARCH 2015 VOL 16 - ISSUE 03 SOUTH AFRICA R34.00 [incl VAT] USA $ 6.50 OTHER COUNTRIES R29.82 [Tax excl]
Tom Miranda:
Spots in the Dark
On the edge
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We dared to question our own rules, and in the process, discovered a whole new system for superior accuracy and unrivaled feel.
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#MATHEWS NO CAM
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HPC Archery shop • Archery school • Excellent service and product knowledge • Personalised tuition & custom fitment • A wide variety of bows & camo clothing Golf driving range • A Candeia Portuguese Restaurant 19th hole • Golf driving range & putting green • 9 hole Mashie course with 18 tees Outdoor activities • 28-butt field range • 22-target 3D range • Quad biking and quad tracks • Paintball • Go carting • Bass fishing • Mountain bike tracks • Team building • Children’s birthday parties Contact us: Wilna Meiring: 082 078 9380 / 082 575 7022 Arrow Rest: 012 205 1485 E-mail: ejmei@mweb.co.za Arrow Rest: R512, Hartebeespoortdam GPS Co-ordinate: S 25’ 46’ 612 E 27’ 49’714
CONTENTS 5 Kommentaar: word jagplek skaarser en wild duurder? 7 From our readers 8 On the edges – what type of cutting edge, bevel and shape of broadhead is the best? 10 Spots in the Dark: five hunts, 53 days, three countries – one leopard 16 Testing the Mathews NO CAM HTR 20 Using a bow-shooting machine 23 The way I see it 26 The made in Europe warthog test 30 Testing the PSE Dream Season Decree 34 On the shelf: Let Loose the arrow!
The comprehensive guide to tracking
35 Van speelgoedboog tot jagboog en ’n rooibok 38 SABA news 39 A blade in my life 43 Test your knowledge 44 Readers' trophies 46 Archery Trade Assosiation Show 2015
LICENCED ALL YEAR ROUND Impala and Wildebeest special
48 Product promotion: new carbon arrows available in SA 49 ABO news 52 Caracal hunt
• 12 Species • Luxury lodge, with restuarant • 3 Pit blinds, 2 tree stands • Non hunters and families welcome • 2 Bushpig blinds - on bait • Activities - tiger fishing, game • Min. 1 hunter, Max. 4 drives, boat cruises, rhino walks, • Self Catering Bush Camp beauty SPA Tel: 083 456 8423 / 072 067 7893 / Email: info@pongolabowsafaris.co.za Website: www.pongolabowsafaris.com
54 Bowhunting reedbuck species in KZN 56 Test your knowledge 59 Subscribe 62 Bowhunting opportunities 63 Bows for sale 64 Letter from the rookie Cover image: African Leopard, ©123rf.com
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AFRICA’S BOWHUNTER MARCH 2015
Africa’s Bowhunter Magazine cc [CK/] 96/32848/23 PO Box 31688 Waverley, 0135 South Africa Tel: 012 348 5550 Fax: +27 86 615 7044 E-mail: editor@africasbowhunter.co.za Website: www.africasbowhunter.co.za Office address: 1st Floor, The Hillside 318, Lynnwood, Pretoria 0081. PUBLISHER Rean Steenkamp E-mail: editor@africanarcher.com EDITOR Rean Steenkamp E-mail: editor@africasbowhunter.co.za HUNTING/ENVIRONMENTAL EDITOR Cleve Cheney Cell: 082 922 5547 E-mail: cleve@africasbowhunter.co.za COPY EDITOR Emmerentia Steyn DESIGN AND LAYOUT André van Schaik E-mail: repro@africasbowhunter.co.za REPRODUCTION & PRINTING Impress Printers for Sheetfed, Web, Digital and Packaging printing Telephone: 031 263 2755
KOMMENTAAR
AFRICA’S BOWHUNTER
Africa’s Bowhunter [ABH] is an independent monthly publication for the archer, bow hunter, game farm owner and nature lover. Copyright on all articles and material published in ABH resides with the publisher. No part of ABH may be copied or reproduced without permission of the publisher. Opinions expressed in articles or advertisements do not necessarily reflect those of the editor, editorial committee or publishers. Submission of articles for publication is welcome, but although care is taken, the publisher can accept no responsibility for loss or damage to any material submitted.
Word jagplek skaarser en wild duurder?
“D
aar is nog geen eindgebruiker vir die nuwe kleurvariante-wild nie, dít is nog hoe nuut dit is. Gee kans tot die bedryf stabiliseer en dan eers kan daar gekerm word,” is die antwoord toe ek navraag doen oor hoe die “Smartieboks-bokke” die boogjagbedryf gaan beïnvloed. Ek het die epos vir Fritz Rabé, ’n bekende professionele jagter en skrywer vir Africa’s Bowhunter, gestuur. Ek wou weet of ons bekommerd moet wees, want al hoe meer plase laat nie meer jag toe nie. Hulle kry beter pryse op veilings of hulle wil kleurvariante bokke teel. Dit is toe dat ek hoor Fritz noem dié variante diere “Smartieboks-bokke” – ’n baie gepaste benaming. Hy sê dit is meesal die klein plasies wat met dié bokke teel omdat dit die beste geld per hektaar inbring. “`n Groot 4 000 ha plaas kan onmoontlik nie die hele plaas in kampies opdeel om met Smartieboks-bokke te teel nie. Niemand het soveel geld nie,” sê hy. “Die biltongjagter is myns insiens iemand wat bederf is omdat alles vir hom in ons land op ’n skinkbord gegee word,” sê hy verder. “Dié tendens dat van die wildplase nie laat jag nie het einde laas jaar begin met Namibië wat so baie wild begin invoer het. Ons het ook ons biltongjag gestop, want ons kry tans R1 200 per rooibok-ooi as hulle gevang word. Dieselfde prys word ook vir lammers betaal. “Geen jagter sal dit ooit betaal nie. Hulle wil altyd die grootste bok teen die laagste prys skiet. Die huidige aanvraag gaan nie vir ewig aanhou nie en die boere weet dit. Ons het verlede jaar uit die ergste droogte in 30 jaar gekom, waar ons honderde duisende rande verloor het met wildvrektes, lae wildaanteling, drakrag wat afgeneem het en nog meer. Dan het brandstofpryse gestyg, Eskom het duurder geword en arbeid ook. “Boorgate droog op, voer moet gekoop word en dit word duurder omdat water minder 51 >>
DISTRIBUTION RNA Distribution Hazel Luüs Tel: 011 248 3639 SUBSCRIPTIONS/SMALLS/ ADVERTISEMENTS Santie Liebenberg E-mail: santie@africasbowhunter.co.za
MARCH 2015 AFRICA’S BOWHUNTER
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AFRICA’S BOWHUNTER MARCH 2015