African Bowhunt With Tony Dukes
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Hunt Info | Hunt Equipment |

DAY THREE: 

Today we hunted in a different hide, this one half submerged, with a tight cone over it with small shooting windows. It resembled a large bee hive. It would be really cramped for two people and there was no shade over it. It was near a water seep and salt lick, none of which were over 15 yards. We are hoping for Waterbuck, the ghost of the bushveld. There were 25 sighted here a few nights before with several bulls approaching the 30-inch mark.

Again warthogs were our first guests. I took a picture. Soon more hogs came, one was a nice boar. I nocked an arrow ... then sat my bow down. I would wait for a waterbuck, it was still early and only my third day.

5:00pm  A small herd of impala had just departed upon hearing the snort of a wildebeest.  20 or so wildeveest came in, drank their fill and started their lazily stroll back into the bush. I stared anxiously out the small windows, searching the brush for the elusive waterbuck. 

Four large wildebeest bulls charge in, raising a funnel of red dust around the water. Eight  yards away, a huge bull is licking salt, I refuse my guides encouragement to shoot. As I gaze into the setting red sun the profile of a zebra appears in the fading red glow. I didn't know I wanted a zebra so bad or would be so excited, but I was. 

It was dark inside our blind and I bumped my arrow as I drew on the zebra at 10 yards. That dislodged the arrow and it clattered of the rest on to the bow -- exploding the heard of assorted zebra and wildebeests in a thick cloud of dust that literally blocked out the red sunset. 

What excitement! Again I noticed a new volume level in the sound of my heart beat. Darkness had finished swallowing up the dusty, red hue by the time the sounds of hoofs had vanished. When dark comes in Africa, it comes quickly.

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Hunt Info | Hunt Equipment |

Sponsors For The 2003 African Bowhunt
A note of appreciation to the sponsors that backed me on my first African bowhunt. (TonyDukes):
 Alpine Archery (bow), Magnus Broadheads (broadheads), Sims Vibration Laboratory (limb savers), Pro Release (release aid), Eze-Eye (arrow wraps), Montana Black Gold (bow sight), Bododle (arrow rests), LaCross Boots (rubber boots), Nikon (binoculars), Robinson Outdoors (Scent Shield) , Game Tracker (arrows) and Freddie Bear Sports (Sticks N' Limbs camouflage) and Bowhunting.net.