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

INFO ABOUT THE HUNT: Contd.

VERY IMPORTANT ---- GEAR EVALUATION

I have been tester/advisor for major sporting and archery companies for 25 years and I count on my gear, just I as would count on a guide or the word of another trusted hunter.It is about trust! Integrity is the bottom line on everything not just hunting. The following are my evaluations of products I used and things you should be aware of if you are going to bowhunt anywhere, but especially in africa.

The number one thing that impressed me and my professional hunter was the fact my bow shot perfectly quiet! They could not believe not one single animal "jumped my string." This is what happens when a wound up critter is not where you aimed when let go of the arrow, because he heard you bow fire. Anyone that has not experienced this has never bowhunted. My research led me to Alpine Archery's Stealth Force. The forgiving 39" bow I choose had been rated at one of the quietest. I choose it for the advertised quietness and the fact I could shoot fingers or release as well. 

My buddy Ted Nugent then game me Steve Simms contact info at SVL Limb Savers.  Marcie Horton supplied courteously supplied me with exactly what I needed to make the bow whisper quiet. My guides told me they would recommend both products to future bowhunters. I've never been so surprisingly pleased and confident in products in my life.

I chose the "Stinger" 100 grain, two blade broadhead from Magnus Broadheads. Two blade because I'd lost the biggest whitetail of my life when a top selling brand failed to split the shoulder bone, such tragedies do not happen with well made cut on impact solid heads as proved by Howard Hill, Fred Bear and Chuck Adams. The broadhead flew perfectly on my 52 yard, in the stout wind, shot on my impala. It also cut through an 1 1/2 inch of solid bone like a hot knife through butter. This head also downed the elk size kudu in his tracks and blasted completely through a 300 pound warthog's body and tough shoulder blade. Once again my guides were overly impressed and carried the bone with the broadhead around to neighboring safari folks to show them the efficiency of the brodhead the Texas bowhunter had brought. Next year I will take the four bladed "Stinger", because the animals in Africa have different muscle tissue and that that separates the hide and it contracts so tightly it makes blood trails difficult. The extra bleeder blades should open up the cut more and keep it from shutting  allowing for better blood flow. Another neat thing about Magnus is the man at the wheel, Mike Sohm. I've shot for the largest broadhead mfgrs. in the business and have never received the personal consideration and treatment like I have from Mike, this goes a long way in my quiver when making the final decision.

I topped the broadheads on Gametracker carbon Terminator' shafts. I picked these to get weight similar to aluminum, they flew great and hit hard.

This was my first hunt to ever use a release. I'd settled on a model by Pro Release after decidingly liking the crispness they afforded me over other brands. I was fearful of performance in the constant, fine African sand, but no problems at all. As a matter of fact, if Gary Todd incorporates my suggestions of slight improvement on the next model I am certain this will be the number one release in America! Ask Gary next time you E mail Pro Release and remind him I'm expecting royalties! HA!

I wore all rubber La Crosse boots because the first word of caution when with hunting African game is the one of  being winded. These animals are every bit if not more sensitive to smell as whitetail. I witnessed impala snorting and turning to run where leather boots had walked. I was glad Kristen Cole had fitted me in a new pair before I got there. I also used the ever dependable Robinson scent elimination products.

The Sticks N' Limbs camo looked like it was made for the winter months of South Africa matching perfectly with the grey, leafless thorn bushes that occupied the bushveld. My professional hunters put orders for this product as well, after all who knows better than these guys? When I stalked the waterbuck I was never seen, I seriously doubt very few other camo patterns could have accomplished this. I use Sticks N' Limbs on all hunts in all seasons.

You can't hunt what you can't see. John LaCorte from NIKON turned me on to a pair of the new, miniature eight power binoculars. At an amazing low price you get incredible quality glass. So incredible my guide opted for my little Nikon's over his Zeiss one more than one occasion. These binoculars can put quickly pushed under a T shirt or out of the way quickly and quietly, while taking up minimum space. This is what a bowhunter needs I am sure, I prefer mine over several more expensive brands I own.

Speaking of seeing what your hunting or shooting, the Eze-Eye crestings on my arrows allowed to easily see exactly where I'd hit my animal both live and on video. I've always been a  proponent of using colored crest on arrows for that reason, beside watching the flight of the arrow is half my enjoyment of archery.  The neat thing about these easy to apply crestings is they are neat, clean, quick, cheap and weigh less than the traditional paintings, thanks Nick!

It was of great comfort to know that my arrow would stay on the rest, and could be drawn in complete silence. Thanks to the BoDoodle Zapper arrow release my worries were gone. Many bowhunting disappointments of the past were related to arrows falling off the rest or game scared from the noise of drawing the arrow, no more thanks to the "Zapper."

It is the glue that holds big things together and all the accessories that make the big stuff work and every hunter needs I got through Freddie Bear Sports. A Wide variety of products and price that competes and beats all of the big name mail order companies with friendly folks that answer the phone and know about hunting. Good hunts can also be acquired from Fred and his staff. I'll be thanking Fred personally in Aug. when I join him in his always successful bear camp.

A final thanks to my guides that were not in the brush, Rich Walton at hawk associates and Robert Hoague who have connected me with great people and products for over twenty years and are responsible for Bowhunting.net. Always a pleasure to deal with these men and for their dedication to bowhunting and archery.

The thing about a safari is it is more than animals, sunsets, sounds and skies. What exactly is it? Can't tell you, can't explain. I will tell you it is there waiting to explode your senses and imagination and I am going back next year and would like you go go with me. I've hunted  some of North America's premier camps, ranches and outfitters and this hunt ranks at the top. Please contact me for booking limited spaces for 2004! W. R. Tony Dukes, 3100 Hamilton Ave. # 3105, Fort Worth, TX 76107,  ph.(817) 877-3158 E-mail TDHUNTS@aol.com or WXX2213@aol.com.

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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.