The Dream Jackal

Bowhunting.net

2008
The Dream Jackal
By Robert Hoague
Jul 9, 2008 - 10:30:51 AM

Noon ... and all the animals had cleared out of our area. Will and I checked out the cooler to see what was in it for lunch. More ginsbok sandwiches, some snacks, fruit and homemade chocolate cake. We divvied it up. Very good stuff. I saved one sandwich back and half the chocolate cake for later in the day.

An hour later we spotted a Jackal near the edge of the trees on the furthest side of the mostly dried up lake. Will told me it was a Black Back Jackal.

When I was a kid I read most of the Tarzan books and they gave me an impression about jackals as being mean killers and opportunists that traveled in packs. Because they tweaked my interest I had read up on them and knew a little about them. They are 15 to 20 inches high at the shoulder and can weigh up to 35 pounds.

The Black Backed Jackal of Namibia is the oldest canine (older than wolves, coyotes and dogs) and often scavenges, but it is a skillful stalker and successful hunter too. They prey on guinea fowl, rodents, hares, snakes, lizards as well as small to medium sized animals. Sometimes they hunt in packs, (which was usually the case in the Tarzan novels). Jackals are fierce killers and can take down Impala, Springbok and gazelles. Their powerful jaws and sharp teeth can crush the bones of the game they hunt. When killing planes game antelope the jackal uses a vice-like throat bite which cuts off the air and suffocates the victim. They also prey on livestock such as sheep and goats.

Frankly, I consider the Jackal quite a trophy and told Will so.

The Jackal stopped in the brush and I zoomed in on it all the way with my camera and took two pictures.

I went for a third pic but the Jackal had moved out of the frame.

"He's coming," Will whispered.

I looked up and the Jackal was coming on a dead run across the concrete hard, dried mud of the lake bed. Down with the Sony. Up with the BowTech.

It stopped at the waters edge and I heard Will whisper, "nineteen yards."

My BowTech Guardian pulled like it was 20 pounds instead of 65, this was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I was pumped.

Like a green beacon, the bright green fiber-optic pin shown brightly and I held it rock steady above the shoulder bone ... and touched my release.

My arrow popped through the Jackal and it fell flat on the spot.

Whaaa Hooo. Just like I'd dreamed about since I was a young kid, a Jackal with my bow, just like Tarzan. I could not have been more tickled ... and I promise you this was one of the highlights of my bowhunting life.

We recovered the Jackal and quickly took a few pics. And got back in the ground blind. There was plenty of bowhunting time left today.

EQUIPMENT COMMENTS

BowTech Guardian- This is really a swell hunting bow and from the time I sighted it in until now it feels like an old friend. Four things sum it up: smooth to draw, accurate as in tight arrow groups and shots in the kill zone, very fast, and quiet when you draw and shoot. A 10 in all ways. BowTechArchery.com
Grim Reaper RazorCut - Cut on impact, razor sharp 1 3/4" cut blades, smacked through the Jackal's vitals and dropped it in its tracks. These broadheads fly like field points and make a wide, lethal cut. GrimReaperBroadheads.com
3B Outdoors Release Light Plus - A new item and I really like it. The light sticks to the head of any release and turns on and off with a push button. It is designed for finding your nock or string loop in the dark or low light but it has many other uses. It has enough light to see in the dark or low light and it does not affect your night vision. It was perfect to look inside the cooler before daylight to see where the coffee thermos was and find a snack -- and as I mentioned already, it does not mess up your night vision. 3BOutdoorsArchery.com
Pro-Ears Gold Series - The latest in the Pro-Ears line. From a bowhunter's perspective they are excellent for hearing enhancement. It hears noises that are too soft for your ears to pick up. The Gold series is digital and the sound is exceptionally clear, even at higher volumes. And each ear adjusts for volume and you can tell where a sound is coming from, to the left, right, in front, or behind you. Pro-Ears.com
Nikon Binoculars and Range Finders - In this type of hunting binoculars and range finders are an definite asset. I appreciate that its design of the Monarch razer 800 rangefinder because it lets you hold it with one hand while you have your bow in the other. And the Monarch ATB 10x36 binoculars are up to the task of checking out animals when they are still far away.
PLUS: I used a Jim Fletcher Fletch-Hook release, its a dandy for us string loop shooters. The arrows were Carbon Express Maxima 350 arrows. Lake Country Archery in Yantas Texas made them. Richard fletched them with an AZ EZ-Fletch (Carbon arrow model) and used yellow EZE-Eye wraps and Bohning Blazer yellow zebra vanes. The sighting was done with a Kingsway One Pin sight and the arrow rest is a Trophy Ridge drop zone.