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JULY 2014VOL 15 - ISSUE 07SOUTH AFRICAR34.00 [incl VAT]USA $ 6.50OTHER COUNTRIES R29.82 [Tax excl] Game farm review:

Oppi PlaasBow test: G5's Quest Radical

A magazine for the bowhunting enthusiast

Have we lost the plot?

Ancient blinds

Mounted archeryTo camo or not to camo

Preparing for the hide

Youngsters – the future of bowhunting

Broadhead testing protocol

Waterbuck hunt

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3JULY 2014 AFRICA’S BOWHUNTER

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4 AFRICA’S BOWHUNTER JULY 20144

CONTENTS

5 Change isn’t always good

7 From our readers

8 Have we lost the plot?

12 Testing G5's Quest Radical

15 Product showcase: want to buy a Winchester?

17 Echoes of a storm on the banks of the Selati River

20 Product showcase: a pocketknife with many uses

20 Product showcase: keeping the creepy-crawlies at bay

22 Product showcase: Atom – strange new broadhead

24 Oppi Plaas – Marius Roothman Boerdery

29 Patience paid off with a nice waterbuck

33 Broadhead testing protocol

34 Old arrows

37 The way I see it

39 Readers' trophies

44 Our youngsters – the future of bowhunting

47 SABA news

48 To camo or not to camo

51 Subscribe

53 Ancient blinds and hunting practices

56 For the kids

58 ABO news

59 Test your knowledge

60 “Die bok kyk vir jou…”

62 Oom Dries en die “Driezie”

64 Barky’s notebook

66 Mounted archery near Pretoria

70 Bowhunting opportunities

72 Letter from the rookie

Cover image: Waterbuck / www.123RF.com

5JULY 2014 AFRICA’S BOWHUNTER 5JULY 2014 AFRICA’S BOWHUNTER

CO

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ENT

Change they say is inevitable and indeed the rate of change we see around us in the world today is quite alarming to say the least.

Change may be for the better but I cannot agree that it is always good. On the contrary much of the change I see happening in the world today is not good. A steep descent into moral anarchy and decay appears to

be the norm and is applauded by those regarding themselves as liberally minded. What astounds me is that “conservatively minded” people accept the “enlightenment” (so called).

A native of North America many years ago when observing the immoral behaviour of the white settlers to the continent, their lack of scruples, honesty and integrity, already in those days (late 1800’s), warned that “if you continue to foul your own bed one day you will suffocate in your own waste”. Truly we are seeing this come to pass as we begin to reap the rewards of our own, for want of a better word, “unrighteousness”. I question change the result of which is worse than whatever it replaced. I do not agree that “change” – whatever it is – is set in stone and that we cannot go back to something that was better. Change that results in something of poorer quality whether it be in terms of morality, experience or whatever does not have to be accepted. Those of you that read the Scriptures may be familiar with the term “repent”. In its original context it means to “turn and go back to something”.

Progress does not necessarily mean “going forward”. The kind of “progress” we are experiencing in the world today is of the most decadent kind. Perhaps it is time that we did an abrupt about turn and went back to better things we have left behind.

So where am I going with all this? Well change has occurred in the activity (I am reluctant to use the word “sport”) of hunting. It was not like it used to be. I am not referring necessar-ily to the equipment we hunt with. We have seen quite remarkable changes in the sophisti-cation and technological development of hunting weapons be they firearms or bows. Some of the changes in this regard have been for the good. What I am referring to is the WAY we hunt. It is so far removed from what used to be and I for one do not see the changes as good (that is my opinion and you are welcome to differ). This is discussed in a two part article entitled “Have we lost the plot?”

Read these articles and chew on them. Get out into the bush, make yourself a fire under the stars and think about where change has brought us. Perhaps it is time we “go back”.

Happy and safe hunting.

Cleve CheneyHunting editor

AFRICA’S BOWHUNTERAfrica’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.

Africa’s Bowhunter Magazine cc[CK/] 96/32848/23PO Box 31688Waverley, 0135South AfricaTel: 012 330 3464 Fax: +27 86 615 7044E-mail: editor@africasbowhunter.co.zaWebsite: www.africasbowhunter.co.zaOffice address: 880A Crots Street, Rietfontein, Pretoria .

PUBLISHERRean SteenkampE-mail: editor@africanarcher.com

EDITORRean SteenkampE-mail: editor@africasbowhunter.co.za

HUNTING/ENVIRONMENTAL EDITORCleve CheneyCell: 082 922 5547E-mail: cleve@africasbowhunter.co.za

COPY EDITORMariette KrielEmmerentia Steyn

DESIGN AND LAYOUTAndré van SchaikE-mail: repro@africasbowhunter.co.za

REPRODUCTION & PRINTINGImpress Printers for Sheetfed, Web, Digital and Packaging printingTelephone: 031 263 2755

DISTRIBUTIONRNA DistributionHazel LuüsTel: 011 248 3639

SUBSCRIPTIONS / ADVERTISEMENTSSantie LiebenbergE-mail: santie@africasbowhunter.co.za

Change isn’t always good

6 AFRICA’S BOWHUNTER JULY 2014

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7JULY 2014 AFRICA’S BOWHUNTER 7

@ Lees net die Bowhunter...Goeie middag, ek wil net graag hierdie foto deel met die Bowhunter. My man is nou al ’n paar jaar ’n boogjagter en laas-jaar was ons gesëen met die geboorte van ons seuntjie, Aiden, wat ook ’n boogjagter sal word sodra hy mooi verstaan hoe dit werk… Pa en seun het bietjie gespeel, toe besluit Aiden hy

wil bietjie boek lees, en die enigste boek wat hy nou lees is die Bowhunter (sien foto). Dit was vir my net te oulik gewees en toe dog ek, ek wil dit net met julle deel ook. Hy gaan definitief ’n boogjagter word as hy bietjie groter is want as hy pa se boog sien, dan wil hy net met hom speel…As dit van pa afhang het hy al klaar ’n boog gekoop maar ek het gesê hy moet net eers ’n bietjie wag, hêhêhê. Glo dit of nie maar daai boogtydskrif is nog steeds tussen Aiden se speelgoed en hy “blaai” nog steeds deur hom…!

Lekker dag verder vir julle.

Ilze van der Westhuizen

@ Excellent serviceDear editor

Recently I was in the market for a new bow. I have been using Bowtech bows for some years now, so it was the logi-cal choice for me. After reading reviews etc I made up my mind that the Carbon Overdrive was the right choice. I phoned Archer's Edge and Bradley and I had a chat, I paid the money

and less than a week later I had my brand new bow. We had to use the Post Office for sending and receiving because couriers seem to have a problem with finding farms even with GPS coor-dinates. I am not a “pro staffer” with any company so get noth-ing from this. It is just a letter of thanks. To Bradley Matthysen and Redge Grant: Guys from the bottom of my heart, thank you. This was by far the best service I have ever received from any hunting/outdoor shop. I have always told my friends to buy from Archer’s Edge I’ll do it with even more gusto now. Once again thank you.

Nicky Niehaus

@ On the RPM 360Quite often I see bows tested where only the maximum pound-age limbs and long draw lengths are taken into account.

Harry alluded to the fact that he can only comment on his findings of the Bowtech RPM 360 as the test bow was set up.

There have been many discussions on bowhunting forums and around the shop as to the speed and power of the new RPM 360, but I believe the true groundbreaking aspect this bow has brought to the market is sadly overlooked.

When Archer’s Edge got the first demo 360 into the country I took a few shots with it set at 60 pounds on a 29-inch draw length. It was an extremely accurate and easy bow to shoot. I consequently acquired one and the same bow set at 70 pounds with the same draw length was a bit of a different beast but still a joy to shoot. Having spoken to a few longer-limbed people having the bow set up at 30-inch draw length at 70 pounds they also mentioned, as Harry did, that this is a strong man’s hunting bow.

I believe the true performance niche this bow has brought to the market is for smaller-limbed people, including women and older children.

The RPM 360 set at say 25-inch draw length with 50 or 60-pounds draw weight will outperform most current hunting bows on the market. It has probably introduced a bow in this sales group with which larger animals such as eland may be securely hunted with the right arrow and broadhead, putting it ahead of many if not most other bows currently available on the market.

Louwrens de Lange

Dear LouwrensIndeed, you are making a very valid point. Bows draw differ-ently for different settings, and usually are optimised at IBO settings. Still, I believe you are correct in making the postulate that the RPM will be an excellent “lesser” bow, meaning when not set to its maximum settings. Thank you for your valuable insight. – Harry Marx

The opinions expressed in this column are not necessarily those of Africa’s Bowhunter. Send your letters to editor@africasbowhunter.co.za or PO Box 31688, Waverley, 0135, South Africa.

From our readers

T ABH

8 AFRICA’S BOWHUNTER JULY 2014

By Cleve Cheney

From a very early age I was besotted with

the tales told by the early explorers, hunters and conservationists of Africa and India. My choice of reading mat-ter was dominated by authors such as Jim Corbett (famous for hunting in India); Peter Hathaway Capstick, who wrote Death in the Long Grass; Harry Wolhuter, first ranger of the Kruger National Park; the memoirs of explorer and missionary in Africa, David Livingstone; and hunters of Africa such as Frederick Courtney Selous, John “Pondoro” Taylor, Bell and others. I also read stories about the famous American bowhunter, Fred Bear, and his exploits in the wilds of America and the “dark” continent. I would read and reread their hunting stories and dream of the day when I would be able to hunt like they did: the places they hunted and the way they hunted. By about the age of nine I had already decided that I would one day become a hunt-er in Africa or a ranger. As it turned out I ended up being both. The professions of hunting and conservation are not a contra-diction in terms. There are, however, many who fail to see that the two professions are mutually compatible and many of the old hunters were as much conservationists as they were hunters.

But back to my story. I was fascinated by the illustrations (pen sketches and drawings) and black-and-white photographs in the books. They showed long lines of porters walking behind

Have we lost the plot?

LEA

D A

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Old camping site.

Campfire with kettles.