Planning for Up coming Bowhunt In SA

[notsurewhattoputhere]

Hey Everyone.
I'm new to this sight, but have been reading a lot of the threads on here. I'm in the process of planning my first African Hunt. Everything is already booked and we are pretty much ready to go. I just wanted to get some input from some seasoned travellers/hunters. The 'case' that I'm planning to use for transporting my bow/arrows/broadheads/ect. over to SA from the US is a Sitka Nomad rolling duffle. I have flown with it before carrying a bow, but that was domestically up to Alaska. I'm just wondering, has anyone here used this particular bag to transport their bow, and gear, to Africa, or elsewhere internationally? Obviously I plan to pack clothes and foam around the limbs/ cams. I'll also be detaching my sight and bringing that on carry on. Has anyone had damage done to their bows using this. I will be flying Qatar airways and I am aware that it may constitute 'oversized' baggage, and I may have to pay a fee. We will be hunting PG in the Eastern Cape Region, and one of us will be hunting buffalo there as well. None of us, however, has been to Africa hunting yet. Any input regarding the transport of the bows, or any input whatsoever for that matter, would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[mcaustin]

I took my now to RSA last May in an Easton Bowtruk and also packed clothes around my cams/sight. I packed my arrows and broadheads in there as well. It worked great, and nobody even asked about it having a bow inside - outbound or inbound coming back.

I took a rifle as well, and by packing this way, I just had the 2 bags.

Have a great hunt!

 

[Adipose]

I am not familiar with the Sitka duffle. I have always used an SKB hard case and have never had an issue.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Definitely use the Sitka if it’s long enough to still protect your cams. I’ve used the Badlands Terraglide, and the Legend Everest. Often

Zero issues

The huge benefit is that it travels with all the other soft sided luggage. Does not draw attention from greenie, anti hunter types.

And an even bigger advantage is it comes out on the carousel with all the other luggage.

When using hard sided bow cases they most often end up in the rifle room. So there you are waiting in the rifle line. No one listens or cares that it’s only a bow. You can write it in neon on the side. It looks like a rifle case. It’s piled up with the rifles.

It’s in the room and no one is letting you cut the line. You still need to open and prove it’s only a bow.

Using a luggage style you will be in your PHs truck while the hard sided bowhunters are opening their case.

 

[Mnovak]

I think your idea for transporting in the bow etc in your Nomad bag will work, obviously pack it well.

As far as bow hunting Africa, you will have a blast! I’ve bow hunted all over and have been an avid bow hunter for almost 40 years. I will say African animals are tough! The game in Africa are some of the toughest animals I’ve taken with archery. I’m not sure what your experience level is hunting around the world but be sure you understand the anatomy of each animal you’re pursuing. Most of the plains game have vitals that sit further forward than say your North American deer or elk etc. shoot at most of them straight up the leg which I struggled with because I was so accustomed to shooting behind the leg / shoulder. The skeletal structure is different, what you would think is a shoulder shot hitting bone actually isn’t. As far as a set up, most any North American setup you’re using for elk will work good, I went with a cut on contact 125gr fixed blade. My outfitter frowned on mechanicals, I saw why once I started shooting animals. Don’t get me wrong, mechanicals will most likely work on most of the plains game, but I’ll state again, pound for pound these African animals in my experience are some of the strongest willed hard to kill animals on the planet. I used a 500 grain total arrow weight for all my plains game and it worked great out of a 70lb bow. I went a little heavier than my normal whitetail deer setup.
As for Cape buffalo, you mentioned someone was targeting one. If you have not set up an arrow and most likely a separate bow completely for Buffalo then don’t even try. These are called Black Death for a reason, it’s one of the big 5 and your normal archery setup is not recommended. I took a Cape buffalo with a bow, but I took a bow and arrow that was set up just for that hunt and animal. I shot a 750gr arrow set up with a 300gr cut on contract broadhead. Shooting it out of an 80lb bow. This did the job, but allot of planning went into that build. I know personally and have spoke to several hunters, PHs and outfitters that have horror stories about archery hunters and Cape buffalo. I do have a post on here where I discuss my hunt and my arrow build if interested you can do a search, it’s probably worth reading. I’m sure you’ll have a life changing experience, Africa is an amazing place! Be safe shoot straight!

 

[WyoBull]

I got a Sitka Nomad for Christmas a couple of years ago and returned it because it was just too darn big. Definitely oversized luggage for every airline out there.
That being said, if you pack your bag near the bottom of the Nomad you will have plenty of protection. If I were doing it I would put a layer of foam on the bottom of the bag, place my bow on it and then place another layer of foam on top of the bow. Everything else will pack on top of the upper foam piece and if by chance you have to open the bag and show the bow, you can easily lift up the top piece of foam to expose the bow. Just a suggestion and something to think about.
Best of luck to you on your hunt!

 

[notsurewhattoputhere]

I think your idea for transporting in the bow etc in your Nomad bag will work, obviously pack it well.

As far as bow hunting Africa, you will have a blast! I’ve bow hunted all over and have been an avid bow hunter for almost 40 years. I will say African animals are tough! The game in Africa are some of the toughest animals I’ve taken with archery. I’m not sure what your experience level is hunting around the world but be sure you understand the anatomy of each animal you’re pursuing. Most of the plains game have vitals that sit further forward than say your North American deer or elk etc. shoot at most of them straight up the leg which I struggled with because I was so accustomed to shooting behind the leg / shoulder. The skeletal structure is different, what you would think is a shoulder shot hitting bone actually isn’t. As far as a set up, most any North American setup you’re using for elk will work good, I went with a cut on contact 125gr fixed blade. My outfitter frowned on mechanicals, I saw why once I started shooting animals. Don’t get me wrong, mechanicals will most likely work on most of the plains game, but I’ll state again, pound for pound these African animals in my experience are some of the strongest willed hard to kill animals on the planet. I used a 500 grain total arrow weight for all my plains game and it worked great out of a 70lb bow. I went a little heavier than my normal whitetail deer setup.
As for Cape buffalo, you mentioned someone was targeting one. If you have not set up an arrow and most likely a separate bow completely for Buffalo then don’t even try. These are called Black Death for a reason, it’s one of the big 5 and your normal archery setup is not recommended. I took a Cape buffalo with a bow, but I took a bow and arrow that was set up just for that hunt and animal. I shot a 750gr arrow set up with a 300gr cut on contract broadhead. Shooting it out of an 80lb bow. This did the job, but allot of planning went into that build. I know personally and have spoke to several hunters, PHs and outfitters that have horror stories about archery hunters and Cape buffalo. I do have a post on here where I discuss my hunt and my arrow build if interested you can do a search, it’s probably worth reading. I’m sure you’ll have a life changing experience, Africa is an amazing place! Be safe shoot straight!

Thanks For the Info and detail!
I'm only going after a few plains game animals. Kudu being the primary one. Sounds like my bow setup is very similar to what you used for PG. 70lb bow, 125 fixed four blade, 470taw, with 18% FOC. as far as the cape buffalo, I'm not sure his exact arrow setup, but he is shooting 80+lb with well over 800taw and 2 blade fixed, I believe Iron wills. He's done a lot of research on this and we've both been in contact with the outfitter. I believe they wouldn't even take him Buff hunting without this type of setup. He also has a lot more big game archery experience than me so I think he'll be fine. Thanks Again for the info.

 

[FlyGuy]

Welcome to AH.

Your setup is perfect for the largest of plains game our continent has to offer.
An 80# bow, 850+ grain arrow and a sharp, well constructed twin blade broadhead will put any buff in the salt.
Just put the arrow in the right spot