SOUTH AFRICA: BOWHUNT: My Bow Hunt With 4 Aces Outfitters 2022

[Dee S]

Day 11

BiBi wanted to take me to another property east of Kimberley, actually, it was located across the road from where we had hunted a couple of days earlier.

We arrived at our blind and I was pleasantly surprised to see a tower blind. I love hunting from elevated blinds and this would be the first time to hunt from one in Africa and I couldn't wait to get up there.
The wind was once again blowing, and I mean blowing. The sustained winds had to be close to 20 MPH with gusts up to 30. It was freaking crazy and that blind was 'rockin' and rollin' all day long on those wooden legs. There were times we joked that the thing may blow over, with us in it.

Once we got settled in, I was blown away (no pun intended) by the incredible view. I could see a mile or more in every direction and there were herds of animals scattered in all directions. Most were probably a half mile or more from us and unfortunately, except for a momma warthog or two, nothing came any closer that a quarter of a mile of us. But still, it was a great day and I'd love to hunt that stand on a calm day, when it's hot and the animals need to come to water. It was a great setup, we just didn't have the weather on our side.
And to top off a great day, just before sunset, the lions began to roar. Apparently, the landowner has some lions in a compound and we could just barely see the buildings on the far horizon. I'd guess it to be close to two miles away, yet we could hear those lions roaring from where we were at. Pretty cool stuff!

The front gate

Our tower blind for the day

And some animals off in the plains. There were several herds of springbok, blesbok, black gnu, blue gnu. zebra, several sable, impala, ostrich, giraffe, hartebeest, etc. A lot of them were trophy quality and all different color phases.
Plenty of game to watch, they just had no intentions of coming to water on this day.

Can you spot the white blesbok? He pretty much stayed in that same spot all day long.

BiBi and I gathered some dung to use as a cover scent and I got him on film trying to keep it lit.
The best type is cattle or buffalo, which we couldn't find, so we just used what was available in the immediate area.

And what an awesome sunset. I didn't do that great on the pictures, but you get the idea.

 

[Dee S]

Day 12

We woke this morning to a cloudy, misty morning. You couldn't even see the tops of the hills next to the lodge area. Most agreed it would not be a good day to be out but we weren't going to just sit around camp all day, so we loaded up and headed to our spots.
BiBI was awake most of the night with stomach bug, so with no other PH's available, I went out with Lucky, one of the top trackers on staff.
We went back to the blind where I shot my copper blesbok in hopes that the herd would come in to the water. We did not put out any alfalfa as I didn't want the bigger animals coming in and hanging around.
Right after we got in the blind, the roan antelope came in and the youngsters had a grand time chasing each other through the water. It was fun to watch them having fun.
Then, surprisingly, we saw white moving through the brush around 11 AM. It was the big herd of springbok coming in. With the weather, we did not expect them to come in, but here they were, coming straight in to the water. There were probably 20 - 30 animals in the group, mostly white and the only ram that was a shooter was the old, cream colored ram. The blesbok were not with them this time.
Lucky said the old ram was a good one, even though he looked more common to me, Lucky assured me he was what they call 'cream' as he was somewhere between the white and common color.
This would be my furthest shot so far in the trip and I misjudged the distance. I used my 20 pin and he was probably at 25-27. The shot was a bit low, but it was enough. He ran off and we gave him time just in case. By the time we went after him and took photos, the clouds had cleared and it turned out to be a beautiful day.
BiBi had recovered enough and he came and sat with me for the remainder of the day, but we had no shot opportunities.
Another day with no pictures, I had already shot enough at this location.

Here's my cream colored springbok. An old ram for sure.

 

[Dee S]

Day 13 and my last day at 4Aces

As my flight didn't depart for Johannesburg until around 5 PM, we had time for a morning hunt. I told BiBi, let's just go back to where I was yesterday, I know there are some good blesbok in that pasture, today might be the day.
We had seen some yellow, white, and common blesbok several times as we drove this pasture and I was hoping one, or all would come in for a drink. So, with no alfalfa, we got set up.

About 9 o'clock I saw a yellow blesbok walking in our direction and he was a shooter. He ended up cruising right on past the water hole, never slowing down, didn't stop and stare. He just was on a mission to get from point A to point B apparently? We don't know what the deal was, but he never intended to stop for a drink.

About 10:30 we had three warthogs come in, all culls. Bibi asked if I wanted to shoot one and so I grabbed my bow. I used the Solution, but this time I had a lighter arrow setup. Still GrizzlyStik, but with a 125 grain single blade head. This wasn't a single bevel as it has both edges to cut like a typical broadhead and it's WIDE. It makes a big hole as you'll see in the pictures.
They came in at ten yards and saw or sense my movement. They all spooked, trotted off to about twenty yards, and I just picked one and released the arrow. BiBi was filming and we knew it was a good hit.
We gave him about thirty minutes and I told BiBI, "let's just go get him and call it a hunt."
We followed a massive blood trail further than we had expected, what with all the blood on the ground, and BiBi found the hog wedged up underneath a log in a thick bushy area. Without the blood trail, you'd have never seen it lying there.
The arrow entered his left front shoulder and he spun so fast, that the arrow ended up exiting out the right side of his jaw. Watching the video, it looks impossible for that to have happened, but it did.

What a great way to an incredible hunt at 4Aces Outfitters.

BiBi and I on our last hunt of this trip.
Thanks BiBI, I enjoyed our time together and look forward to more adventures with you in the future my friend.

 

[Dee S]

Day 13, time to say goodbye.

Most of the other hunters had already departed. The only ones left in camp were Brady and his daughter Brylee. They would stay on to hunt a few more days. They were actually scheduled to leave the day after me, but they were having so much fun, they extended their trip. They were on a 'whackin' and stackin' trip' and kept the skinners busy.

Then there's the group of PH's in camp. Chris had been in camp all week, but with his hunters having departed already, he had returned to his home and family, so I did not get a picture of him.

Heinrich, the PH that put me on my kudu on day one.

SP, short for Stephen Paul. This guy and his 'woolly blesbok' Cracks me up, we had a great time together and he's already a great PH for being so young.

I was able to gather these guys up just before I left for the airport.

SP, Geoffrey, me, and BiBi.
I didn't get to hunt with Geoffrey, but he was a valuable asset around the fire at night. A lot of good stories and adventures he regaled us with.

 

[Dee S]

I hope to add the videos in the near future. While we didn't capture every shot on film, what we did capture is pretty good footage.

For now, this concludes my hunt report with 4Aces Outfitters in Kimberley, South Africa.

I wish I had gotten a photo with the man himself, Adam Barnard, but it's one of those things you don't think about until it's too late. Hopefully I'll see him and some of his crew at the DSC Convention in January?

Adam, I had a great time. You and your team have set a high standard in the industry. You have an incredible operation and every aspect of it is first class. I hope to return one day and continue my pursuit of those colored animals, but next time, it will be in September. Shorts weather!

If you, or someone you know, is interested in a great plains game hunting experience, I highly recommend Adam and his team. He also hunts dangerous game and is not confined to just the Kimberley area. Like most good PH's over there, they will take you to where you want to hunt and for the game that you want to pursue.
They are well adapted to bowhunting, but rifle hunters are just as welcome.

In closing, I have to give credit to AfricaHunting.com for all that they do and provide for hunters. I have learned so much from this website over the past couple of years. I have met many of you, either in person or I have talked to you on the phone. This is the ONLY forum I visit anymore and I'm grateful for the opportunity to come here, learn from other hunters, and have the privilege to post my hunt reports. This is the best source of information regarding hunting not only in Africa, but all over the world, on the internet today.
So, to the moderators that keep it running, that keep it clean and that provide us with so much useful information, I applaud you for your hard work and dedication. I am truly grateful.
THANK YOU.

 

[Huntforever]

Brylee and me had an amazing time with you Dee and very sad to see you leave. We'll have to get together soon.

 

[flatwater bill]

@Dee S .....sure enjoyed your report. I liked the photos and the look of the terrain in the background. Like you, I prefer a high hide or elevated blind at times. That is a great kudu, and some serious penetration on that arrow.....I think that is eland/giraffe type performance. Thanks for taking the time to write for us, and 'grats to 4 Aces for delivering on their end......................FWB

 

[Dee S]

@Dee S .....sure enjoyed your report. I liked the photos and the look of the terrain in the background. Like you, I prefer a high hide or elevated blind at times. That is a great kudu, and some serious penetration on that arrow.....I think that is eland/giraffe type performance. Thanks for taking the time to write for us, and 'grats to 4 Aces for delivering on their end......................FWB

Thanks FWB

I love my arrow setup from GrizzlyStik. I'm a believer in a heavy arrow, with a high FOC, and those single bevel broadheads. Great combination.

And 4Aces delivered, the least I could do was write a good hunt report for them.

I failed to mention, and I don't have a complete tally of all the animals that were taken from the hunters in our camp, but I know that two cape buffalo were taken with bows, a couple of sable, at least one roan, a couple more kudu bulls, a couple of zebras, at least one waterbuck, some blue wildebeest, the usually impala, some blesbok, stenbuck, etc.
The skinning crew was kept busy for sure. And Adam has his own taxidermy setup, so I let him do all my dip and pack stuff, along with tanning of my hides and back skins, I thought those prices were very reasonable and I didn't have to mess with getting it all to another dip and pack service.

I'll start editing the video next and update the thread when those are ready.

 

[Dee S]

Brylee and me had an amazing time with you Dee and very sad to see you leave. We'll have to get together soon.

Brady, I enjoyed sharing camp with you guys. You've got a great daughter and I was so happy for her when she got that zebra. Zebra was my #1 priority animal when I first started planning for Africa, so I know the jubilation you feel when you finally have the first one down and you get to put your hands on it. Here's my first one and when my daughter saw the picture she told me "Dad, I've never seen you smile that big before!"
It's still at the taxidermist in San Antonio. It will be on a pedestal mount.

Feel free to add your pictures under this thread if you'd like. I know writing the report is time
consuming.

Hartmann's Mt Zebra - 2019 - Hunted with Pieter Delport and Eintracht Jagd Safaris

 

[BnC 04]

@Dee S
Wonderful report and congrats on a very succesful trip!

 

[Dee S]

@Dee S
Wonderful report and congrats on a very succesful trip!

Thanks, it was a great trip, but Adam and his team are what made it successful. All I had to do was shoot straight.

 

[Firebird]

Love the kudu! Not sure how you found strength to pass up all those waterbuck. Fun trip and I’m eager to see the videos. It was also good to see bill c mentioned again, haven’t seen that guy in the forum in a long time.

 

[Dee S]

Love the kudu! Not sure how you found strength to pass up all those waterbuck. Fun trip and I’m eager to see the videos. It was also good to see bill c mentioned again, haven’t seen that guy in the forum in a long time.

It was easy, they were out of my price range. I passed up a huge waterbuck in Namibia in 2019 and then again this trip. Maybe I'll have to budget for one on the next trip? There were plenty to choose from at 4Aces and I know that at least two were taken while I was in camp.

 

[WMU05]

Outstanding report Dee. A bunch of nice animals and some exceptional photography! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Dee S]

I finally have the Kudu bull footage put together.
I did not pack a tripod, so I had to use some editing tools to reduce the shake.

 

[Dee S]

We weren't able to get all of the shots on film, but here are the ones that we did manage to capture.

 

[mcaustin]

Great photos and report!

 

[Huntforever]

Great videos!! I know it can be difficult to get the kill on video.

 

[Dee S]

I put together a 26 minute video taken from all of the footage I filmed over the 13 days. I split it into two parts.
This is Part 1. It contains no kill shots. My intent is to give the viewer an idea of what to expect from a day in the blind with 4Aces Outfitters. As you can see by watching, there is no shortage of plains game.
As the old phrase that is often quoted goes, "it is a target rich environment."

Part 2 should be finished and uploaded tonight. Then I'll end the entire report with a video that is focused on the blinds and setups that I had the opportunity to hunt from during my time with 4Aces.

Hope you enjoy the footage

Part 1 of 2

 

[Buffalo1]

Super Story !! Throughly enjoyed the read. Great memories and some excellent trophies. Congrats !!~