FAQs: Crossbow Hunting

What is the difference between bowhunting and crossbow hunting?

A crossbow is a weapon used by many hunters on a African Hunting Safari and is fixed across a wooden support, with a groove where the hunter will place the crossbow bolt. Both a crossbow and compound bow have a string mechanism that the hunter must pull, a crossbow can however take higher pondages as the hunter can load the crossbow with two arms and not release it immediately during the African hunt. While bow hunting in Africa, the hunter uses only one arm to pull the string mechanism and will either release the arrow when ready or let the bow down. An advantage of crossbow hunting is that the bolt is flying at higher speeds than an arrow however is also bulkier and heavier.

What kind of animals can I hunting using a crossbow?

While moose and bear are among the most commonly hunted crossbow species in North America, African species such as Impala Hunts, Blue Wildebeest Hunts, and Kudu Hunts are also well suited to crossbow hunting when legal requirements and minimum draw-weight regulations are met.

What type of crossbow can I use when hunting in Africa?

The type of crossbow a hunter uses when hunting in Africa will depend on what animal species they are targeting on their game hunting safari. When hunting African plains game, a compound crossbow with a draw weight of 175-220 pounds should work just fine on these species. When hunting larger game, a compound crossbow should ideally have a draw weight of between 175 -250 pounds.

When crossbow hunting what hunting methods are used?

When crossbow hunting in Africa a hunter can stalk up to the animal. A hunter can sit in a tree stand but shot opportunities may not be as much. A hunter can also sit in a blind/hide and hunt their desired species depending on the area and whether this is legal or not.

FAQs: Bow Hunting

What types of bows do you use when hunting in Africa?

There are three types of bows that most countries will allow you to use when game hunting in Africa. These three types used on a hunting safari are a compound bow, a re-curve bow, and a longbow. A compound bow is a bow that uses a levering system consisting of cables and pulleys to bend the limbs. Compound bows are good as the pondages can be set to the hunter’s liking and can be very powerful, allowing for fast arrow speeds for large or small game. A re-curve bow is shorter than a longbow and has limbs that curve away from the archer when unstrung. A longbow is a large bow drawn by hand that was traditionally used by hunters and shoots feathered arrows.

What are the advantages of bowhunting on an African hunt?

When comparing bow hunting to rifle hunting or crossbow hunting it is shown that the hunter will need a higher level of skill, accuracy, and strength when on a bow hunting safari. Bow hunting on foot can teach hunters great skills on stalking incredibly close to an animal to get a shot. While it comes down to the hunter’s personal opinion, an arrow placed in the correct spot with a good broadhead can get incredible penetration.

What kind of animals can I target with a bow on a hunting safari?

Almost any African plains game species can be hunted successfully with a bow, while experienced bowhunters also pursue larger species such as Cape Buffalo Hunts where local regulations permit and appropriate equipment is used. Success ultimately depends on the country's legal requirements, the hunter's skill, and selecting equipment suitable for the species being hunted.

What hunting methods can be used when bow hunting in Africa?

There are three main types of hunting methods used by bow hunters:

The first being the spot and stalk method where hunters will spot an animal and use the best of their expertise and knowledge to get close to that animal without spooking it.
The second method is a tree stand/tree saddle. A hunter will place their tree stand high up in a tree with the right conditions and calling animals in or waiting for one to walk past. Once an animal approaches, the hunter will alert the animal causing it to stop before they release their arrow.
The third method is sitting in a blind/hide for the game hunting safari. The hunter can sit on chairs while being camouflaged by the blind they are in. Hunters can either call a species in, wait for an animal to come by if they are at a watering hole, or a hunter can place feed near the hide and wait for animals to eat. This specific method may not be allowed in some provinces, states, or countries.

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