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My first hunt with a bow |
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Bow hunting - taking the shot
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Some Pied Babblers were "chatting" way in the tree closest to the hide. They make a funny sound and sounds nearly like my bead workers chatting away in Ndebele with a cackle every now and then. It was so peaceful. In the distance, the Fish Eagle called and this to me was like a sign. They are my favorite bird species, I just love their call.
Around 11:30 pm two females and a boar came in to feed on the lucerne. Being a "real pig", he took possession of the feed and chased the ladies away, snorting and grunting while he was eating. "Hmph" - I thought, typical male. His tusks were nice and to my surprise (this would be a good animal for a client) Chris asked me if I want to take a shot at him. I said: "Yes, we can give it a go".
 We had to wait for "Mr. PIG" to turn the right way - I stood very still and a lot of uncertainty came over me as to when to pick up the bow, aim and shoot. "Bokkie fever" hit and I was very glad for the time that we had to wait for "MR. P" to turn in order for me to take a shot. Following Ann's advice as even the most experienced hunters still get "Bokkie fever", I controlled my own excitement by breathing slowly and tried not to worry as the PH is after all there to coach hunters every step of the way.
This PIG, was really very selfish not wanting to share the feed with the sows - "Eeek, eek" - the sows standing to the one side pleaded eliciting a good giggle from Chris, Ann and myself (Chris said afterwards he really thought one male was going to bite the dust on this Woman's day). He chased them off and then stood facing us. Chris picked up the bow to hand it to me, switched on Ann's video camera and indicated where the shot needed to be placed. By now, thank goodness the "bokkie fever" subsided and I was actually extremely cool, calm and collected. - maybe too cool, calm and collected.
I lifted the bow, drew, aimed, left hand and fingers in place, locked behind my ear focused and released. The typical dust, chaos screaming pigs occurred and the first thing I heard was that Ann said the arrow went too low. Damn - I missed completely. Chris said we should just wait and I looked through the peep-hole of the blind, and Mr. P was standing looking back at the watering hole in a distance - not quite sure what happened. "Oh, no" - I thought - it was all so perfect - how could I have missed????
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Self catering