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Learning to hunt with a bow - personal notes
By Marinda Stuiver - RSA
Two years ago I did my first rifle hunt - no question about it, I was hooked. My friend Ann Horsman gave me the biggest gift ever last year, when she gave me a 30-06 Einfield that she inherited from her grandfather as a birthday gift. I was destined for an Impala hunt in 2002, but due to an unfortunate accident, broke two fingers in my right hand which are still not completely healed. The Impala rifle hunt therefore, had to be scheduled for 2003 and hopefully this will take place during August.
As an online marketing consultant for some Outfitters in South Africa, I am constantly exposed to these exciting and challenging opportunities. Chirs Brand from Njiri lodge (one of my clients) noticed my keen interest in hunting and my willingness to learn and obtain new skills. He offered me his wife's bow (thank you Gittie!) to learn and train with until such time as I can afford my own equipment. There was just no hesitation from my side. Having followed the conversations and seen the interest in bow hunting on the Internet, it was just something that I could not resist.
Of course the above was not without some "motivation" - with a promise of: "If you shoot well enough by August when Ann visits, you can take a Warthog at Njiri lodge", we made an appointment and my mentor/tutor pitched up with a target, the bow and all else required for the first lesson.
This was 9 April 2003. Chris is a great teacher and showed me how to handle the bow. The lesson lasted for about an hour until my arm was shaking - muscles just not used to this new action. The bow is a High Country Quad - draw lengths 22 and weight 50.
I live in a suburb in Pretoria and had to be careful in case a couple of arrows goes flying. Which it of course did, for the first couple of days anyway.
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