Bow hunting in South Africa can be extremely challenging and rewarding.

We offer bow hunting safaris for all of the plains game and dangerous game species available on our price list. Majority bow hunting concession are dedicated solely to bow hunting, ensuring animals are more relaxed.

The most important factor is the level of accuracy that a hunter can obtain with the equipment. 

Four types of bows can be used when bowhunting in South Africa namely compound, re curve, long bows and cross bows.

It is standard procedure that all bows are sighted in at the shooting range before any hunting takes place. Bows must be sighted in up to 50 meters/yards. The average shooting distance is from 15 meters/yards and 50 meters/yards using the walk and stalk method. The average shooting distance from hides is up to 35 meters/yards. 

Blinds are used to ambush animals. These range from elevated blinds, ground blinds, tree blinds and pop-up blinds and are placed strategically along game paths or in areas where animals are most likely to been countered. Blinds are normally in close proximity to waterhole's ensuring a high success rate during the early morning and the late afternoon. Game blocks, salt licks and game pellets often fed at these strategic watering holes to attract the animals and to supplement them with minerals during the winter months. In the rainy season, blind hunting is somewhat more limited due to substantial amounts of water in rivers, creeks, ponds and dams. Animals are less frequent to drink at specific watering holes where they would normally drink at in the dryer season.

Sport and stalk proves to be highly successful under these circumstances.

Hunters need to be kitted in full camouflage leafy suits, face masks, gloves and a few pairs of thick wool socks. The socks have proven to be the quietest type of footwear for stalking in our hunting terrains.    

Bow hunting is conducted throughout the year and it is advisable to book your safari well in advance for there are numerous logistical arrangements which have to be made.

PH's have many years of experience and their commitment and knowledge is sure to add greatly to the success of your safari.

‍Minimum Equipment Requirements for Bow hunting in South Africa
* Big Game
Bow Kinetic Energy 80 ft/lbs
Arrow Weight 700 grain
(Elephant, Rhino, Hippo, Buffalo)

* Medium Game
Bow Kinetic Energy 70 ft/lbs
Arrow Weight 550 grain
(Kudu, Eland, Oryx / Gemsbok, Hartebeest, Wildebeest, Zebra, Giraffe, SableAntelope, Roan Antelope, Waterbuck, Tsessebe, etc.)

* Small Game
Bow Kinetic Energy 40 ft/lbs
Arrow Weight 400 grain
(Warthog, Nyala, Springbok, Impala, Blesbuck, Duiker, Steenbok, Ostrich,Caracal, Black-Backed Jackal, Game Birds, etc.)

Bushpigs are one of the most elusive and difficult creatures to hunt!

They are almost impossible to shoot with a bow in daylight. It’s not worth trying unless you have dogs and plan on taking a running shot with a rifle at a flushed pig. The only way possible with a bow is to bait.

Sounds easy? Let me tell you, there is a reason that there is such a hefty price tag attached to these vermin. Baiting is a meticulous task, taking hours upon hours of management, planning, and careful consideration. It’s a game of trial and error that only the most experienced pig hunters can get right in a few attempts.

There are many external influences to consider, starting with location.

Where are the pigs feeding? And where are they sleeping? And how do they travel between those two places? Find one of these, and half the battle is won. Once you have a general idea of their movements, you can start to place yourself in their environment.

Find the busiest thoroughfare you can and drop some bait. There are numerous feeds that draw in pigs, but the best is to consider their diet and use something that is familiar to them. Most pigs will eat rotting meat, only if they've been exposed to it before. If not, a carcass will just scare them off. If there is maize nearby, the easiest thing to do is to soak maize in a drum of water in the sun. You can add yeast and sugar if you want, but it’s not really necessary. Once it starts to ferment, it’s ready, usually only 2-3 days later.  

When you drop this feed, its best to cover it with something heavy, logs or rocks.For two reasons, pigs root for their food naturally, plus you don't want porcupine and other small antelope etc. eating your bait. Return after several days and see if it’s been eaten. The logs or rocks will be scattered if its pigs, and usually you'll have foot spoor to confirm. Now you know you've got pigs, and you know you can bait them.  

Find a good baiting spot nearby, trees are best, thick bush is second best.  

Consider the prevailing wind, winds change at different times of the year, and even at different times of the day. This is one of those things you'll think you know, but you don't. It’s very common for a wind to blow easterly until 7pm, and then suddenly as the air cools, it will flip 180 degrees.  

 Consider the prevailing wind, winds change at different times of the year, and even at different times of the day. This is one of those things you'll think you know, but you don't. It’s very common for a wind to blow easterly until 7pm, and then suddenly as the air cools, it will flip 180 degrees.  

Blowing your scent directly onto the bait is not suitable at all. It’s best to work this out before building your hide. Keep feeding the spot you think will work best and study the wind.If you are lucky the wind will be simple and blow in either of two directions on the same line, i.e.: either "East to West", or "West to East".
If that is the case you place the feeder either "North", or"South" of the hide. (90 degrees to the common winds).  

Make sure you place your feeder on the side of the hide that the pigs sleep. So that in the evening, they get to your feeder/bait before they get to your hide. If you can, elevate the hide for 3 reasons:  
1.     The higher the elevation, the better your chances that your scent will carry "over" any pigs.
2.     Safety.
3.     Your movements stay above the pigs eye line and your lights shine down on the pig "as would the moon" and your light does not cast spooky shadows on the floor around the pig.  

With all of that in place, bait and bait again. Do that until a pattern emerges. 

It might be a good idea at this point to leave an old shirt near your bait. Another good idea is to place a solar light shining down on the feed. Make sure it gets at least 4 hours of sunlight a day to charge up. Allan Schenk Safaris hides are equipped with remote dimmer switches and red lights over the bait. They may not eat for a day or two when you do this, but eventually they will become accustomed to your scent and to the light.  

Set up a trail cam at that stage to capture the pigs in action and get an idea of feeding times.
If you are doing it right, they should be feeding as early as half an hour after sunset.  

This process usually takes about a month and if all goes well you should shoot your first pig a month from when you start.  

Mount a small torch to your bow, and tape the switch to your grip. Have a red or green filter on the torch, and use a torch that has telescopic focus. When the pigs arrive, before you draw, set the torch to broad beam, shine it in the air, and then slowly lower it onto the pigs. If they spook, turn it off, wait 2 mins and try again until they don't spook. Then narrow the beam down until you can make out the pig clearly enough to make a clean shot. At this time, draw your bow, aim in the air, turn the light on and slowly lower it down onto the pig and....bam! Bushpig down!!  

Make sure your pins light up with an adjustable led light to set the brightness.
The normal shooting distance is between 12 meters up to 20 meters with a bow.  

With rifle hunting Bushpig on bait makes it allot easier. Allan Schenk Safaris usually has a night vision scope on one of the camp rifles. This proves to be highly effective as no light is needed to shoot the pig.  This rifle may be hired at your request.  

Managing and conservation of our bushpigs is critically important. Only boars are shot out of a sounder. This means that there will always be a new boar replacing the harvested one without disturbing the patterns of the sounder too much. 

Allan Schenk Safaris strives to be the biggest and best “Bushpig specialist outfit”in Africa.  

We have over twelve productive hides available with up to date feeding patterns at any given time.  

Checkout all latest feeding patterns and Bushpig activity as well as harvested Trophies at my Facebook Group – Razorback Bushpigs with Allan Schenk Safaris.
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‍Bushpighunting on bait is truly the most exciting and rewarding once you have harvested a magnificent old boar.   

To secure your booking please contact Allan Schenk or one of my agents under the contact information.  

Full-fledged “green”darting of a rhino by a hunting client is still illegal.  This is wherethe hunter fires the tranquilizing dart himself.  But vita-darting of a rhino is legal if it is done under the banner of“medical and conservation purposes.” 

South Africa is one of the world's finest safari destinations. Safaris are conducted within the unique habitat diversity of high mountain veldt; open, flat grassland alongside semi-desert thorn scrub; dramatic vista and the exotic rock formations of magnificent Spekboomberg.

Allan Schenk Safaris specializes in providing discerning hunters with a variety of hunting opportunities, extremely high-quality trophies, personalised service and the true spirit of hunting in South Africa and conservation is of utmost importance.

The rare opportunity to vita-dart a Rhino is guided on a 1X1 basis (one hunter one client) and is conducted and hunted on foot by means of spot and stalk method. The size of the horn is not priority during this hunt and please note that the rhino must be tranquilized for some sort of scientific management or transport/management purpose. This could entail blood testing, microchip implanting, the need to move the rhino to another property, or another part of the owner’s property, or doctoring for an injury, etc.

It is up to the landowner and the veterinarian to determine the medical reason needed to dart the rhino.

The excitement andexperience of hunting and perusing the Rhino is priority.

‍A dart full of vitamins is fired by the client. The tranquillising dart will be fired by a licensed veterinarian. 

‍Legal permits will be issued for this type of hunt by the government, once justification is determined. 

You will be able to have photographs with your darted rhino and we will take measurements of the horns to have your taxidermist make a fiberglass replica of your trophy!

‍On another note, the Safari Club International Record Book & World Hunting Awards Committee has voted to accept vita-darted rhinos into the SCI Record Book of Big Game Animals under the “Darted Rhino” category.  This is an effort by them to sustain the economic value of the Rhino during these difficult times. This hunt is classified as a “Big Five” hunt.

‍As always, a Rhino maybe hunted with a rifle and the trophy shipped home.  You will no doubt see vita-darted rhino hunts available at some of the hunting conventions within the next few months, both on auction and at outfitter booths.  You do not need to be afraid to purchase one.

‍This hunt will be conducted in accordance with South Africa's Biodiversity Act, 2004: Threatened or Protected Species Regulations, and hunter will be authorised by a veterinarian to vita-dart a rhinoceros for veterinary, scientific, managemen or transport purposes.

‍REQUEST A PRICE FOR A RHINO VITA DART HUNT NOW!

The Kalahari is an evocative semi-arid desert world, a land overflowing with game and strange red sand dunes and golden grass.

Allan Schenk Safaris Lodge is situated in a seven thousand acre wilderness in South Africa’s North West Province bordering Botswana in the Northern boundary.

The African Lion is the best known, most respected and feared of the “Big Five”.

Mature lions have little fear of man and especially aggressive in the hours of darkness.

Following the tracks of a lion in the early dawn, with the air and sand crisp and cold will be one of your first Kalahari experiences.

You will be aware of the growing tension and the endless crisscrossing of lion tracks over your own.

While the key focus of that of the lion plenty of other dangerous and plains game will be encountered along the way.

The lion will be long aware of your presence before you see him. He will avoid confrontation but if you stay on his track he is going to challenge you!

His charge has been clocked at 50 to 80kmp/h. There is only enough time to drop to the knees line up and fire.

Make your shot count!

For all situations your professional hunters instructions must be followed to the letter and non-more critically than when facing a charging lion. In full charge a lion is an extremely difficult target and great handling of your weapon and a cool head are ingredients to success.

The minimum caliber required being that of a .375 loaded with good quality softs.

Shots are generally between 15 yards and 50yards.

Hunt your Kalahari Black Maned Lion with Allan Schenk Safaris in an adventure of a lifetime.  

With well managed game breeding programs and conservation in South Africa, we have more game in South Africa now than in the last 100 years. When the game numbers get too high, culling needs to take place in some form or other. Allan Schenk Safaris will select certain species in certain of our hunting concessions to create sustainable hunting through conservation and a balance in game numbers.

‍Allan Schenk Safaris offers you the trophy hunter, the chance of hunting a large number of animals at the fraction of the price to a normal trophy hunt. We can combine your trophy hunt with a management hunt to suite your requirements.

Most of the game in South Africa is privately owned and managed. Numbers of animals to be culled are established through game counts and vegetation analysis. It is a very scientific process and is done with specialists in the field.

In the Eastern Cape hunting Springbuck & Kudu on "driven" hunts has been part of our history for many generations. Today, large herds of springbuck still occur in the Karoo flats and this method of hunting is still a common method. Other animals such as Warthog, Mountain Reedbuck, Blesbuck, Impala and Wildebeest can also be targeted.

For the hunters who prefer a spot and stalk method, this can be arranged to suit your requirements.

Allan Schenk Safaris was one of the very first Safari Outfitters to start hunting with dogs in the Eastern Cape. Today we still maintain the same traditions.

For those hunters seeking the more elusive Blue Duiker, Lynx/Caracal or Bushpig, can be assured of good opportunities with a near hundred percent success rate when hunting our coastal area with dogs.

The Blue Duiker is a real specialised collector's trophy. Hunts are conducted by finding suitable paths in the dense undergrowth of forests while moving the animals around by Jack Russell's and Fox Terriers. Often hunters will only catch small glimpses of these tiny masters of the forest with Terriers 20 or 30 yards behind, in hot pursuit. Those hunters who enjoy the challenges of shooting a shotgun will thrive in the experience that this hunt offers.

For the cat hunters we offer Caracal hunting with hounds. It is one of the most exciting hunts to be involved in. Hunting packs usually number anywhere from 12 to 18 hounds and consist of Blue Ticks, Fox Hounds, Beagle crosses and a host of locally bred dogs.

Packs are put out before sunrise, with hounds’ man listening for any warning signs of Caracal in the area. Monkeys and Bushbuck alerting barks are often a Caracals’ only give away. Once the lead dog has found a hot scent the hunt is on, with Caracals often covering several kilometres and hours before treeing.

Bushpig hunting with hounds in our hunting area is seen as a religion, with hounds, hunters and Bushpigs often gaining legendary status. For any hunter who enjoys pig hunting, this hunt will be a must. Be warned that this is a very physical and mentally demanding hunt. Most hounds’ man are 3rd or 4th generation pig hunters and enjoy the challenge in the run once the pigs have exited from their nest.Keeping up with these hard men over several kilometres, in the forest through the dense undergrowth and then making a telling shot is one of the most rewarding feelings a hunter could experience and one that is highly recommended.

All hunts offered with dogs are highly specialised and must always be booked well in advance to ensure availability and maximum opportunity for success.