African Hunter Published Books Hunter's Guide to Bowhunting the African Way | Page 16

experience has also shown that under a stalk and shoot situation, a
great many more animals are wounded and the success rate can drop
as low as 30%. Ethics dictate that this is not acceptable, and the use
of blinds raises this kill ratio to levels comparable with rifle hunting.
In the context of the African scenario, because of the time taken to
get within the ten metre range required to effect a clean, efficient kill
(much beyond this distance, the nature of the bush places too much
obstruction between the hunter and his prey, increasing the chances
of deflection), the time factor would eliminate the financial viability
of bow hunting. Stalking also erodes the ability of the hunter to get
the exact animal he requires, and will often result in unsustainable
cropping of non-trophy or immature animals. Few foreign hunters
are used to the rigours of stalking under such difficult conditions
with a bow, and in all likelihood, trying to impose the African mindset on the bow hunter who traditionally shoots from stands, will only
result in failure.

A tree stand constructed in the branches of a baobab tree which due to its sheer size,
gives far more space and comfort than other lesser trees.
While tree stands, or blinds are used in Africa, they are not really
suited to the environment, and have certain limitations when
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