Hippo with a long bow

[Bvalette]

#2360

A while ago, I posted that I was going to shoot an elephant with my bow. I had great responses…instead, I shot a huge hippo bull with my Ferguson long bow and 310 grain Ashby broad head two weeks ago.
Briefly, on the second to last day of the hunt in Zambia with Pro-hunt Zambia (Richard Bell-Cross), Richard radio’d Gavin, my PH, that a hippo was feeding on land! We found the hippo, stalked to within 20 feet of that monster hippo. My first shot was right in the heart with my 86 lb Ferguson long bow. I shot 950 grain arrows and the Ashby head sliced right thru the 2 inch thick skin,up to the fletchings and right into the heart. ( I do have film of the broken arrow actually in the heart). I continued to shoot the hippo and it dropped in about 1 1/2 minutes! My son Dalton, filmed the entire hunt. Being that close to this huge animal with only my bow and arrow was exciting and scary but fully gratifying with awe and amazement when that animal dropped from my arrow!
Everyone in camp was truly amazed that this “little stick” took down such a huge animal. It’s kinda amazing to me that so many people have forgotten that Ben Pearson, Bill Negley, Fred Bear, all shot dangerous game with traditional bows. I just wanted to do what they did. It’s truly an experience I’ll never forget!
My elephant hunt is next month in Zimbabwe.
Brett Valette

[jmsmithy]

#8586

Awesome Brett ❗ Job well done my friend. Question, how long did it take you to work upto 86lb draw weight? Have you always shot heavier weights or have you worked up for the biggest of the big game?

[Bvalette]

#8595

jmsmithy wrote: Awesome Brett ❗ Job well done my friend. Question, how long did it take you to work upto 86lb draw weight? Have you always shot heavier weights or have you worked up for the biggest of the big game?

Thanks! I appreciate it. It was a team effort, the PH’s in camp were all out looking for a hippo on land for me…the running joke in camp was that I was setting up my own funeral!
When I ordered the bow from Byron and Zach ferguson I couldn’t pull it! I went to the gym…seated rows, bent over rows, lat pulldowns and some routine back exercises. That helped a lot! Took me about 3-4 months before I could pull it and hold it at full draw…I pull a 29 inch arrow..so I figure I’m pulling 90 lbs. My deer bow is 52 lbs and my elk bow is 65 lbs.
The 950 arrows and the Ashby heads were amazing! When they butchered that hippo, the arrows sliced right thru that tough leathery skin with no problem at all. The bow, the arrows and broad heads, all together worked 100 percent. This is the largest animal I’ve ever hunted and shot in my life!

[jmsmithy]

#8609

Yeah Brett it’s amazing the killing power of a well placed broadhead as well as the enormity and power of some of God’s critters. I’ve taken No American Bison in So Dakotah and Eland in So Africa. The size of those critters is astounding. Hunted, but couldn’t place a clean arrow, on Brown Bear. They too, huge and Dangerous – esp at 18 yards.
Looking to head back to Africa for Zim trip in 2014-15. Hope for Leopard and Buff and possibly a Hippo. Love to do with a bow and you’ve given me hope. I’m in ok shape, fairly strong for 43 going on 44 and shooting bows all my life. Currently shoot 50#@28″ Widow for deer, black bear etc w Ashby head. I go plan on kicking up to 60-65 lb for upcoming elk/moose trips. I guess keep working and I can get upto that 85-90lb range needed (legally as well I believe ) for those bigger Dark Continent critters…

[Mark Turton]

#8863

Congratulations Brett, hope you’ve got plenty of wall space:D
Are you able to keep the tusks/ivory?
Enjoy Rhodesia.

[Troy Breeding]

#9055

Hope you got plenty of data from the shot. You know as soon as Ed see’s this he is going to ask. Filming the hunt will be a big help.

Troy

[Bvalette]

#9066

jmsmithy wrote: Yeah Brett it’s amazing the killing power of a well placed broadhead as well as the enormity and power of some of God’s critters. I’ve taken No American Bison in So Dakotah and Eland in So Africa. The size of those critters is astounding. Hunted, but couldn’t place a clean arrow, on Brown Bear. They too, huge and Dangerous – esp at 18 yards.
Looking to head back to Africa for Zim trip in 2014-15. Hope for Leopard and Buff and possibly a Hippo. Love to do with a bow and you’ve given me hope. I’m in ok shape, fairly strong for 43 going on 44 and shooting bows all my life. Currently shoot 50#@28″ Widow for deer, black bear etc w Ashby head. I go plan on kicking up to 60-65 lb for upcoming elk/moose trips. I guess keep working and I can get upto that 85-90lb range needed (legally as well I believe ) for those bigger Dark Continent critters…

I’m 53…I’ve got ten years on ya! All it takes is determination to get up to that poundage…the up side is that it makes pulling your deer or elk bow so easy..the down side is that I don’t use the bow for anything else. It’s really a specialty bow. But Zach Ferguson made it beautiful and it is smooth, no shock and fun to shoot.
BV

[trapperDave]

#9116

that is just too cool. Congratulations. Youre livin a dream.

[jmsmithy]

#9137

Bvalette wrote: [quote=jmsmithy]Yeah Brett it’s amazing the killing power of a well placed broadhead as well as the enormity and power of some of God’s critters. I’ve taken No American Bison in So Dakotah and Eland in So Africa. The size of those critters is astounding. Hunted, but couldn’t place a clean arrow, on Brown Bear. They too, huge and Dangerous – esp at 18 yards.
Looking to head back to Africa for Zim trip in 2014-15. Hope for Leopard and Buff and possibly a Hippo. Love to do with a bow and you’ve given me hope. I’m in ok shape, fairly strong for 43 going on 44 and shooting bows all my life. Currently shoot 50#@28″ Widow for deer, black bear etc w Ashby head. I go plan on kicking up to 60-65 lb for upcoming elk/moose trips. I guess keep working and I can get upto that 85-90lb range needed (legally as well I believe ) for those bigger Dark Continent critters…

I’m 53…I’ve got ten years on ya! All it takes is determination to get up to that poundage…the up side is that it makes pulling your deer or elk bow so easy..the down side is that I don’t use the bow for anything else. It’s really a specialty bow. But Zach Ferguson made it beautiful and it is smooth, no shock and fun to shoot.
BV

Yes Brett…that determination issue is one at the heart of our passion here. The determination to shoot well, kill ethically etc…It’s a theme that, IMHO anyway, would do well to get passed on to younger generations. That’s why so important to get the young ones in our sport…sooner not later.

Proud to say my 12 yr olds been hunting since they were 7, shooting guns since 5 and bows since 6. My one guy shoots both compound and now got custom Allegheny Mt. Longbow for his 12th birthday!

I’ll be looking to order some heavy weight limbs in the future for my Widow PMA…

Awesome, simply awesome :!::D

[Ed Ashby]

#9172

Troy Breeding wrote: Hope you got plenty of data from the shot. You know as soon as Ed see’s this he is going to ask. Filming the hunt will be a big help.

CONGRATULATIONS BRETT! That makes my day! A big Hippo bull will weigh in at around 6000 pounds; about identical to a big, bull White Rhino. They are incredibly tough animals. 😯

Bvalette wrote: I continued to shoot the hippo and it dropped in about 1 1/2 minutes!

Tell us about what the outcomes were on other shots and; just got to ask; did you take any test shots after it was down? 😀

Ed

[Troy Breeding]

#9338

I told ya!!!!:D:wink:

[FUBAR]

#9377

Saaaweeeet!!!! Great job8)

[Steertalker]

#9469

Awesome Brett!!!!! Hunting African dangerous game is on my bucket list:)

I regularly shoot an 80 lb recurve….so hopefully I’ll be ready when the time comes.:wink:

Brett

[Bvalette]

#9528

Dr. Ed Ashby wrote: [quote=Troy Breeding]Hope you got plenty of data from the shot. You know as soon as Ed see’s this he is going to ask. Filming the hunt will be a big help.

CONGRATULATIONS BRETT! That makes my day! A big Hippo bull will weigh in at around 6000 pounds; about identical to a big, bull White Rhino. They are incredibly tough animals. 😯

Bvalette wrote: I continued to shoot the hippo and it dropped in about 1 1/2 minutes!

Tell us about what the outcomes were on other shots and; just got to ask; did you take any test shots after it was down? 😀

Ed
Thanks very much Ed! I was so impressed with the performance of the Ashby broadhead. And the PH’s in camp were more impressed than me. I knew it would do the job, I just had no experience doing it. The talk around camp that night between the PH’s was fun to listen to. Not so much about me, but about the broadhead and how it sliced thru that tough hippo skin! They are all believers now!
I do have photos of the arrow in the heart and the heart itself with the huge slice in it. I’ll get those to you. Along with the video clip. You can email me and give me your email address. Or you can go to my writing website and email me from there: brettvalette.com
I did not take any shots on the dead hippo…I did do one final shot after it had dropped, right behind the front leg. Penetration was good, not as deep as the first arrow…and I may not have pulled back as far as I should have in all the excitement and that I was fatigued after four shots.
I can’t wait to try this broadhead on an elephant. I’m totally confident now! I have an excellent longbow, excellent broadhead…I hope I can keep my cool.
B

[Brennan Herr]

#10778

Brett,
That is simply outstanding…thanks for sharing. Good luck on the elephant and be safe.

Good luck,
Brennan

PS let us know how it goes

[Ed Ashby]

#10869

Brett, PM sent.

Ed

[Shane Balow]

#20833

Truly amazing!!! this is only fueling my desire to hunt in Europe while being stationed in Germany! I want to attmept hunting Afica but the future Mrs wont let me due to the danger/disease/crime she reads about. there is nothing wrong with dreaming……some dreams will become reality:D

[Nate Bailey]

#21531

Nice job! Just wondering what does Hippo taste like?

[Troy Breeding]

#21668

If he says chicken I’m gonna bust out laughing.:D:D

Troy

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#21738

That puts the fawk in EFOC…

[Bvalette]

#21835

deisel4bt wrote: Truly amazing!!! this is only fueling my desire to hunt in Europe while being stationed in Germany! I want to attmept hunting Afica but the future Mrs wont let me due to the danger/disease/crime she reads about. there is nothing wrong with dreaming……some dreams will become reality:D

You should go to Africa and hunt! I’ve never felt unsafe in Africa. Take your shots and you’ll be okay. There are cities in the US that I’ve felt unsafe in! Accidents can happen anywhere, that’s for sure. But I’ve found Africa unique and exciting. Take her along…go to Victoria Falls, stay at Livingston Hotel on the Zambezi River. She’ll love it.

[Bvalette]

#21840

Nate Bailey wrote: Nice job! Just wondering what does Hippo taste like?

We did eat some…but it was an old male. It was tough and chewy and tasted like…Hippo. I wouldn’t eat it again, unless it was a young one. I’ve eaten lion and caracal and they were both tender and tasted like the best steak! I’m serious. no one else in camp would eat it…but I did and I was really impressed. The camp staff and some local folks all took the rest of the hippo and ate it.

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