Hi All.
Is Nilgai with a bow possible or are they just too tough.


thanks-Jerry

Got as buddy that killed one this year off a ranch in Victoria.. Can be done. One hitter quiter..

Used to hunt with a guy that hunted and guided bow hunters for Nilgia. He always said shoot then quartering away from you and use equipment that would use on elk. They bow hunted over Nilgia dung piles.

I shot one on the king ranch with my bow several years ago. There used to be a company called 4 Arrows Outfitters that offered bow hunts for nilgai. They have since lost there hunting concession for rule infractions.

I shot mine at 12 yards coming to a water hole. It was quartering away and I hit it midway back and hit the offside leg bone. The arrow broke two ribs and the humerous( or whatever its called on a nilgai). My bow was an Oneida Black Eagle set at 66lbs, 28" draw and 60% let off. The arrow was a 2314 with a 100 grain thunderhead. The arrow broke at the ferrel when it impacted the leg bone.

That particular bow set up generated tremendous kinetic energy. If I had to do it again I would use a heavier arrow.

The bull went only 40 yards and died.

To my knowledge there is no one offering free ranging outfitted bow hunts anymore. I had heard of one offered on www.texasbowhunter.com but couldn't find the thread.

Hugh

you put a blade thru both lungs/and a heart, and its lights out in a matter of time

getting there might be the tough part.

animals arn't indestructable.....it just take the proper set up.

from the limted experiance I have with bowhunting, any heavy arrow with a fixed blade broadhead properly placed will put down anything.

I don't know many guys that will do a Nilgai bow hunt. I know the KR has a no caliber smaller than .270 rule. And the most guides will only allow 30cal and up. I personally only allowed .270 and up. If you are going after them with a bow you better do a 2 day hunt.

I went to King Ranch years ago and it was only bow hunting for them. One of our group took one, and there were several taken during the week. I only had a calf come in and although legal, I passed on it.

Good BH is the key, as is shot placement.

I believe there is a lot of people that will tell you they are tough animals but, look at how many people kill moose or elk every year. I've chased nilgia the last 2 years with my bow and have no worries about getting the job done. Just use a set-up that would put an elk on the ground. I'll tell you its not easy when they're free range, they spook very easy when it comes to humans. I've seen them standing in an open field with HIGH winds as if nothing is going on but, had one turn inside out when he saw a parked truck 800 yrds away. It is very addictive to hunt them, go get'em and have fun.

It can be done, but it may not be easy.

I would want a fast bow for a little extra assurance.

You have a fast bow

friend of mine smoked one last year on a private ranch with a bow when we were there and he only went about 40 yards

There are people who take Cape Buffalo and Elephants with a single arrow achieving 100% pass through all the time. So this should be no worries. Just do some research on the best broad head and the best arrow for the job.

Pass through on a buff & elephant?

Yes I said a pass through on Buffs and Elephants. There was even a hunter this past year who took a cape buffalo using a single arrow being shot from a 70 lb re-curve bow. That one was not a pass through, but think about it. He used a 70lb re-curve bow. You can hunt any animal with a bow an arrow, you just have to have the right equipment.

My Dad killed two bulls on The King Ranch several years ago. Same hunting trip. Both killed with a long bow. My Dad's a "G". Haha. I couldn't believe how big they were when he had them piled up in the back of his truck. Amazing animials.

Yup they can be killed, I would say they are just as tough as other large game of similar size. Several are killed each year at the local refuges (even by rookies out of sheer coincidence) !! I've even seen one that was killed with traditional gear using a wooden arrow and home made arrow-head.