Africa for many of us is still an unfulfilled dream that simmers in our mind overpowering our nostrils with the heavy aroma of mystery and adventure. It is my fondest hope to travel there someday before my stay on this magnificent earth is ended by that final punching of life’s daily time clock. I do not feel compelled to harvest a kaleidoscope of the unique and exotic animals that call that strange land home, but instead would rather capture their magnificence on camera. My chance may never come to visit the Dark Continent, but in the meantime, I sate my thirst for Africa through other people’s adventurers that have been captured by the movie camera and then chronicled on DVD. 

My most recent video vacation to Africa came to me compliments of ACF member, Stan Christiansen. The DVD entitled "Impact Safari" documents Stan’s personal crossbow hunt in South Africa with Steyn & Caracal Safaris in July of 2007, and what a Safari it was! The entire production is filled with breath-taking scenery, magnificent trophy animals and enough adventure to make you want to view it again and again.

Famed whitetail hunter, Larry Weishuhn, co-hosts and enriches the production even more by sharing one of his own successful hunts in Namibia for a Greater Kudu. Larry and Stan do an excellent job of narrating each hunt making it interesting and educational to the viewer. Stan’s hit list includes Blue Wildebeest, Caracal, Nyala, Impala, Eland, Kudu and Wart Hog and the animals were magnificent with five new pending world records with the crossbow. The TenPoint Crossbow that Stan used however, proved to be the undoing and final demise for each of the creatures that found center stage under the brightly shining little green dots of his scope.  

Just as interesting to me is the wide variety of large and beautiful creatures that come to the watering holes for sustenance throughout the production.  One of my favorites is a baby rhino just a few days old being bravely defended by its mother against a huge male rhino almost twice her size, once again proving that “it’s a jungle out there.” It was great footage. 

The entire production was filled with majestic creatures, hypnotic African music and scenery that caused me to repeatedly and quietly mumble, “Oh my, my!” For a copy "Impact Safari" contact Stan Christiansen at 314-651-7911.  If Africa is on your to do list – you will want to see this DVD.

As the crossbow and crossbow hunting becomes more commonplace, we are seeing a surge of quality hunting videos appearing on the market featuring our favorite tool for procuring excellent table fare.  "Crossbow Compulsion," which is produced by Team Backwoods and stars Bill & Kath Troubridge from Excalibur Crossbows along with some of their many friends, is an excellent addition to your crossbow-hunting DVD collection. There are eighteen hunts with a ton of different species from all across the North American Continent. All of the hunts are entertaining and well filmed, documenting some great encounters with handsome animals, in beautiful places along with some terribly excited hunters as well. We all participate in this sport for that one magic moment when the hunter is in the right place at the right time and suddenly it is “show time.” This production captures that “show time” moment over and over again allowing the viewer to share the adventure of our on-screen hunters. A dark room and a big screen television put you right there in the middle of it all. You can almost smell the action as your pulse speeds up and you feel your muscles tense in excitement.

One of the most exciting capers on the DVD was Bill Troubridge hunting bears on the ground, as a curious bruin swaggered up to him and got close enough to smell Bill’s breath. It was a tense moment, but Bill remained on his belly, completely motionless, as the bear gave him the once over and then walked away. What great footage that was. Five bears met their Waterloo in this video along with Whitetails, Mule Deer, Antelope, American Bison, Moose, Wild Hogs and even an Alligator thrown in for good measure. It was a great assortment of creatures, but I was a little disappointed not to see any of Bill and Kath’s great African trophies. However, I am betting that is another production that we can all look forward to seeing in the very near future.

Winter is not that far away people, and this would be a great time to lay this DVD up for the inactive months when the hunting seasons are closed and you will be in great need of a well-produced fix of outdoor adventure. Believe me when I say, "Crossbow Compulsion" will fill the bill (and I don’t mean the Troubridge Bill).  To obtain a copy, give Excalibur Crossbows a call at 800-463-1817. They will be happy to help you with your order. Watch for other quality crossbow productions to appear in the Excalibur lineup.