Exactly... That's the attitude I'm talking about... I won't pay thousands of dollars to show anybody anything.

I'll be happy to exhibit my shooting skills at camp with still and moving targets but if a PH goes with me in the bush he's going to have to accept that I can handle myself in advance.

The first time someone doubles with me or shoots right after I shoot without a pre-agreed deal that I freely agree to (not pressured into) then I'm a very unhappy customer. Or suddenly not a customer at all.

$bob$

After reading all these posts, I would again say that I agree with Saeed and some others that the thing that scares me the most about dangerous game and non-dangerous game hunting in "dangerous country" is stepping on or into the way of something in the long grass or especially at night that has dripping fangs...going in deep bush after a wounded buff or even a leopard has nothing on hearing a rustle and a soft hiss on the way to the potty at 3 a.m.....

quote:

How many people answering have hunted dangerous game AND skydived AND rock climbed? I sense from the answers some have done two or more so don't get offended.

I have done all three at least once, but I would not consider myself an expert at any.

Unprotected rock climbing (ie. anything that can't be "scrambled", but no ropes) scares the crap out of me. It gives me "sewing machine leg" and cold sweats.

Of the African DG I have only hunted cape buff, but I didn't find them "scary"....no more than dealing with my Pa's bison.

Getting within a couple yards of elephant got my attention though, especially after having been chased off by them a few times.

Skydiving barely got my heart rate up, but it was a heck of a lot of fun!

Cheers,
Canuck

quote:

But shooting buffalo from 40+ meters as it looks like most people do is not dangerous in my opinion.

Erik,
In my limited experience, I don't really think that getting close to cape buffalo before you shoot is any more dangerous than "sniping" them. No more so than a lot of big game at close range. In fact, jumping into a small corral with my Pa's bison was way scarier than sitting, unarmed, 8 feet away from feeding cape buffalo.

I don't think the risk of getting injured by an unwounded cape buffalo is any greater than getting hit by lightning no matter what distance the first shot is. If you wound it though....that's a different story. I took some video of a cape buff that definitely had settlement of a score on his mind...it was exciting.

Elephant are different. I think unwounded cow elephant are a definite health risk if you get within their comfort zone.

JMHO,
Canuck

LDHunter,

I think we are talking about two different things as I agree with you on the above statement. My commnets had to do with you making the decisions such as which way do we approach a DG animal, when do you shoot, how close do you get and how you approach a downed DG animal. Or even if the tracks are fresh enough to even follow. There are many decsions to make and some of these can lead to a dangerous and unessesary situation. Do you want to make the desicion on how you follow up a wounded animal? Do you think the PH may be more qualified to make that decision?

IMO the PH should shoot on a DG animal only if you or I make a bad shot which could lead to a dangerous follow up.

465H&H

465H&H,

I agree with your first paragraph but that final sentence of your message...

"IMO the PH should shoot on a DG animal only if you or I make a bad shot which could lead to a dangerous follow up."

.... leaves the PH open to shoot as he pleases and just say that he thought you wounded it and that he was just trying to avoid a dangerous follow up.

I really think that Saeed nailed it and trying to rephrase it seems to stray off the point.

From what I've read he has enough experience to get a really good handle on the hunter/PH relationship as it relates to who shoots and when and how it's decided.

$bob$

LDHunter,

Best to do your homework and book with an experienced PH and then make sure you have a pre hunt discussion along these lines. Then leave it to his descretion regarding whether to shoot or not.

Personally, I do not believe there is other than the very rarest of reasons for a PH to shoot at a buff you have hit. That opinion might change if I were to hunt in the early season when the bush is thicker.

On the other hand, if you go for a brain shot on an elephant, the PH ought to give you what opportunity exist for sorting things out yourself before shooting, but he will need to err on the side of putting a killing shot into an elephant when you miss the brainshot. More so on a bull than a cow since cows are much more succeptible to "shock" and to dropping or stagering with a not perfect brainshot.

From what I am told by PH's, booking agents, photographers, videographers and so on, is that many hunters over rate themselves. I'm the last to disagree with that assesment.

JPK