quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:
There two things that are utilized in Africa that I wish would be standard everywhere, especialy in Alaska. Buy a general hunting license, but only pay for tags(trophy fees) for individual animals when they are in the bag, or wounded and lost! This would work very well on hunts for things like Sheep, and Brown bear where a guide is mandatory for out of staters, and aliens. Like Africa, the guide makes the call, based on blood evidence! I think more folks would book Brown bear hunts if the daily fees were all that was risked on what is now a $12K bear hunt, kill or not!

quote:

Originally posted by mrlexma:
Yes.

But what about when you know you hit and wounded an animal and the PH, who was observing through a 10 power binocular, swears you missed?

This has happened to me. There was no blood or hair, but I shot at a hartebeest facing me head on, and I knew I had hit him off center just as he bolted off to his right. I insisted--had to insist--on following up the animal.

No blood for 50 meters. Then, a speck here and there. After two and a half hours of tracking, our Maasai found the hartebeest and I finally killed him. To me, that was vindication, but even more, relief at dispatching an animal I had shot badly.

So, the corollary of this wound and pay rule is: It's not enough simply to wash your hands of the matter and pay the fee for a wounded animal. If you know, or even strongly suspect, that you have wounded an animal, you must insist on following him up, and follow him up, no matter what.