I tbhi nk no matter how careful one or his PH is, at one stage or another, if one hunts enough dangerous game, they might come unstuck and get in some sort of pickle.

Things don't always work according to plans the client and his PH have decided on.

Because the third player - the animal in question, hasn't been privy to the discussions.

When hunting one has to make split second decisions, and only luck decides what happens afterwards.

Saeed: or another way of putting it is a good plan remains good until contact with the enemy

quote:

Originally posted by Mark DeWet:
... The majority of PH's do have the ability and experience to shoot in tight situations when called upon - however we do rely on the client making the critical first shot count - before we have to go in and sort out the mess ...

Well said, Mark. As for me, I don't count on the PH saving me if I screw up; but I do hope that he will be able to 'mitigate the damage' to the degree possible. And that becomes a function of the PH's skill, experience, and expertise. Having hunted dangerous game with superb PH's like Mark DeWet and Buzz Charlton, I can say that, coupled with my personal preparation for a particular hunt, I felt confident that either of these professionals would do as much as could be expected in the event they needed to back me up.

However, that's no guarantee. But then, I wouldn't want one if it was available. After all, we're talking about hunting 'dangerous game', and as such there is incumbent upon the process an element of risk. Sure, you take every precaution and hunt with the best PH you can. You practice hard to overcome subjective risks, and do what you can to avoid the objective ones. But in the end, there will always be risk.

And absent risk, you lose a key element of what attracts many of us to the hunt in the first place: The 'danger' that is a natural component of hunting 'dangerous' game.

quote:

Marius saved my bacon once and I have no doubt he'll do it again whenever the client screws up. I really want to go back to Moz . . .

Mara never had to save my bacon but he was my first PH and I have hunted with him twice. I still compare all the other PH's I have hunted with to to him and I havent found one any better yet. I too would love to go back to mozambique.

The last four posts above are the exact reason I've always said "Every client hunter who hunts where dangerous game exists, whether hunting them or not, should be armed with a proper firearm capable of taking anything he/she might encounter, and as if he/she were totally alone!"

Where is it written that the PH can always pull your butt out of the fire, when he may be the first one hit, leaving you to not only save him, but yourself?

I count on my PH's experience with DG to help save me. He's the one supposedly hunting the DG for living and experience is a deciding factor in how well he can "Protect" you or make "Split Second" decisions.

As in life every DG hunt is "Unique" and a person can't have "All the Answers". As a couple of forum members aptly posted

Will-when the shit hits the fan, it is mostly instinct and no practice will make the real difference!

Surestrike-In an emergency situation we never rise to the occasion rather we fall to our level of training.

That about covers it!