quote:

Originally posted by Ghubert:
Naah, it's just part of the fun.



It's when the buggers stop, stiffen and put the sticks up that get's you, it's a case of "you're on sunshine"

In my case I get the fever when the sticks go up, I have to calm myself for the shot but afterwards I'm pieces again.

I would go so far as to say that i'll stop hunting the day it stops having that effect on me.

quote:

After lunch, we found ourselves making our back over to our look out points trying to locate the kudu bulls again. We stopped one of our normal look out locations which we always stopped, which would give us a look across the canyon for the kudu bulls, as well as a look back up the mountain towards where the mountain reedbuck herd was feeding earlier in the morning. We couldn’t locate the bulls because there was a bluish, smoky haze in the valley canyon from inland fires obstructing our view across the canyon.

As we were making our way back to the Land Cruiser, I noticed a duiker ram run across the road behind the vehicle.

Andrew responded, “Too small.”

As I was beginning to get into the truck, I and noticed a second duiker coming across the road.

“How about that one?” I asked as I began to put my gun into the truck.

“He’s old and big.” Andrew replied while looking thru the Cruiser at me.

I kind of nodded in the general direction of the duiker in a sort of question like should we follow? Andrew’s response was a simple nodding of the head saying yes.

We followed the slope of the land trying to skirt around the patch of trees and brush the duikers had disappeared into. After not being able to locate them, we went back around towards the road and slowly started picking the brush apart. Eventually, Andrew located the second, old duiker feeding under the cover of a thorn bush. We slowly stepped to our right and sort of snuggled into the thorn bush we were standing next to. I got set up on the sticks and watch the little guy nibbling on the leaves of the thorn bush. Then, he realized we were there and turned head on towards us, staring in our direction. Everything was perfect, the duiker was only about 30-40 yards away, the power of the scope was turned down to 5 and I was rock steady on the sticks.

After several minutes, the duiker moved our from under the bush and turned more to what appeared to be a broadside position.

Andrew whispered into my ear, “Get ready he’s about to move into the open.”

At that moment, my right leg suddenly disconnected from the rest of my body. It started to shake uncontrollably. It was like it was trying to do the “River Dance” all by its self. I took a few deep breaths and tried to sturdy my jig dancing right leg.

Andrew asked, “Can you see his shoulder? I think he is about to run.”

“I can see just behind his shoulder like a lung shot on a whitetail” was the response.

“Is the brush in the way?”

“No, I think I can thread it thru there.”

“If you think you can make the shot, take it.”

It was then I noticed my right leg had deciding dancing was not the correct thing to be doing. I steadied the crosshairs in the center of the roughly 2 inch by 2 inch hole I was shooting thru and squeezed the trigger. At the report, I could only see the duiker flipping and flopping like a fish out of water. We walked around the backside of the thorn bush and collected the tiny trophy.

quote:

At that moment, my right leg suddenly disconnected from the rest of my body. It started to shake uncontrollably. It was like it was trying to do the “River Dance” all by its self. I took a few deep breaths and tried to sturdy my jig dancing right leg.

quote:

Originally posted by Dog Man:
Very nervous. I didn't expect it either.
I wondered about you Frostbit. There was a ton of attention on your hunt, starting with the Harry Selby endorsement of your perfect safari rifle. Everything worked out great, but just think about writing your report if a few things had really went south.

When I took my first day sight in shots in Zambia, I think I seriously got buck fever. I think it was just the fact that everything you read, states that is when your PH will evaluate you. Luckily I really settled down and shot better than I even thought I would.

I totally agree with Ivan. The PH's that complain about client's shooting, should try reversing the roles.

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:

quote:

At that moment, my right leg suddenly disconnected from the rest of my body. It started to shake uncontrollably. It was like it was trying to do the “River Dance” all by its self. I took a few deep breaths and tried to sturdy my jig dancing right leg.

I think it is just part of the safari experience. I was dancing my own "River Dance" in '07 as we waited a whole hour on the sticks for a monster bushbuck that I wanted very badly. I got the bushbuck but you would have thought it was my first hunt ever if you had watched my right leg. I think the tension has to come out some way and your leg volunteers to be the outlet.

As others have implied if you did not get a little nervous it probably would not be half the fun.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by ddrhook:
I felt like a school boy who had just be caught by his mates wanking while looking at an ugly girl.

quote:

Originally posted by Code4:
I was exactly the same for the first animal I 'tried' to shoot in Africa. Part of it is knowing in the back of your mind the money invested, part of it was being on a guided hunt for the first time and most of it was me gettin g 'worked up' over being in Africa hunting, at last.

It is when you are having these problems that you find out if you have a real proffessional hunter or just a guide.

I agree with other posters. If you don't or have never felt like that, then it is time to give up hunting.

quote:

Originally posted by Ghubert:
Naah, it's just part of the fun.



It's when the buggers stop, stiffen and put the sticks up that get's you, it's a case of "you're on sunshine"

In my case I get the fever when the sticks go up, I have to calm myself for the shot but afterwards I'm pieces again.

I would go so far as to say that i'll stop hunting the day it stops having that effect on me.

quote:

Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:
I used to shoot competively, so I don't get nervous when I aim, but I worry constantly. The more a hunt costs, the more I worry about little things screwing up the hunt. Even having a death in the family while I am over there crosses my mind. I worry about my business. A sat phone can do wonders. But of all the bad news one can get, we need to remember the worst news of all: someday we are all going to die. Life is fleeting.

quote:

Originally posted by Charles_Helm:
I think I am at my most nervous when checking the rifles -- code for letting the PH see if you can shoot. You may get an unstable rest, a target made with a black magic marker at an unknown distance, and the rifle(s) just went through the baggage "handlers" careful caress -- no pressure.

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by ddrhook:
I felt like a school boy who had just be caught by his mates wanking while looking at an ugly girl.

One trip with Steve and you're talking like a Limey?

quote:

Originally posted by ddrhook:
YA he is a bad bad influence. I used to talk like a hillbilly now I talk like a deranged hillbilly!!!! come to think of it I sound just like Steve

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
Your next mission should you decide to accept it is to learn to drink Earl Grey in the absence of good Uganda tea.