quote:

Originally posted by venda axe:
I believe different people hunt Africa for different reasons. Some come for the quantity of game. I've heard guys say " I shot 15 animals in 10 days". Some want their trophies to be in the record book. Others just want good Quality animals. As for me it's all about the hunt. I want a good stalk, to work into position for a good shot, and a mature animal. In the case of Dangerous game, especially Buffalo, and Elephant I want to get in close. In my opinion to shoot a Buffalo oe Elle. from 150 yrds takes away half of the experiance of the hunt.

quote:I think it's the job of the PH to put the client in a position to make a clean kill in the least dangerous situation possible. To provoke a charge for the thrill of it is just plain unethical and stupid. Sooner or later someone will get hurt.

At even 100 yards a Buff. or Elle. is still remote there is no contack with that animal. When you get in close, for me it seems to be about 25 yards I can litteraly feel that animals presence, and he probably mine. My pulse quickens and all my sences seem to amplify. Is this too risky and dangerous? I dont think so. At this distance, as Buzz Charlton states in his video "Hunting the African Elephant" With a brain shot it is easy for the PH to tell if the client has made a good shot or not. If the Elle drops you have probably hit the brain, or at least have time for another shot. If the Elle runs off the PH can put in a backup shot. With Buffalo the PH is close enough to judge if the shot was good and can respond accordingly. At further distances he will have to make a long shot at a running target.

In 2008 I was hunting Elephant with Brent Leesmay in Dandy North. I told Brent that I would like to try for a brain shot, and he said he would try. On day 4 we closed in on a bull, but he sensed us and started off so I had to take a heart shot whitch worked out fine. I was then offered the chance to hunt a Tuskless Cow and jumped at the oportunity. In 7 days we looked at over 200 Elephant. That was a wonderfull experiance by itself. About noon on tha last day Tinos, one of our trackers spotted a tuskless cow resting in the shade of a tree across a dry river bed about 40 yards away. Brent determined that it was a shootable tuskless cow, and asked if I would like to try for a brain shot. He explained that we would cross the river bed, go up the bank, and when we reached level ground he would get the cow's attention.When we reached the top of the bank Brent made a small noise. The cow apperently knew we were there because she emmediatley spun around and started towards us. I picked a spot and droped her at about 13 yards.

My point here is we could easily have shot this Elephant at 40 yards, and I would have had a great hunt. However I will forever be indebted to Brent for taking me a little further and giving me one of the most increadable experiances of my hunting life.I am greatfull that there are PHs out there like Brent, Buzz, and Ivan who listen to the clients wishes, and go the extra mile to give us the full African experiance.

quote:

Originally posted by venda axe:
I believe different people hunt Africa for different reasons. Some come for the quantity of game. I've heard guys say " I shot 15 animals in 10 days". Some want their trophies to be in the record book. Others just want good Quality animals. As for me it's all about the hunt. I want a good stalk, to work into position for a good shot, and a mature animal. In the case of Dangerous game, especially Buffalo, and Elephant I want to get in close. In my opinion to shoot a Buffalo oe Elle. from 150 yrds takes away half of the experiance of the hunt.

quote:I think it's the job of the PH to put the client in a position to make a clean kill in the least dangerous situation possible. To provoke a charge for the thrill of it is just plain unethical and stupid. Sooner or later someone will get hurt.

At even 100 yards a Buff. or Elle. is still remote there is no contack with that animal. When you get in close, for me it seems to be about 25 yards I can litteraly feel that animals presence, and he probably mine. My pulse quickens and all my sences seem to amplify. Is this too risky and dangerous? I dont think so. At this distance, as Buzz Charlton states in his video "Hunting the African Elephant" With a brain shot it is easy for the PH to tell if the client has made a good shot or not. If the Elle drops you have probably hit the brain, or at least have time for another shot. If the Elle runs off the PH can put in a backup shot. With Buffalo the PH is close enough to judge if the shot was good and can respond accordingly. At further distances he will have to make a long shot at a running target.

In 2008 I was hunting Elephant with Brent Leesmay in Dandy North. I told Brent that I would like to try for a brain shot, and he said he would try. On day 4 we closed in on a bull, but he sensed us and started off so I had to take a heart shot whitch worked out fine. I was then offered the chance to hunt a Tuskless Cow and jumped at the oportunity. In 7 days we looked at over 200 Elephant. That was a wonderfull experiance by itself. About noon on tha last day Tinos, one of our trackers spotted a tuskless cow resting in the shade of a tree across a dry river bed about 40 yards away. Brent determined that it was a shootable tuskless cow, and asked if I would like to try for a brain shot. He explained that we would cross the river bed, go up the bank, and when we reached level ground he would get the cow's attention.When we reached the top of the bank Brent made a small noise. The cow apperently knew we were there because she emmediatley spun around and started towards us. I picked a spot and droped her at about 13 yards.

My point here is we could easily have shot this Elephant at 40 yards, and I would have had a great hunt. However I will forever be indebted to Brent for taking me a little further and giving me one of the most increadable experiances of my hunting life.I am greatfull that there are PHs out there like Brent, Buzz, and Ivan who listen to the clients wishes, and go the extra mile to give us the full African experiance.

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
While I am in full agreement with all that is said and that is the way I like to hunt as well (PG is something I shoot while I am hunting DG )...I am going to play the devil's advocate for a moment.

The game animals we hunt are NOT just out there for our amusement. They and their habitat is limited in the world today and we as hunters must always be conscious of conservation first and foremost. The word "conservation" almost in itself incites controversy these days but the way I use it is in its simplest form...meaning: to conserve.

With that said...it is always the paramount duty of the PH (should be with the client as well) to not do things to just fancy our whims that is not in the best interest in "conservation" of the animals themselves. Going back to the other threads...it is never in the best interest of ele conservation to shoot the matriarch of a family group of ele (unless we are culling and wiping out the whole group which is a different subject). I don't think Buzz or Ivan or any other respectable PH would say that it is...at least I hope not. So...if in our endeavors to have our hunt the way we want it...cause PHs have to repeatedly shoot matriarch cows in self-defense...that is not being a good steward of our wildlife. I believe it is a PH's duty when hunting tuskless to not put his party in a situation where they are "likely" to elicit a confrontation with the matriarch in which she must be shot.

Now...before anyone responds...I am NOT saying anyone (or any PH) does...just giving my opinion.