How many of you check to see if your PH can muster when necessary before leaving camp?

~~~~

Yup, another cold, snowy, boring night in Vermont.

that would be an interesting scene......

I always go out the first day and gut shoot a buffalo just to be sure I'm being guided by the "right" guy.

quote:

Originally posted by safari-lawyer:
I always go out the first day and gut shoot a buffalo just to be sure I'm being guided by the "right" guy.

I hope within 12 yards, right? Wouldn't be much of a test if it was too easy...

When I was finished checking my rifles, the PH went on the sticks and adjusted the rear sight on his 500NE. He fired 5 shots without a flinch to bring his double to zero.

I was impressed. Seems his double had be dropped by one of the staff.

if he shoots, you have flunked the manhood test.

JB,

none of my DRs have adjustable sights, how'd he do that?

I believe a demonstration of there shooting ability is abig part of getting there PH license.

From what little I've seen, they were excellent shots.

While hunting in Namibia last season I handed my Win mdl 70 338WM to the PH as a baboon sat in a tree top 200 yards away while we were glassing for kudu, he missed. He missed with his own rifle on four different baboons during that eight day trip none were over 150 yards away and all were sitting. Do not think I would want him to back me up on anything.

quote:

none of my DRs have adjustable sights, how'd he do that?

His K gun had set screw for left/right adjustment of the "V".

If I cannot hit a 6" target in undr ½ a second from 'ready' at 10 meters I am out of practice.

Long range shots are for clients..huried shot at close rage are for PH's

Anne,

I've never had a PH fire a shot pre safari in my presence. Having said that I've never worried about it or given it much thought. I guess I've always assumed if I needed back up in a dangerous situation the PH's training would come into play keeping me from getting smashed.

I have had occasion for three PH's to shoot while I was on safari. One was to clean up a mess I made on an eland, the second was on a game control issue with an ele where we both shot and last was when I requested if my elephant twitched after it hit the ground that the PH shoot. It did and the PH shot. In all three case these guys hit the mark which doesn't mean much as far as your question is concerned but it made me feel better.

Mark

In Moz a few years ago I was hunting with Kevin Robertson. At the usual pre-hunt shoot-in I demonstrated that I was unlikely to shoot my PH. That is, after all, primarily what that's all about. We then began shooting for "fun", me my Lott, Kevin his Dumoulin 505 Gibbs, offhand, iron sights. Trust me, the man can shoot. When he told me he shot thrown clays with the 505, I believe him, though probably not fast passing shots.

I have seen two in Zim that couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with a bazooka...I saw two others in Zim that were champion shooters (quite literally) and three in South Africa that were all excellent shots (one of them was also an international champion).

Cheers,

Brian

I think if you're already on a safari and you think you need to check if a PH can shoot, you've booked with the wrong outfitter.

Book with reputable outfitters and you probably don't have to worry about checking if they can shoot. It is in the interests of a reputable outfitter to have good PHs on staff.

quote:

Originally posted by Ganyana:
If I cannot hit a 6" target in undr ½ a second from 'ready' at 10 meters I am out of practice.

Long range shots are for clients..huried shot at "close rage" are for PH's

........................Absolutely!



..............

This thread reminds me of something David Petzal wrote about long ago in Field & Stream.

He was in camp when a client and PH came in. The client looked agitated. He pulled a beer out and gave it to the PH. "Toss it in the air," he said.

PH throws the can in the air and the client blasted it.

Client grabbed another beer. PH threw that one; client blasted it.

Client then looked at the PH and said, "Don't ever shoot at another one of my animals again."

Who knows if Petzal made that story up (but why would he?). In any event, if the guy is that good, the animal is dead anyway, so who cares? Glad I don't have to work with that guy...

I have never understood the aversion to having a PH shoot. If I pull the trigger, I am going to kill the animal. If the PH wants to join in, have it. I especially don't want to see any animal suffer and have had a PH back me up on ele and one buff that was particularly tough.

I would be more worried about whether the PH's rifle would work than if the PH can shoot.

Several years ago I was hunting in Zim. We were hunting in an area controlled by another safari company. On one of the elephant hunts the appy for the other safari company accompanied us. He was told that he could do the back up shot on the elephant in the heart/lung area. The shot was a side brain shot at 20 yards and the elephant went right down; the appy backed up as instructed. Upon inspection of the elephant there was no sign of the appy's bullet. To his credit he was using a rifle that was new to him, but still it was 20 yards. Reminded me of the saying about not being able to hit the broadside of a barn. I still believe that he will make (has become?) a fine PH.

I have hunted with six different PHs and three appys. I haven't seen any shoot enough to say whether or not they are good shots. The few shots that they have taken when we have been hunting ranged form excellent to piss poor. 465H&H

I do not go hunting to have the PH shoot.

Practice, know when to shoot, your ability to shoot and there will be no need.

quote:

Originally posted by cameronaussie:
I do not go hunting to have the PH shoot.

Practice, know when to shoot, your ability to shoot and there will be no need.

Even when having botched the shot and possibly created a life-threatening situation?

I agree with you where plains game are concerned - if the animal is lost, too bad and the full trophy fee is paid.

No doubt some can shoot well and some cant, just like the rest of us mere mortals

I need to ammend my post above in that I have seen Don Heath shoot. Not a rifle but a pistol (much more difficult than a rifle). He is good with the pistol and I suspect he is just as good or better with a rifle.

465H&H

quote:

Originally posted by Brice:
In Moz a few years ago I was hunting with Kevin Robertson. At the usual pre-hunt shoot-in I demonstrated that I was unlikely to shoot my PH. That is, after all, primarily what that's all about. We then began shooting for "fun", me my Lott, Kevin his Dumoulin 505 Gibbs, offhand, iron sights. Trust me, the man can shoot. When he told me he shot thrown clays with the 505, I believe him, though probably not fast passing shots.

I've seen Doctari shoot first hand with his .505.
He can shoot, believe me.

Kind of a Funny story when I was visited as I am nearly every year by my PH friends as they travel the US, we went bowling one night...yes bowling. In the middle of the lobby was the Video Game Big Buck Hunter. So I challenged my PH to a friendly game or 5. Let’s just say he kicked my American butt. He had that fake pump shot gun flying so fast he had a line watching him shoot. He killed everything that stepped out onto the screen. Now I know it’s just a game but can you say impressive. It was a bit humbling but showed me a little peak into what these guys are capable of and they never boast about it and we rarely get to see it.

Ann,

You need to get yourself a boyfriend. Your previous post was about HOT PH's and now this one is about how they shoot?

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Ann,

You need to get yourself a boyfriend. Your previous post was about HOT PH's and now this one is about how they shoot?

Indeed Andrew, but there are no good men to be found around here. They have muzzle brakes on their 7mm mags!

quote:

Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Ann,

You need to get yourself a boyfriend. Your previous post was about HOT PH's and now this one is about how they shoot?

Indeed Andrew, but there are no good men to be found around here. They have muzzle brakes on their 7mm mags!

quote:

Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Ann,

You need to get yourself a boyfriend. Your previous post was about HOT PH's and now this one is about how they shoot?

Indeed Andrew, but there are no good men to be found around here. They have muzzle brakes on their 7mm mags!

Symtoms of being snowed in and bored ! Oh dear, a long and boring winter ahead. No chance of ice fishing ?

Still waiting for safe ice here, soon! It was -4 F this morning so it won't be too long before all of us are pulling up some winter perch.

I thought that considerate men were supposed to wear muzzle brakes on their 7mm Mags!
Peter.

quote:

Originally posted by Scriptus:

quote:

Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Ann,

You need to get yourself a boyfriend. Your previous post was about HOT PH's and now this one is about how they shoot?

Indeed Andrew, but there are no good men to be found around here. They have muzzle brakes on their 7mm mags!

Symtoms of being snowed in and bored ! Oh dear, a long and boring winter ahead. No chance of ice fishing ?

Too funny!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Ann,

You need to get yourself a boyfriend. Your previous post was about HOT PH's and now this one is about how they shoot?

Indeed Andrew, but there are no good men to be found around here. They have muzzle brakes on their 7mm mags!

So what you are looking for is a chap with a big gun without a suppressor?

quote:

Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Ann,

You need to get yourself a boyfriend. Your previous post was about HOT PH's and now this one is about how they shoot?

Indeed Andrew, but there are no good men to be found around here. They have muzzle brakes on their 7mm mags!

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Ann,

You need to get yourself a boyfriend. Your previous post was about HOT PH's and now this one is about how they shoot?

Indeed Andrew, but there are no good men to be found around here. They have muzzle brakes on their 7mm mags!

So what you are looking for is a chap with a big gun without a suppressor?

I think it's the loud noise they make when they are around her that she's concerned about.

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Ann,

You need to get yourself a boyfriend. Your previous post was about HOT PH's and now this one is about how they shoot?

Indeed Andrew, but there are no good men to be found around here. They have muzzle brakes on their 7mm mags!

So what you are looking for is a chap with a big gun without a suppressor?

I think it's the loud noise they make when they are around her that she's concerned about.

At least with ice-fishing, it is only the rattling of teeth that is a concern !

While in Moz, out shooting a few baboons for Leopard bait, my PH asked if he could shoot my Sako .375 H&H at the next available one we encountered. One shows up around 180 yards and I hand him the rifle, down goes the baboon and since that moment I have had a very difficult time keeping him from snatching the rifle from me and having a go at whatever is in sight. He likes the rifle so much, I have never been allowed to not bring it on hunts since that first time he used it.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by 2th doc:
While hunting in Namibia last season I handed my Win mdl 70 338WM to the PH as a baboon sat in a tree top 200 yards away while we were glassing for kudu, he missed. He missed with his own rifle on four different baboons during that eight day trip none were over 150 yards away and all were sitting. Do not think I would want him to back me up on anything.

I saw the PH shoot on each of my trips.

The only PH that I got to examine his shooting was with Alister Norton when we shot at small pieces of driftwood from camp for fun.

I was very impressed with how well he could shoot an iron sighted bolt gun.

To be honest, as far as game goes, I would rather never find out how well a PH shoots.