This happened over twenty years ago so I reckon that it is about time I told the tale ... Of course, I won't mention any names as the PH is still in business, I think.

Back in the early 90's I was on my fifth safari so had a bit of experience to go by. My guide, a very nice young man of 24, did many things on this safari that I thought were absolutely top notch. A couple of times, however, I questioned his judgement but being that I was paying big money (for me) .. and he was the guide - I followed his advice.

The outfitter, two years earlier, had offered me an elephant bull on quota and I had taken him up on the deal ... it was eventually to cost me four months take home salary just for the trophy fee - certainly well worth it as I look back ...

The PH was adamant about a couple of different things on this safari ... one was that my wife was not allowed to go along while tracking an elephant or sitting in a lion blind .. another was that the ele had to be shot behind the shoulder .. 'shoot it in the lungs and it runs away for a distance and then topples over ... brain shot being a no/no as it is too difficult ..'

O.K. I reckon that he was just starting out ...

Some days later we were tracking two bulls just after first light ... Eventually we got up to the first bull that walked out of a stand of cover ... I muttered that it was a small one ... And then the second bull showed up .. broadside .. maybe 40-50 yards away .. the PH said, ' Shoot that bull, Richard!'

I was standing there looking at the big bull .. 416 Left handed Sako in my hands .. arms length down ... one of us stepped on a branch ...

The bull turned and walked at me ... most impressive sight ...

Years before Mike Bunce, a PH in the Chete, told me that nothing commands your attention like a bull elephant in full charge ...

The bull wasn't charging but striding right up to me .. I forgot about my lovely wife languishing at the Toyota somewhere off in the distance out of sight ... forgot that I was a Canadian ... that winter sucks in Canada ... I saw only the bull elephant ... only the elephant !

I lifted my Sako, put the Leupold dot between its eyes, remembered what Capstick said about the angle changing on a towering head shot, adjusted, and brained the bull ... maybe 30 yards ..

Running up to the ele I was instructed by the guide to put a 400 grain solid through the top of its head .. and a second one through the back .. down through the shoulders .. and so I did ..

And owed $10,000 Canadian dollars ..

Bravo !!! It was only money.

The 6 foot four inch guide then looked down at me and said, ' When I saw that the lung shot was gone as the elephant turned towards you, I ran away.'

I enjoyed that ! Thanks Scruffy.

Wow

quote:

Originally posted by samir:
Wow

+1 But good on you Scruf!

A lot of PH's have a rather dry sense of humour. I doubt he cut and run. Great story though.

Personally, I loved that story. I will save it for the 'likkle ones'...

Outstanding!

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
A lot of PH's have a rather dry sense of humour. I doubt he cut and run. Great story though.

Perhaps. I have seen one run before.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
A lot of PH's have a rather dry sense of humour. I doubt he cut and run. Great story though.

Perhaps. I have seen one run before.

Perhaps I saw one refuse to follow a Cape Buff we shot at dusk. Don't worry it was stone dead 30 yards away. Ask me how I know?

In my limited experience, I've had PH's chase buffalos to dead dark, stand a bluff charge side by side to halitosis distances, follow hairy stuff with horns, teeth and claws into stuff that would scare your mother in law. However, I've never seen a PH cut and run, thankfully.