At this point in my life, what you are talking about will probably never become an issue to me. I have however thought about just what you are talking about. It would seem that clear and open conversation prior to the hunt would be needed to clarify this issue with your PH. There are circumstances that would justify a "no shoot" from the PH. If a PH wants you to react to his word, there must be clear undestanding of what the circumstances are, in my mind human saftey is one issue that would justify the "no shoot". Perhaps the PH sees something from his perspective that is not visible to you.

Once the decision is made to shoot, I'm of the opinion that "shoot" till down is the thing to do, as long as you have a viable shot.

I have made exceptions to this in hunting, but only on animals that I was very familiar with, and very sure of shot placement. And then only rarely.

These were on American game, one shot kills with a "death dash", on an African hunt, once the decision has been made to shoot, shoot till down has my thinking. After all, your not there for "freezer fodder".

Mike,
Very good topic to bring up and one I hadn't thought much about. Fire discipline was always an inviolate principle when I was in the military. If you were a wingman and lead said don't shoot, by God you did not shoot. As a flight lead I had a new wingman drop (a practice bomb thankfully) after I told him to hold safe. I grounded him for a week. The next time I go out with a guide I will talk this over in advance.
JCN

I'm fortunate in that I've hunted twice with a great P.H. in RSA. On my first hunt with him I learned how to do it properly. The scenario is something like this: Blue Wildebeest at @150 yards. I'm in a sitting position, and very solid with the hold. I put the shot into the center of the chest, and as I'm coming back down from the recoil, my P.H. says "reload-quickly". The animal takes off running, almost directly broadside to us. "Hit him again!" Down with a spine shot. Every time I pulled the trigger, the word reload was uttered. If the animal was not on the ground, he wanted another shot put into it immediately.

Mike,

I've been in the exact situation you described. You hire the guide/PH for their expertise in an activity that they are supposed to be pros at. When they say shoot or don't shoot I think it is natural to do what they say. This line of thinking has caused me to have a major league screw up twice in the past. My policy now is to shoot until I am convinced the animal is down and out or I can no longer see the animal to shoot at REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE PH SAYS. Also I'm just not going to shoot unless it feels good to me. This has always been my policy when hunting on my own why not when I hunt with a guide/PH?

I guess the point is it is still your hunt and you have to take responsibility for the shooting whether the guide tells you to shoot or not so you better be comfortable with what you are doing.

Regards,

Mark

Mike,

I think my tag line says it all..........

Don't use that guide / PH again.

Personally, the PH / Guides I've used had an excellent feel for follow-up shots, but I will say this, once I pull the trigger, I pull it again based on what I see not on what the guy beside me says. When you came back on target you should have fired, not held a meeting.

If my guide / PH asks for a follow-up shot I will not argue the point.

Mike,
I think it is best to follow your guides instructions. In most cases ( i stress most, not all ) the PH ususally does know best. As long as he isn't making you pay for animals he told you NOT to shoot that were lost...
It's a tricky situation to be in. One that all hunters will simply have to trust to their gut.