I don't mean any disrespect towards the memory of this young man, but how did this happen?

The reports I have read have all been exceptionally brief. He was getting close to a bull to judge it's ivory and then he was trampled to death. That's it? Did he not have his rifle? Where was the client and the game scout? Why didn't anyone get a shot off? Did somebody's rifle malfunction? Bad ammo? It was very early in the season so I imagine the vegetation was quite thick, but it is not like you can't hear a charging bull crashing through the bush. Some reports I have read make it sound like there was more than one PH involved. I don't know how long it takes an elephant to kill a man, but I doubt if it was in the blink of an eye. Was the offending bull later tracked down and shot?

I think this deserves more analysis that it has received, even if it does make some people uncomfortable. The names of the people that were there don't have to be used.

Where is the link to the original report of this PH's death? Does anyone have a picture og the PH?

....................................................................This has been a rough year for PH's!

He wasn't carrying his gun. I knew Erwin very well, we had spent plenty of time together in Africa and here in the states, from my other good friends in Namibia who were also very close, said he actually lived a few hrs, before passing away. They were very deep in the bush.

Sad, he was a great person and will surely be missed.

quote:

Originally posted by Oryxhunter1983:
He wasn't carrying his gun. I knew Erwin very well, we had spent plenty of time together in Africa and here in the states, from my other good friends in Namibia who were also very close, said he actually lived a few hrs, before passing away. They were very deep in the bush.

Sad, he was a great person and will surely be missed.

Thanks for the info. I thought something like that must be the case. I have noticed that with PHs. Some get a little careless and leave the vehicle without their rifle in order to check tracks nearby. It is a bad habit to start. I am too scared not to take my rifle, even when I just jump off the bucky to take a quick pee.

I leave May 30th for a DG hunt in Zim and I am going to tell my PH that every time I see him get away from the vehicle more than 10 feet without his rifle I am going to cut his tip by 10%.

I might even bitch slap him.

quote:

I am going to tell my PH that every time I see him get away from the vehicle more than 10 feet without his rifle I am going to cut his tip by 10%.

You see the glass half empty and I see half full. This should read 'every time I see him get away from the vehicle WITH his rifle I am going to INCREASE his tip by 10%'

Very sorry to hear about the demise of another PH. Condolences.

You too gentlemen are really funny!

GunsCore:

Imagine you being on a 21 day safari.
Imagine you get out of the vehicle on average 3 times to look at tracks etc..

So that is 30% per day.
In 21 days your PH would owe you 630% of the safari cost.

FREE SAFARI and money in the bank!

fairgame:

Same story, backwards.

You get a 630% increase in tips.

Laughing all the way to the bank

Why blame it on the PH?

Each time YOU get out of the truck, make sure you have your rifle with you.

I would like to be around to see the final result of someone trying to (bitch slap) a PH. most of the ph's if not all that i know would feed you your testicles through your nose if you try that.
Just an observation!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by ddrhook:
I would like to be around to see the final result of someone trying to (bitch slap) a PH. most of the ph's if not all that i know would feed you your testicles through your nose if you try that.
Just an observation!!!!

You have never met GunsCore! Suffice to say it would, at minimum, be an even fight with most PH's I know!

I have no plan to bitch slap GC any time in the near future!

quote:

You get a 630% increase in tips.

Saeed,

In these hard times I would be prepared to be bitch slapped for that.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

You get a 630% increase in tips.

Saeed,

In these hard times I would be prepared to be bitch slapped for that.

I tend to not leave the gari without a rifle, but I can see how a PH could get a little complacent. Don't know if that contributed to this tragedy, but it if it did, it is understandable. Best wishes to Erwin and his family.

I once watched a PH approach a downed cat in tall grass only to find that the animal had a broken spine just behind the front legs and (while choking on the frontal neck shot and bleeding to death) was confidently pulling itself around in the direction of anything it saw. While it was over in a minute or two, and the client had his rifle just in case, it was somewhat amusing to watch the PH take about a 10 foot leap to his right when he realized the cat was very much alive! Bet he doesn't go in to the next cat retrieval with such confidence.

lost a friend and Ph several years ago to an elephant. Same type deal, he wasn't hunting elephants but buffalo, tracker spotted some buf tracks and he jumped out of the cruiser to take a quick look, left rifle in cruiser, bumped a female elephant with calf that was hidden in the bush but took exception to his presence and before he could hot foot it to the cruiser she mashed him into pulp, tracker made it back but before he could get the gun and return it was over. Just like pilots in planes, a momentary lapse in judgement can be permenant

quote:

Originally posted by drwes:
lost a friend and Ph several years ago to an elephant. Same type deal, he wasn't hunting elephants but buffalo, tracker spotted some buf tracks and he jumped out of the cruiser to take a quick look, left rifle in cruiser, bumped a female elephant with calf that was hidden in the bush but took exception to his presence and before he could hot foot it to the cruiser she mashed him into pulp, tracker made it back but before he could get the gun and return it was over. Just like pilots in planes, a momentary lapse in judgement can be permenant

Was that Christo Andre Kaiser of Unico Safaris?

One of the first lessons I give to new african hunters: never leave the truck without your rifle AND cartridge belt!!! NEVER!

Professional hunters, like the rest of us, come in different flavors and with different degrees of experience and expertise.Lets remember that. No one is infallible

quote:

Originally posted by LionHunter:
One of the first lessons I give to new african hunters: never leave the truck without your rifle AND cartridge belt!!! NEVER!

I totally agree . One thing that scares the hell out of me about elephants is just how quiet they can be. They can be on you before you know it. If their intentions are bad, there may be trouble .

Last year in Botswana, I was standing by the truck fiddling with something on the seat. I looked up to see a bull just the other side of the truck. Never heard him nor did anyone else.